Political Signs
Dear Editor: I am really disappointed to see that someone is deliberately uprooting campaign signs for the Republican State House candidate from private property around town and leaving the signs face down on the ground. I sure hope that the leaders of the opposition party will put the word out to their supporters that tampering with campaign materials is inappropriate and unethical behavior.
The Sitka Police Department has already been notified that this is happening. If anyone should witness someone taking signs out of the ground, or destroying them, please let the SPD know. A lot of people in Sitka fought for the right to express themselves and for the rights of others to freely express themselves in this country, especially Sheila’s husband. It’s sad to see that everyone doesn’t agree that free and open campaigns lead us to valid elections.
Ann L. Bills, Sitka
Library Donation
Dear Editor: Sitka Public Library has much to be grateful for, but the works from local artisans that are displayed here receive constant notice and praise from our patrons and visitors.
The most recent addition to our space is a black and white painting on canvas, created and donated by Cara Murray. This beautiful piece hangs in our children’s area, and we are tremendously thankful for Cara’s generous efforts on behalf of our library and community. We invite everyone to stop by and see Ms. Murray’s work, as well as all the other wonderful artistic contributions that grace our new facility. Regular operating hours at the library are from 10 a.m. through 8 p.m. on weekdays, and from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturdays.
Robb Farmer, Director,
Sitka Public Library
Public Radio
Dear Editor: Public radio is an integral part of life in Sitka and Southeast Alaska. The services our community radio station provides are vast. From broadcasts of Assembly meetings, international to local news, community calendar updates and outstanding local and national programing – KCAW, Raven Radio is a Sitka institution.
I would like to thank my friends and neighbors who continue to support our amazing community radio station, especially given recent budget cuts. I would also like to highlight our very own Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins’ support in securing funding these last two fiscal years through Constitutional Budget Reserve negotiations. He helped to reverse otherwise crippling budget cuts that would have potentially shut down the operations of several public radio stations around Alaska, and could have severely crippled the Raven Radio we know and love.
KCAW offers a practical soundtrack to Southeast Alaskans’ lives, from the Fairweather fishing grounds to the shores of Yakutat, and even from the computer sitting on my desk in California. I rely on our station and appreciate the sense of community behind Raven Radio broadcasts. I encourage Sitka to rally around our unique radio station and support those who support this important media.
Taylor White, Sitka
Proposition 1
Dear Editor: OK, so the band wagons are going down the street and it is time for the voters to pick a wagon and jump on. This Proposition 1 is for sure the biggest local wagon and I am afraid there are some memory cells that need bringing to the surface so we can vote what best serves our community. First of all I do believe in taxes and the Bible even tells us to pay them so I do, BUT the rest of the story is we don’t need to increase them by 33 percent for a government that hasn’t gotten a clean audit in three. Do you realize that we are paying interest on $5 million for the next 20 years that we didn’t even need and now it just sits because we can’t use it (it was for the dam project.) Think about it – interest for 20 years on $5 million.
Every year we as a city are required to have an audit done by an independent auditor. This is a good thing and it helps to keep governments honest. Well, here is the problem with ours, it has shown mistakes, not just for one year but for at least three in a row. Now I have heard the rumor that it was the fault of an employee who is now gone. That might have worked the first year, but after that it would be then up to that person’s supervisor and after that the administration should be stepping in to make sure the corrections are made. So here they are asking for more money from us when the money they have is not reported correctly. Our utility (water, sewer and garbage) rates have had to increase over the years to “pay for our services,” but really, in 2004, they were $40, in 2015 they were $ 92.03, that is over doubled in 10 years. I know my wages didn’t do that, did yours?
I do so get that we need to pay for our services. I spent over 20 years helping to collect money for those services and way more than that, paying for services, BUT why is it that when they want more money the first thing we hear is police and fire? How about all administrative staff who are earning more than the average voter will have to take a cut it pay.
My thought would be that if they can budget $44,000 to promote the tax increase, they can find other funds .
Would I ever vote for a tax increase? Absolutely, but it would not be this 33 percent at a time when our financial stability depends on more than just “more money from the public.” Do I support the future of Sitka? Absolutely. I just don’t believe in throwing away money. Let’s get things in order, and then ask for maybe a 1 mill increase.
Marjorie Parmelee, Sitka
