Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck

Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck is KUNR’s monthly show about Nevada politics and the 2024 election. This episode features Nevada Democratic U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and her health care accomplishments, thoughts on the clean energy debate, and how she says the party can re-energize the Latino vote.

Click here for a transcript of the audio story.

The senator highlighted three main issues she tackled this year: lowering health care costs for seniors, clean energy mining and manufacturing, and increasing veterans’ access to health care after exposure to toxic chemicals while serving.

“I fought in the Inflation Reduction Act to ensure that many of our seniors have the ability now to have lower costs through capping the cost of insulin at $35, capping really the cost of other drugs that are now being able to be negotiated on Medicare,” she said. “It’s the first time that we’ve been able to take on Big Pharma.”

As for next year, Cortez Masto wants to address mental health challenges faced by all ages through care catered to an individual’s recovery and integrating mental health care with primary health care.

The country is also gearing up for the 2024 presidential election. Nevada has several voting blocs that can determine the outcomes of elections. In past elections, Democrats have counted on Latinos; however, that’s no longer the case, as they are not a monolith and are shifting away from the party.

“I can tell you what I know of Latinos in Nevada and just really any voters is you got to show up. And it’s not two months before an election to say, ‘I’m running, and will you vote for me.’ It is all the time,” Cortez Masto said. “Our Latinos are incredible entrepreneurs; they’re business owners; they’re health care providers; they’re our brilliant students.”

Listen to this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada to hear more of the senator’s proudest moments and biggest goals, as well as how she’s going to accomplish them while chaos ensues among her colleagues in the House of Representatives.

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LUCIA STARBUCK: Welcome to Purple Politics Nevada. I’m your host, Lucia Starbuck. The name reflects the fact that Nevada isn’t red or blue – it’s both. Today, I’m joined by U.S. Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada to chat about her accomplishments this year and goals for next. Thanks so much for joining me, Senator.

CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO: Oh Lucia, I’m always happy to join you. Thanks for doing this.

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STARBUCK: As 2023 comes to a close, what would you say your proudest moments are this year? And what is some of your legislation that will have the greatest impact in Northern Nevada?

CORTEZ MASTO: When I’m home, and I know talking to Nevadans, probably the three areas that I hear the most about is really lowering costs for families, working on how we create jobs, and then just making sure Nevadans feel healthy and safe.

I fought in the Inflation Reduction Act to ensure that many of our seniors have the ability now to have lower costs through capping the cost of insulin at $35, capping really the cost of other drugs that are now being able to be negotiated by Medicare. It’s the first time that we’ve been able to take on Big Pharma.

And then creating jobs, you know, it’s good for our economy, and it puts Nevada in the forefront of leading in this clean energy economy.

And then, finally, one of the big things that I heard from our veterans is the fact that many veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals during their years of service could not access the health care that they needed. Well, then we passed the PACT Act that now provides them essential health care.

STARBUCK: You mentioned clean energy. Last month, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony that would have halted construction at the lithium mine at Thacker Pass. How do you balance tribal concerns and the beginning of this lithium and energy boom in Nevada?

CORTEZ MASTO: To me, this is about our clean energy future, lowering that carbon footprint we see in Nevada, the implications of extreme weather and the climate change. We see it in the drought; we see it in the hot and longer wildfire seasons. And that requires us to look at so many areas where we can utilize, but we can’t do the batteries and clean energy technology that we need unless we have the critical minerals, and Nevada is key for those critical minerals when it comes to lithium mining.

So the supply chain for that clean energy starts with the mining and then everything in between, from the manufacturing to the processing. That, to me, is the balance: how we manage all of that and still address the needs when we’re doing responsible mining to protect the environment, utilizing this technology in a responsible way.

STARBUCK: And what are your goals for next year?

CORTEZ MASTO: One of the things that we’re still addressing and more work needs to be done is around mental health. It is still one of the main issues that we see impacting so many Nevadans, from our youth to our young adults to adults and seniors.

A lot of the work I’ve done is to focus on the crisis side of mental health and how we bring essential services around the crisis mode. And so we need more programs that are focused on the individual. I’m also leading legislation that really focuses on how we get mental health care integrated with primary care providers.

STARBUCK: Let’s talk 2024. We’re gearing up for a presidential election. Nevada is a really cool place; it has many different voting blocs that can really shift the outcomes of elections. In prior elections, Democrats have counted on Latinos. However, that’s no longer the case. Latinos have felt disconnected from Dems. What can the party do to keep these voters blue?

CORTEZ MASTO: Well, I can tell you what I know of Latinos in Nevada and just really any voters is you got to show up. And it’s not two months before an election to say, ‘I’m running, and will you vote for me.’ It is all the time. Particularly, if we’re talking about Latinos, talking to them often, listening to them, learning about what their issues are and focusing on those issues to address their concerns. If anybody wants to come into Nevada at a presidential year, that needs to happen all the time.

Our Latinos are incredible entrepreneurs; they’re business owners; they’re health care providers; they’re our brilliant students that want a future that they don’t have to mortgage with a loan.

STARBUCK: Americans’ faith in U.S. institutions has been falling. The chaos among your colleagues in the House of Representatives isn’t helping. George Santos was expelled. Kevin McCarthy is resigning. A number of lawmakers have said they’re not going to run again. How can you regain trust?

CORTEZ MASTO: Let me just say this. I do think and understand the frustration, and I hear it in my own family, and I see it. This is about how we lean across the aisle. We may not agree on everything, but we’re civil to one another, and we figure out, working together, including compromising, how we solve the problems that Americans are facing.

That’s what I hear from Nevadans. They don’t want somebody who’s going to undermine their election. They don’t want somebody who is inciting a mob on January 6 and an insurrection. They don’t want Congress to focus on taking the rights away of women, reproductive rights.

What they want Congress to do is work together. And that’s what I’ve always tried to do. And I’ve promised to Nevadans that this is about how we solve problems, not create them.

STARBUCK: Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me, Senator.

CORTEZ MASTO: Lucia it’s always great to talk with you. Thank you again, and have a wonderful holiday.

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STARBUCK That was U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. I’m Lucia Starbuck, and you’re listening to Purple Politics Nevada.

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The theme song, “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, is licensed under Creative Commons and was edited for this episode.

Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck is KUNR’s monthly show about Nevada politics and the 2024 election. This episode is about a lesser-known truth: political candidates don’t undergo background checks, and one Nevada-based organization’s efforts to change that.

Click here for a transcript of the audio story.

To file for candidacy in Nevada, a small list of conditions must be met that vary by office, including age and residency restrictions, one must be eligible to vote, and pay a filing fee.

That’s why Jody Baden founded Transparency in Politics. The organization encourages political candidates and elected officials to voluntarily publish a background check on their personal history, such as work, education, and military experience.

“I’ve talked to a lot of voters, I’ve talked to a lot of candidates, people in the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. And if you’re not running for office, or you haven’t been involved in politics, you assume that candidates are vetted in some way,” Baden said.

The organization had its first candidate running for school board in Tampa, Florida, go through the background check process. But there hasn’t been much of an appetite for it locally, among both parties, and endorsers, Baden said. Yet she believes it is a beneficial avenue for candidates to be transparent about their backgrounds.

“I think candidates should want some facts out about themselves and not just have the public depend on the mudslinging ads from the other side,” Baden said.

Baden said it can be very concerning if someone with a history of financial problems or a criminal record is making policy decisions that affect a large number of people. And lying isn’t typically considered illegal.

“I’m concerned about our country, and I’m concerned about democracy, and I’m concerned about the truth,” Baden said.

Listen to this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck about Baden’s quest for background checks for political candidates.

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LUCIA STARBUCK, HOST: Welcome to Purple Politics Nevada. I’m your host, Lucia Starbuck. The name reflects the fact that Nevada isn’t red or blue — it’s both.

Today, we’re talking about background checks for political candidates. I’m joined by Jody Baden, founder and owner of Transparency in Politics. Thanks so much for being here with me.

JODY BADEN, GUEST: Thank you so much for having me. I’m eager to share with you.

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STARBUCK: So your organization, it allows political candidates and elected officials to be transparent about their history through a background check. Are you saying that this isn’t already required? I had to get a background check to work at Sam’s Club.

