Letters

If you are asked to sign a petition to recall any one of our three city council members, I respectfully urge you to politely refuse. If you are considering circulating one of these petitions, please don’t. Instead, please do your part to put an end to this discouraging and pointless endeavor to shame three fellow citizens who have made a commitment to public service. To continue to encourage citizens to make the sacrifices necessary to run for local office, we must honor and appreciate those who do.

To say the very least, I was not at all shocked to hear there was a recall on three Homer City council members. After all, they tried to deceive the people of Homer with their, “We must all love one another” law.

Only a fool could not see it was only an attempt to turn Homer into a sanctuary city and invite as many illegal residents into our town, and spend all that money, that we don’t have, to give away to illegals.

I have two things to comment on, both relating to Resolution 17-019.

First, I’m very concerned about the possible loss of three Homer City Council members: Donna Aderhold, David Lewis, and Catriona Reynolds, inasmuch as an attempt to have them recalled has been initiated. In my opinion all three are effective on the council, bringing carefully considered input, plus civilly responding to the input of others. To seek their recall on the basis of one issue seems short sighted.

A woman in opposition of the city council member recall of Aderhold, Lewis, and Reynolds, repeatedly told me that we did not understand the hurtful implications this recall would have in our community. “It’s just so hurtful,” she would say.

Hoxie Parks, 18, was recently diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. In less than a week his life changed in many ways. He is an easygoing guy with a lot of friends, a member of the ski team, a hiker, and a boat skipper. He is patient with young kids and an amazing brother. He was set to graduate from Homer High School in May, go commercial fishing this summer and begin college in August to pursue an aviation degree. His plans are delayed until he recovers.

The Anchor Point Food Pantry would like to send a hearty thank you to the Homer Community Food Pantry. If it weren’t for them, we would not be a pantry today. They have helped us through the years by sending out to Anchor Point a portion of their produce and grocery items every week (and assist with paying for the delivery). Recently they gave us a donation of $2,000, which was sorely needed. It is difficult for us being out in Anchor Point and away from the big stores and businesses. We appreciate your help.

I must say that I find Patrick Brown’s vehemence and “burn them at the stake” mentality disturbing. At their last meeting the Homer City Council members listened to the community testimony and voted down the ordinance he is referring to. If you don’t like an elected official’s politics, vote against them in the next election if they choose to run again, but to bully, threaten and personally attack them is not acceptable.

I sent my first correspondence off to the IRS (without a check).

It said “I’m not paying my taxes till my billionaire president pays his.”

Guess that makes me smart, too.

As far as protests go, it’s effective. Who cares how 51 percent of the people voted? When 2 percent don’t pay their tax, that’s when shift happens.

It’s with a heavy heart I find myself again prompted to speak out and be the voice of many in this community. I’m not a political activist; I’m your every day Homer citizen. Over the last 20 years, I have made your sandwiches at Subway, helped you find hangars at Ulmer’s, checked you in at the airport and marshaled in your aircraft when you returned, bagged your groceries at Safeway, and now I happily prepare your delicious popcorn and greet you with a smile when you come to be entertained at the Homer Theater.

Hospice of Homer would like to thank the Kachemak Bay Masonic Club, in cooperation with Homer Elks No. 2127, for the recent donation. The funds were raised at the 2nd Annual Masonic Awareness Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser on Jan. 28. Hospice is thankful to the Masonic Club for their generous support. This is the second year Hospice of Homer was chosen to be a recipient of this event.

Once again Homer Homemakers FCE thanks American Legion General Buchner Post No. 16 for its generous donation in support of the club’s Raise-a- Reader® literacy project. At a January meeting, members assembled 85 packets. The parents of each baby born at South Peninsula Hospital or the Homer Birthing and Wellness Center is to receive a packet.

The state of Alaska doesn’t have a revenue problem. It has a spending problem. That is why one of the most natutral and mineral rich states in the United States is having financial problems.

I want to thank the Homer City Council for providing an opportunity for people to voice their views. I know it is not always easy for any of us to hear views that differ from our own, but free speech is a critical part of any democracy.

As many who testified at the last meeting stated, we love our town and believe in caring about one another. I am very glad this is a value that binds us, regardless of our other views.

I am receiving feedback from several segments of tourism and especially business endeavors with regards to the consideration for Homer to become a sanctuary city. I am thankful the real members of the Homer City Council stood firm on our Constitution but there is now significant blowback.

Due to the cloud created by the confusion of the sponsors of the resolution, the name and goodwill of our city is at a loss and the losses include tourism which our economy relies on greatly. It will take time to recover the momentum destroyed by this effort.

I’ve tried and tried to write this letter and I keep getting out in the weeds, so this time I’m just going to say it. Yes, the first draft of resolution 17/019 was divisive. It was penned by one person who assumed that version would never see the light of day. But if anyone thinks there aren’t plenty of people in Homer who are that opposed to the Trump administration, they need to get their head out of the sand.

Homer is welcoming community

On March 21, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly will vote on an ordinance to delete invocations at its meetings. Some people see this as a war on religion. Not at all. Doing away with prayer at government functions in no way interferes with people’s right to pray at home, in their churches, out loud on radio and TV or silently all day long.

In fact, the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution protects free exercise of religion. But it also prevents secular government from becoming a theocracy.

Please clarify to the Homer City Council and all individuals that “popular mandate” means the populous, or all Americans, NOT the electoral college. Thus, Trump cannot be said to have a popular mandate.

When did the State of Alaska start issuing clean air and water? I can walk outside and take in as much as I like. Our representatives however, feel like it’s either pony up for more taxes and they take the PFD or I no longer can breathe clean air. They list the many government services that they expect I want government to provide and add on adjectives like: strong, reasonable, reliable, well maintained, affordable, well managed and fair.

Is good old-fashioned Christian charity dead in Homer?

What if you give a meeting to facilitate charity for the temporary homeless and no one shows? Well, almost no one.

At the last city council meeting, council member Shelly Erickson’s proposal (memo 17-017) that the city approve as an allowable use temporary housing for the homeless, to be provided by local churches, got immediately pitchforked into the Planning Commission wagon as it lumbered by.