Letters to the Editor – Dec. 2

Rethinking the city budget
Has there been any discussion about raising the City mil rate to help balance the budget for 2010? In checking the Borough site, total mil rates, including the Borough and Hospital service area rates, were:2001, 14.35, then 13.35 in 2002-2004, then 12.85 in 2005-6, 12.0 in 2007, and 11.35 for the past 2 years. Rather than cutting everything to the quick, destroying some valuable programs along with employee morale, and basically creating financial paralysis, when we have a $4 million fund balance and low tax rates, it may be time to tap into our savings account, and also have us all step up to the plate and pay more for the lifestyle we want. And definitely in 2010, I encourage the Council to fully explore the pros and cons of various service areas, so that we expand the cost of providing services more equitably to all users and not just private property owners who fund the bulk of government services through property taxes.
 Angie Newby

Shuttle still a good idea
Coming back from a spell up in Nome, I noticed “shuttle bus” in an article on ideas for the future of Homer in the news. My first reaction was “Hey, I thought of that … and I’m glad they did too.”
Lying in my bunk on the F/V Marandah one night in the summer – while we were chasing humpies in Prince William Sound – a familiar image popped into my head, and it suddenly seemed ridiculous.
It was an image of a line of cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans filing down the Sterling highway into Homer on a blue-gray morning. Most of the vehicles carry only one passenger, a few carry two, but none of them are full. Each independent, but all traveling up to a dozen miles or more on the same road, at the same time of day, in the same direction. They’ve got jobs and errands in town, or maybe just an espresso craving.
Think of the gas money we could save if we had a shuttle.
And that doesn’t even include communication lost between friends and neighbors who are separated by glass, metal and glaring lights.
Even just one bus, running from say, Fritz Creek or McNeil Canyon through town to Anchor Point and back a few times in the morning and evening could get a lot of people in and out of town conveniently.
Oh no, they might have to walk from the coffee shop to the bank.
Hey, I love walking around. You see and hear a lot more of what’s happening in your community.
The way Homer has expanded in the age of the automobile has left us spread out far more than most other towns in Alaska. True, some people already carpool, but such arrangements can be a burden to busy people who find themselves an unpaid driver.
Of course, there would be some expenses to share in the form of fares and money from taxes, but in the long run, we could save a lot. Plus, we would reduce pollution and congestion to boot. With all the tinkers and mechanics living here, plus the profusion of old school buses lying around, it can’t be that difficult to get a bus service going. They don’t have to be boring old blue-gray things like what you ride in Anchorage, either. We could decorate and “cozy” them up as needed.
It’s really an issue of common sense vs. reluctance to try new things.
Daniel Tucker

Finding even more fun at Nutcracker
Families will find a special place for their young children at the Nutcracker Faire this weekend. When your little one needs a break from the overly stimulating excitement of too much happening, take a play break. Stop by the stage, get your faces painted and enjoy a few soothing, relaxing moments squishing and rolling Play-Do. This opportunity for a fun family moment is brought to you by the Kachemak Kids Early Learning Center. (You may also want to buy some cards made by preschoolers or put your name in the raffle for a super wonderful gift basket.)
While your child plays, parents are invited to take a moment to complete a survey about resources for families. This survey will be used by the newly formed South Peninsula Coalition for Young Children to help identify what our community most wants and needs to improve the lives of young children and their families. This partnership of agencies and individuals is working to advocate for better early childcare options and family support resources. Anyone interested in learning more about the organization can contact Lolita Brache at 299-0694. The survey can also be completed online at:www.surveymonkey.com/
Lolita Brache

