OPINION/STREETALK

Don’t believe the hype

On a Jan. 14 episode of the Daily Show, just after the seventh debate among the Democratic Party contenders, Daily Show host—and, since he gave us a great interview last time he came through town, friend of the RN&R—Trevor Noah had this to say: “Do these debates even matter at all? … The debates used to be the best way to get in front of the American people. But with two billionaires in the race, the game has changed. Just look at Tom Steyer, for instance. He’s far from a household name. He has the charisma of a clipboard, but recent polls show him surging to second place in South Carolina and third in Nevada, and one guess how he did it,” and then Noah rubbed his fingers together in the obscene, universal gesture for money.

The show then cut to this MSNBC nugget about Steyer: “His Nevada-only ad spending is more than all of the ad spending of Biden, Warren and Klobuchar combined nation-wide.”

It’s staggering to consider. Tom Steyer has spent more on advertising in Nevada than other candidates—toptier, household-name candidates—have spent in their entire national campaigns. Democratic candidates have spent a total of 11.6 million in Nevada, of which 10.4 was spent by Tom Steyer.

So, you’re not just going crazy if, as a Nevada resident, you feel like you see Steyer’s face everywhere

you go—there he is on TV, on social media, on billboards—hell, there could even be an ad for the guy in this very newspaper. (The RN&R editorial board, a.k.a. the RN&R editors, aren’t privy to advertising information in advance of publication.) And it seems to be working. Steyer’s strong polling in Nevada and South Carolina, two early voting states, were the reason he’s made it onstage in the last couple of debates, and he seems to be banking his strategy on Tom Steyer doing well in the two states. has spent more on advertising in Nevada But don’t let him fool you. He’s the candidate equivalent of a corporate punk band or one of those than other candidates beers that are produced by a national have spent in their entire national campaigns. distributor but presented like some kind of hip microbrew. He’s like human greenwashing. He seems innocuous enough, and most of his policy positions seem fine, if not particularly original. And thanks for spending all that money in Nevada, Tom. Would we balk at him being named to a cabinet position—say, Secretary of Energy? Not at all. Still, he’s a hedge fund manager billionaire who bought his way into the Democratic presidential race. He has almost no real experience, no vision, no substance. No way we want to reward that. We’re sick of billionaires. There are viable presidential candidates worthy of support still in the field. Tom Steyer isn’t one of them. Ω

What makes a good neighbor?

ASKED AT RENO COFFEE COMPANY, 1300 S. WELLS AVE.

IAIN WATSON

Teacher Not being all in your business, but also being helpful to the greater good of the neighborhood. I think just being able to communicate and being friendly, and knowing your limitations of, “Do I really want to interact with this person a lot? Or do I not want this person to be in my business?”

ANNA THORELL

Teacher I actually just moved to Sierraville, and the minute I got there, my neighbor saw me pull up with a U-Haul and all my stuff. … First time I met him, he was like, “Hey do you need some help with that?” … From that moment, it was really easy to create a good relationship and friendship.

BRIAN EUBANKS

Arborist I’m an arborist, and I specialize in neighbor disputes. I basically represent people who have tree issues and stuff like that, so I think the less you see and hear from them the better off you are. You’ve got the option of being friends and stuff, but I personally don’t know the names of my neighbors.

EDUARDO CORONA

Teacher’s assistant With my neighbors, the ones across my street, they’re really nice to my family. … One of my neighbors actually ran up to our house at 2 a.m. because there were raccoons, and we both have chickens in our backyards—going out of your way to help someone out.

KELLY SCHARRENBERG

Management trainee A good neighbor is someone who is respectful of your property, who stays relatively quiet, who you can go and talk to if you’re having any issues. You have friendly greetings when you pass them. That’s what makes a good neighbor.