BADEN: I think this is a great question because, you know, I’ve talked to a lot of people, I’ve talked to a lot of voters, I’ve talked to a lot of candidates, people in the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. And if you’re not running for office, or you haven’t been involved in politics, you assume that candidates are vetted in some way.

STARBUCK: Yeah.

BADEN: However, almost none of the information that’s provided at the Registrar of Voters office is verified; you simply present an ID and write a check for most all of the offices.

STARBUCK: Wow. I think this has definitely been put on people’s minds, especially this year with New York Congressman George Santos, who fabricated quite a bit of his resume, his schooling, his work experience, his family history. Where is this conversation now?

BADEN: Well, I think the voters are alarmed. And I think people are clamoring for more transparency, at least a resume verification and criminal background check. And so it’s left up to opposition research or the public to determine whether someone really is not qualified to run for that office. And, of course, as we see with George Santos, it’s almost impossible to get them out.

STARBUCK: I would even caution against just relying solely on opposition research because, you know, that has an agenda of its own, too.

BADEN: Correct, and I think candidates should want some facts out about themselves and not just have the public depend on the mudslinging ads from the other side. I think this is a chance for candidates to be proactive about things that might need more explanation that could come up.

STARBUCK: So how did your organization come about?

BADEN: I just was so disgusted with the lying. I mean, politics has been full of lying forever — this is not really new — but the epidemic proportion of lying in the last election had me really distressed. It’s not illegal unless you perjure yourself or you commit fraud, you know, very few cases where lying is really illegal.

But what could be done about it? Well, it’s not going to be legislated. There’s really no appetite for that. I thought, “Well, if it’s voluntary, maybe some people who really want to disclose their background and feel like integrity is important will go for it.”

STARBUCK: Yeah, how concerning is it if someone does have maybe this more sinister past that’s not out in the open, and now they’re in office?

BADEN: I think depending on the type of, let’s say, crime that it is, I think it can be very concerning. When someone’s in office, making decisions that affect so many people, making decisions about money, and they have some kind of criminal past, whether it’s a financial problem or it’s something more sinister, I think it’s a big problem. And I think that could be very damaging.

STARBUCK: You said there’s not a lot of appetite at the legislative level, but who is biting? Give me the details: Who is embracing you? Are they local? What side of the political aisle are they on?

BADEN: Okay, interesting. Well, you know, it’s funny, the voters want it, but the candidates and the parties, and the folks who do endorsing like labor unions, don’t seem to be too interested. I think they’re concerned that, you know, maybe something will come up in a background check that makes their candidate look not so sterling. But I think the nonpartisan offices are probably more open to it.

I have my first Transparency in Politics seal of approval to award to a school board candidate in Tampa, Florida. And so you can see her background check on my website. I’m excited there is someone who wants to be transparent about their background check. That gives me hope.

STARBUCK: What are your hopes for your organization, Transparency in Politics?

BADEN: I hope it’s the start of a movement. And I hope it normalizes background checking for people who run for office. I want people to have confidence in our system. I want to improve the quality of candidates. Many good people don’t want to run because they see a lot of negativity in politics, and they don’t want to be part of it.

STARBUCK: Why is it so important to you personally?

BADEN: Well, I feel like I need to make a difference. You know, I’m not young anymore, and I have one more big project in me, and I think this is it. I’m concerned about our country, and I’m concerned about democracy, and I’m concerned about the truth.

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STARBUCK: That was Jody Baden, founder and owner of Transparency in Politics. Thanks so much for chatting with me.

BADEN: Oh, thank you so much for having me.

STARBUCK: I’m Lucia Starbuck, and you’re listening to Purple Politics Nevada.

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The theme song, “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, is licensed under Creative Commons and was edited for this episode.

Purple Politics Nevada is back! Season 2 will focus on Nevada politics and the 2024 election.

For the first episode, host Lucia Starbuck spoke with NPR’s senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro about the Silver State’s role in the 2024 election, the presidential primary, and issues on the minds of voters and candidates.

Click here for a transcript of the audio story.

Nevada will be the third state in the nation to hold its primary for the 2024 presidential election, and in 2022, Nevada was one of the few states that determined control of the Senate. But so far, not many presidential hopefuls have made campaign stops in Nevada. Montanaro answers the essential question: Does Nevada really matter?

“It’s a super pivotal role because it’s a pivotal state. It’s been close for every election cycle I can remember since 2000,” Montanaro said. “As divided as the country is ... every electoral vote counts.”

When it comes to the issues on the minds of voters, Montanaro said that based on the ads he’s seen, Democrats will continue to campaign on protecting access to abortion, whereas Republicans will keep their focus on crime. Voters have various concerns, such as education, climate change, and the economy.

“The economy sort of lends itself to how people are feeling and whether or not they are satisfied with the direction of the country,” Montanaro said. “I think that is going to be an overarching theme of the election certainly because that’s the main thing people care about. Can they put food on the table? Can they afford stuff that they want? Can they send their kids to school?”

When asked if democracy is at risk of dying, Montanaro said there are danger signs, such as a lack of trust in institutions such as media and law enforcement, but he believes this country is undergoing a political shift, and he’s looking forward to 2028.

“I do think we’re going to see something of a reset in 2028, because even if it’s Trump and Biden running, neither of them will be qualified to be president again in 2028,” Montanaro said. “You’re going to have a huge open field on both sides. That’s going to be really interesting to see who picks up the mantle of what and how they define what it means to be American.”

Listen to this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada as host Lucia Starbuck speaks with NPR’s senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

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LUCIA STARBUCK, HOST: Welcome back to Purple Politics Nevada! I’m your host, Lucia Starbuck. The name reflects the fact that the state isn’t red or blue – it’s both.

For Season 2, I’m going to follow Nevada politics and the 2024 election. To help put it all in context, I’m with Domenico Montanaro, NPR’s senior political editor and correspondent. Thanks so much for joining me.

DOMENICO MONTANARO: Thanks for having me.

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STARBUCK: Let’s get started – what role do you think Nevada will play in the 2024 election?

MONTANARO: I mean it’s a super pivotal role because it’s a pivotal state. It’s been close for every election cycle I can remember since 2000. Just a couple points really separated President Biden and then-President Trump in the last election. As divided as the country is and as a few votes has really decided, you know, every electoral vote counts. And it’s also an early primary state.

STARBUCK: It seems that states are always jockeying to be first in the nation. Nevada is third, and it has been for a while. Why is it so important for states to be early?

MONTANARO: They get a lot of media attention and that brings in a lot of money. That’s one reason why the former Majority Leader Harry Reid pushed for that, to be able to get some geographic diversity at the top of when the primaries are happening, but also to draw some attention to Nevada to get television ads, campaign visits, and to draw attention to the issues that matter to Nevadans.

STARBUCK: We’re only four months away from Nevada’s primary in February, but only a handful of Republican presidential hopefuls have visited us so far. Are we being written off?

MONTANARO: There is a definite bias, it seems on the part of a lot of the candidates, where they don’t spend as much time in Nevada. There are fewer delegates and fewer media to really give them the kind of attention that they would need to be able to be propelled into a matchup; let’s say if you’re a Republican and you want some momentum to be able to be the principal alternative to former President Trump, you need to win in some of those early places.

STARBUCK: What issues do you think are going to be on the minds of voters, and what issues do you think politicians are going to be talking about?

MONTANARO: I think it’s interesting that, clearly, Democrats have been able to use the Dobbs decision and abortion rights as a key motivator for their base, and they’ve been doing that, and they continue to do that. For the Republicans, they’re really focused on crime.

The economy obviously is the big thing. But it’s kind of hard to run ads on the economy if you are a Democrat because your president is the one who’s in charge. And there’s a real mixed view of what the economy is.

I think the economy sort of lends itself to how people are feeling and whether or not they are satisfied with the direction of the country. I think that that is going to be an overarching theme of the election certainly because that’s the main thing people care about. Can they put food on the table? Can they afford stuff that they want? Can they send their kids to school?

There are other issues that are, obviously, very important to people, guns, in either direction, climate change.

STARBUCK: When it comes to young people or young voters, particularly Gen Z, are feeling that democracy does not go far enough. They feel that they don’t have a voice on issues like rising prices, climate change. What does it mean if young people are feeling this way?

