Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, Sept. 21, 2014

Who owns land for road to Juneau?

What? Fifty miles of road to a new ferry dock for over half a billion dollars? Over $10 million a mile without the inevitable cost overruns. And $20 million a year in maintenance. Wow. How does this improve access to Juneau? It would still take a drive through Canada and a ferry ride to get there from where I live in Alaska. Folks in a hurry are just going to fly anyway.

All I want to know is who owns the land north of Juneau and who are their friends in state government?

-- Mike McQueen

Copper Center

Hear voices of women on Peace Day

Sunday is International Peace Day. Established by the United Nations in 1981, its purpose is to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace and recognize the efforts of those who have worked hard to end conflict and promote peace. And in these days of conflict the world over, from the Ukraine to the Middle East to Syria to Africa, we desperately need peace. Women have experienced firsthand what the absence of peace means to them and their families: fear, the destruction of their homes, lands and communities, starvation and death.

Women in the U.S. and around the world have been at the forefront of peace building -- advocating for diplomacy rather than war, reaching across political, ethnic and religious divides to bring communities together and addressing the root social causes that often lead to today's conflicts.

In recognition of International Peace Day, let's urge our members of Congress to pursue inclusive diplomacy over war and pass the Women, Peace and Security Act, which would ensure women's full participation in all our diplomatic, development and defense efforts at home and abroad. Let us make sure women's voices are heard on the most important issue of all -- peace.

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-- Rep. Harriet Drummond

Anchorage

Begich supports Social Security reform

I support Sen. Begich for many reasons but I am especially glad about his support of some Social Security reform. The offset means for me and for many other state employees that anything we receive from Social Security has two-thirds the amount of our state retirement deducted from it. Anything I receive from Social Security was earned on income separate from my state pay. A good portion of it was earned while I was self-employed, which meant I paid both the employee's share and the employer's. Because neither amount is large, the offset really hurts me.

The initial intent was probably to reduce the amount very well-paid people were receiving, but it hurts those of us who aren't getting rich on it and who need the money to live. Many of our retired teachers in the state are affected as well as law-enforcement personnel and others who have worked for both state and local governments and private employers. Sen. Begich is the only one I have ever heard address this issue.

Equally important to all of us and to the future of the Social Security system is removal of the cap. As it stands it is a regressive tax, the most unfair of all taxes affecting those with the least the most. Removal of the cap or even raising it would do what is needed to ensure the future of Social Security.

-- Martie Rozkydal

Palmer

Think twice before voting for pot

Imagine going to the mall with your kids and walking by shop after shop selling marijuana, shatter, wax, marijuana-infused lollipops and gummy bears and butane hash oil. Imagine seeing it advertised in newspapers, magazines, on street corners, on fliers and on buses (we already saw marijuana promoted on our buses).

Surely this won't happen overnight, you say, but I would suggest that you check the Internet and see what is going on in Colorado. It is everywhere. Just think about the rapid adoption of the e-cigarette or vape-pens.

When you couple addiction with huge profits it is a guaranteed rapid growth market. Vote No on 2. Do not commercialize and push marijuana in Alaska . It's a bad idea.

-- Julie Papasavas

Anchorage

Schools need community involvement

The commentary posted Sept. 3 stated that Great Alaska Schools would be creating a "community cafe" to better achieve the success of the students. As someone who is an advocate for community involvement, I think this is a great idea.

I believe that creating an open environment for students, faculty and parents to collaborate on ideas to improve the educational system will be very beneficial. Additionally, it would be a program of even more success if they choose to reach out to children who are not in the best of neighborhoods and with little to no money, struggling to find the motivation to go to school. Those children are the ones who need the attention as well. Offering free after-school programs or tutoring sessions for those children will give them the motivation they need to succeed.

We often forget about those who are struggling because we ourselves are all fighting our own battles. I feel as though if we give back to the community and increase our sense of involvement we can create an atmosphere where all are welcome. Community involvement is something that definitely needs to be of more priority; one helping hand can go a long way.

-- Angelica Valiton

Santa Clarita, Calif.

The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter for consideration, email letters@adn.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.

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