Ben Stevens is at it again. Senate Bill 260 is a thinly veiled attempt by the Anchorage legislator to keep the Coastal Trail extension from becoming a reality. By forcing the Anchorage Assembly to add two legislators to the AMATS decision board, Stevens will be able to exert political pressure to keep AMATS money from being spent on the extremely popular Coastal Trail. Earlier this year, he was successful in decreasing the amount of money AMATS could spend on improvements to road projects, again with the purpose of denying the majority of Anchorage citizens the benefit of an extended trail system.
If you believe his back-door politics are wrong and you support a trail extension, pick up the phone and call 269-0111 and send a public opinion message to the entire Alaska House of Representatives. They will hold hearings on Stevens' bill in the near future and need to hear loud and clear that the public does not support SB 260. Improved recreational trails are good for tourism and for increasing the quality of life for all citizens. Keep the Coastal Trail extension alive!
-- John Baker
Anchorage