MONTANARO: Young people are always the most difficult for a campaign to motivate to go out to vote. The thinking has always been that as you gain responsibility, houses, kids, you become more engaged in politics. I’m not sure that’s a hundred percent true, because I’ve seen a lot of engagement with younger voters, but they feel a definite dissonance with the current political system.

A lot of things we hear from them, the older generation just doesn’t get them and doesn’t get their issues. That comes up in Congress quite a bit; they had a very difficult time and have had a very difficult time navigating discussions around tech.

STARBUCK: Do you think democracy is at risk of dying in the United States?

MONTANARO: For a small question, right? I think it’s very difficult to pin down where the country is. I think that there are some warning signs when you look at the decline in trust in lots of institutions, the media included, the courts, law enforcement, federal law enforcement. I think that that can lend to the idea that democracy is in danger.

I do think that the country has gone through different periods of political shifts. I think we’re undergoing a political shift currently. White working-class voters used to be a key pillar of the Democratic base. They’re now shifted more culturally to Republicans. College-educated voters, in the days of Nelson Rockefeller, were very staunch Republicans. Now that’s flipped. I think that there are still these fights that are happening in the suburbs for voters who can go either direction, maybe nonpartisan voters.

I do think we’re going to see something of a reset in 2028, because even if it’s Trump and Biden running, neither of them will be qualified to be president again in 2028. And you’re going to have a huge open field on both sides. That’s going to be really interesting to see who picks up the mantle of what and how they define what it means to be American because I do think that that is a huge question that a lot of people are trying to figure out.

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STARBUCK: I can’t wait for 2028 then. That was senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. Thanks so much for speaking with me.

MONTANARO: Thanks again. Happy to be here.

STARBUCK: I’m Lucia Starbuck, and you’re listening to Purple Politics Nevada.

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The theme song, “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, is licensed under Creative Commons and was edited for this episode.

Purple Politics Nevada is KUNR’s weekly show about the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session. In this week’s episode, KUNR news editor Vicki Adame is in the host seat to interview democracy reporter Lucia Starbuck about her experience covering the 2023 legislative session.

Click here for a transcript of the audio story.

This was Starbuck’s first time covering the 120-day Nevada legislative session. At the beginning of this year, in preparation for the show, Starbuck spent much of her time learning from previous legislative reporters and staff in the building.

“I was in a unique position because I was learning it myself. So I knew I can break it down in a way for everyone to understand because I’m just trying to put the pieces together myself. I was like, ‘Let’s learn about this together,’ ” Starbuck said.

But, it’s not all work for the press corps. There were also fun times during the session, such as the tradition of Third House, which started in 1863. Mark Twain and a group of “journalists, lawyers, bohemians and businessmen” got together after the legislature adjourned to poke fun at the lawmakers and process. This year’s roast targeted Southwest Airlines travel woes and Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo’s “The Nevada Way” slogan.

However, the most memorable moment for Starbuck was covering the Black History Summit. She learned about some of the inventions made by Black Americans, including the Super Soaker squirt gun, a stoplight and a gas mask. There was also a performance by Broadway in the HOOD based out of Las Vegas and people shared food.

“When things are so divisive in this country, you’re kind of hearing in more right-leaning states where they’re censoring books or censoring what can be taught in schools, to have this conversation about Black history and the importance of learning it – the good and the bad. It just seemed very productive,” Starbuck said. “And it was cool to see what came out of the Black History Summit: A bill to officially remove language that allows for slavery in the state constitution. Juneteenth — we just got that state holiday, so on Monday, I was able to tell people, ‘Yeah, the state legislature did that.’ ”

Listen to the last episode of season one of Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck to hear more behind the scenes on what it’s like to cover the Nevada legislature. After a summer break, the show will return in the fall.

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VICKI ADAME, HOST: Welcome to this week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada. The name reflects the fact that Nevada isn’t red or blue — it’s both. I’m KUNR news editor Vicki Adame, and today, we’re turning the tables on host Lucia Starbuck.

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ADAME: This was your first time covering the legislative session. What was it like?

LUCIA STARBUCK: Before the session even started, it was just trying to figure out what to expect. I sat down with reporters who have covered it, legislative staff, basically saying, “Please tell me everything I need to know.”

I’m also a nerd when it comes to processes. How does legislation go from a bill to a law? How can I follow what’s going on? What’s happened in the past?

And I also think I was kind of in a unique position because I was learning it myself. So I knew I can break it down in a way for everyone to understand because I’m just trying to put the pieces together myself, where I was like, “Let’s learn about this together.”

ADAME: Describe a typical day working as a member of the State House Press Corps, or is there even such a thing?

STARBUCK: Every day was a little bit different, and I think that’s what was a lot of fun about it. Sometimes a lot of waiting around. A lot of the other reporters, this was also their first time covering the session or just their second time. So we kind of had to get together [to] say, “What happened to this bill? What’d you hear from this lawmaker? And how do you get access here?” So it was a lot of coming together and a sharing of knowledge.

ADAME: What was your biggest takeaway from covering the session?

STARBUCK: This was a really confusing, complex and messy process. I spent all my time and resources trying to figure out what was going on for the 120 days. I have no idea if you have a full-time job that isn’t tied to the legislative session, I have no idea how you would follow along.

Maybe a little bit of lack of transparency at the end — they had these behind-the-bar meetings where they would just kind of huddle in a group in the building.

It’s not easy for your average Nevadan to follow along on something that could potentially directly impact their lives.

ADAME: I also understand that it’s not all work for the press corps. They put on this skit-type show where the members of the press spoof the lawmakers. Tell us about this tradition and the reaction from the lawmakers.

STARBUCK: This is something that started in 1863 with Mark Twain, with a group of journalists, lawyers, bohemians and businessmen. They basically got together after the legislature adjourned to make fun of the people and the process. It was a mini roast.

We poked a little bit of fun at the Southwest travel woes. Some Southern Nevada lawmakers weren’t able to get home very easily. Sometimes they even hitched rides together to get back to Las Vegas.

We made fun of Gov. Joe Lombardo quite a bit. He’s been kind of putting on this slogan “The Nevada Way,” so we created the “Nevada Way Cult.”

(SOUNDBITE FROM THIRD HOUSE, PRESS CORPS IN UNISON): This is the way.

STARBUCK: I played the very passionate Assemblywoman Selena La Rue Hatch. She had a bill where she was trying to require freshmen to take geography.

(SOUNDBITE FROM THIRD HOUSE, STARBUCK): I had no less than 13 eighth graders ask me if the blue part of the map was the land part. And geography is so much more than maps. It’s—

(SOUNDBITE FROM THIRD HOUSE, TABITHA MUELLER): Selena, it’s come to my attention that your maps are just dripping with CRT.

STARBUCK: It was actually really well received. I wasn’t sure if maybe their feelings would be hurt, but they were laughing along, a couple of “oohs,” which was definitely worth it.

ADAME: During the press briefing with the governor’s chief of staff, there was an unexpected guest who crashed it. Who was it, and what happened?

STARBUCK: Yes. So a couple times throughout the session, the press met with the governor’s chief of staff, Ben Kieckhefer, who also used to be a reporter. And we get this knock.

(SOUNDBITE FROM MEETING, MUELLER): That was my question—

(KNOCKING ON A DOOR)

STARBUCK: It was the Governor.

(SOUNDBITE FROM MEETING, BEN KIECKHEFER): Governor, you know most of the capitol press corps, right?

STARBUCK: Of course, we did not miss the opportunity to ask him questions. We didn’t get a lot of access to the governor. As a reporter, that was important to me because Nevada elected Lombardo.

ADAME: Was your most memorable moment covering the legislature?

STARBUCK: I think I really enjoyed the Black History Summit. I learned a lot about some inventions made by Black Americans: the Super Soaker squirt gun, the stoplight, gas mask. There was a performance by Broadway in the HOOD based out of Las Vegas. Assemblywoman Angie Taylor’s mom came. People shared food.

When things are so divisive in this country, you’re kind of hearing in more right-leaning states where they’re censoring books or censoring what can be taught in schools, to have this conversation about Black history and the importance of learning it – the good and the bad. It just seemed very productive.

And it was cool to see what came out of the Black History Summit. You know, a bill to officially remove language that allows for slavery in the state constitution. Juneteenth — we just got that state holiday, so on Monday, I was able to tell people, “Yeah, the state legislature did that,” because I can’t stop talking about politics outside of work.

