Dans an embarrassment
Brett Scruton's commentary (March 26, Opinion page) was spot on. Sen. Dan Sullivan is an embarrassment to Alaska. Dan is not Alaska's senator; rather, he represents those who bought and paid for his seat, and votes with the obstructionist party.
— Tony Lopez
Kasilof
Fund schools, not dam
I would like to thank the ADN for writing about wasted spending by the state ("Alaska lawmakers look to once-forbidden sources for money," March 23) and for looking into opportunities where the state can re-appropriate funds for more essential needs. With over $30 million, the Alaska Energy Authority bank account for the proposed Susitna dam nearly matches the expected shortfall of our education budget. The choice between this ill-conceived dam proposal and education spending is clear. We need to promptly reallocate this money for our schools. Susitna salmon, our future state budgets and, most importantly, the future of our children's education depend on this decision.
— Doug Smith
Talkeetna
State needs alternative
The governor is right. If Exxon, BP and ConocoPhillips decide not to build a gas pipeline from the Slope, the state should have a non-competitive alternative. What the state does or does not do at this point will not answer the ultimate question the companies themselves have to ask — as they do all over the world — will it make us a large enough profit? The Legislature can't make that decision for them.
— Jack Roderick
Anchorage
WWAMI deserves support
I am appalled at the proposed budget cuts by the Alaska Legislature Finance Committee of the WWAMI program. For years, everyone has been aware of the acute shortage of doctors in rural and urban Alaska, and this program is already up and running and increasing its output.
It seems there is money to shoot wolves from helicopters for the benefit of no one, yet the WWAMI program benefits the entire state.
Our legislators in every public pronouncement claim all they do is for the citizens of this great state, yet it defies logic, common sense and their oath of office to cut this program.
— Esther Petrie, R.N.
Anchorage
Wheres the coverage of School Board races?
The Alaska Dispatch News has done a good job highlighting the upcoming mayor's race. However, there are three School Board seats up for election as well and I have not seen much, if any, coverage on these races.
There is one mayoral seat available, and there are at least eight candidates running for that one seat. There are three School Board seats available, yet only a total of six people are running (two for each seat). Why does no one seem to pay attention to the Anchorage School District, even though we have 80 schools in the district educating nearly 48,000 students? These current students are our neighbors, our future employees and our future leaders.
It is a worthy investment for all the citizens of Anchorage to pay attention and get involved with the Anchorage School District. Thank you.
— Natasha Von Imhof
School Board Seat G
Anchorage
Mayoral race summary
Want the monied 1 percent to run Anchorage? That's guaranteed with Dan Coffey.
Trust Andrew Halcro to involve at least 10 percent of us — the business owners.
Feel sorry for perennial partisan loser Ethan Berkowitz? Give him the "nonpartisan" mayor position!
Paul Bauer Jr. is an insightful critic but what will he do?
Dustin Darden can wax poetic and will keep the muni employees happy.
Lance Ahern is certainly articulate — too good a trait for a mayor?
Green and clean Timothy Huit is just that.
Amy Demboski seems intent on taking us Back to the Future.
With a slate like that, I'm wary about our future!
— Jon Sharpe
Anchorage
Listening Post provides a safe place to be heard
I have to wonder if Chantelle Pence's listener in the steam room (Commentary, March 29) was a volunteer at The Listening Post on the second floor of the downtown Transit Center. As a volunteer there myself for several years, it sounds like Ms. Pence got a good listening-to, as one of our mottoes says.
Open to the public when at least two volunteers are present, this peaceful space has been open for seven years and provides a place to be heard with your triumphs, as well as your concerns and battles. People come there on their lunch, while waiting for the bus, or see our signs in the lobby and come up with their troubled souls and just speak what is on their minds, like the woman on Sunday with lifelong afflictions who shared her despair, and after awhile she said she felt better already. It does not take a lot of fancy stuff, just an ear, a heart and a presence. No steam room needed.
People in many walks of life have problems and feel they have no place to turn. Non-judgmental listening and a cup of tea are sometimes what's needed.
Have ears, will listen.
— Dave Martin
Anchorage
Vandalism sounds like a hate crime to me
I was disgusted to read about the incident involving two Sudanese refugees in Anchorage who woke up Sunday morning to find flat tires and hateful messages including "not welcome," "leave Alaska," and "go now" written on their cars. The article stated that one of the victims called the police but was told that no officer would come out to investigate.
Anchorage Police Department spokeswoman Anita Shell stated that the incident was classified as vandalism, not a hate crime, because "the words themselves had nothing discriminatory about them."
It sounds very discriminatory to me. Maybe the victims should call the FBI, since it appears that the Anchorage Police Department is not interested in getting involved.
— Patty Griffin
Anchorage
Dont dump king salmon
Trawlers harvesting target fish should not be discarding king salmon returning to the river of origin (Kuskowim, Yukon, Nushagak and other rivers), the impacts we all see throughout Alaska rivers. The sport, commercial, subsistence fishermen have seen king salmon stocks dwindle — this has some effects on different user groups.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council meets starting April 6; we all need to voice our concerns at that time.
The future of the king salmon is in the hands of Alaskans, not the trawlers.
— Jimmy R. Hurley Sr.
Ekwok
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.