Dear Editor: As a member of the Sitka Peace and Justice group, I wish to express my thanks to the Sitka Elks Club for carrying the U.S. flag through town. When we became aware that both parades were occurring at the same time, we planned our route to not interfere.
The Peace and Justice group honors the tradition of Flag Day and we believe that the U.S. flag is a representation of our country and deserves respect. It is certainly my personal belief that the flag should not be desecrated with images of any individual superimposed on the American flag.
The “No Kings” rally in Sitka this Saturday was enormously successful with 379 people counted marching from the roundabout to the Crescent Harbor net shed where we heard a great rendition of King George III’s, “You’ll Be Back.” This song from Hamilton depicts the story of mad King George III’s belief that a King is necessary for the U.S. Harvey Brandt spoke to the difference between President Washington who declined to run again for the good of the Republic and who warned of the need for separation of powers, as compared to our current administration’s attempts to consolidate all power under the Executive Branch.
A list of executive cuts containing just some of the current administrative actions affecting Sitka was read aloud. I think it is important that we realize that these actions affect each of us so I’ll repeat it here.
Americorps – local program has been cut.
Sitka Schools are affected by the cutting of AFS and Americorps as well as SNAP.
U.S. Forest Service – local positions were cut, and a direction change toward resource extraction was instituted. Large swaths of land near Sitka will be forced to be sold for resources.
Sitka National Historical Park – local position cuts including Tribal Liaison.
AMSEA lost over 80% of funding through NIOAH cuts. This makes it difficult to provide the programs that fishermen are required to complete.
NOAA has lost funding that impacts weather reports, emergency notifications, and fisheries data.
Snake River Restoration programs have been cut that directly affect salmon recovery programs benefiting local fishermen.
Sitka Sound Science Center has lost funding and staff affecting programs locally.
ICE raids and cuts in work visa labor may hurt our local seafood industry.
Cuts to the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, cuts to the University of Alaska, cuts to the library including the AK Digital Library and inter-library loan programs.
Cuts to NPR and Public Broadcasting Service, vital sources of information for S.E. Alaskans.
Cuts to National Endowment for the Arts cut the Sheldon Jackson Museum Artist-in-Residence Program.
Electrification rebates and tax credits for electric vehicles.
SNAP cuts benefit to local children and may cut school lunch programs. Tlingit and Haida pause Native food disbursement program.
And there are more cuts and executive orders planned! These cuts will hurt individuals and will have a negative impact on the local economy. Please call your representatives and let them know your concerns. They need to hear that people are angry about what is happening to our government.
Nick Begich, 202-225-5765; Sen. Lisa Murkowski, 202-224-5301; Sen. Dan Sullivan, 202-224-3004.
TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH – the richest 0.1 percent have increased their wealth significantly in the recent past. The proposed Republican budget bill continues this trend. The biggest winners are people in the top 10% of household income, earning an average of $692,000 a year. On average, they’d see annual savings of about $12,000. In contrast, for families making less than about $55,000 a year, the cutbacks in government benefits outweigh any tax savings, leaving them with a net loss. Tell our representatives we want to see tax increases for the rich.
Vote, call representatives, get active! Make your voice heard! Use music, theater, art! Join Sitkans for Peace and Justice email list to find out about local actions.
We encourage everyone to call or write their representatives on a regular basis. It is critical that they know where you stand. RESULTS, Sitka Conservation Society, and Sitkans for Peace and Justice shared information about effective ways to contact your representatives and some of the actions that need our attention.
We can do this.
Pat Kehoe, Sitka
