To the community,

After 1.5 years of negotiations with the developer Laulima, the North Tahoe Public Utility District (NTPUD) board has voted to pursue a 70-year lease — really a sale — of our community’s  free and clear lakefront venue, North Tahoe Event Center.

The lease states that Laulima can sublet or assign to any of their other managers or members without NTPUD approval. In January 2017 Laulima Northstar LLC was formed. Wow, you know where this is going.

After the lease is signed and the community is contractually on the hook, the NTPUD will finally find out what Laulima’s plans are and if they have adequate financing. A little late there. I thought that was what they were doing for 18 months.

When asked what would happen if Laulima defaulted, NTPUD answered, “We’d get it back.” I bet the lenders on the CalNeva had the same hopes, but that isn’t how it works litigation and bankruptcy-wise.

We just got the 37 page lease Friday evening and the first public meeting is Aug. 23 at 5:30pm at the North Tahoe Event Center.

The NTPUD is fast tracking this awful scheme. Please come and voice your concerns. The final board vote to approve hasn’t happened yet.

See the lease online.

Ann Nichols, North Tahoe Preservation Alliance