In Response to Mountain Plans

Often when people are angered or frightened, blame may be the only response they are able to muster. I can truly understand this but am hoping that something more positive may eventually be found. Following the announcement at June Mountain last week, there has been much blame issued, much finger pointing and much anger in June Lake regarding the Mountain’s operating schedule for the 2006-2007 season. There is clearly no doubt in anyone’s mind that June Mountain’s employees are the real victims of this decision, but corporate “bottom line thinking” seldom takes into consideration the needs of its employees and the local economy when it comes to making money. While for the first time in many years the Mountain has enjoyed several seasons of profitable operation, in the corporate mind you can never have enough “profit.” Some of the aforementioned blame and finger pointing has been aimed directly at the June Lake Advocates. This not only saddens me but is inflammatory and inappropriate. The JLA had no influence or input into the decision made by Starwood. In an odd sort of way it’s flattering and surprising to find that some people actually believe we have that kind of power. Could this be a ploy to initiate a “blame-game” strategy to further divide our small community? Could this possibly be a threat that if June Lake does not get in line with the corporate plan, they will in fact shut the Mountain down for good? Who knows?? But I promise you none of this is the June Lake Advocates doing.

Someone recently asked me “why couldn’t the JLA just have ignored the whole thing and let Intrawest do what they wanted to do in the first place? Then none of this would be happening now.” Well, the short answer is that we couldn’t ignore it. The June Lake Advocates is a group of 528 residents, property owners and friends of June Lake who have banded together to watch over future development on the Loop. We have never said that we want no development in June Lake. Remember our mantra “We’re not saying NO, we’re only saying HOW.” We simply seek to ensure that any future development is done in a sensible manner and does not harm June Lake’s beautiful and unique environment; additionally, we want a clear and accurate study of our water situation as we believe that all development will hinge on water availability findings; and thirdly, we respectfully request that the voice of the overwhelming majority of those same June Lake residents and property owners be heard by the decision-making bodies of Mono County. This voice of the majority was stated loudly and clearly in a survey sent out prior to the JLA’s existence. Neither Intrawest nor Starwood has ever expressed an interest in these surveys.

June Lake business owners feel they have been betrayed by this announcement; however, a look back over many years clearly indicates that while June Mountain is now making a profit, it has never been particularly successful during midweek operation. The costs directly related to skiing, food and housing during ski vacations generally prohibit discretionary spending for most families. Additionally, I believe that our local businesses suffer owing to the fact that June Lake residents seldom support these same businesses—they prefer to shop in Mammoth, Bishop and the Reno/Carson City area.

Another response to the announcement has been anger toward our second homeowners. I have heard that June Lake’s second homeowners do not have the right to interfere with the politics and general issues involving June Lake. That is simply not correct. Second homeowners pay property taxes, they do in fact support local businesses when they are in town, and are walking-talking free advertisements for our community. Instead of maligning our second homeowners, we should honor them as an important part of June Lake’s economy.

I believe that to rely on one business for the success of an economy is really a mistake; it’s like putting all our eggs in one basket. Rather than looking solely to the Mountain to improve the Loop’s economic health, we need to support our Supervisor’s ongoing effort to introduce more affordable housing. Permanent middle-income residents employed locally (in education, law enforcement, USFS, as examples) will actually support the local economy on a year-round basis. We need to look at the educational issues that have driven many residents away over the past years. We need to talk for ourselves on behalf of June Lake, rather than letting some corporate interest do the talking and then reap all the benefit.

Wherever the truth may be, I absolutely believe the time has come for all June Lake groups to sit down together at a round table with no one “in charge”, each suggesting agenda items, and then identify those different areas in which we can find some consensus. Perhaps then we can actually begin to work together to preserve and protect June Lake AND improve its economy at the same time. This is a time for cooperation not confrontation.