Group gathers to protest South Lake Tahoe's proposed Measure N

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An estimated 60-70 people took over the corner of Lake Tahoe Blvd. and Al Tahoe Blvd. on Saturday to protest Measure N, the proposed $6,000 vacancy tax on November's ballot.

There were new and long-time locals and second-home owners carrying signs side-by-side during the event that was organized by local business owner Erick Asbury. He also paid for the signs people carried.

"It was very positive and everyone was very happy to be out there," said Councilmember Tamara Wallace who was out on the corner with husband Duane.

Wallace said four cars went by sharing their negative opinion of why the group was out there.

South Lake Tahoe City Council candidates David Jenkins and Keith Roberts were also involved.

A citizen's initiative, Measure N would tax all homeowners in the South Lake Tahoe city limits who aren't in their homes at least 182 days a year up to $6,000 per year and the money raised would go to housing, transportation, and roads, they say. Proponents said 1,500 homes would end up coming into the rental pool from homeowners who don't want to pay the tax.

Those against the measure say it is taxation without representation since most of the second homeowners vote in their primary home's location. Also, nothing in the measure requires the City to produce a single new unit of affordable housing, or even to spend a single penny on housing affordability at all. The funds raised can be spent on litigation and administration of the measure if passed.

There are about 16,000 homes of all types in South Lake Tahoe, and the City would have to set up a process to audit each one to verify how many days the owners or renters were living there.