Keep it Klassy, Camden.

1:00 PM UPDATE: Camden replied to us a little earlier. Here's what they tweeted:

@atdleft We apologize for the inappropriate emails & be assured that we're taking corrective actions to prevent this from happening again.

In addition, we've heard from our source that a Summerlin area Camden property is claiming it had nothing to do with the email. So far, they're claiming the national corporate office in Texas ordered this. We'll have to wait and see who's telling the truth on this.

But hey, at least they're now apologizing.


What else can we say about this? Keep it klassy, Camden.

(A great friend of Nevada Progressive tipped us off to this Thursday night. The next morning, someone else tipped off Ralston. Apparently, Camden is sending these letters all over Southern Nevada.)

October 23, 2014 5:03 PM
Subject: Vote NO on Question 3

To Our Valued Residents:

As you are probably aware, the November 4, 2014 ballot contains a question asking Nevada voters to approve a 2% margin tax on the gross revenues of businesses. This is not a proposed tax on profits; it is a tax on the total amount of revenue a business receives before paying all of its expenses – and businesses would be required to pay this tax even if they are not profitable or are struggling to keep the business running.

While this apartment community is home to you and your family, please remember that it is also a business. If the 2% margin tax passes on November 4, 2014, the owners of this apartment community will be significantly affected by this tax. If the 2% margin tax passes on November 4, 2014, the owners of this apartment community will be forced to find ways to pay this tax -- which may potentially result in the eventual raising of your rent. Please remember that the impact of this 2% margin tax will not be felt by Nevada businesses alone, it will ultimately be passed onto you as the consumer for a lot more than just rent. Accordingly, this proposed tax will affect you.

While we all care about education (and want the best for our children) this Margin Tax Initiative DOES NOT give education the true shot in the arm it needs, as only a small portion of the tax would actually benefit education. However, imposing this tax on Nevada businesses -- those that are employing our families and driving our economy – is not the answer. We strongly urge you to support this apartment community you call home and to vote NO on Question 3 when you go to the polls on November 4, 2014.

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Is this even legal? It certainly doesn't sound like something the Better Business Bureau recommends.

We know the No on 3 campaign has a penchant for the melodramatic. But really, this is a new low. These renters have a business agreement with Camden. They didn't sign up for Camden emails so campaign flyers can drop in their inboxes.

So is this the new LVGEA "Get Out the Vote" plan to kill The Education Initiative (TEI)? We know they can't compete on policy. So now they're having their friends at Camden send intimidating emails to renters at Camden apartment complexes?

Is this even legal? It's amazing to think this is actually for real.

Smart Funding Solution

On Monday, we made a field trip to Gibson Elementary School in Henderson's Green Valley to witness the wonder that is #BackToSchool. We noticed parents dropping children off and teachers taking them in. We noticed Nevada children starting a new year full of new adventures.

We couldn't help but notice the classroom trailers, outdated textbooks, and overcrowded environment. And we weren't alone. That's why a group of concerned citizens, parents, teachers, and local business owners, stopped by Gibson Elementary on Monday to urge Nevadans to pass The Education Initiative (TEI) this fall.

Did someone at LVGEA catch our report? The "Esmeralda Straw Man Group" actually released an op-ed for the "newspaper" claiming they just want TEI supporters to "join with" them to find "smart funding solutions for our K-12 education system".

Oh, really? So now, LVGEA and the rest of the "bid'ness community" want "smart funding solutions"?



Like what? An overdue and illegal campaign stunt? Or defunding Esmeralda County schools? Or perhaps another regressive "service tax"?

Or are LVGEA and its fellow TEI haters just proposing the same "smart funding solution" they always end up supporting? Come on, you know what that is: Nothing.

So don't blame us for doubting the sincerity of LVGEA's latest commitment to "smart funding solutions". Hell, that op-ed promising "smart funding solutions" didn't name any specific "solutions". Gee, we wonder why. Could it be due to Nevada's recent history on "solutions"? And might it be due to the fact that the lack of real solutions is what created the demand for TEI in the first place?

LVGEA and other "bid'ness community" mouthpieces can spin as much as they want, but they can't spin the facts away. The only true smart funding solution is the one on our fall ballots: TEI. After all, the only "smart funding solutions" we know of are ones that actually exist.

