MacKinnon lacks
compelling evidence
In her ADN commentary on Sunday, Sen. Anna MacKinnon stated that "The negative impacts of DST (daylight saving time) has on our health is my overall concern," and she cited studies on the impacts of DST on health as a primary reason for introducing Senate Bill 6 to repeal it in Alaska.
Two of those studies are included as supporting documentation on the Legislature's website. One study, from the Journal of Sleep and Biological Rhythms, concluded "the results confirm that male suicide rates rise in the weeks following commencement of daylight saving." This study shows a relatively weak correlation between DST and suicide rates, but it does not prove or even provide solid evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship. Other studies have shown seasonal variations in suicide rates and there have been other possible reasons suggested.
The second study, from the Journal of Accident Analysis and Prevention, states "results show that a full year of daylight saving time would reduce pedestrian fatalities by 13 percent and motor vehicle occupant fatalities by 3 percent." This study suggests that there would be more pedestrian and motor vehicle occupant fatalities if daylight saving time is repealed, due to more evening darkness. After searching studies on the impacts of DST on health, I can find no compelling evidence that repealing DST will have a positive impact on the health of Alaska's population.
— Mark S. Johnson
Juneau
A lot of Sass on
Iditarod disqualification
I just read about Mr. Sass being tossed from the race for having an iPod Touch. Sass wasn't stupid, he left his cell with his father. What is stupid is leaving mushers without any communication out there, which is a huge safety issue. This rule is not in the spirit of the Iditarod but rather in the spirit of exercising control over others by an overzealous committee. Lighten up, the rules are quickly deflating the spirit of Iditarod.
— Pat Wendt
Soldotna
Look to commerce, logistics and safety
The most common reason Anchorage residents give in favor of daylight saving time is that it provides more daylight for recreational activities in the evening. It seems to me that in the summer there is so much daylight that it doesn't make much difference. Let's not forget that we already have daylight saving year round. Alaska Standard Time was moved ahead an hour years ago.
The reason I don't like daylight saving time is related to commerce, logistics and safety. Coastal Alaska, including Anchorage, is notorious for early morning fog and low clouds that usually lift or burn off as the day goes on. If you need to move people and materials with aircraft, daylight saving time exacerbates the morning fog problem by an additional hour. I am in the tourist business in Western Alaska. Back when noon was at 12 p.m. like it should be instead of 2 p.m. like it is now, the morning fog wasn't much of a problem. And of course the difference between sun time and clock time is greater the farther west you go.
If I had my way, we would not only ditch daylight saving, we would put most of Alaska back on the time that it belongs, which is the same as Hawaii. One writer mentioned tourists' ability to see the midnight sun. As it is now a tourist will never see the midnight sun in Alaska unless he or she is up at 2 a.m. because that is when midnight is. But they might have their trip disrupted or even canceled because of the fog.
— Sonny Petersen
Anchorage
Vote Starr Marsett to school board
Meet Starr Marsett. It is rare to find a school board candidate whose main focus is the grassroots development of students and the fostering of small, happy classrooms. Starr is the candidate who believes that each student's talents and interests should be fostered and channeled for success. Education must prepare a student for the 21st century; education leads to a career in the trades, entrepreneurship or jobs requiring a college degree.
Education succeeds when students and teachers are happy and feel productive in the classroom. Starr Marsett values the student-teacher-parent relationship. It is vital for teachers, students and parents to have input that makes a difference to the outcome.
Starr realizes that without that strong grassroots foundation, nothing will succeed. Education is a bottom-up, not a top-down, process. Starr has been a dedicated advocate for children for many years. Her history of public education involvement is long-term and vast. Starr is currently active on the Special Education Advisory Council, Multicultural Education Concerns Advisory Committee and others. She is a caring, passionate advocate for the education of Alaska's students. Check out Starr's website at starrmarsettforschoolboard.com and vote Starr Marsett on April 7.
— Jan Carolyn Hardy
Anchorage
Dunleavy too busy for everyday Alaskans
At the weekly Senate Majority Press Conference, covered by KTVA on Monday, Sen. Mike Dunleavy of Wasilla was quoted as saying, "I've not had one individual not associated with an organization that would benefit from expansion. But just in everyday Alaskans, I have not had one come to me and say, 'Please expand Medicaid.' "
This is an interesting observation by the senator as AFACT (Anchorage Faith & Action Congregations Together — a federation of 15 local churches and congregations) sent a team of 14 to Juneau on March 9-10 to share stories from our faith communities about the very people Sen. Dunleavy has not heard from.
The senator was unable to spare 15 minutes of his time to meet with "everyday Alaskans" from our diverse faith communities. Yet, he found time recently to co-sponsor a luncheon presentation from the Foundation for Government Accountability, a national conservative group campaigning against Medicaid expansion and partnered with Americans for Prosperity, an organization financed by the Koch Brothers.
I would hate to think that the siren song of Outside interests is drowning out the voices of the marginalized for Sen. Dunleavy.
— Kim Watsjold
Eagle River
Fire ASD employees for theft
I am writing to voice my disgust in learning that ASD employees have been fraudulently using their credit cards. It must be nice to dine at Simon's on the city's dime while asking the city and state for additional funding. I understand that ASD intends on modifying its protocol; however, this doesn't address what has already been done. This is criminal in my opinion. I work for the state, and have held a state card for many years. I couldn't imagine going out for lunch or dinner, and lying on the expense report about it.
I think that the expenses should be made public. I think that the names of the employees who used the cards for wining and dining should be made public. I think that those employees should be fired for theft. I think those employees should reimburse the city for all fraudulent charges plus penalties and interest. Lastly, I think that ASD funding should be reduced by the amount of fraudulent charges.
— Kelly Mazzei
Anchorage
Voice opinion on Chuitna to DNR
After reading the articles and letters to the editor about the Chuitna project, I looked into both sides. I strongly support the Chuitna Citizens Coalition and their request for an in-stream flow reservation. I urge others to read up on the proposed strip coal mine and the permanent destruction it will do to the upper Cook Inlet, then voice your opinions to the Department of Natural Resources (kimberly.sager@alaska.net and david.w.schade@alaska.gov) and Gov. Bill Walker (bill.walker@alaska.gov).
— Gail Dudley
Anchorage
Technology outpaces Iditarod rules
Brent Sass was disqualified from the Iditarod for possessing an iPod Touch, a two-way communication device. Technically this music player is illegal due to a Wi-Fi connection. Logic dictates that there isn't much connectivity on the trail. Information is available in the checkpoints, so is there a competitive advantage?
Brent took the classy step of admitting the mistake and not arguing. In the interest of fairness and equality, is the Iditarod Committee going to ask all competitors what type of music device they have? Are they going to ask only if there is a complaint? The restart video shows Dallas Seavey with some sort of device that he drops in his pocket. Does that make him a target for questioning?
The reality is, 21st-century technology has outpaced the Iditarod rules. It is hard to find devices that are not two-way communicators. It should be the intent of the device and its access to full-time communication that leads to disqualification, not a Wi-Fi connector for music.
— Mel Mangold
San Diego