Letters to the editor

More Palmer wokenessTo the editor:

The government lies to us. “You’ll get your full PFD”. Gas is approaching the unprecedented $6.00 per gallon mark. And today, more nonsensical wokeness has returned to Palmer.

Anyone familiar with the recent shenanigans exhibited by the Palmer Chamber to transform our local heritage by renaming Colony Days as the “River Braided Festival”? Well, the residue has arisen at the Palmer Sr. Center, dba Mat-Su Senior Services, with the new Administrator’s authoritarian decision to close the Center to celebrate a ghost holiday on Monday June 20. Yes, another veiled attempt to change the conservative heart of Palmer.

Simply, this means one more day when no food, delivered meals, or Sr. Services, nor facilities, are provided at the expense of a frivolous day off for those who are employed to serve seniors. And on a Monday following a weekend without any services.

Is this legal? It certainly is not moral. The Center’s budget is heavily funded by federal & state grants. Was this expense identified in the operating budget that was approved last year? Does such arbitrariness garner an immediate Fed-State nod? Is the cost reimbursable? For seniors bearing such dis-service, it is deplorable.

Another source of funding is the Mat Su Health Foundation. Does the impetus for proclaiming this make-believe holiday emanate from them? Oh wait... they were behind the river festival naming & have stated intentions to “reform” the Valley. Right on.

Does Carr’s, a major donor, condone this action? How about other contributors, organizations, presenters, entertainers? Are they on board with this?

The Center is operated by a volunteer Board. Did they vote to approve this action? Was the membership body offered an opportunity to review, consider & vote on this deception? If not, shame on their abilities to lead. The demographics of the membership definitively do not reflect the publicized “Day of Freedom” illustrated with raised fists a’ la black power symbolism printed in the June newsletter.

This type of poor behavior further fragments our society/community. Check this fact: Independence Day is the national holiday dedicated to recognizing liberty & freedom for all Americans. How does a fictional concept equate with Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, President’s Day? Then why is a minority faction attempting to usurp a national norm with another dis-ingenuine day off??

Chuck Kaucic,

Palmer

Praising DOTTo the editor:

Kudos and praise to our amazing DOT road crews! A lot of folks don’t know that a 30-foot sink hole suddenly destroyed the road about mile 15 of Knik Goose Bay Road on Friday, June 10. I didn’t know until 10:30 pm on my way home after playing music in Anchorage. The road had to be closed, so I ended up staying the night in a motel. Many, many people didn’t know until they tried to get home from working at the prison or until they tried to get to their homes on Port MacKenzie or the end of Knik Goose Bay Road. Our awesome DOT road crews literally worked around-the-clock, 24/7, from Friday through the wee hours of Sunday night to get the sinkhole filled in (a typical KGB mass of brown goo no matter what you pour into it) and the road repaired and safe for residents to get to work on Monday morning. And they were courteous and considerate to the residents who asked about it. They were amazing, dedicated, and I’m sure the unsung heroes of a heroic effort. Thank you

Deborah Simpson,

Wasilla

S.2992 is bad for businessTo the editor:

As you may know, antirust legislation is rapidly gaining attention in the U.S. Senate. The American Choice and Innovation Online Act, S.2992, was passed through committee in January of this year, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recently promised to give the bill consideration as early as June. But this bill is exactly the opposite of what

Americans want or need right now.

We are in a period of economic uncertainty that many have never experienced. Record high inflation, supply chain issues, baby formula shortages and skyrocketing gas prices – all

exacerbated by the war in Ukraine that shows no signs of slowing down – are driving economic turmoil that is having every day consequences on every American and business. Why would we make this situation even worse than it already it is by hampering the ability of our largest tech companies to continue to innovate and provide products and services that save consumers and businesses time and money?

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has already come out in opposition to this legislation and for good reason. The National Economic Research Associates (NERA) conducted and extensive economic analysis of this bill and found some staggering insights. Businesses and consumers will face an estimated loss of $319 billion in services and products from regulatory overreach. Urging Senator Murkowski and Sullivan oppose S.2992

Adam Schwemley,

Alaskans for Tax Reform