Gateway council opposes Prop. 1

Gateway Community Council wishes to state its position in opposition of Mat-Su Borough Prop. 1.

We are 100 percent behind private property protection; however, this proposition as well as its title, Private Property Protection Act, is anything but what the title suggests and is very misleading, particularly to any individuals who are not knowledgeable of the proposition and all the baggage that comes along with it. It puts all taxpayers in the precarious position of funding expensive and needless lawsuits via the loopholes that are currently in the wording of the act and will create more bureaucracy.

This proposition has already proven itself as a failure in Oregon and Arizona with literally thousands of claims that add up to billions of dollars. Even though lawyers need jobs too, let’s not go overboard by passing this proposition and lining their pockets with more frivolous lawsuit opportunities. Ironically, if passed, this could be like the great Alaska Gas Pipeline, but tailored for lawyers. We might be lucky enough even to get many of those who are fighting the municipalities in the Lower 48 to come up here and take on the Borough.

This proposition propagates a litigious society and pits neighbor against neighbor while simultaneously tying the hands of Borough management with indefinable and unlimited lawsuits to defend at the expense of taxpayers.

The bottom line is every taxpayer and homeowner is in favor of private property protection. This particular act should be named “Private Lawyer Protection Act,” as this is what property owners will truly get if they vote for the measure. The Gateway Community Council asks you to take the time to educate yourself and your neighbors on the misleading and misrepresented Private Property Protection Act so that you and they can make an informed choice in voting “no to Prop. 1 on Oct. 2.

Neil Fox, president

Gateway Community Council