The recent passage of ballot measures to improve affordability in Juneau demonstrates a majority perspective that the CBJ must reduce the tax burden it places on residents.

Several years ago while living in Fairbanks, a group at the University of Alaska Fairbanks decided that some of the city's historic buildings should be restored and preserved. Motivated primarily by a knee-jerk opposition to anything coming from the university, another group made up mostly of downtown businessmen was formed — to destroy the buildings rather than see the preservationists get their way.

The Assembly should slow its budget-cutting exercise and let more facts roll in before proceeding with cuts or increasing revenue.

I was one of roughly two dozen-plus volunteers who collected signatures last summer on behalf of the Affordable Juneau Coalition. Our goal was to place three propositions on the ballot that we believed would help address the high cost of living in Juneau by: removing tax on food for all residents, capping property taxes at nine mills, and returning to the more efficient and less expensive in‑person voting method Juneau used prior to the COVID era.

In an uncharacteristic break from his party, Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, voted for an election reform bill he believes “improves the system, strengthens transparency and puts Alaska in a better position for the fights ahead.” Now he’s concerned Gov. Mike Dunleavy will listen to the bill’s “loudest” critics and veto it.

How global oil chokepoints, fragile supply chains and federal policy choices collide in Alaska’s most vulnerable communities.

The Tongass is the largest national forest in the country, and that’s no small thing to trifle with. But trifle the Trump administration is doing, treating the Tongass, the U.S. Forest Service employees who work in the Tongass and the communities that live here as not worthy of being told about their future.

In Southeast, wild foods provide a value of up to $1,691 per rural resident, on average.

In February 2025, to the shock of University of Alaska faculty, staff and students, the University of Alaska Board of Regents passed a motion that banned the use of the words “DEI,” “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion,” reversing decades of work by the universities to better serve Alaska and its diverse population.

My husband, a father and a loved community leader, Jacob Sebring, lost his fight with cancer last December. At just 43 years old, his courageous battle with Stage IV colon cancer came to an end. He should still be here. He should still be making our children laugh, building Legos with our son, holding our baby girl, and chasing our toddler through the house. He should still be beside me.

In Juneau, as we struggle to maintain our standard of living amidst competing interests and rising costs — we still find ourselves with uncontested local elections and manager-driven city policies-- policies which all too often subsidize private profit on our public dime.

Criticism is an essential element of democracy and of good government. However, in recent times, an anti-tax, anti-government movement has emerged in Juneau. Their relentless attacks on the Assembly and city staff are misguided and damaging to the town they undoubtedly love.