Before Start of New Session, Re-elected Assembly Member Selena La Rue Hatch is Busy With School Related Bills and Trying to End Daylight Saving

Boxes are being moved from an office on the 4th floor of the Nevada State Legislature in Carson City to the third floor for District 25 assembly representative Selena La Rue Hatch, available warehouse furniture is being selected and decoration choices are being made.

“I am a history teacher so there is a lot of history on the walls and I'm on the natural resources committee so there's a Tahoe map and there's a hydrology map of the United States. Honestly, I like to put up things that remind me why I'm here,” La Rue Hatch told Our Town Reno during a recent interview. “So I have a John Lewis quote. I have an Emily Pankhurst quote. I have a a silly Dutch painting of a cow, which I love because I'm on the natural resources committee and we deal with a lot of agriculture.”

Her two other committees are the judiciary and educational ones.  Lewis was a civil rights activist while Pankhurst helped British women win the right to vote.  La Rue Hatch is a fourth generation Nevadan who grew up on a ranch near Pyramid Lake, spending weekends rounding up cattle.

“It’s just stuff to keep you inspired because that building can weigh you down, with a lot of work and conflict and so many things going on,” she says of her office decorations.  “I like to have those reminders. And of course, I have some artwork from my daughter who is seven. That's the biggest reason why I'm there.”

La Rue Hatch, who won reelection in the fall, has been busy ahead of the 83rd session of the Nevada Legislature starting on February 3rd.

Her district covers parts of west and southwest Reno, including Mayberry Drive, Mae Anne Avenue, Caughlin Ranch and Meadowood Mall areas.

For assembly members, she explains, the heavy lifting starts as soon as their election victory is certified, and even before for incumbents who were running again.

La Rue Hatch has been meeting with teacher unions, representatives for school districts and the Nevada Department of Education to work on school related legislation, from trying to reduce class sizes to expanding Pre-K programs.  

“We have a bill draft deadline, in early December. And so you get elected and you have one month to submit about half of your bills,” she said. “As a returning legislator, I actually got to submit a couple of bills over the summer, and then I got to submit the rest of my bills in December. And then I have one more bill that's due in February. So, right now, what I'm working on is getting that last bill drafted and then meeting with a bunch of different stakeholders. Because anytime that you draft a bill, there's a lot of folks that are gonna be affected.”

She is also trying to reignite an attempt to end daylight saving with Assembly Bill 81, which was prefiled December 9th. Prefiled means it will be sent to a committee on day one of the new session.

“We would be on permanent standard time,”  she said if her bill makes it into law.  “And the reason for that is that switching our clocks has a lot of harmful effects both in the fall and the spring, including increased heart attacks, increased strokes, increased car accidents, really just from the process of changing our clocks. Now I know there's a debate over whether we should do permanent standard or permanent daylight savings, but the federal government actually only lets us do permanent standard time. So there's not even an option for us to go the other direction. I just want us to stop changing our clocks because it's causing so much harm for so many folks.”

Another bill she is working on is trying to get more light rail systems in urban parts of Nevada “for folks to be able to get around a little more efficiently and help lower emissions.” 

The Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau has been getting a remodel.

With a majority of Democrats in the assembly and senate, and a Republican as governor,  La Rue Hatch would like to see bipartisan efforts be more fruitful than in the last session when there were a record number of vetoes from Joe Lombardo, which she found to be “extremely disappointing.”

One veto led to the end of the Silver State’s universal school lunch program.  

“The Democratic caucus in the assembly and in the senate, we are bringing that bill back,” La Rue Hatch said. “And we fully intend on passing legislation which provides school meals for all of our children. I hope that he has done his research and that he's going to realize that's something we need. But, even if he does end up beating it again, we're going to keep fighting that fight for what's right for our kids.”

For any new assembly members, including several new Democrats from northern Nevada, La Rue Hatch says it’s time for cramming.  

“It is just a fire hose of information because you now have to get up to speed on, pretty much every issue facing Nevadans across the state. And while a lot of us ran on issues that, of course, we cared about, such as education, housing, climate, abortion access, there are so many niche issues that maybe didn't come up in your community but come up in other communities,” she said.

Her tips for new assembly members include keeping an open mind, writing a lot of notes, being prepared to learn and being ready to sacrifice almost all their lives to legislative concerns over the next five months.

For interested citizens, she recommends getting acquainted with the NELIS website where committee meetings are streamed.  

“They can watch us have bill hearings. February 3rd is when we're sworn in if they want to tune in and see what that's like. It's very exciting for those of us that are there,” she said.

NELIS allows people to read bills and follow progress.

“I think that the legislature is this place that is mystifying for a lot of people, and Carson City is close, but also very far away for most of my constituents,” La Rue Hatch said.  “I just want more folks to know what we're doing.”

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025

Reno Gets Federal Grant for More School Zone Safety, While Community Seeks Consistency

With pedestrian deaths a tragic, recurring problem in Reno, with poor visibility in some areas, distracted drivers and wayward crossings creating conditions for disastrous crashes, there are efforts underway to keep kids safer when approaching their schools.  

At the latest City Council meeting our elected representatives accepted a $1 million grant from the Congressional Grants Division (CGD) of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Economic Development to purchase and install flashing beacon systems in school zones across Reno.

The City is now working with the Washoe County School District to identify which schools will receive these flashing beacons, based on needs and cost analysis.  

According to information provided during the meeting, 115 school zones out of a total of about 200 lack adequate crossing safety. With the grant, about half of these 115 will now be getting newly installed flashing beacons. 

One reader who reached out to Our Town Reno noticed that there are current inconsistencies across Reno in terms of school zone signage and cross walk lighting, with some school zones having signs just indicating "school zone" and "15 mph speed limit.” Others have added words such as "when children present" and "during school hours.” Near some schools there are flashing lights, while others have very little visible indications. 

One sign near McQueen high school is obscured by a tree on 7th street near McCarran Boulevard. 

Around that location, police can sometimes be seen hiding and ticketing people for continuing into the school zone at 25 mph instead of the required 15 mph, with some motorists not knowing they are in a school zone.

In October, a student suffered minor injuries after being hit by a car near that northwest Reno High school.

There have been multiple incidents of students being hit by vehicles in recent years while on their commutes, including a fatal crash in December at Wedekind Road and Silverado Boulevard. 

In 2019, a Wooster High School student was tragically hit by a pickup truck while she was walking to school.  That school year, the Washoe County School District reported that 25 students were hit by vehicles, the only year we’ve seen that overall statistic being reported.  

