Opinion: South Tahoe looks great compared to Stateline
By JoAnn Conner
Being an elected official can be difficult. No surprise there, but sometimes our “job” blends with the fact that we are also individuals and residents of this community. As such, I have been doing a lot of reflection lately, and there are a few observations I would like to share.
I have heard repeatedly that our town, not South Shore, but the city of South Lake Tahoe is drab, dirty and stuck in the past. I have heard, primarily from outside sources, that we are not doing anything to improve our town and it is dying. Really? In the past few years, in spite of a down economy, our little town has accomplished some amazing achievements:
JoAnn Conner
• Lakeview Commons. No one can say it is not one of the most beautiful, free public access points on the entire lake.
• The Harrison Avenue project is moving forward to revitalize the business core next to Lakeview Commons, and includes more walkable and bikeable areas.
• Bike trails have been built, not just along the streets, but paths with scenic quality, and more are coming this summer, along with much needed repair.
• Sidewalks on Highway 50 from the Y to the corner of Pioneer and Highway 50, initiated by the city, are being built by Caltrans to join the sidewalks already in place near Stateline. Those sidewalks are scheduled to round the corner and proceed down Pioneer Trail to Larch Avenue, then to Ski Run Boulevard. Definite steps to a walkable and bikable community.
• In regards to transportation, the city of South Lake Tahoe, with some service club partnerships, has installed bus shelters to help protect those who travel by bus.
• Lake Tahoe Airport has received millions of dollars from the FAA because of the determination of city government to rebuild its runway and tarmac area to ready it for the return of commercial service and keep it active for private and emergency service.
• The Village Center and the Heavenly Village areas, all on the California side of the “tourist core,” have been renovated, are walkable and bikable, and provide a variety of experiences, from shopping, to ice skating, to dining outside.
• The Ski Run BID is alive and well, with help from the city and funds from the California Tahoe Conservancy. The farmers’ markets in the summer are wonderful and well attended by locals and visitors alike.
• The city has adopted its own General Plan that is consistent with goals in the TRPA Regional Plan. We do review it, and we have made progress.
• Neighborhood meetings have been established and citizens invited to participate to gain input and consensus on a variety of important issues.
• Our area plans for the Y and Stateline are being advanced to encourage local economic growth and prosperity for existing businesses within South Lake Tahoe.
• The city government continues to make storm drainage improvements throughout South Lake Tahoe, as well as funding road resurfacing and repair projects for the whole community. We know more work is needed.
• We are working on a linear park near Wildwood and Highway 50.
• Bijou Park successfully hosts several community events per year, including the upcoming Earth Day.
• We have torn down some older buildings and built affordable housing, the most recent of which, The Aspens, is due to begin construction this building season.
• Our community college has added buildings and has one of the best fire academies in the state, if not the nation. It is working toward becoming a four-year college.
• The city and Recreation JPA are working in partnership with Lake Tahoe Unified School District to repair our playing fields and build a new one this season.
• The city also partnered with the school district and gave over $225,000 for the-state-of-the-art track at the recently upgraded middle school.
• Our high school has been renovated and over $100 million was spent to create a school that is far above most in the state for education, and offers preparation for careers in the arts, work force, and professional fields.
• The city of South Lake Tahoe is working in partnership with Lake Tahoe Unified School District, El Dorado County, and state and national entities to make our schools safer for our children.
I reflected on those that say the entrance to our “tourist core” needs work, and maybe some destruction. And again, I wondered why these things are being said and by whom? In my opinion, the California side of the “tourist core” looks pretty good, especially comparatively speaking, and we have made as many, if not more, improvements than the other side of “the core.” Think about this:
• The Bottle Shop is quaint and historic, and is at least as attractive as Dart Liquor.
• The triangle parcel with 7-Eleven and the Taqueria is much more pleasing and far less offensive than the Lucky Beaver sign, according to input from many of our citizens who drive that corridor.
• Many also feel that the upgraded Holiday Inn Express is certainly more attractive than the Lakeside Inn, with its ’70s era shingle siding.
• The entire Heavenly Village and Village Center, in California, with their upgraded shops, ice skating rink, and smokeless access to a quality movie theater are, in my opinion, far more attractive than the casino area of the “tourist core” with their dated exteriors.
Some say we haven’t done anything to bring jobs or businesses to the city. We have added Grocery Outlet, Ross, DIY, T.J. Maxx, and Big 5 is coming. These all provide jobs, some above minimum wage, and while some have added a little competition to existing businesses, their existence here have added to the tax base, allowing us to do more, and have helped contain “retail leakage” with more dollars being kept in our town.
The city also helped to bring SnowGlobe here, which, like it or not, still brought a lot of revenue to our businesses. We also have some new light manufacturing.
We have done this as the city of South Lake Tahoe, not South Shore. We don’t need our neighbors permission to make improvements and they don’t need our permission to do the same. Yes, we still have work to do, but the point is we are getting it done without funding from the rest of South Shore. Stop the blame game and start fixing up your own backyard.
If you live in a part of the South Shore that wants to expand sidewalks, plant greenways, or renovate buildings, do it. If you want to build bike paths, put in recycling bins, bring better than minimum wage jobs, and replace old buildings with affordable housing, we aren’t stopping you.
I have lived in South Lake Tahoe for 32 years, raised my family here, and I am helping to raise the next generation in our town. The best accomplishments and the most significant achievements have come from respect for the work of others, helping your neighbor, and working together. Sometimes you work with your neighbors, and sometimes you’ve just got to get it done yourself.
