The Sitka City and Borough Special Election is May 28, with just one question on the ballot: Should there be a limit to cruise ships visiting the city?
The group “Small Town SOUL” wants to limit cruise ships that have over 250 passengers, as well as restrict cruise ships from the port before May 1 and after Sept. 30. Ships would be limited to six days a week. The initiative would cap daily cruise ship passengers at 4,500 and annual passengers at 300,000 per cruise season. There are other provisions involving scheduling, permitting, reporting, and enforcement.
Early voting has already begun in Sitka, with in-person balloting through May 27 at Harrigan Centennial Hall, except for Memorial Day (May 26) and Sundays.
This is the third round for ballot initiative sponsor Larry Edwards and Small Town SOUL, which proposed a ballot initiative in 2022 to cap cruise ship passengers at 240,000 annually, with a weekly maximum of 13,350 visitors. The Sitka municipal clerk rejected this petition in September 2023, citing “confusing, misleading, and incomplete” terms and violations of the Alaska 2008 Alaska state constitution, specifically regarding the establishment of a port district.
In 2024 the group submitted another petition to limit cruise passengers to 300,000 annually and 4,500 daily, and it shortened season from May 1 to Sept. 30. That proposal was also rejected by the municipal clerk on July 2, 2024, for “misleading, confusing, and incomplete terms” and potential violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Tonnage Clause.
The group was undeterred and filed the third petition in December, with nearly 700 valid signatures.
Opposing the measure is another group, Safeguard Sitka, which argues that these limits could harm the local economy. In 2023, Sitka saw approximately 560,000 cruise ship passengers, generating significant economic activity. In 2024, there were about 600,000 passengers. Between 20-40% of Sitka’s economy is linked to cruise ship tourism.
If passed, the limitations would take effect for the 2026 cruise season. The cost of the election is over $17,000. Voters may vote in person on Election Day at their respective precinct in Harrigan Centennial Hall. Polls will be open 7 am to 8 pm.
Sitka is a Democrat stronghold, with as much as 30% of the workforce working for government or quasi-government jobs (SEARHC or tribal offices). Another 17% of workers are employed by nonprofits. None of these are stakeholders in the commercial sector, which is driven by tourism and fishing, primarily.
Juneau voters knocked down a similar proposal in October of 2024. Known as the “Ship-Free Saturdays” measure, the initiative proposed banning cruise ships with 250 or more passengers from docking on Saturdays and prohibited cruise ships on July 4, Juneau’s high holy day of partying. Out of 10,880 votes cast, 6,575 (approximately 60%) voted against the measure, while 4,196 (about 40%) voted in favor.
That was the first time Juneau voters voted on a cruise ship restriction, although there was an attempt in 2021 to gather enough signatures for the ballot; that effort failed.
A new petition is being attempted in Juneau, with different restrictions: Cruise ships would only be allowed five days a week and the annual cap on passengers would be 1.5 million. No cruise ships would be allowed before May 1 or after Sept. 30.
This proposed initiative, led by Juneau’s leading cruise ship critic Karla Hart, might be on the October, 2025 municipal election ballot for Juneau.
A similar ban was passed by voters in Bar Harbor, Maine in 2022, capping daily cruise ship passengers at 1,000, which was a major reduction from the 2,000 to 4,500 passengers who typically disembarked daily during the season.
The cap, effective December 2022, was upheld by a federal judge in 2024 despite a lawsuit from local businesses.
Since then, businesses have reported devastating consequences. Business owner Shawn Porter of Little Village Gifts reported that up to 40% of her annual revenue comes from cruise passengers, but ships cancelled visits, with minimal bookings for 2025, since ships cannot selectively disembark passengers to meet the cap. The Association to Preserve and Protect Local Livelihoods, which represents businesses like Bar Harbor Whale Watch and pier operators, estimated a $20 million annual loss for businesses.
As Alaska continues to try to commit economic suicide.
The US initially did not allow you to vote if you weren’t a landowner. Otherwise, you could vote for high property taxes on “all your friends” and reap the revenue. It isn’t a bad idea just because it is in the past. Now we have politicians who have never lost their own money with bad decisions, but have just lost other people’s money. It doesn’t hurt so bad, if at all, when it is other people’s money. And here we are again: basically, non-landowners voting for property taxes.
Thanks for including the tragic Ben Harbor, Maine decision. As they raise their own taxes, they will realize too late why it has happened.
I voted NO