Juneau Independent

Recently, current and former members of the Juneau Assembly have spoken out against the two “affordability” ballot measures on the October ballot. It’s no surprise — they helped shape the policies and priorities that paved the way for Juneau’s growing unaffordability.  

It started the way many community movements do — neighbors gathered around coffee, talking about rising bills, the kids who had left and not come back, and a growing sense that Juneau has become just too expensive for ordinary people to stay.

Ignorance is bliss, unless you’re hungry.

I'll keep this short because some of us have our hands full keeping this town turning. Ballot measure 1 is an obvious no. Juneau is a...

Juneau is an incredible place to live, despite the horrid fall weather, because of the generous, hardworking, creative, and...

We elect our Assembly members to balance the budget. Don’t hamstring them by cutting their budgeting tools in Propositions #1 and #2.

As president of the Juneau Housing Trust Inc. which is in the business of building affordable permanent housing under the community land trust model, I am voting no on Proposition 1.

There is a rot at the heart of our Republic, a canker that has been slowly eviscerating our rights as individuals, our standing as an electorate, and our ability as citizens to address our government and act as a check to the way it conducts itself on the world stage and at home.

In the heat of public debate over how the city has managed its fiscal affairs, there has been ample opportunity to play fast and loose with the facts.

What makes Juneau different from other places? We're unique in many ways, but mostly it's our appearance. We have special colors and houses and special streets with treasures awaiting anyone in the mood to explore. But now our unique aesthetic beauty and history are endangered.

The truth is, Juneau is becoming unaffordable. When families leave, when workers relocate, or when businesses close, the entire community loses. That's why I support the ballot measures proposed by the Affordable Juneau Coalition.

Even though there was some leakage, we all know that there would have been hundreds of more homes devastated by the last glacier outburst, had CBJ not invested $3.5 million in installing 2.5 miles of HESCO barriers in the Valley. This prudent, responsive action would not have been possible if the ballot propositions now being pushed by a group called Affordable Juneau were in effect. .