Proposal to Change South Lake Tahoe City Seal Sparks Debate
A proposal to correct a decades-old error in South Lake Tahoe's city seal has ignited passionate discussions among city officials and local residents. The controversy centers on an inaccurate depiction of the Lake Tahoe border included on the seal when the city was founded in 1965.
Historical Error and Emotional Response
During the city council meeting on Tuesday, the idea to amend the seal faced resistance. Susan Blankenship, the city clerk and keeper of the seal, expressed strong emotions about the change.
"The city seal has stood as the link between our past and present. It has marked every chapter of our city's history," Blankenship said, fighting back tears. "And remains a powerful emblem of who we are."
Opposing Views on the Change
Scott Robbins, a member of the South Lake Tahoe City Council, viewed the correction pragmatically:
"We're just going to fix an error that went overlooked for the last 60 years."
Meanwhile, some residents expressed frustration over the debate itself. Scott Loberg stated:
"When I go to the store, when I go to the bar, when I go to the restaurant, anywhere, to the hospital — wherever, I haven't heard one person say, 'We need to change the damn seal.'"
Additional Information
The city seal is distinct from the city’s logo, which can be altered at any time without controversy. The city council plans to discuss and potentially approve the seal change at their next meeting on November 18.
Author’s Summary
This debate over correcting a historical mistake reveals the deep emotional ties and differing opinions residents have about symbols representing their community identity.