Why Your Neighbors are Voting NO on Prop 2.

Juneau residents from across the community are standing together by voting "No" on Prop 2. These advocates understand the role tourism plays in sustaining our local economy, providing jobs and supporting the businesses and services that make Juneau a great place to live.

From long-time business owners to young professionals who’ve built their careers here, Protect Juneau’s Future supporters see the importance of preserving what we love about Juneau while ensuring a strong future for all.

Read their stories and learn why they believe in protecting Juneau’s future through collaboration, not restriction.

Lauren Heide, Baby Bean Doula

“I'm voting no on Prop 2 because tourism matters in this town. Every single day during the cruise season, we need that income —that's how it supports the families that continue doing this, year after year.”

Max Mertz, CPA, Alaska Seaplanes

“Tourism has had a significant impact on our business. It pays our company's bills and, by extension, supports my family. Losing $30 million in direct spending would not only cost jobs but also have a domino effect on our community.”

Mike Satre, Hecla Greens Creek

“If we start losing a source of revenue for the community, we're going to have to make some very, very tough choices about what we can support — whether that's police, fire, our hospital or our emergency services. We do not want to see those shrink."

Bob Janes, Gastineau Guiding Company

“We employ 140 people every summer, and many of them have stayed in Juneau, living here and taking on other jobs. Without that introduction to Juneau through cruise ship tourism, they wouldn't be here. The seasonal income brought in by cruise passengers changes hands through many businesses, and without it, Juneau would be a much different place."

Jessica Hahnlen, Frost and Fur

“25% of our revenue happens on [summer] Saturdays. Without that income, we wouldn't be able to afford keeping our business open."

The Juneau Central Labor Council

“This measure would directly affect local union jobs by eliminating 5,000 man-hours per year, leading to a 15% loss in wages. Such a loss would have severe repercussions, including the potential disqualification of union workers from pension benefits and diminished retirement prospects, adversely impacting Juneau families.”

Ian Worden, CEO of Bartlett Regional Hospital

“The cruise industry is crucial for Bartlett Regional Hospital's financial health, especially during the busy season when cruise passengers boost revenue. "Ship-Free Saturdays" could reduce BRH's annual income by $732,000, risking seven hospital jobs and affecting other local services like medevac companies.”

Bruce Abel, Don Abel Building Supply & Valley Lumber Company

“This initiative asks voters to take away 15% of Juneau tourism businesses' weekly revenues, employee wages, and CBJ sales tax revenue. Before you vote, ask yourself: if it were 15% of your wages or retirement income, would you still vote Yes?”

Darryl Tseu, ILWU Local 200

“I challenge those intent on restricting cruise ship activity in Alaska, not just Juneau, to offer alternatives for replacing the sales tax revenue our town depends on. I like having plowed streets in winter, appreciate potholes fixed in summer and I support our Juneau School District in providing the various services that support young families with children.”

  • As a 39 year resident of Juneau I have experienced the ebbs and flows of progress in the town in which I have raised my children and now enjoy with my grandchildren, some good with some bad. I appreciate the views of some in our community who insist the cruise ship industry needs to be controlled but feel those personal perceptions do not address the entirety of our situation. As a parent I became involved with Educational Funding process in our Legislature and realized, our Alaska School Districts were suffering statewide. I could see CBJ slowly making up for those shortsighted budget cuts and though I did not appreciate increases to our sales tax  and property assessments, I understood that as our community grew, there would be growing pains that we all would need to endure for the betterment of our Capital City.

    I would challenge those who are intent on restricting cruise ship activity in Alaska, not only Juneau, to step up and provide alternative options for our Borough to replace the income our town enjoys through sales tax revenue from cruise ship passengers. I like my streets plowed during the winter, I appreciate the pot holes being repaired in the summer, I support our Juneau School District in providing the various services that support young families with children. I support the effort to Protect Juneau's Future.

Maggie McMillan, Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce

“I moved to Alaska in 2009 as a seasonal employee, and working in tourism brought me to this place. Though I no longer work in tourism, I see its importance to the future of our community. As a mother, I want my son to have a future in this place”

  • "The Chamber is passionate about keeping Juneau a great place to live, work, and visit. We believe a healthy tourism industry is good for Juneau. I moved to Alaska in 2009 as a seasonal employee. Working in tourism brought me to this place and showed me the beauty of Alaska. In 2019 I moved my family to Juneau. Though I no longer work in tourism I see the importance of this industry to the future of our community. As a mother, that is important to me. I want my son to have a future in this place."

