Outdoor Allies: David Polivy

Ever wondered how you can do more for public lands but you aren’t sure where to start? Outdoor Alliance’s Outdoor Allies series explores how other outdoor adventurers got their start in advocacy work and their advice for how you can harness your passion for the outdoors into advocacy for the land and water you love. David Polivy is the Vice Mayor of Truckee, California and the co-owner of Tahoe Mountain Sports. Dave, his wife Pam, and daughter Adina love to play outside and enjoy skiing, climbing, mountain biking, hiking, and camping in the Sierra.

What do you like to do outside and how did you get into the outdoors?

I’ve been a skier since I can remember. I grew up on the East Coast skiing as much as I could. After high school, I had the opportunity to do a semester-long NOLS course in the outback of Australia and that pretty much hooked me. It also taught me the importance of building my outdoor skillset and many of those lessons learned still come in handy today.

As the owner of Tahoe Mountain Sports, you have been deeply invested in giving back in your community. What is some of the partnership work you’ve been most proud of in the last ten years?

Through Tahoe Mountain Sports, we have created so many partnerships and opportunities within our community. It's been really inspiring to watch. We have raised over $100,000 for local non-profits enabling them to do more of their great work. Tahoe Mountain Sports works with a variety of partners including local trail and backcountry access organizations, smart growth organizations, and land use advocacy groups that all work to ensure our community retains its mountain character.

One of the most impactful partnerships we helped to facilitate was one with our winter backcountry access group (Tahoe Backcountry Alliance), the Recreation and Park district, our local tourism organization, and a private contractor to do snow removal and open up a popular summer parking area to winter recreation opportunities. Now that simple parking lot provides both backcountry access to the famous Donner Lake Run and provides a safe and easy snow play area for anybody looking to enjoy the winters in Truckee. 

Are there other advocacy issues you are interested in or working on right now?

We have recently passed a couple of ballot measures in my community to raise our sales tax to fund trails and our lodging tax to fund housing programs. The biggest issue I continue to work on are solutions to our workforce housing issues. Without the ability to provide dignified and affordable housing to our constituents, it will cease to exist as a community at all. I am also passionate about linking together our trail networks, building out our transit system and ensuring our surrounding forests are healthy. 

You served as Mayor of Truckee during the pandemic, and continue to serve in local politics. How did you get involved in local politics and what made you decide to run for office? Is there anything that surprised you about the work that you wish more people understood?

I first got involved in local politics because of land use and streetscape investment projects on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe in the early 2000’s. I realized how important community character decisions were being made by folks who I didn’t think represented the actual will of the people. I participated in lots of local leadership programs, served on the Truckee planning commission and believed I could make a difference in leading my community through challenging issues like housing, infrastructure investment and climate change. 

I was introduced to outdoor and recreation based advocacy from two of our industry leaders, Jess Wahl (Outdoor Recreation Roundtable) and the late Ann Krcik. The annual Tahoe Summit, a forum for national and state elected officials to get together and work on the environmental preservation of Lake Tahoe was happening and the Outdoor Industry Association got a seat at a private lunch with many dignitaries. Jess called me up and asked if I would attend on our industries’ behalf. Of course, I said YES, and that’s where I met Anne who proceeded to introduce me to the likes of Gov. Jerry Brown , Sen. Harry Reid and Sen. Diane Feinstein. After participating in this closed door session and advocating for the health of the recreation economy to folks who I knew were making critical decisions about our region’s future, I immediately knew I had to continue this important work. I continue to look back at that day and realize that was my first true engagement on behalf of the entire outdoor industry and outside of my community organizing and advocacy I was doing at home. Locally is where we get stuff done but nationally is where are boats are lifted and many of the investments start to take shape.

What do you wish more business owners or even individuals knew about advocacy and getting involved in conservation work?

 It’s important to show up and say how you feel in a constructive way. It’s often that decision makers are voting or making decisions with little firsthand knowledge of the issue. If the issue affects you in any way, positive or negative, show up, tell your story and allow decision makers to ask questions and understand the different viewpoints. Also, reach out. As an elected official with a full time business to run, a family to care for and a life to live, oftentimes, I glance over issues that might be important to others. So, my advice is to reach out, don’t be afraid to ask questions and make your voice heard.

Lightning round 

Best piece of gear you sell: Ortovox everything

Favorite social media tool : Strava, does that count? I’ve pulled back from most others😉

Best season for recreation: Spring – Skiing, running, swimming and biking all in 1 day!