Tourism Planning
Dear Editor: Thank you, Scott Saline, for speaking at the Assembly meeting on tourism planning. Over 100 citizens of Sitka took part over many months in 2006 painstakingly listening to stakeholders and their priorities.
We came up with a very good plan with a win-win situation for both citizens and business, but the Assembly dumped it in the trash because two big players didn’t want any plan. Those two big players in tourism were repeatedly invited to give input, but they refused to participate.
We now have a second opportunity to structure tourism redevelopment. Will our Assembly have the intestinal fortitude to encourage a plan other than free rein to monied interests and the “good old boys club” granted back in 2007? It is doubtful.
We need a plan that is win-win for taxpayers and businesses alike. We need a plan that doesn’t overcrowd our streets, despoil our environment, and place the burden of support upon the taxpayer. Tourism should be financially supporting the city, not the city subsidizing tourism as is the current situation.
How will I know tourism is supporting the city? Simple. My property tax will go back down to 4 mils ($4 per thousand valuation) as it was before tourism soiled Sitka.
Matt and Kayla, where are you when we need your voices for planning?
Bill Marx, Sitka
