We wish to express our appreciation and gratitude to the City Council for approving rezoning of 714 and 750 Emerald Bay Rd for disabled housing.

It was the right thing to do.

As property owner/taxpayer of this city, we have been appalled by the sight of those boarded-up cottages along Emerald Bay Road. Those are truly detrimental to the all-holy tourist industry of this town – and, apparently, nobody so far has objected to those.

The disabled citizens of this city deserve housing, and Emerald Bay Road is an excellent location for that: it is all level, close to transportation, shopping, and medical care. Newly constructed disabled housing will definitely be more attractive than those boarded-up cottages. And, after all, tourists are people who may just appreciate and respect South Lake Tahoe for taking care of our disabled citizens! Especially, since those tourists are likely to come here from cities and towns where such accessible housing for the elderly and/or, disabled already

exists.

As for the TRPA, if they approved the marina expansion (which is a potential major polluter of our environment) we expect that they would approve this housing project as – by comparison to the marina – this is definitely environmentally friendly.

For those who opposed it, I am sorry to say that they are singing that sad, uncaring old tune of NIMBY-ism: Not In My Backyard. Where is your caring, people?

Do you people realize that you, too, are only a car accident away from becoming disabled and in need of accessible, affordable housing? The disabled citizens of our community already have incredible hardships to overcome on our hilly streets, no sidewalks, icy winter walkways.

Housing is a basic human right and 18 units will hardly begin to meet that need in this town.

Thank you, City Council for your ethical and moral commitment and your courage to stand up for it.