Prop. 1 does not support property owners

Mat-Su Borough Prop. 1 does not support my interests as a property owner.

Defending those who want to maintain the right to do whatever they please with their property at the expense of others only reduces my rights and property value. Consider this example. The property owner next to my house decides to start a pig farm. I complain and the Borough tries to stop it. Under Prop. 1, my neighbor will be able claim compensation from the Borough when he says the value of his property will go down if he can’t build his pig farm. But if he succeeds, my property value will plummet. So who is Prop. 1 really good for?

Here’s the real rub with Prop. 1: Where do you think the money comes from to compensate the would-be pig farmer? You and I will have to pay my neighbor under this unjust law. Property taxes go up for all of us and I get stuck with a reduced-value home just so his precious property rights aren’t trampled on. That’s ridiculous.

Prop. 1 will bring higher taxes, fewer services like fire and ambulance and result in schools without adequate funding. Prop. 1 might be good for the pig farmer, but it’s certainly not good for our community. I’m voting “no” on Prop. 1.

Tom Preston

Mat-Su Valley