I read a comment on a news article this past summer. The commenter stated that he was not going to visit the Eastern Sierra anymore because we stress the importance of "tread lightly" principles. So yeah - that is the kind of person we dealt with last summer.
Yeah - I live here in Mono County and I filled my camper with Hefty bags full of garbage at least once a week from June - August. It was horribly sad and disgusting (picking up used toilet paper and diapers - I had a dedicated pair of work gloves since I could not get any disposables) I began communicating with various county offices in an attempt to get some assistance such as a dump waiver and more receptacles and/or more frequent pick-up. I got a lot of words. Worthless words. IMO the office of tourism needs to use the money they spend exclusively on advertising and use it to clean up after their guests (they need to take a lesson from All Terrain Campers - who needs advertising when you have a stellar product?) Yeah - I am not very popular with county government but of what use is getting old if you still have to care what other people think? And before anyone else starts in on "tourism pays for county services" they need to be prepared to answer some questions (they never have and probably never will but I won't stop asking)
In comparison to property taxes what amount of money do tourists put in the county coffers?
Why has the county (on behalf of business owners and possibly to provide services to residents - see question above) chosen to externalize many of the costs of tourism by forcing residents to either live with the horrifying amounts of garbage (and additional fire danger) clean it up and pay to dispose of it* or just stay home and watch television making pretend the land we love is not being trashed by people who don't seem to give a **** about anything but taking selfies and monetizing their youtube schtick?
It becomes abundantly clear that the quality of life of the residents of this county is not valued as highly as the money from the people who come and trash the place.
It was not just the garbage. They closed the beach at June Lake one Saturday because people were parking all over, getting in fist fights and driving ATVs on the crowded beach. That was at the exact same time I was being threatened by some "local"punks near Mono Lake - I probably could not have received any LEO assistance even if I had called and I believe the punks, who insisted I was a not a "local" had every intention of doing me harm if I dared to look at them the "wrong" way (another externalized cost of a tourist economy) Add to the problem that most of the land being used is Forest Service and their enforcement is spread real thin in Inyo. And then it came to light that Humboldt/Toiyabe NF had not budgeted for and hired any law enforcement personal in the Bridgeport district for going on two years now.
I wonder what the homes of these trashy people look like. I wonder if they ever intend to return to the location they have trashed (I think not) and if so do they give any thought to what happened to the **** they left behind? I wonder if we should stop picking up after them but that would mean loss of use of much of the county unless you don't mind sitting amongst used diapers and empty malt liquor cans. Some people insist that trashed places attract more trash and clean places inspire decency. Bull****. I have photos and dump receipts that say otherwise. I cleaned up the same places over and over and over again.
We need enforcement. We need money to fund it. We need to get those funds from those who benefit from tourism - including the tourists.. If someone can prove to me that I receive more services than are covered by my property tax and use fees I will happily pay my share but until then it pisses me off that I have to pick up after other people's guests (the county, on behalf of business owners, invites them) and pay to dispose of it* at the same time that I am unable to enjoy my home county because I am sick of picking up dirty toilet paper and can't find a place to park anyway. Thank goodness I am still physically able to backpack and there is still a "shoulder" season but really - what the hell has happened to basic human decency?
* Most of the trash was much greater in volume than weight so my loads rarely cost more than then minimum $5 tipping fee (250 pounds) But the scale at the nearby dump/transfer station was damaged by fire and we are now paying by the can/bag. Some of the loads I hauled last summer would now cost me $20-$30, likely more than $100/month. If the scale is not repaired I'll have to stop picking up trash or pay the cost or drive 60 miles round trip to the nearest dump with a scale, or see what happens when I deposit the bags of tourist trash on the doorstep of the county officer of tourism - but that would also be a long drive. To dispose of other people's ****y toilet paper.
Is this a rant? Sorry - not sorry. Calling the trash people pigs is an insult to pigs.
signed - Mono County Misanthrope
Edited by teledork, 20 February 2021 - 10:03 PM.