Job Search Update
I have an update on my job search.
🎥 Watch the video
https://www.nielflamm.com/videos/v/job-search-update-11026
For more content, visit NielFlamm.com
More to come.
#JobSearchUpdate #LeadershipDevelopment #TalentDevelopment #LearningAndDevelopment #ProfessionalJourney #CareerUpdate #NielFlamm #NotallaboutNextdoor
Day 2 of Silence — Does Connection Take the Weekend Off?
It’s now day 2 with no visible engagement from Nextdoor.
That raises some honest questions worth asking:
- Is there simply no engagement on weekends?
- Do neighbors suddenly retreat into their homes, disconnected from the internet on Saturdays and Sundays?
- Do small businesses stop operating, marketing, or needing customers on the weekend?
- If hyperlocal advertising is always “on,” why does communication appear to be “off”?
Weekends are when neighborhoods are most active:
-People are home
- Events happen
- Local businesses rely on foot traffic
- Decisions are made about where to eat, shop, and spend money
If a platform markets itself as the place for hyperlocal connection, weekends should be a strength, not a blackout period.
For small businesses—where every advertising dollar matters—silence creates doubt.
For neighbors who expect responsiveness, it erodes trust.
For shareholders, it raises questions about execution and priorities.
Connection doesn’t pause because the calendar flips to Saturday.
If engagement only exists Monday through Friday, that’s not community—it’s a schedule.
#NiravTolia!!! Still watching. Still asking. Still expecting better.
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#Nextdoor #CX #CustomerExperience #SmallBusiness #LocalAdvertising #CommunityTrust #Engagement #Leadership #Accountability #NXDR
The Day a Stamp at the Doctor’s Office Made Me Pause
I was at Low Country Urology, in the Mount P. on Thursday, waiting to check in. In front of me was a woman—older than I am—who asked the receptionist a question that stopped both of us for a second:
“Do you have a stamp?”
(pause)
“Or do I have to make out the check?”
I’ll admit it—I later posted about it on #Facebook with humor (because that is my default setting). I joked that she was 215 years old, carrying Werther's Originals, sugar packets, and grape jelly containers in her purse—a reference straight out of my grandmother’s playbook.
Some people laughed. A few didn’t.
And that made me pause.
It raised a bigger question for me—one that goes beyond humor or generational ribbing:
- Wouldn’t it be easier to swipe a card instead of writing and balancing a check?
- At what point do people stop adopting new trends—cultural, efficient, or technological ones?
- Is there a moment where change… feels unnecessary?
And, most importantly, when does that moment happen to me? I already buy my clothes at Costco Wholesale, so let’s be honest—I’m halfway there.
I'm curious to hear what you think.
Where do you draw the line between “this works fine” and “it’s time to adapt”?
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#GenerationalDifferences #Technology #ChangeManagement #HumanMoments #Healthcare #Observation #Aging #Culture #Perspective
One More Day Without Engagement — Markets Are Watching
Today marks a whole day without visible engagement from Nextdoor. I guess there’s no engagement on Fridays.
Meanwhile, the market keeps score.
#NXDR closed at $1.985, down $0.07 from 1/8/26
~4.2 million shares traded, slightly above recent activity
I’ve still received no information regarding the next shareholder meeting following the earnings report on February 26, 2026.
This kind of price movement doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Sub-$2 territory reflects more than broad market conditions — it reflects uncertainty, stalled confidence, and unanswered questions.
From a speculative standpoint:
- Trading below $2 often signals capitulation or extreme hesitation
- Volume holding steady suggests rotation and waiting, not conviction buying
- With earnings approaching, the stock is in a prove-it window — guidance, tone, and leadership visibility will matter as much as the numbers
What’s missing right now is momentum — and momentum isn’t created by silence.
As a shareholder, I’m still here. I’m still asking questions. And I’m not giving up. Because turnarounds don’t happen when stakeholders disengage — they happen when leadership shows up, communicates clearly, and takes responsibility for rebuilding trust.
February 26 will be telling. Until then, the tape — and the silence — speaks.