The worst effects have been seen when property has been taken (eminent domain), jobs have been lost, families have been devastated, and people start blaming others for their problems. I believe, personally, that most of us want to work together in ways that benefit us all fairly and equally.
We are really good at working together as a community. We have seen that with fundraisers for our sick children, injured community members, and after the Angora Fire. We know how to pull together and get something positive for all.
Please stop listening to outside sources and look around for yourselves. And the next time someone tries to tell you your town looks like garbage, I hope you set them straight.
JoAnn Conner is on the South Lake Tahoe City Council.
I could not disagree with you more and am deeply saddened by your comments. Any marketing company could do a survey in the Bay Area and Sacramento and you would learn that South Lake Tahoe has a very poor image with prospective visitors. Have you read how the guide books describe SLT? It’s not good.
Here’s how Fodor’s describes SLT, “The main road into town, however, shows less attractive features: a mix of older motels, strip malls, and low-rise prefab-looking buildings that line both sides of U.S. 50. Though there are plenty of places to stay, we haven’t recommended many because they’re not top choices. The small city’s saving grace is its convenient location and bevy of services, as well as its gorgeous lake views.”
That poor image impacts all businesses and employees here negatively. Please take a trip to Whistler and Santa Fe and look at what a nice vacation destination looks like. Yes, SLT has some success stories and there is no doubt things are improving. That said, SLT may not “look like garbage” but it does look like a city with run down motels, no signage ordinance enforcement and abandoned properties that are allowed to remain forever.
If someone says, “South Lake Tahoe looks like garbage” responding with “no it doesn’t” does not change their mind. I live here and when I drive from the Y to Stateline I would give it an honest grade of C- as far as its appearance goes.
I hope the fact that you have lived here for 35 years is not making you believe that the poor physical state of much of our city is normal or acceptable. I hope the rest of our Councilmembers are not satisfied with SLT’s current physical state. You think you are helping businesses in SLT but in fact you are hurting the businesses here by not having the vision of what SLT can become.
Two more thoughts. Your comparison to Stateline is misguided for 2 reasons. SLT should be striving for greatness not just being better than our neighbor. And secondly, why would you ever write something so offensive to the residents of Stateline and the people trying to improve their city? I am sure they love their city and are doing the best job they can. Stateline is not our enemy. As an elected member of our City Council I would hope in the future your comments are significantly more neighborly and professional.
Nice that LakeTahoeNews.net provides a medium like this to express ourselves. Better than nice, it is AWESOME! At least this urban battleground looks better than around 6 years ago, but did it ever look worse? Hopefully Joanne’s comment about cleaning one’s own lot and getting along with neighbors has some meat to it. We should be careful about valuing projects/hopeful assets by how much $s were spent on em. Throwing good $s after bad $s can be more compromising than we will like to admit.
I’m one of the ones who occasionally critiques the aesthetics of SLT. I agree with parts of what both JoAnn and Paul say, but don’t think it’s quite as extreme as either present here.
I love SLT, it’s my favorite place to visit, and even after years of coming there it doesn’t get old for me. That only makes me want to see it improve further – not to trash it as inadequate, but to see it fulfill its potential for both visitors and residents alike. I’ve actually begun to notice some improvements along 50 this year, but they’re still moving kind of slowly. The Caltrans road work and Lakeview Commons are good starts.
I’ve been to many of the better resort towns – Aspen, Whistler, Banff, Vail, Breckenridge, Jackson Hole, Taos, Telluride, etc.
Aspen, Whistler and Vail seem to me like overly pristine little villages plopped down in beautiful settings. The aspect of those places in SLT is Heavenly Village – which is great to have, but doesn’t need to be duplicated throughout the town. Just finishing it off in the Hole area and with the new Edgewood development would round off that area nicely.
Breckenridge and Telluride might be better models for future refurbishing in other parts of SLT, such as along 50 south of Ski Run, and in the motel row along 50 north of Ski Run. Those Colorado towns are both rather rustic and maintain a sense of mountain architecture and feel – but are well maintained and not shabby, with nice but subtle signage. Telluride has its historic core, and the Mountain Village newer resort area (similar to Heavenly Village but much larger) above it on a bluff reached by Gondola. It’s one of the most spectacular settings I’ve ever seen, on par with Tahoe.
The one main difference I note between those places and SLT is the street pattern. None of those others have a large intrusive state highway cutting through the heart of town like 50 in South Lake. I think that’s a crux of the problem in why the appearance to visitors is so different between these other resort towns and SLT. In any of those Colorado towns or Whistler, you have narrow walkable streets and plazas in the entire town, not just in a small subsection like Heavenly Village.
To me, the aesthetic issue with SLT is that when you have such a large, fast road cutting through the heart of town, it’s forced businesses to put up large garish signs right next to the road to get passing motorists’ attention. The Colorado towns can use more attractive, smaller signs set back from the sidewalks, because the roads are 2 lane and slow, and most of the passers-by are on foot otherwise.
On top of that, you don’t have the many motels with older structures, often not so well maintained, and big old parking lots in front of them like in SLT. Instead, there are many small, attractive buildings and businesses packed together and easily explorable on foot.
Just stroll in any of those other resort towns, and you’ll notice how well things are maintained even though they may look older and classic, and the mix of vegetation, running rivers (not something SLT can just add!)and paths, and other things that make them appealing to just get out and hang around. In South Lake, you often have to drive to a large shopping center and park in a gigantic lot, then go to the stores in a U shape around them. Not the same experience for a visitor (though maybe more convenient for locals).
Another thing I noticed is that places like Breckenridge and Telluride are not filled with so many of the national chain stores and ice cream/restaurant offerings in their walkable areas – but have more local businesses that seem interesting. Keeping these types of small unique firms profitable could be the challenge in South Lake though.
