December 02, 2005
Friday

There appears to be growing opposition locally to spending 300-plus million dollars for a bridge to Gravina. Since Congress has pulled their support for the bridge, yet has said it will include money in Alaska's transportation projects, we in Alaska must now decide how best to spend that money, and for what.

Each area of the state will now advise the legislature and/or governor of our priorities and projects. The Borough Assembly and the City Council have already sent our projects and priorities to the governor and legislature. They said, We want the bridge and nothing else.

Is that what you, the average citizen, wants? Are there priorities or projects you feel would be more beneficial to our area? I've read some letters on Sitnews expressing concerns about the bridge project; some of you have good ideas. I, too, feel there are projects that would be better developed and would better serve our area than this proposed bridge, but unless I let my priorities and ideas be known, they will never be considered, and neither will yours.

You see, if you don't speak, you would be telling the state government the same thing the Borough and City have told them, i.e., we don't need anything, so we'd like to have a bridge. If you want to be heard, write your local representatives, Bert Stedman and Jim Elkins, at 50 Front Street, Ketchikan, AK 99901, or call Jim at 247-4672 or Bert at 225-8088. It only costs thirty-seven cents to write and nothing to call. Send a copy of your letter to Sitnews or the Ketchikan Daily News. Also, share your letter with other Alaskans.

Anchorage Daily News, 1001 Northway Drive, Anchorage, AK99508
Cordova Times, 520 2nd Street, Cordova, AK 99574
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 200 North Cushman St. Fairbanks, AK 99701
Island News, 100 Willow Drive, Thorne Bay, AK 99919
Peninsula Clarion, 150 Trading Bay Dr., #1, Kenai, AK 99611
Valdez Star, 303 Galena St., Valdez, AK 99686
Valley Sun, 1261 S. Seward Meridian Drive, Wasilla, AK 99654
Wrangell Sentinel, 312 Front St., Wrangell, AK 99929
Juneau Empire, 3100 Channel Dr., Juneau, AK 99801
Petersburg Pilot, 212 Harbor Way, Petersburg, AK 99833
Sitka Sentinel, 112 Barracks St., Sitka, AK 99835
Nome Nugget, Nome, AK 99762

For the sake of your community, speak up. Merry Christmas

Walt Bolling
Ketchikan, AK - USA

Note: Walt Bolling is a long-time resident of Ketchikan and a retired professional.

 

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