Lake County”s economy is dependent on tourism, everybody knows that. However, when the lake is smelly and green nobody will come and put their boat in it.
If you spend any time in the bay area (as I do), you know “Clear” lake is the butt of many jokes. Articles appear in various publications warning travelers to avoid Clearlake. So what are we going to do about it? Nothing? Just continue to endure the terrible stench and the resulting damage to our economy?
Ask any motel owner in the county and they will tell you that cancellations are up and reservations are down. We”ve already seen restaurants and other businesses fail as result of losing visitors to the county. Our economy is in the throes of a death spiral and it”s only getting worse.
Voting no on Proposition S will ensure further damage our economy. Property values will be begin to drop and businesses will continue to fail as more jobs are lost. Do we really want to see this happen?
To the “No new taxes” gentleman who wrote that one penny for every two dollars he spends is too much to pay to save the lake I offer this advice: Save up those pennies and buy yourself a gas mask. You”re going to need one.
Steven MacDonald, Kelseyville
