Gas prices require justification

As a former Alaskan and frequent visitor to the state, I am heartened to read the ADN editorial of Jan. 2 advocating clear answers from industry for why Alaskans pay such high prices at the gas pump. Good for you, and credit to Sen. Bill Wielechowski and Rep. Pete Petersen for their work in search of credible answers.

Why is it that two years ago prices here in Brooklyn, N.Y., (not known for low prices) and Anchorage were about the same, and in the last year they are 40 cents or more a gallon higher in Anchorage? Let's keep asking and not be satisfied with answers that are not clear or credible.

For people who have lost jobs or do not earn much, high prices at the pump are more than an annoyance. They may be the difference between food on the table and being able to get to work or to a job interview.

-- Paul Brown

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Letter's 'facts' mostly bogus

I read with interest Bill Stokoe's letter regarding health care. Rarely have I seen such a short letter with so many errors. I seem to recall that a majority does, in fact, support health care reform. The president didn't "pass his health care bill." Bills were passed by the House and the Senate. While no government-sponsored health plan is without its problems, his assertion that "other countries that have this type of health care have failed miserably" is utter nonsense. Mr. Stokoe would do well to educate himself on the subject. Reading T.R. Reid's "The Healing of America" would be a good place to start. And, regrettably, there is plenty of anti-Obama racism making the rounds on the Internet.

-- Sidney Mehlschmidt

Anchorage

Animal shelter story did not fully include city's reaction

The story in the Sunday edition of the Anchorage Daily News, "Six dogs found dead in Dillingham animal shelter," really didn't do justice to the city and the community of Dillingham. It presented the most gruesome of details but included only minimal information on our community's response to this terrible and unfortunate incident.

The city, the community and all of our residents were horrified by what took place. Dillingham is a community that cares as much about animals as we do about people and the incident is in no way, shape or manner representative of the community as a whole.

The city is taking the matter very seriously and has initiated a number of immediate actions to address the situation. In the meantime, we are doing everything possible to better understand what happened so as to ensure that it never happens again.

Thank you to those individuals and communities around the state who have extended a helping hand with temporary shelter arrangements, advice on process and for your moral support.

-- Alice J. Ruby, mayor

City of Dillingham

Fish & Game advisory board election handled poorly

Pro-hunting and pro-sporting groups had all their ducks in a row at last Tuesday night's election of six advisory members and two alternates held at the Anchorage School District building.

A big turnout of 300-plus showed up, all hyped up about the big call to arms by local radio talk show hosts who instigated them. They told them they better come out in force (literally) and prevent the wildlife advocates, nature folks, and Alaska Natives from winning and taking everything.

While waiting in line, many disturbing racist comments were directed my way, including a mean-spirited hatred. I was running for a subsistence seat but lost, tied for 10th.

First, only one-fifth of the crowd stayed to hear the candidates' speeches.

Second, no security was taken to prevent fraud by voting more than once.

Third, the tallying was performed by ADF&G secretary Sherry Wright and a small group of volunteers. This should have been done by a non-biased group not under the control of an employee of Fish & Game.

Fourth, there was no public notice of this election.

-- Lynette Moreno-Hinz

Anchorage

Begich health care vote odd

Voters nationwide oppose the health care bill. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's opinion polls show overwhelming opposition.

Their poll results showed 55 percent of Alaska voters overall opposed the bill, with only 31 percent supporting. And according to the Anchorage Examiner.com site, only 37 percent of Alaska Democrats even support this health care bill!

A Dittman Research poll of Alaska voters showed 57 percent opposed this bill. By all accounts, public outcry over this legislation to our senators in Washington was overwhelmingly negative. Yet our representative, Mark Begich, voted FOR this bill. Why?

Just who is Mr. Begich representing? Clearly not the interests of Alaska voters -- Republican, Democratic, or Independent. I ask that Alaska voters think carefully about Mr. Begich, and remember his siding against Alaska voters when election time comes around.

Obviously "standing together" with the power elite in Washington is much more important to this would-be career politician than listening to the people of Alaska.

-- Tom Anderson

Anchorage

Body scans invasive, ineffective

How can we all not be more outspoken against these full body scanners soon to be deployed at our airports? How is it that we have let the terrorists essentially win by having all of us subjected to more invasion of privacy?

I will now have to relinquish what little bit of personal dignity I have to board an aircraft. Some "trained and professional" goon will be sitting behind a screen viewing everyone's naked bodies, searching for something that is probably in a cavity escaping the "security" inspection anyway.

How is it that parents are allowing the TSA to violate their children's privacy? This puts a whole new spectrum in place for child pornography. Will children be exempted from scans and patted down?

C'mon people! Do some research -- it's been proven and shown that these scans will do absolutely nothing to stop terrorism. All we're doing is releasing what little bit of privacy/dignity/decency we have left.

-- Jeff Jacobs

Eagle River

Alaska Young Democrats are helping clear snowy sidewalks

This winter the snow has created some problems for our city. There is no doubt in my mind that we have some of the hardest-working municipal employees but this winter they have not been given the support they need to take care of our sidewalks properly. Decisions were made at City Hall and public safety has become a low priority.

Do we really want to live in a city where we force schoolchildren to walk on the side of busy roads? In the past administration we made great improvements in clearing our sidewalks. What happened this year?

This is not a partisan issue. Public safety, the safety of our children, is an issue that we can all support. To support this end the Alaska Young Democrats have launched a campaign to move Anchorage forward; we have started with shoveling the sidewalks of our community. Public safety is essential to the quality of life in Anchorage. This is something we can all work toward improving.

-- Keli Booher

president, Alaska Young Democrats

Anchorage

IM tests aren't needed; they put more strain on families

As I go to renew my license tags, I am reminded that I must have an IM test done. My car is an '02 Jeep Liberty.

I then read that Fairbanks, of all places, has suspended its IM program. Wow, to think Fairbanks is more progressive than Anchorage. I am not a one-item voter, but I will remember those who reinstituted this tax on the public. Yes, that is truly what it is.

Clean air? Come on! When was the last time Anchorage exceeded federal standards? When Redoubt blows again, what about air quality then? Can't tax a volcano.

Enough of my erupting. This program is no longer needed, and the economic times as they are put a big strain on families to come up with the extra $$ to register their cars.

-- Katie McIntosh

Anchorage

ADN ignoring Obama/C-Span controversy; your bias is clear

I wonder if there's a valid reason why your paper hasn't picked up on why President Obama broke his campaign promise to televise the health care bill talks on C-SPAN? It's a proven fact he lied and is now at odds with C-SPAN because they have exposed him.

Newspapers across the nation are commenting and printing the ongoing battle between him and C-SPAN, but your paper appears to be ignoring this fact and not letting the public know what's going on. Guess we know who has your loyalty.

-- Herbert Gray