Opinion

The Juneau Assembly hears public testimony during its meeting Monday, June 9, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Assembly set to mandate another complicated cumbersome voting system

In spite of dissatisfaction with the city’s unilateral decision to impose vote-by-mail a few years ago, on June 9 our Assembly moved to consider mandating… Continue reading

The Juneau Assembly hears public testimony during its meeting Monday, June 9, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: A tribute to the sun of Juneau’s music

First-time bass player Jacquelyn Davis spoke at a recent Saturday night “Homelands” Juneau Symphony concert about the importance of Juneau Alaska Music Matters (JAMM) in… Continue reading

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

Letter: Dispersed camping and trail users

When I came to Juneau over 30 years ago, I felt very comfortable walking by myself on local trails. Bears were not a major concern… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
The present-day KTOO public broadcasting building, built in 1959 for the U.S. Army’s Alaska Communications System Signal Corps, is located on filled tidelands near Juneau’s subport. Today vehicles on Egan Drive pass by the concrete structure with satellite dishes on the roof that receive signals from NPR, PBS and other sources. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Stand for the community radio, not culture war optics

Alaskans are different and we pride ourselves on that. If my vehicle got stuck in a ditch, or if my house got hit by the… Continue reading

The present-day KTOO public broadcasting building, built in 1959 for the U.S. Army’s Alaska Communications System Signal Corps, is located on filled tidelands near Juneau’s subport. Today vehicles on Egan Drive pass by the concrete structure with satellite dishes on the roof that receive signals from NPR, PBS and other sources. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) delivers his annual speech to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Sullivan, Trump and the rule of lawlessness

In September 2023, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan established his own Alaska Federal Judiciary Council. Its purpose is to recommend candidates for vacancies in the U.S.… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) delivers his annual speech to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Drumstick Primrose is seen at the Jensen-Olson Arboretum on Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Speak up for Juneau’s beautiful spaces

I like to say that Juneau has some real hidden gems. These are areas that are commonly overlooked, but in my opinion, are true Juneau… Continue reading

The Drumstick Primrose is seen at the Jensen-Olson Arboretum on Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Mendenhall wetlands seen in spring. (Photo by Mary Glaves)

Opinion: Why the Juneau-Douglas Second Crossing is the wrong investment for Alaska

Across Alaska, roads are falling apart. Potholes deepen in Fairbanks, washed-out culverts block salmon in the Mat-Su, and rural communities from Ketchikan to Kotzebue are… Continue reading

The Mendenhall wetlands seen in spring. (Photo by Mary Glaves)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Trump’s June 14 military parade

I enjoy Juneau’s Celebration parade with its many clans dancing in regalia. I love Juneau’s Fourth of July parade, with the Juneau Marching Band, the… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Telephone Hill on May 5, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Pay attention to which way the Juneau Assembly votes on Telephone Hill

In the last two years, housing prices and rents have risen dramatically, even for Juneau. The management of the Ridgeview Apartments project has become a… Continue reading

Telephone Hill on May 5, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, address a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: A noncongressman for Alaska?

It’s right to ask whether Nick Begich is a noncongressman for Alaska. The latest evidence of it is his vote for the House tax bill,… Continue reading

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, address a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
President Donald Trump during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in Washington, Feb, 28, 2025. Trump’s preference for praising and excusing Vladimir Putin’s actions has yielded no progress toward peace in Ukraine. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Opinion: Slaves to Trump’s whims

The TACO trade isn’t a new restaurant. It stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” The acronym is Wall Street’s response to his on-again-off-again tariffs. John… Continue reading

President Donald Trump during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in Washington, Feb, 28, 2025. Trump’s preference for praising and excusing Vladimir Putin’s actions has yielded no progress toward peace in Ukraine. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: City spending relies on cruise visitor spending

The recent failure of activists to gain sufficient signatures to put yet another anti-cruise initiative on the ballot in October is evidence that Juneau residents… Continue reading

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The F/V Liberty, captained by Trenton Clark, fishes the Pacific near Metlakatla on Aug. 20, 2024. Over the last few years, the $6 billion Alaskan wild seafood market has been ensnared in a mix of geopolitics, macroeconomics, changing ocean temperatures and post-Covid whiplash that piled on top of long-building vulnerabilities in the business model. (Ash Adams/The New York Times)

My Turn: Funding sustainable fisheries

Spring is always a busy season for Alaska’s fishermen and fishing communities. The air is full of anticipation as we prepare for the inevitable surprises… Continue reading

The F/V Liberty, captained by Trenton Clark, fishes the Pacific near Metlakatla on Aug. 20, 2024. Over the last few years, the $6 billion Alaskan wild seafood market has been ensnared in a mix of geopolitics, macroeconomics, changing ocean temperatures and post-Covid whiplash that piled on top of long-building vulnerabilities in the business model. (Ash Adams/The New York Times)
Angela Rodell is a member of the Affordable Juneau Coalition. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: It’s time for a government that works for working people

The Juneau Assembly voted to raise your property taxes — again. They did this while the cost of living continues to climb, while residents struggle… Continue reading

Angela Rodell is a member of the Affordable Juneau Coalition. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Courtesy photo)

My Turn: Fight fascism — have dinner

I try to get to as many political rallies as I can to voice my resistance to the Trump administration’s criminal attempts to destroy the… Continue reading

(Courtesy photo)
Chris Heidemann, the president of the Juneau Education Association, testifies at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Celebrating our teachers

I went on a cruise this week. It was not the floating city, tourist-laden, helicopter and whale-watching behemoth so rampant in these waters. There were… Continue reading

Chris Heidemann, the president of the Juneau Education Association, testifies at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Murkowski supports Secure Rural Schools

If you live in Juneau, I don’t have to tell you how important the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program is. It helps ensure your schools… Continue reading

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

Letter: Show up and sign ‘em

Usually near the end of the fiscal year, the Assembly scrambles to spend excess funds collected over the budgeted spending plan. Not so much this… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference on Monday, May 19, 2025, to discuss his decision to veto an education bill. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: On fiscal policy, Dunleavy is a governor in name only

“Any serious effort to stabilize Alaska’s fiscal future must also focus on diversifying our economy and creating new industries, which in turn broadens the economic… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference on Monday, May 19, 2025, to discuss his decision to veto an education bill. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
President Trump as he visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, Thursday, May, 15, 2025. During the first major foreign trip of his second term, President Trump has told audiences in the Middle East that he’s willing to set the past aside in the interests of peace and profit. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Opinion: Count on Sullivan to erase another red line

“If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of skeezy stuff needs to stop,” Ben Shapiro said on his daily podcast on Monday. “I… Continue reading

President Trump as he visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, Thursday, May, 15, 2025. During the first major foreign trip of his second term, President Trump has told audiences in the Middle East that he’s willing to set the past aside in the interests of peace and profit. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)