The Haines Borough Assembly voted Tuesday night supporting phases 1-2 of the new, phased plan for the Lutak dock. This was two days before the Lutak Dock Town Hall, which is being billed as a chance for the public to discuss “what we want from Lutak Dock.” Neither the assembly nor the public have seen plans, cost estimates, or financial terms for Phase 4, the presumed ore port. The agenda for the Town Hall is crammed with presentations by half a dozen organizations, most with an established pro-mining, pro-ore port agenda. The Town Hall itself is going to be run by the Chamber of Commerce, a private entity not equipped to provide for an equitable public process, and the entity most openly pursuing the industrialization of our valley by way of a new ore port. The Chamber is accountable only to its members.

Nevertheless, our participation is important. If no protest is registered, AIDEA and the Haines Borough both can pretend that the public is in support of the project. A thorough public process is our right. The money AIDEA wants to loan to the Haines Borough is our money. The Borough will be going into debt on our backs. It is our shared landscape, our community wellbeing, and our future at stake. We should be under no illusions that we are being fairly heard or represented by this process, though. Let’s have a real, open public forum on this important topic and together decide the future we believe in.

Thank you,

Jessica Plachta