Page 2: Heading to D.C.
MMSA CEO Rusty Gregory, MMSA Administrative Officer Ron Cohen, and Mono County Supervisor Tim Alpers will be in Washington next week to lobby for the Main Lodge land trade.
The bill has passed the U.S. House of Representatives a second time, this time pushed by Congressman Paul Cook, but the idea, said Gregory, is to get it through the Senate during this session (before election turnover).
Senator Dianne Feinstein has introduced the bill in the Senate and supports it.
A target of the local contingent’s charms during their visit will be Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, the Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Just in case you’re wondering, Mr. Second Homeowner who may be illegally renting out his home on a nightly basis, “We are still paying attention,” says Mammoth Lakes Tourism Exec. Director John Urdi.
Urdi said the Town has now garnered an additional $500,000 in Transient Occupancy Tax collection during the past two fiscal years thanks to increased enforcement.
What’s the most someone’s been popped for? $58,000.
The Town has issued more than 200 new T.O.T. business licenses since it started its enforcement program. It used to see 20 annually.
By the way, if you perceive summer business is better than it’s been – that’s not an illusion. Urdi estimates Mammoth has seen a 46 percent increase in T.O.T. collections during the month of June since 2010.
Urdi says this June should mark the fourth consecutive record-breaker, and push that 46 number well past 50.
In case you missed it, United Airlines will be offering a limited schedule of direct flights from Denver to Mammoth this coming ski season. The flights will be on Saturdays.
If Randy Fendon has anything to say about it, September records may be in jeopardy as well. Fendon, who serves as the Marketing Director for the Mammoth Fall Century and Gran Fondo, is tracking 70 percent over last year as of June 30. This comes after back-to-back years of 40 percent growth. If the trend holds, we could see 1,700 riders for the event.
And talk about a marketing coup – Fendon says the front cover of next month’s Bicycling Magazine (circ. ~424,000) will have a photo of Wheeler Crest and Mount Tom on the cover with a cyclist climbing Lower Rock Creek Road towards Swall Meadows.
Finally, an update on the eagle rescue story which appears on page 20. Mike Aguirre, with help from Kevin Calder, who built the makeshift platform, got the bird safely back into the trees in June Lake. Bravo.
