Reporting on unhoused residents
I have really enjoyed and have even gotten fired up on the articles about the neglect of our unhoused citizens in this community. I have my own personal homeless outreach and see the devastation regularly. I can pray that the leadership of this community sees the current crisis that is going on with our unhoused citizens. Please continue with these articles to keep me posted.
Dawn Houghtling, Reno
Keep an eye on the council
It seems the Reno City Council has taken advantage of the pandemic to give away the farm to the developers and get nothing in return for the citizens. With the Neighborhood Advisory Boards shut down last year, it seems to be open season for developers to squeeze profits out of prime real estate downtown without any accountability. The “citizen input,” when it even happens, is more like a rubber stamp on plans that have already been decided by the city staff. The Jacobs Entertainment giveaway, which had no public input at all, and the Arlington Bridge plans (RNR, 10/26) that gave the public committees very little options, are cases on point. People need to pay attention to what’s happening now because these decisons will affect Reno for many years to come.
Doug Blauschild, Reno
Ban wildlife-killing contests
The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners (NBWC) will soon hold a workshop to discuss the language in Commission General Regulation 503, which would ban wildlife killing contests (RN&R, 07/10) in the state of Nevada.
Here are four ways you can support a ban on wildlife killing contests: Attend the meeting online on Friday, November 5, 2021 and give oral comment by joining the zoom meeting. The meeting starts at 8 a.m. PT but our topic is agenda item #11 and will be discussed in the afternoon. The commission will likely accept public testimony and may vote on the issue (though a vote is unlikely until later). Prepare your oral testimony ahead of time by personalizing the Talking Points below. Keep your comments respectful, polite, and brief (1 minute or less). Simply stating that you are a Nevadan that supports the proposed regulation language is perfect. Those interested also may submit written testimony to the emails listed. Please be sure to submit your written comments before the meeting
on Friday, Nov. 5.
The email addresses are: wildlifecommission@ndow.org; Tiffany East (Chair), tiffany@tiffanyeastpr.com; Tommy Caviglia (Vice Chair), tccaviglia1980@gmail.com ; Tom Barnes, barnestk5@outlook.com; Jon Almberg, almbergnv@gmail.com; Shane Rogers, shanerogers9@yahoo.com; Alana Wise, awise.nv@gmail.com; Casey D. Kiel, ckiel@coeur.com; David McNinch, davidmcninch@att.net; Ron Pierini, pieriniron@gmail.com.
Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper also helps get the word out, shows support for banning these barbaric contests and encourages other Nevadans to do so.
Fauna Tomlinson, Reno
How businesses can support voter turnout
I’m working with Activate America, a grassroots organization dedicated to increasing voter engagement. We want to help Nevada businesses voice their support for voting! Businesses also can support voter engagement by sharing this link to check your voter registration status at makemeavoter.org. We also have customizable graphics available that can be used to show your business’ support.
Janet Elkins, Activate America
$6.7 billion on Nevada’s table
I just read that the state will receive $6.7 billion in pandemic relief funds. I imagine that various state agencies and private companies have already lined up at the trough. The governor is talking about non-profits needing help and how the money must be spent wisely because it’s a one-time infusion of cash and not a regular allocation. Let’s keep an eye on where that spending will go and make sure it doesn’t go into lining the pockets of the already wealthy companies and bloated state agencies.
Bobby McDonald, Sparks
Support for cultured meat
If Nevada Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen care a whit about animal welfare, they should support increased funding for cultivated-meat research. For those who don’t know, cultivated meat is grown from cells, without slaughter. It has the potential to save countless animals from unimaginable suffering.
While the U.S. Department of Agriculture is giving money to Tufts University, in order to establish a National Institute for Cellular Agriculture, more funding is necessary. This will help address challenges in the field, such as reaching price parity with slaughtered meat. Legislators should support this effort.
Jon Hochschartner, Granby, Conn.