There are many ways to take land from people. War is one way. In Juneau’s case, they will invade using annexation. Annexation is a way to discriminate against a minority, the people who have property on Admiralty Island.
The Juneau Assembly wants to invade and ignore the request of the Angoon Natives who are asking Juneau to leave their cultural land alone. This is unconscionable!
When Petersburg Borough annexed near Juneau, Mayor Ken Koelsch’s comment on accepting it was, “It’s a good neighbor policy and we always try to be good neighbors.” This good neighbor promise did not extend to the people on Admiralty who are already in an borough. A good neighbor would have a vote of the people in the proposed annex to see if they want to be in Juneau’s borough.
The 2008 Comprehensive Plan for Juneau stated, “Land within the USAB should be efficiently developed before its boundaries are extended to properties outside the USAB.” In other words, clean up what you have going before you ruin more land. “Policy 2.16. It is the policy of the CBJ to support the development of mineral resources in an environmentally sound manner.” What a wonderful job Juneau has done with its last annexation. Google “Greens Creek mine” and the first thing found is, “Greens Creek has violated the Clean Water Act hundreds of times and poisoned Alaska waters by releasing illegal levels of copper, zinc, cyanide and acids. Despite fines of over $350,000, Greens Creek continues to pollute.”
In the past there were other disasters: “North Douglas, where septic failure is rampant and fecal pollution spreads along the beaches and into Gastineau Channel.” In 1999, this septic problem had been going on for 15 years! “Echo Bay mining company let mud, oil, grease, old sewage, ammonia and urine empty through tunnels into Gold Creek before 1994, the FBI and Environmental Protection Agency investigators found. The contaminants were released from the mine just above the city’s drinking water well-fields, with Echo Bay violating the Clean Water Act.”
Juneau does not supply essential services to people on its own road system. Shelter Island was developed in the ‘70s, but still has no essential services. Have you ever looked at the mass of lots on Shelter Island? This is a septic disaster waiting to happen. Septic also runs right into Taku River — where Juneau collects about $55,000 a year in taxes and supplies no essential services.
My question is, why would anyone want to be part of victimizing the people of Admiralty when they cannot take care of their own backyard, let alone keep any promises? I wonder how fast Juneau can destroy a place like Funter Bay. Just fill up Mansfield with 1 acre lots and let the pollution begin; Juneau does not care, they will get tons of taxes.
What a legacy the current Assembly wants to leave to the people of Juneau. They are gradually allowing Hawk Inlet to be destroyed and ignoring the cultural heritage of Angoon. To ignore the village of Angoon puts Juneau right alongside the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Why does Juneau want Admiralty Island? Is it to help the people by providing essential services such as sewer, water and electricity? No, Juneau is into greed and taxes. Juneau wants to tax rural landowners, bring the money to the downtown area, and supply no services the rural people want or need.
At the same time, the annexation would destroy the subsistence lifestyle of the Unorganized Borough. To charter a plane from Funter Bay to attend an Assembly meeting, which my wife did twice when the last annexation was attempted, is about $800 round-trip, plus the cost of a motel room, taxi and food. How would you like to spend over $1,000 to attend a borough meeting?
Juneau could have the people in the proposed annexation area vote. Very simple and cheap. No, Juneau would rather take up the time and cost of the Boundary Commission and Legislature. I think Juneau would be smart to replace the mayor and most of the Assembly who do not seem to know the meaning of fairness or doing unto others.
Phil Emerson was a 40-year resident of Funter Bay. He currently lives in California.
