If you listened to the debate over Juneau's FY27 budget, you could be forgiven for thinking the city was on the verge of collapse.

At the Assembly’s recent budget hearings, person after person stood up to testify in defense of the pools, the field house, the programs that make Juneau the kind of place people stay. I don’t fault them for that and understand why those programs are so important. But not one of those speakers mentioned the flood.

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.