Triple dose of appreciation
This week is Teacher Appreciation, National Nurses and Public Service Week. As such, I want to take this opportunity to thank Grace Zammaron (Bear Valley Elementary) for her extraordinary service as a teacher, Heidi Jensen (Providence Alaska) for her compassionate service as a nurse, and Ethan Berkowitz (mayor-elect) for his passionate, longtime commitment as a public servant.
Anchorage is better educated, healthier, and more cohesive because of their dedication to our community.
— Karol Libbey
Anchorage
Thanks for coverage outside of big city
Although I agree with recent letter writers that ADN could do better with both announcing and reporting on local events, I want to commend ADN for the excellent coverage of areas of the state that we Anchorage folks don't know much about. Also thanks for the science news reporting. Even more would be good. We need to know how the natural world works.
— Elizabeth Hatton
Anchorage
Alaska children must come first even when states money gets tight
When a family is low on funds, what is the first thing to go? In my household, we cut back on luxuries: eating at restaurants, going to the movies, spontaneous purchases, even cellphone data space, etc. What we don't do is cancel the math tutor, or pull our children from soccer or voice lessons. That is because my husband and I strive to be quality parents who understand how to prioritize.
If we continue this metaphor and consider Alaska to be a family, then our leaders (parents), Alaska's majority legislators, are bad parents.
The fact is, when the money gets tight, you take care of your children. Period. No dancing around semantics and giving political talking-point excuses. Like a mother whose child wears too-short, raggedy pants while she sports expensive boots, Alaska's legislators are failing the children of Alaska, and that is a simple fact.
As a parent and an educator, I certainly see issues in public education that can be improved. However, denying schools adequate funding is not the answer, of course.
Restructuring, modifying, thinking outside the box: those are things that lead to improvement, not across-the-board, harmful cuts to funding. This Legislature is not looking to improve; it seems determined to stomp on the concept of a healthy public educational system.
When the achievement gap widens, do not look at our schools — remember the names of the legislators who are making these choices today. I hope they remember these days; and every day when they look in the mirror, they can reflect on their legacy: ignoring the huge percentage of their constituents who are telling them that education funding should be a priority. Robbing the education funds from children to secure the state's general budget is unacceptable: keep looking in that mirror.
Let me put it this way: Would you take money out of your child's college savings account to remodel your kitchen? Of course not; but this Legislature has its priorities wrong and it is hurting Alaska's children. If you, too, feel sad, angry and frustrated at the dismal legacy the 29th Alaska Legislature is leaving our children, please reach out to our legislators. They need to feel the shame and understand that providing for children is the most important thing.
— Amy Lloyd
Juneau
Alaska missing from list of top schools
I looked at Newsweek magazine's 2014 top 500 U.S. high schools rated for the best college preparation. Alaska didn't make the list. "Great Alaska Schools"? Really?
— William Ahrens
Eagle River
Havelock needs to hit the books
John Havelock's critique ("Goldsmith's budget solution rests on bad assumptions," April 29) rests on his own egregiously "bad assumptions." Among a number of inaccuracies, he wrote, "the stock market has been going through an eight-year boom, thanks to President Obama's management of fiscal affairs" and "his phenomenally low inflation rate." Seriously? Is he that clueless? The stock market "boom" and the nation's "low inflation rate" are entirely a function of the Federal Reserve's ZIRP (zero interest rate policy) and little else.
As a university professor, it sounds like it's time for Havelock to take a refresher course in basic economics, or at the very least spend a few hours studying FRED economic data online. Then, he might have something cogent to say about Goldsmith's proposal.
— Michael C. Rose
Anchorage
Photo captures true sentiments
"Picture is worth …"
Bill Roth's Wednesday front-page photo (Tuesday) says much. An admiring look from your son is earned through integrity.
— Bob Butera
Anchorage
Get more people on missing persons
I am writing in response to the story "Man found dead in Midtown pond was reported missing in Anchorage last fall." My opinion about this report is that since it took the police so long to find him, I think police should recruit more people to help look for missing people. Missing people who have been found recently have been reported missing for about 5-10 months. With at least a couple more groups of search and rescue, I think police would be able to find a lot more of the people who have been reported missing.
With more people doing the job of searching for people there will be less people missing for long periods of time. The police should realize how many people are in need of help in finding their relatives. Family members that go missing take forever to find and if that was the police's relatives I know that they would appreciate more help from their community.
The police know that they need more help, and they should be able to get more help. I think that it would help a lot if they put up signs for people to volunteer to help them out and it would make a big difference on what they are recognized for instead of just having people know that they stop crimes. They also save people's lives to help their families. I also think that the police should be recognized more often. Therefore, I would like to say thank you for your support and for putting in your own time to help look for missing people.
— Tatiana Eakon
Unalakleet
What filth to show our visitors, tourists
Ever since I visited another country 25 years ago, I have literally had recurring nightmares of the time I needed to use a public restroom. I could not do it. The nightmares are always the same: unbelievably dirty, smelly and filled with waste and paper smeared all over. Then the other day I had to stop at the restrooms in Turnagain Pass. I almost passed out. I could not believe the great state of Alaska has sunk so low. What filth to show our visitors and tourists. Where are they expected to go to the restroom while visiting here? They will forget the beauty of our state in a few seconds if they have to live through that. Who takes care of these restrooms? And the people who have trashed the restrooms should totally be ashamed. What a filthy mess you have made. Thanks.
— Frieda Byars
Anchorage
Words betray attitude toward women
Writers Devin Kelly and Nathaniel Herz and the editors who let this telling phrase pass by need to examine their attitudes toward women. In the "Berkowitz wins big in runoff" story Wednesday morning, a sentence concerning Amy Demboski reads: "Clad in a dark sweater and gray pants …" Really? I see no fashion commentary on what Ethan was wearing. Please reserve the front page of the paper for unbiased news and please take a close look at your attitude toward female politicians.
— Patience Frederiksen
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.