Stand for Salmon
Dear Editor: This letter is in response to the op-ed in the Sitka Sentinel dated Oct. 29, 2018. If the past 59 years of corporate-driven management of Southeast Alaska’s natural resources by federal and state resource management agencies are to be accepted as a road map for the future, then the evidence of their expertise must be better returns of king salmon and more herring.
Instead, today we are faced with declines that are the results of decades of myopia and greed. 2018 is a final warning: the king salmon and the herring did not come home. Yet, the State of Alaska clings to an obsolete herring model that ignores climate change and holds to the absurd position of denying that herring are forage fish (no herring, no predators). Note: six of the seven herring runs in Southeast Alaska have failed and the last one in Sitka Sound is on the brink. Rather than persist in listening to the old dogs that cannot learn new tricks, we need drastic change now. We may have run out of chances, so this is it. My wife and I, my children, and my grandchildren cannot drink oil and eat gold. Neither can you. Trying to solve today’s problems with old mistakes is neurotic and stupid. Don’t stand for stupid. Be a part of creating a better future. Stand for Salmon. Vote YES on Ballot Measure 1.
Dr. Ronald E. Dick. Sitka
Ballot Measure 1
Dear Editor: Thanks for the opportunity to weigh in on Ballot initiative one.
Let me frame my thoughts by recognizing the Seventh Generation philosophy; taking actions that benefit the future generations so that they may enjoy what you have today. I believe support of this initiative does just that.
What lead us to this upcoming vote was a process that started a while ago (2014) with a group of Alaskans requesting Board of Fish action to lobby the Legislature to update the state fish habitat permitting process. The BOF held work sessions in the 2016-2017 cycle. The outcome was a finalized recommendations via a letter to the Legislature January 2017.
I don’t know if the Legislature did anything but one outcome was House Bill 199 which was written to update Alaska’s fish habitat protection and permitting law. (2017) Legislative session. That bill died in the 2018 session. One might ask why didn’t the folks/corporations who currently oppose this initiative work to improve this bill? They could have put their shoulder to the wheel and helped pass a “compromise” bill. Instead they made sure it didn’t get much action in committee’s at all. Process be dammed!
Now the opposition is spending over $12 million to keep the status quo.
I can’t support the old adage “it can’t happen here.” Just look at developmental history in the NW. It can happen here. I want the future generations to enjoy what we have today. I support Stand for Salmon and I also support Alaska’s future.
John Murray, Sitka
Supports Galvin
Dear Editor: We had an opportunity to meet her, and Alyse Galvin is the real deal. It was refreshing and exciting to speak with a candidate who is so clearly smart, energetic, open and a person of substance and character. Having been a businesswoman and raised four children, her agenda is that of the common Alaskan, including improving educational opportunities, access to health care, and meaningful employment. She is informed, sincere, rooted and transparent. Please join us in our enthusiastic support of Alyse Galvin, the first U.S. Congresswoman of Alaska.
Bob and Kim Hunter, Sitka
Vote for JKT
Dear Editor: I moved to Sitka as an AmeriCorps volunteer four years ago, the first year of the Winter Fellows program started by Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. It didn’t take long to be awed by the sheer number of young people JKT has directly or indirectly brought to Sitka. While it is popular for politicians to lament the “brain drain” of young people leaving Alaska, JKT is one of the few seeking to actively combat the problem.
JKT’s formation the Winter Fellows program is indicative of the way I have seen him approach challenges as a legislator, looking for opportunities to advance solutions that are direct, achievable, and with an eye toward long-term progress. JKT was one of the architects of the bipartisan coalition that formed the House majority last year, a group that consistently fought for a sustainable fiscal future for Alaska, full funding for schools, and passing a State budget within the normal legislative session. Those goals are all reasonable and crucial to the long-term vitality of the state; it is no surprise to me that JKT worked relentlessly toward them.
I appreciate that JKT is working toward protecting the Permanent Fund Dividend at a sustainable level by enshrining it in our constitution. I am continuously impressed by his respect for his constituents, offering nuanced and detailed explanations of his positions and taking the time to listen carefully to criticism. I am happy to cast my vote for him and look forward to another two years of his representation.
Esther Kennedy, Sitka
U.S. House Race
Dear Editor: It is easy to get stuck in a rut, especially in politics. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is a common refrain. Well, my friends, Congress is broke and one of the main culprits is from Alaska. It is time for him to go. In his place, I’d like to see Alyse Galvin, a new face with fresh ideas for living wage jobs, health care, public education and the environment.
Alaska has many serious health care issues and some of the biggest problems are in the mental health arena such as depression, suicide and substance abuse. Alyse is advocating for more behavioral health clinicians, and more prevention and treatment programs across the state.
She recognizes that in Alaska, people need better access to these programs, and health insurance that will help pay for this care. This is personal for me, as my husband committed suicide eight months ago, and one of the contributing factors was lack of quick and easy access to mental health care in Sitka. I haven’t had the opportunity to meet Alyse yet, but I have the feeling that if I did, she would listen to my concerns, and take them to heart. In some way, we are all affected by this lack of mental health care.
If you’re tired of the same old nothing, complete with his ethics violations and lack of meaningful change in Alaskan government over the past 50 years, please join me in voting for independent candidate, Alyse Galvin, on November 6. Alaska is deserving of a change in its representation and she is deserving of our vote.