The city says it will prioritize locations based on historical accident data, traffic volumes, and input from school officials. 

In Reno, crossing safety at school zones is managed by the Public Works Department, specifically under the oversight of the Assistant Director of Public Works, Khalil Wilson, who gave the presentation at the recent city council meeting. 

The Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining and improving city infrastructure, including roads, sidewalks, traffic signals, and public facilities, as well as addressing safety measures such as school zone flashing beacons. 

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025

Cathie Bryant Makes Old Local Reno Walls Talk, to the Delight of Home Owners

Cathie Bryant, a local history buff, who looks for old photos and displays them on a Facebook group she runs, occasionally researches the history of homes for people who have bought them.   

Recently, she was hired by the new owners of the Aitken House at 781 Mill Street, the Weeds, and was thrilled at finding new information on one of the oldest known homes in Reno, used in recent decades as a medical office.

“It’s been so much fun. I’ve found the only known photo of [John] Aitken [the bearded man with crossed arms in photo montage], and just so much interesting history in regard to the home. One not so old, but interesting and significant article was in the mid 1980s when Sam Francovich purchased the home. Sam was responsible for restoring the exterior and turned the interior into medical offices,” Bryant wrote on a recent Facebook post she shared with us.  

She then tracked down Francovich, and the new owner was able to meet him at the house a few days ago, where they also recreated a newspaper photo of Francovich in front of the house from 40 years ago [also in photo montage].  Francovich and the new owners happen to live close to each other in old southwest Reno.  

Bryant told Our Town Reno the house was once used as what was known as a Florence Crittenton House.  

These were safe places for unmarried mothers and designed to encourage  “destitute, homeless and wayward women to seek reformation of character and responsibility of life through the religion of Jesus Christ,” according to wording from about 100 years ago.   

At its origin, Aitken, a drayman, who hauled goods by horse and wagon, built the Victorian home during the same era as the early 20th century Wingfield Mansion which was lost in an arson fire in 2001.  

In a Reno Gazette-Journal article, Francovich was quoted as saying it was important to save part of Reno’s history, rather than tear it down.

The current owners who bought the house for $1.2 million in December 2023 plan to do renovations starting in May, at which point the current tenants, the Geriatric Specialty Care of Nevada, will have left.  

“She would send me newspaper articles and clippings and oh, it was just awesome,” Whitney Weed said of hiring Bryant.  

Her husband, Scott Weed, a dental specialist who does root canals, will be using the historical Mill Street house for his practice.  

They are planning to update bathrooms, knock out a few walls, paint the exterior and interior, and “just try and liven it up,” Weed said. 

“We’re in a position where we can show the care that is needed because for whatever reason, that house has had a lot of luck,” Weed said during a phone interview with Our Town Reno earlier today. “And so I want to be able to cherish that. I’m excited that we have the opportunity to kind of brighten up the area and do what we can to just show some love there.”

As for what Bryant is doing, Weed had lots of praise.  

“I just think she's one of those real treasures. I think just such a very smart, beautiful person that she's able to see history and see the people that first started in Reno and appreciate them for what they did, and the hard work that they put into making this town awesome,” she said. 

Bryant invites people to check out the Facebook group she runs where she posts the histories of the old homes she researches called: “Old House Lovers of Northern Nevada: If these walls could talk.”

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025

Compromise Reached on Future of Rancho San Rafael and Keeping Balloon Race There

Changes are being made to the future master plan for the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park after concerns from the once a year busily attended Great Reno Balloon Race that their event would no longer be able to be held there due to proposed modifications.

A parks board meeting this week was full of passion and opposing views on the location and strategies.

In the end, the Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission accepted to add over 100 new spaces of parking to their initial expansion plan, and agreed to consult with balloon organizers on any new trees.

The board didn’t like how balloon organizers took to social media and media to present their initial opposition.

“You brought it to the public, and said ‘oh, we're just horrible and mean,'" commissioner Mark Neumann complained.

The new master plan also has more trails, new tennis and pickleball courts as well as a renovated amphitheater.

A statement sent to media indicated: “After a series of conversations, Washoe County and the board of directors for The Great Reno Balloon Race (GRBR) are pleased to announce they are in agreement of minor adjustments to the final master plan for Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. Park staff and the consultant team, Dig Studio, were able to identify ways to ensure the continuation of a safe hot air balloon festival while honoring the community’s vision for growth capabilities and offerings for all 3.5 million annual visitors. Both entities are pleased that the revised plan was adopted in the January 22 Open Space and Regional Parks Commission meeting after finding an amenable version for all. The two parties look forward to contributing to the beloved park in the coming years.”

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025

Two Defeats for Advocates of the Unhoused at Reno City Council

This photo is of a man packing up his belongings recently outside the former homeless shelter on Record street, which the Council decided to demolish with its own money yesterday, rather than waiting for a developer to do so, another defeat for those advocating for neighbors on the streets.

Their focus yesterday though was primarily centered on opposing the city’s enhancement of criminalizing those without stable shelter, who spend time outside during the day, spent on survival, going to and from available help, and waiting for appointments for different resources.

Despite pleas during public comment and a protest outside, despite slight hemming and hawing from council woman Naomi Duerr, over including sitting and lying, despite firm opposition from council woman Meghan Ebert saying we are entering debtors’ prison territory, the Reno City Council breezily passed an updated ordinance to consolidate anti camping, sitting, lying, and sleeping laws in public areas.

Police said this new ordinance would “simplify” their operations, while businesses said it would improve “public safety.” It was worked on by staff after a recent Supreme Court decision allowed the criminalization of the unhoused even when there is no shelter space available.

Advocates for the unhoused said they would boycott local businesses who support the ordinance.

They’ve also wanted the former CAC compound now in disuse to serve as additional resources for those without stable shelter, but instead City Council has decided to sell it to the Ulysses Development Group.

Ebert yet again was a lone no vote on the latest wrinkle in that convoluted process, saying the decision to take on the demolition rather than have the developer pay for it upfront was not fiscally responsible. Ulysses will repay whichever is less of $670,000 or the actual cost of demolition.

The $3.4 million sale is not expected to close until the end of the year, with an option to extend until December 2026, meaning the promised mixed rent level apartments there, will not be ready for move-in anytime soon.

Our Town Reno reporting January 23, 2025

Reno Property Management Draws Ire and Extremely Low Ratings from HOA Residents

These days, it’s not just tenants complaining about their living conditions, and what they aren’t getting for what they pay for, but also HOA residents.

