Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford is back at it again, pointing fingers at Governor Joe Lombardo while ignoring the bigger picture.
On social media, Ford claimed: “Last year, Clark County had a record 47,000 evictions — up from 30,000 the previous year. Our housing crisis is getting worse on @JoeLombardoNV’s watch, not better.”
Last year, Clark County had a record 47,000 evictions — up from 30,000 the previous year.
Our housing crisis is getting worse on @JoeLombardoNV’s watch, not better. pic.twitter.com/vlL4KnKlbV
— Aaron D. Ford (@AaronDFordNV) August 25, 2025
Sounds dramatic, doesn’t it?
But let’s slow down and look at what’s really going on.
Eviction Numbers Without Context
First off, where do these “record 47,000” eviction numbers even come from? Ford didn’t cite a source.
Maybe he’s pulling from raw filings, maybe not. But even if the numbers are accurate, they don’t tell the whole story.
Remember: an eviction isn’t always about a greedy landlord throwing someone out. More often, it’s about renters who simply stop paying rent.
Landlords still have mortgages, property taxes, repairs, and insurance to cover. If the tenant refuses to pay, the landlord has no choice but to go through the courts.
Nevada’s housing problems didn’t start with Lombardo. They’ve been brewing for years thanks to government red tape, restrictive zoning laws, and runaway inflation under President Biden.
Blaming a governor who’s been in office for less than two years for “causing” the entire housing crisis is more political theater than serious policy talk.
The Forgotten Side of the Story: Landlords
Politicians like Aaron Ford love to talk about “struggling renters.” And yes, some folks fall on hard times through no fault of their own.
But what about small landlords?
Many of them are just regular people — not big corporations — who rent out a single home or duplex. When a renter doesn’t pay, the landlord still owes the bank every month.
Imagine working your whole life to buy a small property for retirement income, only to have tenants live rent-free while the government ties your hands with endless delays and paperwork.
During COVID, landlords were forced to provide “free housing” under eviction moratoriums, while the bills kept piling up. Many never recovered.
And now, Ford wants to paint them as villains again by suggesting high eviction numbers mean landlords are doing something wrong.
What Really Drives Housing Costs
Ford’s statement also pretends the governor alone controls the entire housing market. That’s just not true.
Here are the real drivers of Nevada’s housing crunch:
- Inflation: National inflation hit 9.1% in 2022, the highest in 40 years. That drove up everything — from lumber and concrete to groceries and gas — and housing costs followed.
- High Interest Rates: The Federal Reserve’s rate hikes pushed mortgage rates above 7%, making it harder for buyers to qualify for homes. That keeps more people renting instead of buying, putting pressure on the rental market.
- Zoning and Red Tape: Local governments in Clark County and Las Vegas have made it harder to build new housing with restrictive zoning, endless permits, and environmental rules. Fewer homes built means higher prices and more competition for rentals.
None of these problems are unique to Nevada, and none of them started under Lombardo.
What Lombardo Is Trying to Do
Unlike Ford, who seems more interested in assigning blame, Governor Lombardo has actually pushed for solutions.
He’s supported streamlining regulations to make it easier for developers to build homes. He’s backed law enforcement and cracked down on fraud in housing assistance programs.
And unlike Democrats who cling to failed policies, Lombardo has focused on making Nevada more affordable for working families by holding the line on taxes.
Are these quick fixes? No.
But housing policy is a long game. You don’t turn around years of bad policy in just 18 months.
Aaron Ford wants you to think more evictions automatically mean Lombardo is failing. But that’s a political talking point, not reality.
Evictions are often the last resort when renters refuse to pay. Ignoring the damage this does to landlords, many of whom are ordinary Nevadans just trying to make ends meet, is unfair and dishonest.
The real solution isn’t more finger-pointing. It’s tackling the root causes: cutting red tape, encouraging new construction, and reining in federal policies that fuel inflation.
Until then, politicians like Aaron Ford will keep spinning numbers while Nevada’s families — both renters and landlords — are left paying the price.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
