By Peter Sadowski, Special to the RGJ, January 27, 2025
California is burning — literally and metaphorically. The wildfires consuming Los Angeles are just the latest disaster in a long, smoggy parade of failure. Bureaucratic gridlock, punishing taxes, and regulations so overbearing they feel like an act of vengeance — California’s leaders have turned the state into a raging inferno, and its businesses are left chocking on the toxic smoke. Just as Nevada has sent fire crews to help California battle its infernos, offering a lifeline to businesses is part of the same spirit of collaboration. Leaving them to suffer in California’s flames — both literal and bureaucratic — would be the real injustice.
Gov. Joe Lombardo is building a haven for businesses fleeing the chaos. His Nevada Strategic Growth Initiative shows that Nevada offers what California can’t: stability without red tape, simplicity without chaos, and a government that delivers instead of dithers. Lombardo is also spearheading the Nevada Climate Innovation Plan, aiming to harness clean energy and position the state as a leader in sustainability — a key driver for companies prioritizing ESG standards. Additionally, his newly formed Nevada Health Authority is poised to enhance employee health care options, providing a tangible benefit for companies relocating their workforce. These initiatives underscore Lombardo’s commitment to making Nevada a beacon for businesses seeking a brighter, more stable future.
Nevada’s strategic location is a lifeline for businesses. Situated within a day’s drive of major West Coast ports, Nevada offers seamless supply chain access without the bottlenecks of California’s crumbling infrastructure. With investments in transportation corridors like the I-15, Nevada delivers a logistical advantage that California can’t match. Here, goods move faster, cheaper and without the constant threat of gridlock.
Nevada is also fostering the industries of the future. With its support for clean energy, advanced manufacturing and tech innovation, the state is creating an ecosystem where forward-thinking companies can thrive. Nevada rewards ambition rather than stifling it, and Lombardo’s policies are laying the groundwork for long-term growth.
The time is now for bold, unapologetic action to drive that promise home. For businesses in California, the situation has become untenable — companies have shuttered, profits are vanishing, homes of executives and employees have gone up in flames, and the air they breathe will be toxic for some time. Entire communities are desperately searching for an escape, and Nevada can provide it. Imagine billboards on the 101: “California’s on Fire — Your Business Doesn’t Have to Be. Move to Nevada.” Or precision-targeted campaigns reaching tech giants, logistics firms and manufacturers, offering them a lifeline out of chaos. Lombardo’s administration has already built the framework; now it needs to pull these companies out of California’s ashes and into Nevada’s thriving future.
Peter Sadowski is a financial executive who lives in Las Vegas.