In Charlie Chaplin’s 1936 silent film Modern Times, he is sucked through the conveyor belt and giant gears of industry. 25 years later Republican President Eisenhower issued the same warning about the military-industrial complex. Today in Haines, public funds still feed gigantic gears of private extractive industry — the Haines Highway, Porcupine/Constantine Road upgrades, Palmer […]
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Posted inLocal News, News
Planner to step down after less than a year
Andrew Conrad didn’t comment on his departure, but city manager Annette Kreitzer said “personal insults” and “disrespect” towards the planner by certain Haines residents was a big issue in the borough.
Posted inLetters to the Editor
New assembly should be in charge, not manager
The community voted overwhelmingly for change when they elected three new assembly members and the mayor in 2023. Transparency was promised and the assembly began delving into details of issues to keep the public informed. This assembly intended to drive the bus. However, the failure of the manager to provide them critical information has hamstrung […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
First Amendment already well-protected
Free speech was on full display during the Feb. 13 Haines Borough Assembly meeting. For 3.25 hours, your mayor and assembly covered soup to nuts: snow-plowing, roof repairs, Port Chilkoot floating dock, truck noise, BLM lands and an upcoming committee of the whole meeting on the new Board of Equalization, Lutak Dock and much more. […]
Posted inNews, Local News
Feds won’t allow $10 million steel purchase; are ‘extremely concerned’ borough won’t meet Lutak Dock deadlines
This story has been updated. A representative from the U.S. Transportation Department said he’s “extremely concerned” Haines won’t meet a deadline for completing environmental reviews required to move forward with its $25 million Lutak Dock rebuild project. The news came in a Friday letter from David Bohnet, a grants supervisor for the Transportation Department. He […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Speech against assembly members is protected by 1st Amendment
In a recent GASC meeting, an assembly member stated it was not a First Amendment issue when the mayor gaveled a citizen prior to making critical statements of another member. And in a Feb. 8 LTE the member stated, “assembly meetings are business meetings,” and the podium at the Assembly Chambers “serves citizens who address […]
Posted inHousing, News, Local News
Haines borough loses Census appeal
The U.S. Census Bureau rejected Haines’ appeal over the 2020 population count, which showed Haines’ population dropping by around 500 residents. “I’m deeply disappointed. I really thought that our response was compelling,” said borough clerk Alekka Fullerton, who worked on the appeal. “I was mad – it’s a big deal to our community.” The bureau […]
Posted inHaines Borough, News, Local News
Assembly Briefs: A new process for property assessments, pushing back on federal land withdrawals
Appointed Board of Equalization Haines will have a separate board of equalization to adjudicate disputes about property assessments next year instead of relying on assembly members to do the job. A resolution to make the change passed at Tuesday’s meeting unanimously, the first change in the city’s tax assessment process after controversy with the process […]
Posted inNews, Southeast News, Alaska Marine Highway System, Transportation
AMHS director: return of Prince Rupert stop faces substantial challenges
Numerous challenges are stopping the resumption of Alaska Marine Highway service to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the ferry system’s director said at a conference of Southeast officials last week. During a Southeast Conference transportation symposium in Juneau on Feb. 8, Ketchikan Vice Mayor Glen Thompson asked for an update about service to the Canadian port, […]
Posted inNews, Local News, Alaska Legislature, State of Alaska
State tax assessment bill follows Haines residents’ push
An advocacy push by Haines residents frustrated over the property tax assessment process has led a state senator to announce a pending bill to codify some of their requests in state law. Sen. Jesse Kiehl made an announcement in his Feb. 3 newsletter “Real Deal with Jesse Kiehl.” He said his bill would include provisions […]