Regarding Pebble Mine
The 2007 Sacramento River King Salmon fishery collapses. Only 90,000 adult salmon returned to spawn, the second-lowest escapement on record. The jack return, used to predict adult returns the next year was only 2000 fish, instead of a more typical 40,000 per year. The cause? It may be directly related to the drying up of spawning and rearing habitat due to droughts and diversions.
What does this have to do with the Pebble Mine? In 5 words: water quality and water quantity. Alaska has world-class salmon runs because of pristine water, spawning and rearing habitat and world-class salmon management. No other country on the planet can make this claim. People travel from the world over to see what is no longer viable anywhere else. Once the door to the Pebble Mine is thrown open, more mineral development will follow, spreading throughout the Alaska Peninsula. Who will clean up and pay for the inevitable pollution messes?
You and I will through taxes and loss of fisheries. It won’t be the faceless mining conglomerates from other countries. It’s your choice. But if you choose unwisely, don’t complain when salmon are no longer available or affordable.
“There is no escape from yesterday because yesterday has deformed us, or been deformed by us.” Samuel Becket.
Rick Gustin
Fritz Creek

Still waiting for impeachment
I felt compelled to write and touch on a couple of things that have been in the local paper lately.
First, a local businessman brought up that $80 million worth of property was not being taxed in Homer. I find this hard to digest, especially with the annexation. If there was that kind of money out there, rest assured the city would not lower your taxes to make it fair, but only see it as a bonus.
Then, another frequent writer refers to green as the color of love. I have never seen a green Valentines Day card, nor have I ever given green roses as a token of love. Green is the color of envy. Red is the color of passion, which is why it aptly represents the Republican party and their basic desire to allow this country to prosper without the government in the pockets of the citizens. Blue is perfect for Democrats, since they all seem to be so depressed about everything – especially if the country is doing well.
When Bush bailed out private industry, he did not make himself CEO of them as did Obama. And, one more time, Bush did not lead us to war by himself. The Democrats voted for it too, they just couldn’t bother to read the same reports before they put our troops into harm’s way. Typical liberals.
This country is falling on its economical face because of your “messiah.” It’s all his. You can’t blame Bush for this one. Record unemployment, record national debt, and record taxes are expected.
All Obama’s.
I’m still waiting for the impeachment.
Phil Celtic

Donation helps ministry
The St. John the Baptist Choir and Music Ministry would like to recognize Audrey Waldorf for her recent generous contribution to this volunteer liturgical ministry serving Homer’s Catholic community. The St. John the Baptist Choir and Music Ministry would also like to thank the Homer Foundation for facilitating this donation.
The all-volunteer St. John the Baptist Choir and Music Ministry provides liturgical music, serving Homer at local functions, including the funerals of members of the Homer community.
Audrey Waldorf’s donation, which was specifically made to support the St. John the Baptist Choir and Music Ministry, will help expand our choral library, providing new choral arrangements for special liturgical season, including Christmas and Easter.
Carol Comfort
Liturgical music director
St. John the Baptist Church

Fireweed Academy dinner a success
In spite of the slow economy, the Homer community came out in droves on Nov. 6 in support of Fireweed Academy students. With the help of many supporters, we had a terrific dinner, live and silent auctions and fantastic dances by students and parents alike.
And we raised more than $9,000.
It would be impossible to thank everyone, but some key organizers were FWA Academic Policy members Shawnisty Webber, Rachel Livingston, Corrie Haig and Pamela Baltzer. Thanks to all the soup cooks and to Kari Greeley for organizing the food and kitchen jobs. And finally, thanks to the parents who love and support their children. See you next year.
Janet Bowen

Fireweed Academy

Poring through Palin’s prose
I encourage people to read Sarah Palin’s book. It is very well-written and makes a lot of sense. This is a person who has at least thought very deeply about our government without coming up with way-out ideas that will never fly. Our country was built on very solid beliefs. (These came from paying attention to history.) It seems we have a generation of people who think history is not worth looking at. If this mindset continues, our country will fall. We will be taken over by China, since we happen to owe them more money than we can repay. (Why should they invade us, when all they have to do is loan money, and then repossess the whole of the United States for failure to pay.) It makes me sad to see our people clamoring for government handouts.
Think about that government money. Where does it come from?
It comes from all of us who pay taxes. So a smaller government will mean more money for us to spend as we see fit, not allowing our elected leaders to tell us where it’s going to be spent because they are “so much smarter” than we are.  
Greg Collins