Opinion

April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time dedicated to shedding light on an issue present in our society and community. Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. And every 9 minutes, that victim is a child. This month, communities across the globe unite to raise awareness, support survivors, and advocate for change.

Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without consent. Sexual assault encompasses a broad spectrum of behaviors ranging from verbal harassment to non-consensual physical contact or rape.

The commitment we all share to protect and restore Lake Tahoe exemplifies the very essence of Earth Day. The global event celebrates actions big and small to save our planet and expresses the interconnectedness of people, communities, and the environment.

The following was sent to the South lake Tahoe City Council and printed here at the request of its author: I am writing in opposition to the proposed increase to the City’s minimum wage to $23 an hour.

South Lake Tahoe businesses are already struggling with higher food costs, utility costs rising almost 40 percent, and skyrocketing insurance rates. To pile on a mandatory $23 an-hour minimum wage could and would force many more Tahoe businesses to close up shop or severely reduce staff which defeats the purpose of the proposed idea, in my view.

A few months ago, I wrote to the community regarding how Scott Robbins was an injustice collector and a self-proclaimed subject matter expert. Since my last letter, Scott has continued to lie to the public regarding the vacancy tax petition, which he disguised to the public as an “Affordable housing” petition, causing people to sign the petition thinking it’s something it clearly is not.

Dear Editor, The following is a message from the Keep Community First Coalition. We are a coalition of business and community members advocating for thoughtful taxation policies that prioritize sustainable economic growth and community well-being in South Lake Tahoe.

THE WRONG SOLUTION
Housing affordability is a serious concern for South Lake Tahoe, but the proposed residential Vacancy Tax won’t do anything meaningful to help address this challenge for our community. On many levels, it will do a lot more harm than good. Please read on.

An old friend of mine gave me some advice years ago. He said to always, “write angry but always edit calmly.“ That’s what I’ve done with this letter.

Wednesday night we went to see the Frozen play at Tahoe Valley Elementary School where our daughter was the director. We brought our granddaughter and our son. When we arrived, a man was standing at a table. At first, we thought he was selling play tickets, but it turned out he was one of Councilman Scott Robbins' minions, asking people who approached, as we did if they were for affordable housing. Who would say no to that?

Dear Editor: The very first residences that were built in Tahoe were vacation homes, which were shuttered for winter until the families came back to visit to enjoy the summer activities. South Lake Tahoe's cultural heritage is built upon our recreational opportunities and visitors.

In Lake Tahoe, the essence of the community is embodied not only through the scenic beauty and the camaraderie of its residents but also through the steadfast dedication of locals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support our community. Among these, South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Jim Drennan, Lake Valley Fire Chief Chad Stephen, and Tahoe Douglas Fire Chief Scott Lindgren stand out for their exceptional commitment to the safety and support of our community.

Letter to the Editor: Bringing homemade chicken soup, shoveling snow or watering the flowers when on vacation used to be how people showed love to their neighbors. Unfortunately – and especially in recent weeks, loving your neighbor in Tahoe now means taxing your neighbor’s vacant house. It’s hard to fathom the existence of individuals energized to tax everyone else other than themselves. So, I’ve come up with the “Forever Tahoe Taxation Plan.”

The greater Lake Tahoe area is an object lesson in what happens when excessive bureaucracy creates problems that they cannot solve alone. The barriers to affordable housing and a diverse economy are a choice made for us by local and state politicians, unelected bureaucrats at TRPA, and lawyers and activists behind nonprofits that repeatedly assure us we are but one tax, one regulation, one study, or one lawsuit away from an eco-nirvana. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Mr. Messina (in his Letter to the Editor on 3/19/24) believes that he has discovered "the cause of the current increase in complaints about housing availability" in South Lake Tahoe. What he has discovered is, that, lacking well-paying jobs in California, more and more South Lake Tahoe residents have sought work elsewhere while maintaining their residence here.

As our population has remained at about 21,500 for the past few years, there

The Republican Women of California - South Lake Tahoe guest speaker series continued in March with a talk by David Stevenson, South Lake Tahoe Chief of Police, Officer Corey Wilson, and Canine Officer Rocky.

