Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, May 6, 2015

Pebble’s footprint

While Alaskans likely appreciate the relative absence of Pebble from their weekly news these days, the Alaska Dispatch News' report last weekend provided a helpful update on where the project stands today ("Pebble mine backers aren't ready to give up the gold," May 3).

One point I thought I'd correct before others correct it for me: The Nushagak and Kvichak watersheds in which the Pebble project would have a footprint have produced about 20 percent of Bristol Bay sockeye over the past decade not 10 percent as reported. The other 80 percent or so are produced in other discrete Bristol Bay drainages.

— Tom Collier

CEO Pebble Partnership

Anchorage

Cyclist-killing drivers can expect leniency

In February, Stacey Graham was sentenced to 32 years in prison for driving drunk and running over two teenagers on an Anchorage sidewalk. Last summer, Alexandra Ellis got drunk, ran over bicyclist Jeff Dusenbery and then drove away, callously leaving him for dead. She will likely serve one year or less. This reflects a nationwide pattern of ridiculously lenient sentences for motorists who kill cyclists. Ms. Ellis' plea bargain is further proof that in our legal system, if you want to kill someone and be punished with little more than a relative inconvenience, all you have to do is make sure your weapon is a car, and your victim is riding a bicycle.

Tim Woody

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Anchorage

News unreported by ADN

How could you have missed even a brief note on one of the biggest events in Anchorage? The Great Alaska Aviation Gathering at the Fed Ex hangar was on May 2 and 3. People from all over the U.S. and Canada attended. A Super Cub was raffled off; inspirational speaker Jessica Cox, born with no arms but learned to fly on her own, made an appearance; and displays of many aircraft and aircraft services. In Alaska aviation this was a big deal but not a word about it. Shame on you.

George Dorman

Anchorage

Sanders coverage needed

I am disturbed about the lack of coverage, in this weekend's editions of ADN of Bernie Sanders' bid for the Democratic presidential nomination (announced earlier this week).

Sanders' declared freedom from corporate interests should have provided fresh perspective on possible climate change solutions, important to Alaskans who reside in a relatively fragile ecosystem.

Wendi Sollenberger

Anchorage

Oil versus education

In simple terms, the Legislature has agreed to use our children's education funding to pay for the tax break they gave the oil companies. If you had $10 at the end of the month, would you put it in an education fund for your children, or would you send it to the oil companies with a note saying "please don't leave me"? We have a choice.

Regan Sarwas

Anchorage

Cut boondoggles from budget first

My 2 cents on the current budget woes. First off, there is no easy answer to any of these issues. However, I feel that the current majority in the Legislature, some of whom are my representatives, do not seem to be using good judgment.

Dropping new infrastructure projects in the beginning or middle may cost us a penalty at the beginning, but the long-term boondoggles like KABATA and the Juneau Road to Nowhere are two good places to take our lumps and get out now. If KABATA was going to be a profitable concern, some private enterprise would jump on it. It will be a money drain forever. When I drive to visit my friends in Wasilla, why would I go through downtown, pay to cross a toll bridge, then drive all the way down Knik-Goose Bay Road just to get to the Parks Highway? Seriously?

The Juneau Road to Nowhere is just as big a boondoggle. How many avalanche zones are there to build through and then maintain just for a few extra miles? Get on the ferry at Juneau and go where you want to go.

I could go on but I'd run out of space. Plus, they've all already received an email from me about these and more subjects.

Linda Shore

Anchorage

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Projects should be cut before public radio, schools, violence prevention

The Alaska Dispatch News recently published an article written by East Anchorage Sen. Bill Wielechowski that criticized our state's fiscal (and inherently political) priorities. Wielechowski's well-written concerns, as many can imagine, are shared among Alaskans all over the state.

Juneau has listened –– hopefully with open ears –– to testimony from our students, educators and leaders who are troubled by the standing budget priorities. More than $47 million will be cut in education funds from a state already struggling to provide sufficient access to education; $1.5 million will gut domestic violence prevention and social leadership programs; cuts will affect the public radio programs that educate and engage the community.

Yet, proposals to shortly delay payments on oil tax credits, which are predicted to put us $400 million further in debt, were deflected; state workers were denied a pay raise, yet state executives were not. Cost-cutting for big and expensive projects was promised, yet million-dollar projects such as the Bragraw Street extension will continue despite the East Anchorage community's explicit rejection of its necessity.

We heard the state loud and clear when they told us that cuts would be being made left and right, but they failed to mention that oil companies and high-earning executives were exempt from that statement.

No one is blaming Gov. Walker for the prioritization of oil companies and millionaires over hard working Alaskans by our Legislature. Such an accusation would be irresponsible and dishonest.

In fact, the Alaska Journal of Commerce and others made Alaskans aware that Walker himself flagged the issue regarding oil tax credits. Bravo to Gov. Walker for that! However, there is widespread frustration concerning our state's willingness to allow education, violence prevention and public radio funds to whither away, while giving big oil companies a free ride.

Walker issues the final stroke of the pen when he reviews the budget. As the new governor, who was elected on a strong and inspiring campaign to put Alaska first, we expect this budget deal to be a test of Walker's promise.

Robert Hockema

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Homer

These difficult times require visionary leadership, and GOP does not deliver

Shenanigans: a devious trick used especially for an underhanded purpose; tricky or questionable practices or conduct. Sound familiar? This is what is happening in Juneau. Our elected Legislators, especially those representing the GOP, have wasted precious and costly time playing a shell game behind closed doors. It is beyond disappointing that they are unwilling to compromise, and refuse to exercise the type of visionary leadership that these difficult times require.

Passing an incomplete budget that robs funding from the education reserve in lieu of using the very account that is designed to be a safety net during times of fiscal crisis is egregiously irresponsible. This, coupled with their refusal to allow important bills on Medicaid and Erin's Law to reach the floor for a vote, has a few in the majority playing God, against the will of the majority of Alaskans.

I don't know of a single profession where an employee could act with such cavalier irreverence and not be fired. Just remember, we are their bosses, and I hope when it matters we remember to fire those who treated us so unjustly by removing our voices from the democratic process, and reward those who acted with true integrity.

Melissa Boyette

Anchorage

Where’s the adult behavior in Juneau?

If I understand this correctly, the current members of the majority party, would not, could not and did not want to work with the members of the minority party to pass a balanced budget. Why, because the House majority leadership would need to cooperate with members of the minority party. That would be too much like adult behavior.

The current members of this legislative body are behaving poorly, and not doing their jobs.

Fund education, expand Medicaid, take care of the citizens of Alaska. Basically, ladies and gentlemen, do the job you were sent to Juneau to do. Stop the shenanigans, stop wasting our money.

Susan Ritter

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.

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