Roundabout protest to be focused on getting county leaders to act on traffic concerns

MEYERS, Calif. - Another protest is planned at the US50 roundabout in Meyers on Friday, September 4, just as thousands of tourists flock to Lake Tahoe in a traditional weekend wrap-up of summer.

This time, the focus of the protest is on the planned 2021 pilot project of Sunday and holiday turn restrictions on North Upper Truckee and Sawmill Roads to alleviate traffic concerns in neighborhoods. Proponents of the project don't want the solution to be put off any longer and want it to start this winter since that is the season most of the issues arise, and not spring when county transportation officials want to begin the pilot.

Since the South Lake Tahoe City Council held an emergency meeting to discuss trash, over-tourism, and COVID-19 protocols after the August 14 and 16 roundabout protests, organizers of this protest hope El Dorado County officials will listen to their concerns.

"This will be a peaceful and respectful gathering of residents," said the organizers Jeffery Spencer and Tony Risso. "Please join us in our fight, and let’s get the conversation started and get some real changes made."

Risso and Spencer sent a letter to their Meyers database and are inviting all to participate on Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. They are asking participants to bring water, lawn chairs and signs.

Some of their suggested signs:
· County does not hear us
· No action = No care
· Neighborhoods are NOT highways
· Waze DESTROYS neighborhoods
· Your Map App will get you STUCK
· There are NO faster routes
· Your GPS is LYING – there are NO shortcuts
· TRAFFIC - Just try to evacuate in this
· Over tourism = DANGEROUS TRAFFIC
· If YOU are sitting in traffic – YOU are the traffic

"Please do not antagonize any motorist by shouting or screaming. This is peaceful campaign. Please no harassing tactics like walking back and forth through the cross walks to intentionally cause delays. If a motorists acts inappropriately, please don’t respond back in kind," said Risso and Spencer in their letter.

They hope this protest will demonstrate that they, the citizens of the region, want and demand change. Risso and Spencer said they feel the message of letters written and comments made to the County Board of Supervisors are falling on deaf ears.

"These peaceful gatherings offer a way to spread the message, get people involved since we cannot gather together in person at a Board of Supervisors or City Council meeting, get media attention to showcase our issues, and show our elected officials that we are not going to take their non-decisions of putting off things year after year," said the solution-minded duo.