Letter: Stop harassing VHR renters

Publisher’s note: This letter was originally sent to South Lake Tahoe enforcement, chief of police, City Council, and city manager, and then to Lake Tahoe News.

Dear VHR Enforcement Team,

We are in receipt of a fourth “Advisory – Vacation Home Rental Complaint” since the city’s wonderful and effective ordinance which brought South Lake Tahoe national publicity. All four of these complaints were unverified.

Jim Morris

We appreciate any efforts that the city performs in trying to minimize the potential fining of our tenants, but if they cannot verify the complaints of the Nazi-neighbors, we prefer that you have no contact with our clients as the city has done enough damage to our industry that we have been building up for over 35 years.  f there is no substantiation of the complaint, please remove yourselves from the area and do not disturb our guests.

If you want to be effective, go knock on the door of the complainant and warn them that filing a false complaint may subject them to a city fine as well as litigation by yours truly.  You need to tell the complainant that the enforcement team does not appreciate unverified complaints.

We are the owners of 426 Emerald Drive and contributors to city TOT revenue of $187,000 over a 17-year period without a VHR violation. Not to speak of the over 5,100 guests to our city spending money in grocery stores, restaurants, ski resorts, marinas, gas stations, retail stores, etc.

We are the owners of Lake Tahoe Accommodations and we don’t want any of our guests disturbed in any of our vacation rentals in the city. What is more important, to satisfy the overly sensitive neighbor, or to bring 5,100 guests, families and children, to one of the most beautiful places in the world?

Jim and Melinda Morris

P.S.  Does the City Council and the city management understand what you are doing to one of the most productive industries in the South Shore?