Last month’s Free Market Watch commentary pointed out problems with Federal, Nevada and many other states’ policy responses to the COVID pandemic. The worst of it was their responses failed to observe the first principle of public policy. Namely, decisions and actions should serve the broad public interest, balancing all relevant factors and not considering only one or a … [Read more...] about COVID & Public Policy
COVID-19
Covid-19 and Public PolicyPart 1 of 2
Governor Steve Sisolak says “the science has changed” regarding Covid-19 and he can now lift mask, vaccination and other mandates. The fundamental problem with the policy response of Nevada, many states and our federal government, especially in regard to public health, is their failure to observe the first principle of public policy. Namely, decisions and actions should serve … [Read more...] about Covid-19 and Public Policy
Industry FocusHealthcare
Healthcare in Nevada has seen significant challenges, especially in the past two years. COVID has brought about unprecedented change and hardship for this industry, from patient care to workforce issues. Recently, leaders in healthcare met in a virtual roundtable, sponsored by City National Bank, to discuss the industry and its future. Connie Brennan, publisher and CEO of … [Read more...] about Industry Focus
What is Truth…And, is it Relative?
How important is the truth to you? I expect it’s important to most of us, so let’s dig into what truth is. And, since its December, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let’s first look at what He says about truth. When being interrogated by Pontius Pilate prior to His crucifixion, Jesus directly references this question of truth. In the Bible, John 18:37 (NKJV), Pilate asked, … [Read more...] about What is Truth…
Progressivism, the Administrative State and the Public Interest
Ron Knecht is Senior Policy Fellow at Nevada Policy Research Institute As Ben Franklin left the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787, he was asked what kind of government we would have. “A Republic,” he replied, “if you can keep it.” The Founders addressed that and other challenges by establishing checks and balances among three branches of the federal … [Read more...] about Progressivism, the Administrative State and the Public Interest
Business IndicatorsNovember 2021
The “third” estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2021 expanded 6.7 percent at an annual rate. The strong growth in the second quarter largely reflected a strong surge in consumer spending, which was boosted by significant injections of federal relief money. U.S. nonfarm employment showed a disappointing gain, adding only 194,000 jobs in … [Read more...] about Business Indicators
Vaccine Mandates are Everything that’s Wrong with Modern Politics
Not every “good” idea should be a government mandate, nor should every “bad” idea be made illegal. Receiving the COVID vaccine, for the vast majority of American adults, is a good idea. The vaccination is provably effective at lowering the risk of hospitalization or death. For those who have received it, the risk posed by the coronavirus is effectively the same as the common … [Read more...] about Vaccine Mandates are Everything that’s Wrong with Modern Politics
How Nevada Stacks Up2021
Each year, Nevada Business Magazine compiles data comparing Nevada to other states and to U.S. averages. A big part of these annual exercises is tracking how the state responds to the ups and downs of economic cycles. However, assessing the damage done by the economic fallout of the COVID pandemic is rather like taking stock after a Category 5 hurricane. Although the sun is … [Read more...] about How Nevada Stacks Up
Healthcare Heroes2021
Corporate Sponsor It means the world to us to provide care to the communities where we live and work. At Southwest Medical, part of Optum Care, it’s something we have been doing for nearly 50 years. Across each passing decade, the health and well-being of our patients, our community and our team members continues to be our top priority. We want to see patients stay … [Read more...] about Healthcare Heroes
Higher EducationA Cornerstone of Nevada’s Recovery
Nearly 20 years ago, economic development officials in Nevada wondered what the state could do to attract employers in the fast-growing biotechnology sector. Industry officials told them flat-out that Nevada simply didn’t have the skilled professional workforce to support biotechnology companies. Flash forward to this spring, when StemExpress announced plans to launch a … [Read more...] about Higher Education
Safety on the JobResponsibilities on Site
Construction as an industry, including commercial real estate construction, is subject to safety rules and regulations from federal and state agencies. Federal requirements are implemented by the Nevada version of OSHA – the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which operates under the U.S. Department of Labor. Nevada’s state-level OSHA is administered through the … [Read more...] about Safety on the Job
Let’s Consider OthersAnd Stay in Our Own Lanes
Now that we are moving away from the pandemic and it’s, hopefully, in the rear-view mirror, we’re all looking forward to a return of normalcy. There is absolutely no doubt the shutdown changed the way we behave as a society. However, it seems we have yet to return to a place of mutual respect and kindness where individuals stay in their own lane. In other words, we all need to … [Read more...] about Let’s Consider Others
Commercial Real Estate FinancingNavigating a Post-Pandemic Market
Fickle – that’s one word to describe the commercial real estate market as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down and the accompanying economic development downturn looks likely to take 18 to 24 months to resolve. For individuals or companies wanting to buy or build commercial real estate (CRE) properties, there’s money available – for the right person, with the right deal … [Read more...] about Commercial Real Estate Financing
Are We Still a Free People?
This July Fourth, as we set off our illegal fireworks, ignore federally-required warnings about letting young children play with sparklers, and celebrate our liberation from government-mandated COVID protocols, it seems like a prescient time to ponder if we are still a “free people.” It’s a surprisingly complex question to answer. Obviously, to anyone who … [Read more...] about Are We Still a Free People?
Industry FocusSubcontractors
What happens in Nevada’s commercial development industry usually filters down to commercial subcontractors. And there has been a multitude of headaches for subcontractors in the last year and a half with supply inflation and labor shortages. Executives from this industry recently met in a virtual roundtable, sponsored by City National Bank, to discuss what comes next for … [Read more...] about Industry Focus
A Year of ChangesEngineering in Nevada
As 2020 kicked off, many firms across the commercial real estate engineering industry were poised for their best year ever. The Nevada economy was healthy, with growth across most industry sectors as new and expanding businesses created new development projects that required commercial real estate (CRE) engineering services. Metro areas were busy with private development and … [Read more...] about A Year of Changes
Commercial RE ReportOffice Summary: First Quarter 2021
Northern Nevada By Colliers | Reno Reno’s office market has continued to show its resilience one year into a once-in-a-century pandemic. Reno’s office demand has stabilized in the first quarter of 2021 and vacancy has only slightly ticked up over the last year. Office vacancy saw a 20-basis point decrease since the previous quarter, from 13.6 percent at the end of 2020 to … [Read more...] about Commercial RE Report
Business IndicatorsJune 2021
The “advance” estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2020 experienced a strong gain of 6.4 percent at an annual rate, bringing the gap from the pre-pandemic peak to within one percent. This strong recovery was boosted by a surge in consumer spending that probably incorporated the second and third stimulus checks. In addition, government … [Read more...] about Business Indicators
Power Poll 2021Everything has Changed
In the last year, there have been significant changes to nearly every aspect of daily life. It seems no one was unaffected by the COVID pandemic that swept the world. Activities that were once taken for granted have now been limited or, in some cases, are simply gone. From new technologies to accommodate work from home to mask mandates and supply shortages, everything has … [Read more...] about Power Poll 2021
Event Planning and COVIDTransforming Events Today for Tomorrow’s Market
Some of the top trade shows and conventions in the country happen in Nevada. With an economy that relies on and excels at hospitality and tourism, it’s a good mix. In 2019 there were an estimated 43 million visitors to southern Nevada, with 6.6 million there to attend a meeting or convention. The economic impact of the industry was $11.4 billion. “As much as people think of … [Read more...] about Event Planning and COVID