SMC Road Project
Dear Editor: I’m getting awfully tired of reading all sorts of nonsense about the glorious Autobahn they turned Sawmill Creek Road into. (Hugh Beven’s letter, Sept. 29).
To be sure, the road was in need of repaving. But, the scope of the project morphed into one of the biggest boondoggles of our time. The scale of the project would fit right in on a freeway, like, Interstate 5. Serving millions of people. But, it’s an amazing overkill for a road to nowhere, in a town with a population of 9,000 people.
Straightening the turns was an imaginative way to run up the cost. That will surely cut 45-60 seconds off a trip to the industrial park. What we have is a $19 million bike path, in an area where the whole road is a bike path nine months out of the year.
The Sawmill Autobahn remains a monument to political stupidity. It was a colossal waste of public resources, that should have been directed to genuine public needs. Shame on everyone involved in wasting public monies on such a grand scale.
Sigurd D. Rutter, Sitka
JKT Support
Dear Editor: The United Fishermen of Alaska’s motto is “I vote fish.” I’m a commercial fisherman, I vote fish, and I’m voting to re-elect Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.
JKT has been one of the Legislature’s most active members on fisheries, and he is a steadfast supporter of the Southeast fishing fleet.
He was on the front lines during the Board of Fish confirmation vote for Vince Webster. He has good relationships with the agencies – NMFS and ADF&G. He knows a bad and overzealous regulation when he sees one. He puts in the time and energy to understand the issues, which in fisheries is no small thing. And he actually knows what it’s like to be on the back deck of a troller.
Rep. JKT has the endorsement of UFA, and it’s no surprise. He’s got my vote too.
Charlie Wilber, F/V Alexa K
Samuelson Support
Dear Editor: I am casting my vote in November for Steven Samuelson. He is a good friend. He was raised in Petersburg and grew up commercial fishing, captained an Allen Marine Tours vessel in the visitor industry, and helps manage a grocery business today.
Most of you know me as a high school basketball referee of some 30 years. I work hard to be a fair, even-playing field person for the kids. I served on the Sitka Assembly for six years when the mill had closed. I believe I am fair and I also believe I have a good sense for what we need as local communities when it comes to state government representation. Like many of you, I remain a registered “Undeclared, Independent.”
The most important role your representative plays is in discussions, meetings, development of, amendments to, the state’s operating budget and the state’s capital budget. As re-districting revises our district yet again, as city budgets struggle to do what is needed, as both state budgets get tighter, as the federal budgets get leaner, it is critical for us to “be in the room” when the budgets are being developed, (not when they get to the floor). The budget dictates how much money we get for schools, for local support, for state programs, for any state funds for local government infrastructure.
Sitka lost out on $40-$50 million in a hoped-for state grant for its dam, because we were not “in the room” helping ensure the district’s needs were protected. A monthly reminder of that lost funding source is in the increased utility bill Sitkans get.
Steven Samuelson will be “in the room” as a member of the House majority and will have an ability to help the district by having a say in the operating budget and help Senator Stedman’s efforts on the Senate budget processes. His friendship and already established working relationship with Senator Stedman will also be a key relationship for all of us.
As a private businessman, he has shown his willingness to learn the processes of state legislating over the last six years, being involved within the region and in Juneau. I believe his nearly two decades of work experience and business sense will be a valuable asset for the district in Juneau.
Please join me in supporting a good friend and a strong representative for the district – Steven Samuelson.
Keith Perkins, Sitka
Voting for JKT
Dear Editor: Hmmm? I read the interview with Mr. Samuelson in the Daily Sitka Sentinel the other evening and must say I am more than a bit concerned with his idea that we need to vote for him because he represents the majority.
I think the biggest thing wrong with this state and the country is the unbridled partisanship – and what we need is a person like Mr. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, who is going to look out for all of his district and represent them for what is best for all – not his party. My vote goes to JKT. Thank you.
Jeff Budd, Sitka
Child Safety Doc Talk
Dear Editor: The leading cause of death of children under the age of 19 is unintentional injury. Every day more than 20 children die from unintentional injury, which amounts to around 9,000 deaths a year, the equivalent of more than 150 school busloads of kids – as Dr. David Vastola pointed out Wednesday evening during the weekly Doc Talk held at the Hames Center.
For every child who dies from an unintentional injury, 1,000 more receive medical attention, costing American families more than $87 billion. And for whatever reason, these rates are higher in Alaska than in most other states.
Dr. Vastola – a practicing pediatrician here in Sitka – told us that in most cases we shouldn’t dismiss these injuries and fatalities as ‘‘accidents.’’ Most deaths from unintentional injuries are preventable. Dr. Vastola spent a majority of his talk highlighting actions parents can take to make their kids safer – covering everything from types of cribs to avoid to proper helmet usage.
I walked away from Dr. Vastola’s talk with a much broader understanding of what it means to take ownership over a child’s health. I’m sure most parents are already aware of the risks facing children. But considering how many kids die from preventable injuries, it seems like we can do more. For detailed information, the CDC has published a report called “Protect the Ones You Love: Child Injuries are Preventable,” with child safety tips.
Thank you, Dr. Vastola, for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience with us on Wednesday – and thank you to all of the doctors who have made these first five Doc Talks so engaging. Thank you to all of the parents who came to hear Dr. Vastola speak on Wednesday.
Ira Slomski-Pritz, Sitka
