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 emotional debate among city officials and residents. The issue centers on an inaccurate depiction of the Lake Tahoe border included on the seal when the city was founded in 1965.
Emotional Responses at City Council Meeting
At a recent city council meeting, the proposal to update the seal faced resistance. Susan Blankenship, the city clerk and custodian of the seal, expressed strong feelings 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."
In contrast, Councilmember Scott Robbins supported the correction.
"We're just going to fix an error that went overlooked for the last 60 years," he said.
Community Opinions and Clarifications
Despite the council’s discussion, some community members feel the change is unnecessary.
"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,'" resident Scott Loberg stated.
It is important to note that the city seal differs from the city's logo, which can be changed without restriction.
Next Steps
The city council is set to continue the discussion and possibly approve the seal change at their upcoming meeting on November 18.
Author’s summary: The debate over correcting a 60-year-old error in South Lake Tahoe’s city seal highlights tensions between preserving history and updating symbols to accuracy.