Voices

A vision for our city

Alaska is changing quickly, and the world is moving even faster. Many Alaskans worry that if our communities do not plan ahead, we could slowly fall behind places that are growing, modernizing, and creating new opportunities. Juneau feels this more than most. It is surrounded by steep mountains, ocean, and the vast Tongass, which makes it one of the most beautiful and rugged capital cities anywhere. But this same landscape limits the city's options for keeping pace with the n

20 hours ago3 min read

Assembly should vote no on ranked choice for local elections

I urge you to reject Ordinance 2025-13(c). Please do not inflict ranked choice voting (RCV) on the Juneau voters.

2 days ago1 min read

Don’t bet on Sullivan doing the right thing

Last week, Sen. Dan Sullivan called the longest government shutdown in history the most unnecessary and useless one he’s ever seen. He argued Senate Democrats needed to do “the right thing” and “show a tiny bit of courage” by standing up to their minority leader.

3 days ago3 min read

Helping people without housing involves challenges and changes beyond the approach of winter

I think that it is important to point out what the Glory Hall has been accomplishing, despite the temporary changes to our services, which began at the end of August.

5 days ago2 min read

Candidates should pay a penalty for false promises

I don’t want to be unreasonable. Candidates and public officials should be allowed to raise unlimited funds from donors to pay the fines. It’s simply adding to the cost of their free speech when it’s dishonest speech.

5 days ago3 min read

Local knowledge, real impact

You've always had a seat at the table — why not pull up a chair? If you haven't tuned in to an Assembly meeting lately, now's a perfect time to take a look.

6 days ago2 min read

A balanced budget and a balanced perspective: What Juneau’s ‘deficit’ panic reveals

Juneau’s finances are not in crisis. They require discipline, clarity, and a renewed commitment to honest fiscal stewardship. The path forward isn’t to raise taxes — it’s to right-size spending and rebuild confidence in the numbers that guide our decisions.

6 days ago4 min read

Juneau’s election reflects voters’ frustration with costs

The election only reduced the property tax rate by 0.16 mills (10.24 to 10.08). That’s $80 off a $5,120 tax bill on a $500,000 home. No reasonable person would consider this 1.56% reduction significant.

Nov 93 min read

Respect and empathy — two words rising from recent events

Respect is the first word that emerges for me when looking back at the 7 million plus Americans that peacefully protested in the No Kings rally on Oct. 18.

Nov 93 min read

DOT’s fake analysis of the Cascade Point project

In his cover letter attached to the “Analysis of the Proposed Cascade Point Ferry Terminal” Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT) Commissioner Ryan Anderson encouraged “all Alaskans — especially residents of Juneau and the North Lynn Canal communities, to review the findings in full and engage with us in follow-up discussions.”

Nov 73 min read

What did it cost?

As I muse on my disappointment over the recent local election, I find myself wondering, “What did that cost?” What was the cost of the campaign to convince Juneau voters to implement a lower property tax mill rate cap? What was the cost to the backers of this mill rate cap to lower their own property taxes?

Nov 64 min read