Letter: I really hope the City of South Lake Tahoe reconsiders SnowGlobe

Think about it, in the nine years or so that SnowGlobe has been here it has violated its contract over and over and over. The most recent violation has been SnowGlobe's inability to abide by its current contract to identify an alternative site by June of 2021. Why would you work with someone who constantly doesn't follow through on an agreed to contract? Oh, please don't let them tell you that they didn't have time last year to research locations because of COVID. They had plenty of time because they didn't have to produce an event last year.

We have also recently been educated as to the toxicity of fireworks. They are launching fireworks between 2 environmental stream zones. There are pump houses at the end of Friant and Barbara streets. They are slowly poisoning our drinking water. Not to mention all the other issues with fireworks (noise, wildlife disruption, fire hazard, toxicity to soil, etc).

Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (a nationally known center) is less than a half a mile from this event. You think this is good for rehabbing wild animals?

The footprint of SnowGlobe impedes upon the Greenway Trail. This trail, when completed, is supposed to be accessible all year long. Again, SnowGlobe blocks access to the Greenway Trail.

SnowGlobe promotes over-tourism. The town is historically full over New Year's and doesn't need the event to draw people to the area during the New Years holiday. They said people wouldn't come here over 4th of July without fireworks but they did. The same applies to New Years.

There are a bunch of new neighbors surrounding the area. I'm not sure they have experienced what it is like to host this event. It will be interesting to see how they receive it.

COVID is on the uptick. The city might be setting itself up if it cannot follow through on hosting the event because of possible future lockdowns.

I'll mention that the City and the TRPA are walking a very thin line by not holding SnowGlobe to the standards/rules that it imposes on other business/homeowners/contractors. It sets a "dangerous legal precedent" to not hold SnowGlobe to the same rules and standards.

SnowGlobe has claimed that it has worked on the sound/bass issues -- and it has. But their efforts have fallen short, all they have done is dumped the sound into areas that haven't complained. It's been nothing more than a dog and pony show. How many times have we heard, "we are re-configuring the stage/setup"? This is partly the City's fault by not lowering decibel levels in the contract. For those that don't know SnowGlobe can make more noise than the airport and not be in violation.

I'll point out that during our July 8th earthquake I didn't have any pictures fall off my walls. I have had SnowGlobe knock pictures off my walls.

I'll also point out that VHR's and hotel/motel rooms are already in high demand because of the influx of new residents and the elimination of some VHR permits.

I'll say it again....why are you forcing this square peg into a round hole?

Again this event needs to be modified or ended. Reduce sound levels and no fireworks. It cannot continue as is.

If you choose to refute what I have written above please be sure to attack the facts that I have presented and not my character or age. Saying I'm old or out of touch does not override the facts presented above. And yes I know this is a resort town and that we rely on tourism, but let's not forget the "town" part of resort town.

- John Spinola
South Lake Tahoe

Editor's Note: SnowGlobe is on the City Council agenda on August 3. "Status of Special Event Agreement for SnowGlobe Music Festival - Requested Action / Suggested Motions: Receive staff report regarding SnowGlobe's breach of Special Event Agreement for failure to identify a suitable alternative site by June 18, 2021 and provide direction to staff on whether to initiate termination proceedings or provide more time for SnowGlobe to identify a suitable alternative location."