Haines is planning a fundraiser, asking the most financially challenged among us to foot the bill.

On KHNS last winter I heard about a man fined for jaywalking in the Lower 48. By the time he had the money to pay the fine, there were interest charges and court costs. Then he did eight days in jail.

Is this the way you want your mom or grandmom treated, just because she doesn’t have enough money to pay the fine? So the rich among us, guilty of the same offense as the financially challenged, get a get-out-of-jail-free card? This isn’t fair! This isn’t justice.

Many people in Haines are on a fixed income and they pay their bills at the first of the month, with little or nothing left over for food. The money to pay these fines and added expenses has to come from somewhere, meaning less money in the hands of the businesses that need it.

I ask the assembly to consider the following: 1) That no fine exceed 5 percent of a person’s income for that month. 2) That a 30-day grace period be honored with no additional charges. 3) That we start a pool of money to assist those like George Edwards, who cannot pay.

It’s my understanding that one among us was fined for a broken windshield. That would cover about 30 to 40 percent of all of us. We’re all neighbors here. Let’s stand together against financial bigotry.

Anney Shuder