A Plea for Help from a Working Family Being Priced out of Motel

We received a plea for help today from Erin Clanton, who can no longer afford the motel room she has been living in, off and on for about two months now, with her husband and three boys, aged 9, 6 and 4, at the Vagabond Inn on South Virginia street.

She doesn't know where they will be sleeping tonight as their money has run out to afford the room.

Below parts of her story, her own description of her plight, and ways to contact her directly if you can offer her any type of support.

Erin works as a housekeeper and her husband at auctions, but even with the income they receive, they no longer can afford the $450 weekly price or $70 to $80 a night they are being charged.

Erin said both she and her husband are available for weekend side work if anyone knows of any. They moved from California about a year ago and came to Reno trying to find a fresh start, thinking it would be more affordable but have found it to be just as challenging.

In California, they last lived in the Nevada City/Grass Valley area where she was a drug and alcohol counselor and her husband was a cook.

She says her kids love Reno and their schools but now they are struggling to survive and are at a loss as to what their next step should be.

Here is her message to the community.

“Currently staying in a motel with three children, two full time jobs and still not making it. Need help right now.

No gas and not very much assistance unless you are in a DV situation or getting off drugs.

We are not on drugs [and not] in a DV situation just struggling and trying to do everything needed to care for our [kids].

We need warm winter clothing jackets. And or even help with shelter long enough to actually save some money.

[We] don’t qualify for cash assistance either because we "make too much" but not working is not an option for us.

Not begging or really asking for anything just pointing out how this world works right now.

It is hard but if we don’t stay positive and work together as people we will only grow but being negative and hateful with people, [and it] is only going to make life more difficult.”

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum, November 27, 2023

A Top Three For Coffee in the Biggest Little City

At the corner of Holcomb and Liberty, Hannah Eddy painted the words “Find Your Flow,” a potential motto for each and every small business coffee shop in Reno. No matter which one you decide to sip coffee at and enjoy the new age energy, it will always have a unique spark and flow. The vibe differs from place to place, but it never seems to disappoint in creativity. Ambiance and aesthetic are two features that define local coffee shops and put its own take on what coffee in Reno should look and feel like. 

There are three coffee shops in Reno that I consider my favorite places to stay and study or to quickly grab a delicious cup of joe on the go. 

Coming from Pleasant Hill, located in California, the only coffee shops around are the big brand name ones from huge corporations. 

Being a coffee lover since the beginning of high school, I was instantly attracted to the coffee culture in Reno when touring colleges. 

I inherited the caffeine addiction and desired tastefulness from my father. He worked at a small espresso hut stand during his high school days that originally lit the coffee grounds fire inside him. 

On my way to high school in the mornings, I would be slightly delayed by my eager father “quickly” making a Nespresso coffee for me. My job when I attended the University of Nevada, Reno was to seek out the best coffee shops for him to try when he visited me. Along my journey, I have successfully found what I believe to be my top three: Bibo Coffee Company, Perenn Bakery, and Hub Coffee Roasters. 

Bibo Coffee Company is located near the entrance of Midtown on South Center Street. The location faces the backside of the Midtown strip, providing a safety net and oasis away from the hustle and bustle. There is a patio area out front with seating and umbrellas, perfect for studying and sipping on the best americano in Reno. Served in an adorable tiny coffee mug makes it that much more enjoyable. You can distinctly taste the richness of the ARSI light roast coffee, yet it is surprisingly refreshing with hints of fruit and citrus originating from Ethiopia. 

Perenn Bakery is a small corner cafe in Midtown on Lawrence Avenue. The building is red brick and has a modern farmhouse look with an indie vibe. Their coffee is locally sourced from an organic farm in the East Sierras. They have excellent pastries and even better coffee. In my opinion, they have the best basic dark coffee blend if you are craving regular coffee, but I also really like their light roast lattes with pretty designs.

Hub Coffee Roasters is beautifully placed along the Truckee River on Riverside Drive. The location is my favorite because you can sip your coffee on their large outdoor patio while peering out at the moving river. You are easily swept into the vibrant indie energy as you step into the shop. Their americano is intense in the best way and has a nice sweet foam to top it off. They also serve a variety of lattes and chai teas. 

All of these coffee shops have their own specialty coffee blends and roasting techniques that exude Reno’s coffee culture in one delicious cup. 

Reporting by Autumn Novotny for Our Town Reno

Dentist and His Assistants Provide At School Services in Reno to Help Underserved Kids

Dr. Robert Lorber has expanded his school-based dental program to Reno, Nevada from Brooklyn, New York. This school-based program was designed to help treat underprivileged students in public Title 1 schools who don’t have access to dentists and hygienists.

(Note: Title I is a federal education program that supports low income students throughout the nation. Funds are distributed to high poverty schools, as determined by the number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch.)

I have been dental assisting for about two years now and I’ve never witnessed such an inspiring and influential environment in dentistry.

It’s disheartening when some of these students as young as four/five years old say they don’t even have a toothbrush at home or that they’ve never been to the dentist. Our goal is to create a favorable experience for these kids so they aren’t afraid to go to the dentist as they get older and to bring attention to their oral health.

