Beyond the Petition, a Call to Speak out to Help Our Libraries after WC1 Defeat

When I was researching ballot questions before the election, I stumbled across an article from *The Journalist’s Resource* about how confusing ballot wording can sway voters. Basically, if someone doesn’t know much about an issue or is reading the question for the first time in the booth, they’re more likely to vote "no" or skip it altogether if it's filled with convoluted jargon.

That’s exactly what happened with WC1. The wording was super complicated and made it seem like a tax increase. If you didn’t already know this funding had been coming out of your property taxes since 1994, voting "no" made sense. I’ve even talked to people who regret their vote after learning more—they didn’t realize this would put the library’s funding at risk.  

When I saw the library director’s statement about potential budget cuts, I started rage-posting on Instagram. At first, I was just sharing ways to email the commissioners and a draft of what I planned to say at the next meeting. Then I thought, why not turn this into a petition?  

Now, I’m asking people to join me at the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting on November 19th, 10:00 AM(1001 E. Ninth Street, Building A, Reno). Show up, sign up for public comment, and tell them why you love the library. You don’t have to be fancy—just share how the library has helped you.  

Can’t make it? Submit a comment online here: 

https://washoe-nv.granicusideas.com 

We’ve got until mid 2025, when the budget is finalized, to keep the pressure on. Showing up to this meeting is a great start, but we’ll need to stay engaged to make sure the library gets the funding it deserves.  

If you’re curious, check out how to stay involved on the petition site here:

https://sites.google.com/view/wclibraryfunding/get-involved

I threw it together quickly, so some features like the response counter might be a little funky on mobile, but hey, it works!  

Let’s make this happen. See you on the 19th!  

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum Contribution by Bradley Leavitt 

New Petition to Preserve Funding for Libraries after WC-1 Fails

A new petition called “Preserve Funding for Washoe County Libraries” is now making the rounds after WC-1 failed, getting less than 48% of yes votes.

According to the wording on ballots a "yes" vote supported adopting a property tax of $20 per $100,000 of assessed value for 30 years to fund the acquisition, improvement, and maintenance of library facilities in Washoe County.

Library proponents have complained the question was unclear, since property taxes won’t be changing due to the no vote, rather automatic allocation to our county libraries will disappear.

A reader wrote us the following “With ballot question WC-1 being turned down, the library system could lose $5 million in funding. It seems that lots of people were confused by the wording of the question and didn't realize voting NO would decrease library funds.

I have a petition for the county commissioners and the link is here: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSeGZwu73ZG1G0.../viewform

The library budget will now be controlled by the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners, with fears there will need to be drastic cuts in staff, book budgets and technology.

The petition indicates: “We, the undersigned residents of Washoe County, urge the County Commissioners to ensure the Washoe County Library System continues to receive the same level of funding it has been allocated through the property tax override since 1994. With the failure of ballot measure WC1, the two cents per $100 of assessed property value will no longer be designated specifically for the library. While these funds will now go into the county’s general fund, we ask that you prioritize maintaining this critical funding for our library system.

The failure of WC1 was due, in part, to the misleading wording of the ballot question, which caused many voters to believe this was a new tax or a tax increase. In reality, this was a renewal of an existing tax that has been in place for 30 years. This misunderstanding likely swayed the outcome, despite the broad support our community has for the library system.

For decades, the Washoe County Library System has used this funding to expand and sustain vital community resources. It allowed for the construction of the Northwest Reno, South Valleys, Incline Village, and Spanish Springs libraries, as well as significant renovations to branches in Sparks and downtown Reno. This funding has ensured robust services, even during difficult economic times like the Great Recession.

Our libraries are one of the last free, public resources available to all residents, regardless of income. They provide access to books, technology, educational programs, and community spaces, making them essential “third spaces” where people can learn, connect, and grow outside of home and work.”

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum, November 2024

Citizen's Forum: Experiencing an Assault and Getting Kicked Out of 5 Star Saloon

On Friday, November 1st, my friends and I went to 5 Star Saloon on West Street and were wrongfully assaulted and kicked out.

Below I have included the review I left on their page detailing what happened. My friend who was assaulted on the curb and brutally beat up has requested that his identity remain anonymous. He currently has a black eye and a chipped tooth.

I used to go here and I always felt welcomed but they’ve obviously changed their staff.

[On Nov. 1] I went with my friends to this saloon for the first time in a while and I was really looking forward to it.

When we walked in, my friend's ID was checked per usual, and then he was immediately thrown out. I was confused, as I stood there and watched the security re-enter thé bar, ask my friend and boyfriend if they knew the guy he just threw out, to which they responded yes, equally as confused as I.

This aggressive security guard then grabbed my friend and threw him out, while he grabbed my boyfriend, (still inside their establishment) and punched him in the side.

My boyfriend was thrown out and I was scared for my safety as I watched the security man begin to approach me. I ran out to ask what was happening and I saw my friend being choked out on the curb, bleeding, and I thought he wasn’t breathing.

I was screaming, asking what was happening and the security guard came out and said ‘Look at your friend! He's getting what he deserves! That’s going to be you next if you don’t leave!’

This employee did nothing to stop this stranger from beating up my friend and instead he encouraged it.

The 5 Star staff claimed they did not know the man who beat up my friend, however they seemed to be acquainted with him, holding his things for him while he brutally attacked my friend, and after the beating they were nothing but kind to him.

We kept asking the security what happened to possibly warrant my friend getting beaten up on the curb and for my boyfriend to be punched in the side inside the establishment.

His response was that my friend flipped him off while handing him his ID. He was being a ‘smart ass’ and he got what ‘he deserved.’ While flipping someone off is certainly unkind, it DOES NOT warrant a security guard aggressively kicking out my two friends and cheering on the beating of my other friend. When I asked for his name he threatened me and my boyfriend as well as my other friend, telling us to wait until he got off work, alluding that he would beat us up himself. I feel extremely unsafe every going back to this establishment. As a person who is part of the LGBTQ+ community I am extremely disheartened that 5 Star has become such a dangerous place.

I included screenshots of the security guard who was overly forceful and aggressive with us as well as the man in the beige hoodie who brutally beat my friend.

Both of them refused to give me their names and said ‘it's not important.’

When we tried to get a contact from 5 Star security to discuss the matter they told us their business doesn't have an email, or phone number or social media.

My boyfriend had to pester them for about 30 minutes before they agreed to give us an email to contact about the issue. However they do have social media on Snapchat and Instagram as well as an email, phone number, and contact form online … which they told us they did not have.

In one of the videos my friend was saying she didn't know who the man getting beat up was because we were scared for our safety. However, once we found out the reason he was brutally beaten, myself and my boyfriend stayed and asked for an explanation while our other friends got our beat up friend home safely.

Unfortunately, when the cops showed up our friend was on his way home so nothing was done.