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#NXDR #Nextdoor #ShareholderValue #InvestorRelations #Leadership #Accountability #MarketSentiment #CustomerExperience #CX #NiravTolia
Nextdoor’s Blog vs. The Actual Advertiser Experience
I read the recent #Nextdoor blog post titled “Small Business Owners on #Nextdoor — Understanding America’s Most Influential Local Decision Makers.” It’s great to showcase the potential audience reach and the number of small business owners on the platform.
https://blog.nextdoor.com/small-business-owners-on-nextdoor-understanding-americas-most-influential-local-decision-makers
But potential ≠ reality.
Here’s what the experience looks like when you go beyond the marketing:
👉 Review the real community voice here:
https://x.com/Nextdoor/with_replies
Let’s ask some critical questions:
❓ Is there an actual person supporting small business advertisers?
The videos make it look easy—but what happens when a business owner faces a real problem or dispute? Auto-responses are no substitute for human support.
❓ Are there actual customer leads when users are suspended or banned — but remain counted in reach? If users aren’t entirely removed from the “population,” reach metrics could be overstated.
❓ Does #Nextdoor build trust by removing comments, disabling engagement, and blocking stakeholders? Trust isn’t built by silence — especially when it’s combined with limited visibility into moderation decisions.
❓ Where is the education and clarity around rules, enforcement, and appeals? In my experience, asking straightforward questions about terms and conditions or about why a previously active post was flagged as “spam” received no response.
Words for advertisers to consider.
For small business owners spending hard-earned marketing dollars, every impression and every interaction counts. If the platform's connection component is weak or absent, the value exchange becomes questionable.
As a shareholder, I want Nextdoor to succeed. But I also want investors, advertisers, and small business owners to make informed decisions based on experience, not just reach statistics.
Because promised reach without trust is a poor foundation for lasting growth.
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#Nextdoor #SmallBusiness #MarketingROI #Advertising #CustomerExperience #CX #BrandTrust #Accountability #ModeratorConsistency #Transparency #ShareholderVoice #LocalBusiness #DigitalAdvertising #CommunityEngagement #NiravTolia
Metrics, Reach, and the Cost of Silence
As someone who works deeply in CX, analytics, and process improvement, I keep coming back to one question about Nextdoor:
What is the actual reach being delivered to advertisers and small businesses?
A review of Nextdoor’s public replies on #X (formerly Twitter) tells an important story:
https://x.com/Nextdoor/with_replies
- A steady stream of frustrated neighbors
- Many reporting suspensions or bans driven by unpaid moderator decisions
- A consistent pattern of automated responses directing users to submit a form
- Very little visible evidence of human follow-up or resolution
For small businesses—where every dollar matters—this raises real concerns:
- If users are suspended but never leave the platform, are advertiser reach metrics inflated?
- If comments are disabled across LinkedIn, Facebook, and Nextdoor’s own blog, how is engagement measured?
- If issues funnel into an auto-response loop instead of a human resolution, what is the value proposition?
Advertising works when trust exists on both sides of the marketplace.
Right now, the unpaid moderator model—without transparency, QA, or accountability—appears to be eroding that trust at scale.
I am far from the only person raising this concern. The volume and consistency of feedback suggest a systemic issue, not isolated incidents.
Allowing this to persist signals leadership rigidity rather than adaptability. In organizational psychology, that often reflects fear, anxiety, and an excessive need for control—none of which foster healthy communities.
Leadership matters here.
#NiravTolia represents the brand. Blocking feedback—rather than engaging with it—doesn’t make the issue disappear; it amplifies it. Public-facing leaders across industries absorb criticism daily. Engagement, not silence, is what builds credibility.
If the outcome of user outreach is only an automated reply with no visible human ownership, then it’s fair to ask:
- What problem is being solved?
- Who is accountable?
- And how should advertisers evaluate ROI in this environment?
Trust is measurable.
Silence is, too.
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#Nextdoor #CustomerExperience #CX #AdvertisingROI #TrustAndSafety #Leadership #ProcessImprovement #Accountability #DigitalAdvertising #BrandTrust
#NXDR at $2.06 — When the Product Pitch Meets Reality
#NXDR closed at $2.06 today — essentially no movement. A little over 3 million shares traded, down from previous days, which often signals hesitation rather than conviction.
