Letter: SnowGlobe's token changes not enough

On Tuesday, April 3, 2018, the City of South Lake Tahoe will consider the permit requirements for the 2018 SnowGlobe Event. As of this writing there are no contractual changes to sound levels which were arbitrarily created the 2nd year of SnowGlobe. Given the existing sound restrictions have not been violated beyond short term peaks above 95 dB and a laughable requirement for sound to be at sustained levels for a time frame that is longer than any song played (10 minute sound restrictions for 6 minute songs), SnowGlobe would be within their rights to turn the sound up and not see so much as a fine or be asked to turn it down.

To be fair, SnowGlobe is changing the event and will attempt to mitigate sound. Like a speeding car who has seen the waiting police car, they have applied the brakes to are trying to prevent from being held accountable for their violations. They are making token changes to try and appease the complaining masses and are doing so of their own volition. The City, in the roll of the waiting police, continues to be asleep at the wheel. They neither register the violation of their own rules nor attempt to enforce them. They have handed off the need to take action to others who haven’t the authority to do anything. We can only hope they wake up in time to do what is required.

The No Globe Alliance has tried to be fair. We have asked for modest changes and asked for measurable enforceable regulations that would allow this event to continue and provide a means to relieve the impact on local residents. We have reminded the City of its obligation to follow and enforce existing regulations with the TRPA, El Dorado County and the City itself. To date we have received no acknowledgement from anyone at the City that the Bijou/Al Tahoe Community Plan even exists, that El Dorado County has noise limits or that the MOU with the TRPA requires the City to both measure and enforce these ordinances. Like a child who does not want to hear that they have homework to do, the City continues to pretend none of this exists and wants to keep playing. It is well past time for the Voting Public to recognize these childish actions and elect to play the parent, elect to enforce the rules and elect different City Council members.

We will be speaking on Tuesday about this event. We ask that anyone interested to join us an support measurable, enforceable change that is defined in the contracts and not just asked as a favor. No City can function without written defines requirements that are measurable and enforceable. The time for half measures and looking the other way is over.

Sincerely,
Scott Ramirez