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Letters to the editor (June 13, 2012) |
Ferry regulation will stop ‘war’
Editor:
Remember the Mackinac Island ferry “controversy” of a couple of years ago?
Legislation has been introduced to prevent another “ferry war” from happening.
Senate Bill 1150 will “level the playing field” for Michigan municipalities regarding the regulation and licensing of ferry services. Mackinac Island will no longer have “special regulatory powers” as if ferry service was more important to Mackinac Island than to Beaver Island, Drummond Island, or Bois Blanc Island.
Senate Bill 1151 clearly makes the Michigan Public Service Commission the ultimate regulatory authority of ferry services in Michigan.
No longer will any municipality be free to abuse its regulatory powers by conveying the impression it’s considering terminating the life of one of its ferry services without reason, causing the ferry service to unnecessarily commit considerable resources fighting for its life.
No longer will any municipality be free to show a reckless disregard for its unreasonably high franchise fee’s consequences to its ferry licensees, jeopardizing the viability of those ferry licensees.
No longer will any municipality be free to substitute a revenue-generating franchise fee for a prohibited “head tax” on visitors to that municipality. I don’t believe municipalities are allowed to “charge admission” to themselves.
No longer will the citizens of Michigan find access to one of their state parks jeopardized by any municipality’s reckless ferry regulation.
Please ask your legislators to support this legislation.
Daniel Robbins, Mackinaw City
Vote Martin for 107th
Editor:
In the upcoming Aug. 7 primary elections, we will have a chance to make a positive change for the average person. Jim Martin is running for the Michigan House of Representatives. He is an intelligent, perseverant and hard working man.
I strongly recommend you vote for Jim Martin to make a change. By Michigan election law, a voter must vote a straight party vote in the primary election. SO I am going to vote on the Democratic ballot to vote for Jim Martin. I hope you do too.
Leo J. “Pete” Miller Sr., Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Bottle law not worth a dime
