RE: Ketchikan Legislative party By Rodney Dial March 11, 2014
Both the Borough and City have paid for this trip and party for years. Your comment “The city spent no money on the GENERAL fly in and paid to send a single representative” is an attempt to spin a potentially embarrassing expenditure of money. Here is what I take from your statement. 1. Both the Borough and City sent employees to Juneau. 2. The City spent no money on the General Fly in (whatever that means, but spent taxpayer funds on other elements of this trip/party). 3. Money was spent on lavish food and a party for everyone in Juneau that wanted to attend, as I mentioned in my letter. You said that the purpose of the trip was to lobby for the Swan Lake Expansion. Noble goal for sure… however you are leaving out relevant information. 1. The City/Borough employs a paid lobbyist named Ray Matiashowski who resides in Juneau. This makes sending the gaggle of local officials, at significant taxpayer expense to Juneau unnecessary. That is Mr. Matiashowski’s job…. To lobby. 2. Even if there was some benefit of sending representatives from Ketchikan… in addition to the paid lobbyist… that goal could be completed with ONE representative. Perhaps you Mr. Mayor or even the Borough Manager. However, as you know several government employees travel to this every year, such as clerks and assembly members. 3. Even if you could make the case that you needed multiple people to lobby… there is no need to send employees to Juneau for days or THROW A PARTY AT THE END OF YOUR TRIP 4. Your letter failed to mention that I was correct… the taxpayers of Ketchikan paid for the free buffet, desserts, etc for anyone in Juneau who wanted to attend. I have pictures of children and locals dining at the event who had no connection to anything related to the Swan Lake project. 5. I was at the party, taking pictures and watched people get free drinks so you may want to check your facts. All I saw was people put money in the tip jar. I have attended this event three times over the last four years and have watched people get free food and drinks each time Bottom line Mr. Mayor is that the party cost the taxpayers THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. Money you said we didn’t have during the last budget cycle when the borough wanted to raise the property tax rate. My challange to you. Tell us the full cost of the party and legislative trip and let the public decide. Employee wages for the days in Juneau, airfare, lodging, transportation, ALL event expenses, etc. Also a comparison of Ketchikan to other communities who don’t throw parties, but also get capital improvement funds would be nice. Do you think we could find a single legislator who would say that Ketchikan gets more funding than other communities because we host a big party in Juneau?... I think not This is more of a perk for local government officials and employees who each year get an all expense trip to Juneau for a few days to shop and socialize. This party was simply unnecessary to lobby for the Swan Lake Expansion. With the exception of a poster showing Swan Lake no one did any lobbying at the party. This was kind of like when the borough hosted a party a few months back for the Borough Anniversary. These things may seem like small potatoes to you, however when we are one of the highest taxed communities in the state we (taxpayers) expect you to save every dime you can and not spend our money on anything not absolutely necessary. Finally, the reference in your letter to me being a Lieutenant was a low dig. I have never mentioned my “day job” in my letters, because I am representing myself… as a taxpayer. You are an elected official and should welcome or at least tolerate differing opinions of the citizens you serve. By bringing my profession into our debates seems to be an attempt to cause me problems at work and shut me up. Expect me to remind you of this party when you try to raise our taxes during the next budget cycle. Rodney Dial About: Citizen of Ketchikan... Received March 06, 2014 - Published March 11, 2014 Related Viewpoint:
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