Tahoe Truckee Region Local News: Elections & Politics

On April 8, the League to Save Lake Tahoe, Sierra Nevada Alliance, and Sierra Business Council hosted the annual Sierra Day at the Capitol in Sacramento. Approximately 70 participants attended, representing over 45 organizations.

Truckee Arts Alliance, alongside several local artists, traveled to Sacramento this week to attend the California Arts and Culture Summit and participate in Arts Advocacy Day at the Capitol. These statewide events brought together artists, cultural leaders, and policymakers to elevate the importance of the arts in California's communities.

For the past nine Saturdays, downtown Truckee has been a focal point not just for shoppers and visitors, but for demonstrators taking to the streets as part of a growing national protest movement. While the gatherings have sparked passionate engagement from participants, they've also stirred frustration among some downtown business owners, who say the protests are impacting their bottom lines.

In a special city council meeting, the council heard public comment on Measure T, which previously banned vacation home rentals (VHRs) in residential neighborhoods before it was deemed unconstitutional in a recent ruling. Ultimately, the council voted 4 to 1 to not appeal the ruling and unanimously voted on a 45-day moratorium on issuing VHR permits in areas where Measure T prohibited them.

On November 5, 2024, Truckee voters approved Measure E, a general tax that will provide funding for essential services such as wildfire preparedness, transit services, environmental protection, and workforce housing.

What began as a small gathering of five people on Feb. 15 has grown into an active weekly demonstration against moves made by the current administration. By March 22, attendance had reached 115 participants—undaunted by cold weather and rain. Now, demonstrators gather every Saturday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the eagle statue off Donner Pass Road, holding signs expressing their concerns, such as, "Got ethics? You're fired. Got millions? You're hired."

After multiple unanswered invitations from South Lake Tahoe residents to a town hall and a virtual town hall of his own, representative Kevin Kiley visited the city, only to tour the high school and meet with the Chamber of Commerce privately. Two different protests and an empty town hall made frustrations with the District 3 representative abundantly clear—yet they are still unanswered.