Citizen’s Forum Contribution by Lauren Juillerat

Darrel, Trying to Survive at the Cares Campus and in Reno in His Wheelchair

“Being in a wheelchair, just trying to get around, Reno's roads suck. There's cracks everywhere and everything. It's up and down. Cracks and slides. But I do like Reno.

I think it's a beautiful place. And for the most part, there's kind people here, and it just depends on which area you're in.

I’m Darrel. I’m 44 and I used to work in a restaurant as a server. I’ve also been an EMT. 

Last winter, I slipped on black ice and broke my tibia, fibula, ankle, and part of my foot. I lost my apartment a month later because I lost my job.

In my wheelchair, it takes me two hours just to get to a gas station.

I used to live right there, near the Wild River Grille.  

I am now staying at the Cares Campus, which feels horrible. 

There's a lot of people who just, they treat you like they're above you. 

I couldn't work, so I ended up there.  If I can find a job that allows me to kind of stumble around and use my wheelchair, I’d be happy to work again. 

During the day, I try to come closer to downtown so I can stay away from all the anger and there's a lot of vulgar language. You know? Down on 4th Street?

And the food sucks at the Cares Campus. I refuse to even go to the food section. They, like, serve the same stew. Or it’s things that don't go together. And then they feed you at four o'clock. That's dinner.

And then breakfast is at six o'clock in the morning. But they only give you a doughnut. And they took away the coffee, which I don't drink anyways. I don't care. I try to eat my meals elsewhere.  

But what if someone's diabetic? So they don't eat in the morning. From four o'clock in the afternoon. Like, what if they don't have food stamps?

I mean, it does help people, and there's a lot of people who may have some good case managers, and they really try to get you out of there. 

Certain people, they treat differently. I'm not gonna lie.

As long as it's sunny and I'm out of there, that's a good day if I can go somewhere peaceful.

That's why I come over to the river and stuff, where it's quiet, and I can have conversations.

It's a better environment for me mentally. 

We should have a book club at the Cares Campus, or have something to get people mentally stimulated instead of just waiting.

Like something to keep their mind off of their urges.

They need things that are more positive and not just everyone talking down to you. 

My message to the community? Just be positive to each other, and you'll receive positivity.

If you're sending out negativity, you're gonna receive negativity.”

Our Town Reno reporting by Joey Azar and Nate Vallin

Erin, On Reno's Streets after Incarceration, Praying for a Turnaround

“I am doing pretty good, actually, versus what I've just recently went through.

My nickname is Hillbilly. My real name is Erin. It's the Scottish version from Aaron from in the Bible. 

My family is Scot-Irish, Norwegian and Cherokee.

I came into this city 33 days ago and was only in this city for two whole days and then me and my wife had a little dispute and we were on a honeymoon, and I ended up going to jail… 

And then I was in there for 32 days and I just got released two nights ago and found out my car and my service animal are gone. 

We met on Facebook seven months ago and got married four months into it at a music festival and just decided to travel to the West Coast.

So now I'm just trying to pick up what shattered pieces I have left and make a new puzzle.

Or a stained glass arrangement… or … make a new mosaic out of this monstrous picture, and then the Lord is going to be in it.

 All my life I've always wanted a family. I'm 35. I kind of pictured having a career, a house, a car and a family and kids running around at about 25.”

Reporting by Alin Beane shared with Our Town Reno

Salem Lynn, Local Fantasy Series Author Advocates for Mental Health

“My name is Salem Lynn and I am a born and raised Renoite. I am a proud trans man and single parent, and very passionate about my craft. I began writing as soon as I knew what writing was and haven't looked back, and now am getting ready to release my second novel!

I want to use my successes to advocate for mental health. My debut book series was inspired by a decade long psychosis that I was able to recover from, but for many that is not a reality. I want to open the doors to talk about mental health in a real, broad sense and hopefully, through bringing awareness to these issues, show people that people can recover and be good to themselves, and they do deserve it.

My book is based on the psychosis I experienced. I used the things I once believed to be wholly real, and turned them into a unique fantasy series that explores themes of abusive relationships and standing up for what you believe in even at great personal cost, even when it's terrifying to face.

You can find my book, Something So Lovely, at our local Barnes and Nobel,  Thistle and Nightshade, and on Amazon. The sequel, Something So Vicious, will be available on ebook February 2025 with print copies to follow.

My email is the best way to reach out if you have any questions or comments and for all business inquiries: salem.lynn316@gmail.com

I am always happy to hear from fans! You can connect with me and keep up with any announcements by finding me on TikTok, Instagram, and Threads under the username "author.salem". 

Citizen’s Forum Contribution, October 2024

Adam, a Local Sales Associate at a Reno Vitamin Shoppe

Adam ​Schallberger values healthy living and ensuring that consumers take the proper vitamins and supplements. He believes that health is wealth and that people should focus more on what goes on in their bodies.

"I ​really ​believe ​and ​kind ​of ​live ​by ​the ​whole ​idea ​that ​health ​is ​wealth. ​I ​enjoy ​learning ​about ​how ​to ​take ​care ​of ​my ​body ​and ​spreading ​that ​knowledge ​with ​other ​people ​that ​come ​into ​the ​shop ​on ​how ​to ​take ​care ​of ​their ​body ​and ​improve ​their ​health.

​My ​name ​is ​Adam ​Schallberger. ​I'm ​a ​sales ​associate ​here. I ​chose ​to ​work ​at ​the ​Vitamin ​Shoppe ​because ​I ​love ​to ​work ​out. ​I ​love ​fitness. ​

So ​being able ​to ​learn ​about ​supplements, ​sell ​supplements, ​and ​help ​other ​people ​kind ​of ​gain ​more ​understanding ​on ​health ​and ​wellness ​is ​super ​interesting ​to ​me.

​My ​favorite ​supplement ​to ​take ​is ​probably ​a multivitamin. ​I ​feel ​like ​it's ​probably ​one ​of ​the ​more ​slept ​on ​supplements ​that ​not ​enough ​people ​are ​taking ​and ​not ​enough ​people ​fully ​understand ​the ​benefit ​of ​taking ​a ​multivitamin.

​If ​you're ​not ​able ​to ​get ​your ​essential ​nutrients, ​vitamins, ​minerals ​within ​your ​diet, ​it's ​always ​important ​to ​have ​a ​multivitamin. ​So ​I ​would ​say ​that's ​why ​that's ​my ​favorite ​supplement ​to ​take.

Health ​is ​super ​important ​if ​you ​want ​to ​live ​a ​long ​life, ​if ​you ​want ​to ​be ​able ​to ​see ​your ​kids ​grow ​up, ​see ​your ​grandkids ​grow ​up, ​you ​know, ​it's ​really ​important ​to ​start ​taking ​care ​of ​your ​health ​and ​wellness ​from ​a ​young ​age."

Workers of Reno Contribution by Eric Perez

Is Reno’s Whip Enforcement Further Criminalizing Poverty and Worsening Local Homelessness?

