Juneau Independent

In 2026, voters in Juneau will decide three Assembly seats and two state House seats. That may sound routine, but it shouldn’t be. These races will determine how seriously we confront flood risk, job creation, housing costs and the overall affordability of life in our capital city.

The recent closure of Ben Franklin after 50 years on Front Street is more than just the loss of a store; it feels like the end of an era for downtown Juneau.

According to a recently published pre-election assessment, “the prevalence of allegations of electoral fraud aimed at discrediting the process” is one of the “principal weaknesses undermining the country’s electoral ecosystem.” In particular, the president’s “preemptive attacks” on the “electoral institutions are irresponsible and risk destabilizing the country at a critical juncture.”

Similarly, the destruction of the Forest Service may not be immediately visible during this administration, but the Forest Service has a long term mission and that mission is being destroyed by people who won’t be around to feel the consequences of their actions.

The conflict which may yet become a war begs for a permanent solution. Clearly, the issue is: who has the current excess production of crude oil? And who enjoys an operable revenue stream resulting from sales of crude oil worldwide. For the last few decades Iran has enjoyed that distinction.

Little kids can’t help but play with their food. Gamblers can’t stop playing with a pair of dice or deck of cards. Cats can’t help but play with a ball of yarn. It’s the same with legislators who play around with voter-enticing talk of a fat Permanent Fund dividend.

At the end of last year's legislative session, the House unanimously passed House Bill 101, a bill that would raise the age of consent in Alaska from 16 to 18. The bill has had three hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Anchorage Democrat Matt Claman, and has sat there since. I've heard a variety of reasons for this, one being that Sen. Claman, who happens to be running for governor, would like to attach this to a larger crime bill.

In July of 2021, I spent a sleepless night tracking the second-largest earthquake in Alaska history, the 8.2 Chignik, as its energy moved across the ocean toward coastal communities.

Nothing lasts forever, particularly steel hulls floating in salt water their entire life.

In this era of intense partisan acrimony, Alaskans can be proud of our independent, apolitical judiciary. Our system of picking judges is admired nationally as a model of fairness. Now that impartiality is under attack.

I see that Rich Moniak has moved to the Juneau Independent to continue his campaign to besmirch the character of Sen. Dan Sullivan. Recently, Moniak quoted Sullivan as saying he would criticize President Trump in public if he felt the need. Moniak then offered a list of criticisms that Sullivan should have offered. It is really a list of things Moniak himself would have said if he had the platform that Sullivan has.

Just when I think the incessant snow may wane with the dawn of spring, the snow globe fires up one more time.