Jackson Hole seems like a larger town than these, and may offer some tips for how to maintain a rustic but attractive environment more comparable to what SLT has as a starting point, which is not just a resort center, but a real working town in more ways than some of those resort destinations. It has some large four lane roads coming into town, but which give a different feel from what’s along 50 in South Lake.
Go to Google Street View and tour any of these places that have that coverage, and you can see some of these differences for yourself.
I don’t know how you resolve the issue that the large Hwy 50 running the length of the town changes its character compared to most of these other places. Getting the Core to be more like these resorts while leaving the area south of Ski Run more as the regular town seems to be the best solution, as many have come to believe. But getting the business signage along the road and buildings looking a bit more consistent would present a more appealing gateway.
I think what they’ve done along Ski Run is a better model for the rest of 50 south of there than the Core area, which is a fancier resort destination appearance and good to have in the Core but not needed all over town.
I’m not saying this is cheap or easily do-able, but just what I think (as a regular visitor and advocate of the town) would make it start on the right path if it could be undertaken. And I hope they can find a better solution to making the Core walkable and the loop road issue without taking out all of those small businesses and other structures in the process.
The meaningful and necessary comparison is not between the City and Stateline. It is between South Shore and other recreational destinations.
JoAnn is pretty-much right-on. I can see and understand some of the other viewpoints….some of which I do agree with. The bottom-line for ME is that this town has been WAY too influenced…and controlled…by Stateline interests. I have a very long memory; and have been here as a permanent resident for 40 years, run my businesses here, flown in and out of our airport many hundreds of times, made this community my permanent home. I could easily have gone someplace else. If I wanted a totally up-scale experience, I’d not be here. Some tourists want that, and many do NOT.
I’ve traveled a fair amount, skied other areas, camped, fished, shopped, stayed in motels, etc.
I am not in the slightest interested in South Lake Tahoe being turned into Breckenridge, Telluride, or Vail….or Banff, etc., for that matter.
I think JoAnn has some solid good ideas. Sure we have problems, we will always have some. Right now, with the gambling being reduced here, in favor of other areas more convenient, and cheaper, such as the Indian casinos, we do need to look forward, in a tourist town, to bringing in a softer visitor. I am hopeful that the “New TRPA” will be helpful, rather than such a hindrance, to improving existing properties, making changes, etc. I am also hopeful that the City Council, as a whole, will vote what is best for the CITY, as well as being fiscally well-thought-out. Past history has shown the City Council as being inept in important areas, and, I might add, this INCLUDES the City attorneys. I could make a very long list of examples of all these things.
I see a lot of improvements, just like JoAnn does. What I don’t see enough of are unique approaches and offerings to Tourists (note the capitalized T), instead of quick food, gambling, drinking, and shopping at Heavenly Village. A much more personalized experience will greatly improve the situation for permanent residents, and, perhaps, reduce the number of unoccupied or rental “second homes” by those not living here. It could happen.
If it does, it will take a generation.
My bottom-line is that I am hopeful, but not overly, considering the past history here.
Tahoe Paul’s comments are right on target and I could not agree more.
I must add that I am distressed by Councilmember Conner’s continued arbitrary separation of the South Shore by the Stateline and her “us against them” mindset. While she references “helping your neighbor, and working together” she apparently does not recognize Douglas County as a “neighbor” as evidenced by her remark “Sometimes you work with your neighbors, and sometimes you’ve just got to get it done yourself.” We’re not painting a house here or landscaping a yard; we’re trying to build an economy that will benefit and sustain all of the residents of the South Shore community. Conner’s remarks imply exclusive selectively in the application of what is considered acceptable “neighborly” conduct but I must say I’m very glad that her Stateline separation was not the prevailing attitude when the Angora Fire occurred causing all those Nevada based fire trucks and firefighting crews to stop at the Stateline and just go back to their own Nevada neighborhoods.
I live in California but work in Nevada and wonder if Conner would want me to remind a Nevada residing co-worker that plans to go shop at a California business that there’s a separating Stateline and they’d be spending their Nevada money in California? The South Shore must be a “we” environment if we are to succeed and Douglas County should not be viewed as our enemy but rather as our ally. As in a military mindset, united we stand, divided we fall. It is my hope that Conner’s obvious lack of concern for our eastern neighbors and her need for absolute autonomy is not reflective of the remainder of South Lake Tahoe’s leadership.
Just to clarify, this opinion piece was sent in under the title: Proud of my Town.
Bob, I don’t think the whole town should be turned into a Breckenridge or Telluride. Those just have elements that are worth checking out because they are attractive and they work, for the resort part of town. The Core definitely needs something further enhanced like that and finished off, with a unique Tahoe twist, and easy access to the Lake would be part of that. To thrive, and even to survive. I don’t want the totally upscale experience throughout town either, but having a little piece of it in part doesn’t hurt.
I hear a lot of this we need “unique approaches and offerings”, but what exactly is that? Name them. I think capitalizing on the outdoors with both events (which Telluride has mastered) and ways of making it easier for visitors (I hate the word Tourists, which typically goes with scorn) to access, enjoy and be informed about them is the starting point.
Some of this is in place, and others are evolving like the good TAMBA work, but much more can be done. I don’t come up there because of the town at this point – I’ve got all I need in the Bay Area for that. But the outdoors variety there is incredible, and bringing the town and its facilities up to match that a bit more is a winning combination.