A recent video message by Reno PD making the social media rounds is reminding residents that it’s illegal to possess or use bullwhips in Reno’s downtown corridor. 

An officer in the video says Reno PD has cited or arrested 11 people within the last two months and asks residents to report any whip use to police immediately, making it sound like an absolute priority.  

“This law helps maintain a peaceful environment and ensures public safety,” the officer says in the video.  He adds “misusing a whip can create unnecessary tension and dangerous situations.”

Sure it’s a loud sound that can startle initially.  Our previous reporting in recent years, with interviews of multiple whip users, both male and female, indicated it’s been a tradition for many unhoused here to make their own whip and then use it as a de-stressing mechanism, to pass the time, or to alert their friends of those they view as threatening arriving in their vicinity. 

What about pickup trucks rolling coal on joggers, EV drivers and pedestrians?  We don’t see Reno PD going after them very much.  What about motorcyclists veering threateningly into cyclists, as some did during the recent Street Vibrations, or startling them with loud and sudden accelerations?  

The 2021 Reno whip ordinance, not thought about much until the recent video, clearly targets the unhoused walking around, since they are the ones who’ve had whips here.  Being unhoused can strip individuals of their courage, and for some having a whip gave them a modicum of strength to face a world crumbling around them.  

Research indicates the unhoused are much more likely to be victims of crimes than to commit any themselves, even as their mere existence without having shelter at night or a place to go during the day has become a crime.  

Enforcing laws criminalizing homelessness only makes the problem worse, more challenging for those on the streets and more expensive and complicated for those who want to help.  

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum, October 2024

A Resident Struggling with Bipolar Disorder Starts New YouTube Channel for Awareness

A message from a northern Nevada resident Julie Rose who recently launched her own YouTube channel to promote mental health awareness and document her own difficult journey.

“The last couple of years have been extremely challenging as I was in a very unhealthy relationship which I was able to get out of in January. I became pre-diabetic within 6 months since my ex wanted to thicken me up and I had to adjust to his eating habits.

Shortly after, my medication for Bipolar Disorder failed me with an extreme side effect called Tardive Dyskinesia, a permanent movement disorder.

I had also just started a new job which was quite stressful. I was granted an accommodation for my mental health issues which allowed me to have extra unpaid time off as I didn’t qualify for FMLA.

My psych highly recommended I go inpatient for at least a month since trying to find a new medication cocktail is grueling and challenging as I could no longer take most medications used to treat my disorder.

I also broke my back years ago, was almost paralyzed by a bone splinter 2mm away from my spinal cord and never had surgery, so that's been an issue for me as well for years.

My ex reached out to my parents behind my back (he had barely uttered 5 words to them on a FaceTime call with me).

I hate admitting defeat, but I gave in to my parents suggestion to move closer to them in Tahoe from Phoenix. They flew down, packed me up as I was in terrible shape, and drove me and my three cats up to Reno.

I’ve been extremely grateful for their assistance and allowing me to stabilize and get healthy for the last two months.

I’ve been exercising, getting outdoors, meeting new people (I was isolated and cut off from everyone in my life for a year and a half.)

My YouTube channel is intended to advocate [for] mental health awareness, as a human element to what it’s like living with Bipolar Disorder, and share tips through my experiences that have helped me cope with my symptoms.

I’m at the point where I need to start supporting myself financially again and am looking for a job that has reasonable accommodations for my disability while giving me time to grow my channel. Any help is appreciated with getting the word out there and raise awareness for people who live with disabilities."

Find her channel here: https://youtube.com/@julie4jewels?si=k1arN6GRsYuInWSq

Citizen’s Forum Contribution, October 2024

Women Shine Seeks to Help Women with HIV Including in Washoe County

A new study called Women Shine is looking to help women living with HIV/AIDS improve their care and mental well-being, including here in Washoe County, where sadly much more could be done in terms of assistance and support for this specific group.

Women Shine is currently recruiting participants throughout the Silver State to “facilitate community-engaged HIV research to address syndemic conditions and health disparities that many women are currently facing. facilitate community-engaged HIV research to address syndemic conditions and health disparities that many women are currently facing.”

For those unfamiliar with the term, a syndemic is a combination of health conditions or diseases that interact with each other and are made worse by social and structural factors. The word is a combination of "synergy" and "epidemic.”

Anyone interested can call them at (858) 354-0381 or email at womenshine@health.ucsd.edu

Participants who need to be 18 or old will fill out up to five surveys over 16 months, send off up to five hair samples over that time period, and receive $540 for their time, in addition to receiving specific HIV support services.

The principal investigator for this study, which is being run out of the University of California San Diego, is Dr. Jamila Stockman.

In Washoe County, as in much of the country, HIV stigma and a lack of access to medical care, especially among lower class residents and communities of color, have been obstacles in reducing HIV transmission and ensuring those infected have a normal life expectancy.

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Contribution, October 2024

"The Missing and Murdered" at the Holland Project

A powerful, heart wrenching, exhibit now at the Holland Project in collaboration with the Of the Sol Collective is “The Missing and Murdered” by local photographer Alejandra Rubio on display until October 12th.

Gallery hours are Wed to Fri 12 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m to 2 p.m. A closing reception will take place October 12th from 1 to 3 p.m.

“In this series of photographs, I aim to honor and shed light on the tragic reality of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. This piece is a visual homage to our ancestors and a poignant reminder of the ongoing crisis that affects our communities today,” Rubio writes.

“These photographs captures the murdered indigenous women and girl. Through these imagery, I seek to convey both the profound loss we have endured and the resilience of our people. The colors of the ribbon skirts on a dark background serves to highlight the stark contrasts between the vibrant life that has been lost and the somber reality of the issue.

I strive to give voice to those who have been silenced and to draw attention to the systemic issues that perpetuate this crisis.

This work is a call to awareness and action. It is a reminder that the fight for justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls is not just a distant history but an urgent and ongoing struggle. Through these photographs, I hope to foster empathy, provoke thought, and inspire collective effort towards meaningful change.”

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum, September 2024

Local Public Health Experts Brought Menstrual and Harm Reduction Kits to Burning Man

Burning Man may be long over, but one initiative we’ve just been told about from there concerns two recent alumni from UNR’s School of Public Health, Layla BenBrahim and Madalyn Larson who distributed menstrual and harm reduction kits during the playa extravaganza.

BenBrahim, who now works at UNR as an Accreditation and Evaluation Coordinator and Larson, a public health researcher, placed kits complete with pads, tampons, bamboo wipes, sandwiches and lollipops in bins around the Dusty Dillas campsite and both shared information on using also made available harm reduction supplies.

Those were assembled with the help of the Northern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance and the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies.

“The members of the Northern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance (NNHRA) and my Dusty Dillas campmates encouraged me to bring these supplies and messages on the playa. Before Burning Man, I spent time with my friends to assemble kits and make sure I had the right messages to convey to other burners who were interested in learning about harm reduction,” Larson said.

