Now facing stiff opposition and possible indictment, after 16 years Rep. Doolittle decides to take ethics and his constituency into consideration. Frankly I find it “doolittle too late.”

Mary Hart

Truckee

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There is a proposal in front of the TRPA that would permit an increase in new buoys, piers, slips and ramps in the lake. This plan, referred to as the “shorezone plan” would negatively impact the beauty and the environment of Lake Tahoe. There has been no mitigation, noise impacts and water pollution report provided for public view. We do not know the total number of additional buoys and boats that would be permitted by the shorezone-plan. We do not know the environmental impact this plan, if adopted, would have on the lake. –

We need to implement programs that mitigate further deterioration of the scenic beauty of the lake and negative environmental impact to the lake’s water quality. The TRPA should be approving measures that are proactive to the enhancement of the lake’s environment and beauty, such as illegal buoy removal and weed eradication. Scenic areas, called “visually sensitive” areas in the proposed plan, should not be opened to new pier development. Instead, incentives should be developed to promote environmentally sensitive approaches to motor boating, while enforcing current noise standards and-the no wake zones. -If this plan is enacted without further study, we will not know the environmental impact on the lake. The scenic beauty of Lake Tahoe’s spectacular shoreline MUST be protected.

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Doug Fischer, Ph.D.

Lake Village, Nevada

This last holiday season had me questioning why I continue to live in Truckee. The level of rudeness and arrogance I observed by the visiting masses was unparalleled. Then late last Friday, I had a major power failure in my home’s fuse box. Two of my neighbors immediately came over and began to work on my problem. It soon became apparent that the problem was quite serious. The Truckee Public Utility District responded to my house and was forced to turn off the power to my residence. They stated that they would be glad to stand by while we fixed the problem so my family would not have to go without power over the weekend.

I took some of the electrical parts down to Nor-Cal Electric where the employees tried diligently to make a part that would work in my outdated system. In spite of their best efforts it was not to be. While I was standing at the counter of the Nor-Cal, the owner of Aegis Electrical overheard my conversation and volunteered to go to my house and see what he could do. After surveying my situation, he informed me that my electrical system needed a major overhaul. He said he didn’t have anybody who could work on it this weekend, but he would shift his schedule and have someone there at 8 a.m. Monday. My family and I spent the entire weekend without power and many of our neighbors offered their homes and assistance they could to make our situation better. At 8 a.m., a very competent electrician was working to restore my power in the freezing cold. He informed me that I would need a permit from the Town of Truckee prior to completing the work. I responded to the town’s office where I easily obtained a permit and was scheduled for a sign off that very same day.

Although my experience wasn’t fun in any way, my neighbors, the merchants and the Town of Truckee were compassionate and helpful in every way. To all those people, I say “thank you.” That’s when I realized why I live in this town; the local people make it a great place to live.

R.C. Fisher

Truckee

Truckee is most certainly getting over-developed, however, destroying pristine land to provide solely the residents of Tahoe Donner with a third, more “attractive route” to Northstar or downtown makes little to no sense. As it is, the residents of Tahoe Donner have two routes to choose from, one leading directly into town to Donner Pass Road, and one leading to Highway 89, allowing access to Northstar, Reno, etc.

In addition, the residents of Tahoe Donner also have easy access to Interstate 80, giving them the option of bypassing downtown traffic and a direct route to 267 and Northstar. We must also consider the great increase in traffic currently on roads shared by the residents of Gray’s Crossing, Pine Forest, the Prosser communities, and the new affordable housing in the area. This proposed road would exit directly into this congestion. Furthermore, upon the completion of Gray’s Crossing, Pine Forest and more affordable housing, this traffic will escalate even more. Running a third road parallel to Donner Pass Road seems wasteful and irresponsible both economically and environmentally. This is a bad idea all around.

Chandley Clare

Truckee