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Viewpoints

Answers, Part Two
By Robert D. Warner

 

December 20, 2005
Tuesday PM


I have been reading Rick Grams' lengthy response to questions asked by Peg Travis about who will pay infrastructure costs related to Ketchikan's Bridge to Nowhere.  Often excessively long replies have few answers.  They can also contain lofty language lacking in clear meaning.
 
The key sentence in Grams' long reply reads:  "most of us 'pro-bridge' people predict, there will certainly be private investment pressure and investment that will leverage governmental resources."  I agree!  This is another way of saying that Gravina Island special interests will lobby and pressure government to force taxpayers to pay their bills. 
 
If successful, the likely result will be that many Ketchikan residents will be forced to move as the only alternative to escape excessive new taxes.  To be clear, I do not want to see 1 cent of my taxes, which are already too high, going to the Gravina special interests.  Citizens need to be vocal in their opposition to projects such as this that would benefit the few at the expense of the many!
 
The honest alternative would be for Gravina Island land owners to form their own local improvement district.  They should pay for desired improvements themselves, including the Bridge to Nowhere. 
 
Robert D. Warner
Ketchikan, AK - USA
 

About: Retired faculty, University of Alaska Ketchikan.  Ketchikan resident and taxpayer since 1972.
 


Related Viewpoint:

letter Answers By Rick Gram - Ketchikan, AK - USA

letter Answers please... By Peg Travis - Ketchikan, AK - USA

 

 

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