Kind woman, you left your trike
I attended the Democratic caucus in March and was one of the folks who waited at the Sears Mall for the shuttle bus that didn't come. A most gracious woman, who votes in District 27, started giving rides to West High, and to make room in her car she stored a few items, like her little girl's tricycle, in my car. Sadly I did not think to get her contact information and we missed connections afterward.
I have been trying to get her items back to her and posted this in various places. I have left my number with the Democratic Party headquarters, AKDEMS. I am hoping she will see this!
— Sara Stoops
Anchorage
Russia, China busy; we dither
China already has at least one icebreaking LNG tanker, Russia some 16 shortly. And Alaskan politicians? They want to build a $65 billion CNG pipeline over 800 miles into the shallow waters of Cook Inlet, waters that are a definite impediment and hazardous to the larger-than-aircraft-carriers Q-Max LNG tankers proposed for loading at Nikiski. Those 14 Korean-built-for-Russia tankers came in at $4.8 billion for the Yamal gas project in northern Russia.
Why is the discussion not about siting an LNG terminal at Prudhoe Bay or another northwest Arctic Alaska site when looking at the costs here? Is the Alaska gas line one more huge shell game being played in conjunction with the larceny planned for the Permanent Fund? The Arctic Ocean is warming up and melting. The Russians and Chinese have figured this out years ago while we …
— David Otness
Cordova
Dont cut commissary funding
I request action now to stop the military commissary funding cuts and new proposed changes that are repeatedly advocated by some national leaders. In recent years, Congress and the administration have harmed military purchasing power by cutting annual pay raises, targeting housing allowances, cutting health care benefits, etc. Approval of any change to the commissary or exchange systems would certainly be viewed as just one more step on the part of national leaders to callously harm those who fight and die for this nation — and loved ones who support them.
As a member of the Air Force Sergeants Association, which represents all current and former Air Force members, I feel that approval of these cuts would be harmful and irresponsible.
I urge you to support full commissary funding and to take a stand on behalf of service members past and present. This is the No. 1-utilized benefit by all and we have earned and need this benefit program.
As a voter and one of your constituents, I respectfully request a response to the letter and so that I can fully grasp your intentions on this matter. Reconsider any changes to make the commissary like the base exchange. The exchange is outdated and nobody really shops there as much because it really isn't cheaper.
— Paul Bennetts
Anchorage
GOP majority must buck party line, back Gov. Walkers plan
I am writing to express my sincere disgust with the legislative actions during this session. I share the views of many Alaskans as we struggle to understand how the elected majority has delayed this most important debate until the very end of the session: the budget.
I am in utter disbelief that the Republican majority is willing to cut the Permanent Fund dividend, drastically cut University of Alaska funding, negate raises to public employees, drain Permanent Fund savings … among other detrimental actions.
Yet it is pushing to save the massive oil tax credits that have us paying oil companies $700 million to $800 million above what we collect in oil taxes, allowing oil companies to profit by harvesting Alaska oil while Alaska plummets into financial oblivion!
I've heard the excuses and the rationalizations and each one speaks to the fact that the oil industry has purchased our state government. There is no time to wait to act on the fix to this fiscal crisis, regardless of the upcoming election year.
I urge the Republican majority to buck the party line and vote in favor of your constituents and the future of Alaska. I believe that Gov. Walker's plan is a sound attempt to responsibly repair our fiscal problem. Please consider voting in favor of the governor's cut in oil taxes and his ideas on generating new revenue.
— Andrea Lang
Anchorage
Be safe on Birchwood Loop
It is the time of the year when bicycle riders are starting to use Birchwood Loop again for their riding enjoyment. I also use Birchwood Loop to walk, ride a bike or drive my car as I am a resident in the area. Please, for everyone's safety, bike riders, observe the rules of the road. Do not ride 2-3 abreast; this is a two-lane road with a wide shoulder in places, narrow in others. Often the shoulder is not used by bike riders and the 2-3 abreast bike riders take up to a lane of the road when car traffic is trying to avoid oncoming cars, walkers and bike riders.
Larger vehicles, please observe the posted speed limit; you know who you are. Also, it is a real possibility that there will be a raised median on Birchwood Loop near Chugiak High School. With the raised median along with the walkers, bikers and vehicle traffic, we may have a nightmare in the making. Let's have a safe and enjoyable spring and summer season on Birchwood Loop.
— Beth Thomas
Chugiak
Legislatures failure to balance the budget is the real surprise
No doubt lawmakers are in a no-win situation — pass an income tax as part of balancing the budget and their constituents are upset; don't pass an income tax and their constituents are upset. And I don't mean waiting until 2017, after they've been re-elected to the Legislature this upcoming election. Do it for tax year 2016.
Please, stop picking low-hanging fruit in an attempt to balance the budget. Those budgets are already gutted and fewer staff do more work to keep the state running. May I suggest the Legislature not receive pay for any time they meet after the 90-day session ended. And don't pay staff, either. That's one way to show the citizens of Alaska that they have skin in the game. Get down to business and stop playing games — guns on UA campuses, sex education, license plates, puppy custody.
It has been explained time and again that the stool — the budget — has four legs and all four must be dealt with so it balances. Every citizen of Alaska has skin in the game. Everyone of us knows balancing the budget will cost each of us something. There are no surprises, just the Legislature's inability to act. That's the one surprise.
— Louise Lazur
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.