No eyesores
I am writing because I am concerned about the possible approval of a Major Use permit that would allow the construction of a 9,000+ sq ft Dollar General store at Point Lakeview Rd and Soda Bay Rd. And, because this proposed construction is not a good fit for our area.
The corner of Point Lake View Rd. and Soda Bay Rd unites two very scenic corridors that have already been recognized as such by our county officials. (see attached) These scenic areas of Lake County are dotted with resorts, campgrounds, single-family homes and small businesses that support tourism. It is an area often featured in local tourism promotions by the County Chamber of Commerce, the County-supported CTA events, Sunset Magazine the San Francisco Chronicle and many local photographers and artists. We have some of the most beautiful views of Clear Lake and the surrounding mountains.
The juncture of this intersection is used daily by not only the Clear Lake Riviera residents in their daily commute to school, work and recreation, but is the access way to the closest public bus stops, school bus routes, bicyclists and pedestrian routes. Additional folks from the outlying Riviera locales also travel this way en route to business, pleasure trips and employment. In our area children still walk to school (sometimes unaccompanied by an adult), local residents walk their dogs along these roads, cycle and run -not only to enjoy the scenic beauty but for health benefits as well — and moved here in the pursuit of doing so.
Dollar General, a large national chain, box store with bright yellow and black signs whose size requires this application for a Major Use permit because it exceeds not only he current building size on that property (4,000 sq ft) by double, but it exceeds and does not adhere to the guidelines established by local citizens and government representatives who created the County General Plan, the Riviera Area Plan and/or the Clear Lake Riviera CC&R’s. (See attached cited sections).
Lastly, this proposed site is located in the heart of our rural, community neighborhood with homes above and on the sides of the proposed site whose views (which cost more in order to obtain) will be irrevocably changed by the obstruction of night lighting, taller structure, noise increase and ill-fitting design. If this construction is allowed, we will all suffer a reduction in the quality of life we pursued in choosing to live here. A Dollar General Store just does not fit in the Clear Lake Riviera residential neighborhood!
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Nuckols, Clear Lake Riviera
Wrong again
Mac managed to pick out just the parts of the situation to make his point (RB 2-17). The Steinle family did sue the City of San Francisco for the wrongful death of their daughter. The Federal judge determined that the city could not be held accountable for the death. If being a sanctuary city was against the law then the judge would have decided otherwise. So Mac, Mayors are not in violation of the law. You have no case. Being a sanctuary city means that you don’t co-operate with the federal government concerning illegal immigrants. As the killer of Ms. Steinle was deported by ICE four times previously, the efficacy of deportation appears to be very limited.
Kevin Bracken, Kelseyville
Economic dishonesty
One of the unusual aspects of Trump’s economic plans and statements is the lack of comment from economists. Economists have been saying for over 20 years that the United States has a “mature economy.”
In a mature economy services, not manufacturing, produce good jobs. The reason is simple: working in a manufacturing facility doesn’t require much training. Therefore, these jobs can be shipped overseas where a company can take advantage of lower wages and low, if any, employee benefits, such as medical insurance. Overseas production benefits the consumer by keeping prices low.
Trump advocates bringing these jobs back to the U.S. The result will be either a huge increase in consumer prices or the reduction in wages for the workers in these industries, reduction to third-world levels. (This argument doesn’t even mention the displacement of workers in industry caused by robots.)
A service economy demands an educated workforce for high wages. The alternative is to work in a place like MacDonald’s where wages are very low. Or to put it another way, compare the annual salary of a doctor, lawyer, engineer, and so forth with the annual salary of, say, an associate in WalMart.
Trump has not been honest with the American working man or the consumer. The only way that a person will be able to have a good job in the 21st century is to become educated, the more, the better. Bringing back industrial jobs like sheet-steel manufacturing will be disastrous for both the economy and the American worker!
Charles Moton, Lucerne
