I agree with Richard Clement of the Alaska Miners Association, except that he has my NO’s incorrect. As a resident who cares about the environment and our quality of life in the Chilkat Valley, I say NO to polluting our watersheds and air with industrial waste. NO to exporting our natural resources overseas for foreign profit with a net loss of revenue to the state and our local economy. NO to exploiting the land of the Tlingit people that was stolen years ago for our gain and profit at their expense. NO to wiping out our salmon and wildlife populations. NO to a short-term unsustainable boom/bust economy that goes hand in hand with small town industrial resource development. I believe that the majority of our residents agree with me. Following the national trend of politics and US vs THEM will get us nowhere. Let’s work together to find a way forward where everyone benefits.
Thom Ely