We’ve been receiving numerous complaints concerning the Reno Property Management from several readers from several locations indicating their HOA personnel doesn’t respond to maintenance requests in condos and common areas, even as dues are being raised, pricing out older long time residents now on fixed income. 

The comments ranged from total unresponsiveness to rude employees, with complaints of all kinds being completely ignored.  

The ones who wrote us directly preferred to stay anonymous, but there are plenty of examples to choose from on Yelp and Google Reviews, with average ratings there of 1.9 with 23 reviews, and 2.1 with 49 reviews. 

One Yelp and Google reviewer, Gillian Dalman, a first time home owner and public school teacher wrote in July, with a one star rating:  “Crumbling stucco walls at Sunrise Villas managed by Christopher Mitchell (CAM.0009229.SUPR) through Reno Property Management. Hopefully, this issue will be resolved and I will be able to delete this review and replace it with a positive one. RPM is lowering my property values and risking the integrity of my property and the entire Sunrise Villas complex by not repairing these walls in a timely manner. I put a work order in for this issue in February 2024, it is now July 2024 and walls around the complex are worse every month due to weather damage.

HOA fees are currently at $279 a month. It is in the HOA's realm of responsibility (as outlined in their company documents) to repair these stucco walls. The HOA budgets for stucco wall repairs and discussed this issue in their last HOA meeting (as documented in their HOA meeting agenda and notes) but did not make any decision to repair it.”

Another one star review written by Sammy J. from December calls Wildcreek a “joke.”

Part of her rating was written as a warning to others. “Don't buy here and if Reno property management[‘s] name is attached to anything walk away. I wouldn't recommended supporting this business to anyone.”

Company owner Doug McIntyre has responded to several of these recent negative reviews, including to Sammy J. writing: “As we have discussed previously, RPM does not have anything to do with raising your HOA dues. Those decisions are made by the board of directors. Please attend a HOA meeting to learn about what goes into making these kinds of decisions.”

Some of those complaining have written back indicating even simple repairs are not being taken care of, and that at sporadic HOA meetings their concerns aren’t being addressed despite their insistence.  

“Worst property management company I have dealt with, or I should say not dealt with. They will not return a call after you leave a message, and have never answered their phone,” Julie Hoffman wrote four months ago.

“The Whispering Springs community is a roach and black mold infestation and needs to be leveled!! The grounds are not upkept they don’t shovel snow and I fell on the ice going to work and broke my fibula. Awful,” Estelle Pearce wrote two years ago.  

In October, John F. in Sparks wrote: “My property Mrg. needs to get some customer Service classes. Broken dishwasher, missing screens left unanswered and unattended. It tooooooooooooo soooooooooo long to get him to reply. Unprofessional, It's like they do not care.”

Other practices have been criticized online such as how payments are handled.  “Terrible communication. Office ladies are rude,” Taylor Paulson wrote two years ago. “Nothing gets done in a timely manner, pretty sad so many people use them for their properties. Sliding my money under the door is getting old, especial[ly] since they make you put $20 in cash (seems like a scam) to process the payment. Seems shady for such a large company, and extremely lazy while the lady sits on a computer and doesn’t even acknowledge you’r[e] sliding thousands of dollars under a glass door…” 

Several reviewers said they wished they could give zero stars.  

We contacted Chris Mitchell the Vice President of the company’s HOA Division several days ago but did not hear back.  

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025

Staff Recommends Reno Demolishes Former CAC Shelter

Agenda item B8 on tomorrow’s city of Reno agenda is an “Approval of the Agreement for Economic Development and Purchase/Sale of Real Property between the City of Reno and Ulysses Development Group, LLC, regarding the sale and development of properties located at 315 and 355 Record Street,” the former so-called Community Assistance Center.

It also indicates that the “Portion of Record Street to be abandoned [No Parcel Number], totaling approximately 2.4± acres, with terms allowing City-funded demolition of the facility to be reimbursed by Ulysses Development at escrow close, with future Council review of the final demolition contract.”

Previously, the developers had been required to apply for a demolition permit to take down the two buildings themselves, within a certain timeline, but the City now apparently wants to speed up that process and do the leveling itself, even though there is no absolute guarantee at this point construction of the housing project will even go forward.

The staff report says the cost to demolish the property will be “covered by the general fund, utilizing proceeds from other property sales.”

Meanwhile, the staff report from another agenda item (B.16) notes Ulysses Develoment Group “is seeking an amount not to exceed $26.2 million in tax-exempt bonds to finance” the housing development.

City of Reno staff says UGC, which was selected through an RFP process, intends to develop 136 units of affordable housing on the site for low-income individuals and families, right next to the Reno Sparks Gospel Mission and a quickly gentrifying section of 4th street, branded as the brewery district.

Advocates for the unhoused have long wanted the CAC to be kept under city control as a warming and cooling center with additional services for those struggling in our community.  Since the Cares Campus was opened in 2021, and homeless services were transferred to the county, the majority of our City Council has repeatedly indicated it wants to let go of its former homeless shelter compound, which has been left vacant for several years now, and prone to vandalism.

Its two sections were built in 2005 and 2007 for $20 million with materials estimated to be able to last between 50 to 100 years.

Our Town Reno reporting, January 21, 2025

Family Soup Mutual Aid Calls for Action Against New Reno Ordinance Targeting the Unsheltered

At its City Council meeting Wednesday, the City of Reno is planning to “refine” and “consolidate” prohibitions against camping, lying down, sitting and sleeping in public places.

It is recommending that Council approve the introduction of an ordinance to amend Title 8, Chapter 8.12 of the Reno Municipal Code titled “Offenses Against Public Peace.” 

Advocates for the unhoused say this will further boost the criminalization of the poorest members of our community, leading to even more difficulties for those without stable housing.  

The Instagram account for the local group Family Soup Mutual Aid has posted a call to action, to oppose the vote, and have “all hands on deck to make your opposition to agenda items F.1, F.2 and F.6 known to City Council by Wednesday.”  

In its post description, the group added in all caps:  “IF THEY ARE MAKING SITTING ILLEGAL, THEN SIT IS WHAT WE'LL DO.” In its slides, it explained why many say they avoid the massive Cares Campus, including feeling unsafe there.

The mutual aid group has a weekly community dinner gathering on Tuesday evenings at the Believe Plaza.  

City staff is also recommending Council approve the introduction of a new ordinance in the Reno municipal code to prohibit loitering on private property under “Offenses Against Property” Title 8, Chapter 8.10.

