Dear Editor: I am voting YES to Proposition 1 because as a physical therapist, I can see firsthand in my day to day work the benefits of recreation in Sitka.
Recreation equates to exercise. Exercise equates to prevention. Prevention of obesity, chronic illness, falls, mental health issues, and injuries; the list goes on and on. And it would benefit not only student athletes, but also our aging population and our little ones. The facilities would be for everyone!
People are more likely to recreate on quality facilities. The Sitka Community Playground is a good example of this. Once it got upgraded to be a safer, handicap accessible, vibrant space, the usage went up exponentially. Being a part of the Sitka Community Playground volunteer group, I saw how a beautiful facility can be built with community support. The playground group raised the funds, designed, and built it since the city did not have the funds to do so.
Similarly, the city does not have the funds to build quality recreational facilities. The tobacco tax was intended to help mitigate the health impacts of tobacco use and for health and wellness. Using it for recreation/exercise/prevention is an appropriate and direct use of this tax.
Bridget Hitchcock, Sitka
