Smoke, Strike, Sweep, a Service and a Survivor
Waking up today was another stark reminder of the furious forest flames around us and the apocalyptic world we live in, with surging variants and the air quality of the West gone amok. The 2006 cult film Idiocracy was supposed to be 500 years in the future, but we seem to be approaching much sooner the tilting point into madness. A Canadian respirologist has suggested smoke particles are small enough to enter the brain and cause “neuro-inflammation,” which can affect people’s moods and their cognitive abilities.
Keolis, the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County’s for profit contractor of local buses, says a handful of drivers they employ have crossed the picket line as stalled negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement persist.
Teamsters Local 533 President Gary Watson has been quoted as saying the strike initially involved about 200 drivers, road supervisors, dispatchers, maintenance, utility and support service workers. The main sticking point has been a Keolis goal to replace the union healthcare plan with a non-union plan. With just a few routes running (ROUTE 1, ROUTE 11, and the RTC REGIONAL CONNECTOR), RTC has started an emergency Uber voucher program.
Above is a picture inside the Nevada Cares Campus, from this week, with fans in the sun, seemingly as a cooling station, which if you listen to officials is all going dandy, but according to advocates is severely lacking in amenities and comfort for all the millions being spent. At the monthly Community Homeless Advisory Board meeting, Sparks councilman Kristopher Dahir usually brings up the important role of non governmental organizations, especially “faith-based” groups. Reno City Manager Doug Thornley though Monday called it a “difficult needle to thread” to involve volunteer groups. Dahir complained of all the tents and people just outside the campus, and advocates were frustrated to report a sweep took place this week after his Monday morning comments. As part of our Ideas for Progress series, we reported about efforts for a pallet shelter village in Chico, where a potentially still evolving landmark court case there has stopped sweeps in the central California city. Some of the unhoused are displaced people from previous fires.
A memorial gathering might be held this Saturday at noon at Wingfield Park to commemorate a giant on the streets among the unhoused in Reno, Fuzz (in picture above), who passed away recently. The service might be moved to next week though because of the current lack of air quality. KT Massey wrote on Facebook:
“Hey buddy Fuzz NortonKenneth Norton
I hope you know how much we miss ya. How much we all love ya.
We are all getting together next weekend to celebrate ya and talk about ya. And spread your ashes where you wanted them.
We told ya you wouldn't have to be alone when it came to this time. We got you buddy. Always have. Love you Fuzzy Wuzzy.”
Our podcast this week is with Danielle A Barrineau in her own words recounting her survivor’s tale, from staggering depths to an inspiring rebound. Her voice needs to be heard and we are happy to report the Our Town Reno podcast now also has a regular Friday morning slot on KWNK 97.7 FM, where we’ve been getting new listeners.