At the same time, I’ve noticed a renewed push on Meta Facebook promoting Nextdoor and #NextdoorforBusiness. The videos do a great job showing how easy it is for a small business owner to:
- Launch an ad
- Make changes quickly
- Interact with prospects
Great idea. The pitch is strong.
However, the concept falls apart the moment a problem arises.
Here’s the disconnect:
- Comments are turned off on #Facebook, - LinkedIn, and even Nextdoor ’s own blog
- Issues route into automated responses that delay resolution
- There’s no active contact center — no phone, no real-time chat — when something goes wrong
In my case, #NiravTolia has blocked me across multiple platforms.
That last point matters. It signals that it’s permissible not to engage — even with a user, a shareholder, or a potential customer.
For a small business, every dollar matters.
When margins are thin and time is limited, spending on a platform without clear, accessible support raises a serious question:
- Is it wise to invest ad dollars where dialogue, accountability, and fast resolution aren’t guaranteed?
As a shareholder, I want Nextdoor to succeed. I want it to take off. The idea has real potential.
However, I can’t recommend it in good conscience — not until engagement, support, and accountability align with the marketing message.
Because growth doesn’t come from ease of entry alone.
It stems from how a company responds when something goes wrong.
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#Nextdoor #NXDR #SmallBusiness #Leadership #CustomerExperience #CX #Accountability #InvestorPerspective
When a Simple Observation Resonates 📊
Something interesting happened after I shared a recent post about courtesy in shared spaces—specifically, air travel etiquette.
https://lnkd.in/ekb-nVKq
That post generated:
- 16,727 LinkedIn impressions
- 35 reactions
- 1 repost
- 6 comments
For anyone unfamiliar with the term, impressions represent the number of times a post appears in someone’s LinkedIn feed—not clicks, not likes, but visibility. It’s a signal that the message traveled farther than expected and reached people who may not even be in your immediate network.
Clearly, that post struck a chord.
Why? My takeaway is that it wasn’t really about flying. It was about professionalism, awareness, and how we show up in communal spaces—topics many of us experience daily, whether in offices, meetings, airports, or online.
Sometimes the posts that perform best aren’t polished thought leadership pieces. They’re honest observations that tap into shared experience.
To everyone who reacted, commented, reposted, or paused long enough to read—thank you. Every interaction helped extend the reach, spark conversation, and turn a simple moment into a broader discussion.
Appreciate the engagement—and the reminder that small stories can have unexpected impact.
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#LinkedInInsights #ContentThatConnects #ProfessionalEtiquette #Community #Engagement
Slow and Steady — Or Slowly Slipping? The Race to Turn Around Nextdoor
Slow and steady wins the race — especially when the race is restoring confidence, accelerating growth, and increasing shareholder and investor value at Nextdoor.
But here’s the hard truth:
The longer leadership allows issues to fester, the less likely it is that the outcome will turn positive.
Which raises some uncomfortable — but necessary — questions:
- Why hasn’t anyone from leadership reached out for a conversation?
- Would @NiravTolia and the Nextdoor team prefer that I go away?
- If the strategy is silence, how does that align with a mission built on connection?
Let’s look at the market signals.
On January 7, 2026, #NXDR closed up $0.01 to $2.06. Modest, yes — but notable given that over 3.7 million shares traded, slightly below the ~4.4 million average daily volume. That kind of activity suggests repositioning, caution, and waiting — not conviction buying.
Context matters:
- #NXDR is trading in the bottom third of its 52-week range
- Growth has been essentially flat since 2023
- The stock remains well below its 2022 highs
While sentiment indicators may appear bullish and above sector averages, sentiment without execution doesn’t sustain valuation.
The real inflection point is coming soon:
Earnings are scheduled for release after market close on February 26, 2026.
That report will be telling — not just in terms of numbers, but also in terms of narrative, confidence, and direction.
My hope is simple and shared: that users, advertisers, investors, and shareholders will no longer accept stagnation.
