Yes on Proposition 2
Dear Editor: The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association supports a community shipyard in Sitka. We urge our fellow citizens to vote YES on Proposition 2 on October 4 for the sole purpose of constructing a vessel haulout and shipyard.
An investment in the shipyard will keep Sitka’s maritime workers in the community as well as keeping our vessels – which we use commercially, recreationally and for hunting, gathering and pleasure – safer. This investment in basic, critical maritime infrastructure will bring benefits and income to our community far greater than what the proceeds of the community hospital sale would earn sitting in a bank. It’s an infrastructure to infrastructure trade.
Sitka is the largest city and harbor system that faces the open ocean of any place along the 1,000-mile coast from Canada to Anchorage. We also have one of the highest ratios of people to vessels – more than 3:1.
This is also a safety issue. If a vessel hits a rock or springs a leak, there is no place to go except for the marine grid, if you are lucky enough to find space or a good tide. With no place to conduct out-of-water maintenance, vessels are going to degrade and become hazards to life and problems for the harbor system.
With no shipyard we will lose skilled workers such as shipwrights, mechanics, machinists, welders, painters, fiberglass, metal and wood workers. Keep our rich maritime community healthy by voting YES on Proposition 2 on October 4. Let’s get this done!
Jerry Dzugan, Director,
Alaska Marine Safety
Education Association
No on Propositions
Dear Editor: The idea started out as a boat haul out, now it is a shipyard, who knows what will eventually be built at enormous cost to the taxpayers of Sitka. If it is such a great idea, why haven’t business developers or the fisherman’s cooperative done it?
The Assembly and city administrator come up with an idea pushed by a tiny group of self-interested people but don’t have a clue about a business plan and implementation. Come and ask tomorrow, Saturday, “What is your business plan for success?” Maybe they have one, maybe not. So far I haven’t seen anything publicized. Transparency in our city government doesn’t happen.
How many times have you heard or even said to yourself, “it seemed like a good idea at the time”?
Look no further than city projects over the last 40 years that seemed like a good idea at the time. Sitka Community Hospital proved to be an “albatross around our necks” as one mayor (RIP) put it, quoted in the Sentinel. The Performing Arts Center is a drain on the city budget. The Centennial building and the Kettleson Library rebuild were good ideas but not needed. And then there is the Blue Lake Dam Project with enormous cost that has done nothing but raise our electric utility bills.
Proposition 2 is equally bad. Giving away hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales tax money to the school system to entertain someone’s kids with sports is irresponsible. The sports programs build an elite society of “jocks” who walk around high school like kings among peasants. Think back to your high school days and the cliques of sports heroes and cheerleaders.
When our school system demonstrates they are even doing an adequate job to educate our children I’d be happy to support a sports program. Achievement test scores don’t lie. They are a factual assessment on how well children are being educated. Sitka test scores are near the bottom of the U.S. Vote NO to send a message.
Bill Marx, Sitka
Shipyard Site Tours
Dear Editor: Help usher in a vibrant new economic era in Sitka by touring the proposed Sitka Community Shipyard site at Gary Paxton Industrial Park this Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. Grab a slice of Mean Queen pizza and tour lots 9A (pier location), 9B (environmentally-friendly washdown area), 15 (long-term work area), and 6/7 (area for tradespeople and marine vendors) with GPIP board member Chris Ystad.
A local, city-owned shipyard in our town will mean high-dollar economic activity citywide, good-paying jobs in the trades, apprenticeships for young Sitkans, and revenue for roads, schools, and public safety. How can you make it a reality? Vote YES on Prop 2 on Tuesday, October 4. For more information, email sitkacommunityshipyard@gmail.com.
Beth Short-Rhoads, Sitka
Thanks to Allen Marine
Dear Editor: Thank you to Allen Marine for hosting Southeast Alaska Independent Living on a fun and eventful wildlife cruise this summer. Allen Marine’s donation not only raised important funding to support our work with seniors and people experiencing disabilities, it also meant many of our consumers were able to get out on the water and witness the wonder and spectacle of sea otters, whales, sea lions and more.
Each year, SAIL and Allen Marine team up to provide disability awareness and accessibility training to their crews in preparation for the summer season. We appreciate Allen Marine’s commitment to providing accessible, inclusive tours to visitors and residents alike.
The Sitka SAIL Team