The rest of the town, from Ski Run south, would benefit from a good sprucing up but not in becoming another fancy visitor central, I agree with you on that. I look at Jackson, Wyoming coming into town on Hwy 26 from the south as it runs into 89. It is a similarly sized road to 50. It has some motels, but not one after another, and has some large open lots like 50. What it lacks that makes it more appealing is it doesn’t have sign after garish sign stuck right on the curb in your face (like SLT), and motels that are all set back and plain but with those huge bright signs, with parking lots taking up much of the visible space from the road.
I get the feeling you think of Tourists as “the other”, to be tolerated until they go away. Bad move, but maybe I’m misreading you. As a visitor, I want to enjoy the area, but also feel in some way a temporary part of the community to some extent and welcomed – but still realize that locals have a different perspective and don’t view us the same way. If not, there are other places to go that will do that.
We don’t personally come there for fancy tourist goings on, but for the outdoors paradise. That’s something the residents inherited, not anything they created. But having the improved built environment aesthetics is something residents have control over, and will attract others not so fully outdoors activity inclined who want other amenities along with the outdoors.
Yeah, it may take awhile or not evolve as well as desired, but it will benefit the locals when the economic spillovers of the visitor improvements take hold.
Conner aspires to mediocrity. Enough said.
the worst part of town is Cedar Ave. and Manzanita Ave.
right down in the tourist core
the LOOP ROAD folks have not said how they are going to fix that part of there project
all those motels were waiting for the CASH COW to arive (the convention ctr.)
when she got here she DIED on the door step
South Lake Tahoe has been the Step child of State Line since Bill and Harvey built the casinos
every time the Step child seems to be growing up it gets beat down
but I do like our Funky little Mountain Town
every one along the Blvd. should clean and maintain there frontage
snow removal on the sidwalks is a good start cleaning and repairing this summer will just make the town look better
Thank you JoAnn for sharing your opinions through LTN.
I might not agree with all your thoughts but at least I know what they are.
If I agree, I can support what you are trying to do through your position on the city council.
If I disagree, you have given me your reasons and hopefully I can point out alternative positions which might affect your thoughts.
No other council member openly chooses to express their views and we are only able to understand them when a council vote is taken.
Joanne, Shame on you. As a newly installed councilperson I hoped that you would bring new ideas and energy to our community. What a disappointment. Do you really build community spirit by comparing “your” businesses to “their” Stateline businesses? The Bottle Shop vs. Dart Liquor? Holiday Inn vs. Lakeside with its ’70s era shingle siding? Really? It is sad that you view the situation through such small and petty goggles. There is good news though: Now we know where you stand and, there is always another election coming.
Reza, if you think our high school, our college, Heavenly Village, the Village Center, and Lakeview Commons are “mediocre,” please tell us your ideas for spectacular. I’d really like to hear what you want, specifically, and maybe you could also share some ideas for resources to make it/them happen. That is always a big part of the problem – who is going to pay or do the work. Maybe there is something we have overlooked.
JoAnn Conner:
“Just to clarify, this opinion piece was sent in under the title: Proud of my Town.”
I guess an apology must be in order as I erred in consideration of the opinion piece in its entirety versus the separation of your “pride in my town” objective. Also, thank you for graciously and thoroughly itemizing the numerous accomplishments of some our local visionary citizens and the improvements already executed and those nearing execution mostly by the actions of former City Council’s to that on which you presently serve. They “got the ball rolling” so to speak and I’ll look forward to observing your visionary philosophies in building on what was already conceived along with your influence on that momentum. It is my hope that the joint SLT and EDC Recreation Master Plan on which you voted affirmatively will enjoy great success.
Thank you, 4-mer. I realize I have only been on Council three months and have only been involved in some of these decisions (although I did work on some of these in other capacities before my term on Council). I was looking to inspire some pride in what has been done, hope in what is coming, and get people to stop listening to so much negativity.
Some of you have taken me up on this, but people can always give me input by calling me at home on my landline at 544-7412.
Let’s all be aware that the headline that appears at the top of this opinion piece, “Opinion: South Tahoe Looks Great Compared To Stateline” comes from the logcabinLiberTarianNews editor.
I’m not sure what a logcabinLiberTarianNews editor is, but I guess it’s some childish name calling I’m supposed to be offended by. It didn’t work.
Just to set the record straight. News outlets rarely use a headline that comes with a column. Most don’t say anything; another reason is because many columns go to multiple media organizations so we all want to have something original in the headline; and sometimes space is a consideration.
And in this particular case, the writer was telephoned two days ago to be told what the proposed headline was to see if she was OK with it. She never returned the call.
Kathryn Reed, LTN publisher
What number did you call, Kae, because I never got a call asking if this headline was ok. I would have said no, that it did not reflect the intent of the piece. My active numbers are 544-7412 and 318-6090 and my email works. I have never ignored you before; wish you would have seen that as a red flag that something was wrong with the communication.
SlT is geting better! Lots more work to do but progress is being made. Granted it’s slow but things are happening. Sidewalks on the way, a linear park on 50. Another neighborhood park? Cleanup of the city startng at the Y and making its way towards stateline? More jobs as more busineses open.
Caustioulsy Optimisic. OLS
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
Nice but inadequate try. Who says you can’t put lipstick on a pig?
Hey Bob,
Just curious, but do you regard second home owners as an undesirable brand of tourist, that we’d be better off without? I’m one of those, and don’t see right away how my visits there, and deposits to Heavenly, various restaurants, the people I enjoy and try to please, and anything else I do there, are dragging down your home town. Do all locals there really want the tourists to all go away? Think about it a bit and be careful of what you wish for. Be unwelcoming, and you’ll get your wish.