Because we don’t just get what we hope for in business —
We get what we allow.
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#Nextdoor #NXDR #Leadership #ShareholderValue #InvestorRelations #Accountability #GrowthStrategy #CustomerExperience #CX #CorporateGovernance
Persistence Isn’t Harassment — It’s Accountability
If I’m anything, I’m persistent.
After learning to navigate #X effectively, I reviewed the replies on #Nextdoor’s account. What I found was telling: a steady stream of dissatisfied users — many suspended or banned — pointing to bias, inconsistency, and lack of recourse in moderation.
That led me to @NiravTolia’s X account:
So I’ll ask this plainly and professionally:
Nirav, how about a conversation before I slide into your DMs? Or will more Nextdoor resources be spent blocking voices instead of engaging them?
This isn’t about noise. It’s about dialogue, transparency, and fixing what’s broken. Blocking critics doesn’t resolve issues; it compounds them.
Investors. Shareholders. Advertisers. Take note. Engagement choices signal priorities—and priorities shape outcomes.
The invitation stands.
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#Nextdoor #Leadership #Accountability #Transparency #CustomerExperience #CX #CommunityTrust #OpenDialogue
Celebrating the Exception — While Acknowledging the Pattern
This is genuinely great news — and I’m happy for Danielle Hopkins.
The Berkeley Hills Illustrated Map is a wonderful example of creativity, local pride, and community storytelling done right. Danielle deserves the recognition, and moments like this are worth celebrating.
https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/01/06/berkeley-hills-illustrated-map-danielle-hopkins
But let’s be honest about something important:
This is the exception — not the rule.
If anyone wants to understand what #Nextdoor and #NiravTolia are not talking about, all it takes is a quick look here:
👉 https://x.com/Nextdoor/with_replies
That page speaks volumes about the current state of affairs:
- Neighbors trying to connect
- Users appealing suspensions
- Automated replies with little visible resolution
Which raises fair questions — especially for a company whose mission is connection:
Why are comments disabled on #LinkedIn, #X, and even their own blog (nextdoor.blog.com)?
Why did @NiravTolia block me on #LinkedIn instead of engaging in dialogue?
Why haven’t I received a response to my email about the upcoming shareholder meeting?
Meanwhile, I’m starting to see traction across #LinkedIn, #X, and my website, NielFlamm.com. Perhaps that’s because I’m doing a few simple things consistently:
- Being transparent
- Encouraging dialogue and feedback — even when I disagree
- Setting clear expectations with my audience
Connection doesn’t require perfection. It requires presence, openness, and the willingness to engage.
I’ll be watching closely — and I look forward to the next fluff piece on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
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#Nextdoor #Leadership #CommunityTrust #Transparency #CustomerExperience #CX #Accountability #OpenDialogue #LocalCommunities
I Stand Corrected — There Is Engagement, Not the Kind That Builds Trust
I owe an apology to #Nextdoor and #NiravTolia.
I was incorrect in saying there was no engagement.
After reviewing @Nextdoor’s X page with REPLIES, I see there is engagement — it’s just the wrong type.
That feed is filled with:
- Users who unpaid neighborhood moderators have been suspended
- Neighbors asking for help, clarity, or reinstatement
- Replies that receive automated responses, with little evidence of follow-up, resolution, or mutual understanding
These are people actively trying to connect.
What they’re getting instead feels transactional, scripted, and unresolved.
This matters — a lot.
This is why stock prices are down.
This is why confidence is eroding.
This is why leadership must change course.
A platform that claims to connect neighbors cannot rely on:
- Unpaid moderators with unchecked authority
- Inconsistent enforcement across neighborhoods
- Automation where empathy, judgment, and accountability are required
And this is precisely why moderation accountability is non-negotiable.
I’ll be candid: yes, I’m persistent. Yes, I’m probably viewed as a nuisance. And no, you don’t need to bring me in as an employee to fix this.
However, you should speak with Karen Romero. Karen is a proven QA leader who can:
- Stand up moderation scorecards
- Define clear, consistent standards
- Build analytics-driven accountability
Restore trust through fairness and transparency
I pulled her into this conversation because the problem is real—and the solution already exists.
