Keep Looking at Warts and All
I read your ‘Editor’s Box’ in the last Moonshine Ink (Vin. 6/Nip 3), and I sympathize with you. Over the last six years or so I have submitted a number of articles to local papers and frequently I have been accused by various Pollyannas of being too negative about the quality of life in the Tahoe Basin and on my views regarding undesirable conditions that need to be corrected. I have come to believe my critics are afflicted with ‘tunnel vision’ – in many cases based on personal financial and egotistical agendas.
My personal beliefs that have been challenged include:
1. That the Tahoe Basin (and Truckee) have been blessed with a fabulous quality of life that is being destroyed by the belief that the economic survival of the region is solely dependent on the growth of recreational tourism and second-home ownership.
2. That the trend to encourage national and international corporate ownership of local businesses is a critical element in the undesirable social restructuring of the region.
3. That the political and bureaucratic stewards of the region are, either literally or figuratively, in the pockets of the development and real estate interests.
4. That if we do not identify and publicize the imperfections of our society and environs, we will never have the opportunity to correct them.
I encourage you to not be deterred from reporting the inequities in our social, economic and environmental communities. I firmly believe that it is the responsibility of all local newspapers to report (and editorialize) the full scope of the events and conditions in the community. As you well know, this requires ‘investigative reporting,’ something that is rare in our region. I applaud the position you have taken, and I encourage you not to be disheartened.
~ Myron (Mike) Hawkins, Tahoe City
Father Says Thank You
Thank you for a wonderful article about Coogan Kelly (Vin. 6/Nip 3). I always told him that life was about balance – he always went about things at such full throttle. I never knew if he really heard me until now. It gives me great peace that he thought love was the basis of life’s import. Coogan could not have received such great love without giving it. I am a Christian, although most times am not very good at it. His words are so wonderful for a father to read.
~ Bill Kelly, Coogan’s Dad
Homewood Development is a Bad Idea
First I want to thank you for the wonderful service that Moonshine Ink is bringing to our greater Truckee-Tahoe community. I love the bilingual feature, a feature that should be followed throughout California.
I would like to comment briefly on how much I oppose the Homewood Development plan. Such a massive enterprise will have a negative impact on the West shore, specifically on the Lake. It will generate greater traffic on the already impacted Highway 89 leading to safety issues as well as environmental ones. Such large developments are simply perpetuating an old-school thought that ‘big is good and development is good for the economy.’ This is simply untrue in every instance. At a time of a declining economy (especially the housing market), a continuing illegal war with no end in sight, massive foreign indebtedness, and a massive gap between the wealthy few and large declining middle class, more development seems so totally illogical.
Thank you again for you interesting and informative publication.
~ Richard Livingston, Tahoe Pines
Honest Reviews & Observations
I recently read your article about the ‘Buckhorn Grill’ (Vin. 6/Nip 2), and there are some points I would like to touch base on. First, I would like to let you know how wonderful the owners and staff are, as well as their variety of food choices.
Secondly, I think it’s great that Moonshine Ink has a ‘critic’ section, and it’s highly refreshing to read a variety of opinions and observations. I do think constructive criticism is wonderful; however, I feel the writer’s review could have been a bit more sociably acceptable so that the subjects of review may in fact learn from the constructive criticism and hopefully not be offended.
Looking forward to more of your reviews!!
~ Jim Matheis, Truckee
Moonshine Ink encourages submissions for The Spout, our editorial section: Send in letters and comments to editors @moonshineink.com or respond online. Please keep letters to 300 words. If writing a My Shot, contact us about space availability.
