Opinion

A drone image shows widespread flooding in the Mendenhall Valley on Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)

Opinion: Juneau’s flood is a wake-up call from Mother Nature

Last week’s sudden catastrophic flooding of the Mendenhall River is one of the worst disasters in Juneau’s history. The 1917 Treadwell Mine cave-in and the… Continue reading

A drone image shows widespread flooding in the Mendenhall Valley on Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)
(City and Borough of Juneau photo)

My Turn: Saying goodbye to Juneau after 35 years

I never thought I’d leave. Then came grandchildren. In Portland. Even so, I was adamant. Juneau was home, the place I would be buried. I… Continue reading

(City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Voters in Juneau come out of the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall voting location on Nov. 8, 2022. (Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)

Opinion: Open primaries, ranked choice voting offer advantages to Alaskans

Ranked choice voting elections have been advancing and retreating since first developed in Denmark in the 1850s. The method was explored in Australia, Ireland, and,… Continue reading

Voters in Juneau come out of the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall voting location on Nov. 8, 2022. (Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Kicked out in a housing crisis

Would you believe that in Juneau, a town with a housing problem so tight it makes a sardine can look like a Wyoming golf course,… Continue reading

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

Letter: Peltola offers patient tolerance amidst the partisanship of the Lower 48,

Mary Peltola has been courageous as our congressional proxy, dedicating her whole self to facilitating our civil pursuit of personal fulfillment — sanctioning the highest… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: It’s time to secure Alaska’s economic future

Alaska is at a pivotal time in our state’s strategic decisions. We have the opportunity to pave the way for prosperity and secure Alaska’s economic… Continue reading

(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Coast Guardsmen march in the Juneau Fourth of July parade on July 4, 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: The ideas and places that make America

After a week of enjoying Colorado’s sunshine, and tolerating its intense dry heat, it’s good to be back in the cool, moist air of our… Continue reading

Coast Guardsmen march in the Juneau Fourth of July parade on July 4, 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire file photo)
The City and Borough of Juneau Ballot Processing Center. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Opinion: Elections, like sports, are healthier with robust competition

The City and Borough of Juneau Election Toolkit provides insightful encouragement to prospective candidates for our local elections: “Whatever the office, our public institutions are… Continue reading

The City and Borough of Juneau Ballot Processing Center. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
A voter sits behind a privacy screen while filling out a ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal election. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Juneau, like U.S., also needs new leadership at the top of the ticket

The decision by President Joe Biden to remove himself from the current presidential election was momentous. The decision was based on reality and overdue from… Continue reading

A voter sits behind a privacy screen while filling out a ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal election. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Setting an example for dealing with dumping items in public places

A big thank you to Skookum Recycling of Juneau, and Ruby. After months of driving back and forth past an old dishwasher that someone dumped… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
A memorial on Front Street for Steven Kissack on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: A ‘homeless’ man’s death, charity and justice

Steven Kissack’s presence with his dog Juno in downtown Juneau gave a face and a name to homelessness. Unhoused, though, is more appropriate here: Steve’s… Continue reading

A memorial on Front Street for Steven Kissack on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
A return envelope for the 2022 special primary election in Alaska. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Repealing ranked choice voting a chance to restore fair play and transparent government

I usually ignore Rich Moniak’s excursions into misdirection, although most are written well enough to seem logically convincing to the unwary. His July 12 column… Continue reading

A return envelope for the 2022 special primary election in Alaska. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juno, a dog who belonged to Steven Kissack, watches after her owner was fatally shot by police Monday in downtown Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Juno’s howling downtown will be missed, more help needed for people like her owner

My family and I moved to Juneau this April for a refreshing, peaceful new way of living, away from big city life. Ironically, I work… Continue reading

Juno, a dog who belonged to Steven Kissack, watches after her owner was fatally shot by police Monday in downtown Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Dancers rehearsed in front of “Tahku,” the whale sculpture ahead of the Climate Fair for a Cool Planet in 2021. (Courtesy of Mike Tobin)

My Turn: Thank the cool, rainy heavens we live in Juneau

Thank heavens we don’t live in Houston, oil capital of the U.S., where the remnants of Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane to ever form… Continue reading

Dancers rehearsed in front of “Tahku,” the whale sculpture ahead of the Climate Fair for a Cool Planet in 2021. (Courtesy of Mike Tobin)
Gov. Bill Walker, left, and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott are seen at their 2014 inauguration in Centennial Hall. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: The election fantasy of a hopeful fool

“We have an opportunity now to lower the volume of this race,” Elliot Ackerman wrote in the Atlantic a few days after an assassin’s bullet… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker, left, and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott are seen at their 2014 inauguration in Centennial Hall. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Full investigation by city into Steven Kissack’s death is needed

The CBJ must conduct a thorough and public investigation into the fatal shooting of Steven Kissack. I was not present and did not witness the… Continue reading

A sign on the Douglas Highway advertises a home for sale on Thursday, June 2, 2022. Home prices in Alaska have been increasing for the past two years but an expected increase to interest rates might cool off the market. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Juneau’s high cost of living persists, let’s connect the dots

Alaska’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL) released its annual Cost of Living survey this month. Contained in the July issue of Alaska Economic… Continue reading

A sign on the Douglas Highway advertises a home for sale on Thursday, June 2, 2022. Home prices in Alaska have been increasing for the past two years but an expected increase to interest rates might cool off the market. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Selling our souls to the cruise ships

Returning to Juneau after a five-year hiatus, I am stunned to witness the changes brought on by mega floating tourist movers, the cruise ships. Previous… Continue reading

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

Letter: Calm down the rage from national events with local actions

Most of us have heard the term “Act locally, think globally.” With all the political rhetoric and anger being expressed, here is what we can… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
An array of stickers awaits voters on Election Day 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: The case for keeping the parties from controlling our elections

Next month Alaskans will participate in the second open primary under the ranked-choice system approved by voters in 2020. Groups calling them themselves Alaskans for… Continue reading

An array of stickers awaits voters on Election Day 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)