Opinion

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)
Win Gruening. (Courtesy photo)

Opinion: Property tax cap initiative — safeguarding affordability for Juneau residents

We hear a lot from our city and civic leaders about the importance of keeping our community affordable. However, far too often, the actions and… Continue reading

Win Gruening. (Courtesy photo)
Michelle Bonnet Hale is a former deputy mayor of Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Sen. Sullivan and Rep. Begich are complicit in destruction of US democracy

I have found myself struggling, these past few months, to find the right words to describe the inaction of Sen. Sullivan and Rep. Begich in… Continue reading

Michelle Bonnet Hale is a former deputy mayor of Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Demolishing Telephone Hill won’t save downtown businesses

In a recent front-page article of the Juneau Empire was a demolition plan, referring to Telephone Hill, advanced by the Assembly; another hopeless attempt to… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
An architect’s rendering of the proposed Capital Civic Center. (NorthWind Architects and Jensen Yorba Wall)

My Turn: Capital Civic Center will be an economic driver for Juneau

At the urging of the mayor, Travel Juneau, the Juneau Chamber of Commerce and the Partnership for a New JACC met together in early 2020… Continue reading

An architect’s rendering of the proposed Capital Civic Center. (NorthWind Architects and Jensen Yorba Wall)
Dick Maitland, a foley artist, works on the 46th season of “Sesame Street” at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York, Dec. 15, 2025. (Ariana McLaughlin/The New York Times)

Opinion: Trump’s embarrassing immaturity Republicans won’t acknowledge

It was only a matter of time before President Donald Trump took action to end taxpayer funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public… Continue reading

Dick Maitland, a foley artist, works on the 46th season of “Sesame Street” at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York, Dec. 15, 2025. (Ariana McLaughlin/The New York Times)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Clean up the Tulsequah Chief Mine

The Tulsequah Chief mine in northwest British Columbia, about 30 miles upstream of Juneau, has been discharging untreated mine waste into the Taku watershed for… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, standing with Alaska Public Media President Ed Ulman, at left, accepted a “champion of public broadcasting” award in 2020 from a coalition of public television stations. Amid efforts to strip federal funding of public media, Sullivan calls NPR “overly partisan” but says he “understands that Alaska’s public radio stations are essential to our state.” (Photo courtesy of America’s Public Television Stations)

Public media is in the crosshairs. How will Alaska’s congressional delegation vote?

Should public media be spared the budget cutting axe of President Donald Trump and the congressional allies of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE?… Continue reading

Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, standing with Alaska Public Media President Ed Ulman, at left, accepted a “champion of public broadcasting” award in 2020 from a coalition of public television stations. Amid efforts to strip federal funding of public media, Sullivan calls NPR “overly partisan” but says he “understands that Alaska’s public radio stations are essential to our state.” (Photo courtesy of America’s Public Television Stations)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Some fiscal realities should be self-evident

Dear Alaska legislators: Our need for an educated, rationally informed voting majority to sustain our pursuit of justice, or “egalitarian fairness,” can only be achieved… Continue reading

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

Letter: SAVE Act would impose unreasonable barriers for people registering to vote

Retaining representative democracy requires due diligence and informed votes from all citizens possible, reasons the League of Women Voters dedicates itself to nonpartisan information on… Continue reading

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

Letter: Keep pressure up on Sen. Sullivan

On national news, Sen. Murkowski said that people should continue contacting their legislators about Trump. Trump has fired many federal workers in Juneau. The price… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Brian Lauth bags groceries at Super Bear Supermarket IGA in February of 2020 (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Sales tax exemption on food will help families that need it most

Juneau’s 5% sales tax on groceries is among the highest in the nation. Almost every other state either doesn’t tax groceries at all, or taxes… Continue reading

Brian Lauth bags groceries at Super Bear Supermarket IGA in February of 2020 (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
Demonstrators march during a May Day protest at Union Park in Chicago, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Organizers see a traditional day for labor marches as an opportunity to show growing opposition to the Trump administration’s agenda. (Jamie Kelter Davis/The New York Times)

Opinion: When fraud shows up on the Republicans’ radar

According to a report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, with cuts to Social Security and Medicare off the table, the only way to offset… Continue reading

Demonstrators march during a May Day protest at Union Park in Chicago, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Organizers see a traditional day for labor marches as an opportunity to show growing opposition to the Trump administration’s agenda. (Jamie Kelter Davis/The New York Times)
(Courtesy photo)

Opinion: Should food be taxed in Juneau?

Why have Juneau city leaders supported an extensive list of municipal sales tax exemptions over the years, but are unable to seriously consider exempting basic… Continue reading

(Courtesy photo)
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Morristown Airport in Morristown, N.J., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)

My Turn: The cost of chaos

Argentina was a 20th-century economic powerhouse, considered too modern and successful to fail. A series of incompetent government leaders and disastrous policies led to an… Continue reading

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Morristown Airport in Morristown, N.J., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Sullivan should continue support for Ukraine shown by US in past

I strongly urge Sen. Sullivan to live up to his, and our allies’ past and current support of Ukraine’s efforts to maintain its internationally recognized… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
The Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: DEI and the JAHC

Back in November 2024, following the election, I noticed that the Pride flag displayed prominently in the window of KTOO was missing. I asked our… Continue reading

The Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(City and Borough of Juneau photo)

My Turn: Even marginalized people can petition their government

In response to Win Gruening’s latest column (“Juneau taxpayers fight back”), Gruening admits that even “marginalized groups” like those of us who seek to limit… Continue reading

(City and Borough of Juneau photo)
A pro-Russian rally in Yevpatoriya, Crimea, shortly before Crimea was annexed by Russia, March 5, 2014. In Ukraine, memories of Russiaճ annexation are fresh and resentments runs high, leaving the countryճ president few choices on the latest American peace plan. (Sergey Ponomarev/The New York Times)

Opinion: The price of appeasing Trump

Early Thursday morning, Russia fired 70 missiles directly at Kyiv. And sent 70 armed drones toward the Ukrainian capital. It didn’t please President Donald Trump.… Continue reading

A pro-Russian rally in Yevpatoriya, Crimea, shortly before Crimea was annexed by Russia, March 5, 2014. In Ukraine, memories of Russiaճ annexation are fresh and resentments runs high, leaving the countryճ president few choices on the latest American peace plan. (Sergey Ponomarev/The New York Times)