Time to elect new lawmakers
We elect our representatives and senators to create and have a budget done within the time limits of the session. And yet they can not do the job they were elected to do. If they were in a classroom they would receive an "F" for not turning in their work on time. I think it is time we clean house and elect people who will do their jobs, not complaining that they are tired and need a break. It is time Alaskans look closely at who they elect to represent us in Juneau.
— Richard A. Burmeister
Eagle River
Sutton asks for courtesy
Spring is here, and I am as excited as anyone else. With this season, we have to deal with the winter's worth of trash, dust, pollen, road construction and the cottonwood stickies, etc. Unfortunately, we also have to deal with the Anchorites who use our community of Sutton as their own personal playground.
When you — you know who you are — migrate to our space with your RVs and ATVs and all that, please be considerate. The zooming four-wheelers, loud parties, indiscriminate shooting and bonfires when the burn permits are suspended just make us locals frown upon you. All that causes noise pollution, barking dogs, dust and ill will.
We do not appreciate that in our backyard. We live here for the quality of life that our beautiful community has to offer. Again, please think and consider. Thank you.
— Freya Maat
Sutton
Sickened by killing of moose
If Johnathan Candelario, James Galloway and Nick Johnston are convicted of the charges attached to the killing of a yearling moose in Russian Jack Springs Park on Tuesday, then we have another example of male people who are neither a "man" nor a "human."
Should these grown males ages 25, 28, and 33 have killed this moose, there is no excuse. This cowardly, evil act was not committed due to hunger since the meat was left to waste. So what was it? Thrill seeking? Wanting to feel powerful? What or who could have been their next target if they had not been arrested?
Such repulsive and criminal behavior deserves the maximum level of punishment. My guess is that these three would much rather spend time in prison than be released into a wild game preserve.
— Caroline Bolar
Anchorage
Stop vandalizing signs
Friday evening I saw a lady knocking over an Amy Demboski billboard. Unsure of what was happening, I watched her. Sure enough a quarter mile down the road she stopped again, walked up to another Demboski billboard and knocked it over. Regardless of whom you vote for, vandalism and damaging a candidate's signs is not right. I videoed the incident and filed a police report.
Four days before a runoff election, these actions were not motivated by a desire to clean up the streets. I took my kids out and we spent multiple hours picking up trash Saturday, but we didn't trash any election signs.
Let's let the voting process do the work. I encourage everyone to go to the polls. Vote for who you believe will be the best mayor for Anchorage. Demboski has handled the other vandalism to her campaign signs with dignity. Being destructive is not the way to voice your opinion.
— Shon Robinson
Anchorage
Havelock unfair to McCarthy
There is no conclusive evidence that Sen. Joseph McCarthy died of "alcohol abuse" as John Havelock so smugly proclaims in his column Friday. The image of Joseph McCarthy as a hopeless drunkard has been projected by the liberal media for decades.
However, many who observed McCarthy closely during his career — including harsh McCarthy critics Jack Anderson and George Reedy — claimed that McCarthy was a drink nurser who sought to maintain a sober advantage over those who imbibed.
In the nearly 60 years since his death, McCarthy has been unceasingly vilified. For this reason, John Havelock's labeling of McCarthy as a "dangerous blowhard" amounts to a cowardly display of whipping a dead horse.
Mr. Havelock should do something truly courageous: Apply the term "dangerous blowhard" to Obama's close friend, Al Sharpton.
— August Cisar
Seward
Appalled at divorce coverage
I was planning on voting for Ethan, however since I read Richard Mauer and Devin Kelly's piece on Amy's divorce in ADN, I am certain that Amy is the best fit for the job of Anchorage mayor.
Thank you for spending so much detailed time and so many words to push the sleazy political agenda that ADN shows so often. You folks should be ashamed of yourselves.
Amy's private life is just that — private, and not for your twisted review and tabloid journalism.
(Tabloid journalism is generally considered to be synonymous with bad journalism.)
Lacking character and integrity coupled with character assassination fits you all quite well. Vote for Amy on May 5.
— Jim Weber
Anchorage
Article on Demboski divorce was unworthy hatchet job
I am not going to vote for her because of it, but your story on Amy Demboski's divorce is a hatchet job. Her truthfulness in a difficult situation, or her ex-husband's truthfulness in a difficult situation, is not the real point of the story. They were both 19, and there is no really good way to handle a divorce when the wife has recently gotten pregnant and the couple does not want to raise the child together.
Your story was meant to point out to readers that she had made an unfortunate marriage at a young age and to cast doubt on her character about that, not about any incorrect statements in an affidavit.
Shame on you. If Ethan Berkowitz wins, his win will have been tainted by your advocacy.
— Mark Regan
Anchorage
Legislators should lose pay
When a person is hired to do a job, they have to complete the job or they should be fired. Our legislators are not doing the job. They do not deserve to be paid for the extra time that they are taking to complete the task that they were elected to perform within time frame of the session.
