The Nevada Independent’s Jon Ralston’s interview of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN), Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) and Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority leadership on June 4 at the National Auto Museum titled ”Economic Development in Northern Nevada” was an informative hoot. It was introduced by the museum’s Executive Director Phil MacDougall with a spectacular AI photoshopped feature of EDAWN’s CEO Taylor Adams, RSCVA’s President and CEO Mike Larragueta and the airport authority’s CEO Daren Griffin (dubbed “the Billion Dollar Man” for the airport’s $1 billion expansion project) in various adventurous settings. It was a hilarious opener.
Jon’s characteristically lighthearted probing questions and the substantive responses left this attendee with awe for the competency and vision offered. But it also reminded me of a prior concern: How much growth is enough? What is the end game?
Area natives love their Northern Nevada home. Transplants were drawn here for big city amenities and small-town feel. Once here, newbies experienced friendly neighbors and service workers, polite drivers, buttermilk skies and the ability to get anywhere within 45 minutes. As growth juggernauts across our landscape, it’s bringing congestion, a strain on public safety services and a feel reminiscent of the places transplants left. After being here for 18 years, I’ve learned not to say “Let me tell you how we did it in California.”
Our region depends on growth to maintain infrastructure and public service levels. This is due in large part to no state income tax and assessments, including a provision for depreciation. Without growth, property tax revenue shrinks. Unless this method is changed, we will need to continue to grow or suffer the economic and quality of life consequences.
Another not-so-apparent reason to continue growth is the tens of thousands of construction-related workers who built the homes they live in. If construction stops … then what? Our growth is insatiable. Can it be slowed?
Not with the capable likes of the three leaders we heard Tuesday night who are hell-bent on growth. It reminds me of what Dwight D. Eisenhower dubbed “the military-industrial complex.” Only this is a local government-developer complex. What NIMBY’s, natives and California refugees want in lower growth is currently impractical and, as things stand, surely not to happen.
But is it that sure? Are there ways to preserve our small-town feel and maintain reasonable growth, infrastructure and public services? Instead of putting all our eggs in the growth machine, should we put a few in a commission to explore options for growth that preserve our regional character?
Such a commission — perhaps under the governor’s office — could research taxation changes; alternative zoning impacts; high-speed rail from Carson City to North Valleys, Spanish Springs and Fernley (to reduce traffic congestion/pollution/accidents); expediting the planned Sun Valley-Tahoe Reno Industrial Center connector; acquisition of Bureau of Land Management land (to accommodate more single family homes vs. the proliferation of Los Angeles-style cliff-dwelling apartments in our land-locked cities); consolidation of Reno and Sparks (to reduce redundancy and turf issues); and infrastructure vulnerabilities (power station, earth dams, sewage processing capacity limitations and contingency planning). It also could tap into the Guinn Center’s impressive nonpartisan research capabilities.
Even if growth could be slowed, EDAWN, RSCVA and the airport authority should and would continue synergistic collaborations. Actually, slower growth would make our region an even stronger sell to tourists, airlines, conventions, trade shows and employers of highly skilled employees.
If you haven’t attended one of Jon Ralston’s The Nevada Independent events, you should. Where else can you learn so much about Nevada’s workings, challenges and opportunities with as much humor as watching Taylor Swift, Little Richard and a rutting porcupine perform in a rowboat?
Jim Schnieder is a veteran, nonpartisan, retired purchasing vice president and Stanford alumnus.The Nevada Independent welcomes informed, cogent rebuttals to opinion pieces such as this. Send them to [email protected].