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ADAME: Well, Lucia, thanks so much for being such a great sport and giving us this behind-the-scenes glimpse. And this episode wraps the first season of Purple Politics Nevada. We’re taking a summer hiatus, but we’ll be back in the fall. You can always go to KUNR.org and listen to past episodes of the show.

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The theme song, “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, is licensed under Creative Commons and was edited for this episode.

KUNR held its third Pints & Purple Politics event tied to the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session on Wednesday at Reno Little Theater.

Purple Politics Nevada host Lucia Starbuck moderated the conversation with two of Nevada’s top Democrats: Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar and Treasurer Zach Conine. This week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada recaps the event.

Click here for a transcript of the audio story.

The 120-day legislative session adjourned on June 5. Both offices had backed bills that have now been signed into law, with others still awaiting action from the governor.

The Secretary of State’s office is preparing for the 2024 election. Election worker safety has been top of mind over the last few election cycles – something Aguilar pledged to address on the campaign trail. It is now a felony to harass or intimidate election workers with the intent of interfering with an election.

“Our elections only work because of volunteers and election workers. It’s the person working in the back room to make sure all the supplies are there for the people going out to work polls. It’s the poll workers sitting at the table registering people, assisting them in the process. And 80% percent of our election workers and volunteers are women. It is now a felony in Nevada to harass or intimidate election workers,” Aguilar said.

Another goal of Aguilar’s is to ensure equal access to the ballot box. Last election, the Yomba Shoshone Tribe faced challenges when trying to get a polling site for Election Day. Senate Bill 327, which is currently sitting on Gov. Joe Lombardo’s desk, would require counties to provide a polling place and drop-off box for early voting and Election Day on tribal reservations upfront instead of having tribes request them.

“It’ll flip so that they have to opt-out. So the counties will have to do it from the very beginning. However, some of our rural counties struggle because it is a fiscal issue, and it’s my responsibility as Secretary of State to give them the support they need and provide that access,” Aguilar said.

The Treasurer’s office worked on legislation aimed at increasing the number of health care workers in the state. The governor signed a bill creating a loan repayment program for professions such as doctors, dentists and mental health care providers who work in underserved areas. They can receive up to $120,000 over five years.

“There are other professionals that we want to add in later on, if there’s still dollars available, like physical therapists and school nurses,” Conine said.

After a week-long special session ending on June 14, lawmakers passed the bill to provide $380 million in public financing for a new Oakland Athletics stadium in Las Vegas. But not before amendments were added to require stricter contributions to the community and at least 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave for employees by at least 55% of their regular wage in order to qualify for the tax abatements.

Lombardo signed the bill on June 15.

“In southern Nevada, we have created what is probably the best money extraction machine, and that is how we pay for pretty much how we pay for everything: how we pay for schools, affordable housing, free lunches for students, which we should keep going forever,” Conine said.

Listen to this week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck to hear more highlights from the two statewide elected officials about the bills they backed that survived the legislative session and what comes next.

As a note of disclosure, the Nevada State Treasurer’s office is a business sponsor of KUNR.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC BEGINS)

LUCIA STARBUCK, HOST: Welcome to this week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada. I’m your host, Lucia Starbuck. The name reflects the fact that Nevada isn’t red or blue — it’s both.

KUNR held its third Pints and Purple Politics event earlier this week. I moderated the discussion with Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar and Treasurer Zach Conine. If you missed it, we have you covered – here are some highlights.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC ENDS, AUDIO FROM LIVE EVENT BEGINS)

STARBUCK: Secretary Aguilar, the 2024 election is right around the corner – if you don’t consider it has started already. One thing that’s come up in the past few election cycles: concerns about election worker safety. Talk about your bill to protect those folks.

CISCO AGUILAR: Our elections only work because of the volunteers and election workers. It’s the person working in the back room to make sure all the supplies are there for the people going out to work polls. It’s the poll workers sitting at the table registering people, assisting them in the process. And 80% of our election workers and volunteers are women. It is now a felony in Nevada to harass or intimidate election workers.

STARBUCK: Last election, there were concerns that some Native communities didn’t have equal access to the ballot box. How will you make sure that doesn’t happen this election?

AGUILAR: Well, fingers crossed, and hopefully, the governor understands the importance. It’ll flip the dynamic for tribes to be able to have a polling site. Right now, tribes have to make a request to their local county clerk. It’ll flip so that they have to opt-out. So the counties will have to do it from the very beginning.

However, some of our rural counties struggle because it is a fiscal issue, and it’s my responsibility as Secretary of State to give them the support they need and provide that access.

STARBUCK: The last few election cycles, the results weren’t available night of; that’s probably not gonna happen again this election. What do you have to say to folks?

AGUILAR: Not if I have anything to do with it, and I have to go kicking and screaming to the Washoe County Commission and the Clark County Commission.

We found out that Washoe County had about 97% of its ballots on hand on election [night]. Clark had 94% of its ballots. They did not have the capacity to process all those ballots. We have to give the counties resources to build the capacity to count every ballot they have on election night because Nevadans deserve to know the results.

We are a deep purple state. We will never be able to call every race because we want to make sure what we’re doing [is] accurate, but we can do a better job of processing them. Clark County needs to go to 24-hour ballot counting.

STARBUCK: Treasurer Conine, one bill you worked on this session would provide loan repayments for health care workers. How would this program work?

ZACH CONINE: AB 45 was signed by the governor. We did a listening tour, and one of the things we heard over and over again, there was just a dearth of medical providers all over the state.

And so we looked at different programs, and we came up with one that would give up to $120,000 of loan forgiveness to medical providers to help pay down their student loans. And they have to stay here for five years.

And we know with a lot of these programs, the provider gets the money upfront, and then life changes, right? They move somewhere else, and then the state has to try and get it back, and we didn’t really wanna be in that business. So, each year, they get back one-fifth of the dollars.

STARBUCK: What professions are included in this program, and why focus on those?

CONINE: We focused on the ones where we have the largest issue in the state. So mental health providers, women’s health care providers, doctors, registered nurses. Now, there are other professionals that we want to add in later on, if there’s still dollars available, like physical therapists [and] school nurses.

STARBUCK: You also worked on a bill that would allow teachers to get some of their tuition reimbursed. Walk us through what that would do.

CONINE: AB 428, which is still in the governor’s desk, will create programs in high schools to identify people that want to be teachers so that they can start learning about what it’s like to be a teacher and getting credits towards college.

Then it will basically hand them off to the system of higher education to get a teaching degree. And then after that, if they become a licensed teacher and they work for three years, each year, they’ll get a third of their tuition and fees paid off. At the end of this program, they’re coming out completely debt-free as teachers licensed in the state.

STARBUCK: On the A’s deal, why should the state provide public financing for a large corporation? There’s a lot of questions about, like, why not put those resources somewhere else?

CONINE: So when I got involved in this thing, it was more than half a billion dollars in government support. There were no labor protections, or fewer labor protections. And the final deal that was reached is $200 million less.

Let’s talk about the Raiders’ deal. The Raiders’ deal has exceeded projections. It has hired less people in the construction job, but those people have made more money. It has brought tens of millions of dollars, will bring hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue to the state. And it’s brought Taylor Swift here.

In southern Nevada, we have created what is probably the best money extraction machine, and that is how we pay for pretty much how we pay for everything: how we pay for schools, affordable housing, free lunches for students, which we should keep going forever. It’s how we pay for things.

(AUDIO FROM LIVE EVENT ENDS, UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC BEGINS)

STARBUCK: That was Nevada Democratic Treasurer Zach Conine and Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar at KUNR’s third Pints and Purple Politics event at Reno Little Theater. I’m Lucia Starbuck, and you’ve been listening to Purple Politics Nevada.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC BEGINS)

KALEB ROEDEL, OUTRO: As a note of disclosure, the Nevada State Treasurer’s office is a business sponsor of KUNR.

The theme song, “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, is licensed under Creative Commons and was edited for this episode.

Purple Politics Nevada is KUNR’s weekly show about the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session. In this week’s episode, host Lucia Starbuck speaks with former Republican Governor and current University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) President Brian Sandoval about the institution’s dual credit program, potential film study opportunities, and legislature-approved raises for state employees.

Click here for a transcript of the audio story.