Kathy Ingallinera, Sitka
Supporting Wein
Dear Editor: I am supporting Richard Wein for candidate for House.
My family and I have know Richard Wein for many years. He has cared for my family medically with expertise and concern. He is a very caring man, in everything he does.
He is thorough, he is able to figure out solutions to problems and he works hard at everything he does. He is very educated and smart. He knows how to research any info he needs to make the best decisions in whatever he is working on. He is thoughtful in making decisions.
Richard knows how to deal with people of all cultures, with people who agree or disagree with him. He is someone who knows how to work with people with varying opinions and still retaining a good relationship.
He will not stop working on an issue until he has exhausted all options.
I believe Sitka is ready for a change in Juneau.
From my experience with Richard, he will outwork any other candidates. for him this job is number-one important to him and that is what we need for Sitka.
I ask you to consider voting for Richard Wein for a positive change for Sitka.
Nancy Blatchley Davis, Sitka
JKT a Good Fit
Dear Editor: It’s almost election time and I’m writing to express my support for Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for House District 35. As a classmate of our youngest daughter, I watched him grow up and have been impressed throughout the years with his high level of intellect, energy and motivation. JKT truly does understand the importance of collaborating, negotiating and finding common ground to get things done to benefit his constituents. He listens and contemplates options, seeking input from a variety of sources before determining a course of action.
Dr. Wein is a very kind and competent person as well, and I appreciate his support as an Assembly member towards keeping Sitka Community Hospital as its own entity. Fortunately, Dr. Wein is currently on the docket to be a liaison with SCH, which is where he can be very effective and helpful, given his medical background with both SCH and SEARHC. I truly hope Dr. Wein will finish his Assembly term to complete the important work he is doing on the Assembly for Sitka. While I respect and appreciate Dr. Wein both as a medical provider and his support for our hospital, I do NOT believe he would be a good fit representing House District 35.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins has already proven that he will do his homework, that he will work across party lines and that he will follow through with things that are important for individuals in Sitka and throughout the district he represents. I sincerely hope you will join me in voting to keep JKT as our representative for Sitka and the other communities he has so successfully served in House District 35.
Klaudia Leccese, Sitka
Tongass Roadless Rule
Dear Editor: Although the Walker administration is headed out, the governor’s attempts to gut the Tongass Roadless Rule continues. The Roadless Rule currently protects some of our most valuable old-growth areas in Southeast Alaska from taxpayer-subsided clear-cutting.
The Tongass timber industry is beginning to move to a more sustainable second growth tree harvest. Reverting back to cutting large swaths of old growth log is neither sustainable nor wise, especially when the Tongass is much more valuable left intact. Old growth forests are necessary to sustain our salmon runs and our unique way of life.
Walker’s Citizen Advisory Committee, which is tasked with coming up with options to inform the state’s approach to the Tongass-specific roadless rule, will be in Sitka Nov. 6-8.
If you are interested in a sustainable future for our fishing and visitor industries, and the social, cultural, and environmental well-being of our community, I encourage you to come to the Yaw Art Center 4-5:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 and tell Walker’s Alaska Roadless Rule Citizen Advisory Committee to keep the Tongass Roadless Rule intact.
Clarice Johnson, Sitka
Fall Carnival
Dear Editor: Heartfelt thanks to the Hames Corporation for their continued support of the family event once known as the Blatchley Kids Carnival and now refashioned as the Baranof Fall Carnival. Their donation greatly advanced Baranof’s efforts to fix the aquarium. We recognize all they do for the community.
Kudos, too, to the students of Blatchley Middle School. A crew of sixth-graders ran games, painted faces, and brought happiness to little children. Blatchley parents, your children are lovely and they do good in this world.
Many more thanks will follow because the carnival could not have happened without people like Nicole Filipek and Makalla Salter, the parent organizers who made sure prizes were won, cotton candy was spun, and the hot dogs were done!
Kari Sagel, STEPS Grant,
Sitka School District
Yes for Salmon
Dear Editor: Alaskan, commercial fisherman, and mother.
When our first son was eight weeks old, my husband and I brought him out to the winter line in Sitka Sound, commercial salmon trolling for kings. We named him Yakobi, for Yakobi island in Cross Sound, the primary fishing grounds my husband’s father started fishing in the ’70s, that we treasure so deeply, and where we continue to fish as a family. Fish runs along that coastline have filled our holds and our bellies through many trips.
The choices we make in our family, and in our small businesses is with safeguarding the future generations, and in hopes that they can continue to be a beneficiary of the grandeur of salmon. We hope to keep fishing, taking what we need and no more, and providing the world with one of the most bountiful forms of nutrition known to man, but we cannot forget our ecological dependence, and the responsibility to protect salmon birthing grounds, or our “Alaskan way of life” will be no more.
Many try to persuade us into thinking that the subject of our ecological crisis is merely a matter of politics and economics, rather than physics and ecology. Sometimes us humans must hit bottom before we wake up and really change. There is a ceiling to greed, and we are hitting it. We know enough to know that we don’t know everything, and no one knows what the future may hold. It is uncertain, and it is scary, but once we move into the acceptance of what today looks like ecologically, it can be empowering and uplifting to take one small step to protect what you love.
Vote yes for salmon. Vote yes for having a future to fight for.
Iris Nash, Sitka
