Viewpoints
More White Cliff Confusion
and Reasons to Vote NO
By Robert D. Warner
September 22, 2006
Friday
In a recent "SitNews Viewpoint,"
Ms Glover describes two historic school buildings that have been
successfully preserved in the Seattle area. There are several
important factors that were not included in Ms. Glover's "Viewpoint."
(1) In both of the Seattle preservation projects, the old school
buildings were sold by the Seattle School District to private
buyers.
(2) These historic buildings were renovated and maintained by
private investors.
(3) The old schools now generate property tax revenue for local
government.
If it is important to preserve Whitecliff School as public property,
rennovations should focus on the building's continued use in
providing essential public services. Has there been any
serious discussion of the possible use of White Cliff as a new
Borough office building with a few of the old classrooms set
up to relocate the public library?
This proposal, however, supports special interest activities
that are not essential services of government. If public funds
are allocated to support ballet, theater, and other recreational
activities commonly known as the arts, should tax money also
pay for bowling centers, card rooms, and video arcades? Where
does one draw the line?
If voters approve this scheme and the increased sales tax to
pay for it, it will become a permanent expense for our community.
Robert D. Warner
Ketchikan, AK - USA
About: "34 year resident of Ketchikan and retired Ketchikan
Campus faculty member."
Related Viewpoint:
 White
Cliff: Join Me In Voting Yes By Charlotte L.Glover - Ketchikan,
AK - USA
On the Web:
Proposition 1 - Sales Tax Increase:
For the full text of Ordinance No. 1403 click here
http://borough.ketchikan.ak.us/clerks/documents/1403.pdf
Proposition 2 - Bonds: For
the full text of Ordinance No. 1404 click here
http://borough.ketchikan.ak.us/clerks/documents/1404.pdf
White Cliff Project
http://www.ketchikanarts.org/whitecliff
Note: Comments published
on Viewpoints are the opinions of the writer
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
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