Letters to the editor (2/10/10)

I noted that the Daily News reported on the four upcoming municipal bond proposals. Among them is one of approximately $1 million for public transit. I am generally supportive of funding public transit initiatives, but I will be voting "no" this time.

While it's not scientific, I have been conducting an informal survey of ridership on municipal buses. It is amazing the number of times one sees these large, oversized units virtually empty -- and on some occasions, completely empty. It's time for the city to re-evaluate its public transit model and come up with a more efficient and cost-effective approach to providing these obviously needed services.

-- Ted Moninski

Anchorage

Begich kept the streets cleared

With all of the hindsight criticism of Mark Begich as mayor, I would like to point out that I never swore about street conditions when he was in charge of the city. Not this winter. Anchorage street conditions have been shameful.

-- Peggy Wilcox

Anchorage

Retirement needs a safety net

I want to thank Lisa Demer for getting the news about the state retirement plan on the front page ("Calling all former state workers," Feb. 7). However, this is just the tip of the iceberg regarding this story.

She correctly notes that current Tier 4 employees are getting only a 401(k) type retirement investment benefit in lieu of a defined retirement benefit. But to me that is not the worst of it; few realize that the state does not have to pay any Social Security benefits for these workers as well, leaving them without any safety net for retirement whatsoever. I do believe that in private enterprise the company must still pay into Social Security, thus helping to keep that program afloat and available for those retirees.

There have been proposals in the state Legislature to correct the lack of a safety net by retracting the loss of a defined benefit. This is the rest of the story that needs to be told.

-- Beverly Churchill

Anchorage

Talkeetna performance amazing

How sad that Mike Dunham missed out on the magic of the Alaska Airlines Winter Classics concert. We in Talkeetna were literally in the front row as an amazing chamber music "jam session" unfolded Thursday evening in our very own living room, the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar.

Ayano Ninomiya, arriving that afternoon from New York, rehearsed in a tiny AV room 30 minutes before the performance with musicians she had just met. As the five performers wrapped themselves around the program, we were invited into their personal musical experience. There was no "scramble" as Dunham suggests, rather a virtuoso performance delivering a highly emotional experience reflective of each composer's intent. The true power of music was the message of the evening.

Blessed are we who understand Paul Rosenthal's mission. We are the beneficiaries of his ability to attract unpretentious professional players to share classical music with small communities. Armen, David, Judith, Lorna, Ayano and Paul: Thank you! It was amazing!

-- Sandy Shoulders

Talkeetna

Mining tax revenue 'confidential'

Sen. Johnny Ellis made an interesting statement when he said, "Mining doesn't really pay very much into the state treasury." Exactly how much is "not much?" It is obviously important information for Alaskans, in general, and even more so for legislators to know exactly what mining pays to the state as they deal with both current and future projects, such as Pebble, Donlin Creek, etc. About a year ago, after Red Dog announced record production of ores, I called the state Department of Revenue to find out what that meant to state tax receipts. Revenue's answer was, "That information is confidential." Do we conclude then that the state deals with mining companies without knowing what tax receipts the state receives? Are tax receipts available to regulators but not the citizen taxpayers?

If the state deals with multinational mining companies without any knowledge of mining tax receipts, then the inmates have truly taken over the asylum.

-- R. Russell Redick

Anchorage

Why let skiers have Coastal Trail?

I am the cyclist early in the morning ("Early-hours bicyclist hard to see," Feb. 5). I have been doing this trek for two years now and have asked my fellow coworkers if I am hard to see.

They simply reply "No, we have headlights and can see your headlamp."

I usually bike on the trail in the summer- time but in the winter the cross-country skiers get this trail for a reason I do not know. I have noticed that people who usually get mad at me are people who speed and have no time to react to anything on the road.

In my opinion they should dedicate some of the Coastal Trail to cycle commuters or I am going to start taking the whole lane to myself.

-- Leonard Foss

Anchorage

Dog walkers disregard property

Most of the properties in our neighborhood have wooded perimeters which are pretty attractive to dog walkers who don't want to "pick it up." This also includes our driveways, in front of our mailboxes and our streets. These are not your dogs' personal toilets.

People, please, if you're going to bring your pets to someone else's neighborhood, show some consideration for the residents and other walkers. Pick up your poop and take it with you. The rest of us shouldn't have to do it for you. It's filthy and unsightly.

-- Joe Randazzo

Anchorage