“There are a few theme camps at Burning Man who do extensive efforts for providing period support,” BenBrahim said of her own initiative. “The one that comes to mind is camp Redhanded. I visited them back in 2023 and was absolutely blown away by how comfortable they made me feel. I just knew that I was able to contribute in a similar manner but at a smaller scale.”

By the end of this year’s burn, all of their kits had been distributed. Shouldn’t we normalize these types of kits throughout our communities and in party areas off playa year round?

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum, September 2024

Is Truckee River Losing its Public Soul?

In its Council Highlights press release from yesterday, the City of Reno said it had “adopted the resolution to designate all land that is owned, operated, or is within the City of Reno right-of-way along the Truckee River corridor between Booth Street and S. Virginia Street as a City of Reno park to provide for consistency in maintenance,
enhanced user experience, and regulation. Connecting the Truckee River frontage and path from Booth Street to South Virginia Street to provide the opportunity for a contiguous connection to the iconic part of Reno’s downtown.”

It also approved “the Truckee River Vision Plan by Dig Studio directing staff to pursue project opportunities outlined in the implementation plan including key recommendations for land use and design, mobility and connectivity, parks and open space, public art, and safety water, & ecological systems. The overarching scope of the plan conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Truckee River corridor and surrounding areas in unincorporated Washoe County and the City of Reno, extending from the California state line to the border of Sparks, Nevada, and collaborated closely with City of Reno staff, stakeholders, and the public. Staff will bring identified projects to forward when actions can be taken.“

That’s a lot words for us that seem to indicate plans are afoot to gentrify the surroundings of the Truckee River and make the area less welcoming to those without stable shelter. It seems to be turning some public sidwalks into parks patrolled by river rangers.

Looking into some of the details there’s plans to create a so-called “Truckee River Overlay Zone District” with unclear outlooks such as “sections and planning details that set enforceable standards for Building Form and Mass.”

That wording and the use of the term District does not sound like an organic neighborhood and public river path which feels welcoming to all income brackets. What are your own thoughts on these developments?

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum, September 26, 2024

Kevin, a Local Actor, Needs a Kidney

A message from Kathy Walen a star employee at the Reynolds School of Journalism about her husband Kevin well know in the community as an actor, recently appearing in A Facility for Living with Reno Little Theater who is in urgent need of a kidney:

“Hi friends, for those of you that don’t know, Kevin has polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disease that causes cysts to grow on his kidneys and liver, and he now requires a kidney transplant.

After multiple trips to Salt Lake City and extensive testing, Kevin has been accepted into the kidney transplant center at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City. Aside from PKD, Kevin is in perfect health, no other health issues or diseases. He is a perfect candidate.

This is where we need your help.

They tell us to share our story in the hopes of finding a living donor (and this is a very hard thing for me to do). They also tell us that most living donors come from a friend of a friend that reads our story. Living donors don’t even have to be a match- they can be Kevin’s “buddy donor,” and when someone else in the country also has a “buddy donor” that matches Kevin, the buddies each donate one kidney and two people get a transplant that day. Our insurance covers all costs for someone that chooses to donate a kidney to Kevin. Unfortunately, our daughters carry the gene and are unable to be potential donors.

If we are able to find a living donor, Kevin will be able to avoid dialysis, which complicates things. If we wait for a deceased donor, the waitlist time is approximately 2-3 years, which means dialysis. I have no doubt whatsoever and I have great faith that Kevin is going to be okay.

The road ahead will be hard. Kevin has stayed alive through many dangerous situations in his 26 year military career, but nothing prepares you for this, even if you have spent years knowing that this could potentially be on the horizon. BUT, we remain positive, Kevin takes excellent care of his physical and mental health, and we are hopeful.

If you feel comfortable, please share our story in the hopes that someone in the country sees it and feels called to donate life.

If you have any questions at all, please contact Kevin or I privately. I have attached a card from the kidney transplant center at Intermountain Medical Center and people can contact them directly. Thank you friends, be kind to one another and love hard. - K”

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum Contrubition by Kathy Walen

Let’s Keep a Cute, Convenient Street All Public in Downtown Reno

As part of our reporting on the disappearance of public space in Reno, it’s important for us to comment on looming council discussions to abandon the two way Stevenson Street between West First and West Second streets to make it a one way with a mix of public and private parking.  

The request by ECI Riviera 2 and Kromer Investments was supposed to be heard September 11th, but that meeting was postponed due to the Davis Fire. It’s not on the agenda for the catchup special meeting this Thursday, while the public notice remains.

Kromer has been in the news recently for leaving several elevators at the Riverwood Apartments it manages on Kuenzli in disrepair for months on end, greatly inconveniencing residents there.  Kromer Investments manages a dozen or so apartment complexes across northern Nevada and has a low 1.6 star average on Yelp. 

“They'll screw over tenants any chance they get and have many appliances and things not working for extended periods of time. Corporate slumlords,” Scott recently wrote in late July on that website.

A Kromer representative responded:  “It's not intention to make you feel that way and we'd like to correct the issue at quickly as possible. Please, reach out to our management team at admin@kromerinvestments.com and let us know where you live and what issues you're dealing with.”

East of the Stevenson street now under review are The Mod and Mod 2 at Riverwalk apartments and to the west is a vacant lot.  There were previous directions related to the weed and rock filled western side of Stevenson being built out before any other changes were decided, which now seem to have gone by the wayside.  

As it’s currently set up, Stevenson street is convenient for cyclists and cars to get in and out of downtown Reno.

We see this potential abandonment as part of a trend in Reno by the current majority on City Council to privatize public assets and allow more and more parking.

What the public wants or needs becomes an “evaporating concept,” as one City Council aptly puts it, with developer driven decisions and haphazard overall planning.  

Our Town Reno op-ed reporting, September 2024

A Family Frantically Escaped Fire From Inside the Davis Creek Campground

9/7/2024- Davis Creek Campground on the day the Davis Fire started

What seemed like a normal camping trip turned into our worst nightmare.

My family and I were hanging out, some taking a nap and some went out to do a store run.

When 20 minutes later, we heard a lady yelling and honking “FIRE. GET OUT!”

We hurried into our cars and drove towards the exit. It was then that we had all realized how bad this really was.

It seemed unreal. Flames and black smoke covering the entrance, the wind making it grow.

The feeling of being trapped dawned on us. This was the only way out. The only choice was to drive through with our sight completely blocked , flames hitting our cars and it felt extremely hot. The kids were frantic and terrified. We had no idea of how much had been on fire or if we would’ve even been able to come out of that. The thoughts creeped in that we may not make it out.

Finally blue skies and a fire truck. We got out of our cars and waited. My brother, brother in law and friends plus their kids were still trapped inside.

I called my brother and started feeling the panic seeping in. They were still in there. Thinking the unimaginable, we felt if we barely made it out how were they going to?

The rest of the fam had rushed back from the store seeing this huge fire continue to break out and knowing their family was trapped in there. I can’t even imagine what went through their minds. After what felt like an eternity, all three cars finally came out safe.

This was the most traumatizing experience but we are so lucky. You never think things will happen to you until they do.

Things got bad quickly but they could’ve been so much worse. This is a lesson to always be aware, know your exits. To not take for granted the small moments, a roof over your head, health, safety, family.

I am really proud of anyone who came out of that fire. That was so brave. Anyone who has lost something due to this fire, or feared that you would; I am so sorry you experienced that panic and/or loss. I’m praying for all involved and grateful for the firefighters continuing to get this under control.

Citizen’s Fire Contribution by Cynthia Loza

The Arch Society's Notice of Seizure in Midtown Reno

An email from the Washoe County Deputy Treasurer Linda Jacobs indicates a delinquent bill from The Arch Society was paid this week only after Our Town Reno posted a picture of a notice of seizure at its new location across from the Wild Orchid at 538 S Virginia Street.

A reader had sent the photo to us Wednesday, and would be customers were confused about it, with some telling us they decided not to go in because of the notice. 

“With Arch [S]ociety, we billed them December 13, 2023 and mailed to her residence the additional 4 delinquent notices and then went to the property twice.   We also made numerous calls where we were told payment was forthcoming with no results,” Jacobs wrote to Our Town Reno today, Friday September 6th, after we emailed the Washoe County Treasurer’s office about it. 

“Ms. Archer made her payment yesterday and resolved the matter.  She is now able to take the notice down,” the email indicated.

Jacobs also explained the seizure process which is mandated by Nevada Revised Statute. 

“With commercial personal property we bill between September and April of each year.  We mail five notices; the original tax bill and if not paid we will send out a delinquent notice, followed by a notice of intent to seize a final notice and then the seizure notice.  If we still do not receive payment we go to the business and post the seizure notice on the door,” Jacobs explained. 

An Anne Archer wrote to us messages on our BiggestLittleStreets Instagram, saying we needed to take the photo down, but did not answer when asked several times if she wanted to do a full interview about this situation.

In her messages, she indicated she had paid her taxes weeks ago and that our post was a violation of her privacy, even though the notice which was photographed and sent to us by a concerned reader from a public area was an official Washoe County document.  

Others critical of our post included a Washoe County spokeswoman, Bethany Drysdale, who wrote it was “irresponsible to leave it up this long without correcting it,” even though there was no correction needed and we hadn’t received a response from the Treasurer’s office yet, as well as repeated condescending comments from a local cheerleader for expensive restaurants, Jaci Goodman, listed on LinkedIn as Publisher and Ad Director for the Edible Reno-Tahoe Magazine.  

Our Town Reno finds it extremely disturbing that there is this atmosphere of messengers being blamed in Northern Nevada, with some of our other posts as well, and residents wanting to put limitations on citizen journalism, such as this case, when the photo was totally accurate and the bill owed had yet to be paid when we posted it.

The First Amendment is very important, and to us it’s unfortunate to see people so belligerent in this instance and others.

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum, September 2024

Overcoming Barriers to a Sustainable Future with Wildfires

It has been a busy month for wildfires in the Western U.S., with a few recent fires hitting a little close to home for us Reno-ites. 

The hard truth of it is wildfires are becoming more frequent and widespread. This trend is predicted to continue throughout our lifetimes. Currently, one in six Americans live in areas with significant wildfire risk. And even as wildfires worsen, we continue building further into vulnerable areas. 

Our future is one where wildfire is a fixed variable. Fire will not adapt to us. Therefore, we need to adapt to fire.

Unfortunately, there are significant barriers in place preventing us from adapting. The first is how we manage fire, our landscapes, and our climate. The second is our cultural perception of wildfire. The third is that we continue to focus on the backcountry rather than our communities. Overcoming these barriers could be the key to a sustainable future with wildfire.

Management, Landscapes, and Climate

Our landscapes evolved with and are dependent on wildfires to maintain their healthy ecological functions. Unfortunately, ecology has never been at the forefront of the wildfire conversation. 

Over the last century, we have perfected putting fires out (fire suppression), to a point where 98% of wildland fires are now contained within the first 24 hours. Many of these fires exist in the backcountry with little to no immediate threat to communities. While an impressive feat, our focus on immediately suppressing fires is essentially just depriving a necessary ecological function from our wildlands. 

There is a wildfire paradox that states that by suppressing fires, we are building up fuels in our wildlands that make future fires worse. Long before humans set foot on this part of the world, regular interval fires managed our landscapes, burning at various intensities and severities. By keeping fire away from our landscapes, trees, shrubs and grasses that would have historically burned are left to grow and regrow to a point where many parts of our landscapes are overcrowded with vegetation. This vegetation will at some point have to burn, as is the natural cycle. The wildfire paradox points out that the longer we wait for these areas to burn, the more intensive the eventual burn will be. 

But continued suppression of fires isn't the only recent alteration to our landscapes that is affecting fire. A century of intensive logging has removed the necessary fuels, and created unnatural second and third growth forests that burn in unprecedented ways. Logging has gone through several transitions over this century. The most disastrous clear cutting tactics are now far less common. Replaced today with more sustainable logging such as “thinning” with the goal of mimicking fire behavior by spacing out the vegetation. 

Unfortunately, ecologically speaking, there is no form of logging that mimics or maintains the environment's natural functions. We cannot log our way out of destructive wildfires. Fire functions cannot be mimicked without fire. And more and more research is emerging from fields outside of forestry showing devastating effects of even the most minimalistic forms of logging. Something that we will have to grapple with as we continue our dependency on wood products.

And lastly, you cannot discuss our future with fire without talking about climate change. The fact is, climate is the biggest driver of the wildfires that we are facing today. On average we are experiencing a greater number of hotter and drier days, greater surface level and jet stream wind speeds, and less predictable weather patterns. All of this affects wildfires. From longer wildfire seasons, to how they spread across our landscapes.

To overcome these barriers we need to: 1) Reexamine our fire suppression policies. 2) Grapple with our dependence on wood products while recognizing that there is no such thing as sustainable logging. 3) Address the fact that climate change is going to continue making wildfires worse and that we need to start acting accordingly. Unfortunately, deeply embedded in all of these changes are our public perceptions of wildfire. Perceptions that are steering us further away from overcoming barriers.

Cultural Perceptions and Misconceptions:

Wildfires are not only becoming more widespread, they are becoming more destructive. With destruction stirs confusion, fear, mistrust, and conspiracies.

Journalist Naomi Klein writes that conspiracies often get the feelings right, but the facts wrong. This is very present in our perception of wildfire. People are drawn to conspiracies for their ability to make complex issues simple. Wildfire is about as complex of an issue as it gets, and is therefore, ripe for conspiracy. 

