Tapestry of thought

Nevada Union Resolution 22/24-25 was irresponsible—not because of its intent, but because of its construction and timing. It brought national political tension into local schools still reeling from pandemic disruption. Rather than uniting the community, this resolution deepened divides and stirred controversy without offering a path forward. It was a knee-jerk response to national headlines, not a thoughtful reflection of local needs.

Governor Newsom has released his budget for the upcoming fiscal year with $321.9 billion of total spending. This constitutes budget growth of over $100 billion since 2019-20 at the beginning of his term.

Nevada County stands at a critical fiscal crossroads. As labor costs continue to rise, state and federal funding declines, and essential services come under increasing pressure, it is time to face the uncomfortable truth: Nevada County residents are paying twice for leadership—and getting half the results.

Nevada County Board of Supervisors must correct past mistakes by burdening taxpayers with excessive compensation packages and delayed fiscal reforms. We have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to rebuild our county government that is leaner, more responsive, and focused squarely on delivering essential services with transparency and fiscally conservative prudence.

Here are some real-life stories that show how one can lie with data, and how to think critically about the statistics presented to you.

Two terms—eight years—is more than enough time for a supervisor to make a meaningful impact. If someone can’t accomplish their goals in that time, it may be time to let someone else try.

Peter Marks exited the FDA with a veiled threat against the American public. In an April 4, 2025, Marks told his interviewer “At any given time, there are many, many viruses that could come, things like Ebola and others that could be very dangerous to our country. We had a group that was prepared to deal with those. Additionally, I can’t go into the details, but there are manmade threats that we were prepared to deal with.”

Nevada County governance thrives only when it operates on trust — trust that staff are forthright, that transparency is not feared but embraced, and that accountability is a tool for improvement, not a weapon to be avoided. Senior county officials must resist the easy temptation to rationalize dishonesty for the sake of short-term gains.

Yes, our current elections system is deeply flawed and transparency sucks. But who benefits when Republicans don’t vote?

Election researchers have extensively used cast vote record (CVR) analysis to alert the public to deficiencies in our local, state, and national elections. 

After reading the April 2024 State Auditor’s Report: “Homelessness in California, San Jose and San Diego Must do More to Plan and Evaluate Their Efforts to Reduce Homelessness”, it is apparent Nevada County needs to apply the recommendations outlined in the report.

Government derives its authority only by delegation from the people.

As we look to the future, I'm filled with hope and excitement. I know that our care home will continue to grow and evolve, providing a haven for seniors and their families.

Imagine a foreign policy that deters aggression without endless wars, projecting power so others think twice before crossing the line. At home, it is about law and order that keeps neighborhoods safe, not as a cudgel, but as a foundation for opportunity. This vision is not blind optimism; it is founded in a humanist belief that our nation can protect its own while lifting its people, from farmers to factory workers to tech innovators.

“Remember this diabolical playbook: Create a pretext. Lie to the American people about a threat. Hype the threat. Create irrational fear. Tell them military action is needed to eliminate the threat, and their fears. Bombs away.” – Dennis Kucinich

Since we were successful at both religious and economic freedom via our Constitution, what protection do we have that will maintain freedom of economics and business in medicine?

Currently, USDA policy is to cull chickens as the only response to the bird flu. In the last twenty-four months 166 million birds have been killed. However, a very small percentage of these chickens actually had the flu or were even showing symptoms. The protocol has been to kill the entire flock, horribly, by foam suffocation. The policy is, if one or two chickens on your farm shows any trace of bird flus from a PCR test, then automatically, all your chickens are killed. The problem with the PCR test is that there are many false positives. 

On March 10, 2025, over 400 people packed the Eric Rood Administrative Center in Nevada City, California, for Congressman Kevin Kiley’s community office hours, an event touted by The Union as a platform for constituent concerns in California’s Third District. What could have been a rallying point for real change devolved into a showcase of the “woke mind virus” and a gathering of virtue signalers more intent on preaching than solving problems.

In California, AB 1333 is aiming to repeal the “SYG” doctrine.

We are being exposed to a barrage of fear tactics claiming that Medicaid is being cut for those who need it.

“I happened to be in the D.C. area when the offices of the U.S. Agency for International Development were closed.”

With an estimated crowd of 1,100 to 1,300 individuals, the event was less a unified political statement and more a cacophony of conflicting messages and uncoordinated activism.

It is startling to see the huge impact of the employment of illegal and other immigrants on job opportunities for American men.

In the United States, the balance of power has historically oscillated between various groups, shaped by economic, political, and social forces. One of the most dramatic shifts in recent times occurred with the election of Donald Trump in 2016, and again recently in 2024, which many interpret as a significant realignment from traditional power structures dominated by elites and bureaucracy to a more populist, people-centric model.

There is no “internal audit position” within Nevada County despite its critical importance to a well-functioning decentralized governance system. The Board of Supervisors rejected the re-creation of an internal audit position during post-COVID budget cuts. Recent Grand Jury reports highlighted significant fraud risks, leaving taxpayer money vulnerable.

In the fall of 2024, Nevada City adopted a resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine. Members of the public are now pressuring the City of Grass Valley to do the same. Should the Grass Valley city council adopt a resolution on an international issue? 

A 42% payroll expense in one year with big percentage raises each year is unsustainable, especially in light of the downturn in state funding. Given the outrageously high salaries of senior executive staff and elected officials, the tax-paying public is questioning the rationale of the Nevada County CEO Alison Lehman.

Early in the morning on January 20, 2025, President Joe Biden issued “preemptive pardons” to many individuals, including members of his own family.

“Gina Will should return the public’s money of $50,000 and resign.'“

“Breastfeeding is in the news again — that’s good!” said Tompson. “There is a reason for this happening. When things get so upside down, that means a change is coming.”