It said this would help address side shows, street racing, fights, narcotic sales and other crimes.  In a discussion section, it indicates “people gathering on private property after hours is challenging for businesses and law enforcement and the current codes do not allow for enforcement consistently. “

It said its proposal mirrors an ordinance in Lodi, California which makes it “unlawful for any person to enter or remain on any posted property without the written permission of the owners, tenants.”  

Our Town Reno reporting, January 20, 2025

Keystone Data Center Gets New Permit Approval Despite Community Opposition

A meeting watcher sent us a document from this week from City of Reno Planning Manager Mike Railey to Kimley-Horn and Associates indicating a conditional use permit has been granted to develop the Ward 1 Keystone Data Center, with future overnight business operations.

A conditional use permit (CUP) is a special permit that allows a property owner to use their land in a way that is not permitted by the zoning classification. 

The reader reported that six people posted in favor of the change at 265 Keystone Ave., all related to the current owners, members of the powerful Dolan family.

More than 20 people posted in opposition, with concerns ranging from increased energy and water consumption, a strain on Reno’s power grid, reduced quality of life for nearby residents and needing more clarity on local regulations concerning data centers, to counter a growing number of projects presenting as warehouses to become data centers.

A City of Reno document for conditional use permit applications indicates “the granting of the conditional use permit will not be materially detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare. The factors to be considered in evaluating this application shall include: Property damage or nuisance resulting from noise, smoke, odor, dust, vibration, or illumination; and any hazard to persons and property.”

“I am a resident of Reno and I am writing to express my opposition to converting empty buildings to data centers in Reno. This seems extremely short sighted and absolutely against the best interests of the Reno/Sparks community. This will only exacerbate the worsening climate related crises we are already seeing and removes community spaces,” one concerned resident wrote.

Another wrote a detailed, experience and research-based email to the planning commission calling it a disaster for the neighborhood.

 “If it gets built we will have to drive past it everyday. 265 Keystone was a blighted property and acquired by the City of Reno in 2002 during the RETRAC. This property was stated to be part of the ReImagine project and was supposed to benefit the community, and include mixed use properties including retail and residential.

In 2020 it was sold to PF RENO III LLC managed by James Aldrich of Malibu, California for $1.7 million. In 2022 it was sold to 265 Keystone LLC including brothers Shane and Breck Dolan (cousins of the auto group and owners of Shandy Dolans on Keystone and 2nd) for $4 million,” they wrote.

“The Dolans were going to develop an event space called Grand Artique. They did a lot of cleanup and had a Burning Man party there Oct. 15th, 2022 which I attended and have pictures of. They were offering shares of the business at $50,000 and I toured the property and listened to a presentation in November 2022. I liked the idea and was tempted to buy a few shares but I wasn't comfortable with their ability to raise enough funds. Then they went silent and the property was used for storage. The property is still in the name of 265 Keystone LLC, but a different entity is asking for the conditional use permit. Probably the sale is contingent on getting the permit and contingent of transfer of the permit with the property.”

The reader then raised concerns over the possibility of this permit following the property, rather than the new owners applying themselves for the new use.    

Those in favor said the new data center will make Reno more competitive in the digital economy and rejuvenate the 3.26 acre site, which despite multiple owners and different endeavors in recent years, has been a vacant site of late.

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025  

RIP Myrton Running Wolf

Myrton Running Wolf, an assistant professor of race and media with the Reynolds School of Journalism at UNR, passed away earlier this week after a battle with cancer.

Raised in northern Nevada, he was of Blackfeet descent. He was known for his large smile, sharp intellect and being both an accomplished actor and film director. His academic research focused on increasing the inclusion of marginalized populations in mainstream media.

A chapter he wrote in “Native Apparitions: Critical Perspectives on Hollywood’s Indians” and which he often talked about in interviews was titled Thank You, Adam Sandler & Co., for Giving Us a Native American Rosa Parks Moment, concerning depictions in the film The Ridiculous 6.

A short film he made which came out six years ago was called “Soldier”  following two young Lakota sisters — escapees of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre — fighting to survive against the U.S. military. 

It was filmed entirely on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation and in the Toiyabe National Forest.

Several years ago, he had directed a video for an Indigenous Peoples’ Day proclamation which received widespread local praise.

Our community has lost an influential thinker and awe inspiring filmmaker.

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025

Multi-Level Marketing Scheme Alert: the Peppermill’s Upcoming Heroes of America Event

While a reader asked us to post about an upcoming local event, which we do as a community courtesy when asked, another reader alerted us that this seemed sketchy and predatory, which after closer inspection, seems to be the case. 

So we took the post down, and instead are doing this post and article as a disclaimer.  

The initial reader called it a “Life changing event,” in her email header, included her phone number as well as several photos, one a flyer for “Heroes of America,” to be held at the Peppermill from January 27th to the 30th.  

The main speaker, who initially caught our attention as random enough, is promised to be “former mob boss” Michael Franzese. According to Wikipedia, he was a caporegime in the Colombo crime family, before serving time and then after his release, becoming a motivational speaker and writer.

The initial reader also sent us the logo of the PHP Agency, which has hands reaching for each other in a red circle and the line an Integrity Company underneath. PHP is an acronym for People Helping People. 

A search for the event leads to an Instagram post from the upgrade_mcg page which calls itself “Team Monsoon.”

The intent is vague. The post reads:  “We’re bringing the energy, the passion, and the thunder to Heroes of America 2025!”

That account links back to Antonio McGowan, who has mostly tacky memes, AI generated content and inspirational posts. He lists himself as an entrepreneur and “a agent [sic]” with @PHP.

The PHP Agency Facebook, which has a tag line of “fastest growing financial services marketing organization”  has posts such as one celebrating a man and woman from Van Nuys becoming $100,000 “ring earners.”  

Its page exclusively features people of color.  

Going to the Internet at large, a Glassdoor review that comes up indicates: “They target college students and low income families who they know will buy into the scam. They are dishonest and charge your card without asking you…”

A recent reddit poster wrote in ALL CAPS: “PHP AGENCY PREYS ON YOUNG MINORITIES CLAIMING THEY ARE HELPING THEM!! RUN AND DON'T LOOK BACK!!”

On social media and YouTube, the agency hypes up its events to the nth degree. “Biggest event,” “turning dreams into reality,” “historical big event,” “the new force awakens,” “the financial industry will never be the same” are some of the words used in its headlines.

Its website has three categories: About Us, Become an Agent and Get Life Insurance.

A Wikipedia search traces the founding of the PHP agency to 2009, describing it as a multi-level marketing company selling life insurance and financial services.  

Its founder is Iranian-American businessman Patrick Bet-David.  His Wikipedia page indicates PHP Agency was acquired by Integrity, another so-called MLM company in 2022.

