Alaska News

Letters to the editor (1/11/10)

Pebble Mine letter misses mark

No offense to William Ahrens of Eagle River, but many opposed to the Pebble Mine are neither myopic, ignorant or necessarily the wealthy protecting their exclusive lodges, and his logic for stating that is flawed ("Pebble mine worth the risk," Dec. 22).

The "immensity of the Pebble prospect" in no way guarantees "state of the art checks and balances." Exxon didn't set out to create the Valdez disaster, but it happened anyway, and the effects are with us 20 years later.

The Summit County mining fiasco near Leadville, Colo., was immense, and the perpetrators simply declared bankruptcy and walked away from it. Taxpayers footed the massive cleanup bill.

I would guess the Pebble group must retain similar legal loopholes to duck responsibility. Those two examples would be dwarfed by the cost of a disaster in Bristol Bay.

Unless all accountability loopholes are closed and processes like "cyanide leeching" can be done otherwise in more environmentally friendly ways but less profitably, we should think it wise rather than ignorant to question this project.

-- Ken Green

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Cooper Landing

Pipeline makes for tighter security

The city council wants an ID check for everyone buying alcohol, while ignoring a more far-reaching problem of border security. They have, in the past, told APD not to request proof/information of national origin from suspects.

Alaska has a prime target, 800 miles long, with vast stretches above ground, easily accessible and lightly patrolled, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

An explosion there by a destructive jihadist would cause an environmental disaster. The state would lose weeks, perhaps months, of revenue while fires are put out, oil cleaned up and the pipeline repaired.

The basic reason for government is for the protection of people and property. Failure to enforce existing law could easily allow such a disaster.

In a post-Sept. 11 world, in light of Fort Hood, the shoe bomber and the failed attempt of the Christmas Day terrorist, we can no longer afford a politically correct stance by a myopic Assembly nor a smoke-and-mirrors approach to a real security threat.

-- Robert Glenn

Anchorage

Great grooming on ski trails

I have skied cross country at Russian Jack Park for more than 12 years. The grooming quality, consistency and frequency this year is the best I have ever seen there. My thanks to the Parks & Recreation department and, in particular, the trail groomers for a job well done.

Your efforts are greatly appreciated and are part of what makes this such a great place to live.

-- Tim Brady

Anchorage

Pay lot may mean more DUIs

The news that the City Hall parking lot will become a pay lot after hours is an unfortunate surprise to all patrons of the downtown scene, already tired of getting nickel-and-dimed.

After hours, the lot is used primarily by patrons of Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse and McGinley's. This effectively creates a disincentive for people to leave their vehicles downtown overnight. This is already the case for meters: After 2 a.m., vehicles are towed if they interfere with snow plowing operations.

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I am certain this will correlate with an increase in intoxicated driving. Many would rather gamble with the possibility of getting pulled over versus the guarantee of a hefty fee from the City Hall lot or a $100 tow from a meter. Ultimately, it isn't fair to the responsible people who want to do the right thing and leave their vehicles overnight. Is promoting impaired driving really worth the extra revenue?

-- Seth Peterson

Anchorage

Begich's vote shows care

In his Jan. 5 letter to the editor ("Begich votes party, not state"), Frank Baker writes that "most Alaskans and Americans are against the health care legislation."

Well, I'm both an Alaskan and an American and I am very much for health care reform. I'm also very thankful our senator, Mark Begich, voted for it. He also called for a provision to allow all Americans to get the same insurance plan option as members of Congress. I believe he said, "If it is good enough for us, it is good enough for others."

I know Mark Begich's work shows he has only the best of intentions concerning all Alaskans.

-- Terri Block

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Palmer

Stricter driving tests needed

About Anchorage drivers: A good policy for the DMV to employ would be the use of IQ tests. That alone should reduce the idiocy and foolishness running amok on our streets.

Some of you people have no talent whatsoever operating machinery, and some of you people (you know who you are) cannot think as fast as you drive.

Of course we have the other category of drivers who I call "the immortals." These are the ones who mistakenly believe they will live forever, no matter what. Perhaps a test that will measure their connection to reality is in order.

Perhaps more stringent testing is needed to assure the safety of pedestrians and other drivers alike.

-- Pearl Nestor

Anchorage

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