Responding to Matthew Borish’s Letter published in the CVN Oct. 14, the shame belongs to the Haines Chamber of Commerce. Naming an outlaw, tour-permit-violating business as “business of the year” discredits the Chamber, and promotes illegal activity. Achieving profitability by illegally operating reveals a flawed business model. Can CVN give “honest credit where it’s due” to SEABA, who dishonestly broke their tour permit conditions? SEABA achieved profitability while costing the borough thousands of dollars in legal fees. SEABA could have requested additional allocation but instead chose to operate illegally.
Speaking of “selfish minorities,” the award was bestowed on the outlaw operator by 12 voting members of the Chamber, less than 10 percent of the Chamber’s membership. However, no outcry of this decision from the majority of the Chamber is heard, making them guilty by complacency.
How hypocritical is it for Mr. Borish to criticize CVN’s article as biased, when he is a direct employee of the illegally operating firm? His position cannot be considered unbiased, nor does he point out any non-factual information contained in the article. Mr. Borish’s claim of “absurdly false accusations” is in itself absurd. What is also absurd is SEABA’s belief that it can operate with blatant disregard of the law and tour permit.
Clearly, SEABA should be denied a tour permit for 2011. Additionally, should SEABA apply for a 2012 permit, allocation should be reduced by the amount of excess skier days it chose to use in 2010.
Fred Einspruch