https://apnews.com/article/legislat...vada-economy-2fa79128a7bf41073c1e9102e8a0e5f0 =========== CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Planned legislation to establish new business areas in Nevada would allow technology companies to effectively form separate local governments. Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak announced a plan to launch so-called Innovation Zones in Nevada to jumpstart the state’s economy by attracting technology firms, Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Wednesday. The zones would permit companies with large areas of land to form governments carrying the same authority as counties, including the ability to impose taxes, form school districts and courts and provide government services. The measure to further economic development with the “alternative form of local government” has not yet been introduced in the Legislature. Sisolak pitched the concept in his State of the State address delivered Jan. 19. The plan would bring in new businesses at the forefront of “groundbreaking technologies” without the use of tax abatements or other publicly funded incentive packages that previously helped Nevada attract companies like Tesla Inc. Sisolak named Blockchains, LLC as a company that had committed to developing a “smart city” in an area east of Reno after the legislation has passed. The draft proposal said the traditional local government model is “inadequate alone” to provide the resources to make Nevada a leader in attracting and retaining businesses and fostering economic development in emerging technologies and industries. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development would oversee applications for the zones, which would be limited to companies working in specific business areas including blockchain, autonomous technology, the Internet of Things, robotics, artificial intelligence, wireless, biometrics and renewable resource technology. Zone requirements would include applicants owning at least 78 square miles (202 square kilometers) of undeveloped, uninhabited land within a single county but separate from any city, town or tax increment area. Companies would have at least $250 million and plans to invest an additional $1 billion in their zones over 10 years. The zones would initially operate with the oversight of their location counties, but would eventually take over county duties and become independent governmental bodies. The zones would have three-member supervisor boards with the same powers as county commissioners. The businesses would maintain significant control over board membership. The governor’s economic development office did not respond to questions about the zones Wednesday. ===========
Harkens back to the days when the Rajaneesh cult bought-occupied Antelope, Oregon and ended out being a cult that was also a municipality. I see that the tech companies are reviving that model. "In the early 1980s, members of the Rajneesh movement moved in and effectively took over the government of the city by outnumbering the original residents with new voter registrations. On September 18, 1984, a vote was held and the city was renamed to "Rajneesh, Oregon". By 1985, after several of the Rajneesh movement leaders were discovered to have been involved in criminal behavior (including a mass food poisoning attack and an aborted plot to assassinate a U.S. Attorney), their guru left the country as part of a negotiated settlement of federal immigration fraud charges, and the Rajneesh commune collapsed. On November 6, 1985, the city voted to rename itself back to Antelope." Osho had 90 Rolls Royces there and was into mind control and orgies so you can see that that model might appeal to some of the high tech silicone valley gurus as well. Heh, just noticed that the OP's username is Guru. Just sayin.
Brings back is back to a time when companies such as Pullman and others would create and own entire company towns for their workers. Any worker who got out of line or promoted a union would not only be fired but evicted. So Nevada wants to allow tech companies build their own company towns, with their own local governments, school districts, courts, police and government services. This didn't end well when tried out over a century ago.
Next thing ya know, east coast mobsters, will move into some completely desert area, and take total control and establish a mecca for mob and gambling activities. They could just call it Las Vegas. Wait.......
Another day older and deeper in debt St. Peter don't you call me... ...'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store
Disney world is set up like this. They have their own local government, justice system, etc. They can even build a nuclear plant if they wanted to.
Wasn’t the whole USA created this way (a new government), and everyone came running to join? People will move to any place that offers freedom, not imprisonment. But I agree that this could get out of hand, like cults. Possibly Nevada just wants to show some effort to appease those people, but getting this actually setup sounds far fetched, or would need to have strong limitations and Fed oversight.