Connection without resolution isn’t a connection.
Automation without accountability isn’t supported.
And engagement that ends in silence isn’t engagement at all.
The evidence is public.
The opportunity is still there.
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#Nextdoor #Leadership #Accountability #Moderation #CommunityTrust #CustomerExperience #CX #NXDR #QualityAssurance #TrustAndSafety #niravtolia
NXDR at $2.12 → $2.05 — What the Price Is Telling Us
Here’s a data point worth paying attention to.
January 5, 2026, close: $2.12
January 6, 2026, close: $2.05
A seven-cent move may not sound dramatic, but context matters — especially for Nextdoor.
NXDR is trading near the low end of its recent range, and price action like this usually reflects more than broad market noise. It reflects sentiment — about execution, confidence, and direction.
What the market appears to be reacting to
Extended silence in corporate communications (LinkedIn, Facebook, blog) during a period when engagement should be accelerating, not contracting
Inconsistent community experience, driven by unpaid moderation without clear QA, analytics, or accountability
Muted advertiser and partner activation, even during cultural moments that should drive neighborhood conversation
Limited visible leadership engagement, which increases uncertainty rather than confidence
Why shareholders, investors, and advertisers should be wary
Markets don’t just price revenue — they price belief.
Shareholders look for signals of leadership conviction and momentum
Investors watch consistency, transparency, and execution
Advertisers care about real engagement, not just stated reach metrics
When communication stalls and trust erodes, valuation pressure usually follows. A stock hovering near $2 reflects hesitation — not enthusiasm.
What NXDR should do to improve its position
This isn’t unsolvable. In fact, it’s very fixable.
To strengthen confidence and improve share price positioning, NXDR should:
Re-establish consistent, two-way communication across owned channels
Restore conversation, not just broadcasting — comments, dialogue, engagement
Professionalize moderation with clear standards, QA scorecards, and data-driven oversight
Show visible leadership presence, especially when scrutiny is high
Demonstrate advertiser and partner value through real community activation
Markets reward clarity, consistency, and courage. Silence does the opposite.
At $2.05, the stock isn’t just a number — it’s a signal.
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#NXDR #Nextdoor #ShareholderValue #InvestorRelations #Leadership #BrandTrust #CustomerExperience #CX #Accountability #NiravTolia
A Missed Moment — When Silence Costs Partnerships
During 18 days of silence, #Nextdoor missed a clear opportunity.
While #Netflix and #StrangerThings were actively driving conversation, excitement, and community engagement, #Nextdoor — a platform built on neighbor connection — said nothing.
This should have been an easy win.
A moment to:
- Spark neighborhood conversations
- Strengthen brand partnerships
- Show advertisers what local engagement actually looks like
Instead, there was no visible activation. No amplification. No community storytelling. Just silence.
And it’s essential to add this context: since I began publicly holding @NiravTolia and Nextdoor accountable, Nextdoor has actively taken steps to prevent connection—disabling comments and engagement across #LinkedIn, #Facebook, #X, and even not permitting dialogue on its own blog. That’s not accidental. It’s a choice.
For advertisers and future partners, this matters. Engagement isn’t just about reach metrics on a slide deck — it’s about active, visible participation. When users are suspended, discouraged from engaging, or quietly leave without deleting profiles, reach can be overstated while real connection declines.
Silence during cultural moments doesn’t protect a brand — it exposes execution gaps.
Partnerships thrive on momentum. Communities grow through conversation. And platforms that claim to connect people must demonstrate it — especially when the spotlight is already on.
This was a moment to lead.
It was missed.
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@Nextdoor @Netflix @StrangerThings
#Nextdoor #Netflix #StrangerThings #BrandPartnerships #AdvertiserAwareness #CustomerExperience #CX #CommunityTrust #Leadership #Engagement #NiravTolia
Consistency Builds Trust — Inconsistency Destroys It
There’s a reason brands like #Starbucks, #McDonald's, and #Amazon are trusted at scale. You know what you’re getting.
- The process is consistent.
- The standards are clear.
- The experience doesn’t depend on who you are, who you know, or who’s having a bad day.
That consistency is intentional. It’s designed. It’s measured. And it’s why customers keep coming back.
Now contrast that with #Nextdoor.
On #Nextdoor, the experience is often dictated by unpaid moderators operating with:
-No consistent standards
- No measurable QA
- No transparent escalation paths
- And far too much human bias
Bias shows up in many forms:
- Economic bias
- Racial or ethnic bias
- Bias toward friends and familiar names
- Bias based on personal vendettas
That’s not theoretical — it’s lived experience.
In my case, this entire situation began because one unpaid lead moderator developed a clear bias and vendetta toward me. From there, everything went off the rails:
- Comments removed selectively
- Engagement restricted
- Comments disabled altogether
- And eventually, #NiravTolia blocked me on #LinkedIn
That’s not community safety.
- That’s not neutrality.
- That’s not a connection.
When a platform’s experience depends on who holds the keys that day, trust collapses. When leadership responds to criticism with silence or exclusion rather than dialogue, the problem compounds.
This is precisely why platforms scale process, not personalities.
This is why serious companies invest in QA, analytics, and accountability.
This is why moderation cannot be governed by feelings alone.
I’m not here to throw stones.
I’m here with an open hand.
#Nextdoor & #NiravTolia — I’m at the table.
Pull up a chair! Let’s talk about how to fix this, build absolute consistency, and restore trust the right way.
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#Leadership #Consistency #CustomerExperience #CX #CommunityTrust #Moderation #Accountability #BiasInTech #Nextdoor #ProcessImprovement
The Drought Is Over — But Let’s Talk About What Wasn’t Said
#Nextdoor recently published a blog post titled Small Business Owners on Nextdoor: Understanding America’s Most Influential Local Decision Makers — highlighting that 3.2 million small business owners are on Nextdoor and that many of them personally make all their purchasing decisions and use the platform to grow their business. �
https://lnkd.in/eAC7GBbk
That sounds great — but here’s the disconnect:
✔️ The blog talks about business presence and ads. �
❌ It doesn’t address why community dialogue is absent from official channels — despite claims of connection.
❌ It doesn’t explain why comments are disabled on #LinkedIn and #Facebook.on #X
❌ It doesn’t show any leadership engagement or responses to feedback from neighbors, advertisers, or shareholders.
❌ It doesn’t speak to moderation challenges that undermine the very trust Nextdoor claims to build.
❌ It doesn’t acknowledge the brand capital erosion caused by long public silence.
In other words, the drought is over when a blog goes up, but the conversation still hasn’t begun.
If #Nextdoor really wants to help small businesses thrive, it needs to do more than share data and infographics. It needs to show up where people are, listen to concerns, and engage in transparent dialogue — especially when users and stakeholders are asking for it. That’s a real connection.
#niravtolia — let’s talk about how actual connection works.
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#Nextdoor #Leadership #CommunityTrust #CustomerExperience #CX #PublicRelations #SmallBusiness #ModeratorAccountability #OpenDialogue #BrandTrust #InvestorRelations
Tuesday Check-In — Is Silence the New Connection Strategy?
t’s Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
I’ve checked the usual outlets — #LinkedIn, #Facebook, and blog.nextdoor.com — and once again, there’s nothing from #Nextdoor, the self-described “Great Neighbor Connector.”
So it’s fair to ask:
- How is this connecting?
- What are employees working on if not engaging neighbors, advertisers, and shareholders?
- Where is the visible effort to build trust and momentum in a new year?
Connection isn’t a mission statement — it’s a behavior. It shows up in dialogue, responsiveness, and presence. When a platform designed around community goes quiet, the silence raises questions about direction, priorities, and leadership expectations.
If connection is the goal, it should be observable.
If community is the product, it should be nurtured publicly.
Right now, the gap between promise and practice feels wider than ever.
