Letter: Vacancy Tax - a more tailored solution

My father-in-law began working on the docks of Camp Richardson over 70 years ago in the 1950s. His family purchased a small lot with the intention of building a house on it. At that time, many of the homes in the neighborhood had not yet been constructed. Finally, in 1973, construction began, and he hired someone to frame the house before building the rest with his own two hands.

The house is modest with no frills and a leaky toilet, but I hope it can remain in the family for generations to come. However, the vacancy tax poses a threat to that. I recognize that much of the construction in the past 10 years has been for huge second homes and that there needs to be more available and affordable housing options for full-time residents. However, implementing a blanket vacancy tax without protections for smaller or older homes is misguided. There needs to be some form of protection, as otherwise, thousands of families like mine won't be able to afford the tax and may have to sell. This would not only prevent us from enjoying the beauty of Lake Tahoe but also result in the loss of the millions of dollars we contribute to bolster the local economy.

My wife's family has been visiting Tahoe for four generations, and we absolutely love it. I have a tattoo of Lake Tahoe on my arm. I even named my band "The Tahoes," after the feeling you get when you're here.

I believe the proposed vacancy tax in South Lake Tahoe is flawed. While I understand the need for more affordable housing, this proposal has several issues. Please vote no on this rushed and flawed proposal and come back with something more tailored.

Glenn Sauber,
San Rafael