Steve Teshara’s contention in the January 2023 Moonshine Ink opinion piece is that the TRPA and the Prosperity Center (an unelected organization) are above public criticism.

Have they noticed Lake Tahoe hasn’t gotten any bigger? There aren’t less houses, there are more. There isn’t less traffic, there is more. Lake clarity is worse, not better. There are more invasive species in the lake, not less. 13 projects are on the books in Crystal Bay and Placer County. Yet the TRPA and the Prosperity Center promote providing more incentives for large development. Doesn’t more development in an over developed area deserve scrutiny? Teshara, Prosperity Center and TRPA have to stop treating people with constructive criticism as enemies.

Lack of affordable housing is an issue at Lake Tahoe. But allowing those that make over $400k/yr to qualify for “achievable housing deed restrictions” (an invented term) is so far from the definition of workforce or affordable housing that it is laughable. It’ not the solution. It was the public that repeatedly pointed this out to the County and TRPA. TRPA’s final response, “We are working on an update…”.
Why not invite valid criticism of major area plan amendments to big development? What are you trying to hide? No parking for multi-family developments? Kings Beach buildings up to 71’ high? Continuous building walls up to 500’ long? Single family homes/condos downtown in Kings Beach? Rv parking in public parking lots?

Bad deals try to smother criticism. Under a regulatory process that favors development will there ever be enough?. Where is the backstop?