January 16, 2006
Monday AM

Governor Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) is still trying to ram bridges our throats, negotiating with three oil companies to sell gas and oil behind closed doors, negotiating with Canada to build a gas line to the mid-west America and wants to spend most of the excess $1.2 billion in oil revenues. Excess moneys should go to principle of Alaska's Permanent Fund. This is my opinion, Governor Murkowski is acting like a Dictator more than a Governor. He is telling what is good for you and treating us like little people that don't have a mind to think. How arrogant is that?

The State of Alaska has an in-kind portion to federal funding. At 20% of today's cost of the $315 million dollar bridge equals about $60 million. Property and sale taxes will sky rocket as the infrastructures are put in roads, water and sewer, electricity, fire and police protection and because a few people want to drive over a bridge to their properties on Gravina and Pennock Island at taxpayers' expense.

Ted Stevens, Don Young and Frank Murkowski are still ignoring the issue of tribal grave sites on Pennock Island that concern Alaska Native Tribes from further desecration. Why, because in my opinion they can care less about indigenous people, history or culture in Alaska.

From an indigenous Alaskan Native point of view, racism and discrimination toward Alaskan Natives concerns are alive and well in the State of Alaska and City of Ketchikan. We are being treated like we don't exist and turning a blind eye toward our Alaskan Native concerns about our grave sites on Pennock Island in Ketchikan. They are willing to break their own Federal and State laws protecting tribal gravesites to get what they want.

What amazes me is that there are only a few people pulling the strings that want this "Bridge to Nowhere". Let's not forget that Governor Frank Murkowski has 33 acres of family owned land, Goldstring and Goldstone old mining sites just south of Clam Cove on Gravina Island valued around $240, 000 dollars. Frank has a conflict of interest and has hidden motivations to construct a $315 million bridge to Gravina Island VIA Pennock Island to property his family owns at federal taxpayers' expense and hiding behind economic development. Is this payback for years of friendship from Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) and Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)? Now, we find out that Rep. Don Young also has family members that own property around where the Knik Arm Bridge is to be built also.

The exploiters, the termite people (logging industry) in Ketchikan are trying to access our old growth timber. There is nothing that the termite people will do on Pennock Island and Gravina Island that will benefit the residents of Ketchikan but bring higher taxes and ruin the beauty of land that Americans desire to see.

In closing, I am just being realistic and letting the public know about how stupid this bridge concept is and how I think the governor is running the State of Alaska. Dreams and hopes are leading the taxpayers to nightmares and despair.

This is my God given right, inherit right, natural right, constitutional right opinion shared by others that oppose wasted spending of our hard earned money.

Don Hoff Jr.
Aan Kadax Tseen
Gaanaax adi Clan
Yei l Hit
Taan ta Kwaan
E-mail: Unukriver[AT]aol.com
Hixson, TN - USA

About: Don Hoff Jr. is a past Council member and Vice Mayor of City of Ketchikan, Alaska. Past member of O.S.H.A Review Board Member, State of Alaska. He served on the I.R.A Tribal Council at Ketchikan Indian Community. He was born and raised in Ketchikan and lived there 42 years. He states, "I don't say I am indigenous to Ketchikan area, I know I am indigenous Ketchikan area and surrounding lands."

 

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