Salmon is a great place to live, work and play because we have a long history of coming together to help each other and make our community stronger. Unfortunately, a small group lead by a small group of ideologues is dead-set on undermining that tradition and putting restrictions of civic proects. They are taking aim at the proposed water-park, trying to outlaw any kind of public-private partnersh
ip to develop it. Even if you never set foot in a raft or kayak, Proposition 1 goes too far and is a threat to your freedom, your community and our future prosperity. If these radicals outlaw the water park partnership this time, you can bet they will be back for more. The proposed ballot language for Proposition 1 reads:
It shall be unlawful for an individual, group, or entity (private or governmental) to establish a whitewater kayak recreational park or any improvements related thereto on property owned by the City of Salmon. A violation of this ordinance shall be a misdemeanor punishable as according to law. People visit Salmon to take part in activities built around the river. Their spending and tax dollars drive Salmon’s economy. Proposition 1 is an affront to the town’s prosperity, and its passage would undermine the town’s economic future. The consequences of outlawing an activity as central to the river and its identity as whitewater recreation would stifle future business, and have a chilling effect on all kinds of economic development. The river is the town’s economic engine and a vote for Proposition 1 is a vote to handcuff the future and choke jobs and growth. Self-determination
Proposition 1 is being pushed by a small but very vocal group of people who want to force their views onto the rest of the community by exploiting the election process. Their views are not representative of the community, which values the river and cares about the community’s prosperity. The best way to keep the destructive actions of a few squeaky wheels from harming the community is to defeat them at the ballot – soundly. Freedom
Parks and other civic improvements belong to the entire community. They are there for anyone and everyone to use. They help improve the quality of life and make Salmon a better place to live. Things like public parks, libraries, town squares and trails are a part of the civic freedoms we get to enjoy by being part of a community. They help make life in Salmon special, and they shouldn’t have restrictions placed on them. If a small group can outlaw a water park simply because they don’t agree with it, what’s next? Playgrounds? Sidewalks? Proposition 1 goes too far and puts the city on a slippery slope to more restrictions that will handcuff its future. PLEASE TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOR. Below is a list of points to get the conversation rolling.
1. Prop 1 outlaws public-private partnerships and collaboration, and it torpedoes Salmon’s future.
2. Prop 1 will kill jobs and hurt Salmon’s economy.
3. Prop 1 destroys Salmon’s legacy of working together to make our community stronger and provide for our kids and families.
4. Even if you never kayak or raft, Prop 1 is bad for your freedom and bad for our economy.
5. We shouldn’t put restrictions on civic improvements like parks and trails. These kinds of things should be celebrated as part of our freedos, not shackled because somebody doesn’t like them.
6. Prop 1 is a slippery slope. If Prop 1 passes, it will give these zealots power to go after any kind of public-private partnership that can help Salmon’s economy.
