We Are Voting to Reelect Cindy Gustafson for Supervisor
Please join us in supporting Placer County Board of Supervisors member Cindy Gustafson in her reelection bid to serve the communities and residents of District 5. As a 42-year resident of Tahoe City, Cindy has an exceptional knowledge and understanding of the specific needs and issues in our Truckee/North Lake Tahoe region of Placer County. We support Cindy because she has worked tirelessly in our community to provide solutions that made our community a better place to live.
In so many prior roles, she championed parks, trails, bike paths, preservation of the environment and open space, transportation solutions, and other important projects that enhance the quality of life in Placer County.
With a background like this, it’s no wonder that she is supported so widely. Cindy’s supporters understand that what you do speaks to who you are. Effective leadership gets things done through collaboration, balance, and fairness. That is all anyone wants from their elected officials, and Cindy delivers on that time after time.
~ Theresa May Duggan, Tahoe Vista; Judy Friedman, Tahoe City; Lisa and Pat Bagan, Carnelian Bay
Wayne Nader Is Not Taking Big Money Donations
We all have a very important role to play in the Placer County District 5 Supervisor election on Nov. 5. The District 5 Supervisor is a critical elected official who determines land use, approves or denies development projects, funds communities, and appoints people to boards and councils.
I have spent hours investigating both candidates via public information sources (Placer County Elections Portal and CalAccess) to view all Form 460s. The Form 460 is a required candidate filing to clearly show all donors and special interest PAC contributions so the public can see where the campaign money is really coming from. If you do very simple research, you will find alarming results for the current District 5 Supervisor that show she is a developer-backed candidate. The incumbent’s donors want to profit off Placer County, not protect us. These findings lead to my full support of Wayne Nader.
The campaign contributions are not the only alarming issue; our current supervisor has recused herself 36 times from board votes, all Tahoe-related items, so is she really “working” for Tahoe? The answer is clearly no. If she doesn’t vote on Tahoe items, she can’t properly represent the community.
Wayne Nader’s campaign is self-funded and only has individual donors and small businesses contributing and he refuses to accept donations from developers; his goal is to protect Placer County. I commend and support his approach because it shows his willingness to do what is best for us, the people of Placer County, not outsiders and not developers or special interests who want to permanently change our way of living.
Wayne is a man of integrity with a vision we share and the experience we trust. Please help to protect Placer County and vote for Wayne Nader.
~ Mike Gardner, Homewood
Proud to Support David Diamond
I am proud to support David Diamond for a second term on the Truckee Tahoe Airport District (TTAD) Board. Here’s why: David takes his responsibility to our community seriously. Although we serve different agencies, he consistently reminds his fellow elected officials that we serve the same constituents and must work together to strengthen our community. I couldn’t agree more.
That is why David, Christa Finn, and I founded what is now the Climate Transformation Alliance. This coalition of agencies, businesses, and non-profits are working together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our region.
David also co-chaired Truckee Fire’s Measure T campaign, which now generates $3.7 million annually for wildfire mitigation — another local climate concern David recognizes.
What stands out to me about David is his willingness to work across jurisdictions when it benefits the community. For example, David secured unanimous support from his fellow airport board members to allocate $2 million of TTAD’s property tax revenue to create a wildfire mitigation partnership between Truckee Fire, Northstar Fire, Olympic Valley Fire, and North Tahoe Fire. This visionary collaboration is already making a difference for the residents of our region.
David’s leadership and community impact are unparalleled. He is a trusted friend and dedicated public servant. I can think of no one better suited to continue serving on the TTAD Board. Please join me in supporting David Diamond for a second term on the Truckee Tahoe Airport District Board.
~ Anna Klovstad, Town of Truckee Councilmember, Truckee
Time for New Blood on the ASCWD Board
Two new board members of the Alpine Springs County Water District will be elected this November. We are grateful that two exceptionally well-qualified Alpine Meadows residents have stepped forward and are candidates for the openings on the board. Albert (Bert) Clement and Robert (Bob) Tetrault are experienced executives who will bring accounting and engineering expertise to the board. They are both long-term residents of Alpine Meadows and understand our community and the critical issue of fire protection.
The ASCWD is the legal entity that determines how fire protection services in Alpine Meadows are provided. Alpine is an area of high fire risk and effective fire protection is of the utmost importance.
We are a group of Alpine Meadows residents who have been involved for many years in efforts to reduce our fire risk. Part of risk reduction is assuring the availability of needed fire protection services for our community. We are confident that Bert and Bob will help bring about solutions to the pressing needs of our community, including the area of fire protection.
We hope that you will join us in electing Bert and Bob in November.
~ John Moise, Andrew Pitcairn, Dawn Grass, Dave Lane, Jason Mack, Steve Siig; Alpine Meadows
David Diamond Focuses on Community
I am supporting David Diamond for re-election to the airport board because I trust him to focus on what matters most for our community. David and I first spoke during his run for election in 2020. He had ideas about wildfire mitigation that he wanted to run by me. It impressed me that someone running for the airport board would be concerned about working to reduce the threat of wildfire in our region, but this was important to him. Later, he co-chaired the campaign to pass Measure T, which is today generating nearly $4 million for wildfire mitigation efforts in Truckee. David worked very hard to pass that measure, then he secured another $2 million for a new wildfire mitigation partnership between Truckee Fire, Northstar Fire, Olympic Valley Fire, and North Tahoe Fire. That money came from existing airport tax revenue.