The related PHP Debt Solutions company also seems to focus less on the services offered and more on PHP agents, who according to their website “are helping families get out of debt faster and getting their new agents paid before they are licensed.” Videos linked on the front page focus on agent techniques rather than debt repayments.  

Detailed analysis of PHP by other journalists has revealed profits are more reliant on recruitment fees of new agents promising them high earnings, than actually selling insurance and debt related products, which is mostly done to the close friends and families of the agents themselves.  

A post on Reddit was extremely revealing as to their tactics, recounting in detail how they got recruited to a meeting where they were asked to go dressed business casual.

“One person at the door asked me who invited me then gave me a name-tag, then after everyone got checked in and settled down, hype man came to the front of the room snd started hyping everyone one up, bunch of people on their phones recording as if he was a celebrity. They did this weird as cheer where they hold their hand up in the air and yell at the top of their lungs then pull their hand down and yell BOOM! Then they yell PHP Million Point Base Shop (all of this at the top of their lungs while recording on their phones) then each little section of the room yells out PHP and their little team name all loud at once, so it's a cacophony of sound. Then a senior "agent" does a little presentation and say how they work with many of the big insurance companies (nationwide, foresters, etc...) and they start naming CEO of Starbucks and Walmart and say that we can be the CEO of our own business. Afterwards, the main hype man takes the people who were invited into a separate room and sit us down (about 20-30 people) all facing him where he pulls down a projector screen and gives us the speech and his story. Said that he was a working as a bartender, living paycheck to paycheck, stressed out about money, partying everyday, until he found PHP and now he's more financially independent, has a big house, a corvette and the big rings that PHP gives after you hit a certain money in sales and. a rolex as well for the same things all from the company and that he's been in paid vacations all paid by PHP. He says that the real scam is a 9-5 working 40 hours a week for 40 years, and you can't be the CEO of the company you work with, but if you join PHP you can make all this money part time (big emphasis on part time) and you can be the "owner" of your own business and make as much income as you want! Never talked about the product, jut that they sell insurance and how everyone NEEDS it and that the company is on a "crusade" (yes, he used that word) to get as many people insured as possible because 'it's not about the money," but about educating people and getting them more financially literate. Then when the little sales pitch is over they send us to the up-line of the person who invited up to "interview" us. Told me the price of $150 and that it's a huge opportunity and that I was selected out of many people for a chance to work with them, even though everyone who was in the room was told the same thing cause they interviewed us in the courtyard of the office building so I can hear the other conversations. I told her I didn't have any money to pay and they asked if I can borrow cause this opportunity will pay back. The person who invited me came to talk to me and said she'll pay for it if I paid her back then I agreed cause I was desperate to make money. Then they give you forms to get your welcome package in the mail which is what the $150 is for. The welcome package is a small booklet with graphics of the pitch that was given to us, basically a sales pitch to give other people to join, and a cheap little usb drive that was branded PHP with "training material" which was just a couple of audio files of people high in the company talking about PHP and giving us a script to use on people to get them to buy or join (all those audio files are on youtube for free). There's a lot more, I still have the usb drive sand some videos recorded of their "meetings" which were mandatory to attend every thursday. There is more they pressure you to do and buy, like $250 for big event, which they hype up so much and basically tell you that if you don't go, you don't care about your business and won't get the "valuable training" from the top people in the company.” 

Our Town Reno reporting, January 17th, 2025

What’s that New Apartment Building: The Ballpark Apartments

This morning, a lived in RV was parked near the Ballpark Apartments, on 201 Evans Avenue, with a cleaning crew busy inside the new luxury housing, a contrast of future haves and current have nots.  

The five-story apartments across from Greater Nevada Field have had an eventful ride to completion.  

At one point in late 2023, three of its floors were on fire, due to an industrial heater left on by construction workers.

Earlier this month, Greystar, which manages these new apartments, was named in a Department of Justice lawsuit against an alleged nationwide rent pricing collusion scheme to the detriment of renters.

On its website, apartments which it calls “brand new homes” are listed as available February 1st with extremely high prices for the downtown area:  Apt 104, a one bedroom, one bath, is listed at $1,958 for a minimum 15 months.   Apt 111, a two bedroom, two bath, is listed at $2,798 for a minimum 15 months.  A 600 square feet studio apartment is going for $1,688 for a minimum 15 month.

And that’s just the base price.  The first page of the website leads directly to what’s called a fee guide for the new apartments, with application fees, holding and security deposits, administrative and community amenity fees, trash services, amenity clubhouse rental deposits, and parking costs. The list goes on and on.

Fifty-three apartments are currently listed as available on the first floor, 63 on the second, 71 on the third, 25 on the fourth and 25 on the fifth for a total of 236 availabilities.

The Instagram for the apartments, an account with 93 followers, calls it “luxury living,” and tells people to click a link to find their dream home.  It has promotional photos and videos for nearby restaurants and bars, and for Reno’s “Brewery District.” 

One post had as its caption “Ballpark Apartments isn’t just a home—it’s a lifestyle! With stunning amenities, stylish interiors, and a prime location, this is where modern living meets your dream home. Ready to hit a home run with your next move? Click the link in our bio to explore floor plans and schedule a tour today!”

Greystar released a video on YouTube earlier this month  writing the apartments offer a “unique fusion of style and sophistication is shown with in [sic] our studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom in Reno, NV. Our brand new apartment homes reflect your contemporary flair. Enjoy the life you deserve. When you live at Ballpark, your address says it all since we offer a heated pool, gym, roof top lounge, and much more. Ballpark is an apartment community managed by Greystar Real Estate Partners, located in Washoe County and the 89501 ZIP Code.”

It only had five views as of last night, with one of those ours.  

Its fitness center overlooks the sidewalk with anyone walking by or waiting to get into the baseball stadium with a clear view of those who will be on their ellipticals. 

It remains to be seen who the tenants with this kind of money to spend on living in an apartment in downtown Reno might be. 

Our Town Reno reporting, January 16, 2025

Putting the Real Choices Women's Center, a "Crisis Pregnancy Center," under the microscope

In a bedroom in the upstairs of a home on Haskell Street, at the Real Choices Women’s Center, which advertises itself as an “abortion clinic alternative,” visitors come to consult with staff members about their pregnancy.

The room contains three chairs and a coffee table. No medical equipment or examination tables are present. A white noise machine hangs from the door knob of the consultation room. 

The aim here is to discourage pregnant women from seeking abortions. 