Sine Die, #NVLeg: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

So it's over. It's finally over. And unless Sandoval pulls any surprise last-minute vetoes, it looks like Nevada will have a budget on time, more smoke-filled taverns, a new legal battle with California over Lake Tahoe, an "extreme makeover" of Reno's bowling stadium, and more.

Oh, joy!

Just before noon on Monday, the Senate approved Assembly Bill 561, the bill that extends $620 million in taxes approved in the 2009 legislative session, which were set to expire, or sunset, on July 1.

"They said we were too far apart to reach a budget agreement,” said Assembly Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas. “They said it couldn’t be done. We proved the pessimists wrong.”

The bill that sparked the contention was Senate Bill 506, a bill that allowed for a toll road in Boulder City, but which also included Assemblywoman Debbie Smith’s “School Works” legislation, which would allow school districts to lower their bond reserves and fund construction projects.

The bill died in the Assembly because of opposition to the toll road, but came back to life with 13 minutes left in the session.

This time, it passed 29-13. The School Works measure was moved to AB 376, a so-called “Christmas Tree” bill, which also included measures to allow the Reno Aces ownership to add a surcharge on tickets and downtown Reno casinos to add a $2 per room night charge for improvements to the National Bowling Stadium, Reno Events Center and Reno Ballroom. It was approved with nine minutes left in the session.

That could really sum it up, but there's even more to talk about. Let's start with the good that happened this session:

- The state gave up its lust for county and city funds now that The Nevada Supreme Court ruled the Clean Water Coalition money grab unconstitutional.

- SB 276, the bill written to protect K-12 students from dangerous bullying (and is LGBTQ inclusive), passed.

- AB 211! Finally, transgender Nevadans can no longer be fired from work just because of who they are.

- Yay! Kenny Guinn Millennium Scholarships continue!

- Despite a last-minute court ruling jeopardizing additional mining fees, the mining industry finally agreed to cough up an extra $24 million to keep the state running.

- And at least for now, Nevada's colleges will remain safe and gun-free.

While I wish to just leave it here, we must also unfortunately address the bad that happened this session:

- Let the Tahoe trashing begin! SB 271 passed, so now Nevada can look forward to more unnecessary legal battles with the feds and California.

The demands in Senate Bill 271 are major. Chief among the demands are that the U.S. Congress and California would have to agree that major decisions do not need approval from a majority of members of the board from both states. Also, the Governing Board of TRPA would have to consider economic conditions when amending their regional plan. Congress and California would have 4 and a half years to agree to the terms.

As the law stands now, If these demands aren't met, then Nevada would withdraw from the compact by 2015. However, there is another legislative session before that time and Nevada Legislators could back-track. But until then the measure puts at risk a 415 million dollar 10-year funding bill for the agency that is floating on the floor of congress.

And considering California still has to resolve its own budget crisis (yet again), Sacramento probably has no appetite for any of Carson's follies right now.

- Teachers and other public servants get spat upon yet again with more pay cuts, more layoffs, and possibly more limits to their collective bargaining power.

And finally, let's take a look at the simply ridiculous:

- Yet again, we have a "budget" cobbled together from random this and mix of that... And our schools are still being shortchanged.

- Redistricting is now likely to go to court, as The Legislature adjourned without agreement on a new set of maps to send to Sandoval.

- And as usual, The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce pretty much got its way on everything.

So there you have it, folks! And that's all, folks... At least for now. #NVLeg may have adjourned, but the drama stirred up from this session may just be starting.

As the Chamber Talks... We Need to Act

Every legislative session, all eagerly await the recommendations from a certain set of lobbyists. And this year, there seems to be even more excitement/angst surrounding them.

Every organization at the table in Carson City plays the game of give and take. For years, the [Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce] has been the voice against implementing various businesses taxes. Not unlike the Nevada Development Authority, an organization with which it often collaborates, it sold the argument that Las Vegas is a great place to do business because taxes are low and stable. This year, though, a number of studies, think tanks and interest groups have found that the state’s education system has a greater role in Nevadans’ quality of life than many previously thought. Nearly every report recommends the state strengthen its education system to build toward economic diversification.

