Grassroots Advocacy
Dear Editor: Two weeks ago, 120 Sitkans exercised their right to participate in local government by gathering before the city Assembly to ask for full school funding. Testimony was constructive, orderly and civil. The city clerk was notified in advance of a large turnout so that Persons to be Heard could proceed as efficiently as possible, and those who spoke complied with the Assembly’s request for a one-minute time limit.
Assembly members past and present have asked for increased community engagement. To shame citizens that do bring their concerns forward is disrespectful to both the public and the public process. Instead, we should be celebrating such efforts.
You can’t fake the kind of deep belief in education we witnessed on April 25, nor can its expression be orchestrated by a single person, regardless of position or influence. A grassroots effort is a powerful thing.
Thank you to Assembly members who took the public’s authentic call for full school funding under consideration and to the majority who ultimately voted for what we know to be true—that high quality education is the key to our town’s social and economic prosperity.
Beth Short-Rhoads,
Stephen Courtright, Kate Johnson,
Emily Demmert, Ariel Starbuck,
Pat Heuer, Bridget Hitchcock,
Families for Schools
Global Warming
Dear Editor: Letters from Dr. Kay Kreiss and CODE were both in the April 26 Sentinel under ‘‘Dear Editor.’’
We will need EVERYONE working together to accomplish the changing of the course of global warming.
Please help as you can.
Pauline Fredrickson,
Lifelong Sitkan, almost 90
