Politicians promise protection, but overwork, understaff OCS
Thank you Mr. Spitzberg for your excellent article (ADN, Jan. 13) on how child protectors are overwhelmed, poorly managed and understaffed in Alaska.
I was a school nurse who worked closely with social workers dedicated to their jobs. Yes, not only were they overwhelmed with the numbers of cases (no human being could have so many cases and do a good job), in my opinion they were overworked and underpaid.
Giving the agency a new name (from DFYS to OCS) apparently has done little to improve protecting the abused children in Alaska.
I have lived here 37 years; the only time I recall politicians vowing to protect children is when they run for office.
Some states have panels of professionals including judges, physicians, police officers, nurses and social workers who assist in making good decisions to protect the state's abused children. Why not do this in Alaska?
In this day and age with the alarming increase in child abuse, it is beyond insanity for a social worker to digest 900 pages of policy when time could be spent protecting our most precious commodity, our children.
— Margaret Hansen
Anchorage
Prisoners can pick up roadkill
The Alaska Dispatch News Jan. 4 story on the Alaska Moose Federation and its mission to pick up roadkill moose, is both incomplete and erroneous. Inadequate background research was done on this story. It is totally incorrect to believe a budget of approximately $300,000 — plus a small fleet of vehicles and a half-dozen drivers — is necessary to provide this valuable service in Southcentral. It is not!
In the past, at least in the Interior near Fairbanks, the service existed for many years — and at no additional cost to the state of Alaska — thanks to the nonprofit KILA Inc. (the work release/halfway house program under contract to the Department of Corrections at the time). The meat salvaging service was provided primarily by unemployed residents of the program. With a specially prepared "moosemobile" (a 16-passenger van modified by Wilbur Bros.) roadkill was recovered and the meat was butchered and appropriately distributed.
There are at least three work release/halfway house facilities in Southcentral.
— Frank J. Gold
Fairbanks
Dog owners should follow law
There's a solution to dogs getting caught in traps as shown in the Jan. 19 ADN story.
The solution: keep them on a leash, like the law states. Problem solved; everything should be this easy.
— Terry Henley
Why fix what's not broken?
A letter by professor Don McDermott in the Jan. 17 ADN is an excellent analysis of the situation regarding the replacement of Ed Graff, Anchorage School District superintendent. There does not seem to be any real justification for replacing Graff. Apparently he is a good administrator, and able, and hopefully willing to continue in the job. As a taxpayer, I feel the funds they have committed to the search could be better used in the school system.
— Jean Shadrach
Anchorage
Cut the budget, end Medicaid expansion for starters
Despite Jim Crawford's Jan. 16 ADN commentary suggesting otherwise, it is critical for Alaskans to be re-educated on how politicians will spend any amount of money they are given. They were given more than enough to put this state $3 billion in debt. The state budget has to be cut and cut again. There is no excuse for not cutting.
• For a start — back out of the Medicaid expansion,
• Reduce the subsidy to the Alaska Railroad,
• Reduce subsidies to any entity, including the Department of Transportation (if we are relying on federal money for highways and infrastructure, our politicians need to get to work and get this state what was promised by the statehood agreement).
• Cut compensation in state personnel with elimination of special assistants to department heads.
These are my suggestions and these are just a few. There are more to come. Each and every person that reads needs to come up with their own list and forward it to your legislative representatives and do it now.
— Christine Hutchison
Kenai
Alaskans give back windfall
In response to Lou Nathanson's letter "Inequality in PFD proposal" (ADN, Jan. 19):
If we had put all of the oil money into a Permanent Fund, such as Norway did, it would have benefited all Alaskans forever, instead of those of us lucky enough to be around for the oil. The PFD is a windfall for those Alaskans here during the boom. The wind giveth and the wind taketh away. Why should Alaskans be taxed on money they've earned versus giving back equally on a windfall?
— Greg Svendsen
Anchorage
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