Self-proclaimed progressive Communist Lily Baran is seeking to infiltrate the Reno City Council, Ward 1, bringing with her a controversial track record.
Known for her involvement as a Black Lives Matter Organizer and a homeless advocate, Baran’s resume includes affiliations with the ACLU and PlanNV, along with the operation of a community garden and food bank from her residence in Ward 1.
Ward 1, spanning Downtown, Northeast, and the University neighborhoods, is represented by Councilwoman Jenny Brekhus, who terms out in 2024. In 2022, the city council denied her an appointment to the Ward 3 seat in favor of Miguel Matinez.
In her campaign announcement, Baran portrays herself as a “dedicated community leader” with a background in grassroots organizing, civil rights advocacy, and mutual aid. While championing causes such as housing justice, environmental conservation, and civil rights, Baran’s divisive stance emerges in her call for the abolition of what she deems inherently racist and classist: the police and prison system.
She provocatively questions the need for firearms among law enforcement.
Baran’s podcast revelations in July 2022 expose her radical views on anarchism as an “equalizer against oppressive capitalist systems.” Despite acknowledging the use of the capitalist system until someone creates an alternative, her rhetoric reflects a deep-seated belief in combating capitalism, which she claims is failing.
Admitting to a preference for “shaming people in power,” Baran’s activism strategy raises eyebrows. While advocating for humanizing everyone, she simultaneously acknowledges the difficulty of bridging gaps between white privilege and marginalized communities.
Baran’s admiration for Instagram accounts like the Nap Ministry and Dr. Ayesha Khan raises further concerns. The Nap Ministry’s goal of resisting capitalism through restful means and Khan’s controversial statements labeling Israel as a genocidal occupier and blaming capitalism for the mental health crisis add to Baran’s polarizing associations.
While conceding the near-impossibility of abolishing capitalism, Baran proposes reducing wealth disparity within her community. She presents her community garden as a solution because it lacks government involvement.
In a nonpartisan race, Baran claims to identify with the policy choice that “makes the most sense,” leaning towards fiscal conservatism. Her emphasis on reallocating funds from public safety to housing and mental health services and advocating for a line-item city budget is portrayed skeptically as an attempt to introduce transparency.
Baran’s vision for the City Council is to bring a “fresh perspective and harmony,” though critics question her definition of harmony and express concerns about her approach to decision-making. Her strengths, touted as peace-making and finding solutions, are met with skepticism as the public debates the potential consequences of such an approach.
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