Sandoval is nearing his third year as the head of the university with a number of goals, including expanding the institution’s dual credit program. This fall, UNR will offer the opportunity for high schoolers to earn college credit in five high schools in Washoe County and another 16 in Clark County.

“That’s really going to expand the pipeline and college attainment in the state of Nevada,” Sandoval said.

The 120-day Nevada Legislative Session adjourned on Monday with some legislation impacting the university.

SB 496 would have expanded film tax credits by $190 million annually for potentially 20-30 years. The majority was earmarked for two production campuses in Southern Nevada. This caught the attention of actor and Washoe County resident Jeremy Renner, who called for those benefits to include Northern Nevada.

Renner visited UNR’s campus in May to explore the potential of creating film study courses.

“Regardless of the outcome of this bill, when [Renner] visited our campus, he hadn’t been here before. My impression is that he’s committed to working with the university,” Sandoval said last week.

The legislature has since adjourned without passing the bill, but a special session could be held to address it.

Another legislative priority included raises for state employees. Gov. Joe Lombardo signed AB 522, which will give employees with the Nevada System of Higher Education, including UNR staff, cost of living adjustments up to 10% starting in July and up to 4% next fiscal year. For UNR, the legislature is only funding around 62%.

The decision might come down to individual institutions on how to fill the gap. The money could come from an increase in student fees, hiring freezes, or furloughs; however, Sandoval said no to furloughs.

“We’re looking at a lot of different scenarios. So just like everything else, if you buy something at Home Depot, and it costs Home Depot a lot more, they raise their prices. So similarly, if it’s going to cost more with regard to those raises, there’s also a proposal to increase student fees. That personally would be the least attractive option for me,” Sandoval said.

Listen to this week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck to learn more about Sandoval’s goals for the university.

As a note of disclosure, KUNR’s broadcasting license is held by the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC BEGINS)

LUCIA STARBUCK, HOST: Welcome to this week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada. I’m your host, Lucia Starbuck. The name reflects the fact that Nevada isn’t red or blue — it’s both. Today I’m joined by former Republican Governor and current UNR President Brian Sandoval.

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STARBUCK: President Sandoval, you’ve been in your role for almost three years. What are your biggest accomplishments so far?

BRIAN SANDOVAL: I had a lot of goals that I had set. One of those was to set the stage for the construction of a new business building. On the south end of campus, there’s a lot of empty space. We will break ground hopefully on October 12, which will be the first day of our sesquicentennial, as well as a hotel conference center.

A second one for me was the acquisition of the Tahoe campus, and our first cohort of students will have a semester at Tahoe, like a semester abroad.

Another goal of mine was expanding dual credit, giving the opportunity to high school students on their own campuses to obtain college credit. This fall, we will be in 16 high schools in Clark County. We’ll have over 3,500 students taking the identical classes that our students would take here on campus. So that’s really gonna expand the pipeline and college attainment in the state of Nevada.

STARBUCK: Does that just exist in Clark County right now? And what are your goals for Washoe County?

SANDOVAL: I’ve been speaking with Superintendent Enfield, and we will be in five high schools in Washoe County this fall. The classes are taught by qualified teachers in the high schools under the supervision of our faculty. Our faculty meets on a weekly basis with the faculty member at the high school.

STARBUCK: Actor Jeremy Renner, he visited UNR a couple weeks ago to explore potential film studio possibilities. What did you two talk about?

SANDOVAL: There is a bill that would provide film tax credits, but that was exclusive to Southern Nevada and a development down there. Well, Jeremy spontaneously and on his own said, “What about Northern Nevada? What about the rest of the state?” In the Southern Nevada, they’re working with UNLV. So he reached out to me and we brought him on campus.

We introduced him to Al Stavitsky, our incredible dean of our School of Journalism. Even unknown to me, we already have a lot of courses in that area. We have screenwriting, documentary film, film editing. We have theater. There would be an opportunity to work with a studio that would come here. They’ve talked about Paramount and Disney, and it would open a myriad of opportunities for our students and perhaps a film study degree.

STARBUCK: Since this interview was recorded, the legislature adjourned without passing the bill to expand film tax credits, but they could hold a special session to address it.

If the bill doesn’t include Northern Nevada, would you still be open to exploring those possibilities?

SANDOVAL: Of course. And regardless of the outcome of this bill, when he visited our campus, he hadn’t been here before. You know, my impression is, is that he’s committed to working with the university.

STARBUCK: Another legislative priority has been raises for state employees, so UNR staff. How might these raises benefit UNR professors and other staff?

SANDOVAL: We’ve been through one of the most trying times in the history of higher education between the pandemic and the budget cuts. I mean, we took a 12% budget cut, and they also had to take six days of furloughs. So I’ve been committed to working really hard to get the cost of living adjustment [COLA]; that’s what the raises would be. And the proposal now would be up to 10% in the first year and up to 4% in the second year. There is another side to the coin, so to speak. The legislature is only going to fund those COLAs at 62%. We as Nevada System of Higher Education, also as the University of Nevada, Reno, we gotta find the rest.

STARBUCK: Where will that money come from?

SANDOVAL: The bill says up to 10% and 4%. There are different scenarios. One would be to reduce the amount of the COLAs. Another way is to create tiers. The lowest earners on campus would get more, and as you get a higher salary on campus, you would get less of a raise.

Just like everything else, if you buy something at Home Depot and it costs Home Depot a lot more, they raise their prices. So, similarly, if it’s gonna cost more, with regard to those raises, there’s also a proposal to increase student fees. That personally would be the least attractive option for me. And it really creates a difficult situation because you can either not raise fees, but then you got to find the money somewhere, which means cuts to services, which would affect the student experience.

STARBUCK: Are you considering furloughs or hiring freezes?

SANDOVAL: No. Well, furloughs, no. No, I wouldn’t consider that, but yes, hiring freezes would be another thing that’s on the table. It’s something we had to do when the legislature cut our budget. There are a lot of different options, and it’s a little premature to say which way we’re going.

You know, on the other hand, there’s some good news. You know, I talked about that 12% budget cut. Well, as part of the governor’s budget and in the legislative budget, they’ve restored that. And what we’re going to do with that is we’re gonna be hiring 42 new faculty members across campus.

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STARBUCK: That was UNR President Brian Sandoval. I’m Lucia Starbuck. Join me for a live taping of Purple Politics Nevada on June 14 from 6-8 p.m. at Reno Little Theater. RSVP is required. Learn more at KUNR.org.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC ENDS)

MARC GARBER: As a note of disclosure, KUNR’s broadcasting license is held by the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

The theme song, “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, is licensed under Creative Commons and was edited for this episode.

Purple Politics Nevada is KUNR’s weekly show about the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session. In this week’s episode, host Lucia Starbuck checks in with two journalists with The Nevada Independent about proposed legislation to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits to move the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas and expand the film industry in Southern Nevada.

Click here for a transcript of the audio story.

Earlier this week, lawmakers held a roughly six-hour hearing on the bill to fund a new Oakland Athletics stadium in Las Vegas. The bill proposes up to $380 million in public financing, mainly from the state through tax credits and Clark County bonds. Although there wouldn’t be any new taxes – not all lawmakers are on board.

“The chair of Assembly Ways and Means, the main money committee on the Assembly side, [Democratic Daniele Monroe-Moreno] said that right now she’s a ’Hell no’ on the deal. She cited concerns about investment from the team into the actual community,” said Tabitha Mueller, legislative and health care reporter for The Nevada Independent.

Legislators are also considering $190 million in film tax credits annually, for potentially 20-30 years, which is significantly higher than the current $10 million cap per year. The majority of the money is earmarked for two production campuses in Southern Nevada, including one in partnership with Sony Pictures.

Clark County resident and actor Mark Wahlberg made a special trip to Carson City in the closing days of the session to voice his support.

“As a new resident, I want to be here full-time. I’ve gotten lots of calls from lots of my colleagues asking me how it is. And I’m encouraging people to make the same move,” Wahlberg said to reporters on Thursday.

Lawmakers are weighing the pros and cons of doling out hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks to wealthy corporations.

“The proponents of these deals say, ’We need these to be competitive. Other states are already offering them, and so if we don’t, these big businesses that do create jobs and help diversify our economy, they’re not going to move to Nevada,’ ” said Sean Golonka, politics and data reporter for The Nevada Independent.

