Blatant political grandstanding
I respect many traditional conservative values — holding the Constitution as our country's blueprint for governance. In bypassing the office of the presidency, the principle of separation of powers has certainly been transgressed in the U.S. Senate action sending a letter to the ayatollah of Iran. The letter, written by a group of Senate Republicans, has crossed a line into political hysteria.
Thanks to Sen. Lisa Murkowski for her good sense and patriotism in not signing that letter. Shame on Sen. Dan Sullivan for joining the majority. I hope he will think more about why he signed such a letter.
I do not know what conservative value is furthered by such blatant political grandstanding.
— Sherry Tomlinson
Anchorage
Processors should recruit locally
I read with interest about the H-2B visa program that allows foreign workers to come work in the seafood industry in Alaska. I wonder if they are recruiting in the villages for the requisite workers to work in the industry.
The high unemployment rates in our rural communities would benefit from the processors recruiting from the rural Alaskan communities. The processors would not have to pay the high cost of transportation from the Lower 48 (or farther) but would get local workers in entry-level positions, which in turn would help the rural areas where unemployment rates can be as high as 30 percent of people looking for work. In some areas it is significantly higher. The idea of bringing workers into an area where the unemployment rate is so high causes resentment in the communities. It seems it happens across the board, from processing to construction to health care and many other areas.
I would like to see the processors try to recruit from true Alaskans rural and urban. Keep the income in the state, uphold the economy and support our communities.
— Deb Coolidge
Aleknagik
Coal mine and salmon don't mix
Having grown up on salmon as a subsistence way of life on the Kuskokwim and salmon being a main staple for us Native people, I write to you today. Do coal companies like Pac Rim care what impact their proposed mines, especially one that would remove over a dozen miles of salmon spawning streams, would have for the Native people that have lived on the river for generations? Personally, I know how important salmon is for our Native brothers and sisters.
Alaska has a coal mine already at Healy. Why have another one, for export to Asia, that will impact the people that have to make a living from these beautiful places? Not only salmon, but other wildlife like big game and birds will be lost. Stand up for the Alaska way of life and submit a comment by April 9 to the state Department of Natural Resources: kimberly.sager@alaska.net, david.w.schade@alaska.gov, and Gov. Bill Walker (bill.walker@alaska.gov) to keep water in the Chuitna river.
— Elia Sallaffie Jr.
Anchorage
Wings for Autism is Arc program
In a letter from reader Theresa Day in Monday's ADN, acknowledgement was given to Alaska Airlines for the Wings For Autism program. Although Alaska Airlines has been important in the success of this event, Wings For Autism is actually a program through The Arc of the United States. In Anchorage this event is coordinated by the local chapter, The Arc of Anchorage.
The Arc appreciates community partners like Alaska Airlines, the state Department of Transportation, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and the Transportation Security Administration who all helped make the two Wings For Autism events in 2014 so successful here in Alaska.
Our staff at The Arc take pride in providing services to both adults and children who experience disabilities and their families. We appreciate the kind words of Ms. Day about our most recent Wings for Autism program that benefited her family.
— Lisa Noland
The Arc of Anchorage
No thanks to candidate Demboski
Seriously. Amy Demboski running for mayor of Anchorage? Is this the same Amy Demboski that tried to ban the cannabis industry within the municipality of Anchorage before it even got started and the same Amy Demboski that is against marriage equality for all couples? No thanks, Ms. Demboski. I am for a progressive thinking mayor open to new ideas, industries, and marriage equality for all loving couples.
— Rory Spurlock
Anchorage