We bring tons of equipment into the schools and set up stations for the students to get cleanings, sealants and treatment. I think this program is super beneficial for Reno, especially having a mother who is a Title 1 principal it’s very obvious that Title 1 students don’t get the same treatment or attention as other public schools. This program brings the community together and truly helps students in need.

Our next four schools are: Donner Springs Elementary, Hidden Valley Elementary, Roger Corbett Elementary and Anderson Elementary.

If you have kids or siblings that attend any of these schools it would be beneficial if you could assist them in getting their consent forms signed so we can help as many students as possible!

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum by Riley Virgil

A Student's Perspective on the Jacobs Entertainment Slow Development on 4th Street

While a lawyer for Jacobs Entertainment gave a vague update on how the company is pouring money into 4th street and surrounding areas at the latest Reno City Council meeting, the news this time passed with a whimper. There were some passionate public comments against the out of state developer causing so many motels to be demolished, sadly adding that empty fenced off lots are becoming the new staple of west 4th street. The YouTube feed of the meeting cut out for those not at City Council and media barely covered it. There have been growing concerns about the role city staff has been playing in facilitating the sale of more and more properties around the converted former Sands Regency hotel, now looking impersonal from the outside like most other apartment buildings being built around Reno, just with a higher density of windows.

Here below is how one student who goes to UNR views this evolution:

As a college student who came from the East Bay Area, Reno was very different to me at first. Seeing casinos, lots of motels, and lots of nightlife felt foreign. After doing some exploring in 2019 when I first arrived in Reno, the 4th Street area seemed to embody a historic Reno. Walking distance from downtown, tons of motels and casinos with cheap food and drink deals. It almost felt like a flashback of the past and it gave me a better understanding of the city as a whole. 

Flash forward to over four years since I arrived, and things look much different. Numerous empty lots are waiting to be developed. The Reno’s so-called Neon Line District seems to be an ambitious facelift. I have mixed feelings about it. On one end, I think it is great that there will be updated attractions and housing complexes in the area. On the other hand, it feels like a piece of Reno’s history is being ripped away and more historical buildings are next. 

With the Glow Plaza and the updated J, it feels like the developer wants younger people who live near the university to venture towards that direction more often, once it’s all said and done.

It seems like the city wants to rebrand itself and show people who are considering moving here that Reno is a young and fun place to live.

As someone who will be in Reno for at least a few more years, I’m excited to see how this project will turn out. I’ve only visited the J once and thought they did a great job making it feel more modern. The rest of the project I have yet to explore as I feel like it just isn’t quite ready yet.

I just hope that the city finds innovative ways to integrate new developments with the historic aspects of the city. I’m sure many locals would be sad to see history slowly ripped away from them in an attempt to attract a new audience. 

Citizen’s Forum by James Reno shared with Our Town Reno

Doug Schuster, Running Reno Antiques since 1975

“I've always liked old things and I didn't have any money and I decided to go into the antique business. 

I went in partnership with a fellow in 1973 … and it was called Victorian Restorations. And he ran his hand into a table saw in 1975 and we split the business up and there was no fight, nothing. And I came back to Reno and opened Reno Antiques.

I've had three heart attacks and two strokes and being 74 … the mind has just not worked like it used to work.

When I bought this place, I was in my twenties and I said to myself, it's important that you buy a commercial piece of property when you're young and get it paid for before you get old. And when you get old, you won't have the energy that a young business person will have, but they have a bigger overhead than you because your place is free and clear. And I can still keep up with them. 

I was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Callaway, Nebraska up by Broken Bow. And I came here from Callaway, Nebraska to Reno in 1960. 

I spent four years in the Marine Corps from 1966 to 1970.

There isn't anything worse than trying to get to a place before they close. And if you show up at one second to five, did you make it? You did. And this store will take care of you. 

If you come in and you're from New York and you're gonna spend two or $300 here and you don't have cash or a check, I trust you for it. And I don't take your name, I don't take your phone number. I take nothing. It's a hundred percent trust. And people aren't used to that and they absolutely love it. I'm sure there isn't too many of me in the United States trusting people.”

Interview and Photo by Reporter Alex Couraud

Experiencing an Open House at 1995 Dickerson

On a quiet, unassuming street in Reno, there is a warehouse. Inside, you may first be drawn to the 20 foot skeleton, the room full of tie-dyed wonders, or the colorful neon hanging from the ceiling. But if you stay awhile and zoom in, there is much more to see. 

At 1995 Dickerson you’ll find the work studios of thirteen different Reno artists. I stopped by during recent Saturday open studio hours, and had the privilege of meeting three of these artists: Lauren Huff, Meredit Tanzer and Robin Ruybalid.

They welcomed me in, and told me a bit about 1995 Dickerson and the community that has been growing there. Lauren described the Reno art community as a space where artists build each other up, and connect one another with opportunities. In a society full of competition and greed, communities like these of Reno artists are communities that should be lifted up. 

Walking from studio to studio, each artist (even those not physically present) is seen coming out through their creations. No matter the medium, beauty seeps through the warehouse. Paint, sculpture, watercolor, wood carvings– even tie dye and huge skeletons. Looking through windows into other people’s souls may remind someone that they can create those windows, too. 

