Letters to the Editor

Opinion: Here’s why we shouldn’t defund the police

Opinion: Here’s why we shouldn’t defund the police

I’ve watched with dismay and frankly a good bit of anger at calls to defund the police.

  • Jun 9, 2020
  • By Tom Botts
Opinion: Here’s why we shouldn’t defund the police
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, greets legislators as she arrives in the House chamber for her annual speech to a Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Praise for Murkowski’s Statements on Racism, Equality, Justice

I would like to register my support for Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s words.

  • Jun 8, 2020
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, greets legislators as she arrives in the House chamber for her annual speech to a Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Letter: We need to know where our leaders stand

Letter: We need to know where our leaders stand

Where is our congressional delegation?

  • Jun 3, 2020
Letter: We need to know where our leaders stand
Opinion: That was a horrible cartoon choice

Opinion: That was a horrible cartoon choice

I cannot believe it ran.

  • Jun 2, 2020
Opinion: That was a horrible cartoon choice

Opinion: I agree that Sullivan and Trump should be voted out of office

Kudos to Rich Moniak for his good May 24 article. [Opinion: How Trump’s failures became a story about the ANWR] I also resent the fact… Continue reading

A quote by Dwight D. Eisenhower, on the exterior of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, located south of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy Photo | Public Domain, Creative Commons)

Opinion: Lawmaker should familiarize himself with Holocaust history

Rep. Ben Carpenter recently compared the pandemic safety measures in place at the Alaska Capitol to Nazi Germany’s labeling of Jews. In no way can… Continue reading

  • May 15, 2020
A quote by Dwight D. Eisenhower, on the exterior of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, located south of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy Photo | Public Domain, Creative Commons)
Global conservation work is needed to protect our coastal communities

Global conservation work is needed to protect our coastal communities

For Alaskans, supporting international conservation is key to securing our environment and economy.

  • May 15, 2020
  • David Katzeek
Global conservation work is needed to protect our coastal communities
Opinion: I want village water to stay unchlorinated

Opinion: I want village water to stay unchlorinated

What are we paying the people who work for the government to do?

  • May 12, 2020
Opinion: I want village water to stay unchlorinated
Opinion: Congress must provide emergency funding for elections

Opinion: Congress must provide emergency funding for elections

My nation, my moral center, my “reason to be,” is enshrined by our Constitution. Fulfilling my end of that compact, voting my opinion on whom… Continue reading

  • Apr 28, 2020
Opinion: Congress must provide emergency funding for elections

Opinion: I think we should still stay home

“I am quite concerned about the Governor’s decision.”

  • Apr 26, 2020

Opinion: I’m looking forward to November

“I don’t want to believe our senator actually shares the president’s values.”

  • Apr 24, 2020
Opinion: Pandemic exposes failure of the unemployment insurance system

Opinion: Pandemic exposes failure of the unemployment insurance system

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed yet another failure of government, namely the unemployment insurance system. The basic rationale of the unemployment insurance program is that… Continue reading

  • Apr 23, 2020
Opinion: Pandemic exposes failure of the unemployment insurance system
Then-Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks to reporters about coronavirus in Burlington, Vt. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Opinion: We need Bernie more than ever

This is the moment for the virtuously true.

  • Apr 21, 2020
Then-Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks to reporters about coronavirus in Burlington, Vt. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Opinion: Pay attention to your liberties during crisis

Opinion: Pay attention to your liberties during crisis

Keep tabs on your civil rights, everyone, and stay free.

  • Apr 13, 2020
Opinion: Pay attention to your liberties during crisis
Opinion: Be careful where you get your COVID-19 information

Opinion: Be careful where you get your COVID-19 information

Be aware that there is a lot of information out there that may our may not be true.

  • Apr 10, 2020
Opinion: Be careful where you get your COVID-19 information
Opinion: We should appreciate our public health workers

Opinion: We should appreciate our public health workers

“Thank you to our public health professionals working day and night to keep us safe.”

  • Apr 8, 2020
Opinion: We should appreciate our public health workers
Opinion: It’s important to remember the Endangered Species Act

Opinion: It’s important to remember the Endangered Species Act

With all the Congressional drama happening in Washington, D.C., I don’t want to forget about one of our most fundamental environmental laws: the Endangered Species… Continue reading

  • Apr 5, 2020
Opinion: It’s important to remember the Endangered Species Act
Jay and Bella Hammond and another, unidentified, person are interviewed on the dock at Juneau’s Harris Harbor. (Courtesy Photo | Alaska’s Digital Archives, Alaska Office of the Governor Photograph Collection, 1959 to present. ASL-PCA-213)

Opinion: Late former first lady of Alaska was a pioneer in ending the Cold War

“Like many Alaskans, I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of former First Lady Bella Hammond.”

  • Apr 2, 2020
Jay and Bella Hammond and another, unidentified, person are interviewed on the dock at Juneau’s Harris Harbor. (Courtesy Photo | Alaska’s Digital Archives, Alaska Office of the Governor Photograph Collection, 1959 to present. ASL-PCA-213)
Opinion: Let’s find ways to help our community

Opinion: Let’s find ways to help our community

It’s a no-brainer.

  • Mar 30, 2020
Opinion: Let’s find ways to help our community
Opinion: Shut down the airport, or quarantine anyone who flies into Juneau

Opinion: Shut down the airport, or quarantine anyone who flies into Juneau

I read with great interest the article on KTOO’s website titled Physicians Object to Juneau’s Coronavirus Quarantine Exemptions. What’s terribly interesting is Coeur Alaska, the… Continue reading

  • Mar 24, 2020
Opinion: Shut down the airport, or quarantine anyone who flies into Juneau