Listen to this week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck to learn more about these proposed deals.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC BEGINS)

LUCIA STARBUCK, HOST: Welcome to this week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada. I’m your host, Lucia Starbuck. The name reflects the fact that Nevada isn’t red or blue — it’s both. Today we’re talking about proposed legislation that would provide hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits to move the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas and also expand the film industry. I’m joined by The Nevada Independent’s legislative and health care reporter, Tabitha Mueller, and politics and data reporter, Sean Golanka, to break it all down.

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STARBUCK: Earlier this week, lawmakers held a roughly six-hour hearing on the bill to fund a new Oakland Athletics stadium in Las Vegas. First of all, how big is the A’s fan base?

TABITHA MUELLER: The fan base is pretty big, at least in Oakland. Now the question is, how many A’s fans actually come to the games? What we’ve seen is that A’s fans actually camp outside of the baseball stadium to protest the fact that they don’t like the owners. They’re filling roughly 8,000 seats, which is much, much lower than what they say they’ll be able to fill in Las Vegas, which is about 28,000 seats a game.

STARBUCK: The bill proposes up to $380 million in public financing. Where would that revenue come from?

GOLANKA: The bill proposes up to $180 million in transferrable tax credits the team can sell for cash to other companies. Out of that 180 million, the latter 90 million would be funded through revenues generated by the stadium. The county is expected to issue likely upwards of $120 million in bonds. Those would be paid off over 30 years by the tax revenues generated by the stadium. Basically, they draw a circle around the stadium, and that creates this entertainment improvement district where sales taxes, live entertainment taxes, and payroll taxes for the team are all redirected to pay off the public finances that went toward the stadium.

STARBUCK: How did the lawmakers respond during the hearing?

MUELLER: There were a lot of interesting and mixed responses from lawmakers. What was interesting is the chair of Assembly Ways and Means, which is the main money committee on the Assembly side, she said that right now she’s a ‘Hell no’ on the deal and they’re going to have to get her to a ‘Yes.’ She cited concerns about investment from the team into the actual community. The Raiders also made community benefits agreements, but there’s been a lot of consternation around that because those agreements haven’t been followed through that well, is what people are saying.

STARBUCK: Lawmakers are also proposing expanding a film tax credit program by hundreds of millions of dollars. How much do lawmakers wanna put into it and where would it go?

GOLANKA: At its peak, this film tax credit program would have up to $190 million in tax credits available annually. That’s up from the state’s current cap on film tax credits at $10 million annually. We’re currently looking at the 20 to 30-year timeline, it would probably be in the range of $4 billion in film tax credits. We know there may be some amendments coming, but currently, they’re earmarked for a pair of production campuses proposed to be built in Southern Nevada. One of those would be developed by the Howard Hughes Corporation in partnership with Sony Pictures, which is one of the five major film studios in the country. This would also be built in partnership with UNLV, so there’s kind of some educational opportunities there.

STARBUCK: Actor and Washoe County resident Jeremy Renner, known for his role as Hawkeye in the Marvel superhero movies, he made his presence known saying, ‘Make sure Northern Nevada can receive those benefits.’ Where does that conversation stand?

MUELLER: Right now, conversations are ongoing. There’s a proposed amendment going around to make sure that the money that is allocated right now would also include Northern Nevada and perhaps a new space for a potential film school or collaboration with UNR.

GOLANKA: And Lucia I would just add, Jeremy Renner’s not the only heavyweight getting involved. I mean, just minutes before we started recording this, I saw Mark Wahlberg outside the legislature, so you know, some high-profile names getting involved in this effort.

(SOUNDBITE OF MARK WAHLBERG) As a new resident, I want to be here full-time. I’ve gotten lots of calls from lots of my colleagues asking me, you know, how it is, and I’m encouraging people to make the same move.

STARBUCK: This isn’t the first time Nevada has doled out huge tax breaks to corporations. Earlier this year, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development gave Tesla another $330 million in tax abatements. What are the pros and cons of the state making these contributions?

GOLANKA: So I think there are a lot of concerns about giving these really large-scale tax breaks to really wealthy companies. But at the same time, the proponents of these deals say, ‘We need these to be competitive. Other states are already offering them, and so if we don’t these big businesses that do create jobs and help diversify our economy, they’re not going move to Nevada.’

MUELLER: You also need to consider the fact that, look at Tesla, right? We had Tesla move to Northern Nevada. They were given tax breaks under former Gov. Brian Sandoval, now the president of UNR, and as part of that, the state gave up a lot, right? We didn’t get money for infrastructure. We’ve seen a huge need for housing in the local area as more people have moved into the community. However, Northern Nevada wasn’t as negatively affected during the pandemic as Southern Nevada because there were other drivers of the economy here.

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STARBUCK: Thank you so much to my guests, Tabitha Mueller and Sean Golanka, reporters with The Nevada Independent. I’m Lucia Starbuck and you’ve been listening to Purple Politics Nevada.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC ENDS)

The theme song, “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, is licensed under Creative Commons and was edited for this episode.

Purple Politics Nevada is KUNR’s weekly show about the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session. In this week’s episode, host Lucia Starbuck explores racist covenants in housing deeds in Washoe County and a short history lesson on why they exist. State lawmakers are considering a bill to allow discriminatory language to be removed.

Click here for a transcript of the audio story.

If your home or subdivision was constructed before the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, there’s a chance the contract has a racial covenant that prohibits people of color from occupying and purchasing the home.

“You can tell they’re boiler templates that were just essentially moved from one to the other,” Washoe County Recorder Kalie Work said.

This is something Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill found when purchasing her home in Reno.

“We bought our house in the old Southwest in 2012 and we were so excited, our first home, so proud. We were in the title office, and we came across the CC&Rs, and they were things like you can’t have a clothing line in the front of your house that can be visible, you can’t have a repair shop, and then, you can’t have people that aren’t white, essentially. There was a lot of shame,” Hill said.

In 2019, the legislature passed a law allowing homeowners to add a note in the deed that they disagree with the language, but the racist language can’t be removed. In spite of this, fewer than two dozen people have done so.

Senate Bill 368 by Democratic state Sen. Dallas Harris would allow homeowners, HOAs, nonprofits, and academic institutions to petition the court to have the language removed. The legislation also requires recorders to maintain the original record with the discriminatory language.

“History is important and the existence of the language will not be scrubbed from history,” Harris said.

The Race and Reno Research Project at UNR, co-directed by Jacob Dorman, a core humanities and history associate professor, estimates there are 8,000-10,000 homes with racial covenants in Washoe County.

“Nevada was called the Mississippi of the West. There’s a really painful history of racial discrimination in this county, in the city, and in the state. One of the benefits of SB 368 is to recognize and implicitly, I think, to apologize for some of the discrimination against people of color,” Dorman said.

Listen to this week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck to learn more about the history of racist covenants buried in the fine print home deeds in Washoe County.

More information about what Washoe County homeowners can currently do can be found here, and the form to disavow offensive language in a deed can be found here. Residents can also send tips to the Race and Reno Research Project at [email protected].

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC BEGINS)

LUCIA STARBUCK, HOST: Welcome to this week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada. I’m your host, Lucia Starbuck. The name reflects the fact that Nevada isn’t red or blue — it’s both.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC BEGINS)

STARBUCK: Today we’re talking about racist covenants in housing deeds — something Washoe County residents might find in the fine print when buying a home — and a bill to allow for that language to be removed. I spent time with Washoe County Recorder Kalie Work in the recorder’s library, flipping through original property records containing covenants, conditions, and restrictions commonly called CC&Rs.

(SOUND OF PAGES FLIPPING)

(SOUNDBITE OF KALIE WORK): All right, here’s one. This is a declaration of restriction. This one was recorded June 27, 1941.

STARBUCK: Wow. It’s like so shocking to like actually see.

(SOUNDBITE OF WORK): I know. You can tell there are different templates, boiler templates, and that were just essentially moved from one to the other.

STARBUCK: If your home or subdivision was constructed before the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, there’s a chance the contract has a racial covenant that prohibits people of color from occupying and purchasing the home. This is something Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill found when purchasing her home in Reno.

(SOUNDBITE OF ALEXIS HILL): We bought our house in the old Southwest in 2012, and we were so excited, our first home, so proud. We were in the title office, and we came across the CC&Rs, and they were things like you can’t have a clothing line in the front of your house that can be visible, you can’t have a repair shop, and then, you can’t have people that aren’t white, essentially. There was a lot of shame.

