In Response to the Potters

Dear Don & Mary K.,

I was quite surprised to see your very belated response to my letter to the editor on September 6th. I was even more disappointed that you missed the entire point in my response to your initial article disparaging Clampers as the “dredges of humanity.”

If you were really self-aware, you would know that you and the one anonymous point of view you shared do not reflect the views of the wider Downieville community. To this fact, I have been very surprised that I have had over two dozen people who have known you two for decades come up and thank me for saying what they were simply somewhat afraid to tell you to your face.

In my third year living here full-time, I find almost everyone I have met to be inviting and kind to “flatlanders” like myself. Sure, it takes time to prove to people that you are going to stick it out and that you care by being involved in the community, but most people seem to understand that without new “flatlanders” moving up here there simply would not be a Downieville. We would be a town of Clamper plaques like Forest City without new residents. The last time I checked, no one lives forever, and at some point, every one of us came from the flatlands or someplace else like you from Catalina to make Downieville what it is today.

I spent twenty years figuring out how to get out of the Bay Area rat race to make a life up here in the mountains like many before me. It takes sacrifice and the last thing most of us “newbie flatlanders” want is to bring San Francisco to Downieville. Most everyone I have met wants Downieville to retain its unique character, but still have some vibrancy and restaurants. The sentiment that you and your anonymous friend seem to share could not be more inaccurate. We love Downieville’s history and do not want to rewrite it, but celebrate it. We seek a smaller community devoid of the crime and problems that are turning urban communities into cesspools and we work hard to keep Downieville open for business.

Maybe you should take some time to walk around town and talk to people you do not know and open your eyes. You would get a better understanding of how this town is declining year by year both in terms of population and economic activity. Though relatively new to town, I have been on the ground working almost daily for the past three years having my finger more on the pulse of the community than a lot of folks. Our businesses have faced declining revenue, the county has less revenue from TOT taxes, and most businesses struggle to find workers due to a lack of housing. This has created a vicious cycle. Downieville is starting to be known as a pass-through, not a destination. Having managed both places, there were about 100 fewer visitors in town this past summer due to The Lure being closed to the public and Sierra Streamside only partially open. Factor in Ramshorn campground and a total of (102) USFS campsites from the Yuba Pass to Indian Valley that either did not open this summer or opened in late July and that is easily 300+ fewer visitors on an average weekend compared to previous years. That doesn’t even factor in there being fewer short-term rentals due to the newly implemented short-term rental ordinance (which I support for its longer-term outcomes).

Outside of big events like Clamper weekend that you seem to despise, many people stop into town for a shuttle ride and some pictures and keep on moving due to lack of accommodations and food. Those guests who regularly return and stay know now that there are very few food options, no gas, and rather expensive groceries, so they have learned to bring their own food. Those of us who are not retired or independently wealthy like yourselves, rely on the Clampers, mountain bikers, and other visitors to even survive here.

I am here in town pretty much every day so please come say hello. I welcome the conversation about the story of The Grubstake and why you will not sell, lease, or open it. I would also love one of your steaks again.

Then again, maybe you simply do not care about Downieville’s newer residents or whether Downieville thrives. If so, I would refer you back to my comments in my previous letter on 9/6. Please sell to someone who does care and move somewhere else where you can live in the peace and tranquility that you seem to prefer.

Best regards,

Sandy Sanders (not Sanderson)