“I think what I love is that people can come here and just chill out for a minute,” Meredith says about the studio. “Sometimes it's hard to find things that are free. And you don't have to come with any previous knowledge. You could just go wander around, take a little minute for yourself. Be excited to see something that maybe you didn't consider you were going to see, or do something you wouldn't have considered. You could just come here and sit down, and color, if you wanted to take a minute.”

Every third Saturday of the month, 1995 Dickerson hosts their open studios. They encourage attendees to drop by, check out all of the amazing art, and bring projects to work on in their community art space. For those who have only dabbled in art, watched a little Bob Ross, or don’t consider themselves to be “good artists”-- there is a space for you at 1995 Dickerson studios.

I sat across a table from Meredith as she happily worked on a new project. She gave me a recycled music sheet and some markers to doodle with. I asked Meredith what being an artist meant to her:

“I know that it's something that I absolutely need in my life. I love both to see it and to do it,” Meredith said. “And it's also my therapy… I'm able to connect to something far bigger than whatever's going on. Whatever I'm working on at that moment, most of the time it just takes me away. I need to have some peace in my life. It’s chaotic all the time. And sometimes sitting down and working on something that's chaotic, also is the greatest peace. I guess it means connection, to me, because it really is a connection to a spirit.”

Citizen’s Forum Contribution and Photos by Ray Grosser

Experiencing the Downtown Reno Library as a Host for Share Your Story

On the corner of Center and Liberty, a line of people forms outside. Some are chatting with one another. Others stare through the locked glass doors, thinking deeply about something. 

At ten o'clock on the dot, on a recent Friday, the doors unlock. The line seeps inside, one human at a time, drip, drip, drip. 

The downtown Reno public library doors are a portal. Suddenly, the people are off the streets of Reno. They each find themselves in a new kind of jungle. Deep green vines dangle from the ceilings, and long leaves reach out from the walls like friendly arms. 

Within this welcoming wilderness, there are places to rest. Some people bring with them all that they have. The library carries the weight of things for a while…until closing time, on Fridays, at five o’clock on the dot. 

The downtown public library opened in 1966, a gift to the people of Washoe County. In the following decades, the library has provided countless resources to the Reno community.

Hundreds of plants living and growing inside transform the space into an oasis. Recently, library systems have become battlegrounds for our immensely polarized society. But peace and community can still be found for those who need it. Before COVID-19, Our Town Reno hosted “Share Your Story” hours at the library, an opportunity for locals to sit and tell stories. Our Town Reno is starting to host “Share Your Story” hours again. Everyone has a story to tell, and yours is worth sharing. The real magic of libraries isn’t in the plants, but in how we connect with each other.

Photos and Essay by Ray Grosser shared with Our Town Reno

A UNR Student's Plea for Her Home Country Iran

For over four decades, Iran has been mired in constant turmoil, with the mere mention of the country's name evoking feelings of despair, frustration and heartbreak. A nation once thriving with a rich history and culture now finds itself grappling with a reality marked by suppression.

A pivotal moment arrived just a year ago when the Islamic Republic claimed the life of Mahsa Amini, a tragic event stemming from her opposition to covering her hair correctly.

Mahsa's death became a catalyst, breathing life into a flicker of hope. It rallied millions of Iranians, igniting a collective uprising against a regime that not only oppresses women but men and also stands in opposition to the very essence of life, freedom and prosperity. This call for change resonated beyond gender lines, uniting both men and women under the banners of "Woman, life, freedom!" and "Man, homeland, prosperity!”

The anniversary of Mahsa's death holds profound significance, symbolizing a turning point in Iran's recent history. The whole nation inside and outside of the country stood together, not giving in to the regime's pressure.

Despite threats, arrests, and even executions, the people refused to yield. Today, it's not just the elite of society who are aware, but the entire nation understands how the Islamic regime seized control of the country 44 years ago through violence, suppressing opposition groups and manipulating the media. Their unity serves as a beacon of hope, an unwavering resolve to reclaim their homeland. 

Iran, for many, is more than just a place on the map. It is a birthplace, a home, and a family, where cherished childhood friendships were formed. Yet, for some, circumstances forced departure, leaving behind a physical place but carrying the essence of homeland within their very beings.

Being Iranian is more than a mere regional identity; it is an integral part of one's broader sense of self and ethnic heritage. Today, there is a growing awareness of the profound importance of preserving this cultural legacy. In the face of adversity, the Iranian spirit endures, finding strength in unity and resilience, determined to shape a future where the echoes of despair are replaced by a chorus of hope and change.

In reflecting on Cyrus the Great's legacy from 2500 years ago, the Cyrus Cylinder,  where he advocated for principles of religious freedom and the return of displaced peoples, we are reminded of our shared ancestry. As descendants of Cyrus, we carry the torch of our cultural heritage and the promise of reclaiming our homeland. With steadfast determination, we look forward to the day when we can return to our roots, rebuilding not just physical structures, but the very essence of our collective identity.

Citizen’s Forum Contribution by Maryam Goli

Jamie Vaughn, a Local Surviving Breast Cancer and Starting a Podcast

Hello, my name is Jamie Vaughn and I have been a life long resident of Reno, Nevada. I am a recent survivor of Stage 2 HER2+ Estrogen/Progesterone Negative breast cancer. As of December 13, 2022, I am cancer free. I was treated with chemotherapy at Cancer Care Specialists and had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate DIEP Flap restorative reconstruction at Center For Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans, Louisiana.

