As part of the week against gentrification in Reno, Our Town Reno is giving the microphone to some of the involved activists. Alese McMurtry, a student at UNR, still lives at home, but has friends who struggle to find decent apartments at a price they can afford, usually below $400 a month.
McMurtry (center) also worries about Reno's high poverty and unemployment rates. She also goes to city council meetings and events with the Reno Justice Coalition to speak out and stay informed.
“Not having enough affordable housing for students is a big issue and I’m not sure the university cares that much about it. I would also like Reno to put more effort into helping people who already live here. They are trying to make it all about tourism, and trying to turn Reno into a tech town, but we have people suffering, and I think they need to focus on them, rather than trying to bring in more and more people with no place for them to go.”