Personal Attacks
Dear Editor: We would like to express our disappointment at the negative and unprofessional personal attacks that have been directed toward Sitka School District’s leadership and staff.
We teach and expect our students not to bully others and to treat each other with respect, and we ask our community to help us promote these ideals. The recent attacks and criticisms strike at the heart of what is one of the strengths of a Sitka education: we are united as a team working toward the common goal of providing the best possible education for our students. Our team includes families, the School Board, district administration, teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff.
These recent unfair attacks are insulting and hurtful, and they undermine the respectful environment we strive to cultivate in our schools. How we educate our children is one of the most important decisions a community can make. Fortunately, there are many appropriate avenues for open and respectful discussion and debate in the public process. Let’s stop the public bullying and get on with educating Sitka’s children together.
Mikolas Bekeris, President,
Sitka Education Association
Cherie Creek, President,
Sitka Education
Support Professionals
Senior Citizens Targeted
Dear Editor: A history of City of Sitka policies that favored deferred maintenance and spending on new capital projects has put us in a most undesirable fiscal position. Apparently, the good old boys during the good old days were all grasshoppers instead of ants. So far, their legacy persists even in the face of their failures and the recent reduction in state and federal subsidies.
Since we moved here, Sitka has never actually lived within its means, and there is no indication that is going to change. The Kettleson library and Centennial building expansions are just another example of “improvements” that will entail increased burdens on the taxpayer to operate and maintain. This, unlike in the past, is occurring in a fiscal environment that makes it difficult, if not impossible, to operate and maintain what we already have.
So far, the only solutions offered to solve Sitka’s fiscal crisis offered by the Assembly and the City staff is to raise revenue. “Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead.” Tax and spend.
Allow me to suggest that the City of Sitka does what every citizen of Sitka does when there are fiscal downturns; live within their means. Sitka citizens do not have a means to compel others to let them pick their pockets every time they experience a shortfall. Taxpayers have to adapt and cut back, and they will because they have no other alternative. The Assembly and City staff need to keep this in mind when they make their assumptions (i.e., changes in behavior must be factored in to the algorithm) about how much they will actually “increase revenues” when they raise taxes (see Laffer Curve).
It is interesting that the politicians and bureaucrats chose the most vulnerable, most disenfranchised, and least able to bear the burden to target first, senior citizens. It is not only unconscionable to treat our elders this way (many of whom are living on or around the margin), and it won’t come close to increasing revenues estimated by “replacing the senior sales tax exemption with a rebate system capped at $400 for individuals Note: What criteria were used to calculate the rebate of $400 (6 percent of $6,666.66 in local purchases), with an estimated $478,000 increase in revenue.” If this estimate is based on how much more revenues the bureaucrats believe will be gained, then they don’t realize that many senior citizens are living on the margin and don’t have the capacity to absorb a 6 percent increase in expenses.
These citizens will be forced to seek and find alternatives to buying locally, with loyalty to community businesses notwithstanding. Fortunately for senior citizens, there are options, many of which are already being used (e.g., coops, buying groups, gardening, subsistence, and online shopping. However, it is not so fortunate for Sitka businesses who will watch us turn our backs on buying locally and making our purchases online (free shipping and no tax). Most Sitkans want to be loyal to Sitka businesses, but many just won’t be able to afford it. Speaking of local Sitka businesses, the raise in the sales tax cap simply pressures more customers to patronize outside sellers. So, the first two ideas proposed to raise $1 million for Sitka schools targets elders and local businesses, both of which will hurt more than help, and both of which ignore making cuts first and taxing as a last resort.
I am loathe to criticize without also offering an alternative. So, I suggest that all management level city staff set an example and take a 6 percent cut in pay immediately.
Dr. Ronald E. Dick, Sitka
Ticket Donation
Dear Editor: Many thanks to the Sitka Fine Arts Camp for donating tickets for Mt. Edgecumbe High School students to attend the Nicholas King piano concert. Everyone was spellbound by the music, and students took selfies with the performer after the show! Thanks so much for a special evening.
Allison Sayer for the
MEHS staff and students
Thank You, Chris
Dear Editor: Chris Brewton, thank you for your leadership at Sitka’s Electric Department.
I don’t recall a construction project completed in Alaska over the past 40 years that was managed better than your work with Blue Lake.
It is a very complex task to completely renovate a major utility while simultaneously keeping its customers in service.
Best of luck in your retirement.
Hugh Bevan, Sitka
