Another day, another Washoe County official who’s suddenly been Checked Out. This week’s edition: Library Assistant Director Stacy McKenzie, who has taken a “temporary leave of absence” with no explanation. Sound familiar? It should—it’s practically the county’s house style.

Remember, McKenzie only took over when former Library Director Jeff Scott Closed the Book on his tenure back in April 2025. That “resignation” was widely rumored to be more like Resignation Before Termination—a genre Washoe County has mastered. Now McKenzie herself is on leave, with Assistant County Manager David Solaro overseeing daily operations. Translation: the staff who actually keep the shelves standing are doing the real work, while the county just fiddles with the Table of Contents.

In a dizzying twist of local political irony, Washoe County Library Trustee Marie Rodriguez — once a recipient of Commissioner Mike Clark’s support — appears to be smearing him as the secret ringleader of a so-called “mob” that attends commission meetings for about a year now.

In a public email to Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam, Rodriguez paints a scene fit for a made-for-TV thriller: she claims that emotionally charged public commenters, whom she labels as followers of political figure Robert Beadles, descend on county meetings and — get this — are silenced only when Commissioner Clark allegedly gives a “gesture.”

In a move that surprised absolutely no one familiar with his history, Washoe County Library Director Jeff Scott resigned moments before his potential termination—repeating his 2015 Berkeley playbook when faced with similar circumstances. Now, as predictable as the sunrise, those who haven't bothered to examine his performance record are rallying with cries of impending book banning.

Is the sudden discovery of library funding a genuine miracle or convenient timing? After five months of dire warnings about reduced hours, staff cuts, and service reductions due to tax reallocation, the library system has mysteriously found sufficient funds to maintain operations—just days before trustees might show the Library Director the door for performance issues.

Picon remembers the Sparks Library controversy involving The clash arose when Mayor Smith attempted to prevent the first Drag Queen Story Hour at the library, sparking a feud with Director Scott. This incident raised questions about Mr. Scott’s humanity since Mayor Smith was terribly ill at the time, battling cancer, passing away in 2020. This was the start of an ongoing feud with Jeff Scott vs A Whole Lot of Folks that continues to this day. Picon thinks it was this feud that cost Scott the WC-1 ballot measure loss.

Greater Reno/Mark Robison did some due diligence at the request of The Education Crusade, regarding why you can watch porn at the Washoe County Libraries but cannot watch porn at the Clark County Libraries. We question the whole “grant” issue and ponder why Clark County gets the same grants as Washoe County, but Library Director Jeff Scott professes they cannot limit access to the internet. If they do they will not receive the grants they needed to bring high speed internet to the Gerlach Library at a cost of $2.3 million. Frankly we’re not going to spend the amount of time needed to track down grant disclosures and limitations, but someone with more time than we sure should.

Well, well, well... What do we have here? A masterclass in creative interpretation of voter will, starring the Washoe County Library saga. After voters rejected the $4.5 million library funding measure, some folks are playing a fascinating game of bureaucratic Twister.

One of “tipsters” sent us this Nevada Commission on Ethics Order of Dismissal regarding Washoe County Library Director Jeff Scott. Can someone please track down the Confidential Letter of Instruction? We also urge whoever made this complaint to maybe drop us a line and let us know the basis of the complaint.