David often speaks about how our various government agencies should be working together for the benefit of their shared constituents. And more than just speak about it, he’s making it happen.
Please join me in making sure David is reelected to the Truckee Tahoe Airport District Board.
~ Bill Seline, former Truckee Fire Protection District chief, Truckee
I Support Darzynkiewicz for TFHD Board
I have decided to endorse Dr. Rob Darzynkiewicz in the TFHD race for the following reasons. Rob and Kristi have been lifelong friends and members of this community for over 20 years. Rob is a respected physician, coach, leader, and businessman in the health care sector. During the Covid pandemic, Rob personally assisted me with community driven data and advice, sage navigational fidelity in the most trying of times. I seldom endorse candidates, but Rob’s commitment to this community, our health and well-being, along with his acumen as a physician and leader, makes him the top choice. Please join me in endorsing Rob and contributing to his campaign.
~ Hardy Bullock, Nevada County District 5 Supervisor, Truckee
David Diamond Believes in Empowering People
From the moment I met David Diamond it was clear to me that he represented the Truckee spirit of “we” above “I.” David intuitively understands that Truckee is more than a patchwork of neighborhoods and individuals enjoying the outdoors; he sees the common aspirations that we all share for pursuing education, building meaningful career paths for our young people here at home, and creating a thriving and sustainable local economy. David understands that while we share similar hopes for our local families, not everyone begins with the same support, so he’s committed to using his position on the airport board to open career pathways to all of our community members.
The Truckee Airport has become one of our region’s most vibrant community hubs, and we need board leaders like David who are committed to expanding the airport’s partnerships with other civic organizations and assets. Rather than a stand-alone entity, David sees the airport’s potential for empowering everyone in our community through education, economic development, and career development programming. David inspires me to become a better leader, and I fully support his airport board reelection.
~ Craig Rowe, Kings Beach
In response to Stop Olympic Valley “Noise” in the September print edition.
Shocking That It Was Approved
It’s amazing that this has gone on this way. Yes, Alterra owns the property. Yes, it needs improvements. But this plan when the community is adamantly opposed to the scope and scale? How on earth the members of the planning commission could pass this is unfathomable.
~ Carrie Goldsworthy, Truckee, via Facebook
In response to Bully in the Legislature in the September print edition.
Congress Needs to Act
I don’t understand how social media sites using copyrighted work for free to generate income constitutes “fair use.” The business model of Google, Facebook, et al depends on using copyrighted content to generate ad revenue. No content, no revenue. Congress needs to update the copyright act for the 21st century. In the meantime, maybe the courts can take another look. This might be a situation in which the conservatives on the SCOTUS might actually do the right thing, as I suspect they might be more sympathetic to traditional media — i.e., newspapers and magazines — than to social media.
~ Jack Kashtan, Donner Lake, via website
In response to Planning Commission Approves Palisades Tahoe Development Without the Water Park published online Sept. 12
Smoke and Mirrors
They claim they have eliminated the water park, but the building will still be the same size and they don’t know what they are going to put inside? Sounds like smoke and mirrors to me.
~ Justin Stout, Truckee, via Facebook
Disaster in the Making
A project overwhelmingly opposed by those who live here. All they see are $$$ and screw everyone else. This is a disaster in the making!
~ Jolyn Heykes, Carnelian Bay, via Facebook
In response to Tesla Semi Fire Closed I-80 for 12 Hours published online Aug. 23.
We Need Solutions to Put Out Battery Fires
Intoxicated drivers suck, and so do toxic batteries. That day I had to drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Highway 20 through Nevada City. Can you imagine living near a toxic battery burnout? What if that happened in a densely populated area? Definitely hoping for a viable saline battery alternative soon. We can do better. Maybe we start by carrying fire extinguishers/suppression devices? My next, less realistic wish is that the electric battery guy would narrow his focus to detoxing his batteries and producing vehicles and satellites.
~Carina Cutler, Kings Beach, via Facebook
Why Is This Worse than Regular Car Fires?
Is it electric vehicles, the brand, the CEO, or their customers that inflame people? A gas car with a drunk driver started a wildfire, but apparently this deserves more attention.
~ Eli Meyer, Kings Beach, via Facebook
In response to A Library for All: Listening to Youth in Our Community Planning in the September print edition.
Gaming Is a Great Way to Reach New Patrons
As a librarian I think this is great! Public libraries should offer something for everyone. Gamifying a library is something that is becoming more and more popular, and while perhaps the gaming shouldn’t be available 24/7, special events, competitions, and contests using the gaming devices could be a fabulous way to reach patrons that wouldn’t normally visit the library. Combine a video game with the book it was based on; enjoy fantasy games such as Baldur’s Gate? Pair it with a game/book club where you come in and read a chapter together and then game for an hour. There’s so many amazing programming opportunities that can be combined with gaming.
~ Haley Canyon, Oman, via Facebook
Gaming is a Good Idea with Proper Design
Asking the questions early and defining the use is key to ensuring proper design considerations are taken into account. It’s not too much different than designing a home — the kids rec room doesn’t typically back up to the master bedroom.
Great work in asking what is desired, not just assuming. I personally use a library to take out books and sometimes for a quiet office space, but I am only one [person]. So great to see kids sharing their voices as this wonderful new space develops.
~ Jen Trombetta, Truckee, via Facebook