A crisis pregnancy center is defined as a non-profit organization established by anti-abortion and often religious groups with the goal of dissuading pregnant people from getting abortions. In the United States, crisis pregnancy centers now outnumber abortion clinics roughly four to one. There are an estimated 2500-4000 crisis pregnancy centers in the U.S., and only 807 abortion clinics. 

Maureen Scott, co-founder of Wild West Access Fund of Nevada, an abortion fund based in Nevada, describes crisis pregnancy centers as a serious problem in Northern Nevada that needs to be dealt with. 

“Crisis Pregnancy Centers, AKA fake clinics, aim to misinform patients about abortion care in an effort to propagate their anti-choice agenda, disrespecting patient bodily autonomy in the process,” Scott said. “These fake clinics do not have medical staff, and often classify themselves as religious or non-profit organizations to skirt regulations placed on healthcare facilities.” 

According to non-profit tax forms, Real Choices Women's Center is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Corey and Nicku Bruce, with two locations: the one pictured in Midtown and one in Fernley. The center offers a variety of different services including pregnancy testing, “options” consultations, and abortion recovery. The majority of the staff working inside these centers providing consultations are not medical professionals or professionally trained in any women’s health fields. In a response to a google review, the center stated their staff were “certified crisis coaches.”

Google Reviews concerning Real Choices Women’s Center with the executive director of Real Choices Women’s Center, Nicku Bruce, in center.

In google reviews dating back seven years, former visitors to the center describe the uncomfortable pressure they faced from Real Choices Women's Center staff members during consultations.

Google Reviewer Monique Ida wrote, “If you feel like being trapped in a room & bombarded with weird propaganda by a pack of rabid evangelicals cosplaying as nurses, this is the place for you.” 

The center responded to this review, claiming to have never seen Ida as a patient. 

Above some of the materials handed out at Real Choices Women’s Center. 

Real Choices Women’s Center operates out of a typical Reno home. Visitors are brought to the upstairs of the home before sitting down with a consultant to engage in an intake process involving two forms and a 40 minute discussion prior to their pregnancy test.

Required forms for an appointment with Real Choices Women’s Center include a demographics portion before a medical history portion. Demographics questions ask patients about their marital status and their yearly income. There are also questions asking about their relationship with God, if they are a Christian, and what their religion is. After the completion of the forms, visitors will make a urine sample that they will keep with them throughout the entirety of their consultation. 

Before the consultation can begin, staff members reiterate that they do not perform abortions at Real Choices Women’s Center and will not refer visitors to get an abortion. Despite this, their website says it offers information on abortion pills, procedures and abortions as an option. 

During the consultation, visitors are given a paper and pamphlets detailing their options: Adoption, Parenting, and Abortion with pros and cons for each. They are asked to share with their consultant what stands out to them for each. Then, they are asked to engage in a spiritual discussion with their consultant, in which they are asked again what their relationship to God is, their history with religion, how they believe babies come to Earth, and if this impacts their decision on how to proceed with the pregnancy. 

Following the consultation, patients are instructed to perform their pregnancy test with their urine sample in front of the consultant and then read their own results. 

On a cold day, one of our reporters visited the center to experience what other visitors described in their reviews. 

Following our reporter’s negative pregnancy test result, a nurse talked with her about the possibility of a miscarriage.

Then a consultant, Sarah Beth, returned to the room to encourage her to pursue a relationship with God and assured her she was loved by her creator. Before leaving, our reporter was given a brochure to help her process her negative pregnancy test with portions encouraging abstinence before marriage. 

Anti-abortion rhetoric provided at the center in the form of consultations, pamphlets, and flyers included claims that an abortion will impact the ability to have a healthy baby in the future, while portraying an abortion as a “secret” the patient must keep. 

The center has recently changed names and goes by many alternative titles online, including: Pregnancy Counseling Center INC., Crisis Pregnancy Centers Midtown and Fernley, and Real Choices Pregnancy Center as evidenced by their flyers and tax forms associated with their organization.

The executive director Nicku Bruce, did not respond to requests for an interview. 

On her now inactive X account, Bruce reposted a tweet from Lifeway Women, a Christian blog aimed towards women, saying “Expectancy is the perfect swap for anxiety. We are here expecting Jesus.” 

Although Nevada’s Question 6 may have passed to protect abortion rights in the state constitution this November, pro-choice Assemblywoman Erica Roth, who won a District 24 state assembly seat, explained to one of our reporters that legal grey areas still allow crisis pregnancy centers to mislead vulnerable patients under the guise of providing reproductive healthcare. 

“These centers shouldn’t be able to put themselves out as healthcare providers,” Roth explained. “They don’t have doctors on staff, and yet they provide what essentially amounts to legalized misinformation to people who are scared and unsure about their options.”

Real Choices Women’s Center refers to themselves as a women’s healthcare clinic. Crisis pregnancy centers are not required to have actual doctors or nurse practitioners on staff, and are mainly composed of medical assistants who only need to know how to provide ultrasounds to be employed. 

“These centers target people who are vulnerable—those without a regular OB-GYN or primary care provider who are simply Googling for help,” Roth said.

To combat misinformation, Nevada residents can report crisis pregnancy centers for deceptive practices through the Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance. Reports can be filed as consumer protection complaints, triggering an investigation that could result in fines, requiring a plan of correction, or other penalties. 

Stressing the importance of educating the public about crisis pregnancy centers, Roth highlights the red flags for patients to watch out for including: a lack of qualified medical professionals, such as doctors or nurse practitioners, strong religious undertones in counseling or materials, and advertisements implying abortion services, which are not actually offered.

In Reno, there is only one abortion clinic currently operating: Planned Parenthood located on South Virginia Street, although many OB-GYNs also perform abortions in their own practices.

In terms of abortion rights and access here in Nevada, following the election of Republican Donald Trump to the presidency, Roth noted concerns about possible looming federal actions, such as using the Comstock Act—a law passed in 1873 banning the mailing of "obscene" materials, including information about contraception and abortion—to restrict abortion medications sent by mail.

“I think the most likely attack that we will see in the beginning of Trump's term is attacks on the ability to access abortion medication through the mail. There's definitely going to be attacks from the federal level that we need to be prepared to address at the state level,” Roth said. “That includes protecting access, because the right by law to access an abortion is rendered obsolete if we don't have access to that life saving care.”

However, Roth pointed out that Nevada’s Republican Governor Joe Lombardo removed mentions of crisis pregnancy centers from the Department of Health and Human Services website after taking office, making it harder for the public to find information on how to report these centers. The four-paragraph section had been part of an “Abortion Information for Nevadans” page launched in 2022 under then-Governor Steve Sisolak. 

