Can”t believe Measure L failed
Two years ago, when the “Save the Lake” measure failed to get two-thirds of the vote I was surprised and disappointed; 63 percent of Lake County voters saw the need to do something to control our lake algae and weed problem, 37 percent did not. This recent election saw Measure L fail. My reaction is disbelief and more disbelief.
When someone asks you “Where do you live?” and you respond Lake County, aren”t you a bit embarrassed when the response is “Oh yes, we used to vacation there but the lake is so ugly now, we haven”t been back in some time.” Every person who lives in Lake County has heard that and yet, 37 percent of the voters elect to do nothing about improving our beautiful lake. That is shameful.
If you are one of the 37 percent, or one of the many that could not find the time to vote at all, then you can take pride in helping to ensure the following: virtual elimination of the tourist trade, financial hardship of resort owners, possible closure of resorts, major loss of business to all retail outlets (markets, clothing, boat rentals, boat sales, gas stations, wineries, motels, golf courses, restaurants, bait shops and real estate) a down turn in the Lake County economy and assurance that our lake will continue to be looked upon as smelly and unattractive.
I heard from many that voted “no” that they didn”t want gates at the launch ramps or didn”t trust the local politicians to actual spend the additional revenue on saving the lake. It is unfortunate that such a big issue was made by the Measure L Committee about installing gates around the lake but, to their defense, they felt the gates were the best defense against the Quagga/zebra mussel. If this mussel gets into Clear Lake, we will experience a host of problems that will dwarf the algae/weed issue.
Voters believed that to vote for Measure L would be to approve the gates … not true. The idea that the money raised from the .5 percent (one-half-of-one-percent) tax could be funneled into projects other than the Measure project is also not true.
An 11-person (volunteers from around Lake County) oversight committee was to be formed that would make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors as to where all monies would be spent. All dollars raised from Measure L must be used to address the Measure L projects only.
Regarding the gate issue, there are a number of ways to guard against a Quagga/zebra mussel infestation. The oversight committees responsibility is to review all options and make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. Based on my observations, 95 percent of the people I spoke to, or heard speak at the Measure L meetings, were adamantly opposed to the gates. In my estimation, the likelihood of gates are slim and none. The misunderstanding about the gates is a large reason why the measure failed.
This November we must try again to save our beautiful Lake. Hopefully, this time we can do something about voter apathy and misunderstanding.
— Earl Nelson, Kelseyville
