Readers write: Letters to the editor, February 27, 2017

Mrs. Brown does indeed have a lovely daughter; her name is Kay

I enjoyed reading Charles Wohlforth's profile of Kay Brown (ADN, Feb. 21). Kay Brown wasn't just hard-working, she was also one of the most intelligent and dedicated people in the history of public service in this state.

When my wife and I bought our first house on Nichols Street, Kay Brown was our state representative. One time a car was abandoned in the alley at the back of our yard, and though I tried for two weeks to get the city to come tow it away, because it was mostly on our property and not blocking the alley they were indifferent and did nothing. Out of frustration I called Kay Brown's office, spoke to her personally, and within an hour that car was gone!

Thank you, Kay Brown.

One New Year's Eve not long after, I was playing music at the Sheep Mountain Lodge and Kay Brown was there dancing with some friends. I said on the microphone, "This next song is for the best state rep anyone could ask for; it's 'Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter.' " She laughed and the crowd cheered and sang along.

Afterward, though, I thought about it. As a child I'd grown weary of other kids singing "Wade in the Water" and the Miller High Life jingle at me, so on my break I went over to her table and told her I hoped that she didn't mind me singing it. "Oh, no," she said, "I've always loved that song. Thank you for playing it."

No, thank you, Kay Brown. Thanks again.

— Wade Hampton Miller
Chugiak

Before oil revenue arrived, we paid our own way much more

When I became an Anchorage resident 45 years ago, I paid a nominal state income tax. In the majority of the intervening years and since oil revenue began to provide the great majority of state funds, I have had to pay no Alaska state personal income tax. And neither have you or other Alaskans.
We paid our way much more before oil revenue entered the picture. And partly because we cannot rely on the Legislature to reverse the imbalance of oil tax credits to oil revenue, we need to step up and help pay our way as we did when we were more independent and not so controlled by oil money.

We know the flow of oil in the pipeline will decline to zero one day. Now, on top of a reduced flow, the lowered price of oil has had the effect of putting that day, Day Zero, on a fast track. It feels like it is time to pay the piper, like it or not.

— Thetus Smith
Anchorage

To end sharia, help Muslim women

Something I haven't seen, in all the talk about Trump's unconstitutional ban on Muslim immigrants from selected countries, is anyone making the point that we are talking about a lot of women and children fleeing sharia law here. Want sharia law to vanish in one generation? Don't just allow but help every woman who doesn't want to live there come here and they would soon be fresh out of young lads to indoctrinate.

What is happening now, which I'm sure Trump supporters would rather not think about, is the certain execution of many women (not so many of breeding age, of course) who were forced to return to these most inhuman and misogynistic societies, for trying to leave in the first place.

Instead of doing anything constructive, our Fearful Leader is helping to raise a new generation of Islamic terrorists who will hate the U.S. even more than the current lot do. Now he's lied about "what happened in Sweden" in another sorry attempt to justify this one of his many mistakes. It's what he does — make others suffer and then lie about it.

— Lars Opland
Wasilla

Where are the town halls?

Phone calls to the offices of Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan and Congressman Young one recent morning resulted in yet another reminder that they are uninterested in hearing from Alaskans about issues important to us and our state.
Sullivan's office said he doesn't plan to host town halls anywhere in the state, during this recess or any other.

Murkowski's representative relayed that her four days in Alaska was too brief a stay to schedule a face-to-face with constituents. And Young's office stated that they have no gatherings arranged but they "are open to suggestions," ending with an assurance that they will "let him know" a town hall was requested during this recess.

This is the representation we can expect from our senators and the Congressman for All Alaska? Maybe we Alaskans should pool our money. Surely together we can reach the $40,000-plus mark. That seems to be the going rate for regular communication and influence with Alaska's senators. Just ask our new secretary of education.

— Heather Mildon
Anchorage

Alaska marijuana industry has a true champion in Don Young

I applaud the efforts of Congressman Young and his colleagues in advancing the bipartisan interests of the growing marijuana industry. Given the daily, and repetitious, "doom and gloom" regarding Alaska's current economic crisis, the infant marijuana industry is in a position to be a grass-roots economic catalyst for our state, creating needed job growth and tax revenue to support diminished operating budgets at the state and local level.

Given the leadership, congressional skills, tenacity and genuine policy wisdom of our Congressman Young, the marijuana industry has found a true congressional champion. It is critically important that states that have voted to legalize be given the opportunity, tools and resources, through federal legislation, to allow the industry to grow and prosper. Banking requirements, if implemented, will provide our banking community here in Alaska with a needed source of additional business revenue and a strong platform to help the industry develop and mature. The industry's contribution to Alaska's economy over the next five years and beyond may be significant if Congress can take meaningful steps to change current federal law.

May Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan join Congressman Young in voicing unified bipartisan support for strong states' rights and economic empowerment. We certainly appreciate your collective leadership on behalf of all Alaskans given these interesting and challenging political times, and thank you Congressman Young for your service to Alaska since 1973.

— Lloyd Stiassny
Anchorage

Drug dealers and users not welcome in Allakaket

On Feb. 21, at 40 below zero, 25 men gathered to attend an emergency meeting that was held at the Allakaket Tribal Office. Leaders from Alatna Tribe, City of Allakaket and Allakaket Tribe gathered to address the presence of methamphetamine in Allakaket.

We heard powerful testimonies from the public: uncles, aunties, parents, grandparents and younger men of the community. Overwhelmingly we chose to banish the distributors/dealers to protect the communities from more harm. Meth is very destructive and will be not be tolerated in our community — zero tolerance. Meth is addictive, it will tear lives apart and lead eventually to death. The tribes used our banishment power to address the situation and also have the option of disenrollment from the tribe.

Once you cross that line and start to use, it is not too late to cross back over and get help, and that is the message we all wanted to share. Loving people, family and friends want you to get cleaned up; it is never too late to get treatment. We know meth is all over the nation and now all over Alaska.
If you want to deal drugs, do not go to Allakaket and Alatna! If you are using, do not go there. If you are in jail and plan to deal when you get out, do not go to our homelands. You are not welcome there. Please have a talk with others about how destructive meth is.

— PJ Simon
chief of Allakaket
Fairbanks

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