Max Mertz, CPA, Alaska Seaplanes

“Tourism revenue benefits CBJ taxes, hospital services and businesses and families throughout Juneau. With ongoing efforts to manage growth, we are on a healthy trajectory for tourism that supports a vibrant economy and quality of life.”

  • "It is important for Juneau to have a strong economy that provides good jobs and supports families’ quality of life. Thanks to the recent and ongoing efforts by the CBJ, local citizens and the industry to manage tourism growth, we are on a healthy trajectory. The revenue generated from tourism benefits CBJ taxes, hospital services, businesses and families throughout Juneau."

Mike Satre, Hecla Greens Creek

“Juneau is a fantastic place to live with a vibrant and diverse economy, including tourism. Placing arbitrary hurdles to our visitors through the initiative process tells people they are unwelcome, and we simply can't afford that.”

  • "Juneau is a fantastic place to live because we have a vibrant and diverse economy, including tourism. How lucky are we to live in a place that is a once-in-a-lifetime dream trip for people around the world? Placing arbitrary hurdles to our visitors through the initiative process tells people that they are unwelcome and we simply can't afford that."

Morgan Johnson, The Pottery Jungle

“Tourism is essential for local jobs and sustaining our community. Prop 2 would impact our ability to generate the extra income that supports year-round operations. Instead of restricting tourism, we should work together to manage it sustainably.”

  • "As a small business owner in downtown Juneau every day I see firsthand the critical role that tourism plays in our community. When I moved to Juneau to attend UAS working summers for a local tourist company allowed me to earn enough to focus on my studies without needing to work during the school year. The ability to work extra hours, earning overtime, was crucial for my financial stability and academic success as it is for many young adults in Juneau. Since graduating, I’ve opened a plant store downtown, which has since expanded into a gallery and pottery studio. While my primary focus is on serving the local community year-round, the additional revenue from summer tourism is vital. It supports not only my business but also our ability to offer a community pottery studio. Ship-Free Saturdays would impact our ability to generate the extra income that supports our operations year-round. Tourism is essential for local jobs, funding for public services, and sustaining our community. Instead of restricting tourism, we should continue to work together with local officials to manage it sustainably and ensure it benefits everyone."

Craig Jennison, Temsco Helicopters, Inc.

“Protecting the visitor industry is crucial for Juneau. This ballot initiative puts the opportunities for residents and young professionals, as well as our economy, at risk. Please join me in voting no on this punitive initiative.”

  • "My introduction to Alaska was a seasonal job in the visitor industry nearly 30 years ago. After that first summer, I knew Alaska would be home. I couldn’t have predicted that those early connections and opportunities within the visitor industry would turn into such a rewarding career. Today, there are even more opportunities in the industry for residents and young professionals looking to build a future in Juneau. Protecting the visitor industry is crucial for Juneau, but this ballot initiative does the opposite, putting those opportunities and our economy at risk. I hope that through this campaign, my fellow residents will learn more about the importance of the cruise industry to Juneau and the efforts underway to address common concerns and community impacts. Please join me in voting no on this punitive initiative."

Corey Baxter, IUOE Local 302

“The Operating Engineers Local 302 supports a healthy tourism industry, which benefits our membership through sales and head tax revenue used for construction projects throughout Juneau.”

Nancy DeCherney, retired, formally Juneau Arts & Humanities Council

“This proposal will negatively impact our town, leading to the loss of services, small businesses, opportunities and creative endeavors that make Juneau livable. The city and the cruise industry are already working together to manage visitor numbers and ensure a sustainable economy.”

  • "The proposal to ban cruise ships one day a week and on the Fourth of July is likely to create more problems than it solves. What we do in Juneau directly affects the economies of our neighboring communities, and as the capital city, we are called to offer leadership that serves everyone. This proposal will negatively impact our town and surrounding areas, leading to the loss of services like the hospital, small businesses, opportunities and creative endeavors that make Juneau livable. Many of our young people, myself included back in the day, work their way through college with summer jobs in the visitor industry, and many remain here, becoming the next generation to carry Juneau forward. The city and the cruise industry are already working together to manage visitor numbers and ensure we have the infrastructure to present Juneau and Southeast as the magnificent destination it is.

