Opinion

(Juneau Empire File)

Letter: Current City Hall is an ongoing money pit

I have been following the ongoing dialog regarding the proposed City Hall project, and a couple of points come to mind. It appears that there… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
(Juneau Empire File)

Letter: Food for thought

As we ready ourselves to go to the polls soon, I invite Juneau voters to keep a few things in mind. While our local government… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
The existing 70-year-old Juneau City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Accusations of arrogance, deceit by Assembly on new City Hall vote are inaccurate and unfair

In the last two months there has been a steady drumbeat against the bond issue on a new City Hall, mostly from voices who have… Continue reading

The existing 70-year-old Juneau City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Juneau Empire File)

Letter: Better ways to enhance Juneau’s capital status than new City Hall

Some promoters of a new City Hall claim our current city buildings do “…not represent the high standard and image a capital city should project,”… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
Recent clearcut logging on land owned by Sealaska Corp. at Cleveland Peninsula, just north of Ketchikan. (Photo by Rebecca Knight)

My Turn: ‘There are no landless Natives in Southeast Alaska’

Those are the words of Department of Interior Secretary Jim Lyons and Undersecretary Sylvia Baca regarding so-called “landless” legislation in 1996. Bureau of Indian Affairs… Continue reading

Recent clearcut logging on land owned by Sealaska Corp. at Cleveland Peninsula, just north of Ketchikan. (Photo by Rebecca Knight)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File Voters in the City and Borough of Juneau municipal election will decide this fall whether to approve $27 million in bond debt to fund the majority of the construction cost for a new City Hall. A similar $35 million measure was rejected last year.

My Turn: A viable alternative to a new City Hall

Juneau is being asked to decide on funding a new City Hall…again. There are reasonable arguments both for and against building, however, I can’t support… Continue reading

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File Voters in the City and Borough of Juneau municipal election will decide this fall whether to approve $27 million in bond debt to fund the majority of the construction cost for a new City Hall. A similar $35 million measure was rejected last year.
Juneau’s current City Hall is outdated, according to local municipal leaders who are hoping voters will approve funding to help pay for a new building. A bond providing such funding was rejected last year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: History shows Assembly can’t be trusted on new City Hall issue

Do you want to know why our Assembly is struggling to pass major project spending proposals? A minor history lesson might give you a clue.… Continue reading

Juneau’s current City Hall is outdated, according to local municipal leaders who are hoping voters will approve funding to help pay for a new building. A bond providing such funding was rejected last year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
An artist depiction of a new City Hall building at 450 Whittier St. (Courtesy Image / North Wind Architects)

My Turn: A new City Hall helps Juneau maintain its status as Alaska’s capital city

We are witnessing a full court press by some members of our community to vote down a bond issue to build a new City Hall,… Continue reading

An artist depiction of a new City Hall building at 450 Whittier St. (Courtesy Image / North Wind Architects)
Former Juneau Mayor Ken Koelsch in 2018. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Juneau tax cabal tries again for the Hall

It’s time to talk taxes, both sales tax and property tax, and discuss the elephant in the room. First a personal story. A few years… Continue reading

Former Juneau Mayor Ken Koelsch in 2018. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A plot of land at 450 Whittier St. is the preferred site for a new City Hall building. (Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)

My Turn: Support for a new City Hall

This article has been updated to replace an incorrect image purportedly depicting the proposed new City Hall. We’ve been reading with interest various opinions about… Continue reading

A plot of land at 450 Whittier St. is the preferred site for a new City Hall building. (Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Wade Bryson listens to public testimony during a meeting Monday night. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File).

My Turn: The new City Hall is my responsibility

I mean that. Since my start as the chair of the Public Works and Facilities Committee I have led the process of solving the City… Continue reading

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Wade Bryson listens to public testimony during a meeting Monday night. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File).
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney greet each other outside the chamber at the U.S. Capitol on April 5, 2022. (J. Scott Applewhite / AP file photo)

Opinion: Alaska’s senators and Mitt Romney

When newly elected Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) began his term five years ago, he was surprised to learn that “almost without exception” his Republican colleagues… Continue reading

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney greet each other outside the chamber at the U.S. Capitol on April 5, 2022. (J. Scott Applewhite / AP file photo)
(Juneau Empire File)

Letter: Considering consolidating high schools into TMHS, making JDHS the new City Hall

The CBJ offices have outlived their lifespan and been in disrepair for a long time. The CBJ offices tour that was offered on Wednesday showed… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg joined U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski on an Alaska state ferry on Wednesday, Aug. 16 during his first visit to Southeast Alaska. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Transportation)

My Turn: Traveling the Alaska way

The night before my team and I were scheduled to fly from Juneau to Haines on Seaplanes with the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg,… Continue reading

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg joined U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski on an Alaska state ferry on Wednesday, Aug. 16 during his first visit to Southeast Alaska. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Transportation)
(Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: New City Hall proposition comes down to dollars and sense

Soon, Juneau voters will be receiving ballots in their mailboxes for the 2023 regular municipal election scheduled for Oct. 3. This election will be watched… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
(Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Alaska’s air travel depends on a fully funded TSA

Day in and day out, the transportation security officers at Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport work to keep the thousands who fly through our airport yearly… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
An artist depiction of a new City Hall building at 450 Whittier St. (Courtesy Image / North Wind Architects)

My Turn: The business case (or not) for a new City Hall

Businesses routinely make decisions about whether to invest in new facilities, new technology and/or new employees. Typically these decisions are driven by long-term forecasts of… Continue reading

An artist depiction of a new City Hall building at 450 Whittier St. (Courtesy Image / North Wind Architects)
(Juneau Empire File)

Letter: A new City Hall “just makes financial sense” to city manager?

Juneau’s Assembly and our outgoing City Manager are trying to convince voters and property taxpayers that building a new City Hall makes financial sense. As… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
(Juneau Empire File)

Letter: Proposed state medical board changes will decrease access to care

As a physician assistant (PA) who has practiced in Juneau for 20 years, I want to urge all to be aware of the proposed changes… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
Cars and people move past the City and Borough of Juneau’s current City Hall downtown on June 5. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Assembly acting in misguided, costly and arrogant manner with City Hall ballot question

I urge voters to once again turn down the full faith and credit long-term bond ballot measure for a new City Hall. A project requesting… Continue reading

Cars and people move past the City and Borough of Juneau’s current City Hall downtown on June 5. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)