STARBUCK: In 2019, the legislature passed a law allowing homeowners to add a note in the deed that they disagree with the covenant, but the racist language cannot be removed. In spite of this, fewer than two dozen people have done so. Senate Bill 368 by Democratic state Sen. Dallas Harris would allow homeowners, HOAs, and nonprofits to petition the court to have the language removed. But the legislation also requires recorders to maintain the original record with the discriminatory language.

(SOUNDBITE OF DALLAS HARRIS): History is important and the existence of the language will not be scrubbed from history.

STARBUCK: So why does that history exist? I spoke with Jacob Dorman, an associate professor of history and core humanities at UNR, to answer this question. When was this language added and what was the intention?

JACOB DORMAN: Racial covenants were put in place in the 1920s. They stayed in place really until they were ruled illegal by the Fair Housing Act. The idea was to quote-unquote protect the property values of the homes that they were in. The system that they replaced was outright violence where, especially black homeowners that moved into majority-white neighborhoods, their houses were commonly bombed. Racial covenants were a way of accomplishing the same thing of keeping people of color out of white neighborhoods. And they became almost a best practice in housing. And also to protect white supremacy. Housing is the major way that Americans have built wealth and passed it on. This became really personal for me when I bought a house in Reno. My wife and I were going over the CC&Rs, and it said, ‘Only Caucasians can live in this house unless there as a servant.”

STARBUCK: How did that make you feel when you saw that?

DORMAN: Awful. I mean, my wife is from Mexico, so she technically would not be allowed to live in our home because these CC&Rs are still on the books even though they’re unenforceable legally.

STARBUCK: You’re part of a team at UNR researching this. How did this study come about?

DORMAN: I study African American history and I teach US history. And whenever I teach about racial covenants, almost all of my students have never heard of them. It’s more common to know about redlining, where the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation created these maps that blocked off any neighborhood that had people of color and said that those were higher risk for mortgage loans. Racial covenants, though, were embedded in individual property deeds.

STARBUCK: What neighborhoods in Washoe County have this language in their home deeds?

DORMAN: Well, they’re found all over. In Reno, we’re finding a lot of these covenants in the Old Southwest, Northwest and close to UNR, in Midtown, a few in Sparks and Incline Village. So we estimate that somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 individual homes in Washoe County have these racist covenants.

STARBUCK: What Washoe County is experiencing isn’t unique, but what does the racial covenants tell you about this county’s history?

DORMAN: Nevada was called the Mississippi of the West. There’s a really painful history of racial discrimination in this county, in the city, and in the state. One of the benefits of SB 368 is to recognize and implicitly, I think, to apologize for some of the discrimination against people of color.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC BEGINS)

STARBUCK: That was Jacob Dorman, a core humanities and history associate professor at UNR. I’m Lucia Starbuck, and you’ve been listening to Purple Politics Nevada.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC ENDS)

The theme song, “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, is licensed under Creative Commons and was edited for this episode.

Purple Politics Nevada is KUNR’s weekly show about the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session. In this week’s episode, host Lucia Starbuck speaks with Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford about the dangers of fentanyl, why he wants to increase punishments for trafficking the opioid, and his response to the concerns regarding overcriminalization.

Click here for a transcript of the audio story.

There has been a surge in opioid overdose deaths across the country and locally. In Washoe County in 2021, there were 135 opioid-related deaths. More than half involved fentanyl.

Two Republican-backed bills to increase punishments for trafficking fentanyl failed, but two Democratic bills are still in play during the 2023 legislative session, including one by Attorney General Aaron Ford.

“These illicitly manufactured fentanyl, whether they be pills or powders, are dangerous drugs, and they are killing people,” Ford said. “This is an issue that has to be addressed both from a public health perspective, but also from a public safety perspective. It’s my job as a top law enforcement officer in the state to do just that.”

Two milligrams of fentanyl, roughly the size of a common mosquito, can be deadly. Under current Nevada law, if a person sells 100 to 400 grams of a Schedule I or II controlled substance, it is considered low-level trafficking. Ford’s legislation, Senate Bill 35, works in tandem with SB 343 by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro to increase punishment by lowering the amount of fentanyl to four to 14 grams for low-level trafficking, 14 to 28 grams for mid-level, and anything above 28 grams as high-level trafficking.

Advocates with the ACLU of Nevada and the Washoe County Public Defender’s Office have voiced strong opposition to the bills. There are concerns the legislation will lead to the over-criminalization of people who unknowingly purchase substances with fentanyl, such as someone struggling with substance use.

Additionally, according to the National Institute of Justice, increasing the severity of a punishment doesn’t always prevent crime, because criminals aren’t aware of the legal sanctions.

“I think there are several ways to address this issue,” Ford said. “Just because everyone doesn’t obey the law doesn’t mean you don’t have laws. You have stop signs that people run, and when they run those stop signs, they are punished.”

Some solutions include treatment programs in jails, but that takes time, money and resources to implement. Ford said he’d be interested in seeing some of the hundreds of millions of dollars the state is receiving from opioid settlements go toward setting up medication-assisted treatment.

Listen to this week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck on how Ford is hoping to address fentanyl.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC BEGINS)

LUCIA STARBUCK, HOST: Welcome to this week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada. I’m your host, Lucia Starbuck. The name reflects the fact that Nevada isn’t red or blue — it’s both.

There has been a surge in opioid overdose deaths across the country and locally. In Washoe County in 2021, there were 135 opioid-related deaths. More than half involved fentanyl.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC ENDS)

Two Republican-backed bills to increase punishments for trafficking fentanyl failed, but two Democratic bills are still in play this session, including one by Attorney General Aaron Ford. I spoke with him to learn more.

STARBUCK: Attorney General Ford, one large issue you are looking to tackle this session is fentanyl. How have these overdoses impacted Nevada communities?

AARON FORD: These illicitly manufactured fentanyl, whether they be pills or powders, are dangerous drugs, and they are killing people. This is an issue that has to be addressed both from a public health perspective, but also from a public safety perspective. And it’s my job as a top law enforcement officer in the state to endeavor to do just that.

STARBUCK: Why is fentanyl so dangerous?

FORD: The amount of fentanyl needed to cause death: two milligrams. When you compare, for example, the current statute, which says a hundred grams of any substance, is what has to be required to constitute trafficking at a certain level, a hundred grams of cocaine is not the same thing as a hundred grams of fentanyl.

STARBUCK: There are two bills to increase the punishments for trafficking fentanyl by you and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro.

FORD: Those bills taken in tandem would establish low-level, mid-level and high-level trafficking. Senator Cannizzaro’s bill says that if you are found with anywhere between four grams and 14 grams of fentanyl-laced product, you can be charged with low-level trafficking. My bill, right now, begins at 14 grams and goes to 28 for mid-level trafficking. And from 28 grams and above would constitute high-level trafficking.

STARBUCK: One provision of your bill would require treatment programs in jails when funding is available. A sergeant with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office said medication-assisted treatment is available in their facility, but he mentioned it took time, money, resources and that might be difficult for smaller agencies. How can these treatment programs be available in jails across the state?

FORD: I will say this, while I cannot mandate, for example, ways in which the opioid settlement funds that we have recovered for this state, to date, totaling $606 million, I can’t mandate how those monies will be used. It seems to me that there are opportunities to use those for the exact purpose that we recovered them, which is to help abate the problem. There are monies available in my estimation, at least, that can be utilized toward that. But there are also grant programs that are available. I don’t disagree that there will be a timeframe needed to institute a fully complemented program, including trying to find personnel to administer the program.

STARBUCK: There’s a budget surplus. Why not ask money, this session, for the programs?

FORD: Well, that’s not my decision to make. I’ll leave that to the decision-makers in the legislative building and in the governor’s office.

STARBUCK: How will you make sure your legislation doesn’t lead to criminalization of people who unknowingly buy substances with fentanyl, maybe someone struggling with substance use, a young person buys laced drugs at a concert?

FORD: I am not trying to recreate the war on drugs. We saw what happened with the crackdown on crack and not providing services and instead utilizing prisons as rehabilitation centers. That is not what this bill is intended to do. And, like I said, my bill starts at 14. I have been told from certain members of the recovery community that a person who has somewhere between four to 14 grams may very well have that for personal use, but if you have 14 grams of something that contains fentanyl, it’s highly unlikely that’s personal use, you intend to traffic in that.