I retired from teaching after 20 years and breast cancer tried to take me down. I had other plans though. While my journey has been an incredibly scary bumpy ride, I have learned so much along the way and I want to share my story and help others who are and will be traveling their own path through breast cancer. 

I launched my podcast, “Test Those Breasts!” on June 11, 2023, the one year anniversary of my diagnosis as a healing mechanism and to help shorten the learning curve for and inspire others who have been diagnosed and their caregivers. 

A diagnosis like mine and so many others is incredibly overwhelming and downright terrifying, especially with all of the confusing information that is thrown at us.  The more resources we have, such as my podcast, the better. I interview various physicians, such as breast surgeons, oncologists, nurses, radiologists, survivors, caregivers, various types of therapists, and more. 

If you feel that you can add value to my show and would like to interview with me, please go to this link and fill it out. https://bit.ly/3rgIKgF

Likewise, if you have a podcast and think I could add value by interviewing, please email me at TestThoseBreasts@gmail.com. 

My podcasts can be found on Apple, Spotify, and several other platforms. It has grown organically so far, so listening, reviewing, rating, and sharing is incredibly helpful. Remember to Test Those Breasts!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/test-those-breasts/id1691009242

https://spotify.link/0Ga9cIwZ8Cb 

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum, September 2023

The Echoes of Lahania: UNR Grad Connects with Husband's Devastated Family and Friends in Maui

It eats everything as it goes, jumping from house to house, feeding off the foliage, but it's too hungry. So it continues to grow, eating like it's at a buffet, paying no mind to the screams and panic that residents release into the air within bellows of smoke. Many run to their cars, some just run straight into the water all in hopes of escaping the flames. And while some may have escaped the flames, the devastation is still there.

“Everything is gone,” Nick says to me in shock, my husband, my best friend of the past five years, since we met in the library at University of Nevada, Reno. The same man that proudly represented his hometown Lahaina, Maui back in that library to this very day. Always claiming how it’s the most beautiful place and how the close knit community made him the person he is today.

He drops down onto the couch to continue scrolling through horror that is happening thousands of miles aways. But even the distance doesn’t lessen the reality and impact it has on him. Frantically, he calls and messages everyone he can think of to make sure they are safe.

Many don’t answer until hours later when they have service again. And when they do, they recount the traumatic scene they just witnessed. 

The once bustling town of Lahaina that was weeks ago filled with life is now reduced to ashes. The same streets Nick would ride his longboard on, are littered with burnt vehicles, some still carrying the unfortunate souls that didn’t make it out in time. The friends' homes that had been in their families for generations, some of which were built by their own families hands are gone. Countless memories from multiple generations, lost to the flames.

I can still remember hearing him, describing skating down the streets during his youth, the stories of him and his friends wandering aimlessly through the very town that we now watch engulfed in flames. Over and over again, video after video, Tik Tok, Facebook, Instagram, even LinkedIn we watch his childhood burn. But we can’t stop watching, it’s like we ourselves are chained to the screens. Stuck in a pit of desperation and helplessness we read the struggles of the community he grew up in. Posts asking for donations: water, gas, food, clothes, anything to help them and their families get by.

We read the statements and cry that the donations are being unreceived. That even some with donations are being turned around due to the organization and chaos. Claims that the Red Cross is not providing the necessary assistance to the community circulate more as the days go by. We click and share as many of the Gofundmes as we can find, and plan financially how we can shift some money to help. We are grateful that locals from neighboring islands are coming by boat and handing off donations directly to the Maui residents. 

While those affected by the fire are receiving more care now, the struggle to preserve through the trauma and the physical remains of the natural disaster is still an obstacle for many. To just get to California from Maui, and that’s if your ID, and wallet weren’t lost to the fire and can afford plane tickets is a five-hour flight. Making resources that much more difficult to receive, and that much more detrimental to the community. It wasn’t until recently that many locals were without power,gas, and water.

Nick's friends' posts are littered with the same question of why not leave their home? Why not pack what little to nothing they have left and leave the home of their ancestors. The land they were all raised to care and respect and see as part of their own families. A simple question on the outside, but a loaded and complex one underneath.

“A girl from my bible study, her whole family’s home was burnt down. Her own family built those homes,” Nick shows me. 

Two-thousand structures were lost or damaged by the fires according to CNN, and while there are still parts of the island that were physically unaffected by the fires, there is still much to do and as well as a sense of responsibility, to find the family that is still unaccounted for and to “kokua” to their community in this time of need.

“It looks like something out of Pompeii, you wouldn’t recognize it,” Nick’s friend says after searching burnt out sites.

For the past few days, Aldri Constantino has been looking for his brother Allen Constantino, with his cousin John Bigonaro, and several other family members. Since the fire, no one has known where Allen or his mother are, and his family have been looking frantically since. At one point, there was hope that the two were found and marked safe, but upon further investigation it was not the case.

Another member of their family had checked into the local emergency shelter and because they signed their names at check in, the household was marked safe. What felt like a light at the end of the tunnel and finally some good news on Allen and his mother’s disappearance, was ripped away. On August 15th, Nick and his other friends shared the same posts. It was Allen’s birthday.