According to reporting by the Nevada Current, the section remained online until May 2023, as confirmed by the Wayback Machine, but was removed by early June. Lombardo, who is publicly “pro-life,” justified the decision by calling the section’s characterization of CPCs a “mischaracterization and politicization.”

“Governor Lombardo believes that crisis pregnancy centers offer critical resources, support, and care for pregnant women in Nevada,” his spokesperson Elizabeth Ray was quoted as saying.

On the other side of the political aisle, Democratic Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto has been outspoken on her condemnation of crisis pregnancy centers. In 2022, Senator Cortez Masto cosigned legislation to combat misinformation spread by crisis pregnancy centers called the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act. 

“When women need critical care, it's vital that they know all the options available to them so they can make informed decisions. Too often, women visit crisis pregnancy centers expecting comprehensive reproductive healthcare, only to encounter a different experience. This legislation aims to address misleading advertisements by these crisis pregnancy centers,” a representative for Senator Cortez Masto wrote in a statement to our reporting team.

Other crisis pregnancy centers operating in Northern Nevada are Care Net Pregnancy Center in Fallon, and Life Choices Community Pregnancy Clinic in Carson City. 

At Real Choices Women’s Center, visitors are welcomed to the center with candy bowls, cookies, and promises of compassionate care. Inside its consultation rooms, non-medically trained personnel utilize religious rhetoric and shame surrounding premarital sex as tactics to persuade young women to pursue abstinence and dissuade pregnant women from receiving abortions.  

Reporting by Lily Wright, Juliet Ojeda and Grace Kaplan shared with Our Town Reno

Former Warehouse, Gym Goes From Planned Burner Party Space to Proposed Data Center

A request is being made for a conditional use permit to turn the often changing 265 Keystone building and former city property into a data center, with discussions for this scheduled at Wednesday night’s Planning Commission meeting.

The current building which was previously used as a warehouse and then a gym would be demolished with existing overhead power lines rerouted underground.

Three years ago, after the City of Reno sold the 3.26 acre site to a private group including members of the Dolan family, the Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit at that location for amusement, recreation outside, live entertainment and a bar, tavern or lounge to be operated with an “indoor/outdoor flex-space including general retail, art exhibits and outdoor event space.”

It sounded promising.

There was lots of hype about the project called the Grand Artique Reno, to be run by the existing San Diego-based event company called Grand Artique.  Inside, cleaning up was done and a Burning Man themed party was held in October 2022.  Owners were offering shares of the business at $50,000.  

A glossy investment summary was handed out, promising revenue in the millions of dollars, with two thirds of the needed $8.8 million reported to be already raised. The brochure indicated their multi-talented team was headed by Shane and Breck Dolan, and included over 100 artists, builders, producers and curators with experience in creating immersive events.  

Eventually, vehicles were stored on the property and the plan for the Grand Artique Reno was scrapped.

A new applicant, Josh Hindo, with Kiley-Horn and Associates, is now asking for the data center conditional use permit.

In such cases, a sale is often contingent on the permit being granted. 

Controversial data centers have been in the local news cycle of late, with ongoing Council discussions on how to regulate these differently than warehouses due to their high power usage. 

Opponents who especially don’t want to see these in busy urban areas say these cause significant noise pollution, strain power grids, degrade air quality and lower residential property values.  

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025

The Tragic Death Toll of Our Locally Unhoused

In file photo above, Wendy Wiglesworth, led a tribute for unhoused friends who had died in 2021 and 2022.

The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office sent Our Town Reno a tragic spreadsheet this week documenting 77 deaths of people without a fixed address in 2024.

The cause of deaths ranged from a 55-year-old man dying of hypothermia in January in Sparks, a 38-year-old man dying of environmental heat stress in July in Reno, to four people killed after being hit by vehicles and one by a motorcycle.

The most cited cause was acute fentanyl and methamphetamine intoxication, overdose from fentanyl with other drugs or alcohol, as well as multiple deaths from pneumonia, sepsis, hangings, stab wounds, and chronic alcoholism.

Ages ranged from several 22-year-olds to two 74-year-olds. We counted 14 women on the list.

Deaths recorded since late November are still pending investigations as to cause of death.

If this is the total list, including at shelters, it would mean this tragic toll has finally reversed an eight year consecutive climb, with 96 recorded unhoused deaths in 2022 and 136 in 2023. The number was 54 in 2021, with each previous year dating back to 2016 lower and lower.

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025

Nevada Has Yet to Join, But Reno is Implicated in Rent Raising Collusion Federal Lawsuit

A federal lawsuit into the property management software company RealPage indicates it uses data to suggest rental prices to landlords, which allegedly unlawfully decreases competition and leads to collusion to raise prices.

Earlier this week, the Justice Department expanded the lawsuit to six large landlords operating in 43 states and D.C. Nevada is monitoring the action but has not yet joined.

“The amended complaint alleges the landlords — Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC (Greystar); Blackstone’s LivCor LLC (LivCor); Camden Property Trust (Camden); Cushman & Wakefield Inc and Pinnacle Property Management Services LLC (Cushman); Willow Bridge Property Company LLC (Willow Bridge) and Cortland Management LLC (Cortland) — participated in an unlawful scheme to decrease competition among landlords in apartment pricing, harming millions of American renters,” the press release indicated. “Together, these landlords operate more than 1.3 million units in 43 states and the District of Columbia.”

In Reno, according to a Washington Post analysis, the share of multifamily units managed by these companies is estimated at 24%.

Greystar is reported to operate Aspen Ridge, Ballpark Apartments, Fifteen51, The Highlands and Innova, while Cushman and Wakefield which acquired Pinnacle Property Management is reported to operate the Kallan at Verdi Village, Park on Virginia, Whittell Pointe and Zephyr Pointe.

RealPage says it’s not a monopoly and that the suit should be dismissed.

In the Justice Department press release it was indicated that Landlord Cortland agreed to cooperate and enter into a settlement “to end the use of common rental pricing algorithms and competitively sensitive data to set rents.”

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025

City of Reno Gives Update on Delayed Crak N' Grill

With concerns over breakfast and lunch spot Crak N’ Grill putting up large signs last year and getting written up by media, but not yet opening at its 301 S Wells Ave location, and then receiving City of Reno matching grants both for facade and tenant improvements, we contacted the city’s media line to get an update.

We received this lengthy response from Revitalization Manager Bryan McArdle yesterday afternoon:

“Crak N' Grill is slated to open their business soon. They are currently awaiting their final Fire and Health inspections. The physical improvements to the space took longer than anticipated due to additional work needing to be done.

