October 13, 2015
Tuesday AM

Remember the friendly days of our State Ferry System? The State Marine Highway would change schedules for our students' sporting events or other community events like Gold Medal.

Two years ago the Taku was ordered out of the Shipyard, it was currently then all tore up for its maintenance and one engine being repaired. Governor Parnell ordered the ship to go Wrangell for the re-dedication of their Longhouse. Even if the Taku was to be towed or Tugboat assisted it was going. It was to be used as a Hotel Ship because there was not enough Hotels in Wrangell for the Event. Thank-You Governor Parnell Oh, by the way, what was the cost of that trip to the Alaskan Taxpayers?

So if our Legislatures and the power to be in Juneau can cut jobs, Troopers, Terminal Agents, Road Maintenance Crews, lay up Five State Ferries and sending their Crews Home, then why don't we send the State Ferry Kennicott or Taku, in current layup with no service in the near future, to Juneau for the Legislative Session to house and feed them while forfeiting their per-diem and take a cut like all the other State Workers?

Let's see how serious they are now about saving taxpayer money It will never happen Why?

Why hasn't the top heavy management at the Ketchikan Central Office had any cut to their staff?

Interesting there are more Management Workers in that Office than there are in the remaining Three Ferry Fleet total combined.

You say no monies. Well give the Big Oil Companies more historical Tax Breaks so that they can lay off more Alaskan Workers in our Oil Fields!

You Alaskan Legislators need to be held more accountable. You are taking our Southeast Alaska Ferry System away, one of the two only transportation hubs for the residents of Southeast Alaska.

Each Administration tries to revamp the State Ferry System to make money rather than be a Marine Highway which it was originally designed to be.

Sincerely,

Brita Alander
Ketchikan, Alaska

About: "Frustrated Alaskan Native Resident trying to travel on the Alaska Marine Highway."

Received October 12, 2015 - Published October 13, 2015

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