Officer Wilson talked about the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) Canine Program, its benefits, and safety aspects to the public and police officers. Assembly Bill 742 almost ended the K9 officer program, but it ended up not passing.

Our society is currently in the midst of the largest generational transfer of wealth in history, yet over 60% of our citizens do not have a will. Estate planning is a crucial task that often gets pushed to the back burner in the commotion of everyday life. However, neglecting to create a comprehensive estate plan may lead to significant consequences for both you and your loved ones.

Fellow Douglas County residents, now you see what I have been dealing with the last couple of years regarding Commissioner Danny Tarkanian’s focus on destroying my long-time property management business to help a rich and powerful friend.

Nothing is more appealing than the idea that problems can be solved with no costs to anyone. But that’s almost never true. Facing reality and making choices to solve problems is the mark of an adult. Screaming “no” to everything and ignoring problems is what children do.

Tahoe has a housing problem. This is the one thing that we can all agree on.

Our community is leaving town at increasing rates as they continue to get priced out. “Locals for Affordable Housing” has been very vocal in publicly advocating for what they claim is a solution: a vacancy tax.

It is not. The truth is, those in our community who need housing solutions the most would be hurt significantly if this tax measure passed.

Dear Editor: In the scenic city of South Lake Tahoe, vacation home rentals (VHRs) have long been a source of controversy among residents. Many argue that these rentals disrupt the peace and quiet of neighborhoods, drive up housing prices, and strain city resources. To address these concerns, voters in South Lake Tahoe decided to ban VHRs in residential neighborhoods in November 2018.

Dear Editor: Our Chambers of Commerce have worked diligently to support the citizens and businesses of South Lake Tahoe.

It was the Chamber that
- Pushed for the building of the Utility District to handle sewer and water to protect the Lake
- Initiated the incorporation of the City
- Started Clean Tahoe
- Gave the first contributions to start the Boys and Girls Club
- Helped write the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act
- Helped to bring the annual Presidential Summit that has since brought a billion dollars in environmental benefits to Lake Tahoe

After spending at least twenty years vacationing annually in South Lake Tahoe, my husband and I purchased a small second home in SLT in October of 2017. We come up to SLT for the summer months and sometimes spend the Thanksgiving and/or the Christmas holidays there. Sometimes we come up for my birthday. If we have family or friends who want to come to Tahoe, we will drive up from Palm Desert where we live (a nine-hour drive) and use our vacation home to house and entertain our visitors.

South Lake Tahoe is a beautiful and vibrant community that relies heavily on tourism and seasonal residents to support its economy. The idea of implementing a vacancy tax in South Lake Tahoe is not only unnecessary but could also have detrimental effects on the local economy and housing market.

Letter to the Community: We have lost business due to shutdowns, COVID-19, the Caldor Fire, road construction, no workers, inflation, overpriced real estate, and entitled locals who want everything for free or wages they think they deserve. Not to mention the long-time residents that are moving due to the high costs of living here.

Dear Editor: The proponents of the so-called “VHR Ban” initiative in Douglas County have submitted the signatures gathered over the past few months. The signatures will be reviewed by the office of Douglas County Clerk Amy Burgans to verify if they are those of registered voters within the county as required by Nevada state law.

What a difference a year makes. This time last winter, many of us delighted in a promising snowpack, unaware that we were facing what would become the heaviest winter in more than 70 years. It was a tough one, even for some of us who survived the 1997 rain-on-snow disastrous winter. We got through it together, and 2023 had many bright spots with real progress for Lake Tahoe and our communities.

Dear Fellow Citizens, What have we done? We have elected a City Council whose majority is discussing several tax increases. Those onerous taxes, added to these already tough times, will further sink our local economy, and drive more local businesses and families out of town. An initiative sponsored by one councilperson is now proposing a "vacancy tax" levied on homes not occupied year-round. These homeowners live out of town and include those paying their mortgages for 30 years to perhaps retire here one day, and in the meantime vacation here summers and winters.