Opinion

(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Don’t punish leaders who made tough decisions; vote no on school board recalls

I urge all voters to Vote no to recall Juneau school board members Deedie Sorensen and Emil Mackey. Recall should be utilized only when merited… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Opinion: School board and Assembly races offer necessary change

The Oct. 1 municipal election is shaping up as a referendum on changing the status quo. In the case of the school board it’s about… Continue reading

(City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Former Juneau Mayor Ken Koelsch in 2018. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Three strikes and a home run on Oct. 1 municipal election ballot

As a former U.S. government teacher, Juneau Assembly member and mayor, I usually start getting phone calls for information about voting (ballot issues especially) a… Continue reading

Former Juneau Mayor Ken Koelsch in 2018. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Vote for fiscally responsible principles in this year’s municipal election

Last year, I led Save Juneau, the group that urged a “no” vote on a new City Hall. We knew from going door-to-door in the… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Taxpayers need to make informed decisions about how Alaska Marine Highway funds are spent

Recently I read about a $177 million award to the Alaska Marine Highway and feel compelled to comment on the news because it’s imperative the… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Ship-Free Saturday is a community-based initiative, opponents funded by cruise companies

Mushrooms and Ship-Free Saturday: what’s the connection? Mushrooms are an item that I have stopped buying because they are too expensive. Ship-Free Saturday is a… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Rainforest Recovery Center at Bartlett Regional Hospital is scheduled to close Tuesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Loss of Rainforest Recovery Center leaves Juneau with critical gap in substance abuse care

On Tuesday, Sept. 24, the city of Juneau is set to lose a valuable resource for treating individuals in our community suffering from drug and… Continue reading

Rainforest Recovery Center at Bartlett Regional Hospital is scheduled to close Tuesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks to supporters during a campaign event at Louie’s Douglas Inn on Oct. 12, 2022.

Opinion: Murkowski must get off the ‘none of the above’ fence

Sen. Lisa Murkowski isn’t your typical undecided voter. She’s not only extremely well informed about the presidential candidates and their positions on important issues. She… Continue reading

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks to supporters during a campaign event at Louie’s Douglas Inn on Oct. 12, 2022.
A crowd of visitors tours the Mendenhall Glacier on Friday, July 21, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: I’m just trying to live here

Ship-Free Saturday (Proposition #2) on the Oct. 1 municipal ballot, is an attempt by a group of residents including me, who want to have one… Continue reading

A crowd of visitors tours the Mendenhall Glacier on Friday, July 21, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Cruise ships and passengers in downtown Juneau on Monday, June 3, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Ship-Free Saturday will have harmful effect on tourism statewide

Proposition 2 will damage Alaska tourism statewide. Vote no to keep this sustainable industry healthy As the CEO of the Alaska Travel Industry Association, I’m… Continue reading

Cruise ships and passengers in downtown Juneau on Monday, June 3, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Passengers return to the Norwegian Sun on Oct. 25, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Figuring out the Ship-Free Saturday ballot initiative

Opponents of Proposition No. 2 — Ship-Free Saturday make many bold, reference-free claims on the purported impacts of the initiative. According to them Prop. 2… Continue reading

Passengers return to the Norwegian Sun on Oct. 25, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Economic arguments against Ship-Free Saturday don’t reflect reality for many people

I’m curious about the logic behind the economic arguments against Megaship-Free Saturdays (call it what it is) and other cruise ship limits. They seem to… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Vote yes on Prop. 2 to give Juneau one day off a week

Every Saturday free please. Vote yes. By voting yes on Proposition 2 in the municipal election Oct. 1 you will be giving Juneau one day… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale smiles for a photo in November 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Consider realities of present vs. past on Ship-Free Saturday initiative

I write to encourage all Juneau residents to deeply consider the implications of their vote on the Ship-Free Saturday initiative on the October ballot. I… Continue reading

Assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale smiles for a photo in November 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Why I’m voting no on banning cruise ships Saturdays

Lawsuits. From the few proponents of the initiative I talked to, the vote yes is a message to the cruise industry. While I’d love to… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Clear and present flooding danger – unaddressed

I Zoomed in to last Monday’s CBJ Assembly Committee of the Whole meeting. The Assembly discussed current actions to mitigate the glacial outburst flood (jökulhlaup)… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
A local business displays a sign in support of the Apalachee High School shooting victims in Winder, Ga., on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. The 1,900 students at Apalachee High School were just settling into the rhythms of a new year before a freshman killed two teachers and two students. (Christian Monterrosa/The New York Times)

Opinion: A school shooting exposes Republican impotence. Again.

“I don’t like to admit this. I don’t like that this is a fact of life,” Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance said after the school… Continue reading

A local business displays a sign in support of the Apalachee High School shooting victims in Winder, Ga., on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. The 1,900 students at Apalachee High School were just settling into the rhythms of a new year before a freshman killed two teachers and two students. (Christian Monterrosa/The New York Times)
John MacKinnon. (Courtesy photo)

My Turn: Supporting Angela Rodell for mayor due to financial expertise, questioning of status quo

I’m supporting Angela Rodell for mayor. Her experience as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Revenue, and then as executive director of the Alaska Permanent… Continue reading

John MacKinnon. (Courtesy photo)
(City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Opinion: Juneau voters weigh three ballot propositions

As the Juneau Assembly addresses several looming economic issues, voters will decide three significant ballot propositions in the upcoming Oct. 1 municipal election, each with… Continue reading

(City and Borough of Juneau photo)
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on April 17, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Here’s what I would do with Ship-Free Saturdays

I’m a 30-year Juneau resident voting “yes” for Ship-Free Saturday (and July 4) to support Juneau’s recovery from rampant over-tourism growth. The number of cruise… Continue reading

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on April 17, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)