Letters to the editor (12/21/09)

A letter Dec. 5 stated I had been unfair calling attention to the victim-blaming and missed opportunities in Julia O'Malley's Nov. 22 column "Women need to watch their drinks -- and their drinking." We are on the same side. However, another round of "please be careful" simply perpetuates the myths that plague society and keep sexual assault rates high.

We have an opportunity, with the governor's commitment to reduce sexual assault, to start a new discussion, with new ideas, new teaching programs and new concepts. For the sake of future generations of men and women, let's not waste it.

Rapists' crimes will be greatly reduced when their behaviors and motivations and the social constructs that support violence against women are examined and challenged. Mothers Against Drunk Driving didn't make "one for the road" a dead phrase by warning people to watch out for drunk drivers.

-- Shannon Bell

Anchorage

Bristol Bay residents oppose mine

As a Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) shareholder, I am thankful for our corporation's recent decision to protect our renewable fisheries and traditions from the proposed Pebble mine.

Multiple surveys and polls show the vast majority of Bristol Bay residents, upwards of 80 percent to 90 percent, are now opposed to Pebble. This overwhelming opposition is showing after years of my Bristol Bay neighbors participating in Pebble's outreach meetings, learning about mining, asking tough questions, and educating ourselves about the potential risks and benefits from all sides.

Pebble has promised us that if the people of Bristol Bay do not want this mine, they would not go forward with the project. BBNC's strong and informed resolution, at the respect of over 8,500 shareholders throughout Bristol Bay, should serve as a call for the Pebble Partnership to keep their promise. If not, what promise will they break next?

-- Verner Wilson III

Dillingham

Praise for good work

Since 1982, the Neighborhood Crime Watch program has trained thousands of residents in crime prevention. All over town, crime watch signs are a testament to neighborhoods that have organized to make their communities safer.

For many years this program has been run under contract with former APD patrolman Wade Lacy and program administrator Susan Peck. Together they have served our community with years of dedication and they deserve recognition for their efforts. Due to budget cuts, these contracted positions are being eliminated. Next year, Neighborhood Crime Watch presentations will be done by senior APD patrol officers. Please join me and thousands of other Anchorage residents in expressing our thanks for a job well done.

-- Bruce Dougherty

Anchorage

Library vital to life in Anchorage

Hooray for the Assembly members who overrode the mayor's veto of even the modest amount they had added back to the library budget. The money will go for library materials and for keeping open two branches, at Girdwood and Eagle River. Library funding has been getting whittled away year by year, cutting acquisition of up-to-date and current publications. The library is an important component of the quality of life in our city; thank you, Assembly members, for recognizing what our libraries mean to this community.

Somebody crowed recently when the convention center served 225,000 people and went only $1 million in the red for the year. The people served were mainly out-of-town or out-of-state visitors. That seems to be way out of proportion in terms of public service, when the library welcomed over 800,000 people, mostly locals with library cards, during the same calendar year -- and the only money the library lost was through budget cuts and increased levies for routine services by the municipality.

-- Don McDermott

Anchorage

Help Alaska lure cruise ships

As a member of the Alaska tourism industry and the operator of a small tour company based in Anchorage, we continue to experience the effect that the economic downtown has had on travel to Alaska. Cruise companies too are similarly impacted by the economy. Although our company's business does not solely depend on cruise visitors, it is abundantly clear that the withdrawal of cruise ships from the Alaska market will have a negative impact on our business and others. Perhaps the main difference between the cruise companies and Alaska companies is that the cruise industry can leave Alaska to move to other destinations where in today's economic climate they can profit. Alaska tourism businesses can't!

As a whole the 2006 cruise ship initiative was overreaching and does more harm than good. It is time we make changes to the initiative. For the benefit of Alaska, let's make Alaska a more appealing destination for the cruise industry to do business with, and for their customers to visit.

-- Steve Judd

Anchorage

Begich, Senate need to get it

According to an Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska study ("Health bills may hurt some Alaskans," Daily News, Dec. 10), the health care bill is bad for Alaska's seniors, bad for Alaska's small businesses, bad for Alaskans who have good health insurance and bad for Alaska and America in general.

The study gets it; the vast majority of Alaska's population gets it. We need the Senate and Sen. Begich to get it.

-- Todd Klementz

Chugiak

Thanks for supporting military

With the holiday season upon us, I want to offer a sincere thank you to the host communities around Alaska who enable the continued success for the more than 23,000 men and women in uniform -- active duty, National Guard and reserve -- who live and serve in Alaska.

While we reflect on the collective accomplishments we have made in 2009, we must acknowledge the unwavering support of our neighbors and friends out of uniform. Our success comes only through your support and sustained trust in how we execute our mission.

This time of year allows all of us to spend very special moments with family and friends and to thank our service members and their families who are serving around the world -- some in harm's way in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

Again, our sincere thanks for what each of you and your families do every day for our armed forces and for our great nation! Happy holidays.

-- Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins

commander, Alaskan Command