Patty Zimmerman for Juneau Mayor

• promote a welcome atmosphere for visitors;
• actively promote the orderly development of the visitor industry in Juneau;
• provide education and information to the public regarding positive community benefits and improved quality of life resulting from the visitor industry.

There is a lot of controversy in our town regarding the tourist industry. Many locally owned businesses benefit from the steady influx of shoppers. I do not want to scare away the multinational corporations that organize these package tours. Tourism has been a part of Juneau's economy for many decades. I do want to make the cruise ship companies engage our community in a dialogue that will result in concessions by both sides being made and compromises being reached. Instead of allowing the cruise ships to pollute our air by producing their own electricity, they will have to plug in and pay for utilizing Juneau's power surplus.

Cruise ship tourists are tired of being greeted by similar gift shops at every port. When they arrive at Alaska's capital and third largest city they want to experience the downtown in a way that locals do. They want to understand the politics and see uniquely local shops and eateries. If out-of-state companies propose more shore-based tours or gift shops they will have to base them at another harbor. This will relieve congestion downtown, entice locals to do business there and allow visitors to see two separate destinations: a unique urban center AND a port surrounded by businesses catering especially to them. Locally-owned businesses should get top priority when competing for space near the docks or space in advertising materials.

Eco-tourism will be encouraged by extending bus service to Auke bay, increasing the amount of campground and hostel space, promoting Juneau in outdoorsy media, improving all types of recreational access to the Tongass and by providing incentives for eco-tourism businesses to thrive.

The Ferry:
City buses should run to and from the ferry terminal, especially near ferry arival and departure times.

The assembly last year let Jamie Parsons (my competition) and others attack the ferry system in the Legislature. It's time the assembly sent a strong message of support for the ferry system and encouragement for its improvement to the Legislature.

Airfare monopoly:
Juneau should look to acquiring the services of a second airline. The Seattle-owned "Alaskan" airline is not competetive.

Noise Pollution:
The noise initiative is already on the ballot so it is up to the voters, not to the mayor, to decide. It would not affect the outcome of that referendum either way if I, as a candidate or as mayor, announced which side I support. Therefore, instead of allowing a divicive issue to rob votes from my campaign I will encourage all of you to investigate both sides and decide the fate of the noise initiative.
However, just to inform you of the facts, "Air Zoning" is not a new or difficult plan to implement. Tourist flights over and through the Grand Canyon and Hawaiian Islands have managed flight path concerns successfully. Strategic Air Command centers for the US Military strictly regulate flight paths over secure areas for obvious reasons. With FAA cooperation, rather than obstruction, we can achieve a reasonable middle ground in Juneau.

Taxing Tourists:
This is still a pertinent issue as evidenced by complaints from some of you about tourists' use of our facillities (the bus system for example). I support an Alaska state constitutional amendment to allow industrial tourism assessments. We need to instill a reasonable per passenger tax that will not scare away the cruiselines but will appease the city by funding needed services. Since I have promised "No New Property Taxes" we could sit down with the entities to be taxed, and with our list of city impacts in hand, negotiate a fees contract with them instead of imposing a property tax.