Good Neighbors
Dear Editor: I love the beauty and complexity to be found in our diverse and everchanging community. There are real things that divide us, but we are also all intrinsically connected here. Brought together by geography, our shared humanity and by near universal truths, like the belief that our children are precious.
Our children are precious. Every child deserves love, support, shelter, belonging. I believe an important measure of a healthy community is how it works to ensure all children have what they need to thrive (not how many children have everything).
Youth are Alaska’s future workforce, parents, and elders. We need our youth to be well. But Alaska’s kids are not doing great. In a recent presentation to the Senate Education Committee, KIDS COUNT, a national program to track the well-being of children, youth and families, reported that Alaska is ranked 41st for overall child well-being and 44th for health. We need youth services, including residential treatment programs, which can play a big role in keeping kids out of institutions and supporting healing and long-term success. As a parent, if my children experience a terrible challenge, I would want them to have access to help and to feel supported by their community. I want the same for your children.
Which is why I have been so disheartened by the public commentary at two recent Planning Commission meetings discussing a potential new residential treatment program for Alaskan youth victims of sex trafficking.
Youth living in a supervised, supportive residential environment are neighbors I would welcome. But in opposing potential sites for the project, many commenters have been quick to demonstrate misinformation, hypocrisy and bias, with some using hurtful rhetoric against Alaska’s youth.
It is valid to seek to understand a project and to question whether the plan, goals, values and capacity are sound and align with community needs. It is valid to oppose a project. I certainly don’t know enough about this specific initiative to speak to it in detail.
But to spread misinformation, to fear monger with innuendos, to use your privilege against those who have less, to speak with prejudice against a group of individuals, this is deeply disappointing. I also found it depressing to hear testifiers say they support the project, but not in their neighborhood. How painful it must be to be a young Sitkan in need of this type of support, hearing a chorus of adults tell them they are not welcome. Bad faith “not in my backyard” attitudes like this pop up too often and compound systemic inequities.
Sitka is one big neighborhood. Whoever you are, wherever you live, there are people next door (and in your household) who have been victims and who have been perpetrators of all sorts of things. Owning property doesn’t make you any more or less human than anyone else, and neither does needing support. We are all people worthy of dignity and our public discourse should reflect this.
Some general information: 1. Human trafficking is a significant issue and occurs across demographics 2. Residential treatment programs are a priority need for recovery 3. “...the evidence seems to show that social service facilities such as group homes have little or no detrimental impact on neighboring property values.” 4. People who have experienced sex-trafficking are victims of a crime, not “criminals.” 5. Public lands are for public use. They are not private parks.
Citations available at https://cmoconn.wixsite.com/neighbors-lte-citati
Chandler O’Connell, Sitka
Herring Protectors Run
Dear Editor: Last Saturday, over 60 people participated in the third annual Herring Protectors Fun Run/Walk! Thank you for everyone who came out to support the Herring Protectors and the important work they do!
I would like to thank Sitka Conservation Society, the DOT, the City and Borough of Sitka, the Herring Protectors, Blatchley Middle School (for safety signs), and my volunteers: Crystal Duncan, Valerie Edwards, Lisa Busch, Karin Mullins and Elizabeth Bagley.
Thank you to Rachel Moreno for her words and for centering us before the start of the race.
Bridget Hitchcock, Sitka
