The Platform
Real plans for the people who call South Lake Tahoe home.
These aren't talking points — they're the issues Douglas hears about at the grocery store, at the trailhead, and at the kitchen table. Here's what he'll fight for on the City Council.
Issue 01
Homeownership for Locals
Keeping South Lake Tahoe families in South Lake Tahoe.
The people who teach our kids, fight our fires, and serve our community deserve a real shot at owning a home here. Right now, skyrocketing prices are pushing locals out — and that's not the South Lake Tahoe we want to leave behind.
Douglas's Plan
First-Time Buyer Programs
Work with state and county partners to establish or expand first-time homebuyer assistance programs specifically targeted at South Lake Tahoe residents and workers — including down payment grants and low-interest loan programs.
Down Payment Assistance
Advocate for a city-backed down payment assistance fund that helps qualified local buyers bridge the gap between what they've saved and what the market demands.
Workforce Housing Incentives
Partner with developers to include deed-restricted workforce housing units in new developments, ensuring that teachers, nurses, firefighters, and service workers can afford to live where they work.
Community Land Trust Exploration
Explore a community land trust model that permanently removes homes from the speculative market — keeping them affordable for local families for generations.
Issue 02
Fire Safety Council
Protecting our forests, our homes, and our wallets.
Living in the Sierra Nevada means living with fire risk. But too many South Lake Tahoe homeowners are being dropped by their insurance companies or hit with unaffordable premiums. Douglas believes we can reduce that risk — and those costs — by working together as a community.
Douglas's Plan
Establish a Community Fire Safety Council
Create a formal, city-supported Fire Safety Council made up of residents, fire professionals, insurance representatives, and local officials — meeting regularly to coordinate prevention efforts and share resources.
Defensible Space Assistance Program
Launch a city-assisted program to help homeowners — especially seniors and lower-income residents — create and maintain defensible space around their properties, reducing fire risk and qualifying for insurance discounts.
Insurance Premium Relief
Work directly with insurance carriers to demonstrate community-wide risk reduction efforts, with the goal of stabilizing or reducing premiums for South Lake Tahoe homeowners who participate in fire safety programs.
Vegetation Management Coordination
Coordinate with Cal Fire, the USFS, and neighboring jurisdictions on proactive vegetation management and prescribed burns to reduce fuel loads in and around our community.
Issue 03
Better Roads
Our roads are overdue. It's time to fix them.
Cracked pavement, potholes, and deteriorating roads aren't just an inconvenience — they damage vehicles, create safety hazards, and signal to residents that their neighborhood isn't a priority. Douglas will change that.
Douglas's Plan
Dedicated Road Resurfacing Fund
Push for a dedicated, protected line item in the city budget for road resurfacing — so that road maintenance funding can't be raided for other purposes when budgets get tight.
Prioritized Pothole Repair
Establish a transparent, publicly visible pothole and road damage reporting system with committed response timelines — so residents know their reports are being acted on.
Multi-Year Resurfacing Schedule
Develop and publish a multi-year road resurfacing schedule so neighborhoods know when their streets are coming up for repair — and can hold the city accountable to that timeline.
State and Federal Funding Pursuit
Actively pursue state and federal infrastructure grants to supplement local road funding — reducing the burden on South Lake Tahoe taxpayers while getting more done.
Have a question about the platform?
Douglas wants to hear from you. Reach out directly or get involved in the campaign.