I am writing this letter to express my disgust at the bombardment of political ads, specifically those on TV, that are aired multiple times each hour. Every hour. 24 hours a day. For months on end. Months prior to the primary and continuing on until the general election.

Because of a projected a loss of revenue from voter-approved initiatives to reduce or cap sales and property tax revenue, this year the Assembly evaluated numerous options to find other sources of funding, including what we believe to be illegal transfers of money from two of the city’s “enterprise funds” to cover general government operating expenses. These transfers should be reversed and future transfers discontinued.

Back in the spring, the city was bracing for a difficult budget year. New food and utility tax exemptions were phasing in, and the forecast was revised sharply downward, from a budgeted $70.1 million to a projected $61 million. That kind of drop naturally raises concerns, and fueled calls for additional taxes that will appear on this October’s ballot.

Our community recently experienced the preventable tragedy of the suicides of two teenagers. Teenagers who were loved, and still felt alone enough to take their own lives. It didn’t have to be this way.

Rank choice voting is a system we need.

Hydrologists with knowledge of Mendenhall Lake volumes could calculate how much water would need to be removed to create enough of a buffer to prevent damaging floodwaters from entering the Mendenhall River.

During our 80 years in Alaska, we have seen many territorial senators and U.S. senators represent Alaska. Gruening, Stevens and lately Murkowski have seemed to understand their job was to do what was best for the country while looking out for the unique needs of Alaska.

During a candidate forum last week, Sen. Dan Sullivan repeatedly tried to portray Democrat Mary Peltola as beholden to “far-left politicians who for decades have worked to crush our state.”

The term “disaster tourist” has come into our language lately, used pejoratively. I understand why the term is being used, though I wish it were not thrown around so casually: There is no excuse for invading someone’s home territory that is under threat just to see what is happening.

I believe in markets. I believe in competition. And I believe a business should be able to stand on its own two feet.

President Donald Trump has a lot of irresponsible ideas: Igniting a trade war with Canada because I figure he never liked hockey; declaring that Lake Ontario should forever more be called Lake America because it’s easier to spell; and taking much of Venezuela’s oil because no one can stop him and he loves the idea of the U.S. government owning shares in private businesses.

When you are considering who and how your government is supporting life in Juneau, reread this list. The competition pales by comparison.