Cruise Control
Dear Editor: On Tuesday, Aug. 1, I reported to Sitka Police that I was intoxicated by diesel exhaust during the prior week of July 23 to 29 by tour coaches. I worked outside at the corner of Lake and Seward streets for the month of July. My work there included cleaning the parking lot, painting latex lines, patching concrete, minor roof patching, bush trimming and sweeping up. No heavy solvents nor dust. Yet, I had exceeded the threshold levels of exposure to experience nausea, headache, dizziness. Foolishly I was in ‘‘the smoke and exhaust and noise corridor’’ without an air fed mask. I tasted it; I inhaled it.
Many of us pass through that zone several times daily, but few stay continuously. Bring your cartridge respirator (air fed pumps will not work) and ear muffs.
Relish and remember this day, Sitka. CLI master plan for Sitka hides bigger ships, more ships, way more tourists for you to share. Anyone want to discuss that? We were once told it will ‘‘self-regulate.’’ How so? Just more high-up Vancouver double talk.
I don’t buy it! CLI cares about cash for beds and drinks. Not where they dump their load. Only to crush the very essence of their bragging.
Cruise line industrial is dirty business. With a nice paint job.
As worldwide pushback grows, expect more pressure to dock these big boats in new, naive ports. You check them out, i.e. Skagway dock buried?? Let’s push that wealth over to lil ole Sitka!! Not here!! I like limited entry. More on that later.
No gripe should go without suggested solutions: Here you go:
1. Use ‘‘extra’’ head tax money to get an industrial hygienist in here to sniff and identify pollutants;
2. Limit daily tourists to 4,000;
3. Raise the head tax to make up for less sales. And price out mass hordes;
4. Park or shred buses that don’t pass a regular, stringent certification;
5. Require the CLI reps, dock owners, coach owners and tourist planning committee to sit near roundabout sidewalk a full day. A calm day. With 8,000 tourists ‘‘sharing Sitka’’ with them;
6. Fill in Swan Lake for more bus parking. Another name change will be required.
Peter Hagan, Sitka,
Pro-tourist, pro-regulation
Home Health
Dear Editor: It has been said that a society can be judged by the care of its children, elderly and vulnerable. I am very disappointed that SEARHC is discontinuing Home Health without an organized plan for replacement of its services. Does this very valuable and much-needed community asset have to disappear as a result of finances? I hope not! I was a nurse for 44 years and am presently a Brave Heart Volunteer. I have provided care in the hospital and in the home and have seen how great the need is for skilled nursing services in the home (wound dressings, catheter care, caregiver education/support, end-of-life care, skilled assessment, communication with other providers, etc.)
SEARHC’s Mission Statement reads: ‘‘Alaska Native People working in partnership to provide the best health care for our communities.’’ SEARHC is a huge organization with resources. A definitive and viable plan should have been ready to replace all the services provided by Home Health. Saying that they are just now hoping to work on a plan is unacceptable.
The diminished services will add a significant burden to individuals and families already in crisis. Anyone of us might need this care tomorrow. Will the comprehensive care we have received from Home Health be there? I sincerely hope that SEARHC will re-evaluate their decision and keep Home Health in operation. I hope that SEARHC will put compassion and service ahead of their financial and organizational challenges.
I appreciate Cindy Litman, Woody Woodmark, Dr. Marilyn Coruzzi, Carolyn Fredrickson and others who have spoken out with similar concerns.
Kim Hunter, RN (retired), Sitka
Assembly Pay Raise
Dear Editor: I believe an Assembly pay raise is long overdue.
Having worked with a few Assemblies and city councils, I know how much effort it takes to be effective at the highest office in local government.
Between the City’s operating and capital projects budgets, the Assembly manages at lease $200 million per year.
And that is just part of a time-consuming job that takes its toll on an Assembly member’s private life as well.
The proposed pay raise is a small appreciation for the work the Assembly does to manage our town.
Hugh Bevan, Sitka
