Federal bailout does not build an economy
The news story on Page 3 of the April 22 Wrangell Sentinel, “Federal aid helps Southeast second time in 25 years,” compares apples to oranges (comparing federal aid for the timber industry 25 years ago with federal aid for the tourism industry during the pandemic).
More than 200 full-time jobs were lost at the sawmill. Some workers were retrained for other fields of work, or left town. The independent logger received nothing, nor the tugboat companies and its full-time employees, which outnumber the seasonal charter boats.
The city on the other hand received $33 million in federal funds and did not apply for the last $3 million. The city used some of that money as it thought for the best interest, but only one full-time job was created, and it was a city job.
Now the city and state want to bail out the tourism industry. The city, our governor and representatives are bending to the wind of socialism. Is that how you create an economy?
Jim Colier
Fisheries legislation makes progress
The fishing and mariculture industries — including fishing, processing, management and hatcheries — produces $5.6 billion in economic output in Alaska’s economy and employs almost 60,000 workers each year. One of my main priorities as the District 36 representative is to protect and enhance our seafood industry.
I am sponsoring House Bill 41, which will allow qualified nonprofits to pursue enhancement and restoration projects for shellfish species. It passed the House last week. If it passes the Senate, it will play an important role in development of the mariculture industry.
I am a co-sponsor of House Bill 115, which simplifies the lease-renewal process for aquatic farms. HB 115 has also passed the House, and if it passes the Senate, it will support the mariculture industry by reducing administrative overhead.
I’m also fighting for fisheries within our budget. In the House Finance Committee last week, we voted to include $650,000 of revenue to support the management work of the Crystal Lake Hatchery in Petersburg and DIPAC hatchery in Juneau. The sport fishing and commercial fishing communities support this addition and the benefits it would have to our king salmon stocks.
It’s been a busy year for the fishing and mariculture industries in the Legislature, and I am hopeful that these bills will pass to help the growth of the industry.
Rep. Dan Ortiz
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