Opinion

Alexander B. Dolitsky

Opinion: Success at school begins at home

Studies show conservative moral values play an important role in educational achievement.

  • Feb 18, 2023
  • By Alexander B. Dolitsky
Alexander B. Dolitsky
The Alaska state flag is illuminated atop the Kennicott at night at Juneau's Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Losing ferries would be losing a piece of Alaska

The stars seemed aligned to make progress to save the AMHS and chart its course.

  • Feb 17, 2023
  • By Wanetta Ayers
The Alaska state flag is illuminated atop the Kennicott at night at Juneau's Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows Alaska State Troopers vehicles in Juneau. (Juneau Empire File)

A weak link in DPS’ proposed body cam policy

Proposed policy gives too much discretion for when officers can turn cams off.

  • Feb 17, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
This photo shows Alaska State Troopers vehicles in Juneau. (Juneau Empire File)
An Alaska Waste truck enters Waste Management's Capitol Disposal Landfill in Lemon Creek. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Escalating landfill fees are a wake-up call

There’s no silver bullet to fix this problem

  • Feb 16, 2023
  • By Win Gruening
An Alaska Waste truck enters Waste Management's Capitol Disposal Landfill in Lemon Creek. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: We need to repeal this regulation to stop rising health care costs

Our state has reached a critical junction in our fight against rising health care costs. The Alaska Division of Insurance is holding hearings to consider… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2023
  • By Jim Grazko
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: The benefits of ranked choice voting

A recent My Turn struck a nerve.

  • Feb 14, 2023
  • Gary Miller
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows Mendenhall Lake.  (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: The USFS did not listen regarding boats on Mendenhall Lake

My concerns from last May have not changed.

  • Feb 13, 2023
  • By Jim Sepel
This photo shows Mendenhall Lake.  (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
An array of stickers awaits voters on Election Day 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: One reason to abandon ranked choice elections

A disturbing feature of ranked choice that is easy to miss.

  • Feb 10, 2023
  • By Brian J. Gaines
An array of stickers awaits voters on Election Day 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A picture showing the Juneau road system ending at Cascade Point in Berners Bay in May 2006.  (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Dunleavy’s mockery of the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board

Both the House and the Senate voted unanimously to create the AMHOB.

  • Feb 10, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
A picture showing the Juneau road system ending at Cascade Point in Berners Bay in May 2006.  (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Lawmakers should meet school funding needs before determining PFD size

Schoolhouse rock and a hard place.

  • Feb 8, 2023
  • By Larry Persily
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
A bald eagle looks toward the Mendenhall Glacier near the visitor center. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire File)

Limiting commercial visitation is the only sensible response to overcrowding at MGRA

I was born and raised in the Valley, where our family could see the Mendenhall Glacier from our driveway. The glacier hosted many of our… Continue reading

  • Feb 7, 2023
  • By Sarah Aronson
A bald eagle looks toward the Mendenhall Glacier near the visitor center. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire File)
This image shows the site plan of the proposed Capital Civic Center. Thursday evening the city was given an update on the project’s concept design which is expected to cost up to $75 million and would include amenities like a theater, community hall, gallery, ballroom and business center. (City and Borough of Juneau)

Opinion: Keep an eye on the proposed civic center project

FTF will continue to monitor this issue and urge Juneau residents to do likewise.

  • Feb 6, 2023
  • By Don Habeger
This image shows the site plan of the proposed Capital Civic Center. Thursday evening the city was given an update on the project’s concept design which is expected to cost up to $75 million and would include amenities like a theater, community hall, gallery, ballroom and business center. (City and Borough of Juneau)
At Wednesday evening’s special Assembly meeting, the Assembly appropriated nearly $4 million toward funding a 5.5% wage increase for all CBJ employees along with a 5% increase to the employer health contribution. According to City Manager Rorie Watt, it doesn't necessarily fix a nearly two decade-long issue of employee retention concerns for the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Assessment needs additional oversight

A win in dealing with City and Borough of Juneau is when both sides feel they have been treated fairly. A loss is when both… Continue reading

  • Feb 3, 2023
  • By Greg Adler
At Wednesday evening’s special Assembly meeting, the Assembly appropriated nearly $4 million toward funding a 5.5% wage increase for all CBJ employees along with a 5% increase to the employer health contribution. According to City Manager Rorie Watt, it doesn't necessarily fix a nearly two decade-long issue of employee retention concerns for the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Mist from Nugget Falls has a prism-like effect in September 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Our future depends on what we say about MGRA plans

Submit your comments by Feb. 21, 2023.

  • Feb 3, 2023
  • By Laurie Craig
Mist from Nugget Falls has a prism-like effect in September 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Multiple vehicles line up at the entrance of Waste Management’s Capitol Disposal Landfill in Lemon Creek Monday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

The absence of economic incentives to reduce waste

This week, Waste Management, the Texas based company that owns and operates the landfill, nearly tripled the charge for residents who chose to dump their… Continue reading

  • Feb 3, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
Multiple vehicles line up at the entrance of Waste Management’s Capitol Disposal Landfill in Lemon Creek Monday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Over 200 people attended LunaFest (Courtesy Photo)

Opinion: JPCC owes a huge debt of gratitude to two LunaFest guest speakers

LunaFest 2023 was JPCC’s most successful fundraising event ever.

  • Feb 2, 2023
  • By the Juneau Pro-Choice Coalition Board
Over 200 people attended LunaFest (Courtesy Photo)
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Education funding is complicated and political

At a recent Alaska State Senate Education Committee hearing at the Capitol, there seemed to be general agreement that state school funding was lagging behind… Continue reading

  • Feb 2, 2023
  • By Win Gruening
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Deja vu for the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area

Three new alternatives don’t go far enough.

  • Feb 1, 2023
  • By Ken Post
This photo shows the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
In this Nov. 29, 2018 photo, clouds swirl over Douglas Island. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: The Roadless Rule is a misnomer for what’s really happening in the Tongass

The Roadless Rule, as currently comprised with an exception provision, works.

  • Feb 1, 2023
  • By Kate Troll
In this Nov. 29, 2018 photo, clouds swirl over Douglas Island. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Faith Myers stands at the doors of API. (Courtesy Photo)

Opinion: Psychiatric patient care report could be catalyst for improvements

Will good suggestions get lost in state bureaucracy?

  • Jan 31, 2023
  • By Faith J. Myers
Faith Myers stands at the doors of API. (Courtesy Photo)