I watched Nick “leave” as he looked through the photos, getting lost in the memories of his friends. For a brief moment he smiles at the quote he sees on a photo shared by another family member of Allen’s. The quote “there must be someone cutting onions today ,” alongside a photo of Allen and his mom on a tv screen, Nick looks at me stating it perfectly reminds him of Allen. Nick recounts a memory when Allen got upset and said that onions must be being cut, to hide the fact he was tearing up. Meanwhile the hope to find Allen and his mom still burns bright.

Maui police and other organizations have asked families that are still searching for missing loved ones to provide DNA samples to help with identifying the departed. According to CBS, over a thousand people are still missing or are unaccounted for.

The Red Cross has announced that they do have a phone line to help look for missing persons, and identify the victims that were lost in the fire. Many locals have gone to using social media making their own google spreadsheets sharing within the community to find family and friends. Others have taken to the streets, to search for them on their own in the rubbles much like Allen’s family.

If you would like to help any of the local Maui residents many have taken to GofundMe to create accounts like this one for Allen’s family.

Citizen’s Forum Contribution by Reynolds School of Journalism graduate Tatiana Ramirez

Favorites from Reno's Art Signals Utility Box Program

Summer reporter Aimee Arellano wanted to do a series on some of her favorites from the Art Signals utility box painting program she regularly comes across.

According to the City of Reno website, these signal boxes “serve as canvases for original art pieces painted by local artists, residents, students and community members of all ages.”

The program started in 2008 and has grown to about 50 painted signal boxes, from downtown Reno to the North and South Valleys.  

Artists, who are paid $750 after completion, apply each Spring, with designs approved by the Public Art Committee and Reno Arts and Culture Commission before they are painted.

Here’s what Aimee wrote: “Something I love about Reno is all the little details of the city that add more color to life.  It’s fun to be able to be sitting in your car, waiting at a red light and turning your head to see an amazing painting. Looking at every detail of each painting only shows how much thought and work goes into it. A true round of applause to each artist that continues to add some beauty to our city. 

I have three favorites of the ones I’ve seen, I love how picture perfect the wolf by the artist Vaka  is. The up close face makes you feel like it is looking right at you, and it is a great homage to our Wolf Pack mascot. I love how the Reno one by Mike Moreno is graffitied and the colors that were incorporated in it, as well as the “West Coast Living” written on the side to add more character. Another favorite is the one with the heart in the center by Cathy Ashworth with all the different pieces of designs meeting in the middle. Each one of them is a representation of our city in their own way and are beautifully done.” 

Others in photos include work by Megan Jewett, Traci L Turner and Rodney Herrera.

Citizen’s Forum Contribution by Aimee Arellano

Nights of Fire at the Hot August Nights in Sparks

Crowds are pouring in to Sparks for the annual car parade and drag race. Smoke fills the air with the smell of diesel.

"It’s amazing... It’s the first time I’ve worked here... And it’s really fun" -Michelle F.

The National Anthem starts and the wind blows as engines roar.

There is a race where a four cylinder shuts down the V-5 and another where a Buick Skylark 455 takes it. A man in the crowd screams at the fastest match. He says, "that’s going to be fifty dollars a tire.”

The announcer: "I think he's going to be stuck paying for dinner tonight."

The Camaro wins. “Thanks for coming out to the Nugget…!”

Citizen’s Forum Contribution by Dani DeRosa

John, Unhoused, Giving Out Haircuts to Friends for Free in Reno

You never know what you will see on the side of the road while driving in Reno. As I was driving down Keystone, I noticed two gentlemen on the side of the road — one was getting a haircut and the other was giving it. I was so intrigued at the fact that they were just standing on the sidewalk of such a busy street and were unbothered enough to start cutting hair in the middle of the day. 

I learned their names are John (white shirt) and Jim (sitting down). Both said they are unhoused but doing the best they can.

John said he just started getting into cutting hair again. He got interested in cutting hair as a teenager when he would be hanging out with his friends listening to music and messing around with different ways to cut their hair. Even though he might go long periods without cutting hair he says he always gravitates back to it.

I asked John if he ever asks for anything in exchange for a haircut. Although he said he hadn't thought about doing that he said it would be a good idea to exchange goods for one. He usually only cuts hair for the people he knows personally. John says cutting hair allows him to clear his mind and provides distraction to make days go by faster. 

Jim and John have known each other for only a few months but say they have grown a good friendship and enjoy the time they get to share together. They both stay in different places but will frequently meet to catch up.

Citizen’s Forum Contribution by Aimee Arellano

Still Feeling Priced Out in Reno And Wondering Why

With recent data indicating investment companies now own about one fourth of all single-family homes, with that number quickly rising, and new platforms now allowing small-time investors to buy shares of rental homes and vacation rentals starting from $100, one reader contributed the comment below in italics.

They said they wanted to remain anonymous as they said they are “actively looking for a house and don't want it to be a deal breaker or deterrent,” but are growing increasingly frustrated with their searches on Zillow, and seeing so many out of reach flipped houses on the market.

