He for one will never vote for another sales tax increase
“L” falls short of a majority and Chuck Leonard faults the system.
The sales tax increase failed by 3 percent and Leonard is complaining about it. He claims that it was because of low voter turnout, even though low voter turnout is generally what is wanted when a tax increase is placed on the ballot. After all it is much easier to rally your troops when you don”t have as much competition. He says that a lot of people were for it but they weren”t motivated to vote. Who was? You had twiddle dee and twiddle dum running for governor on the Democratic side of the ballot. Nothing on the Republican side of the ballot. So who was motivated to vote? If the Committee to Approve Road Repairs, CARR, really wanted to win they should have worked harder. A small turnout worked in their favor, not against them. Now he says they may try again on the November ballot. I predict an even bigger lose with a larger turnout of voters. Let”s face the fact, Mr. Leonard. The people are tired of ever higher taxes. An 8.25 percent sales tax is ridiculous and I for one will never vote for it.
Douglas Carlson
Clearlake
Infrastructure needs should come before animal shelter
Puppy Palace? I can hardly believe the article in the Wednesday, June 7 Observer American, $2 million for an animal care and control facility! To add insult to injury our county BOS voted unanimously to “award” $285,500 to architects to design it; yes, that certainly is an award. There are plenty of nice homes in the Marin Headlands to be had for $2 million and they come with a view and pool. Lets get a grip, folks, there are more important things to spend our tax dollars on than consultants and pork barrel projects like this one.
With urban sprawl breathing down our necks, this is nothing short of ridiculous behavior from our politicians to even entertain the idea. The local infrastructure needs should come first, but I am sure when we need to upgrade or repair that our BOS will hire a consultant and propose a bond measure to cover the costs. Animal Care and Control needs to address the dog and cat population problems in the county first, by either education or enforcement. Then and only then would I support construction of a facility that would be the same size of the present with room for expansion. We don”t need a “5 star kennel;” steel buildings are only about $15 a square foot before interior finish. The $285,500 wasted on consultants could be spent on construction.
Kristin Dugan
Clearlake
New tasting room is okay. But a winery? No way!
Lake County”s elected legislators are considering a proposal by the Shannon Ridge Winery & Agricultural Farm Center to develop a winery and processing facility , a 15,000 case bottling facility, an equipment storage with repair facilities, offices, a wine tasting room and event center on 4.6 acres on the corner of State Route 20 and Sulpher Bank Drive.
This parcel is zoned C2 9 only the tasting room and events center qualify. Wineries are not, yet they”re asking to allow one and to maintain the C2 status! Due to pollutants, gases from the fermenting wine, noises associated with the bottling and transportation operations, etc. they”re required to locate in an Agriculture and/or Industrial district. Isn”t that the purpose of the various well thought out zoning regulations? The entire winery should be located on their vineyard property, where it is properly zoned to be, and ought to be!
More importantly, the site is bounded on three sides by residential property. The East: Lake Village Estates (a 100-plus unit, gated, “Senior Citizens Only” housing); the south and west by the 32-year old Orchard Shores Homeowners Association (150 homes, mostly retired senior citizens, many with respiratory diseases and/or other maladies). Twenty-two would have the proposed Winery actually in their back yards! (Their lot-lines abut the project lines.)
Shouldn”t there be a law against the county reassigning zonings arbitrarily and unilaterally without a vote of the people? That”s a “Bait and Switch,” isn”t it? We think they”re betraying a trust by even considering the request. They should be obligated to comply with existing regulations. We are!
Let us live our “Golden Years” peacefully and quietly, as planned. Is that asking too much?
Don”t let them do this to us!
Bob Hook
Clearlake Oaks
