 By Walter Bolling September 21, 2007
Initiative, as applied to our local discussions on jewelry stores and local options is clear; somebody needs to do something. We need to act now if we are to take back our town and preserve our heritage, customs, and choices. For too long we trusted our local elected councils to protect our heritage, our choices, and our pride of saying 'Ketchikan is our town!' These councils did not protect our town. The councils, together with the local Chamber of Commerce lost their leadership for civic good. These organizations could only see dollar signs from the tour industry. These organizations said tourism would make us all wealthy and pay our taxes; that did not happen. We have now pledged our houses and our property to guarantee payment of cruise ship docks. We complained, we attended meetings, we hoped things would improve. They did not. Finally, we lost our beautiful town and the friends we met there. It is not our town anymore. We don't go to our downtown area. What should we do? We followed the state law. We created an initiative. As a result of following the law and with the help of you, over 600 local citizens, we are now able to vote on Tuesday, October 2nd. Each one of us will be able to vote YES or NO on limiting the number of jewelry store in a compacted area. I know you will vote for the good of our community and the families who live here. I am voting YES. Walter Bolling Received September 17, 2007 - Published September 21, 2007
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