Following every new wildfire news post is a slew of comments about government laser beams, insurance companies, real estate moguls, or environmental extremists. There is always a “follow the money” or “follow the narrative” agenda, often persuading readers away from the real and tangible causes of climate change and unintentional mismanagement.

The consequence of this rhetoric is fear. Not only from the public, but from those tasked with managing fires. Land managers know, for the most part, that continuing to suppress fires is only making future fires worse. Yet, letting a plume of smoke in the backcountry go unattended is political and career suicide. People want to see wildfires managed. We want to see our political leaders release additional suppression funds. We want land managers to call in air tankers and engines. And the second these protocols are not followed, fear based conspiracies jump in to fill in the gaps for the confused, frightened people. 

To overcome this barrier we need to 1) Recognize that wildfires and the science surrounding them is complex. 2) We need to refrain from the simple, compelling conspiracies that surround wildfire. 3) We need to become open to the idea of letting more fires onto our landscape, and allowing those fires to burn for longer periods of time. The only way through the wildfire paradox is with more fire. Unfortunately, the gravest barrier of all is that our communities are not yet prepared for this future with fire. And as more destruction continues to occur, so will the spread of conspiracies.

Wildfire is a Community Problem:

There is a difference between “wildfire” and “wildfire destruction.” Wildfires are natural, ecologically beneficial occurrences. Wildfire destruction is when homes, communities, or lives are lost during these ecological occurrences. The science of wildfire is ever evolving. It is a complex field, filled with debate and dialog from a myriad of academic fields and specialities. But there is one thing that we do know. That is, how to save homes and communities from burning down during these events. 

Decades of research from the front lines of fires, high-tech laboratories that simulate wildfire, and exhaustive investigation have provided us with the knowledge of how to stop buildings from burning down. It essentially boils down to updating building codes, retrofitting existing buildings, and implementing landscape plans around individual homes and communities. These tactics are called home and community hardening and defensible space.

Furthermore, we know roughly how much it would cost to implement this on a scale large enough to be impactful. And we know that if we reallocate a portion of wildfire funds away from extinguishing fires in the backcountry, we could easily have enough to invest in our communities, making sure that they were safe from wildfire.

Unfortunately, until our focus shifts away from fire suppression, we will continue to neglect building up resilience from within our communities. Preventing fires in our wildlands is ultimately futile. The more we continue to suppress them, the worse they will eventually become. We need to reframe wildfire; to worry less about the fires far outside of our communities, and instead prepare and harden for when fires enter our communities. 

To overcome this barrier we need to: 1) Reallocate funding away from backcountry fires, and invest into making our communities safe from fire. 2) Reframe fire, worry less about backcountry fires, and more about community safety. 3) Acknowledge that community hardening means working together with your neighbors. Like a herd immunity, it works best when done as a collective.

In conclusion, fire is not going away. Wildfires are, and will continue to get worse. Thankfully, there are things that we can all do to carve out a better future for ourselves within this future with fire. Barriers can be overcome. Management practices can change. Public perception can shift. And we can build up resilience within our communities. We know the barriers, but will we take steps towards overcoming them? Or will we continue to sit back and watch newsreels of destruction while being comforted by conspiracies?

Citizen’s Forum Contribution by Michael Stohlgren 

Bio: Michael currently works creating wildfire resilient landscapes around homes in the Reno/Tahoe areas for MO’s Defensible Space. He has a master’s degree in environmental science where he studied ecology, ecosystem health and community resilience.

Immigrants of Reno: Joel Nogera Turning to Gold

"My name is Joel Noguera, and I own a jewelry shop called Reno City Gold & Jewelry Buyer.

I am an expert in gold. I began my career as a computer technician, intrigued by the idea that computers contained gold.

When I found that extracting gold from motherboards, memory chips, and microprocessors yielded only small amounts, I started investing in gold little by little.

Through perseverance and self-discipline, I gradually became a master in the gold business where now I buy and sell gold.

I have a deep love for Northern Nevada. I migrated here from Guatemala, knowing hardly any English.

This place has seen me at my worst and my best, and it’s where I created the beautiful family I have today.

I will always be thankful for being here and for the open doors that have arisen.

My message to the community is to support each other and keep pushing forward. If you have a dream, go for it.

We are located at 206 Linden St Suite B Reno Nv 89502! Come check us out, if you tell us you’re from Instagram we’ll give 20% off to contribute to the community."

If you'd like to share your own journey in Reno and message to the community with a photo, never hesitate to contact us.

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum, August 2024

On Being Mindful, Writing and Public Art

We four, Rachel Lillaney, William J. Macauley, Jr., Lisa Roenspie and Randolph Wright, shared a recent workshop series, “The Art of Mindful Writing,”  via the E.L. Cord Museum School at the Nevada Museum of Art. Together, we focused our work on public art, on what it means that something is considered public art, what it means to be mindful and write about writing and public art, and what we thought might go unnoticed regarding art in public. What you will find below is a collage of text and images that we built together, to represent our individual and shared perspectives on being mindful, writing, and public art. Enjoy.

What becomes public art? This question is important for the quality of life in any community. The ideal is to raise the standard and enjoyment of life for all who live or pass through the community. The problem is that art is an individual experience and truly is in the eye of the beholder. But how do individual pieces rate as art? Does the utility of a piece affect its status as public art? A bicycle rack that is in the shape of a row of butterflies certainly must rate as art, if not at least artistic. A rack that has twists, curves and bends where one would not expect them may be called “artsy,” but is that the same as art? Similarly, stone letters sized to be a bench must be considered public art as it departs from the strict utilitarian requirements of a public bench. Oversized and overstated twin street lamps on Liberty Street by the museum have also gone far enough in the creative direction to qualify as art. And being in a public place it certainly qualifies as “public”. 

Can other utilities be “public art”? How about the automobile? Do all automobiles have artistic qualities or styling that qualifies them as art?  Does intent play a role in defining art? 

What these questions all add up to is the pathos of public art or its relationship with its audience, the general public. This relationship is a two way street- the artist’s creation and intentions along with viewer or audience’s expectations. If there is a connection made between the artist through his art or what was created and the viewer, there is a positive outcome. On the viewer’s end the question is, “What are the expectations of the audience?”

Let’s look at the bicycle rack at the museum of art. It consists of two tubular curved pieces that extend approximately twenty feet. It really doesn’t look like a bicycle rack. There is no reference point in the viewer’s mind that this structure is a bicycle rack. In fact, there are no bikes parked in it! So the viewer must take a leap and assume that it is, indeed, a bicycle rack while trying to figure out just how a bicycle is parked and secured there. From the utilitarian perspective, the rack just doesn’t register what it is or its purpose very well. In fact, it is something of a puzzle, especially in how to use it. From an artistic standpoint, it is a winner. It is aesthetically pleasing to look at. Its symmetrical curves are balanced and thus have a soothing and pleasing effect on the viewer, if the viewer is not unduly disturbed by the puzzle of its use.