STARBUCK: Nevada’s current testing capabilities can only show us that fentanyl is present but not the actual amount. How might this affect law enforcement’s ability to detect the weight of fentanyl?

FORD: The current state of the law for every other controlled substance operates in the exact same fashion: qualitative assessment. Is there a presence of cocaine, a presence of another illicit drug? And if so, the weight of the compound found is attributed to being cocaine. It’s not the most precise, to be sure. And when presented to me this idea of converting our system from being qualitative to quantitative, I jumped at the opportunity to look into this, but you can’t just jump right to it. And what I’m contemplating, and I hope that we’re able to accomplish if we pass this bill, is including a study that will look at what is required for us to make that transition.

STARBUCK: What if a lower-schedule substance is cut with fentanyl?

FORD: Same thing that happens with cocaine right now. Cocaine may be cut with baby powder, but if there’s a trace of cocaine, it’s gonna be charged as cocaine. If they find an amount of fentanyl that is sufficient to satisfy the trafficking statute, more than likely it’s gonna be a trafficking charge for fentanyl.

STARBUCK: The National Institute of Justice says increasing the severity of punishment doesn’t always deter crime because criminals aren’t caught up on legal sanctions, so why tackle fentanyl in this way?

FORD: Well, I think there are several ways to address this issue. Just because everyone doesn’t obey the law doesn’t mean you don’t have laws. You have stop signs that people run, and when they run those stop signs, they are punished.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC BEGINS)

STARBUCK: That was Nevada Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. I’m Lucia Starbuck, and you’ve been listening to Purple Politics Nevada.

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The theme song, “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, is licensed under Creative Commons and was edited for this episode.

Purple Politics Nevada is KUNR’s weekly show about the Nevada Legislative Session. In this week’s episode, host Lucia Starbuck speaks with two state lawmakers about bills to limit firearm access for people under 21 and restrict access for people convicted of a hate crime, as well as prohibit guns near election sites.

Click here for a transcript of the audio story.

Gun violence continues to rise in the United States. For Democratic Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui, the issue is personal. She’s a survivor of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas.

“It was just such a traumatic experience that reliving it and having to share the story wasn’t something I was ready to do,” Jauregui said. “Then Parkland happened, and I couldn’t imagine these high school students having to go through the same traumatic experience. I, as a grown adult, was having such a difficult time dealing with it that I said, ‘Okay, I’m actually in a unique position to actually do something about this.’ ”

Jauregui has proposed two bills that passed off of the Assembly floor and are now headed to the Senate. Assembly Bill 355 prohibits people under the age of 21 to own a semiautomatic shotgun or rifle and makes it illegal for someone to help a person under 21 obtain one.

“Texas, after their most recent shooting that happened last week, had two Republican lawmakers join Democrats on the last day that action could be taken on a committee to pass the same bill raising the age to 21. This is not a partisan issue. This is a public safety issue,” Jauregui said.

Assembly Bill 354 makes it illegal to have firearms within 100 feet of election polling sites, places where ballots are counted, and drop-off boxes. Exceptions include law enforcement, private security, or if the firearm is stored in a vehicle or private establishment.

Another firearm-related bill, Senate Bill 171, sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Dallas Harris, would prohibit people convicted of committing or attempting a hate crime from purchasing, possessing, or owning a firearm.

“This country is in the midst of a gun violence epidemic and that has coincided with an increase in hate crimes across the country,” Harris said. “Anything and everything that I can do to save people’s lives, that’s what I’m gonna do. I see that as job number one, as a legislator, in my state.”

All three bills have passed out of their first house and will now head to the other. Gov. Joe Lombardo would still need to sign the bills for them to become law. Listen to this week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck to learn why these lawmakers are looking to address gun violence in these ways.

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LUCIA STARBUCK, HOST: Welcome to this week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada. I’m your host, Lucia Starbuck. The name reflects the fact that Nevada isn’t red or blue — it’s both. As gun violence continues to rise in the United States, Nevada lawmakers are considering three major bills to limit who can access a firearm and where guns are allowed. I spoke to Democratic state Senator Dallas Harris and Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui to learn more.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC ENDS)

STARBUCK: Senator Harris, you’re sponsoring a bill that would prohibit someone convicted with a hate crime from owning a firearm. Walk me through what this bill would do.

DALLAS HARRIS: If you commit a hate crime with violence or attempt to commit a hate crime with violence, we’re gonna go ahead and restrict your access to guns. If you are just committed of a hate crime, then we’ve put in a 10-year cooling-off period. It’s really a function of what we thought might be a fair amount of time between the hate crime and restoring your right. We didn’t want it to be forever.

STARBUCK: Some lawmakers raised concerns: Is this gonna take someone’s constitutional right away for expressing themselves? What’s the difference between a hate crime conviction and saying something racist or homophobic?

HARRIS: The entire American legal system is the difference between hurting someone’s feelings. I’ve received tons of emails that aren’t necessarily kind; of course, those aren’t actionable in a court of law. So you need a prosecutor, a jury of your peers to find you guilty, and a judge to of course enter that conviction.

STARBUCK: Why address gun violence in this way instead of restricting gun access for any kind of violent crime?

HARRIS: We’ve narrowed it down to where we find we’re gonna get the most return on public safety, much like we do with domestic violence. We know there’s a very strong correlation between having access to a gun and committing domestic violence and the likelihood that you’re going to use that firearm against your victim; same connection here.

STARBUCK: Why not increase the punishment for a hate crime? Why not make sure it’s always going to be a felony conviction?

HARRIS: I personally am not a fan of making everything a felony. Not only do you lose your second amendment right, you, for a time, lose your right to vote, to serve on a jury. There are other instances that are not felonies, where we’ve decided that we can take your gun away, and there are some felonies where I think that remedy actually may not fit.

STARBUCK: Why is this legislation important to you?

HARRIS: This country is in the midst of a gun violence epidemic, and that has coincided with an increase in hate crimes across the country. And anything and everything that I can do to save people’s lives, that’s what I’m going to do. I see that as job number one.

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STARBUCK: That was Senator Dallas Harris. Next up is Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui.

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STARBUCK: Assemblywoman Jauregui, you are a survivor of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas. How has your experience impacted your work as a legislator?

SANDRA JAUREGUI: I actually became very silent on the issue after October 1. It was such a traumatic experience that reliving it and having to share the story wasn’t something I was ready to do. And then Parkland happened, and I couldn’t imagine these high school students having to go through the same traumatic experience. I, as a grown adult, was having such a difficult time dealing with it that I said, “Okay, I’m actually in a unique position to actually do something about this.”

STARBUCK: One of your bills would prohibit anyone under 21 from owning a semi-automatic rifle or shotgun. Why address gun violence in this way?

JAUREGUI: Studies show that people who are under the age of 21 are three times more likely to commit homicide while in possession of a firearm. And we also know that six of the nine deadliest mass shootings in the last five years were committed by people under the age of 21.

STARBUCK: Opposition says this takes away constitutional rights from 18- to 21-year-olds. How do you respond to that?

JAUREGUI: You can’t be 18, 19, or 20 years old and buy a handgun. And so all we’re saying is this is a more deadly weapon. If you can’t buy a handgun, then you shouldn’t be able to buy an assault weapon. You know, Texas, after their most recent shooting that happened last week, they had two Republican lawmakers join Democrats on the last day that action could be taken on a committee to pass the same bill raising the age to 21. This is not a partisan issue. This is a public safety issue.

STARBUCK: And another one of your bills would prohibit firearms within a hundred feet of election sites. Why is this needed?

JAUREGUI: Voting is our most fundamental right as an American, and I think we need to protect that at all costs. People should feel safe when they’re going and casting their ballot. But it’s also protecting the people who give up their time to go work at election sites. We’ve seen so many threats to election site workers, and we wanna make sure that we are not discouraging them from doing one of their civic duties.

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STARBUCK: Thank you to my guests, Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui and Senator Dallas Harris. If their bills pass out of the second house, they’ll need to be signed by Nevada’s Republican governor. I’m Lucia Starbuck and you’ve been listening to Purple Politics Nevada.

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The theme song, “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, is licensed under Creative Commons and was edited for this episode.