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#Nextdoor #Leadership #CommunityTrust #CustomerExperience #CX #Accountability #PublicRelations #BrandTrust #niravtolia
Aloft Henderson, NV review
Let me set the stage. I used to live in the Vegas Valley, Henderson, Spring Valley, etc., for about 10 years. I moved out of the Valley in July 2023. I'm a right above-the-knee amputee. The purpose of the trip was to see my kids and friends. The stay was 1/1/26 through 1/4/26. I was to arrive on 12/31/25, American Airlines at DFW (leaving from CHS) had other plans.
I pick up a rental car and am familiar with the area. The hotel had to be built after I left in July 2023. There was hardly anything there, the office park, the restaurants, and the gaming spot (Timbers). I remember the gas station going up. The hotel leans more toward the Coronado Centre than St. Rose. It sits back from St. Rose. I arrive around 2 pm.
Taking a step back, I let the hotel know I was stuck at DFW due to a missed connection (there wasn't a weather or ATC delay; it was all on American). I spoke with a lady, let her know the deal, and I have every intention of making it there on 1/1/26. She said my room would be held. I was wondering if I would be charged the night of 12/31/25. I was billed, which is a bit ratty. I get it, the franchise owner makes those decisions. Most Marriott properties aren't corporate-owned.
I pull up to the hotel, again on Coronado Centre, and it sits on a hill (this is important). There isn't much parking in front of the property. I know the deal about office park covered parking (it is highly coveted, especially in the summer), so I wasn't about to park there. When I started the check-in process at the desk, I was told that I didn't give the "I used to be a resident speech." The woman who helped me was super friendly and informative. I had requested a roll-in shower room on a high floor. The roll-in shower was accommodated, not the high floor. I could have taken the room on the first floor and moved the next day to the second floor. I declined the offer, too much work. I should have in hindsight.
I get to the room and have stayed at another Aloft property. The room is a funky, compact design, except for the bathroom. There is modern furniture, power-operated blinds (instructions on how to use them would be helpful), plenty of light, and the usual amenities such as a big TV, a Keurig-type coffee maker (single-use, no K-Cups), and a glass-door mini-fridge. There is a funky table-and-sofa combo that is comfortable. Oh, I'm in room 125.
Before reaching the room, I asked where the best place to park would be. For the room I was assigned, I was told to park on the side. The room was almost equally distant from the lab to the side entrance. This is a big deal for me as it takes more work to walk as an amputee versus someone with both legs intact. I was told that if I had a room on the second floor, I should park in the back; there is an entrance, and the elevator is closer to it. I have no idea which room I'd be assigned if I decided to move, or how far it would be from the elevator. I've noticed recently that while hotels are ADA-compliant, they aren't ADA-sensitive, such as placing an ADA room as far from the elevator/entrance as possible. This wasn't the case.
Speaking of ADA, the toilet and roll-in shower are in this massive room. The stool was deep enough, and water didn't spill onto the shower floor (I mentioned it did at a different Marriott-branded property). There are SO MANY grab bars near the toilet and the shower. The removable showerhead and toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion) were within easy reach. The sink has plenty of light and a nice height to allow someone to roll in (I don't use a wheelchair currently).
I didn't spend time at the pool (Vegas in January is cold) or in the rear courtyard. I had a bite to eat (French Onion Soup & Chicken Caesar Salad) at the bar while I messed around on the laptop for several hours. The woman there (not Randy, I didn't catch her name) was pleasant, knowledgeable, and checked in appropriately. The food was excellent. The bar had convenient power. I liked the chairs and the height of the bar, so I chose to hang out for a bit instead of a sofa or one of their cubby-type things.
There were A LOT, I mean A LOT, of dogs! Did I mention there were a lot?!?! They weren't small pocket-sized dogs; there were dogs of all breeds and mixes. I saw a few American Staffordshire terriers. The dogs were relatively behaved, I mean, they are dogs and get excited occasionally. The dog owners did as they should: controlled the family member, some parents did not prevent their kids from picking up after the pup, and were polite.