I want to know how many flippers and investment companies buy houses in town. I am very tired of looking at houses to only see they were purchased within the last couple of years and then they are on the market for over double. I want to know if there is any legislat[ion] in place to prevent institutions from owning too many properties and if there are any rules/laws that help individuals to buy affordable (below 350k) housing. Because it really seems like it is impossible and any property I see below 350k is in contract within days as long as it isn't a tiny condo.

Please, I am looking for answers and help on what city council or the state [are] doing to get people into homes. Please note: I know about all first time home-buyers benefits, but I am not a first time home buyer. Due to unfortunate circumstances, I had to sell and move into an apartment. I have a decent salary, and down payment and can't buy any of the houses on the market. I am not alone in this situation. We need answers.

Comment contributed to Our Town Reno, July 2023

The Value of Volunteering in a Preseason Great Reno Balloon Race Outing

On July 7th, 2023, I took a chance to volunteer with the GRBR (Green Reno Balloon Race).

I met Ken Azevedo, who pilots the Gooberfish balloon, along with other friendly volunteers. I was so nervous to interact with people I didn't know but willing to try something new! I am incredibly grateful that I could take flight on my first day as a new volunteer. 

I felt a deep sense of peace when we ascended over my community, and I saw the vibrancy of the sunrise pouring over all of the green trees. I had an excellent conversation with Ken throughout the flight. I felt like I was levitating like Criss Angel. 

Our flight ended when we landed in the field of Traner Middle School, where I was a student. I was so happy to greet families in the neighborhood and staff members as we stored the balloon. I learned so much in just a few short hours. 

I was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. 

The Great Reno Balloon Race at Rancho San Rafael will always remain a positive memory for me, especially one I hold dear with my mother, who died when I was in kindergarten in 2003. We lived impoverished in a studio apartment next to the 7-11 on Virginia Street before she died, and I remember spending one morning at the park together watching the hot air balloons. It was one of the most beautiful days and a rare memory of her genuine smile. 

After 20 years, I decided that I wanted a proper internment for my mom’s ashes, and we finally laid them to rest in her hometown of Stockton, California, in June 2023, after staying at different relatives' homes over the years. Her birthday is July 8th, just one day after my flight on Gooberfish. 

I was raised by my father who struggles with severe mental illness and went to middle school and high school in one of the most stigmatized communities in Reno at both Traner Middle School and Hug High School. I am the first in my family to graduate from the University of Nevada, and I’m now an adult navigating the repercussions of developmental trauma. 

If you’re reading this, please know that you are so valuable because of your past and any of your current struggles with mental illness because you are still here with us, marching on. Please know that you deserve to enjoy your community, and you can have good days!!

Thank you! 

Citizen’s Forum Contribution by Sierra “Renegade” Stevens

Note: Minor modifications were made to original text for clarity.

An Ode to the Truckee River

Each and every person at the river's edge in Reno has their own stories, and all see the Truckee River in their own different and unique ways. 

For some, the river provides an escape, a chance to take the day to relax and fish — or maybe it is their adrenaline rush for the day as they brave the torrent of water on a measly raft.

Some come by to share their love of music, softly tapping out a beat on drums as people pass by. 

Another guy is seen trying to escape the police by leaping into the dangerous water. 

The rocks hold the battle scars from the relentless current, constantly pulling at them.

The Truckee River carries along its history in the water that once was snow, telling its story to those who care to listen.

Essay and Photos by Kesley Morris shared with Our Town Reno

From the Bay to the Biggest Little City, a Comparison

POV. You just moved here from the Bay, and you have no idea of what to expect from Reno.

If you’re like me, you would be completely culture shocked for a while. However, as someone who has lived here for about six years now, I am here to say that it eventually grows on you. 

Once you get over the initial dread of the fact that this is NOT the Bay Area in the slightest, you begin to enjoy and love Reno for what it actually is; The Biggest Little City. 

Growing up in Oakland, I have always been surrounded by metropolitan areas. There are so many surrounding cities that make up the Bay, and because everything is relatively close, you are able to discover a new spot in the Bay almost every single day.

This factor alone made me have a bit of trouble grasping the concept of Reno. I will admit however it is cool and reassuring to know that you can’t really get lost out here simply because of how McCarran boulevard is structured. 

Coming from the Bay or anywhere in California to Reno is a bit of an adjustment, however you learn to enjoy what is here. 

For one, you have to at least try to explore the beautiful nature. Take a hike! Or walk along the Truckee river to truly take in the beauty that this place has to offer. I still have to go up to ski, but that should also be an activity on your radar. We don’t have snow-capped mountains in the Bay, so take advantage of what is here at least once in your Reno stay. 

If you are here during the summer, try to check out the Rib cookoff. When I say delicious, I mean DELICIOUS.

If ribs are not your thing, try to also check out Food Truck Fridays. They have loads of different food options. You can bring a picnic blanket and take a seat on the grass while enjoying food and warm weather. 

If you are trying to find a community, try searching local Instagram, Facebook or Tik Tok pages to see if there are others out there with the same hobbies/ interests.

Since this is Reno, it is very likely that there is a small group out there somewhere that shares the same hobbies as you. For me, I joined different organizations that were involved in community activism, arts and culture, and from there, I was able to find people who were passionate about the same things that I was. 

