A couple of years back, I wrote a letter to the editor (“Here’s a solution to gas crisis,” Oct. 20, 2009) and asked this question: If there is a shortage of natural gas, why is the municipality still issuing building permits for not only residences, but for big office buildings and shopping centers? How can this possibly be acceptable?

All this talk of conserving is hogwash. Now that Marathon conned the Legislature and Sarah into extending its ability to sell gas to the Japanese, they are leaving town.

This reminds me of a line in the movie, “Divorce American Style,” altered for this situation: They got the gas; we get the shaft.

— G. W. Keyl

Anchorage