Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, Dec. 9, 2014

Roundabouts do not improve traffic

Reading about the proposed DOT changes to South Anchorage roads, I was upset by the planners' intentions of putting up more roundabouts. Roundabouts cause more traffic backups, confusion, hesitation and close-call scares than any other intersection type I've experienced. For some reason, the city just loves putting them up. Stop it already. Nobody I have ever spoken to about them says, "Wow, I just really love that roundabout."

Every time these planners dream up a new road or "road improvements" they screw it up by removing stop signs or lights and adding their precious roundabouts. Aside from the two in North Pole do you see them anywhere else in the state? Are people going to be forced from their homes in eminent domain cases so they have enough room to build roundabouts? I certainly hope not.

Judah Carmichael

Bethel

Wannabe copy editors are petty

To the folks that belittled Shannyn Moore's journalistic skills for using the wrong word in a recent column: I think they don't have enough to do. I find it petty that they even sit down and have time to look for typos in the local newspaper and write mean things about the journalist. I've seen many typos over the years in all forms of publications. However, I've never wasted my time to write mean-spirited things about someone for it.

I think they have too much time on their hands. They should probably visit the volunteer opportunities section that is printed once a week in our newspaper and start doing some good somewhere. Maybe you'll start looking at life a little differently. Remember, tis the season to be jolly; if you can't, you should at least try.

Jenny Burke

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Anchorage

Demboski seems more like Obama

I am suddenly hearing a lot from and about Amy Demboski and her candidacy for Anchorage mayor. Some of the things she has said have bothered me. She has talked about tax breaks for certain people. If the municipality takes in less money, it is going to have to make it up somewhere else. As a homeowner, I am afraid that homeowners are an easy target for making up that deficit. Our taxes are already through the roof (no pun intended).

Between that and saying that she wanted to delay the implementation of the marijuana initiative before the vote was even certified, leaves me very concerned whether she would be able represent all of her constituents. If I want someone to dictate what is best for the voters even if they voted otherwise, I would write in Barack Obama's name on the ballot.

Michael McKinnon

Anchorage

Lynching cartoon offends history

The Morin cartoon equating Eric Garner's death and lynching is offensive. Negro lynching between Reconstruction and World War II was not a matter of a few bad men committing violent acts in secret. Typically it was a mob — one might even say a community — event, with dozens or hundreds of whites watching and approving. Sometimes they posed afterward to be photographed with the corpse. You can see some of these pictures at americanlynchings.com and similar sites.

Garner's death was nothing like that. The police used excessive force and shockingly poor judgment, but there is no basis for concluding, on available evidence, that they intended to commit murder in clear view of witnesses recording the event. There was no mob crying for Garner's death. To compare this tragic but clearly accidental death to a lynching is insulting to the memory of the many black men and women who were dragged from homes or jails by a white mob, sometimes cruelly tortured, and then put to death to the cheers of their white neighbors.

Daniel Weber

Anchorage

Silence condones vandals’ crimes

A challenge to churches: I was struck by the recent targeting of a gay married couple by vandals, with hateful messages strewn on their lawn. One of the most offensive signs said, "Fags die, God laughs." I'm embarrassed that someone in my community did this. While the perpetrators were clearly lame and pathetically ignorant, I'm concerned that we, as a community, damage ourselves and each other if we let this pass without comment.

In particular, will the religious community of Anchorage allow these vile statements to be offered in the name of their God without rebuttal? I would like to challenge every congregation and religious leader in Anchorage to loudly and publicly deny that their God would laugh at anyone's death or misfortune (Rev. Prevo?). Use those illuminated panels in front of your churches, call into radio talk shows, write your own letters to the editor, call a joint press conference.

Make yourselves clear on this, lest by your silence you condone it — and hurt us all.

Lou Nathanson

Anchorage

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@alaskadispatch.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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