Walking a few steps to Liberty Street, one finds what is best described as a parody of a street lamp. It is, after all, situated in a place where one would expect to find a street lamp. This structure consists of two large tubular arches with a very large green pyramid shaped lantern on one arch and a matching lantern with a white shade on the other. This structure comes to the pedestrian, and certainly to the motorist, as a surprise if not a shock. Its oversized elements are of a scale so wildly disproportionate to the street it sits on that it suggests an otherworldly origin. Unfortunately, it is now of this world. The two lanterns themselves are an aesthetic failure. They speak to me like the plain wall of a warehouse with a couple of small, square windows. They are not inviting or welcoming nor connect with me emotionally. If this is where modernism has taken us, send me back to the 18th century or the art nouveau of the Paris Metro. At best, this work is able to provoke thoughts of annoyance and indifference while providing some illumination for pedestrians.

We next come to a more prosaic piece. In fact it is art that you can sit on. On the patio in front of the art museum are large letters cut in stone. They are not of a religious nature but only exhort us to inhale and exhale, and thus live or meditate. They stand high enough to serve as a bench. Facing up to the heavens, they provide us with a place of contemplation and rest. Because of their size, the letters require the viewer to scrutinize them to satisfy the curiosity, thus drawing one into the work. As a public bench the piece comes as a surprise but pleasantly so as an imaginative creation of a public bench. Unlike the bicycle rack, it gives satisfaction doubly when the puzzle of the message is easily unraveled and its inspiration received. This public art works in a number of ways. The artist intended to provoke aspirational thought and an inner dialogue of a high order. The large stone letters give an impact to the art and the message that takes one out of the day-to-day activities of life. The stonework is itself aesthetically pleasing to look at. And if you’re tired, it’s there waiting for you to take a seat. This piece of public art should be on everyone’s list of places to pause and contemplate in downtown Reno.

All around us is the ubiquitous automobile. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. But are they “public art”? As an example, here is an XKE Jaguar two door sports car. It is different, but does that difference make such cars “public art”? Or are all cars ``automotive art”? No less an automotive aficionado than Enzo Ferrari said that it was “the most beautiful car ever built.” That’s a strong endorsement. Sir William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar, said that it “cost no more to design a beautiful automobile”. Do either of these perspectives make a car “public art”? Ferrari and Lyons were certainly qualified to pass judgment on that car, perhaps on any car. If any car says, “get in and drive me,” that one does. Aesthetically, the proportions are all just right and all the trim pieces are the right size and in the right place-the bumpers, turn signals, the windshield, is the right size and height. Everything fits together like the eye expects, and it looks right. The car evokes strong emotions. And with a top speed of 150 mph it will get you to Ely on time. Or to the county jail first. The XKE will certainly interrupt the day to day activities of life. The Jag has earth shattering visual impact. So what gives? How do people react to such automobiles? Maybe flat and square lines don’t play as well as curvy and sensuous. The Jaguar conveys performance in a big way. But what really arrests the attention of the viewer is the visual power of its styling. Is the Jaguar “public art”? Certain cars can be “public art” even though they are in private ownership. After all, automobiles are driven publicly in public view.

These are big questions. What qualifies as public art? How do we decide? Sometimes, the questions about public art are not so large. Some answers to these questions are very personal, very individual . . .

Whenever I think of public art, I jump almost automatically to fourth grade art class. We were to make pictures from pieces of colored tissue paper glued to construction paper. I knew I wanted to make something New York. My mind then was never far from there (even though it was 800 miles away) nor the sorrow I felt at that distance. We had moved from New York about a year prior. I missed my cousins and friends terribly, even our drafty old apartment building. I don’t think I really thought about much else then. So, I summoned a New York for my tissue-paper composition. I’d been to the city once with my dad, for my 4th or 5th birthday. I don’t remember much of that day except the hands replacing what my dad pulled from the windowed wall at the Automat. 

I chose vermillion construction paper, red, yellow, green, gray tracing paper that I had cut into a variety of long rectangles. I glued pieces into place, watching as the Elmer’s soaked through Manhattan’s skyscrapers. I added a triangular top of the Empire State Building or Chrysler Building—I didn’t know the difference then. I didn’t really feel anything about the image of glue and tissue paper in front of me, except the longing for family and friends and a deep sadness because I was convinced I would never see them again. 

I would like to say that I really took my time with it. I don’t know if I did. I don’t know what other kids made, and I doubt they or Mrs. Van would understand what I had made. We finished, cleaned up, and left our work to dry on the cafeteria tables. I didn’t think about the piece after that, I don’t think; I am sure the hollow sorrow continued.

A few weeks later, there was a display of kid art in the Herrick Public Library. I had recently been allowed to go to the library on my own, even though I had to cross River Avenue. I suspect Mom felt okay with it, other than the one busy street, because Mr. VanderSlice was the library custodian. We had become friends when we were neighbors on West 18th Street the year before. He greeted me with a wink, as usual, and I made my way to the kids’ section, but close by to the adult areas and far from the kiddie area. I don’t think I even looked very much at the display there, butI eventually noticed something. There it was: my tissue paper and glue piece, with my name and “4th grade, Longfellow School” on it. I was stunned. I think I spent almost all of my time either going back to look again or looking over my shoulder at it. I eventually dragged my parents to the library, that next weekend, to see my public art. 

From there, I got a ‘big head,’ as my dad used to say. I thought all my work from there on could be posted, maybe even at my school (My friends did not go to the library, but they had to go to school . . . ). My eagerness and ego rushed me through most art projects from there. As you might anticipate, my public art happened just that once. Maybe every kid got a turn, I don’t know. I took art classes in junior high, high school, and college. I was even an art major for a minute, but I never really felt as though there was craft in my work, that there was talent in me. 

When I see public art now, there are really two things I look for. One is craft. Because I could do art but was never really patient enough to do it well, I have so much respect for well-done artwork. I definitely take a lot of time looking at art, at how it is done, and experience deeply how it makes me feel. The other thing is that it does something I haven’t experienced before. Sometimes it’s nothing more than admiring the courage to put oneself out there like that, through art. To my mind, this is an essential public part of art. I may not have the courage to put my own artwork out there, but I sure as hell appreciate it when others do. Craft and courage.

So, when it comes to public art, I want to be captured by the craft because I have never been patient enough to develop my own. I also look for something unique—this takes time and patience, too, because an artist can’t know that they are doing something unique unless they know what others have done. An artist can’t draw on the work of others if they haven’t taken the time to see it, to learn it. And putting their work out there, in public, is just a courage I want to bathe in. It’s a courage I don’t have. 

Really, from the creative side of the equation, I think it comes down to patience. I have been playing around with watercolor. When I take my time and really think through what I can do and how to do it, things can work out pretty well. I like what I make, even if it’s not earthshaking or even original (except to me). Painting well, like other artforms I would imagine, seems in no small part about patience and learning tools and materials. Patience and courage, craft, and materials.