If there are no visible communities with your interests, you can also start one yourself! There are so many niched Reno organizations that have started by posting and reaching out on Instagram. If it is not represented yet, step into that leadership role! It may be intimidating, but who knows, there could be someone out there looking for the exact form of community that you can provide. 

Honestly Reno is different, and it is indeed a little weird, but overall, it has been a place of growth for my friends and I.

We have all been pushed out of our comfort zones just by living here, but we have grown into a tighter community of individuals because of it, and I think that is truly the beauty of Reno.

Citizen’s Forum contribution by Arianna Pride

Living on 9th Street , Near the Freeway and Train Tracks, Amid a Housing and Fentanyl Crisis

Growing up in southwest Reno I almost never went to downtown or Midtown. This was for a few reasons. The first being that Midtown wasn’t really developed then, and downtown didn’t have much to offer me.

But secondly, many people in Reno don’t venture very far from their home. South Reno people stay in the south and north Reno people stay in the north for the most part.

Two years ago, my freshman year of college, I moved out of southwest Reno for the first time into a quite unique neighborhood. 

I live right next to the University of Nevada, Reno campus, and specifically right next to the new HERE apartments. My street is filled with sounds of cars driving and sirens blasting as it looks directly over I-80. And if the cars are quiet, the train rumbling down the tracks is quick to fill the silence. A street over from me is Roller Kingdom, which weirdly attracts both suspicious characters and children, a strange combination.

Fence that separates  I-80 and E 9th St. and the train tracks that run through the street. Photographed by Macie King

Any student at UNR understands the tricky dynamic of having a campus near downtown, which in our case has casinos, hard on their luck gambling addicts and drifters. Living in my neighborhood amid an affordable housing crisis and a fentanyl epidemic has allowed me to witness these issues very closely.

I have been able to see a homeless camp grow from two tents to 20 in less than a week. Cars that were once abandoned are filled with clothes and blankets the next.

As I mentioned before, Roller Kingdom brings in quite the crowd. Behind the building you can find clothes, suitcases, needles, and occasionally a person overdosing. Ambulances and police are often making visits over to the bright pink and blue building. 

The only thing separating my street from the freeway is a chain link fence. And often this fence is climbed through by the unhoused to set up camps surrounding the freeway. The view out of my front window is typically tents and trash scattered around the landscape surrounding the freeway.

To the right of my house are train tracks. Which also brings in a large unhoused population. Let me be clear though, people experiencing homelessness have never tried to harm me or any of my roommates. They stay to themselves and are really just looking for a place to sleep.

And I would say my neighborhood has been a wonderful place to live while attending college. Mainly because I’m saving $500 a year in parking passes. But also because it’s allowed me to squash my previous mindset about those experiencing homelessness and living in a neighborhood that’s not always sunshine and rainbows. I’ve also learned to be more appreciative of life in general. Seeing a person live in a tent with Reno’s weather during the winter is never easy to see and pushes me to invest time in my community and help whenever possible. 

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum by Macie King

Op-Ed: Jim Fleming Blasts Recent Shifts on Fentanyl Related Legislation for Nevada

Following last minute shifts last week, a companion bill to another bill which would enhance fentanyl penalties was significantly amended to the ire of Jim Fleming who wrote the below letter to David Orentlicher, Sarah Peters, Leslie Cohen and Greg Koenig, members of the Assembly Health Committee. Here below is his letter republished in full from his LinkedIn:

You people on the health and human services committee and the lobbyists who convinced you to choose expediency and hand-washing over the lives of addicts--you have turned in a piss-poor day's work here. The original version of this bill would have saved lives. Would have fixed Nevada's worst-in-the-nation cause of death stats. Instead we are choosing butt-covering. 

To be clear, with this amendment, this committee is CHOOSING willful ignorance, choosing not to honor hundreds of dead young folks by refusing, literally refusing to learn from their deaths. Refusing to go back through cases, confirm that our analytical tech and practices lag behind all other states and academic facilities for determining chemical cause of death. 

I'm ashamed of you and my home state-- not only are we refusing to actually review overdoses, but this bill negates progress, sucks up valuable resources, and in facts shuts down investigations that would have taken place throughout the state. Science, hypothesis testing, asking the right questions, humbly reviewing past cases and maybe gently pointing out where somebody screwed up, empiricism and honoring the deaths of fentanyl overdose victims by learning from them-- all those concepts, the obvious course of action to any child or anyone giving a shit, those are not allowed in the room, or in most of the state.  If you aren't going to help, get out of the way.

Big edit and update....there's a solid argument that the State of Nevada WILL BE FINANCIALLY LIABLE FOR EVERY FENTANYL OVERDOSE if this gutted, do-nothing version of AB132 gets passed.

And yeah I know legislators are immune from lawsuits in NV, but oh shooky dookies, turns out a couple people....in a position to know...will not carry the state’s water in a hypothetical deposition situation or whatever.

1. the committee itself wasn't pulling the strings when it was finally amended and voted upon.. The legislative process, counter to the public benefit, was subverted by pressure from etc. etc.