Crak N' Grill was a ReStore awardee under both our Façade and Tenant Improvement grants. Crak N' Grill was awarded $14,983.00 in matching funds for Façade improvements which included replacing broken windows, fixing a leaky roof, replacing doors, and repainting the building. Crak N' Grill was also awarded $20,671.00 in Tenant Improvement matching funds to improve the interior space and kitchen, and repair water damage. The initial cost estimate to complete the work was $84,000, but they discovered that a lot of additional improvements needed to be completed to open and bring it up to code. Those improvements have been completed and grant funds were released last month.

When it comes to the ReStore Program, it's designed to enhance the visual appeal, economic vitality, and overall livability of commercial areas of downtown. Opening a business is not a requirement of the grant funding as the ReStore funds improve spaces for existing and future tenants. The intent of the program was intended to use the ARPA funding to revitalize downtown in partnership with businesses.

The ReStore Program is funded by grant money from the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). These funds have specific provisions that allow for programs like Restore for façade and tenant improvements. The rules given by the Treasury Department state that funds can be used to support small businesses in addressing the economic impacts caused by the pandemic. The funds also support stimulating economic activity in distressed areas impacted by the pandemic by allowing investments that enhance a business’s ability to operate safely and attract customers, and projects that enhance a neighborhood’s vitality.”

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025

RIP to a Community and Civic Champion, Kenny Dalton

RIP Kenny Dalton, a great man, community leader, civil rights activist, civic champion and history advocate who did so much to improve this community.

"On behalf of the City of Reno, we are deeply saddened by the passing of Kenny Dalton, one of our city's first Black firefighters in the 1980s and a trailblazing advocate who inspired and mentored many generations," Mayor Hillary Schieve wrote earlier this week.

Dalton was a past president of the Reno chapter of the NAACP and the founder of Our Story, Inc., which sought to collect, preserve and exhibit the contributions, heritage, culture, and accomplishments of people who have not been well represented in Northern Nevada’s public image.

Artifacts and memorabilia in his possession included those of boxing legend, Jack Johnson, who had won the fight of the century in Reno in 1910, and also activist Bertha S. Woodard, who petitioned the Reno City Council in 1959 to lift a ban on minorities in local casinos.

He also helped found the Northern Nevada African American Firefighter Museum and was helping plan upcoming City of Reno Black History Month celebrations.

He was a longtime member of Reno Fire Union Local 731.

A Tacoma, Washington native, Dalton moved to the Biggest Little City in the mid 1980s, where he also coached football and track.

He had attended and played football at Washington State University from 1978-1981, and later obtained an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science from TMCC.

In an interview with Our Town Reno we had asked him how he would like to be remembered.

"I’d like to be remembered as a person that was passionate, fair and treated people the way [they] wanted to be treated. That’s pretty much me," he said.

Those are ideals we should all live up to. RIP to a great man who did so much for so many and had immeasurable positive impact.
Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025

Latest Reno Art Master Plan Calls for Big Projects and Dissolving Public Art Committee

The City of Reno website has a link for its Reno Public Art Master Plan Update, which includes a vision for what could be done over the next decade, a call for bigger budgets and proposing to dissolve the city’s public art committee.

There are also seemingly contradictory statements.  One one hand, the plan mentions that “artists don’t always see clear opportunities to connect with the public art program.”

However, it then goes on to say it wants to streamline processes for artist selections for different programs, including using “pre-qualified artist lists (rosters) when appropriate to simplify artist selection processes” which would seem to exclude new artists wanting to participate, and hint toward ongoing favoritism, a common complaint.  

The plan developed by a consulting team led by Todd Bressi, known for his work in Philadelphia, calls for a Think Big approach to “launch a signature project or initiative that will capture the imagination of the entire city.”

It further details a major piece or project could explore “Reno’s relationship to light”, or that we could have a super-large mural or a multi-year Truckee River art project. 

Its Vision for Public Art in Reno section uses the controversial Seven Magic Mountains, commissioned by the Nevada Museum of Art as its cover with its lease south of Las Vegas up in 2026, and costly move to our region recently under debate at the county commission level.

A how we get there section calls for expanded art budgeting, and a  restructuring “by dissolving the Public Art Committee and assigning some of its duties to the RACC [Reno Arts and Culture Commission] and some to ad hoc “Task Forces” (expanded selection committees) that are established for each public art project or program. In this approach, the function of the RACC would generally be strengthened and expanded. The RACC duties would include recommending Annual Work Plans, recommending the appointment of members of Task Forces, recommending the approval of project plans, and recommending artist selections and concept approvals.”

On the City of Reno website it indicates “the purpose of the Public Art Committee is to express in a visible way the pride in and commitment to the arts by the City of Reno, and to share that attitude among all its citizens and visitors.”

Other big picture questions include whether these programs are meant to boost local artists over outside ones, and whether these create artwashing and high speed gentrification, whereby the paid artists themselves are priced out of areas they helped beautify.

The City Council is expected to review the plan in the coming months.

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025 

NV Energy Seeks $2.40 More Per Month From Northern Nevada Residents for Wildfire Self-Insurance

A recent application by NV Energy to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada is seeking monthly bill increases of about $2.40 in northern Nevada, so that it can establish a $500 million fund to have more liability  insurance in case a massive wildfire is caused or worsened by its own utility equipment.

Under the plan, customers in the south of the Silver State, where wildfires are much less prevalent, would see a lower increase of about 50 cents per month.

In a press release from earlier this week NV Energy called the plan “a wildfire self-insurance policy.”

“Wildfires across the United States are becoming more frequent and severe, and utilities like NV Energy must proactively manage wildfire related risks to protect customers and the communities we work to safely serve every day,” NV Energy President and CEO Doug Cannon is quoted as saying. “While NV Energy remains committed to taking actions to reduce the risk of a wildfire occurring in connection with our electric grid, as other utilities in the West have recognized, a self-insurance approach ensures that there is financial support in place in advance of a wildfire occurring to provide greater financial certainty to all involved.”

If approved, the press release indicated “the self-insurance policy will be funded on a jurisdictional basis,” explaining that Northern Nevada residents will cover a larger portion of costs because they face a higher risk of wildfires.

“The rate increase proposed for each region was determined using the same method previously approved by the PUCN for commercial wildfire insurance,” NV Energy wrote. “The policy is proposed [sic] be collected over 10 years to avoid sudden rate increases, providing stability and predictability for customers.”

This new proposal will now be considered by PUCN, which has its next meeting on January 14th.

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025