Driving into Lake County on Highway 20 from the east looms a proud proclamation, “Clearlake Oaks, Gateway to Clear Lake.”
It”s an inviting sign meant to welcome travelers passing through as well as those who come to recreate and enjoy our uniquely beautiful lake, charming communities, our wineries, resorts and other businesses that dot the landscape.
Building an inviting image for all of Lake County is important. Part of that involves building an atmosphere of personal safety. When people walk our streets or drive by our communities, they should be greeted with a peaceful imagery of crime-safe communities. Sadly, that is not always the case.
The reality is we live among crime. For far too long, our county has been tainted with negative opinions about the criminal element here. We need to change that with a strong symbol.
So what can we do to keep our communities safe for visitors and residents and, in turn, begin the process of changing our image? Build of a fence, a barrier of protection against crime.
You might ask, what would that fence look like? For many of us who live and work in and near Clearlake Oaks, including Spring Valley and other rural areas, that fence, a key crime barrier against crime, was to be a sheriff”s sub-station.
We are miles from the Lake County Sheriff”s Office headquarters in Lakeport and the nearest substation in Lucerne. And, we are the first image for people passing through our county from the east.
The sheriff”s substation was promised to us by the Sheriff and supported by our former county administrator. Now, we”re being told there will be no sheriff”s sub-station in Clearlake Oaks. That”s just not acceptable. We”ve been fortunate to have a very good county supervisor, Denise Rushing.
She brought us Clarks Island, supported the removal of blighted buildings and keeps constant vigilance over our natural resources. We know she”ll fight for our northshore communities; she always has. But it takes a majority of votes on the Board of Supervisors to approve the spending initiative needed to bring a sheriff”s substation to Clearlake Oaks.
Each member of the Board of Supervisors has a duty to represent all communities. It”s time to respectfully request that they do so. Join me in calling or writing them with this simple message. “The residents and businesses of Clearlake Oaks and neighboring communities implore you to authorize the expenditure of funds needed to proceed with a sheriff”s substation.”
Olga Martin Steele
Clearlake Oaks
