Center for the Blind
needs state funds for building
The Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired has been providing vision rehabilitation services at its facility in Anchorage for 30 years. Blind Alaskans come from across the state to live at the residence while they receive training on how to live independently and learn vocational skills in order to be successful at getting or retaining a job.
In 1985, the 14th Alaska Legislature provided funding to purchase and renovate the building. The building is now in need of some critical maintenance and energy efficiency upgrades. For example, the roof and boiler need to be replaced. The center has submitted a request to the Legislature to help match the funding already raised from generous donations from the public to help retain the value of the legislative investment 30 years ago.
Although the economic situation is very uncertain due to the decline in oil prices, the Legislature should consider providing support for critical health and safety projects. Ensuring that this investment from the 14th Alaska State Legislature is preserved will help ensure that blind and visually impaired Alaskans continue to have the opportunity to learn the skills needed to be successful in life and work.
— Regan Mattingly
Anchorage
Defunding lease would show state disdain for businesses
I was shocked and distressed to read on April 3 that the Senate Finance Committee is proposing to strip funding for the Anchorage Legislative Office Building lease. If this proposal were implemented, it would be a clear signal to every private sector business that the State of Alaska is not a trustworthy customer. The state openly negotiated and executed a binding lease with a private sector developer. Based on that lease, the developer then incurred costs in the tens of millions of dollars to fulfill the terms of that lease. Defunding payments for the lease would be a signal to the world that an amazingly arrogant State of Alaska has disdain for private businesses.
As a businessman and a former state commissioner who served during the recession in the 1980s, I know that in times of economic distress the state needs to work intelligently with the private sector to support the economy and to save jobs. This proposed action would severely damage the relationship between the public and private sectors. As a result, it would cost us jobs at a time when we should all be united in doing everything we can to preserve jobs.
— David Hoffman
Anchorage
Supreme Court will put gay-marriage issue to rest
I am sensitive to the frustration expressed by Alaska's civil rights advocates and LGBT community over the news that Alaska's attorney general has intervened in the gay-marriage dispute in the 6th Circuit. That circuit is an outlier, having concluded that the states of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee can ban gay marriages if they so choose.
As the sponsor of House Joint Resolution No. 1 (which would call for a re-vote on Alaska's existing 1998 constitutional prohibition on the right to same-sex marriage) and House Bill 19 (which would prohibit discrimination against same-sex individuals in lending, housing and employment), I take this matter as seriously as anyone in the capital city. Not to split hairs too fine, the governor said he would not intervene in our own 9th Circuit's decision on this important civil rights question. He has not. I also believe that the governor is well aware that, in just a few months, the U.S. Supreme Court will put this matter to rest in a universal way — by finding a constitutional right to marry whom one wishes in all 50 states. This would render our attorney general's filing moot and completely academic.
I continue to have great faith in our new governor. I am a supporter of both his appointees and virtually all of his policies thus far. I believe he is a person of great honor and character.
— State Rep. Andy Josephson
Anchorage
The Obama Doctrine
First it was President Obama's decision to normalize relations with Cuba late last year marking the end to a six decade long embargo that many proponents believe was unnecessary in the post-Cold War era. Now we have a tentative (albeit, not very comprehensive) nuclear deal with Iran — a state which the U.S., up until 2013, had not spoken with since the early 1980s. Without the concerns about political considerations from the thought of running for re-election, are we finally seeing what can be called "the Obama Doctrine"? That is to say, actually conducting diplomacy with states in which we are in disagreement with instead of perpetuating outdated conflicts.
Negotiation is not appeasement — it's the art of diplomacy.
— Michael Lowe
Anchorage
PFD state of mind
We are raising third (and fourth) generations of Alaskans who've learned that the purpose of state government is to give money every fall. If it weren't so sad, the Juneau "shortfall" handwringing would be funny.
— Charlotte Cremer
Wasilla
Nightmare for Alaskas public schools
Alaska's Senate members recently cut $47.5 million from the state budget for our public schools. With these recent cuts, an estimated $200 has been taken from the base student allocation — the per student funding that flows into all public school classrooms in Alaska — and $150 has been cut from education funding outside the BSA in HB 278.
Possible items on the chopping block include languages, sports, music, pre-K, art, librarians, gifted programs, counselors and more. These cuts mean more kids per classroom and fewer teachers in our schools. Alaska's financial troubles call for bold vision to bring in new revenue quickly and prudent cost reductions, not shortsighted cuts that will threaten our students' success and Alaska's economic future. Our children have one chance to thrive in school and these cuts will create a statewide education crisis at their personal expense. How can we improve the quality of our education system at the same time the state is starving it?
These recent cuts were made without warning after thousands and thousands of citizens rallied, wrote letters, testified, and made calls to their legislators requesting adequate and predictable public school funding last year. Our Legislature's actions last week dismantle the progress the public fought for and won.
It's unbelievable that education is still under attack given the public's action. These cuts are unconscionable and our children cannot afford these political wounds. Help stop this nightmare now and don't lose hope. Call your legislators and ask them to restore all funds cut from HB 278. Ask for your comments to be part of the public record. Talk to your friends and neighbors and ask them to do the same. You can find your legislator's contact information here: http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/docs/pdf/whoswho.pdf.
— Jessie Menkens
Great Alaska Schools founding member
Anchorage
Keep the Darden coming
We are so enjoying Dustin Darden's daily comments to questions posed to the Anchorage mayoral candidates. His contributions are arguably the most entertaining part of the Alaska Dispatch News and we are truly sad to see them come to an end with the election. Do you think there is a way to continue Dustin's daily affirmations?
— Barbara Landi
Palmer
Jenkins smug mockery
Columnist Paul Jenkins smugly mocks everyone who supported the Sudanese refugees and seems disappointed that the vandals who defaced their vehicles did not do more damage. Yet wouldn't he feel the sting if he were the victim of such an attack himself? Perhaps empathy for the plight of others should take a higher place on his vaunted list of "conservative values."
— Aron L. Crowell
Chugiak
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.