My first reaction to the headline was that it was pitifully short sighted. Slam your immediate neighbor, to raise yourself up? You’d like to see the casinos and Edgewood vanish, really? No value to SLT in what they offer? I do like the list of positives seen in SLT. Like them a lot and full credit where credit’s due. But if South shore doesn’t act as a family effort and instead dips to rival gang activity, the outcome will be predictable.
Admin,
It seems that you have been caught in a lie and you have not responded, what’s up with that?
THe title change was an indication of your underling arrogant and spiteful nature. Then lying about it…
Well, it just confirms what many have realized about you.
South lake Tahoe is a cesspool where the crap has risen to the top and the community stench is the result.
Liberal media has helped destroy this place.
God Bless America
California can continue on it’s way to hell.
Adios Suckers!
Right on DC. Possibly the perfect storm and it ain’t fresh powder on the slopes (which we desperately need.)
One more thing JoAnn. Why did Harrah’s just import 70 poverty families to clean the hotel when unemployment is around 20% in SLT? God save the ( South Tahoe) Queen, please.
It’s Sunday–Church is open today–some of the most recent bloggers should make the best of that.
Good thing this media-medium is liberal or comments in opposition to the editor would just be blocked. Of course in some countries, someone would also be sent out to sever your head from your body.
Sam the sham and Digital content,
Okay, so you two don’t like So. Shore or our city Govt., liberals and lots of other stuff. Fine. It also seems you don’t like Lake Tahoe News. So why do you live here and why do you read LTN?
If you don’t like SLT or LTN, move away!( I hear Fresno is beautiful this time of year), and also quit reading what Kae and crew put out.
See? , simple solution . Problem solved.
I’ll even help you pack the U haul for your journey to your new perfect community off the hill. OLS
JoAnn, you’re a breath of fresh air. That being said, some of your facts are shall we say, being stretched.
Many of the accomplishments you noted took place years ago. For example, “Lake Tahoe Airport has received millions of dollars from the FAA because of the determination of city government to rebuild its runway and tarmac area to ready it for the return of commercial service and keep it active for private and emergency service.”
That took place in 2008. Since then, the only investment in the airport was from private enterprise. That private funds are being invested there is great, but it seems to be overlooked too.
It’s not about what occurred years ago, it’s about what is going to occur now.
The City of South Lake Tahoe has been it’s own worst enemy. Get city government out of the way of businesses, and you’ll see a vast improvement in the community.
Sam,
What I said was “you can put a dress and lipstick on a pig and it’s still a pig.” it was in reference to comments about how doing a facelift on 50 is not the solution to SLT’s problems.
You have hit the scene here on LTN stirring with a big spoon. You ( like digital content) seem to only point out problems from an ultra-conservative, right wing, liberal hating point of view. Doesn’t FOX news have a place for you to share your hateful diatribes with like thinking people who only want to be vocal about problems and not a part of the solutions?
Ms. Conner has shown that she is willing to listen to what the people of the town she was elected to serve have to say. (Where are Tom Davis or Hal Cole’s personal phone numbers?). She thought out her posting and did a fine job of presenting her view. Do I personally agree with all of it? No. But I do like the fact she is not afraid to voice her views in this type of media.
Talk to your compatriots on the council JoAnn. See if you can get them involved at this grass roots level. I really don’t expect they will be very open to the idea, but you can try.
Sam and DC, you guys should try to change too. Get a dress and some lipstick and go to a mirror…:-)
When someone says that the Bottle Shop is quaint and historic I lose all respect for them and probably anything else they opine on. Really, a place that has liquor, lottery and cigarette signs on it is quaint and historic? Conner, don’t know what kind of glasses you are looking through but I won’t be looking at your name in the next election you run in.
Old Long Skis and Laketoohigh,
Did you both flunk reading comprehension? Read what I wrote and try to understand through your fog of libtardism. A.B., if it wasn’t for the previous airport manager, Rick Jenkins,(sorry Rick) the airport would never have received the AIP (airport improvement program) funds for the new runway and ramp area. Rick was also responsible for the best Lake in the Sky airshows ever. This town owes him a debt of gratitude. Can’t say that for the rest of our government functionaries.
BTW Laketoohigh, where did you write regarding the lipstick pig? I couldn’t find it through my fog of hate and anger.
South Lake Tahoe is a poster child for what liberalism does to a society. You consume millions of tax payers dollars and you are still bankrupt little town.
The government and quasi government non profit agencies put you in this hole and you are too stupid to recognize it.
The country needs to see the effects of that life long liberal indoctrination from the public schools and the liberal press.
Liberal people call it hate, that is like calling the revolutionaries in the 1770s haters of the King of England – I’ll proudly wear that inference. I call it a fight for freedom.
Freedom loving Americans are watching and voting with their feet. They stay away from South Lake Tahoe and are moving away from California in droves.
California is doomed and all we can hope for now is to save the country from having to bail you out.
Sam—-Can you provide more details on the 70 families (workers?) you mentioned?
I know that 20 or so years ago the casinos were using a Federal program to hire overseas employees. The Feds paid most of the salary and the casino ended up only paying a dollar an hour or so. This Federal program hurt our local labor workers at that time.
Laketoohigh,
JoAnn is cool in that she posts her home phone number here on LTN. Call her and you can have a good conversation. She listens to what you have to say and isn’t afraid to share her opinions about the city of SLT, Past, present and into the future of our city by the the lake. She is very well informed about what’s going on around here in SLT.
Challenge to the rest of the council? Post your home phone numbers here to! Don’t blow it off council members and say we should go to one of those interminably boring meetings. I want to talk to you one on one and it will probably take more than the few minutes allowed to the public at a city council meeting.
