Dear Editor: Obviously, the latest, most controversial and hottest matter facing Sitka is the citizen-driven ballot “cruise ship” initiative, that many people will be voting on tomorrow. Having read many of the views and comments on both sides of the issue, and discussed with various people as well, these are my thoughts on the matter.
The issue boils down to limiting cruise ship visits (and therefore visitors) coming into Sitka. The alternative is letting the market and the industry determine that level. Some would say the latter would be having unlimited cruise visits to Sitka. But that is not necessarily true.
Since the cruise boom started in 2022, there has been concern and great interest in how to deal with this windfall of visitors and ships. And since I’m a free-market kind of guy, I mostly side with letting the market figure it out. But with the unprecedented growth, I agree there should be some parameters along with checks and balances to try and steer and manage things. And these things are happening.
The current Tourism Commission is now in place and getting started with their instructions and determining their role. This, after the Tourism Task Force was in effect for the last two years. In addition, there is an MOU that has been signed by the Sitka Docking Company with the voluntary efforts of Chris McGraw to help work towards a workable solution that addresses the biggest concerns that have surfaced. He could have said “no” and forged ahead. But his effort shows he wants to be a part of the solution and not draw a line in the sand. And lastly, the development of Sitka’s Tourism Best Management Practices have been identified and is moving forward.
All the above is to say that along comes a ballot initiative that seems to me to usurp the whole process that is in place currently and would upset the whole apple cart if allowed to pass. That to me is just plain wrong. I would strongly encourage everyone to join me in voting NO on the ballot initiative.
Roger L. Hames, the older!