In the meantime, I celebrate public art, even when I don’t care for it, because it represents someone pushing back on our accelerating lives. It says that craft and care can still matter, and public art can conspire to remind us of beauty and thoughtfulness, what can be in our public eyes with a little bit of craft, courage, and patience.

We don’t always have to go to public art. We need not always find it or recall it from the past. Some public art is right there, where we live . . . 

For most of my adult life I have started my day with an early morning walk. With a strong cup of coffee in hand, I’ve walked the neighborhoods where I’ve lived, taking different paths to make it feel a little less routine. In all the years that I’ve practiced this ritual, I’ve noticed the beauty of local art that surrounds me. Whether it’s something as simple as pinecones laid in the formation of a heart on the beach or something more permanent, such as a signed mural on the side of a building.

Recently my morning walks have been around Reno’s Old Southwest neighborhoods. Maybe it’s the newness of the day and the fact that my mind is not yet clouded with the demands of daily life, but mornings seem to make it easy to notice and enjoy the art that surrounds me.

There is a corner garden there, which began as a strip of rocky landscaping and seems to have now taken on a life of its own. Without prompting or invitation, the public has begun rearranging  these rocks to form “cairns”. The literal definition of a cairn is a stack of stones raised as a marker. More recently these stone pinnacles have begun popping up as free form art along riverbanks, hiking trails, and the shores of our local lakes. The beauty of this art is further enhanced by the ever-changing shadows cast by the angle of the sun and the weather when it covers them in ice and snow. 

In a streetside flowerbed, this garden art has been on display since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The background of blue and yellow echo the Ukrainian flag and the white dove with an olive branch seems to represent a hope for peace. The juxtaposition of a symbol of an ongoing war with the backdrop of a peaceful garden setting is thought provoking and will hopefully remind us of all those affected by war and its senseless destruction, even when this particular war is oceans away. This is one example of how art is so often used to represent a cause, communicate political views and even possibly a call to action.

This beautiful art deco building stone is from the Mapes Hotel, which stood in downtown Reno for more than 50 years. It is lovingly displayed in this homeowner’s front yard. 

Although the citizens of Reno were not able to save this grand hotel, despite it being listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this piece has been preserved and represents the beauty and elegance of a structure that was once graced with the presence of celebrities and important political figures. Despite the hotel being imploded, this tile suffered only minor damage and the scars that are left on the piece only add to its beauty, as they remind us of this iconic Reno landmark and its fate. This piece of art is a wonderful representation of Reno’s rich historical architecture despite its young age and the need for preservation of such places. 

This dramatic, life-sized sculpture is made of intertwined iron straps and rope that, over the years, have taken on a rusty patina. The artist seems to have captured the essence of Nevada’s wild horse population with this piece, and its dramatic depiction is eye-catching as you round the corner of this intersection. During the winter holiday season, this piece is intertwined with lights, which further enhances its stunning beauty.

All of these different media are examples of how the décor we choose for our homes can enhance its beauty, add enjoyment to our lives and make a statement. Decorating our homes with artwork extends to others and adds a certain quality of life to those around us.

And sometimes public art, designed and built intentionally, goes unnoticed as we make our ways through our busy lives . . .

This wildlife mural lines the fence along a public trail. This asphalt trail swirls through the wetland environment in South Meadows. Some of the animals depicted look similar to those that can be seen enjoying the surrounding wetland. This is in the public domain, and I would classify it as art because of the demonstrated creativity to customize this mural for the space and the clear intention to reflect the local wildlife into the piece.

Some of the most popular public art is created by our local government and designs locations along many on-ramps and off-ramps to freeways. In this composition, a wooden entrance tethered with a metal sign marks South Meadows. The design is further enhanced by a neatly kept faux trailhead to symbolize that entrance. I interpret this piece as more artistic than utilitarian.

An adult and baby cow can be seen depicted next to this underpass. Small grass details are also used to enhance the scene. This is accompanied by a row of diamond shapes that trace the bridge span. No further details on the significance or history accompanies the design. This art is viewed by thousands of people passing the area daily, and its ambiguous composition allows for unique appreciation.

Public art can be many things. What does it do?

Public art should do something. I know that’s broad and vague, deliberately so. I look for public art to first stop me. Stop me in my ordinary activities. Stop me from relying on assumptions. Stop me from being overwhelmed by the magnitude of the demands on my time, energy, attention, money . . . It is a very Buddhist idea to look for moments, for pauses, for breaks where we can be quiet, reflective, thoughtful. For me, public art does that, or at least I feel like it should.

Sometimes public art stops me just because of its beauty. We just happened to be there at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate when a string duo were playing a song that we, my travel companions and I, so loved. And the beauty of this public art performance, in the shadow of such a magnificent and historical public art masterpiece, was so profound that we could not not stop and listen. We didn’t speak until well after we left. An incredible experience and example of what public art can be/do.

But there are other things that public art can and often should do. One thing it can/should do is call attention to issues and challenges that require more than what other kinds of media can afford. For instance, one of the serious issues facing our country and many others is housing. Public art can respond to challenges like these, and that response does not have to be complex or highbrow. It can be simple, direct, critical, questioning.

Sometimes, public art is just to be discovered. One of my favorite things to do is capture images of unsanctioned, often difficult to notice public art. This started back in the ‘70s when, in Manhattan, I started taking pictures of numerous silhouettes I noticed painted in doorways, alleys, and other out-of-the-way places. This practice continues, no matter where I go. This figure (right) was just something I noticed, painted on the street in a crosswalk in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. I don’t know what it means. I don’t know what it’s there for, but I noticed it. Noticing it, I stopped to look. Stopping to look, I took a photo. And in those very brief moments, I was stopped in my trek around the city that day, long enough to wonder. And maybe that is why this image has stuck with me for so long—because there is wonder in it. Awe of a kind.

So, public art. It should do something. I like that it stops me, maybe especially when it isn’t sanctioned or officially public art. I love being caught. I like wondering about what it is, what it’s for, what it’s intended to do. I love that it provokes wonder, awe. I will leave it to others to decide what is art and what is not. I don’t think I want to try to decide what counts as beautiful or dive here into the discussion of whether art needs to be beautiful. I like to be interrupted and awed. I like that art in the public arena can create a moment between, between train stops, at the end of an inhalation but before exhaling. That allows me to remember that it’s not just doing that matters. It’s being, too. And I want to be where art is public, disruptive, responsive, and curious. Then I can be, too. I think that public art is where humanity can be best experienced because we are invited, welcomed, and received. Just as we are. Just now.

So, we have asked questions, related to, noticed, called attention to public art. We have not, obviously, all had the same experiences with or ideas about public art. That said, we all celebrate public art, especially now that we are in Artown season. 

Citizen’s Forum Essay by Rachel Lillaney, William J. Macauley, Jr., Lisa Roenspie and Randolph Wright shared with Our Town Reno