Letters to the Editor

Keep the city museum open

On behalf of Museums Alaska, the statewide association of museum professionals, I strongly urge reconsideration of the proposed closure of the Juneau-Douglas City Museum. Shuttering… Continue reading

  • Apr 26, 2017

Big oil takes more from Alaska than other countries

Absent from Alaska’s budget debate are comparisons of owner/producer profit-sharing agreements in other oil producing countries. How do we compare? The big three want this… Continue reading

  • Apr 26, 2017

Improve rights for disabled

It would be beneficial if the state legislature would improve the rights for the disabled. Alaska is about 30 years behind best practice in adopting… Continue reading

  • Apr 26, 2017

City would be wise to keep Arboretum

The CBJ’s Priority-Driven Budget process identified closing the Jensen-Olson Arboretum as an opportunity to save $75,000 a year. This potential savings pales in comparison to… Continue reading

  • Apr 26, 2017

Senate letting down education

I am royally disgusted with the cuts that are being proposed to public education in the state of Alaska. I am about to graduate from… Continue reading

  • Apr 26, 2017

The free ride is over

I have been following HB 115, the House’s solution to our budget crisis, and I support it fully. I also support reducing oil tax credits… Continue reading

  • Apr 20, 2017

Alaska delegation: stop avoiding Juneau town hall

After months of requests to U.S. Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski and U.S. Rep. Don Young to hold a town hall meeting in Juneau,… Continue reading

  • Apr 20, 2017

Celebrating Earth Day

As thousands across the U.S. get ready to protest environmental budget cuts, each of us can also help with our driving, our recycling, and our… Continue reading

  • Apr 18, 2017

What Ifs

As a mother, I have spent hours — probably years at this point — thinking through “what ifs” and trying to prepare for what might… Continue reading

  • Apr 18, 2017

Independent Alaskans should want income tax

When our state income tax was abolished in 1980, we set the stage for almost complete dependence on oil revenues to fund our state government.… Continue reading

  • Apr 17, 2017
What you can do about climate change

What you can do about climate change

Earth Day, April 22, is just around the corner. This is a good time to remind ourselves that Alaska is not immune to climate change.… Continue reading

  • Apr 15, 2017
What you can do about climate change
Closing the Pioneer Home: A fractional gain for an immeasurable loss

Closing the Pioneer Home: A fractional gain for an immeasurable loss

Raise your hand if you already have, currently are, or soon will be, the responsible adult child taking care of your aging parents. That stressful… Continue reading

  • Apr 13, 2017
  • By Juneau Empire
Closing the Pioneer Home: A fractional gain for an immeasurable loss
(Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Don’t jeopardize our wild salmon

As Alaskans, we benefit in countless ways from the foresight of the framers of our state constitution. As an angler, I am especially thankful for… Continue reading

  • Apr 12, 2017
(Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
A photo submitted by Juneau resident Kim Metcalfe, accompanying her letter to the editor.

Picking up after pets is right thing to do

I just picked up around 20 pounds of dog waste from my yard and the strip of city property that abuts it. In my travels… Continue reading

  • Apr 8, 2017
A photo submitted by Juneau resident Kim Metcalfe, accompanying her letter to the editor.

Congress is selling your internet privacy

Have you ever done an internet search you wouldn’t want everyone to know about? Maybe your child, friend or babysitter used your computer and left… Continue reading

  • Apr 4, 2017

Murkowski says ‘no’ and should be commended

I am writing to commend U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, for her principled stand last Thursday against repealing the Title X order. She and Sen.… Continue reading

  • Apr 4, 2017
  • By ART PETERSEN

Climate change and Alaska’s fisheries

While President Trump was busy denying climate change this week, Sealaska announced they acquired a majority interest in Odyssey Seafoods. This is Sealaska’s second seafood… Continue reading

  • Mar 31, 2017

In support of an income tax in Alaska

In reading Sunday’s front page article by James Brooks — “House considers new version of income tax” — regarding HB 115 to erase our $2.7… Continue reading

  • Mar 28, 2017

A cruel April Fools’ Day joke

This coming April Fools’ Day can remind us that the meat, egg and dairy industries have been playing us for fools year-round. Their more remarkable… Continue reading

  • Mar 28, 2017

The credibility of a president

On “Meet the Press” this Sunday on MSNBC, George Will and others talked about the importance of President Trump’s credibility. Mr. Will indicated credibility was… Continue reading

  • Mar 22, 2017