Bridge would help Young's son-in-law (:Bridge to Nowhere" Update)

Anchorage Daily News ^ | 12/20/05 | Richard Mauer

[curtisgardner]

To state Board of Fisheries chairman Art Nelson, Don Young's Way, the proposed Knik Arm crossing named after his father-in-law, is hardly a bridge to nowhere.

For Nelson and his well-connected partners in Point Bluff LLC, Rep. Don Young's span is in fact a bridge to somewhere: their 60 acres of unobstructed view property on the Point MacKenzie side of Cook Inlet. The land sits directly across from Elmendorf Air Force Base, north of the Anchorage port and downtown.

"It's beautiful property," Nelson said.

If a road were built to the land today, it would require about a two-hour commute to downtown Anchorage. But a bridge would change everything. Don Young's Way would mean a shorter drive to downtown than from the Anchorage Hillside -- and make the land much more valuable.

[Clintonfatigued]

Ted Stevens threatened to resign if the Senate voted to stop funding this waste of money. Why, oh why, didn't the Senate take him up on it?

[curtisgardner]

I'd say call his bluff. If he breaks, then we save the money. If he doesnt, we get rid of him.

[Gordongekko909]

It would make the land how many thousands of dollars more valuable, in exchange for how many millions of taxpayer dollars?

I mean, if there's going to be a forcible redistribution of taxpayer funds, it could at least result in something remotely efficient.

[SmoothTalker]

"Ted Stevens threatened to resign if the Senate voted to stop funding this waste of money. Why, oh why, didn't the Senate take him up on it?
"

I really wish they had. He might be good on some social issues, but Stevens is as spend crazy as the worst liberal and is a disgrace to the senate and the party.

[Clintonfatigued]

He's up for reelection in 2008, when he'll be 83 y/o if I'm not mistaken. He'll try to pass the seat to his son, state Senator Ben Stevens.

[Shermy]

Guess it's not a "bridge to nowhere."

It's a "bridge to my family's future development project."

[manwiththehands]

I think we forgot the latest news, folks. The "bridge to nowhere" was canceled and removed from the bill. Oh, they still think we're stupid: Alaska still gets all the money. It's just not appropriated to the bridge.