Dear {Insert Name},
Over the past few weeks, I have heard from many of you about the clunky and unclear roll out of the AK CARES Small Business Grant Program. This program, funded through Alaska’s allocation of federal COVID-19 relief funds, was meant to reduce economic uncertainty and stabilize our economy. Clearly, while it has served a small number of businesses, it has also exacerbated the challenges we face. As of June 29, 167 applications out of 1,947 applicants have been approved for a total of $6.28 million of the approximately $300 million allocated for AK CARES Small Business Grant program. The State of Alaska has indicated its intent to revise the program eligibility requirements, though this revision is now being challenged in court. Unfortunately, our small businesses are already suffering significant damage, and the legal challenge creates more uncertainty. The Alaska Senate Democrats and I have consistently asked that the Legislature return to Juneau to erase this uncertainty. To date that advice has not been followed.
As a result of the Administration’s failure to adequately vet the program before submitting it to the Legislature, many Alaskan businesses have been left to fend for themselves. This is unacceptable. It is the Legislature’s constitutional responsibility to draft and thoroughly vet legislation before it heads to the Governor’s desk. We must do this as soon as possible to remove ambiguity from this effort. Further, we must return to address the expiring of rental and mortgage relief. We thought the virus would die down in the summer. It hasn’t. Here in Alaska, and all across America, the coronavirus numbers are spiking. The CDC this week even suggested that cases in the United States could reach as many as 100,000 a day. We must return to ensure we don’t add to a growing homeless problem with unnecessary evictions and loss of housing.
Despite the Alaska Senate Democrats call to return to Juneau, we are six of 60 lawmakers and do not control the entire legislative process. Our constitution requires two-thirds of the whole legislature to agree to call themselves back into session or that the Governor do so. We have renewed our call that either the Legislature reconvene on their own – and our six support that – or that the Governor call us back.
While I am unsure of what exactly will happen over the coming weeks, please know I will continue to advocate and work on behalf of all Alaskans. It is what I was elected to do and what I will continue to do.
In this newsletter, you are going to hear more about the AK CARES Grant Program. You will also get information about how to vote-by-mail and stay safe during the upcoming elections. And, if you haven’t already, please complete your Census. It only takes 10 minutes.
As we near the July 4th holiday, I encourage you all to stay safe, keep up your social distance and continue to wear your mask.
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Senator Tom Begich
Senate District J
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Voting is important to our democratic process. It is our civic duty and a critical component to ensuring your voice is heard. As Alaska continues to see an increase in COVID-19 cases, it is essential to stay safe. Going to a polling location may be risky and could put your family and friends in danger of exposure to COVID-19.
You may also contact them at [email protected] or (907) 270-2700 or toll free at (877) 375-6508 if you have questions or if you would like an absentee ballot application mailed to you.
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The Division of Elections is looking for folks to help staff voting precincts during the Alaska State Primary and General Elections. Without staff, voting precincts will have to close. For additional details or to learn how your civi group can Adopt a Precinct, visit the Election Workers and Registrars website.
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Small business owners continue to be among the hardest hit during this public health emergency, and unfortunately, most small businesses were denied much-needed assistance from the State. When the legislature reconvened in May to approve Governor Dunleavy’s CARES Act funding plan, we did so with haste. The Senate Democrats were disappointed by the process and advocated to slow down and do it right. Because of this haste and not having the ability to modify the Governor’s plan, the legislature overlooked the proposal's flaws. This has caused frustration and confusion surrounding the AK CARES Grant Program for small businesses.
When the Governor submitted his plan, a business owner was ineligible for the AK CARES Grant Program if they applied or received assistance through the federal Paycheck Protection Program or Economic Injury Disaster Loan. But as many of you told legislators and the Governor, assistance received from those programs was not nearly enough to keep businesses afloat. The Senate Democrats advocated returning to Juneau to appropriate the federal dollars properly – which is our constitutional duty. The Governor’s team decided to change the eligibility requirements without legislative approval. Our non-partisan Legislative Legal department said the Governor’s unilateral changes were not legal and sets a dangerous precedent that he can change any of these programs any time without legislative approval. That’s why last week, an injunction was filed to stop the distribution of the small business relief program until the legislature approves the changes.
I am hopeful the legislature will resolve this soon so businesses can get the relief they need to pay the bills, pay their employees, and keep their doors open safely.
Please continue to reach out to me if you have questions or concerns during these unprecedented times.
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Alaska currently has the lowest Census response rate in the United States. This means our state may miss out on billions of dollars in federal funding over the next decade. Please, complete your 2020 Census today to help fund schools, roads, and public services.
Additionally, results from the 2020 Census are used to determine political representation at all levels of government. This has a direct impact on regulations influencing your neighborhood and laws governing Alaska.
Visit My2020census.gov to complete your Census report– it will only take 10 minutes.
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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Just a few months ago goods were flying off the shelves. You couldn’t find toilet paper, popcorn, or seeds. Yes, seeds disappeared from display racks and catalogues were back ordered. Has this saved money and is it fun or drudgery? By now some of those seeds have produced kitchen table delights so let’s talk to a few backyard gardeners.
Chris Cikan finds gardening a true pleasure in stereo. “It’s being in touch with nature and the sensory experience of smells, sounds and sight!!! The birds ask for water or chastise you for being too close to their nest. The bees bumble by drunk on nectar as they head towards the next flower heavy with pollen. Sometimes they bump right into you, and then take a different route. No need to be afraid of stings as they have other things on their mind.” Chris says it’s still not too late to plant vegetables. Gardeners do successive plantings all summer long by checking “days till maturity”. Even then some veggies can withstand and are better after a few frosts such as carrots, kale, Brussels sprouts and potatoes.
Nora Ortiz Fredrick finds great satisfaction sitting down to a plate full of vegetables she has grown herself…especially if it shares the plate with the salmon caught by her husband. Growing your own saves money, she tells me. If you build raised beds there is an initial outlay but she also grows in a child’s wading pool. (Most of Chris’ vegetables are planted in pots.) Nora actually has four separate raised beds so she can rotate crops because some vegetables, such as cabbages and potatoes, leach nitrogen from the soil.
Nora mentioned how good it was to know how her table food was “cultivated.” As food safety is a big issue for many people, think before spraying herbicides on weeds. No one is sure how long poisons remain in the soil and your dandelion patch may become a vegetable garden one day. Or, as happened in my yard, the neighbor’s spray was carried on the air to my side of a wire fence.
Both Chris and Nora also grow fruits which include apples, raspberries, kiwi and strawberries. Plant once, water twice, harvest forever. Okay, maybe not always that simple.
Speaking of grown in Alaska, Cara Durr with the Food Bank of Alaska, wants you to know that, the Plant a Row for the Hungry program was born in Alaska. Now it’s national. Just pledge a row for those in need and then give that row to an organization that distributes food to those with food insecurity. You don’t need to even sign up, you can just do it.
Even though I wrote this before the 4th, my mouth is watering thinking of barbecue, corn on the cob, and watermelon.
Hope you are having a great summer,
Kayla
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(907) 465-3704 (Juneau // session)
(907) 269-0169 (Anchorage // interim)
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