Viewpoints
Dreams and hopes for Ketchikan
are about to be realized
By Colleen Scanlon
June 14, 2005
Tuesday
I have withheld making comment for months now to Don Hoff s continued
complaints about the proposed bridge to the airport. However,
I can no longer keep quite, as I think some facts need to be
pointed out here. 1. The voters of Ketchikan voted 2-1 in favor
of the bridge, so please Mr. Hoff, make it clear that it is YOU
who does not want the bridge, not the residents of Ketchikan.
2. The tax dollars that are being spent on this project come
from the federal highway funds which are derived from gasoline
taxes, etc. Other states have benefited for years from these
funds, and it is finally Alaska's turn to receive them and catch
up with the rest of the world. 3. This bridge has nothing to
do with Governor Frank Murkowski. It is a concept that has been
discussed for more than 20 years and spearheaded by such people
as Ralph Bartholomew and my grandfather Paul Wingren. Both of
these men were visionaries, and saw the potential that access
to airport can bring to the economic viability of our community.
4. The airport ferry costs us, those of us who live here in
Ketchikan. They are now charging $5.00 each way to get to and
from the airport. If we had a bridge then the Borough would
no longer have to subsidize this operation, and could perhaps
ultimately cut local property taxes, as they will no longer have
the expenses of running the airport ferries which run at a huge
deficit even with their fees. It will also open up private land
for development, and again the potential for new revenue streams
in our community. Additionally, there will not be a toll on
the bridge so once it is up and running we can travel to the
airport at anytime without cost.
Mr. Hoff, you are entitled
to your opinion, however, it is the residents of Ketchikan who
live and vote here that matter the most, so why not throw in
the towel, and give it up. You can write all of the rhetoric
you would like, however, it isn't going to change a project that
is well on its way to finally being realized. I know both my
grandfather and Ralph Bartholomew are watching from above, and
are cheering like mad because their dreams and hopes for Ketchikan
are about to be realized.
Colleen Scanlon
Ketchikan, AK - USA
Related Viewpoint:
 Bridges,
Oil and Jet By Don Hoff Jr. - Hixson, TN - USA
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