Letter to the Editor: Council candidate weighs in on contributions

As a candidate for City Council, in the city of South Lake Tahoe, I became very upset at a very disturbing text I had received on Friday concerning campaign contribution and form 460 lings.

It appears that two candidates have garnered in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in contributions, each, and mostly from out-of-state sources. Although not illegal, it seems suspect, in light of this being a local, City Council election in a small mountain town of approx. 22,000 citizens. As a 48-year resident of the South Shore, this smacks of elections past when the powers that be (Nevadans all) have attempted to express THEIR will, on the California side of South Shore and particularly the city of South Lake Tahoe. Their favorite form of expression is the use of subtlety, subterfuge, sleight of hand, in their cajoling by all the same silver-tongued devils trying to convince us, the citizens of South Lake Tahoe, that their pet projects are all in our best interests.

Examples are as follows:

A.) The Loop Road - The Nevada based Chamber of Commerce would have us believe this project would improve traffic flow and congestion in the Stateline area. But at whose expense? Oh, all the existing low income, generational housing along Moss, Fern, and Montreal roads, and, depending on the route, making Pioneer Trail the new and preferred route avoiding Highway 50 and our few remaining businesses. Let the City of South Lake Tahoe decide. Put it to the vote.

B.) Measure-S - In the era of COVID-19 with the citizens and local businesses suing, this is a bad idea on many different fronts.
1. This City Council and previous City Councils have consistently deferred funding for roads and infrastructure for over 20 years. So now they want to tax us to pay for their neglect to do their jobs. No on S.
2. As local businesses and citizens have had to tighten their belts, so should the city. Go over the budget line by line and cut, streamline, and reduce all the fat.
C.) Redistricting the Bijou Area as Tourist/Commercial - Once again the Nevada talking heads at work getting the city planning commission. Will more high rises abound? Will we have to rename the Bijou Area - say to - the High Sierra Rivera? The Palm Beach of Lake Tahoe?

Please be informed. Know who is on your side. Don’t become the next Aspen or Vail. Tahoe is my piece of heaven before I die - let's keep it that way! Please vote!

- Daniel P. Browne, Jr.