    Let's rely on our community and industry leaders to continue working together to build a sustainable and beneficial economy for Juneau. Vote no on this proposition."

Holly Johnson, Wings Airways

“This initiative is a direct blow to the hard work that so many in our community have poured their hearts into. Juneau has the power to shape our own future, and it must be guided by those of us willing to collaborate.”

  • "I am deeply proud of our community and the unique spirit that defines us. By coming together, we have tackled hard issues and developed an ongoing action plan. This initiative is a direct blow to the hard work that so many in our community have poured their hearts into. Juneau has the power to shape our own future, and it must be guided by those of us willing to collaborate."

Alec Mesdag, Alaska Electric Light & Power Co.

“The proposal to ban cruise ships on Saturdays is a blunt tool that will have substantially negative impacts felt throughout Juneau, and most keenly by those with the least. A better path forward is to pursue collaborative and creative solutions.”

  • "Tourism plays a major role in the lives of everyone in Juneau. While recent growth has, for some, created a sense of whiplash after COVID, historically the community has demonstrated the ability to manage increasing numbers of visitors in a manner that strikes a balance between the opportunity and impacts visitors create. The proposal to ban cruise ships on Saturdays is a blunt tool that will have substantially negative impacts felt throughout Juneau, and most keenly felt by those with the least. A better path forward is to pursue collaborative and creative solutions that manage visitor traffic with fewer negative consequences than those the ballot measure would create."

Craig E. Dahl, Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce

“Attempting to block cruise ship access to Juneau for one day each week inflicts serious economic harm to local employers, their employees - and in turn the residents of Juneau.”

  • "The cruise industry has grown to become an integral and critical part of the local economy with many businesses and families reliant on the visitor industry. It is appropriate to address issues of concern through a rational collaboration process but attempting to block cruise ship access to Juneau for one day each week inflicts serious economic harm to local employers, their employees - and in turn the residents of Juneau."

Jamey Cagle, Allen Marine Tours

“Juneau has been home for generations of my family, I'd like to help provide for generations to come. We need opportunities for our youth to be able to work in the place they call home, and tourism is one of those industries that provides these opportunities.”

Laura McDonnell, Caribou Crossings

“Cruise tourism is a bright spot in our economy that provides opportunities for families like mine to thrive in Juneau. We must promote collaboration and balance. This proposition achieves neither.”

  • "As a born and raised Juneauite, I have always dreamed of building a life in my hometown so my family could have the same opportunities I’ve had in the place I love. Now my generation is facing brand new economic hurdles –– it is harder than ever to buy a home here, and to keep our kids in the same schools we were lucky enough to attend. Cruise tourism is a bright spot in our economy that provides opportunities for families like mine to thrive in Juneau. We must promote collaboration and balance. This proposition achieves neither."

Russell Dick, Huna Totem Corporation

“Tourism is critical in Southeast Alaska, sustaining businesses, jobs and families. Ballot initiatives can have unintended consequences, negatively impacting our community. We need a balanced approach to protect Juneau's economic stability.”

  • "Tourism is a critical industry in Southeast Alaska, creating and sustaining local businesses, jobs and families. We must be mindful of the fact that ballot initiatives often have unintended consequences, creating more challenges than solutions, and negatively impacting the economic and social well-being of our community. We need a balanced approach to addressing concerns, ensuring we protect economic stability for the future of Juneau."

Bob Janes & Dawn Wolfe, Gastineau Guiding Company

“Do we want to continue welcoming cruise visitors, bringing income and vitality to our hometown, or risk losing the jobs, shops and restaurants that depend on summer income? Please vote NO Prop 2 and help Protect Juneau’s Future.”

  • "For over 30 years, our family has operated Gastineau Guiding in Juneau. We’ve employed thousands of nature-loving people— both young and old, local and newcomers.

    Juneau is at a crossroads on the pathway to our tourism future. Do we want to continue planning for and welcoming cruise visitors to our city, or do we want to retreat and limit the industry that brings so much income and vitality to our hometown and region every year? Do we want to portray ourselves as a privileged and unwelcoming capital city, or do we want to continue opening our doors to visitors from around the world? Do we want to risk losing jobs that are important to our community, jobs that may be filled by our friends and neighbors? Do we want to risk losing the shops and restaurants that we visit year-round and that depend on summertime income to get through the year?

    Please become aware of Juneau’s tourism planning efforts and vote NO on the Prop 2. Please help Protect Juneau’s Future."