Thank you for speaking up Claire! I think the plan is actually the best thing to come out of TRPA so far. It seems more reasonable, fair to all users, and trying to keep all sides happier. I don’t think people will take as much issue with this as anything in the past. They’ve been putting this together for a very long time, and it shows.

Nothing is perfect, but we need the best plan in place and just do it. Controls have worked in the past…look at our beautiful area. Without any sort of TRPA around we’d have high rises and development around all shores, dirty water, tacky looks and then what would have happened? No visitors, no jobs.

The inmates continue to rule the asylum.
The sow’s ear into a silk purse crowd persists because they have the faith.
And no Claire, science has proven no such thing.

The TRPA is about to pass a new Plan that will forever change the Tahoe Basin. Ski villages and high rise buildings will be the new norm. The new plan caters to the wealthy casino, Edgewood and ski industry developers and not Tahoe’s local middle class. It is not supported by science. It’s also not a sustainable economic model – check out Vail, Aspen, and see how the middle class is doing there.
Claire has personally attacked Mara Bresnick at Board meetings because Mara is trying to do her job – protect the environment that our economy relies on, rather than keep quiet and let the wealthiest rule. Same for Byron Sher. And yet THIS is the story you report on, Kae? Did you ASK either board member why they were not there? How about asking those groups that keep raising concerns about the environment why? Also, please stop encouraging Claire’s inappropriate outbursts at the Board meetings by not giving her the attention for it!

Car or bicycle. Which is the evolved one and which is the devolved one?
Zillions of species are still here from zillions of years ago. I do feel bad for the dinosaurs and saber tooth tigers though the grasshoppers and lizards seem to be surviving just fine.
Those Asian clams are taking over the beach at the Truckee Marsh. Now that is evolution and adaptability.

WQ

What is your definition of swill?

Kathryn Reed’s article was excellent.

Claire Fortier’s comments regarding political appointees who don’t do their jobs was refreshing.

Let the locals rule themselves. They know best what needs to be done.

I consider myself a dyed in the wool environmentalist. I have spent most of my last 15 years trying to engage businesses to do their part to improve our environment and improve the conditions of our communities for the very middle class and working people mentioned above. This debate highlights what is an increasingly widening divide between old school environmentalism, anchored in ‘command and control’ and regulatory policy to achieve its ends, and a new school that seeks to change the on-the-ground behaviors and practices that actually damage our environment by harnessing market forces.

For all the benefit regulation has brought–and make no mistake regulation coupled with more than $1.6 billion in public investment, is responsible for much of the improvement at the Lake in the last 20 years–it is at best a holding action, merely slowing the rate of decline, or maintaining stasis in environmental conditions.

For the environmental and community conditions at the Lake to actually restore the resource, we are going to need a lot more investment. Investment in things like public transportation, fair and achievable housing for working families, good jobs, new technologies, energy efficiency (or zero net energy) and renewables, adaptation to a changing climate, and replacing antiquated infrastructure. The financial resources necessary to create a SOLUTION on the ground cannot come solely from the public sector; private capital needs to be a partner.

I am saddened by the fact that our local Sierra Club leadership does seem to understand this dynamic. They seem stuck in a 1987 mindset, kind of a Tahoe version of Groundhog Day, where there is no connection between ecology, economy and people. By not understanding this they are actually removing a tool from their kit, and acting against the long term best interest of Lake Tahoe’s environmental resources.

In the end, environmental improvement comes when you can harness the good will and personal actions of the tens of thousands of people living in the region and simultaneously raise the standards applied to the investment of capital in a region. Sure government plays a role, but time and again history proves the most environmentally advanced regions are the ones where capital partners with government to act differently. All one has to do is look to Vancouver BC, Copenhagen, Portland, and Seattle, they are making real progress partnering with capital investors. What makes Tahoe different?

Byron Sher, Mara Bresnick and the local Sierra Clubs needs to wake up and break the clock–we don’t want to hear another rendition of “I got You Babe”. It is the 21st Century and we want REAL progress.

“Science has proven we can fix the environment.” Hmmmm. I think “mitigate the damage” is more accurate. It seems BMP’s are presented as some miracle solution that justifies unlimited development.

Well clearly I think that rebuilding out Tahoe infrastructure (and by infrastructure I mean almost all of our built environment over the next 50 years–which is doable since the average home lasts about 50 years and average commercial building about 35 years in California) and incorporating new design and technology elements.

Do a Google search for “bright green environmentalism” and take a look at the theories and approaches you find. I think the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense and Architecture for Humanity may be the best known national organizations in the new school. Regionally Sustainable Conservation, Rocky Mountain Institute, Sonoran Institute, Sustainable Northwest are some working outside our region. IN the Sierra the organization I work for, Sierra Business Council, is probably the best example, but the Sierra Green Building Association, perhaps even the Lake Tahoe Sustainability Collaborative (although I doubt they are that aware of the ‘bright green’ framing).