I Dream of a Reno in which we have ... Cheap Housing Ideas, Bernie Mittens and the Return of our Student Reporters
Highlights from Our Town Reno reporting, Jan-18-22, across social media platforms
We started out the week on MLK Day by asking people in Reno what they dream of for the Biggest Little City. Having living wages and affordable housing dominated the conversation on our Twitter, while on our Instagram there were also comments on making our city more bike friendly, and reducing the influence of former boxer turned lawyer and occasional protest organizer Joey Gilbert.
IDEAS FOR PROGRESS
As part of the interesting trend of solutions journalism, we compiled our own list of emergency housing ideas which we believe Reno should pursue urgently, and which we view as favorable to the mega shelter the city is currently spending millions of dollars in available Cares Act money on at the former Governor’s Bowl site. One reader commented: “It's time to put people first, not profit.” Another added the idea of container conversions. At-Large Reno City Council member and consensus favorite to be the next mayor Devon Reese liked our post on Facebook, so perhaps some of our ideas will seep through at some point. The Tiny Homes village finally cut its ribbon, but we are also advocating for lower barrier, cheaper and more easily duplicable initiatives.
Our full article with our ideas is here: http://www.ourtownreno.com/ideas-for-progress/2021/1/11/if-there-was-the-will-what-could-reno-try-more-of-to-help-the-unhoused
PODCAST
Our podcast episode this week is with Linda, 70, and Tony who both live in encampments along the Truckee River, and refuse to go back to shelters. Lots of readers and listeners recognized Linda, who recently had a stroke, and also says she suffers from mental health. We believe all, especially seniors, should have a right to housing in our society, but that’s going to take work and new elected officials. Listen to the episode here or subscribe to “Biggest Little Streets” where you get your podcasts to hear directly from people living on the streets in their own voice in Reno.
BERNIE MITTENS
Like others, we posted a #berniemittens photo, in our case in Midtown. Like for others, it was our most liked post recently on Instagram. It also made us think of how the world could have been so different if Bernie Sanders had been the Democratic Party nominee in 2016.
THE RETURN OF OUR STUDENT REPORTERS
Our two student reporters, grad student Richard Bednarski and undergrad student Gracie Gordon are back for a new semester of reporting, and are already working on new stories, lining up interviews, profile features and street photography. If you have any ideas, people, investigations or initiatives we should report about, never hesitate to let us know. You are also more than welcome to contribute your own op-eds, first person stories, photos or videos for our channels.
Thank you for subscribing to this new Substack! Onward as we have a new administration in Washington, D.C., and vaccines hopefully speed up here and everywhere around the world.