Don’t blame the Libertarians for what the duopoly has done. Dunleavy is as red-blooded Republican as they come and the pre-Civil War politics and civil policies in the American South rests squarely on the shoulders of the Democrats.
I do agree with Thom Ely that the borough’s wealth transfer from taxpayers who will never have the chance to ride in a helicopter to the Freeride elites is an egregious misuse of public money.
The financial extortion of the borough by Freeride is ludicrous. We are already ranked the #1 heliski destination in the world by Powder Magazine, we don’t need to bribe them to come here. A better solution would have been to eliminate fees and special taxes on the local heliski companies, expand access to more skiable terrain, upthe special event heliski fee to $100,000, and then offer Freeride a 90% discount on this fee as an incentive.
Speaking of business inhibiting fees and regulations, the Mud Bay NIMBYs should be ashamed of themselves for the way they are treating the Letchworths. This couple represents everything that is good about the social and economic future of Haines.
The long-term elitists trying to drive out everything new and inhibit economic activity for young people without the benefit of cushy pensions or trust funds is disgusting and a large factor in the reported Haines Borough population crash.
Katie Emma Begley, State Director Alaska Chase Oliver 2024 campaign