Editor:

I was very badly misquoted in the cover story for the May 14 issue of the NCJ (“Meltdown”). The author of this article states: “Humboldt State Economics Professor Steven Hackett questioned the pressing need to replace the ice plant, given that the fishing industry in Humboldt County makes up just 5 percent of the total economy.”

I never said that, nor would I. In fact, an ice plant is critical to the sustainability of our local fishing industry.

Steve Hackett, Arcata

*Ed. note: Hackett is correct. Though the Humboldt State students who reported the story stand by the figures, and the quotation from Hackett that follows the sentence at issue (“’On a good year, [the fishing industry] probably brings in about $10-20 million,’ he said.”), it was improper to attribute sentiments to him that he did not express, or share. Instead, the sentence should have read: “One could question the pressing need to replace the ice plant, given that, according to Humboldt State University Economics Professor Steven Hackett, the fishing industry in Humboldt County makes up just 5 percent of the total economy.”*

*The Journal and the students who produced the story regret the error.
*