Hal, Tom, Nancy, Angela, Brooke, you want input from the community? Let us know your phone numbers. We voted you into office so let your constituents voices be heard!
Take Care , Old Long Skiis…544 0760. There, I did it! Can you?
“South Lake Tahoe is a poster child for what liberalism does to a society. You consume millions of tax payers dollars and you are still bankrupt little town. ”
So, the collapse of the global economy was caused by liberals, not banks and insurance companies?
The decrease in gaming revenue is also not partly explained by an increase in gaming nationally?
You are either delusional, or telling lies.
Few people realize that every insurance contract and every loan document and all lending process regulation – all of it is regulated by government. If you want to sell insurance – who issues the license…? Government. Investment Securities – little more complicated but controlled in essence by GOVERNMENT.
That is why it is called Government Regulations.
So when pre-existing conditions are excluded from an insurance contract it is because the government approved it to be so. When banks loan money to people that can not pay it back, government approved it. IN fact encouraged it.
Don’t let the ‘half awares’ that post here fool ya. BIG Government and BIG corporations are conspiring to create the problems we face today…
…ask yourself this are all those corporate lobbyist out there arguing and bribing government officials for a “Fair and Level Playing field”? Of course not.
Most large banks and large corporations in general are run by Progressives, Warren Buffet, Steve Jobs, GE, Soros, Goldman Sachs, Disney, Bill Gates … the list goes on and on – they are run by progressive liberals wanting to set the rules so that you play by their terms – They are setting rules to block small competitors from competing… don’t let the libs fool ya … free enterprise is the essence of freedom – we no longer have free enterprise thereto freedom.
It is not rocket science
JoAnn,
I grew up in SLT moved back two years ago amidst nostalgia…and am not going to stay. Whether you want to hear it or not, the town looks awful and dirty. You might see improvements, but really? Who else can see such small things? Yes, they are good, but not enough. All the things you mentioned should have been in motion decades ago and pretending that it is a big deal now is too late. It looks the same as it did in the 70s, 80s, 90s, minus the Outdoorsman (a sad loss!). And then to compare it to the Stateline area with your local’s pride? Really, pride of what? We have a big pit? We have crappy roads, crummy food (with a few exceptions), and dingy hotels. Yes, the Heavenly Village is nice, but pointing out a few highlights to ignore the rest of the blight is a joke…who are you trying to fool? And you wonder who is saying things are dingy and need working on? Let me tell you, EVERYONE! I think you are the first I have run into to ever say otherwise. Perhaps it is your pride that is blinding you, but SLT is in dire need of big changes and soon. Seriously drive down Pioneer and look at the graffiti, trash spilling all over, and run down homes that are rented to 20 people at a time because cost of living here is so outrageous and tell me they look great. There is no reason for young professionals to stay, no growth, and a transient community that cannot afford to live here for long. Once old timers stop living in this blind land of everything is great in Tahoe, perhaps something positive will happen, but I doubt it.
So in summary, the government approves everything and makes the rules, even though the corporations control the government. And the only people to blame are liberals. Because they have always been in charge, even in past administrations.
Got it.
If it weren’t for the overt partisanship, inconsistency, straw men, and hyperbole, that could be considered rational.
DigitalContent is spot on:
“South Lake Tahoe is a poster child for what liberalism does to a society. You consume millions of tax payers dollars and you are still bankrupt little town.”
Maggie Thatcher once said that socialism only works until you run out of other people’s money to spend. While we’re not dealing with socialism in South Lake Tahoe, we are dealing with excessive government regulatory burdens & taxation.
Money always travels to the point of least resistance. The greater the regulatory burdens, restrictions & taxation, the less investment you will have from the private sector.
In other words, government is not the solution to our problem, government IS the problem.
The City of South Lake Tahoe would be best to encourage investment of private funds throughout the community by lowering regultory burdens and taxation. However, they just can’t seem to get out of the way of themselves. They are their own worst enemy.
I’d like to add to the discussion, but feel it is so far off topic now, it wouldn’t even make sense to the original article! lol
It appears that the CPAC clown show has let out and the babbling randreaganzombies are loose. :)
They been putting band aids on major wounds for years here, the problem is we need some major surgery but we lack the cash to have the kind operation we think will fix the cancer that never sleeps.
It’s better to be alive with scars than be complete dead.
Makes no difference how we stay alive,being alive what counts.
There’s only one South Lake Tahoe,take it for what it is.
Sam. The quote was from a post that was lost when the site’s servers went down. Sorry you missed it . You probably missed the “This explains everything” video your thought partner Digital Content posted. Yeah, post that again DC. As for being able to follow your copious verbiage, I believe I do comprehend. No, I didn’t flunk any classes while graduating *** Laude with a degree in speech communications. I cannot, however, seem to find the word “libtardism” anywhere. Then again, I didn’t look in the Redneck Dictionary.
John S warned us not to feed the troll.
Please stay on point folks.
Amazing editing LTN! If I misspell it cumluade would that be okay? ROFLMAO!!!
Tahoeadvocate,
You will find the article regarding importing poverty (70 new non-english speaking surfs and their families) from the Tahoe Daily Tribune, Jan. 23-24, 2013, page 1 and 3. The lead in states, “LTUSD enrollment sees unexpected rise.” I’ve mentioned it before but no one seems to care. Laketoohigh, allow me a good laugh with your degree in “speech communications.” I also enjoy “ad hominen” as many other commentators do.
JoAnn, where is all that TOT money from vacation rentals that wasn’t collected by the city. How many millions has the city let slip through its butter fingers. Jim Morris begged the city council to audit this malfeasance. Heads should roll, figurately speaking, over this scandal.
