January 21, 2006
Saturday

Last retort to Mr. McRoberts, I don't agree with you or a few other people that write in favor of the bridge to nowhere or cutting timber or building roads on Pennock Island or Gravina Island at Local, State and Federal taxpayer expense. Speculation! A few of you folks are going to gamble our (taxes) hard earned money that expansion is the answer to Ketchikan problems. The real problem is the project funding priorities by your Local and State politicians and people more concerned in lining their own pockets, sticking to party lines and imposing their will over hard working people like you, that believe in the democratic process like bringing important issues to a public vote.

Ketchikan's priorities should be more concerned about your drinking water problem, existing eroded roads, new schools in the City and Borough.

Mr. Watson's opinion of me personally, I can care less. It is actually 3,000 miles from Ketchikan to Chattanooga, TN. I do not endorse of our Native regional corporations or village corporations clear cut logs or the way Native corporations were set up. But in their defense, we had good teachers. Through studies, re-planting trees is not effective. We found out that nature does a better job of regenerating itself. I am confident that the Native Corporations are complying with State and Federal Regulation in regards to logging activities. I can assure you as a shareholder in a regional corporation I am not getting rich, just have to ask any shareholder that belongs to any Native Corporation.

I was arguing about the bridge to nowhere 30 years ago with folks like Mr. Paul Wingren and Mr. Ralph Barthomew to name a few. It wasn't pleasant. I think it was a dumb idea then as it is today. I listen to my Native Elders and they encourage me to protect what is ours and what is left of ours. Protect the Tribal grave sites on Pennock Island or Native grave sites anywhere. If you folks don't like what I have to say, do not open my opinion letter and you can "kiss my ear" - a quote I read somewhere.

In closing, I will continue to write my own opinions about the wasted spending of my tax dollars and try to protect our Native graves from desecration no matter where I am living. One day, I will be moving back to Ketchikan and we can have these debates in person.

This is my opinion.

Don Hoff Jr.
Aan Kadax Tseen
Gaanax adi Clan
Yei l Hit
Taan ta Kwaan
Hixson, TN - USA

Related Viewpoint:

Throwing rocks from a distance By Rick Watson - Ketchikan, AK - USA

We're All Wrong By Robert McRoberts - Ketchikan, AK - USA

 

Write a Letter -------Read Letters

E-mail the Editor

Sitnews
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska