Letter: DOT must terminate the Cascade Point Stage 1 contract

The sequence of decisions made in advancing this ridiculous project constitutes a breach of fiduciary duty by Southcoast Region Director Christopher Goins and Alaska Marine Highway System Director Craig Tornga. They have preemptively spent funds already marked for reappropriation, hamstringing the legislative budget process. They rushed the bid process, despite multiple requests for an adequate review period from contractors. By committing build funds before negotiating the sale of land from Goldbelt, they also cost the state negotiating position on land cost. With such dire state budget issues, the ripple effects of these missteps will affect all of us.

In every meeting related to Cascade Point I've attended, Goins speaks as though the $28.5 million of Stage 1 funds are already spent and that it is a question of “how not if” this project continues. We are being led to believe this project can't be stopped until the next stage, but that isn't true. DOT has the power to terminate the Stage 1 contract at any time and has a clear directive from the public to do so. If we let Stage 1 happen, the fiscal damage is done and the handout to Canadian billionaires complete. We shouldn't have to wait for environmental reviews, cultural site disturbance, or lack of further funding to close the book on this foolish project. This is an administrative problem with a clear and immediate administrative solution. 

In the Senate Transportation Committee meeting on the subject, I could see the shame in the directors’ faces when confronted with the facts of their actions. One moment of shame isn't enough. Public employees have a duty to responsibly steward funds, listen to the public before money is spent, and speak out when asked to do something wrong. Whether under pressure from the governor or not, Goins and Tornga know they've done wrong. Any other good work they've done is clouded by this project. They both have a responsibility to recover our money or face further public shame and consequences. Terminate the contract.

Oliver Price

Juneau/Haines