Anchorage Daily News

Duck! Here comes money

The $1,200 (energy relief) "resource rebate" is another example of our government throwing money at a problem they are too lazy and unwilling to deal with.

-- Max and Molly O'Toole

Anchorage

Respect bears' right to be here

Bears: Give them a break. It's been a rough year for them. Fish haven't been abundant. I don't see the berries we usually see and the sow they just shot has been trying to protect and feed her cubs.

We have encroached into their habitat in droves and wonder why they don't like us around?

I don't understand why the problem bears are not darted and relocated. Because a bullet is cheaper? How lame is that?

I've lived here since 1956 and have had only encounter with a bear, in Denali Park 30 years ago.

I also know to be aware of my surroundings when hiking in the woods and who to give wide berth to, even moose.

If you're new here, learn about these animals and respect their right to be here. After all, they really were here first.

-- James Tilton

Chugiak

Let's get rid of our biggest threat

Seems like many more people are being killed on the mountains in Alaska. This summer alone there have been more than usual. It is about time that the state does something about this problem. The means to level mountains at least in the Anchorage area is possible. Mountains are dangerous.

I was raised in New Jersey and did not have this problem and there is no reason that the folks moving to Anchorage need to be threatened by such a danger. The sooner that Anchorage realizes it can be just like many civilized cities and gets rid of the threat of the mountains and wildlife, the better and safer we will all be.

We will have a city that is not known for its unique and dangerous wildlife but one that has finally grown into a sprawling metropolis where we are safe and have no room for mountains, moose or bears.

-- Hugh McPeck

Anchorage

Use rebate to live a greener life

Welcome as it may be for many struggling households, this year's energy rebate is a short-term solution to a long-term problem.

Energy prices are soaring because demand for fossil fuels is rising at the same time that easily accessible supplies are dwindling.

I'm not the first to point out that the state of Alaska should be using its oil revenues to invest in conservation and renewable technologies instead of creating subsidies for our unsustainable fossil fuel dependence.

But the check is coming, and I, for one, don't plan to send it back. For those of us who can afford to think long-term, I suggest we use our energy rebates to take personal steps towards sustainability. Replace the light bulbs in your home. Buy a more energy-efficient appliance. Get your car tuned. Buy a bus pass. Heck, buy a bike. Fossil fuels are getting scarcer, and we all have a role to play in moving toward a more energy-secure future.

-- Rebecca Noblin

Anchorage

Law that bans torching cars is step toward making woods safe

On behalf of Butte Area Residents Civic Organization (BARCO), we sincerely thank Rep. Bill Stoltze, his staff, co-sponsors and legislative committees for passing HB 268 making the act of intentionally burning or exploding cars on state and municipal lands a Felony C offense. We also thank our members who have so diligently worked on this issue.

We expect that HB 268 will prove to be a major deterrent for such childish rites of passage, insurance fraud and purposeful destruction of incriminating evidence. It will diminish the danger of fires to residents who live near popular "recreation" areas where these activities occur and will greatly reduce the expense and exposure to toxic substances for local fire departments.

We encourage residents and visitors to take note of suspicious activity in areas where these activities have taken place -- be they in Fairbanks, Kenai or Butte -- and report license plates and descriptions to Alaska State Troopers or local Crime Stoppers organizations. A few highly publicized incidents will make all of us and our woods safer.

-- Gregory Nilsson and Brit Lively

Butte Area Residents Civic Organization

Bailey deserves consideration

I must disagree with your assessment that Gov. Palin's head of Boards and Commissions, Frank Bailey, should resign.

I know Frank Bailey as a decent and honorable man.

While it is clear that some of the comments he made in a 20-minute recorded conversation are deserving of reprimand, these statements don't rise to the level of requiring his dismissal.

If we set a zero tolerance for error as the standard for public service, we will find ourselves with an unresponsive government more concerned about their paychecks than doing the right thing.

All I ask is that the public and the Daily News afford Frank Bailey half the consideration they have given trooper Wooten. After all, Frank doesn't carry a gun for the state and has never threatened anyone's life.

A state where trooper Wooten keeps his job and Frank Bailey loses his is not a government I can be proud of.

-- Mark Fish

Anchorage

Obama is in way over his head

I think the job of president of the United States is above Obama's pay grade.

-- Rob Lapham

Anchorage

Alaska 'royalty' a royal mess

It seems that some people in Alaska want a royal family. We have King Ted, Prince Ben and a court of several, including the court jester Vic Kohring. The problem was when they decided what family to emulate. They decided on the Sopranos rather than the Windsors.

-- Jay Cross

Wasilla

Trail project will just lure bears

While attention is directed at Campbell Tract and the bear attacks, the city continues full tilt on the so-called Westchester Habitat Improvement Project whose stated goal is to increase fish movement up into Chester Creek drainage!

Rather than having the grizzly population at least somewhat isolated in the Campbell Tract, we are going to attract them to the local animal freeway and the heaviest-used trail system in Anchorage.

Once they get to the Inlet and celebrate at the new outfall that supplies them food, they can turn right and maraud into downtown, or left and on out through Forest Park and Turnagain.

Along the way beside the trail users, they have their choice of a hospital next to the woods, two universities and several schools as well as the general population of people and pets. Once into the drainage they will also find a steady sustenance provided by the indigenous moose population we now have to endure.

This project should be stopped immediately and should stay stopped until this city deals with the fact that it will lead to even worse incidents than we have seen this last summer.

-- Gregory Schmitz

Anchorage

Olympics just another war

Already I am tired of the Olympics. Who gets the gold, who doesn't -- I don't watch any of it. I get enough from commercials and the Internet.

I wish to put out the opinion that the Olympics is just another war. Only a "friendly" war, where athletes from all over the world join up and compete.

It's all in who gets the gold (meaning your country is the most powerful) or who's disgraced because of some violation (meaning your country is the worst). Every single time the Olympics occurs, I wait to see who will accuse whom of unethical practices and who has to work the hardest to be the fastest man or woman in the world in their sport.

I think the commercial on TV where Special Olympic contenders link arms to all be winners gives the right attitude to the Olympics, and John Lennon with his song "Imagine" says it the best. Everyone in the Olympics should be a winner. Every country should be there for an enjoyable time of showing what they can do and all of the athletes should receive gold medals.

Let's stop all the wars going on all over the world. Including the war of the Olympics.

-- Patti Lisenbee

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