Connections
Dear Editor: Alaskans who have been following the developments at Standing Rock may be interested to know that Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski has a special connection to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Despite the flurry of legislation and rapidly-changing legal precedents surrounding campaign finance, the Federal Election Commission remarkably still enforces the disclosure of campaign financial reports.
According to a report by the Center for Responsive Politics, in a particularly lucrative joint fundraising collaborative the Murkowski Upton Victory Committee raised $189,800, the largest donation coming from Energy Transfer Partners, the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline. Suffice to say it was a large enough donation to throw it in the top five donor category of the campaign, along with a host of other oil and gas industries, as well as one of the world’s most infamous vulture funds, Elliott Management. Murkowski raised over $6 million in her most recent campaign, 2% of which came from small individual campaign contributions.
Even more impressive is Dan Sullivan’s campaign fundraising ability, receiving over $8 million from Koch Industries, Goldman Sachs, and Elliott Management, along with a host of other noteworthy organizations through PACS. Watching the campaign ads this fall, it seems Sullivan truly championed the working Alaskan cause with 5% of his campaign coming from small individual contributions.
One is left asking how any grassroots political campaign in this state stands a chance against corporate-sponsored puppets.
Ben Timby, Sitka
Driving Safety
Dear Editor: It offends me to see the new assemblymen mull through the distracted driver nonsense again. Especially so, as they cite bicycle safety as their premise for doing so.
When I complain to SPD about especially bad nights of unlit bicycles, I get a patronizing response that there will be a public announcement from the hospital information office. They then post public statements claiming victory over distracted drivers, citing all manner of claims about safety and statistics. But the view from the trenches remains the same. In October, alone, two cyclists were struck by motorists. Because they’ve never cited an unlit cyclist driving at night on the city streets of Sitka. The streets are poorly lit as well.
Many crosswalks are not accompanied by a street lamp. The worst intersections are among them. Is it too simple to suggest moving the cross walks to the side of the street where the street lamps are? I’m tired of hearing the bike friendly community’s statements promoting winter cycling. How about promoting common sense. Put a light on your bike, or get a ticket.
Sig Grutter
