Prevent takeover of land
As a senior at the University of Idaho, the pressure to know what’s next is palpable. Inevitably the dreaded question comes up: “What’s next after graduation?”
Like most college students around the state, I have strong ties to Idaho. My family has lived here for four generations; my brother and I grew up in Idaho’s forests, rivers and mountains. We have America’s commitment to keeping wild lands wild to thank for those experiences. This makes it especially disappointing to see some Idaho politicians continually pursue a state takeover of public lands.
The proponents of this ill-conceived plan promise that our access wouldn’t change, but fail to mention that the Idaho State Constitution mandates that state lands be managed to attain the greatest possible profit. We only need to look to Priest Lake to see the latest example of what will really happen: Our lands will be sold off.
My decision about where to build a future is based on Idaho’s legacy of public lands access. Staying in Idaho is contingent upon my ability to access the public lands I love, and my peers feel the same. Let’s spend our time and money elsewhere by putting this misguided plan to bed.
Anne Zabala
Moscow