That hasn’t been lost on the chamber, which has built stronger bridges with the education community in the past year. Crosson embraced new UNLV President Neal Smatresk; now, Smatresk is a member of the chamber’s board of trustees. McMillan said maintaining a close relationship with UNLV and with Clark County School District Superintendent Dwight Jones is a priority.

“Clearly, education is important to the future of Southern Nevada,” McMillan said. “We all know that. Nobody wants to see teachers take pay cuts. These are very difficult and complicated issues. Our government affairs committee is taking a close look at the impacts of the governor’s budget.”

Nevada’s education system lands at the bottom of numerous lists ranking education quality. Further cuts are outlined in Gov. Brian Sandoval’s budget proposal to close a multimillion-dollar funding gap. Would lawmakers allow the state’s system to fall into a bigger hole? What would that say about the state’s commitment to education and economic diversification? Would the chamber be willing to support a tax increase as an investment in the state’s economic future? The answer to that last question appears to be “maybe.”

So the chamber, of all people, is the last great hope to save Nevada? Really? Or is there a catch? Desert Beacon may have caught one. Must we sacrifice out public servants at the altar?

The trading position appears reasonably obvious — the Chambers will not oppose some concessions in terms of taxation IF they can achieve the limitation of public employee collective bargaining rights at the local level, and continue the policy of no collective bargaining for state employees. In sum, the posture appears to be: “We will give you a little — certainly not more rational taxation on mining, or Heaven Forfend discuss amending the state constitution to incorporate a progressive income tax — if you (labor) will give up retirement benefits, health care insurance benefits, collective bargaining rights in terms of mediation/arbitration, subjects included in the collective bargaining process, and allow school districts to do away with salary schedules and seniority.

Thus, no one should be surprised at the latest amendment to S.B. 98, emanating from the Chamber of Commerce which would allow local entities to (1) renegotiate contracts if revenues come in 5% below expectations, (2) eliminate binding arbitration, (3) remove public sector managers and administrators from the bargaining process, (4) and require that newly negotiated contracts take effect at the beginning of the prior contract’s expiration. [NNB] If this sounds familiar — like the initial position of the Chambers of Commerce listed above — you’re right; that is precisely what it is.

Horse trading is a fine old legislative art in these United States. However, what the Chambers of Commerce appears to have in mind is trading a pony (minimal concessions on taxation) for a working saddle horse. IF public employees are willing to give up retirement benefits, retiree’s health care benefits, arbitration, subjects of mandatory collective bargaining, salary schedules, seniority clauses, and evergreen clauses — then Maybe the Chamber will ‘negotiate’ on tax increases.

There is a difference between horse trading and hostage taking, although it seems that the Chambers of Commerce in Nevada are more willing to indulge in the latter than the former during this session of the Legislature.

So what can we do? Basically, it all comes down to knowing how to play hardball. Right now, that's what the Vegas Chamber is doing... And progressives need to step up with their own.

Wait... What is that I hear? Sandoville? Someone's arriving to "Wake Up Nevada"? That's right. Many of my very courageous friends & family are in Carson City right now, literally CAMPING right outside The Legislature to make it known to them that we the people won't accept any more of these cheap and degrading games that jeopardize our future.

As many as 200 students, social service workers, teachers and progressive activists plan to live in tents during Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as they host events and lobby legislators.

The agenda could include events at both the Capitol and the Legislature, said Jan Gilbert, lobbyist for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, which has helped coordinate the event.

“We hope to change some of the legislators minds to increase the revenue base,” she said. “We know there need to be cuts, but also revenue.”

Students are again planning to bring buses from Las Vegas, as they did March 21 for a rally for revenue at the Legislature. Some say it was the largest rally ever held at the Legislature.

“We know that enough legislators are on the fence about supporting new revenue to help education that we can win the fight, but we cannot win it without direct action,” said Mike Flores of Progress NOW, another sponsor of the event, in an email.

This is simply amazing. And frankly, we need to keep seeing this new (or renewed?) spirit of activism. We've had to learn the hard way that we can't always count on "big bid'ness" to be "benevolent" enough to throw the plebes some crumbs, depending on how much revenue they can extract from the casinos.

Hopefully, The Las Vegas & Reno/Sparks Chambers will realize that saving our state by restoring our public infrastructure (starting with public education) is more important than silly ideological battles over public servants' workplace rights and benefits. But in the mean time, we can't wait for them to say the right words. We need to act.