Opinion

The Holland America Line cruise ships Eurodam, left, and Nieuw Amsterdam pull into Juneau’s downtown harbor on May 1, 2017. Holland America extended its pause on sailings to Alaska until mid-May as the company tries to find ways to sail under new health regulations. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Independent travelers cannot compensate for what cruise ship travelers bring

If these initiatives pass, what kind of future are we leaving for our children?

  • May 26, 2021
  • By Scott Bergmann
The Holland America Line cruise ships Eurodam, left, and Nieuw Amsterdam pull into Juneau’s downtown harbor on May 1, 2017. Holland America extended its pause on sailings to Alaska until mid-May as the company tries to find ways to sail under new health regulations. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Protecting Juneau’s future depends on protecting Juneau’s environment

Let’s use this break to figure out some reasonable limits on cruise traffic.

  • May 25, 2021
  • By Eileen Wagner
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Cruise ballot initiatives promote negative perception of capital city

Is this the image we want to project as our capital city?

  • May 25, 2021
  • By Wayne Jensen
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Pedestrians walk along South Franklin Street in July 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: The tourism cabal looks out for itself

“The problem is that there are simply too many tourists.”

  • May 25, 2021
  • Ray Preston
Pedestrians walk along South Franklin Street in July 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Juneau is a shining star and model for other visitor destinations

Our community is a model for destinations around the world on how to responsibly manage tourism.

  • May 22, 2021
  • By Mike Tibbles
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: How many cruise ship tourists would be acceptable?

People don’t want to live in Disneyland.

  • May 21, 2021
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
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Opinion: The plague of intellectual laziness

What’s become increasingly lazy, is our political discourse.

  • May 21, 2021
  • By Rich Moniak
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This photo shows University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau.  (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: We can’t run our businesses without the University of Alaska

We rely on UA grads to power our workforce.

  • May 19, 2021
  • By Laura Bruce
This photo shows University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau.  (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion:We can do better for our community and visitors

We can do better.

  • May 18, 2021
  • By Linda M. Blefgen
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor in September 2014. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: How many cruise ship tourists are enough?

If the passenger numbers increase, the number of disgruntled residents will grow even faster.

  • May 18, 2021
  • By Mike Pilling
A fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor in September 2014. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Let’s keep the discourse civil during cruise debate

I truly hope all of us who love Juneau can rise above the rancor.

  • May 17, 2021
  • By Sue Schrader
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Juneau needs more community events

Even though tourism brings cash flow into Juneau, tourism keeps locals out of downtown.

  • May 17, 2021
  • By Dawn Dulebohn
(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
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Biden’s ‘30 x 30’ conservation plan falls short

Given the encouraging first 100 days of the Biden administration, the plan is disappointing.

  • May 14, 2021
  • By Rick Steiner
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Opinion: Dunleavy’s subservience to Trump continues

By Rich Moniak A few weeks ago, Facebook’s Oversight Board upheld the tech company’s decision to suspend Donald Trump’s account after the now former president… Continue reading

  • May 14, 2021
  • By Rich Moniak
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The Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Alaska Ocean Center opposes Cruise Ship Limitation Initiatives

Juneau is a special place. We all work to protect it.

  • May 13, 2021
  • By Alaska Ocean Center Board of Directors
The Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
Unless something changes at the federal level, Juneau's waterfront may be devoid of cruise ships for another summer. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: How the cruise ballot initiative process went wrong

Juneau voters should care enough not to sign on to this ill-conceived effort.

  • May 13, 2021
  • By Win Gruening
Unless something changes at the federal level, Juneau's waterfront may be devoid of cruise ships for another summer. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
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Opinion: Downtown Juneau needs a new baseball field

The economic benefits are so obvious.

  • May 12, 2021
  • By Larry Johansen
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(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Doing tourism better takes clear vision, not extremes

We risk creating a situation where it will be hard to meet in the middle.

  • May 12, 2021
  • By Cameron Byrnes
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
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Opinion: Why is CON Still in Alaska?

CON laws are little more than expensive and time-consuming barriers to care.

  • May 11, 2021
  • By Dr. Darcy Nikol Bryan and Matthew D. Mitchell
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(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Reject the cruise control initiatives

I write to express my opposition to the three initiatives now circulating…

  • May 11, 2021
  • By Bruce Botelho
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)