Is this too good to be true? I do have a negative. The morning of January 2, 2026, I packed up my laptop to take to Starbucks after meeting my kids at Scrambled (good Oreo pancakes). I picked up the bag, and it was soaking wet. While the bag is water-resistant, it is not waterproof. Some water got into the bag, ruined the four Event Horizon Descent comic books I had in protective covers, a $20 Starbucks card (I now know the cards are made of corrugated paper rather than plastic), and made the inside of the bag stink. I let the front desk know via chat (the staff responded promptly) about the water. I wasn't sure where it was coming from. I looked at the walls, the ceiling, and around the room, thinking I'd done something. I received a reply saying the water had cleared and was due to rain. The Valley has no permeable ground, yet the hotel sits on a hill. I don't get it. I let the staff know it ruined some things (I didn't specify which items) and wasn't offered any compensation. Had I known the hotel gets a bit leaky on the first floor, I would have placed my laptop bag on the velvet sofa.
I rated it a 5 out of 5. The staff, the room, the accessibility (on the first floor), the proximity to the 215, and the food choices make this a great stay. I've done the strip as a tourist. This is an excellent value.
A Dialogue on Day 17 of Silence
Cast
#NiravTolia • PR Team • C-Suite • Intern • Clown • Mime • Baseball Umpire •
Niel (offstage):
Day 17. No LinkedIn. No Facebook. No blog posts. I’m still counting.
PR Team:
If we don’t post, there’s nothing to react to.
C-Suite:
Less exposure. Less risk.
Clown:
If you never swing, you never strike out! 🤡
Mime (holds up “17,” draws uneven scales):
…
Intern:
We are posting on X.
Niel (offstage):
With comments disabled.
Intern:
Right. No replies. Just broadcasts.
Clown:
Yelling into the void! Very strategic! 📢
Umpire (steps up):
Seventeen days. No dialogue. No comments. No engagement. That’s not a checked swing. That’s no swing.
#NiravTolia:
We’re being careful.
Umpire:
Careful doesn’t win games. No swing. No contact. That’s a strike.
Niel (offstage):
And I didn’t just point out the problem — I offered help. Fixing moderator inconsistency. Clear standards. Real accountability. With Karen Romero, a proven QA leader:
- Scorecards
- Metrics
- Data over feelings
- So moderators aren’t guessing — and users can trust the process.
C-Suite:
That would require ownership.
Mime (balances scales, adds checkmarks):
…
Umpire (final call):
Day 17 is on the board. You can keep watching pitches — or step up and swing. Silence doesn’t move runners.
Niel (offstage):
Still counting
Read more and subscribe to NielFlamm.com. 🤔
#Nextdoor #Leadership #Accountability #CustomerExperience #CX #CommunityTrust #Moderation #TrustAndSafety #ProcessImprovement #QualityAssurance #ShowUp #ConnectionRequiresConversation #DataOverFeelings #FixTheProcess
Day 17 — Is Silence the Strategy?
Today marks Day 17 of radio silence from #Nextdoor.
It’s a new year.
It’s Monday.
And as of this writing, it’s approximately 11:00 AM Eastern.
So it’s reasonable to ask a few hard — but fair — questions:
- Is there an active communications or public relations strategy in place? Or has non-communication itself become the strategy?
- How are other investors and shareholders comfortable allowing this level of disengagement to continue?
- How does a platform grow without taking risks, testing ideas, or engaging publicly?
#Nextdoor’s mission is connection. Yet the absence of voice — no #LinkedIn, no #Facebook, no blog updates (blog.nextdoor.com) — sends the opposite signal. Silence doesn’t reassure neighbors, advertisers, or investors.
It creates uncertainty.
There’s an old saying in communications: “Isn’t bad publicity still publicity?”
While I don’t subscribe to reckless PR, I do believe visible leadership beats invisible leadership every time. Conversation creates momentum.
Engagement creates trust. Even disagreement creates energy.
Silence creates none of that.
Day 17 isn’t about impatience — it’s about direction. Growth requires presence. Confidence requires visibility. Leadership requires showing up.
The question isn’t whether #Nextdoor will speak again — it’s when, and at what cost to trust if it waits too long.
Read more and subscribe to NielFlamm.com
#Nextdoor #Leadership #InvestorRelations #ShareholderVoice #PublicRelations #BrandTrust #CustomerExperience #CX #Accountability