A little humor please. OK. Tokyo Rose in 1944 reports that the Japanese Air Force shot down 100 allied planes during a bombing raid. She immediately followed with “one of cities is missing.”
Good luck JoAnn you have plenty to work on and please don’t join the cabal.
Laketoohigh, Do you mean the video where SLT is called the Poster Child for America’s Failure?
The one about about all the bankrupted efforts that the SLT city has produced?
That video?
The video that points out what a miserable failure South Lake Tahoe government has been? The damage done to freedom and all that…
I don’t need to repost it here, it gets found online plenty on it’s own – found by people doing searches for vacations … Last I looked it had been watched over a thousand times and keeps on climbing.
Tell you what though, I’ll make another video and update it with all the new failures that the city has produced … but no need for you to watch it… it is geared towards us trolls that are interested in freedom and liberty.
AS long as the government attacks my freedom I will attack (verbally) the government. How’s that, fair enough?
That’s what freedom of speech gives us. If you don’t like it I don’t care.
I forgot, is it the government attacking your freedom, or the corporations? You claim that the corporations who ruin everything are lead by liberals…..
How many of those companies are publicly traded?
Global economics couldn’t be any more complicated, and your analysis couldn’t be more simplistic.
Any intelligent person would realize that right away and not waste their time.
“Do you mean the video where SLT is called the Poster Child for America’s Failure?…..I don’t need to repost it here, it gets found online plenty on it’s own…..”
And just like the lady in that commercial who says she’s dating a ‘French model’ she met on the internet proclaims, “You can’t post anything on the internet that isn’t true”.
Since anyone can post anything online people should exercise scrutiny in what they assume to be the truth.
As the so called ‘French model’ says—Bon-jer.
DC. If the new one has the same skull and crossbones graphics and the production values of an eighth grade project, I’m in.
Government regulations are the problem? The whole financial mess we are in right now was started with the repeal of the Glass Steagall act. I vehemently support your right to free speech. I hope you support mine. Like I have said before, positive changes will only happen when we stop thinking about how we are different and start thinking about how we are the same. That can only occur when both sides are reasonable and rational. Provide solutions to your perceived problems. Ms. Conner is trying very hard to improve things here. Not an easy task given the overall complexity of balancing the need for change and the need for environmental stability. Call her and let her know what solutions you have come up with. I am sure she will be willing to discuss them with you.
Bon jer.:-)
JoAnn, I commend you for sharing your thoughts and for your willingness to communicate with your constituents, this is the openness that will be needed going forward.
The achievements you listed (which the City should be VERY proud of) have everything to do with making South Lake Tahoe more livable, but with few exceptions are not the major activities needed to revive the Tourist Industry. The City Council and the City in general cannot be expected to revive the industry alone, which is why your “us versus them” slant and comparisons to Stateline is very disappointing. Both sides of the state divide are in rough shape and need our help.
The ability to envision a dynamic, successful tourist based economy in SLT is difficult for some but IMHO absolutely critical for you in your new position. You have taken stock in what has and is being done. Now is the time to open up and dream of what can be the future of SLT. I encourage you to work closely with your residents and others that have the ability to see and articulate this future and take that vision forward.
some brief comments:
“…for the return of commercial service…” – yes, maybe. Sustained and unsubsidized: never going to happen. It failed 9 or ten times before, and that’s not going to change. Keep the airport for private and emergency service? Heck, keep it for small commercial, like Mammoth. Maybe that will work. But the runway is now sized for 737s. Never going to happen, not in any sustained way.
Works in progress (wildwood, etc.) are not accomplishments.
The Bottle Shop? mentioning that is just a way of showing your opposition to the “Loop.”
Lakeside Commons, sidewalks, bus stop shelters, snowclearing ordinance for business frontage: all good things.
JoAnn. Please get out of your car at night and take a stroll around THE HOLE! THE HOLE IS DESTROYING EVERYTHING ON YOUR LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS… FIVE YEARS RUNNING NOW! FIX THE HOLE! Oh, and “Commercial Air Service?” Really? That pipe dream died 15 years ago.
To beenherelong enough:
Bravo! Well said. The funny thing is, while reading it, I began to wonder if I had posted that comment myself. It’s spot on.
I did move with no intention of moving back. I too was born and raised and moved back out of nostalgic values. What a mistake.
What’s ruined this community? For starters, the whole pot issue and the liberal propaganda. As if I want my children to ever think it’s okay to use. Call it what you like, it’s a drug and the entire issue of medical mairjuana has been eroded and abused. Hence Gino having so much support after what he was involved in. This is a simple example of the mindset here.
I’ve never lived anywhere else where there is such an incredible sense of entitlement. And if I have to explain…well that should speak volumes.
Perhaps the best example yet of warped liberal thinking in this town is the sugar-coating of a pedophile and his wife. (A wife that helped endanger children by helping her husband gain access to children in the parks and recs areas.) And who had her own child removed by CPS after it was revealed in Federal Court that they had their little girl send poems, letters and pictures of herself in a bathing suit (which is classified as child erotica) to a child rapist in prison. AND YET, many in this community, including the media have ignored all critical thinking and have made excuses in their own minds for her actions. And while Officer Polands dirty deeds in Federal documents were posted on these media websites, the story regarding a pedophile was swept under the rug…by the city and the media. What was reported was skewed and bias. They most certainly could have taken the same action conducting a truthful investigation, rather refusing to do so and instead injected their own warped sense of what they think happened. The media chose to ignore legal facts and acted on the word of personal friendships. That’s not journalism. That’s irresponsible and a disservice to the community. I’d be happy to provide my documentation to prove otherwise. Court transcripts don’t lie. People who engage in criminal activity do. Use your brain.
