Readers write: Letters to the editor, August 17, 2016

US needs to fund Zika virus fight

Legislation to fund $1.1 billion to fight the Zika virus failed prior to congressional recess.

On Aug. 9, Florida reported 21 cases of microcephaly caused by the virus. Texas reported one. Several weeks ago the virus was found in Sitka. It is spread by sexual intercourse, blood transfusions, laboratory exposure, but primarily by the Aedes mosquito. The virus mutated to become more virulent, when it hopped from Africa to South America. All it has to do is to mutate again, affecting Alaska mosquitoes.

Congress should return to Washington, D.C., to pass a stalled Zika funding bill.

— Mary Turner
Anchorage

Keep Anchorage CES office

I concur with recent letters to the editor urging the University of Alaska Fairbanks to reconsider its decision to close the Anchorage Cooperative Extension Service office. How can they close the CES office that serves half the population of Alaska?

I have been a consumer of their services in Anchorage for more than 30 years, seeking their expert advice and taking classes from their faculty. In addition I have performed hundreds of hours of community volunteer work that was coordinated or promoted by this office. Many others have done the same.

One example of their valuable contributions to our community is the work Julie Riley does with local refugees. She teaches them to garden and integrates them into the community via a booth at farmers' markets where they sell their fresh produce and interact with the public. She also conducts horticultural research that benefits the people of Southcentral Alaska.

Let's keep Ms. Riley and CES in Anchorage!

— Sharon Schlicht
Anchorage

Gov. Walker must protect Denali National Park wildlife

Due to state mismanagement, Denali National Park's wildlife viewing resource continues its unprecedented decline, and it is time for Gov. Bill Walker to intervene.

The wolf population in the park is at an all time low, and the chances for the 600,000 annual visitors (including 50,000 Alaskans) to see a wolf in the park has declined to only 5 percent. By comparison, visitors to Yellowstone have between a 45 percent to 85 percent chance of seeing wolves.

As Fish and Game Commissioner Sam Cotten ignored public pleas to close state lands along the boundary to wolf killing in spring 2015 and 2016, several important breeding adults of the East Fork group were killed. This long-studied wolf family group is now gone. In addition, each year there are twice as many park grizzly bears as wolves killed along the park boundary, diminishing the visitor viewing of bears too.

Enough is enough. As Fish and Game and the Board of Game have proven themselves incapable of securing the broad public interest at Denali, it is time for Gov. Walker to do so. The governor must immediately establish a permanent no-kill wildlife conservation easement along the boundary of Denali, protecting all park wildlife.

It is in the clear economic interest of the state's sustainable tourism industry to protect, restore, and sustain the wildlife viewing resource of our number one tourism destination — Denali National Park. And it is critical to the purpose of the park, to maintain the park in a natural ecosystem for the enjoyment of all. No more excuses please, Gov. Walker — it's time for action.

— John Breiby
Wasilla

Leaders: Take a stand on Trump

Mark Begich got it right ("Time for Young, Sullivan and Murkowski to take an honest stand on Trump," ADN, Aug. 13). I'm sure we all remember the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858, in which Douglas, trying not to touch the hot-button issue of his time, said he "cares not whether slavery is voted down or voted up." Lincoln won that debate by pointing out that such indifference was the same as endorsement, because no one "could be indifferent to that which he finds abhorrent."

Can our elected officials honestly believe that "It makes no difference" if Donald Trump is elected? Thin-skinned, hot-headed, nukes-first Donald Trump in charge of our armed forces? The "I never went bankrupt (but my businesses did)" Donald Trump in charge of our national treasury? The "I never met anyone I couldn't offend" Donald Trump selecting our nation's ambassadors? Truly, "It makes no difference?"

Sens. Sullivan and Murkowski, Rep. Young: speak now or acknowledge your willingness to put electoral politics over our nation's well-being. Where do you stand?

— Scott Walker
Anchorage

No improvement in news

Sorry guys, but I have to stop altogether with the ADN. WAY too yellow.
It was the same before current management, but nothing has really improved. Ta …

— Neal Olson
Anchorage

The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.