Alaska News

Letters to the editor (12/25/08)

Please take time to reach out, to listen, to appreciate each other

While I was in Kotzebue earlier this month I recognized a childhood friend from Nome who was working behind the counter as the hotel clerk. We exchanged pleasantries and got caught up as best we could.

During that brief encounter there was a young man from Noatak in the hotel lobby who introduced himself. He expressed his dismay about just losing a teen relative to suicide. No tears, just stone-faced and plain. For me, it was distressing to learn about and listen to. At the time, all I could do was take the time to listen. I expressed my condolences and commented on how suicide was a permanent solution to a temporary problem and wished nobody chose it as a means to deal with life's challenges.

As I walked in the cold outside morning air that is Kotzebue I felt overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness. I tried ignoring it so that I could focus on my reasons for being there. I paused, said a quick prayer and went on my way.

This holiday season may we all be aware of the simple time its takes to appreciate each other. Sometimes that's the biggest gift we can offer one another, the time to listen. To really, really, listen and just be there for one another.

-- Gregory Nothstine

Anchorage

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What's so special about Madoff?

My blood's been boiling as I've read the news concerning world-class rip-off artist Bernard Madoff. One article states that Madoff "agreed to certain restrictions to his personal freedom." Another article said that "Madoff allowed his investment fund to be frozen."

Just what the heck is going on here? How much does a street thug net during an average mugging? Fifty dollars? And how is the street thug treated? He certainly isn't allowed to make choices about his freedom or resources! Bernard Madoff stands accused of committing the equivalent of a billion muggings, yet the authorities are treating this monster with kid gloves! This just makes me want to punch a wall or something.

It just goes to show you that there are two kinds of justice: gentlemen's justice and then the inflexible -- and sometimes cruel -- form of justice for the rest of us.

-- Eric Treider

Soldotna

City ignores 2020 Plan regarding Sand Lake property acquisition

The ADN ran an article on Dec. 19 regarding property acquisition in Westpark subdivision, the former Sand Lake gravel pits. The article is misleading regarding the community's concerns. The Sand Lake Community Council passed a resolution supporting school site acquisition, which only requires 25 acres. However, AO 2008-132 authorized purchase of 52 acres valued at $9.25 million. The appraisal on one parcel is 2½ years old and arguably violates a muni code provision requiring purchases at fair market value.

The muni has spent $15.95 million on property acquisition from the developer in the last two years while it has ignored a policy in the 2020 Plan that developers be required to pay a portion of infrastructure costs attributable to their projects.

Sand Lake Community Council members opposed the purchase of Tract 10 without an agreement to either fill the pond or pay for ongoing hydrologic investigation funded from the property purchase. In 2002, the developer submitted a plat calling for aquifer restoration through filling the pond, and the Platting Board approved this application. Six years later, the developer walked away from this obligation and now has managed to sell the pond parcel for $1.25 million.

In the ensuing six years, both the muni and DEC denied any adverse water quality problems would result from subdivision development. However, with funding from the Alaska Legislature, UAA and UAF studies have explained the science is complex and no conclusions on aquifer protection can be reached with confidence based on available information.

The issue is not really ownership of Tract 10, because the aquifer belongs to the people under the Alaska Constitution. The issue is who is going to be responsible for protecting the aquifer. The Assembly talks the talk about public ownership and management of the aquifer but has refused to fund any hydrologic investigations. It also refused to escrow funds from White Raven's sale of Tract 10 to compensate for its failure to fill the pond.

-- Lawrence V. Albert

Anchorage

Better start stockpiling shoes

President Bush promised to balance our budget by 2008. Now, the world is being painfully sucked into economic depression as a result of a failure to administer the affairs of this nation by this administration.

We have failed to win the war in Afghanistan because of the great error of pushing an immoral aggressive war against Iraq.

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I predict that throwing of shoes will become common practice in this society too, at political speeches very soon.

-- Dan Russell

Willow

Our new 10 Commandments according to environmentalists

If environmentalism were our official religion, the trinity would be Thoreau, Muir and Disney.

The current prophet is Barack Obama. The Apostles: members of Sierra Club. Missionaries: current U.S. policymakers.

The 10 Commandments would be thou shall not:

• speak out against the occurrence of global warming. It never occurred without man's interference.

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• drill for oil. It's false prosperity.

• mine the Earth. It only benefits the few.

• dam a river. It eliminates habitat for the insignificant.

• use nuclear energy. That's energy created for the heavens.

• be guilty of consumerism. It requires energy and depletes the Earth's resources.

• alter an ecosystem. That would be favoritism of species.

• harvest the forest -- only natural recycling.

• reverse any environmental protectionism order. They are eternal principles.

• speak out against any mammal. They are furry, warm, human-like and cute.

Breaking of any of these commandments will be acted upon swiftly by the wrath of the 9th Circuit Court.

Sorry, Alaska no jobs: no security. No future.

Sanity and reason belong somewhere in the middle.

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-- Lawrence H. Adams

Wasilla

If we take a moment to think, rash decisions might be avoided

On Dec. 19, Mr. Steve Borell responded to an ADN editorial criticizing a recent federal law removing the 100-foot buffer zone from around streams. Mr. Borell suggested the Daily News' position was "anti-coal sensationalism." I submit that we should neither be quick to condemn all mining nor quick to push it through at all costs. Rather, we should be allowed to weigh all uses of the land to determine the best use. Under the 1872 mining law, we are not able to do this on public lands.

The change in the stream buffer-zone rule now allows that companies removing resources for private profit can permanently remove public resources. Filling in a stream removes it permanently. While it may be fine to fill in streams on privately-owned land, stream buffers at least provide some protection to waters located on land that belongs to all of us. It should be noted that the proposed Chuitna mine is located on public lands.

The ADN editorial mentioned that returning the hydrologic regime to premining conditions would be "like trying to glue shattered glass back together." In fact, it would be a good deal more difficult. Mining requires blasting. Blasting fractures rock. This permanently changes the hydrologic patterns -- whether to the detriment of the area or not we don't really know. But let's not pretend that changes won't happen.

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-- Kendra Zamzow, Ph.D.

Anchorage

Thanks for bright light on Glenn

With all the negativity going on around here, I would like to take this moment to thank whomever is responsible for the gaily-lit lone spruce tree that exists in the Old Glenn/Glenn Highway exchange. This tree has been lit every winter since the exchange went in. I don't know how (since I never see it in daylight) but it is just such a nice thing to see in the darkness. So, on behalf of us commuters, whoever is responsible for this ray of light, thank you!

-- Kelley Brown

Big Lake

Leave Spenard the way it is

After reading the Dec. 23 letter from Jeanne Ashcraft ("Spenard changes may be blessing"), I felt it only fair to speak up.

I have worked in the Spenard area for the last 22 years. At the same store, happily I might add. Travel down Arctic Boulevard is just a big mess most of the time. If you turn west on Fireweed Lane from Arctic, it has traffic backed up 10 to 12 cars. Until you have lived through this day after day, you have no room to talk.

Is this what we want for Spenard? Absolutely not. I already avoid Arctic; do I need to start looking for a way around Spenard also?

Please bless us in the Spenard area by leaving the streets alone.

-- Brenda Richardson

Anchorage

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