The Tahoe Summit Provided a Unique Opportunity to Connect with Our Elected Officials

This year, the annual Tahoe Summit, started nearly 30 years ago by California Senator Dianne Feinstein, Nevada Senator Harry Reid, and President Bill Clinton, was centered around the theme of “Protecting Lake Tahoe: Balancing Sustainable Recreation and Conservation.”

Unlike other advocacy opportunities the NTCA has participated in, this gathering, which has historically served as a bipartisan collaboration in support of protecting Lake Tahoe, presented a unique chance to meet and connect with more elected officials from both states at a single event than we’ve had the privilege of participating in before.

It provided a chance to explain how our local business community has helped establish and expand opportunities for public-private partnerships. And, it was an opportunity to highlight the TBID and its role in broadening the funding sources for our community’s priorities – such as transportation and trails, human impact mitigation, environmental stewardship initiatives, as well as business advocacy.

NTCA president and CEO Tony Karwowski shared with California Senator Adam Schiff, Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen, Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, California Assemblywoman Hadwick, and Senator Alvarado-Gil, among others, how the NTCA and the committees it convenes are putting TBID dollars to work on behalf of our community in support of collaborative stewardship efforts in North Lake Tahoe and beyond.

He also addressed the NTCA’s involvement in the creation of the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan, its implementation, and the efforts we’re aligning on across agencies, businesses, NGOs and land managers to elevate the Tahoe experience for all.

By directly engaging and building relationships with elected officials, citing real examples of how North Lake Tahoe is investing in itself, we not only elevate local leadership but also increase the likelihood of securing future state and federal support for community-driven solutions.