Prop. 1 defies decency, sense
There have been some very well-thought-out and eloquent letters and articles written over the last few weeks opposing Proposition 1. I agree with every word, and will therefore keep mine brief. This proposition defies both common decency and common sense.
Please make Anchorage's first mail-in ballot a big success and join me in defeating this proposition by the widest margin of any in history.
— Sheryl Zerda
Anchorage
Mail-in ballots are convenient
I just cast my ballot for the upcoming municipal election. The ballot arrived in the mail along with an informative voter's guide. I was able to take my time and read about each ballot measure. The candidates provided websites and email addresses that allowed me to do a little research to inform my vote. I didn't do it in one sitting, preferring to take my time. It would be hard to do that in the ballot booth. Spending a few cents to drop it in the mail makes it really convenient too! And I predict the mail-in balloting process will allow an effective "purging" of the voter rolls as those returned (like that of our daughter who no longer lives here) can be removed from the rolls.
I plan to wear my "I voted today" sticker in the hopes of reminding others to do the same, more than just on one day! C'mon Anchorage! Let's set a record for voter turnout! Stay in and vote!
— Karl Schleich
Anchorage
Havelock column leans too far left
John Havelock's March 22 opinion article "Citizens need to see …" was an odd thing to see in the ADN. Is Mr. Havelock really living in a far-left bubble without access to all information and facts? As an attorney trained to view all the information available, I would have expected him to have a more measured approach. I realize his article was an opinion, but the ADN has got to do a better job of screening. Mr. Havelock's article belongs in a far-left conspiracy periodical, not the ADN.
— Brent A. Fisher
Anchorage
Glenn closure a wake-up call
It is unconscionable that — apparently — the state and the Municipality of Anchorage have no emergency plans or procedures for events such as happened on the Glenn Highway.
One can only hope that the damage to the Eagle River bridge will serve as a wake-up call to those planners and emergency preparedness organizations. The traffic fiasco only reinforces how very vulnerable Southcentral Alaska's only transportation corridor is.
— Lydia H. Wirkus
Chugiak
Mail-in ballots simplify voting
The League of Women Voters of Anchorage supports voters having easy access to ballots and a fair equitable election system. The first-ever exclusively Municipality of Anchorage vote-by-mail election is underway. The League of Women Voters believes the new system simplifies the voting process, encourages new voter participation and suits the Anchorage lifestyle well. Vote-by-mail is secure and confers no partisan advantage.
Ballot material was mailed on March 13 to every registered voter in the Municipality. Look for your ballot in your mail box and vote. Voters can gather pertinent information and now vote on their own time and on their own terms without the hassle of standing in long lines or taking time off work.
The Ballot Review, a non-partisan informational pamphlet traditionally prepared by the League, was delivered to every household and post office box last week. An online version is available at muni.org/elections.
Remember, polling place locations will not be open on Election Day. Ballots must be mailed or dropped off at an Accessible Vote Center or deposited into a secure drop box designated for ballots. Check the Muni website for locations and more details. If you are reading this and have not received a ballot, call 243-VOTE to request one. Do your part and exercise your right to vote. Happy voting!
— Joyce Anderson
President, League of Women Voters
of Anchorage
GOP remains silent on Trump
Time and again Congressional Republicans have remained silent or have defended their president. In spite of the fear and anxiety of most Americans that the president will go off the deep end, Republicans do nothing — not even reassure the people that they stand for the truth and for the law. So like many Americans, I am left wondering if you have rescinded your oath to uphold the United States Constitution.
If ever Republicans wondered why there is a "Blue Wave" then wonder no more. I would expect Democrats to uphold the law and Constitution and demand the truth if this were a Democratic president. Protect Mueller.
— Joanie Fogel
Anchorage
Thanks to state DOT workers for clearing clogged highway traffic
After the crash on the bridge at Eagle River on the Glenn Highway, we all suffered from very long delays for commuters and also truck drivers. We heard stories of travel times from the Valley into Anchorage of 4-5 hours. In our view, DOT&PF reacted quickly to assess the situation and come up with alternatives to help ease the congestion.
A couple of alternatives were considered and the final solution shows up in the detour map that is available in your newspaper as well as all over social media. The Alaska Trucking Association worked with the DOT&PF to ensure that our trucks would be able to negotiate any of the detour proposals. One of our member companies visited the site where they were filling in the crossover lanes to consult with the engineers to ensure that long combination vehicles could make the necessary maneuvers. On behalf of the member companies of the Alaska Trucking Association and their drivers, we say thanks to the men and women of DOT&PF for their extra effort over the past couple of days to make a bad situation much better. Congratulations on a job well done.
