Hate crimes law: It's about time

Nora Jean York's suicide by police sadly comes as we approach Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is Friday. The unsolved murder of Rita Hester, a transwoman, on Nov. 28, 1998, in San Francisco, sparked a "Remembering Our Dead" Web project and a candlelight vigil in 1999. Eventually Nov. 20 was set aside to remember all those who were killed due to the hatred and prejudice of people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

At least one individual a month has died as a result of this hate. Many of these killings go unsolved, and when they are caught and prosecuted, they get off lightly. In California in 2008, 15-year-old Lawrence King was murdered by another student -- two young lives forever destroyed. In Colorado in 2009, a man who beat a young transwoman to death was not only convicted of her murder, he was also charged with a hate crime. That was a first. On Oct. 28, 2009, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed into law. I say it's long overdue.

-- Cameron Bonham

Anchorage

Solutions for Turnagain crashes are available

It appears that many of the violent collisions along Turnagain Arm could be mitigated with some sort of construction-like concrete divide within these established speed zones. Perhaps an even cheaper solution would be permanent orange poles dividing traffic to limit risky moves into oncoming motorists. Furthermore, we must enforce a minimum speed to reduce road rage; the tourists are making the locals angry drivers.

-- Nathan Eckstein

Anchorage

Shed no tears for man who lived

Getting old isn't so bad, if you consider the alternatives. At 62 you can get a free hunting and fishing license; at 65, free license tags -- assuming you can still see to drive.

I liked the old days better. A "hard drive" was from Cantwell to Paxton; a "floppy disc" was gramma's Sunday go-to-meeting hat, and a "download" was a trip to the outhouse. A "tweet" was a bird sound, or a stop at Elmer Fudd's house on Halloween night. A "preexisting" condition meant you were born.

I dropped Medicare, part D four years ago. The $50 per month the insurance people were getting now goes for broccoli, maca , ginseng and beer!

I'll be 74 on Dec. 7. If I turn up in the "memory" page, OK, that's all we have left. Don't weep for me, I've lived.

-- Will Hayes

Palmer

Alaskans do understand Pebble project problems

I beg to differ with John Shively's comment in the ADN article "Chefs Serve Salmon with Message on the Side" that "the chefs don't understand the Pebble Project and don't appreciate what it could do for the people of the region."

I believe people from all walks of life do understand that any contamination escaping from the Pebble project has the potential to decimate the entire Bristol Bay fishery. Wild Alaska salmon are recognized as the purest fish found anywhere. Why would we even consider compromising this and other pristine ecosystems? The fisheries in Bristol Bay and the Kenai Peninsula are critical to the economic well-being of those areas.

I am not anti-development but realize that we need regulations to protect and preserve resources from wanton development. Perhaps Mr. Shively doesn't realize that the people do understand what the Pebble Project means.

-- Kay Thomas

Cooper Landing

Renters contribute to taxes

I would like to respond to Roger Manka's letter stating that only homeowners pay the property tax. The ludicrousness of this statement I would think to be quite obvious. Renters pay this tax as much as anyone else does. People who rent homes, condos, apartments, etc., do not just eat this cost; it's passed on to each and every tenant.

The only people who do not pay a single cent as his letter implies are the homeless. Are these the people we want to tax?

Property taxes are high, and as renter I fully understand. The answer, though, is not to find more funding through other tax measures; the answer lies in controlling government spending.

-- David Roe

Anchorage

Support the right to choose

In response to Mr. McMorrow's letter (Nov. 15), "choice" by dictionary definition is an option or an alternative. Pro-choice individuals do not support abortion more than going to term and giving birth. We support an individual's right to choose.

As a pro-choice individual, having not walked in another's shoes, I hesitate to decide for her. It would certainly be a shame if our country legislated against legalized abortion for one who is bent on terminating a pregnancy, resulting in a step backwards to back-alley slicers and dicers.

-- Judie Wolfe

Anchorage

Can't let Taliban run rampant

What amount of money is too much to be safe from terrorists? Obama needs to win the Afghanistan conflict. That is how we will improve our safety. A prevent approach is best. You can't let the Taliban run rampant.

-- Daniel Hellyer

Wasilla

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