Dear Editor: The Board of the Sitka Community Land Trust urges you to vote “No” on Proposition 1.
The Sitka Economic Development Association annually commissions Raincoast Data to report on the status of Sitka’s economy. The September 2024 report shows alarming demographic changes in our community.
In Sitka, from 2010 to 2023, the population of kids (aged 0 to 18) dropped by 500. The population of working age people (19-59) dropped by 800 while the population of people aged 60 and older increased by 650. Take a moment to let that sink in.
This profound demographic change is not about jobs. The report states that there are 150 more jobs in this economy than in 2010. We join most people in seeing this demographic change as being about housing more than any other factor.
Every study done and every strategic plan completed since 2007, has noted the vexing problem of adequate and affordable housing. Child care issues are also increasingly understood to be a significant problem for young families. The Rain Coast report says that 88% of Sitka’s business leaders call the lack of housing availability a barrier to their businesses.
Once the Planning Department’s study on city owned land is complete we will need many millions to put in the roads and utilities to make this land able to be developed for housing.
We are not against improved facilities for student activities, but given these alarming demographics and economics, we believe that any remaining revenue generated from the sale of the community hospital and the tobacco tax would be more wisely spent on housing and child care than on recreation facilities.
We urge voting “No” on Proposition 1.
Sitka Community Land Trust Board
Zaide Allen, Carol Voisin, Sarah Allison, Will Peterson,
Bobby Pendleton, Annette Evans, Cody Mosely, Laura Rogers
