Opinion

Fog drifts through the trees in the Tongass National Forest on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: A response to ‘There are no Landless Natives in Southeast Alaska’

Where to begin? Rebecca Knight’s — at best implicitly xenophobic and factually incorrect – opinion piece published Sept. 20 not only misconstrues the present legislation’s… Continue reading

Fog drifts through the trees in the Tongass National Forest on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board members, staff and advisors meet Oct. 30 at the corporation’s headquarters in Juneau to discuss a proposal to raise the fund’s rate of return by making riskier investments. The idea stalled when advisors suggested the strategy and timing are ill-advised. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File).

My Turn: Need for accounting and legislative oversight of the Permanent Fund

The governor or Legislature or both need to conduct an audit format available to the public or engage in serious oversight of the Alaska Permanent… Continue reading

Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board members, staff and advisors meet Oct. 30 at the corporation’s headquarters in Juneau to discuss a proposal to raise the fund’s rate of return by making riskier investments. The idea stalled when advisors suggested the strategy and timing are ill-advised. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File).
Author standing at the Sitka terminal ramp May 22 waiting to board the Columbia to Haines. (Photo courtesy of Regina Discenza)

Letter: Governor, remember the ferry system’s woes when crafting your budget

This is an open letter to Gov. Dunleavy and his staff. A new budget year is coming soon. I hope that you remember me and… Continue reading

Author standing at the Sitka terminal ramp May 22 waiting to board the Columbia to Haines. (Photo courtesy of Regina Discenza)
The City and Borough of Juneau Ballot Processing Center, located in a former warehouse south of downtown, was used to count votes from the Oct. 3 municipal election. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Opinion: Juneau Assembly receives 2023 election report

The city clerk’s office transmitted its final report on the 2023 municipal election for review during the Assembly’s reorganizational meeting on Oct. 23. The report… Continue reading

The City and Borough of Juneau Ballot Processing Center, located in a former warehouse south of downtown, was used to count votes from the Oct. 3 municipal election. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
(Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Imagine the cost of health and happiness if set by prescription drug companies

I’ve been reading more about prescription drug prices lately: How they are set; why many are so high, especially in the United States; and what… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
A marker for the U.S.-Canadian border sits between Skagway, Alaska, and Stikine Region, British Columbia. (Photo by Philip Yabut/Getty Images)

Opinion: British Columbia is committed to responsible mining practices

As close neighbors, British Columbia and Alaska share a common goal: to foster responsible resource development by championing the highest standards of environmental protection for… Continue reading

A marker for the U.S.-Canadian border sits between Skagway, Alaska, and Stikine Region, British Columbia. (Photo by Philip Yabut/Getty Images)
(Photo by the Alaska Ombudsman’s office)

My Turn: The 643 patients at API last year could have the answer to improving patient care

Being taken to a locked psychiatric facility or unit is traumatizing. Starting with a court order for a forced evaluation, the ride in the back… Continue reading

(Photo by the Alaska Ombudsman’s office)
(Juneau Empire File)

Letter: Thanks for support during election

Save Juneau would like to thank the Juneau electorate for supporting and tuning in to Save Juneau during the local election. A primary reason Save… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
Hundreds of people gathered in raincoats and boots at the Twin Lakes Kaasei Totem Plaza for a ceremony unveiling a Tlingit healing totem pole and screens on Oct. 1, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Tlingit traditions and integrity

Our Tlingit people reside in Southeast Alaska and Canada. We have existed in Alaska for about 15,000 years, or approximately 750 family generations. Our Tlingit… Continue reading

Hundreds of people gathered in raincoats and boots at the Twin Lakes Kaasei Totem Plaza for a ceremony unveiling a Tlingit healing totem pole and screens on Oct. 1, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Hundreds of people gathered in raincoats and boots at the Twin Lakes Kaasei Totem Plaza for a ceremony unveiling a Tlingit healing totem pole and screens on Oct. 1, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Tlingit traditions and integrity

Our Tlingit people reside in Southeast Alaska and Canada. We have existed in Alaska for about 15,000 years, or approximately 750 family generations. Our Tlingit… Continue reading

Hundreds of people gathered in raincoats and boots at the Twin Lakes Kaasei Totem Plaza for a ceremony unveiling a Tlingit healing totem pole and screens on Oct. 1, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the audience during his inauguration ceremony Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Anchorage. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Opinion: Dunleavy’s public trust deficit

According to two longtime researchers at the Alaska Department of Labor, articles produced for Alaska Economic Trends had never been removed from the publication before.… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the audience during his inauguration ceremony Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Anchorage. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
(Juneau Empire File)

Letter: Stoking a human-abusive culture of fear

This “gunning” of our fellow citizens with military assault, sub-machine weapons of war must be arrested; in tandem with the kind of unhuman corporate, profit-driven… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
(Juneau Empire File)

Letter: Thanks for helping a visitor during a difficult moment

I want to commend Juneau’s citizens for being so kind and caring on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. My 25-year-old, autistic daughter, Irina Mumford, had a… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
(Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Give Dunleavy the same quality of legal defense he gives indigents

As reported recently by the Alaska Beacon, a new regulation approved by the Dunleavy administration will give the governor and attorney general access to free… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
(Juneau Empire File)

Letter: Telephone Hill an opportunity for needed low- and moderate-income housing

While I agree with the sentiments of Telephone Hill residents, I also feel Juneau desperately needs to provide some moderate- and lower-income housing. At 76… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
(Juneau Empire File)

Letter: Relocation of warming shelter making poorest suffer even more

It never bodes well when government and church dissidents ally against a charitable organization trying to help the poorest of us, using the power of… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to media about Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Opinion: Sullivan’s cynical concern about the rule of law

Rather than submit nominations for federal judge positions by the method that’s been used for years, Sen. Dan Sullivan created the Alaska Federal Judiciary Council… Continue reading

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to media about Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Juneau Assembly candidates discuss a range of issues during a forum Sept. 12 at the KTOO studio. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: After the election where does Juneau go from here?

The dust has finally settled on Juneau’s recent municipal election, and there’s an expectation that our Assembly will start conducting its business more transparently and… Continue reading

Juneau Assembly candidates discuss a range of issues during a forum Sept. 12 at the KTOO studio. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A rainbow appears over downtown as residents check out rows of electric vehicles at Juneau’s EV & E-bike Roundup on Sept. 23. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: We should all pay more for the privilege of driving

Last month a law charging an annual $200 fee on electric vehicles (EV) went into effect in Texas. The Alaska Legislature needs to enact a… Continue reading

A rainbow appears over downtown as residents check out rows of electric vehicles at Juneau’s EV & E-bike Roundup on Sept. 23. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Math and the apportionment of Alaska’s legislative district boundaries

Recently, in response to the news that “we the people” must now pay $400,000 out of Alaska’s public treasury to a plaintiff unhappy with the… Continue reading

(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)