Lake County is approaching another tipping point, hopefully changing the old conventional theory, of retaining the rural and anti-blue collar atmosphere that has existed heretofore. Instead, I purpose we create a more hospitable community for the young and the working class; a community, where they have affordable housing.

With the high unemployment, should we be eliminating low income housing? If we can make exceptions to our general plan for Cristallago and other large developments, why shut down longstanding businesses? How are we to replace the former motels that house the blue-collar workers at the present time?

Someone must house the landscapers, the pruners, the dishwashers, the burger flippers and all those who do the work the rest of us do not want. I think we should take case by case, examining each for safety, and if they pose a blight on their respective neighborhoods.

Not all former motels are blights, and it is folly to lump them all together. They can be very productive and a boon to their neighborhoods. The workers who make our living comfortable can afford to live inside our community.

Take Silicon Valley for instance; housing is so high that they have subsidized apartments for public school teachers to house their families. Are we going to revert to the old attitude, unfriendly to the young and poor, of Lake County’s past?

I know of one motel owner who purchased their business 20 years ago, and completely remodeled it, and keeps it as spotless as frequent changing of tenants allows.

I propose we examine one case at a time, retaining businesses that do not blight their neighborhoods and do not compromise the safety of their tenants.

If we can amend the general plan for large-scale development in agricultural land, we can assist motel owners to convert to apartment status. Especially if they show the ability to compromise and meet county standards, still subjective but give them a chance.

Dave Gebhard lives in Lakeport.