State of the city: We're in good hands

Mayor Bob Crowell was spirited, resolute, at times almost uncharacteristically feisty.

Supervisor Shelley Aldean was measured and stuck mostly to the facts.

And Sheriff Ken Furlong demonstrated his trademark, pitch-perfect blend of hardball and humanity.

These three Carson leaders delivered a report card Friday at the State of the City event that should leave residents feeling that their city is in good hands - and that the view through the windshield is a whole lot better than what's in the rear-view.

Crowell walked the walk of mayor, touting Carson City's recent national publicity as a top vacation/retirement destination and pugnaciously knocking down some unfavorable reports about the city's economic health. He lamented some missed job-creating opportunities - and hinted at some promising new ones on the horizon, including one that may add to the culture of Carson City: a yogurt factory.

Most significantly, he and Aldean spoke strongly in favor of the proposed City Center Project, the $48 million library-plaza-parking complex planned for downtown. Crowell talked up the benefits of the project itself, while Aldean spoke plainly about why she opposes a current effort to, in effect, put the issue to a public vote before the city spends any more money on it.

"We were elected to make these decisions," said Aldean, who recently announced she won't seek re-election.

The City Center was what drew many to Friday's breakfast forum, so it was surprising - and a little disappointing - that only one opponent spoke up during the question-and-answer period. This was a rare occasion, when protagonists on both sides of the third-rail issue had a rapt audience eager to hear their back-and-forth. We would have welcomed a more thorough discussion, or even a rousing debate, but perhaps that's best left for another day - soon, we hope.

With Crowell and Aldean addressing specifics, it was appropriate and refreshing to hear Furlong speak from the heart.

"We just passed through a year from hell," the sheriff said, citing the IHOP shootings and other tragedies that befell the town and region. He balanced the pain with positives, though: Methamphetamine crime is down, gang activity is down, volunteerism is at an all-time high, and volunteer patrols are saving the city a half-million dollars a year.

But, he said, "Good is not good enough." Furlong pointed out how graffiti abatement and anti-drug efforts must be an ongoing effort. To illustrate the point, he trotted out one of his department's K-9 officers and his human partner, noting that the team recently took almost 20 pounds of drugs off city streets.

Furlong, who's usually good for a sound bite, also noted that the best law enforcement is the kind that keeps little crimes from becoming big ones.

"Don't wait for the shooting to start - pick 'em up for spitting on the sidewalk."

• Nevada Appeal Editor Dennis Noone can be reached at dnoone@nevadaappeal.com.