Opinion

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, speaks to reporters after giving an address to state lawmakers in Juneau on Feb. 17. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Opinion: Rep. Mary Peltola and the Second Amendment

Alaska congresswoman’s overly strict interpretation keeps her from supporting reasonable gun limits

  • Apr 17, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, speaks to reporters after giving an address to state lawmakers in Juneau on Feb. 17. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Members of the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee meet Wednesday as they hear department presentations about next year’s proposed budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Spending up, taxes up, population stagnant in Juneau

Last week, during a scheduled CBJ Assembly Finance Committee meeting, City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) staff introduced the FY2024 draft budget for consideration. This… Continue reading

  • Apr 15, 2023
  • By Win Gruening
Members of the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee meet Wednesday as they hear department presentations about next year’s proposed budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of the print edition of the City and Borough of Juneau’s budget book for the fiscal year 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Will the CBJ Assembly ever draw the line?

And who actually pays for all this largesse?

  • Apr 12, 2023
  • By Win Gruening
This is a photo of the print edition of the City and Borough of Juneau’s budget book for the fiscal year 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Guy Archibald collects clam shell specimens on Admiralty Island. Archibald was the lead author of a recently released study that linked a dramatic increase of lead levels in Hawk Inlet’s marine ecosystem and land surrounding it on Admiralty Island to tailings released from the nearby Hecla Greens Creek Mine. (Courtesy Photo / John Neary)

Opinion: Questions linger amid mine permitting process

How much pollution has already taken place and how damaging is it?

  • Apr 8, 2023
  • By John Neary
Guy Archibald collects clam shell specimens on Admiralty Island. Archibald was the lead author of a recently released study that linked a dramatic increase of lead levels in Hawk Inlet’s marine ecosystem and land surrounding it on Admiralty Island to tailings released from the nearby Hecla Greens Creek Mine. (Courtesy Photo / John Neary)
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Dan Sullivan’s convenient amnesia

Here’s a history lesson that Sullivan’s public persona is desperate to forget.

  • Apr 7, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: In praise of the Augustus Brown Pool

Living out my life in Juneau, certain places prompt pleasant memories of departed friends.

  • Apr 6, 2023
  • By Peter Metcalfe
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Lawmakers must step up and increase school funding

There’s no excuse for depriving the funding needed to ensure our students’ learning.

  • Apr 6, 2023
  • By Luann McVey
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
State Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, inquires about election legislation during a committee hearing Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. Carpenter, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, is sponsoring bills to decrease business taxes and implement a 2% statewide sales tax that were heard. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Proposal is a fiscal plan, but not a good one

The numbers don’t add up.

  • Apr 5, 2023
  • By Larry Persily
State Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, inquires about election legislation during a committee hearing Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. Carpenter, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, is sponsoring bills to decrease business taxes and implement a 2% statewide sales tax that were heard. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Building cross-border trust means cleaning up the Tulsequah Chief

Why does unacceptable toxic discharge into the Taku watershed continue?

  • Apr 3, 2023
  • By Chris Zimmer
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Alaska ferries take on more water

A satirical My Turn for April Fool’s Day.

  • Apr 1, 2023
  • By Gershon Cohen
(Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire File)
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Dunleavy is punting tax hikes to his successor

It’s a rare thing in American politics when a Republican proposes new or increased taxes. But last week, Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, introduced legislation for… Continue reading

  • Mar 31, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Little chairs sit in stacks after the  temporary closure of downtown Gold Creek Child Development Center in mid-January, and another closure shortly followed, leaving dozens of families scrambling to find child care. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Alaska’s child care crisis is too costly to ignore

Alaskans see this impact daily.

  • Mar 30, 2023
  • By Charles L. Westmoreland and Blue Shibler
Little chairs sit in stacks after the  temporary closure of downtown Gold Creek Child Development Center in mid-January, and another closure shortly followed, leaving dozens of families scrambling to find child care. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: The three-ring public service salary circus

Pay hike is an abuse of power by governor and lapse in integrity from senate president.

  • Mar 29, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
NASA

Opinion: Willow will only lead to further climate chaos

At a time when drought and climate change are causing alarmingly low freshwater levels in the West with city floods in the Eastern U.S., in… Continue reading

  • Mar 29, 2023
  • By John S. Sonin
NASA
Alaska Youth for Environmental Action fly-in students. (Courtesy Photo / AYEA)

Opinion: Our time in Juneau at the AYEA Conservation and Civics Summit

Gunalchéesh to Juneau and to those who made this summit possible.

  • Mar 29, 2023
  • By Suella Wendell
Alaska Youth for Environmental Action fly-in students. (Courtesy Photo / AYEA)
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Opinion: The Biden administration’s betrayal of King Cove

The White House lack of compassion is just not acceptable to Alaskans.

  • Mar 28, 2023
  • By Frank H. Murkowski
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This photo shows downtown Juneau during cruise season as seen from Douglas. Demographic trends show Juneau experiencing a decline in people between the ages of 18 and 64. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Reverse the demographic death spiral

Changing our future requires local government and the private sector to work togethe…

  • Mar 23, 2023
  • By Angela Rodell and Susan Bell
This photo shows downtown Juneau during cruise season as seen from Douglas. Demographic trends show Juneau experiencing a decline in people between the ages of 18 and 64. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Want wetlands permits to better reflect Alaska?

Reinstate the Alaska Coastal Management Program.

  • Mar 22, 2023
  • By Bruce Botelho and Kate Troll
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This image available under the Creative Commons license shows the outline of the state of Alaska filled with the pattern of the state flag.

Opinion: Old models of development that are not sustainable for Alaska

Sustainability means investing in keeping Alaska as healthy as possible.

  • Mar 21, 2023
  • Adeline Raboff
This image available under the Creative Commons license shows the outline of the state of Alaska filled with the pattern of the state flag.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks in support of an agreement between the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and Goldbelt Inc. to pursue engineering and design services to determine whether it’s feasible to build a new ferry terminal facility in Juneau at Cascade Point. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: What Cascade Point is not

This project is less about trying to improve transportation than serving political ideology.

  • Mar 17, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks in support of an agreement between the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and Goldbelt Inc. to pursue engineering and design services to determine whether it’s feasible to build a new ferry terminal facility in Juneau at Cascade Point. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)