Anchorage Daily News

Funds specifically for homeless

Lisa Demer's article in Thursday's paper ("City uses stimulus money to curb homelessness," May 21) implies that we could have used the stimulus funds for other purposes. That's not the case. Homelessness prevention is one of the "fund streams" available under the Recovery Act. We applied for funds from that specific stream for this specific program.

The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program will improve on the current system, which is fragmented among agencies and governed by inconsistent data collection. Under the current system, people needing services must contact multiple agencies. The new program will dramatically improve access to the entire range of service providers with a single call. The program also provides for "mobile" case managers who will work with clients regardless of which agency is providing services. It should also be noted that only one of the five positions created for this program will be a municipal employee. The other four funded positions will work from four partner nonprofits. Mobile case management and client education are part of the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing program because they are proven to improve client success in regaining self-sufficiency.

-- Matt Claman, acting mayor

Patty Ginsburg, chief of staff

Bear fears just so much hysteria

I agree with Phil Weber ("Ditching fillet tables is twisted," May 20). I have been fishing the Russian River for more than 40 years, and there have always been bears. People have always cleaned their fish in the river and left the debris in the water where it provides nutrition for bears, gulls, marten, mink, and other wildlife. This worked well until the River Interagency Coordination Group started trying to promote panic and hysteria.

They cite the tragic case of Daniel Bigley, but he was mauled by a bear that had been taunted into a fury by others before he came along. If they continue this foolishness, they will have people cleaning fish in the campgrounds, parking lots, and on the trails, and will have the whole area smelling like a cannery. I am another who will ignore them. Anyone bothered by them should sue them, individually, for malfeasance.

-- Curtis D. Cornett

Cooper Landing

Ad may lead to injured child

The new "click it or ticket" ad is more than a bad idea. The ad promotes small children behind the wheel in the driver's seat. For no reason, ever, should a child be in the driver's seat. Kids mess around when parents leave them in the car, and accidents happen. Kids play in cars, and accidents happen. Saw my nephew run someone's car through a garage at age 4 by playing. A child died in Kodiak messing around behind the wheel.

Small children watch enough TV to not understand reality. Video games make them assume they can drive. This commercial shows little kids that it is OK to drive mom's car down the driveway as long as your buckle is on.

Vehicles are not toys for children to play dress-up adult, just as guns are not toys. This ad sends a dangerous message to small kids. I do not find those kids cute at all, but in need of a lesson on the dangers of playing behind the wheel, thanks to thoughtless adults that made it. Trash-can that ad before it hurts a child.

-- Garnet Morey

Anchor Point

No more phone books, please

This is an open letter to whoever else leaves their phone books on my doorstep.

Thanks for providing a free service, but please just stop! If I do need a phone book, I'll go down to your respective stores for it.

Whatever happened to going green? These books are a waste of trees and a majority of them are either thrown away or littering our streets and neighborhoods. Your recycling bins may curb part of this problem but it's only a minimal effort.

The solution? I have two.

1. Send a 3 x 5 card through the mail to each household. If the occupant checks YES on the box and mails it back, send them a book. If you don't get one, don't bother.

2. Sell them (at a cheap price, of course) at your respective stores. The proceeds can go to conservation programs or charities and they might even offset the cost of production and distribution.

Either way, I don't need multiple copies of the same thing. Thank you.

-- Lance Graveley

Anchorage

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