Assembly Appointment
Dear Editor: I am appalled by the Sitka Assembly. In the past, your ideology and leanings have not been part of the discussion as to whether you should be on a commission. Yes – do you qualify? Yes – do you represent? Yes – will you support thoughtful discussion? As long as you are qualified and are willing to listen, participate, represent, and not be disruptive or violent, I think everyone should be selected for commissions. Does that mean that a Ben Hughey or a Marshall Albertson should be equally allowed to be on a commission? It does if they are qualified and are willing to listen, participate, represent, and not be disruptive or violent. The point is to provide representative input to the Assembly ... now, they will not get that.
Backing up a little, we are not talking about a violent extremist in the case of Ben Hughey. If you listened to the Sept. 8 Assembly meeting closely, you heard that Ben was calm, thoughtful, and interested in finding solutions. If they won’t appoint a well-educated, thoughtful, qualified person like Ben to the Police and Fire Commission because he has publicly stated his concerns and thoughts about police violence, then what is next?
Will they only appoint people who don’t wear masks to the Health Needs Commission? Will they only appoint book burners to the Library Commission?
I would say that the Assembly itself divides the community when they decide to only put people that lean their way onto the commissions. I am upset because the Assembly has set a precedent where every single one of us – no matter what is important to you – can be precluded from volunteering on a city-sponsored commission because of what we think and care about. Imagine it ... depending on the make up of the Assembly they may now say ... well I saw that you commented on x, therefore, I don’t think you are appropriate. I keep wondering ... isn’t that thoughtcrime? Differing opinions can be valuable. They force you to consider opinions, beliefs, ideas different than your own – and sometimes help you to come up with a better – and shared – solution.
But letting elected officials decide whose beliefs are right and whose are wrong, that is not their role. I don’t want to see them continue to decide whose values are represented and whose are not. Depending on the make-up of the Assembly, this precedent means that your values, my values, anyone’s values could be decided against in the future. We need everyone represented, not just those that the Assembly thinks are “right.”
Where does it end? I HOPE it ends with the upcoming election.
Michelle Putz, Sitka
Thank You, Ted
Dear Editor: The Greater Sitka Arts Council would like to recognize Ted Howard for his service on the GSAC Board for over 10 years. Though he is stepping down from the board, he will remain an emeritus board member due to his history of service in the arts in Sitka.
Ted Howard is a talented musician who has been involved in music most of his life. Inspired by the Beatles, he switched from trombone to guitar in middle school. He performed with a friend through high school, and then went on to perform with his wife (she plays the bass and piano) playing bluegrass. He, his wife, and his middle school friend had a country western band in Montana, and his band Belly Meat has delighted crowds in Sitka and in Alaska for over 20 years. He and his wife organized a contra dance band the lasted for 25 years. It was a no-audition, no-cut band that had over 100 people playing in it over the years.
His music and life path took him from the concrete jungles of Detroit to Montana, before moving to Metlakatla and then to Sitka. He worked in special education and community mental health and taught U.S. government at Sitka High School before retiring from the school district in Sitka. Through all his travels, he taught guitar lessons, performed, and fostered opportunities for musicians to connect.
In Sitka, he became involved in Sitka Folk over 25 years ago doing sound work on the shows. He started working with Jeff Budd to put on the Monthly Grind, and saw a need for developing musicians to get into the scene. He started Open Mic as a way to promote local musicians and create a space for emerging musicians to perform. He joined the Greater Sitka Arts Council as a representative of the Monthly Grind, and served for over 10 years.
What is next for Ted? When COVID shut down open mic, Ted was inspired to move it online. The virtual open mic has inspired over 160 posts from musicians singing and sharing music. To find these posts, search for “Sitka Folk Virtual OpenMic.” There are some opportunities for musicians to play outside in a covered area at the Beak restaurant with safe distancing.
Ted is working on safe ways to offer music lessons, as he enjoys working with adult learners and hopes to continue teaching guitar. Ted enjoys playing and sharing softer music to the rock and roll dance music he used to play. He looks forward to more jams, open mics, and connecting musicians. He loves living in Sitka, and feels it is a great place to live and be involved in the arts.
Thank you, Ted, for sharing your passion and talents with us here in Sitka! The Greater Sitka Arts Council thanks you for your service and your continued influence and presence supporting the arts.
Rain Van Den Berg for the
Greater Sitka Arts Council
Dispute
Dear Editor: I listened to the Sitka Assembly meeting Tuesday night, Sept. 8, and was greatly disappointed by the Assembly’s rejection of Ben Hughey’s application to serve on the Sitka Police and Fire Commission.
Ben is a young, lifelong Sitka resident who wants to serve his community. His father, Randy, currently serves on the Planning Commission, so Ben is familiar with the way commissions work in Sitka.
The main reason given for Ben’s rejection is because he has made social media posts advocating for police reforms. The Police and Fire Commission is the perfect place to discuss reforms and accountability, and right now the Sitka Police Department needs it.
In recent years the City of Sitka has settled four to five lawsuits for at least $2 million combined for a variety of police misconduct incidents, including tasing a Mt. Edgecumbe High School student and a recent sexual harassment settlement (for nearly $600,000). Imagine what our city could have done with this money if we weren’t having to pay off these settlements.
In light of the recent lawsuits, maybe it’s time to not have only-yes folks on the commission. This group needs to explore reforms, and having a voice like Ben’s on the commission may be a good thing. He wants to work within the system, which we should encourage.
To the three Assembly members who voted to approve Ben’s appointment to the commission, I thank you. To the four who opposed his appointment, please reconsider your votes because our city needs diverse opinions on our commissions. There are a lot of people in Sitka with similar sentiments as Ben’s, and I think he would be a good choice to serve.
Charles Bingham, Sitka
