Housing on the Dais and our Film Festival
With the Russia-Ukraine conflict putting a dim view on our humanity, as well as ongoing efforts to constrict voting in Washoe County in discriminatory ways, it was uplifting to see so many people share ideas this week before our City Council, take time to come forward and discuss ways to start reversing our regional housing crisis as part of a day-long special session on Tuesday.
While some proposals going forward may be small in scope, such as expanding the Village on Sage Street, and turning a motel into low income, easy access housing, these are steps in the right direction. Having more of these meetings as promised could also produce more results.
There were ideas circulated with even bigger potential, such as exploring a basic income allowance trial program for some residents to help with their housing, as has been tried recently in Stockton, increasing mixed-family zoned developments, and reviving the previously discarded “granny pod,” or “mother-in-law” apartment, or ADU idea, whatever you call it, allowing people to have smaller properties built onto their existing properties.
It would also be useful to see transparency and tracking of the millions of American Rescue Plan funds being spent locally on housing to make sure corruption is not taking place; and that whatever initiative which is being tried is producing desired outcomes.
Our podcast this week above has local music icon Jammal Tarkington giving his views on how rising prices and a lack of venues is stifling musical opportunities, which would be dire. As we wrote to him in a follow-up message, a city without music is a city without a soul.
Our main feature this week is about a trans parenting support group at Our Center, while our Keep Reno Rad section puts the spotlight on local band Charity Kiss. Their future though might be in Los Angeles, but at least the Biggest Little City was their incubator.
Our recommended read is a book called the Case for DEGROWTH which didn’t figure much in this week’s housing conversation, but deserves serious consideration, unless we want to stay in this cycle of growing inequalities and destroying our environment.
Join us in person at our Friday night short documentary film festival at West Street Market starting at 8 p.m. to pursue these conversations in person. We will have q and a sessions with the filmmakers, all former Our Town Reno reporters, as well as with other members of the audience, some of them showcased in the films.
