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:
 Answers
By Rick Gram - Ketchikan, AK - USA
Answers
please... By Peg Travis - Ketchikan, AK - USA
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