Why should we pay them more money? The per diem money should be spent on our children's education and our future Alaskan leaders.
— Rick Onorato and Joan Clover
Anchorage
No excuse for not voting
I am currently in Cobh, Ireland, and still managed to vote in the runoff election via fax. There is no excuse for Anchorage residents not to vote. Get out and vote for the candidate of your choice.
— Robin Cacy
Anchorage
Fire the legislative majority
Here's one for the conservatives who like to equate government with business: The legislative majority members don't complete their assigned duties, and then take a leave of absence without the CEO's permission. Let's fire them.
— Cheryl Lovegreen
Anchorage
Legislators shut out voters as they follow own agenda
Alaskans are witnessing a macabre dance as our legislators act out parts that were not written from the script we thought we were electing them to follow. We know what we thought we would get before they took the oath of office. What we are getting is more reminiscent of a grade school bullying exercise. Adults are acting like spoiled children and getting away with it. With each perceived success they gather and giggle about how strong and invincible they are. Then they wait to see what will happen next.
The voters have no say in this game. The show is being run by a segment of our state's political spectrum — a segment that does not accept the need for negotiation or compromise. In fact those two traits are viewed as weaknesses by this group. They might be punishing the electorate for turfing out their beloved governor. They might be obstructing his replacement whenever they can. They might be following an agenda that is kept out of sight, discussed in closed meetings that we have no visibility into.
When we hand power to those whom we cannot trust we cannot complain if we stand on the sidelines and do nothing. We will only get what we deserve. Alaskans should get used to it. We aren't getting out of this fiscal mess in the next year or so. Now is the time to get serious about our future. Those in power have their agenda. We should have one too.
— Brett Delana
Anchorage
Examination of tax debate
Let's get some facts straight on the sales tax versus income tax debate.
Fact: People with more money spend more money, hence would pay more in taxes.
Fact: If food and medical were exempt from taxation, it wouldn't affect the poor. (Unless they spend unwisely, and let's face it, some of Alaska's poorest are already paying the highest taxes already on alcohol and tobacco.)
Fact: If people make money illegally (dealing drugs, prostitution, burglary, etc.) and then spend their ill-gotten booty purchasing (say, flat-screen TVs) then they would pay taxes they wouldn't have to pay with an income tax.
Fact: If we implement an income tax, don't forget it would create another agency involving a host of accountants, secretaries, CEOs, etc. God only knows what that would cost. (Millions?)
Fact: With a sales tax all those tourists who come here to fill up boxes of our fish would have to give us something back.
These facts are indisputable, and I hope this letter will open some eyes to a path toward common sense and fairness.
— Joe Reza
Anchorage
Getting harder to brag
I love Alaska. I raised my children here, and now my grandchildren are being raised here. I try not to brag to our friends and relatives who live Outside about what a wonderful city and state I live in, but unfortunately it's becoming easier to restrain myself.
I thought we couldn't embarrass ourselves any more after Sarah Palin made us a national laughing stock, but I was wrong.
To Washington we send one senator appointed by her daddy, another from Ohio bought and paid for by the Kochs, and we keep re-electing a buffoon to the House.
We refuse to expand Medicaid even though it would give 40,000 Alaskans health coverage, save our hospitals millions and help us out of our deficit.
We send state legislators to Juneau who can't even pass a budget but instead want to change our clocks, appropriate federal land, ignore initiative petitions passed by the voters and unfund public education.
I'm beginning to dread being asked where I'm from by folks in the Lower 48. What the *&%#$ is wrong with us?
— Andrew Smith
Anchorage
Some legislators understand
As the state Legislature takes a break and legislators go back to their districts, Great Alaska Schools would like to thank those legislators with the courage to stand up for their values. Many have listened to their constituents ask that public education be prioritized and adequately funded. In particular, Sen. Mia Costello sent a letter to the operating budget conference committee asking them to maintain public education funding at the levels agreed to last year as they consider ways to address the budget gap. She expressed her concern that school districts have not had adequate time to incorporate cuts into their respective budgets. Sen. Costello recognizes the importance of maintaining this investment in the future of our state, even during times of lean budgets.
Additionally, Sen. Click Bishop and Rep. Paul Seaton separately introduced legislation that looks at potential revenue generating options to address the long-term fiscal problems Alaska is facing. Both legislators recognize that budget cuts alone will not solve our problem, and excessive cuts can in fact be devastating to our economy. By looking at revenue options in addition to looking at smart ways to trim the budget, we can maintain investments important for the future health of Alaska.
We would like to commend all three legislators for letting their values guide their actions during the session. We would ask all of our legislators to dig deep, think about their values and what is best for our state going forward, and to do the same.
— Deena Mitchell
statewide coordinator,
Great Alaska Schools
Anchorage
If jobs not done, fire them
Generally, when people don't finish their job in the allotted time, rather than getting vacation or paid to work extra days, they get fired. Why should the Legislature be any different?
— Justin T. Wetherell
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.