With the economy currently in a downturn it is easy to jump on the Gold Rush bandwagon thinking of the potential tax dollars for the city and county and additional residents and tourists that may add to the income of our small downtown shops and restaurants. The economy has not always been this way and in time it will right itself. Sutter Creek has survived as a small town for over 150 years earning the moniker of "Jewel of the Mother lode" for many obvious reasons. The town has been recognized in many national publications as one of the best preserved towns of our past. Our identity as a town and community has come from our historic past and ability to preserve the small town way of life while just a short drive from a major metropolitan area, our State Capital.

As you drive through Sutter Creek there are certainly many more signs for those against this proposed project than there are in favor of it. So who is supporting this project? The Amador Realtors Association and the Sutter Creek Business Association are two that come to mind. While I do not know how many members of the Business Association are Sutter Creek residents, one would assume many are not. These small business owners can not be blamed for wanting to give a shot in the arm to their income but that small shot may come at the detriment of the residents of not only Sutter Creek but our surrounding communities.

Our current infrastructure simply can not handle the additional traffic and those against this project our not looking for our infrastructure to be grown to support such a project. It is my belief however that simple greed is behind the Amador Realtors Association's backing of this project. Only so many members of the Association can be residents of Sutter Creek yet they are pushing an agenda that will have an adverse affect on those of us to do reside in Sutter Creek.

I have 3 school children, one of which is only 6, and I have yet to hear any convincing argument as to how this project will enhance our schools in such a way turn a blind eye the potential infrastructure issues. One would have to assume that as it will take time for our economy to right itself, even if this project was started tomorrow, it would still take years if not a decade or two before any small business owners or greedy realtors will see any additional income from this project. I have lived here for 10 years and it seems we have been debating this project for nearly that long. If this was such a great project it would have earned the citizens support by now and would have been already underway.

There is a very interesting article in the October 12, 2008 Sacramento Bee outlining 3 failed golf course communities in the San Joaquin Valley that have left their respective communities holding a bag of empty promises (http://www.sacbee.com/downturn/story/1307281.html) Take a look, we don't need this to happen to Sutter Creek. Let's not lose our identity, wouldn't it be a shame if 20 years from now Sutter Creek was known as "that small town near Gold Rush Ranch" rather than known as the best preserved gold rush town on the West Coast?