— Aves Thompson, executive director
Alaska Trucking Association
Put privacy stalls in restrooms
Regarding Prop. 1, there are a lot of concerns on both sides of the issue. I echo the solution presented earlier in the letters to the editor, which is privacy stalls in all bathrooms. All changing rooms, locker rooms, shower rooms and bathrooms should have privacy stalls, with secured doors for everyone. Yes, this will cost money.
— Cathy Guay
Anchorage
Nominate a neighbor for the Paint the town program
Paint the Town is an annual program that brings people from across our community together to give back to those who do not have the resources to take care of their homes on their own. We are asking you to help us continue this 12-year tradition of community revitalization and volunteer engagement by nominating a neighbor in need of having their home painted.
Paint the Town builds community one brush at a time. Since 2006, NeighborWorks Alaska has painted and provided minor repairs to 140 homes with the help of businesses and community volunteers. The program was created to help our low income, senior, disabled and veteran neighbors who face challenges in maintaining their homes as a result of either financial or physical constraints.
Neighborhoods are the backbone of our communities, and we want them to be safe, well-cared-for places in which people can live, work and play! Paint the Town is the perfect tool for this job — corporate sponsors lend a hand not only financially, but also through the elbow grease of their employees who volunteer to paint homes and ultimately transform neighborhoods!
Nominations truly touch lives! There's no greater satisfaction than seeing what happens to a block once a house is painted. Here's what a Paint the Town homeowner from East Anchorage said last year: "Paint the Town meant help in the time of need. We were blessed by NeighborWorks and all the volunteers who gave our home a much-needed paint job. Thanks for giving us this opportunity and helping veterans who otherwise could not do this on their own."
Make a difference, nominate a neighbor, and help us paint the town this summer!
— Jim MacKenzie
Anchorage
Utilities merger a no-brainer
I've been following the discussion in the paper, letters to the editor, other newsletters, social media and so on. When you disregard the "always no to everything" crowd, the conspiracy theorist crowd and the letters and papers written by self-appointed utility experts of many kinds, the discussion seems to be from people with legitimate questions and both utilities seem to be offering credible answers.
How anyone can not see this proposal as a good idea escapes me. Because I don't have a background in generating facilities I won't comment on what might be gained from combining them. I spent my entire career in the Transmission, Substation and Distribution industry with most of that time on the construction side of the business and the latter part of my time on the utility owner side. I have worked with both companies as a contractor since 1975 and retired a year ago after 17 years with Chugach Electric.
Both companies build, operate and maintain the electrical grid utilizing the same code (the National Electric Safety Code — NESC). The employees of both companies have the same skill sets for maintaining and operating the grid. Both companies use essentially the same materials, albeit sometimes by different manufacturers. Both companies a number of years ago published a joint Service Standards manual so that builders, contractors and supply houses could stock the same equipment that can be used in either utility's service area.
Both companies utilize the same specialized fleet of trucks and test equipment to work and maintain energized power lines, test and maintain substations and so on. Combining and reducing the size of these groups over time can not help by save a lot of money. One warehouse instead of two, one fleet of expensive specialty vehicles instead of two, and so on.
To me it's a no-brainer that is decades late in accomplishing.
— Bill Bernier
Anchorage
Here's how to cut the state budget
In his commentary on March 23, Curtis Thayer advocates for significant cuts to the state budget as the best way of dealing with our budget problems. However he did not propose where these cuts should made. I have some suggestions for him.
Since nearly all the prisoners in our jails will be released eventually, cut everybody's sentence by 20 percent; cut the education budget by the same amount. After all, what is the problem with 40 or more students in a classroom? If we cut the state troopers and troopers who enforce game and fishing regulations, fewer people would get arrested so we could cut the courts and the lawyers and fewer people would go to jail in the first place.
Road maintenance is oversold; some potholes on the Glenn might slow down some of the speeders. Public health nurses, vaccine programs and epidemiological studies could be reduced. People should not rely on the state for their health care needs.
Certainly programs for old people are not really necessary — they are are a huge burden on community resources. There are many more like these. So Mr. Thayer if you do not like my suggestions, come up with your own precise cuts.
— Peter Jenkins
Eagle River
Have something on your mind? Send to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Try to keep it under 200 words.