Fair tries to be fair to all

To the editor:

We are disappointed the Frontiersman would allow the Mat Valley Coalition to make accusations against the Alaska State Fair without verifying the facts first (Letters to the editor Aug. 28).

The Alaska State Fair continues to provide opportunity to every group hoping to reach Alaskans, including the Mat Valley Coalition.

The Mat Valley Coalition has had an ongoing presence at the fair since Saturday and has not been restricted from having a presence on Alaska Mining Day. The Coalition’s main complaint appears to be that it cannot place its booth where it wishes. All event sponsors, be they Alaska health care providers or Alaska Native organizations, are provided a high profile location on their special days. Alaska Mining Day is no different.

Organizations opposed to mining, like the Mat Valley Coalition, are welcome to operate a booth on the fairgrounds, but they simply cannot dictate that they be located in the middle of the event sponsors on their special day. The Alaska State Fair is a private, nonprofit organization that will continue to provide a marketplace of ideas. We simply ask that all organizations that avail themselves of this marketplace display the same level of respect and tolerance.

Ray Ritari

General Manager

Alaska State Fair