Interesting enough, the pedophiles wife blamed her husbands conviction on being framed by the local government and the feds. With the local PD having such a bad reputation, people believed it. To my surprise, Poland has said the same thing, and people believe it. He claims to be a “marked man”.
I’ve never lived anywhere where criminals can gain local sympathy simply by blaming the authorities. Another example of how incredibly stupid people here are when they fail to exercise common sense.
It’s not just the City who hides behind a veil, but many other entities who should be acting with character and for the greater good, not their own agendas. Which is often the case here.
Corruption and dirty secrets are everywhere but far worse in some places and Tahoe has a long history of corruption, black listing and low character.
This town will never get it’s act together. This town needs so much work on so many levels and the reality is this live and let live attitude is preventing the community from progress on those many levels. I agree, you can wrap this town up in a pretty bow and sprinkles on top and it’s still a cesspool for everything wrong in society.
Everytime I see voted “best of” on a business, I laugh. People don’t know what good food or what a “sound business” is in Tahoe. Their local ignorance has sheltered them from the real world. Just as the City does.
For the record, I am neither liberal or conservative. I’m comfortable somewhere in the middle and I believe in accountability and personal responsiblity. You wont find that here.
How many years are going to spent by the same people in the same forums pissing and moaning about this slum? If you have to complain daily, do yourself a favor and move on to greener pastures.
Please Aaron- read your last paragraph and by all means do yourself a favor, and take some of the other losers with you.
Aaron,
You’ve painted everyone in this community with a rather broad brush and that type of generalization is an unfair assessment, lacks credibility, and is never well received.
From the tenor of your comments you appear laden with anger and your departure from this community would likely better serve you.
Aaron,
Many valid points. Accountability and personal responsibility are key here. So is not running away. Unlike others, I believe you need to stay here and fight for your future. Hold them accountable while taking personal responsibility for your own actions. Your kids learn more from you than anything else. Don’t teach them to do anything but confront their problems head on. The grass ( no shot at the medical marijuana situation in town, which by the way is down to one store where I have not seen any problems) is not always greener on the other side. Stupid people do stupid things EVERYWHERE! Rome was not built in a day, but built it was. SLT’s problems will not go away in a day. They won’t go away at all if people with family values keep deserting. I can’t stress how important that will be in the lives of your children. And their children and theirs. If you just give up, the greedy, amoral, narcissistic, power hungry abusers win. Maintain your dignity and stand your ground. It’s for the ones you’ll leave behind.
I see a lot of what Aaron speaks of too. It can’t be hidden or swept under the rug. This town has a lot of strengths, though it’s not perfect. We need good people to fight for it, or we will be swept up in the undertow of the bad parts of the town. Many powers are at play.
Good opinion piece. I’ve known JoAnn for 20 years, and was glad to hear she is on our City Council. She is eternally positive, and not one to grouse without offering solutions. Given the chance, she will address issues head on, and give the support to get things done. She loves SLT, but she can’t be effective without community support. If other council members back her and the citizens do their part, much could be accomplished.
One of the major differences between the “ski towns” mentioned and SLT is that once on vacation in most of those other resorts, it is possible to not touch their car for the duration.
They can ski in/ski out, walk to shops and restaurants and don’t have to navigate around litter and dog poop every few steps.
SLT is much more spread out with the major employers on opposite ends of town. Most of the motels are not easy walking distance to the lifts – especially while carrying gear.
Thinking outside the box, taking Telluride’s gondola as inspiration, here are a few ideas:
1) Connect Heavenly with the lake with a gondola running from the Ski Run marina to the California Base Lodge. Ski Run Blvd can be a pedestrian mall from Paradise to Pioneer with a loop road around it. Encourage a restaurant zone with funky shops in that area.
2) Connect the Y with Stateline with another Gondola. Commuters to Barton, the Casinos and Heavenly will be able to leave their cars at home. Just a few targeted stops will allow tourists to leave their cars at their motels. Have a stop at Ski Run and 50, Al Tahoe (allowing easy transportation to LTCC), Sierra Blvd and Tahoe Keys Blvd.
3) Surrounding each stop will be spruced up with a flowering of shops, food and living spaces.
I don’t know how expensive it would be to put in such an innovative system but it would instantly transform SLT for the better. In the meantime continue to improve bike trails, etc. For example, currently we have hundreds of people walking on Pioneer Trail on their way to work and play at the Casinos. I challenge anyone in city gov’t to make that walk after a snowfall and see how quickly a new path becomes a priority. It is a tragedy waiting to happen.
Gondolas can be pretty expensive to build and operate, David, but I’ve had the thought before that stretching a short one from Heavenly Village across 50 to the Hole when it gets developed, then to the lakefront from there might be a natural too – if you did it for low fares with occasional free ride promotions. But you do have to staff those and pay for operations, so it may not be so practical. Telluride’s is fantastic though, and free to users. A few cities are exploring short gondola hops too, but from what I’ve seen they’re not cheap.
On another note, the SLT stand up paddleboard event just won praise and a #1 event in the world award from a pro paddleboarder on a live media show. This is a good harbinger of the possibilities, and will be occurring again this June. Now let’s expand that to many more events like mountain biking, kayaking, sailing, unicycle races, you name it.
Make South Shore the outdoor event capital of the western hemisphere! Get that younger demographic to flock to the lake. I’ll be up there watching this year’s SUP Lake of the Sky.