Letters to the Editor
The Carnegie back flip
Dear Editor,
The word “snark” is a combination of “snide” and “remark.” It’s an apt word to describe the literary style of Michael Medkiff, who in his letter in The Sheet last week describes himself as being from “Santa Monica/ Mammoth” and as owning “a ‘bunch’ of condos, etc. in Mammoth.” Although I don’t have enough solid information to take sides in the debate about whether the Town should change its policies on the rental of single family residences, Mr. Medkiff’s snarkiness is too much to let go unanswered. He of course favors allowing nightly rentals of SFRs in the Town’s neighborhoods.
“Mammoth Luddites” is how Mr. Medkiff describes those in our community who disagree with him. Luddism is a philosophy developed at the start of the Industrial Age that opposes modern technology for various reasons. The introduction of the loom, as an early example, was fiercely opposed as being a threat to the old fashioned weaving industry. Mr. Medkiff—for no discernible reason other than to be maximally snarkish— conflates the term with opposition to the ambitions of those who, probably like himself, would benefit from nightly rentals. He’d be well advised to consult a dictionary before he uses such big words, lest he make himself seem even more ridiculous than he has in his letter.
On top of that gratuitous slap at everyone not in his camp, Mr. Medkiff does a disservice to those who might otherwise agree with him by basing his argument on insult and innuendo rather than on facts or economics-based reason. He accuses condominium projects and rental agencies of using a small number of “real” SFR owners “as a front.” He guesses that there are “not many ‘real’ primary residence SFR owners in Mammoth who are going to be inconvenienced by the supposed party animal renters next door.” Those who disagree with him are the same folks who want to “trust those guys from Intrawest.” He intimates that the Town is incapable of enforcing its “unrealistic plan,” meaning its current policies.
And to wind his polemic to a close in words that befitting his style, he says “Mammoth probably has a large/long does [sic] of unproductive dithering ahead of it before it ever gets its act together.” Mr. Medkiff clearly thinks he has his act together, because, he says, the virtues of SFR nightly rentals should “be reasonably obvious to government types with some semblance of common sense.”
You can say what you really mean, Mr. Medkiff, in a few less words: “People who disagree with me are stupid.” See, it’s easy.
Mr. Medkiff has presented us with an object lesson in how not to win friends and influence people, much less gain their support on a contentious issue. Dale Carnegie didn’t just turn over in his grave, he did a back flip.
Jim Reed
Mammoth Lakes
Boycott the boycott
Dear Editor:
I have read with interest many of the articles and editorials relative to the question of single-family nightly rentals in the town of Mammoth Lakes. Clearly this is an issue that has spawned very strong opinions on each side of the ledger.
As the owner of a second home in Mammoth Lakes for 20 years, I feel that these issues are important, and those of us with a financial and emotional investment in the community should absolutely be educated and opinionated about important social issues like the question of legalizing nightly rentals.
In the latest issue of The Sheet, Ms. Laurie Williams (Mammoth Lakes / Manhattan Beach) wrote an open letter to the Mammoth Lakes City Councilmembers expressing her strong opinions about the legalization of nightly rentals. Ms. Williams in fact made several compelling points in opposition to the question and for the most part I felt somewhat illuminated having read her letter.
I have to take exception however to Ms. Williams assertion the she will “advocate for the boycott of his (Councilman Mike Raimando’s) restaurant, Old Ney York Deli”; because she does not agree with his apparent position on the nightly rental issue. And further if Councilman (Shields) Richardson does not line up with Ms. Williams way of thinking she wrote that “we, along with our friends, will also no longer be frequenting his business, The Side Door”.
Please understand that I do not propose to have an answer to the question of nightly rentals in Mammoth Lakes. I have an opinion, but that isn’t what is relevant. What is important is to understand that the threat of a business boycott is appalling, and it is wrong! The town of Mammoth has been fortunate to attract some extremely bright minds into City government, and the future of this community relies on continuing to have capable people in local leadership. The threat of attacking someone’s livelihood because they do not share your opinion is an absolute surefire way to ensure that best and brightest will have no interest in local leadership.
Both Councilman Raimando and Richardson have taken on a responsibility to serve this community in local government. And that responsibility includes being educated on all aspects of every salient issue facing this town, and making tough decisions that aren’t going to please every constituent. I believe that the decisions made relative to nightly rentals, or any other of the many questions facing the City Council, are made with what each councilman believes is in the best interest of this community.
Our councilmembers want our input, and they deserve our appreciation.
John Haycock
Las Vegas
