Food stamp fraud runs rampant

What to do about food stamp fraud? That's the question. I do not know the answer. On many occasions I have visited one of our local grocery stores only to be approached on my way into the store and told by some individual showing me their food stamp debit type card and offering to buy X number of dollars worth of food in exchange for X number of dollars in cash.

The latest episode was yesterday when I was approached by a young man showing me his card and telling me that he would buy me $200 worth of groceries if I would only give him $10 in cash. I laughed and walked off. It dawned on me later that I had already paid for that $200 in groceries with my tax money.

With almost 19 million more people collecting food stamps since Obama took office with his failed economic policies, we now have an even greater number of frauds to deal with.

-- Eric Olenick

Anchorage

Something fishy about Southcentral Foundation land grab

This letter is a call to action -- be cognizant of the actions taking place in your neighborhoods. I bought my home in Feb. 2007, and currently reside there on Grumman Street.

It was recently brought to my attention that Southcentral Foundation started an under-the-radar process in my neighborhood in 2008. Southcentral gave assurances at that time that nothing further was planned. Now they are seeking a major expansion that will drastically change the fabric of my neighborhood.

The year after this process was started, Southcentral started buying other parcels in my neighborhood. They were already planning their expansion -- without any neighborhood knowledge or support. Our neighborhood even has a legal opinion that says that they can't do what they propose on the R-2 and R-3 land. My question is this, "Why would Southcentral buy more land unless they thought they could get this approved under the radar again?" Something smells in Southcentral's plans for our neighborhood -- and it isn't the flowers.

-- Skip Myers

Anchorage

Even opponents are going to miss Doogan

I agree with Terry Stimson (Letters, June 25): Mike Doogan will be missed.

I haven't really known Mike Doogan for his writing, but I ran against him in 2007 for representative for District 25. I believed more should have been accomplished in that district. When I ran, I believe I gave Mike the run for his money. I received many, many votes. Not enough to win, but enough to be heard. Mike worked on those issues. Mike will be missed. I really think he should continue as representative of District 25. How about it, Mike?

-- Lynda Placek

Anchorage

Southcentral Foundation is out of compliance

The Campbell Creek Condominium Association, with 32 families living on Grumman Street just south of the proposed Southcentral Foundation program site, wishes to voice its opposition to SCF's amended Conditional Use Permit.

We are concerned that the proposed development will negatively impact the quality of our neighborhood with increased vehicular and pedestrian congestion as well as increased wear to an already overburdened neighborhood infrastructure.

We are concerned the Southcentral Foundation has not been in compliance with the limitations of its first conditional use permit in our neighborhood and that they are similarly understating the size, scope and impact of their plans in the currently proposed Amendment. Our Association cannot support the approval of the amended Conditional Use Permit.

-- Edward Wickham,

President of the Condo Association Board of Directors

Anchorage

We must embrace equality if we want to see a drop in crime

Mr. Monegan's article on early criminal intervention, June 26, while correct, is insufficient. It is widely recognized and documented that when social, economic, and environmental inequality and injustice are eliminated, those societies, the Scandinavian countries as exemplars, realize a 50 percent decrease in murders, a 50 percent decrease in mental illness, and pronounced decreases in domestic violence and other societal dysfunction and disruption.

Likewise, when those gross disparities are erased, societies realize profound global well-being, greater health and diminished burdens of illness, with an enhanced measure of security, possibility, opportunity and community.

If we are truly, as we claim, a moral and beneficent society, must we not embrace the ideal of equality and, indeed, FDR's People's Bill of Rights? Let us demonstrate to the world our resolve to be the nation we so proudly proclaim.

-- Peter Mjos, MD

Anchorage