County and Reno Go after Those Sleeping Outside and Stores Catering to the Poor
Back to back meetings alarmed members of the community who believe lower income residents are being viewed as undesirables, pushed away further and further.
When asked if a new ordinance he’s pushing forward would basically criminalize homelessness in unincorporated areas, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam nodded yes, following several hours of angry public comment.
The suggested change which could lead to $500 fines and jail sentences for the unhoused moved along to being “crafted” in the next 90 days on a 3-2 vote Tuesday at the Washoe County Board of Commissioners. The two elected officials voting no will still be in their seats when the new formulation arrives in early 2023. Commissioner Jeanne Herman didn’t speak so it wasn’t clear why she voted no.
Commissioner Alexis Hill said she had gotten little advance notice on this proposal and indicated she was against the idea of fines or jail time. On our Twitter feed, she wrote: “Proud to vote NO on this proposal.”
Outgoing commissioners Bob Lucey and Kitty Jung voted yes, but their positions will no longer matter, as they will soon be replaced by two newly elected members Mariluz Garcia and Mike Clark. How will the two newcomers vote? Clark might side with Herman in a joint feeling of government overreach. Garcia might side with Hill in a case of compassion. They could also go the other way. All this remains to be seen, but it will be clearly indicative of the new board going forward.
Over at Reno City Council on Wednesday, two corner stores, which are frequented mainly by people who live in motels, ride buses or just walk, bike and live along the Truckee river, basically the poorest of our visitors and downtown poor, lost their alcohol licenses. The vote was not as close for that one, going 5-2, with newly elected Meghan Ebert joining Jenny Brekhus in asking pointed questions, and not feeling comfortable with how decisions were being made. The two newly appointed council members, Kathleen Taylor and Miguel Martinez, barely spoke or not all and voted with the majority.
During comments, Councilman Devon Reese called This is Reno a blog, which we noted in a tweet, leading to interesting follow up commentary. Click on screenshot below and find out for yourself.
Our Reporting Highlights This Week
We published articles on both meetings mere minutes after final votes were taken.
Our article on Wednesday’s City Council meeting and clashing philosophies can be found here: https://www.ourtownreno.com/our-stories-1/2022/12/14/city-council-votes-for-two-convenience-stores-catering-to-lower-income-residents-to-lose-privileged-alcohol-licenses
Our article on Tuesday’s County meeting on a new proposed ordinance dealing with those sleeping outside is here: https://www.ourtownreno.com/our-stories-1/2022/12/13/mutual-aid-community-speaks-out-against-washoe-county-proposed-ordinance-to-criminalize-sleeping-outside
Our Sheroes of Reno story this week is about Julia, a 12-year-old, giving back with the Hampton House Garden Project: https://www.ourtownreno.com/our-stories-1/2022/11/29/julia-a-local-12-year-old-compelled-to-help-the-hampton-house-project