2. NV HHS has known for a long time that their response to the fentanyl crisis is at best incompetent and negligent. They were repeatedly told this...
a. implicitly by the published overdose stats of neighboring state agencies.
b. the CDC, and in fact there is a resident CDC overseer placed in Nevada because of the incompetence with overdose stats.
c. a consultant report by Mercer, paid for by HHS which goes into great detail about what in the states epidemiology reports is wrong, and how to fix it.
d. national data collection projects like SUDORS which every state except Nevada has figured out how to contribute meaningfully to.
e. Report from NV Minority Health Committee also showing that Nevada is dangerously negligent with regard to fentanyl AND that that cultural incompetence at all levels of HHS is literally killing people.
f. Formal complaint to Dept. of Justice demonstrating fraud waste and abuse of a SAMSHA block grant for substance abuse amelioration and study.
g. Virtually any statistician can show dangerous levels of incompetence by NV HHS analysts, specifically failure to identify a left censorship problem in overdose toxicology data that any child could have recognized as the result of fentanyl analyte insensitivity in various medical examiner labs.

AND THESE PROBLEMS WERE ALL REPORTED BY EXPERTS FOR YEARS WITH NO RESPONSE BY HHS.

3. AND finally....the coup de grace....we have the original draft of bill 132. Legislators understood the necessary steps to get ahead of the crisis. Comprehensively, and with all the expert input. And the bill was "gutted", their word, and amended down to nothingness. They had the knowledge, the means, and the ability to institute improved overdose response and chose to do the opposite. It’s a matter of public record.

4. Nevada instituted no monitoring, no insight, has no street game, no community contacts, no quick response system, and no tracking of changing adulterants in the supply.

5. thousands of victims' families who have been heartless[ly'] gaslit by NV HHS when it failed to ID the real cause of their accidental deaths.

6. The AG can't blame the victims after accepting the settlement from big pharma and tacitly blaming pharm for all the addiction.

I hope they bankrupt this state.

Op-ed by Jim Fleming shared with Our Town Reno

Note: The view’s expressed in this op-ed are entirely from Jim Fleming, as no edits were made to his letter.

Hilary, From Covid to the Cares Campus

Hilary was residing at the Cares Campus when I met her this Winter.

“My experience has not been so lovely,” she said.

She filed discrimination charges with a local housing authority. She admits this with a small, nervous laugh. She trails off, asking how much of her story I’d like to know. She’s been trying to have her story heard for a long time. 

Hilary has resided in Reno since 1984, briefly leaving to go to college. She returned to raise her now eight-year-old son by herself. That’s when she built her massage business. “I also was a goldsmith,” she says.  “I traveled to Washington and I did jewelry repair once a month. I traveled back and forth and my folks helped me with my son.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic happened Hilary said her entire life collapsed.

“(It) slowly deteriorated my existence.” she said. 

A car passes by as we sit on rocks outside of the Cares Campus. “Especially in this town… it’s been really awful.” 

In April of 2020, Hilary says her Section 8 voucher was approved as part of COVID-19 relief programs. But then she says it was abruptly cut off. Around the same time, she says she received a note on her door saying they were raising her rent by $500. Hilary was facing approximately $2,400 due. 

“At that point in time I was between vehicles-”

What sounds like a muscle car burbles along and she falls silent until it passes. 

“-and so I didn’t have a vehicle and, oh my God, it was everything all at once.”

She let go of her massage business. This is when she turned to Amazon for a potential source of income. 

Amazon promised her a $1,000 sign-on bonus. “It took them four months for them to get the background check. I have no idea why. They said it was because I moved a lot in my twenties. Which I did.” But when her background check was finalized, Hilary was already living on the streets.

She had her son stay with her mother. 

“I’ve been homeless almost an entire year. This was my worst fear. I don’t know how I’m going to do this.” She began to cry. “I’ve been fighting. All that really matters is my son’s future. The three main things that matter are community, unity and agriculture. We are in a climate crisis. People are going to kill people because we do not live in unity at all. America is not united. We don’t live by the Ten Commandments.”

One of her friends Michael comes up to us to ask for a cigarette. “He’s got like twelve different personalities, God bless him,” she laughs; a more cheerful laugh. 

She got a car again but then she says it was stolen.  A woman involved in the theft asked Hilary to take her to a store where she, the thief, removed the key from the ignition. They went into the store. The thief “proceeded to fill a shopping cart with clothes and shoes and whatnot and bailed and took (the) car with her.” 

Hilary says her car was returned to her “because I was also familiar with a lot of people on the street.” Problems didn't end there though.

“My catalytic converter was stolen out of it," she remembers. "From then on I don’t know who, what, how, when, why, where but I started having a lot of people follow me… in white vehicles. I was stalked out by what I think was human trafficking.”

We are interrupted by someone asking if she has a phone they can use. She replied “I don’t. I’m sorry. Mine’s dead.”

“I was at my friend’s house and kept seeing a signal. It was a light and it would turn on. A white car would go around me twice. This was still when my catalytic converter was still on. And then I sat in there and I saw a light flicker on again. And another white car encircled me twice. And about four different white cars encircled me. The fourth one was a humongous car with these really big, bright beams. Which was very unusual. I haven’t even seen cops have beams…”

My phone rings. I am on my way to meet a friend.

Our interview ends. 

I email her about this article. Hilary replied and she seems to be okay. She didn't want to do a phone call though so there won't be follow up questions for the immediate future.  

Reporting and photos by Dani DeRosa shared with Our Town Reno