Juneau's homeless flu patients are kept from others at hotels

I would like to offer some additional information about the program for housing homeless flu patients noted in the ADN's Aug. 25 article entitled, "Homeless flu patients in Juneau will get hotel beds."

In an effort to find a short-term solution for the local shelter, the City of Juneau approved funding for a 30-day program with a single hotel property to provide temporary housing for homeless flu patients.

The participating hotel is working with health agencies to insure patients recovering at the hotel use a separate entrance, are housed in a separate section of the hotel and are provided in-room meal service. The hotel staff are receiving special training on proper sanitation procedures. Every precaution is being taken to keep recovering patients separated from hotel guests.

During this short-term situation, the city and borough of Juneau and local health agencies are working on alternative solutions.

Juneau's hoteliers encourage any travelers who are coming to Juneau over the next month who have questions or concerns to contact their hotel directly.

-- Lorene Palmer, president/CEO

Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau

Juneau

Lawsuit was a sucker punch

I was chagrined to read about the lawsuit filed against the Alaska Judicial Council recently. The comments by Indiana attorney James Bopp, attacking personal injury trial attorneys as a dynamic force behind the selection of attorney members of the Council, were bombastic distortions of reality.

Attorneys representing injured Alaskans make up a small percentage of more than 2,400 active members of the Alaska Bar Association. All members select the nine attorney members who constitute three-fourths of the Association's Board of Governors. This cross-section of the association as a whole then selects the three attorneys who will sit on the Council--only three-sevenths of the Judicial Council.

Considering this selection process, one can see that Mr. Bopp's sucker punch at trial attorneys was the type of grandstanding by out-of-state activists that should not be given an audience in our local newspaper, because it skews the public's understanding unfairly.

-- Christopher Canterbury

Eagle River

Mayor heading toward tax hike

I believe that the torrent of money woes coming out of Mayor Sullivan's office is a prelude to pass one of his pet projects, sales tax. After it passes with more scare tactics, it will increase many times no matter how many assurances the mayor gives that it will not increase. All of those opposed to government programs should believe that.

One of those increases will be for another pet project of Mayor Sullivan which will help subsidize the bridge-to-you-know where.

-- David Ulmer

Anchorage

Sen. Begich not shying away from health care debate

In response to the recent letter ("Begich shy about health care," 8/28/09) questioning whether Sen. Mark Begich has had public discussions about health care, I offer the following.

Sen. Begich has held three health care reform town hall meetings. He held one at the Loussac Library in June, another at Aldersgate Church in Juneau in July, and a telephone town hall with thousands of Alaskans on the phone on July 27. The senator also spoke to a crowd of nearly 400 people at the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce luncheon Aug. 10 about health care reform, including answering numerous questions from the audience. There is a town hall planned in Fairbanks on Sept. 26 and more will be scheduled as the calendar permits.

While many have only recently gotten involved in the health care discussion, Sen. Begich has been talking to Alaskans about this topic since day one. There is still ample opportunity to weigh in on this topic. Alaskans should feel free to write or call our offices at any time, and check out the health care information at www.begich.senate.gov.

-- Julie Hasquet, press secretary

office of Sen. Mark Begich

Anchorage

Kenai Peninsula lacks Begich

Where in the world is Mark Begich? I live on the Kenai Peninsula, and so far Sen. Begich is a no show. He has been invited to attend several town meetings on health care, but has decided that the Kenai Peninsula is not worth his time.

Well, Sen. Begich, your refusal to have open and constructive dialog with the people on the Kenai Peninsula speaks volumes. The people of the Kenai Peninsula have questions for you that need to be addressed.

By the way, Sen. Murkowski showed up and addressed several issues, and to be honest she was quite refreshing. Sen. Begich, take note.

-- Robert Ralls

Sterling

BLM, come to your senses

As a commercial fisherman in Bristol Bay, I am glad there are groups like Trout Unlimited around keeping an eye on threats to our fish in Bristol Bay. As if the Pebble Mine proposal isn't enough of a threat, the plans for additional development on our federal public lands managed by the BLM could turn the whole place into one big industrialized zone.

It's hard for me to understand how the BLM thinks its new plan could simultaneously open nearly all of its land in Bristol Bay for mineral development while protecting important tributary streams for the Nushagak and Kvichak rivers. You can't have it both ways -- we either get an industrial zone out there or we keep our fish habitat in place -- it's that simple.

I hope that the BLM comes to its senses and protects the region's habitat -- my livelihood depends on it. I hope Sens. Begich and Murkowski are keeping an eye on this for us fisherman who depend on fish, not gold mines.

-- Brian Delay

Juneau

Current health system is sick

I wish the people yelling that a public health insurance option would result in rationing would stop and think. What kind of system do they think we have now? Rationing is everywhere.

Thousands of uninsured Americans die every year because they can't afford the medical care they need. Millions of underinsured don't have it much better. Every time an insurance company denies coverage for expensive or "out of network" procedures, or cancels your policy or jacks up your rates when you get sick, or denies coverage for "pre-existing conditions," that's rationing.

At least with a "public option," the point would be to serve the public, not to profit from the sick and dying for the benefit of corporate shareholders. Full disclosure: "pre-existing conditions" mean I can't get insurance, so I am likely to die without benefit of medical care that Lisa Murkowski takes for granted. Some of us can't wait.

-- Ila Treat

Ninilchik

Havelock ignores realities of government inefficiencies

First, I'll admit to the absurd act of reading John Havelock's ponderous column of August 29, in which he attempts to spin his typically elitist perspective on "privatization" as an evil alternative to more government. (It was a lazy Saturday.)

Second, I'd like to thank my friend, John, for conceding in that same column that privatization of "readily definable products" including construction of roads or presumably big box schools -- as well as garbage collection -- are acceptable means to reach certain public policy goals.

Third, I regret that a lack of background in this column with regard to what exactly "Blackwater" is, and represents, may leave those readers having a normal public education unable to understand the linkage between Havelock's example and his support for nationalized health care.

After all, public education, the postal service, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid have been such remarkable examples of U.S. government efficiency and accomplishment that only fools might suggest otherwise.

But most notably, John forgot to mention what our government is best at: Collecting taxes, running prisons, and waging war.

-- Donn Liston

Anchorage

Keep it up, Mayor Sullivan

Kudos to our new Mayor Dan Sullivan for his heroic effort at trying to balance the city budget. May I suggest that he be ready to hear the squealing of those whom he is trying to wean off the city nipple. They will not go without a fight. The best way to grow revenues is to encourage private investment (which I'm sure our new mayor knows), but I support his efforts and wish him the best.

-- Nathan Farnen

Anchorage

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