Come See Alaska!

We've got free shots, fish fights, and ferries

April 16, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

There's a strange foreign object in the sky. It's glowing. And my office is 80 degrees. Weird.

It's been a packed week, but I plan to soak in a few rays from the odd glowing orb this weekend. Hope you get outside too!

Re-printing the Letterhead

You probably remember the months-long process of the AMHS reshaping work group. The governor held off fixing things in the ferry system while he waited on the group's report.

Now he's holding again, because he introduced a bill to create a new AMHS advisory board to replace the current AMHS advisory board, on the recommendation of the working group. If that strikes you as taking no action while planning a group to make a plan, well, what can I say? You're very perceptive.

The group to be replaced is the Marine Transportation Advisory Board, which has had some remarkable volunteers who worked hard on it through the years. But since it's just advisory, the Department of Transportation has pretty much ignored them since Frank Murkowski (who first created MTAB) left office.

The governor’s new bill was basically MTAB with new letterhead. Unimpressive. We spent a lot of time with it in the Senate Transportation Committee, and now we're primed to move the bill along in much better shape. I couldn't get it all the way to a public authority with teeth—like spending power or hiring and firing the AMHS director—but we at least gave it stronger gums.

Now two legislators will sit on the group in nonvoting roles. The presiding officers of the legislature will also appoint some voting members, so each new governor can't replace the entire board.

We also made DOT integrate the ferry board's plans into the statewide transportation plan that directs where federal money goes. Because where the money goes, the policy matters.

AMHS needs stability and some long-term thinking. This bill isn’t the silver bullet—but it might just be a step in the right direction. Rep. Louise Stutes of Kodiak is carrying a similar bill for a board with oomph, so I expect we’ll see this again before session ends. The state can't hold off fixing things much longer.

Speaking with Senate President

Micciche on the floor before the Senate unanimously passed SB 65.

Vaccination Vacation

There's a lot of money coming our way from the federal government. (Are you sure we can't just call them Biden Bucks?) We’re still figuring out how exactly we can spend those federal dollars. With a not-yet-controlled virus still causing widespread economic impacts, there’s a lot of need.

In the wake of losing the whole tourism season in 2020, and no chance of getting back to pre-pandemic job numbers this summer, tourism has to be part of how we deploy the federal help. (Along with helping schools, the unemployed, Alaskans behind on rent, and preventing draconian budget cuts.)

This afternoon Gov. Dunleavy released the first detail of his plan to support tourism. He’s asking for $150 million to both help businesses and run an ad campaign promoting Alaska to potential travelers. And the really clever part: starting June 1, tourists would be able to get a free COVID vaccine at four Alaska airports: Juneau, Ketchikan, Anchorage, and Fairbanks.

We’ll need the rest of the details, of course, but I look forward to welcoming vaccinated travelers to vaccinated Alaska communities—and attracting even more with a jab they couldn't get at home!

Unbalanced

My Friday ended with a Resources Committee hearing on the governor’s nominees to the Board of Fish. In the words of a far better known elected official: I have some concerns. I wrote last year about some issues with individual appointees, including one who works for Pebble Mine, but the biggest worry is about balance on the board.

The Board of Fish considers a lot of extremely controversial issues with big impacts on Alaskans’ lives and livelihoods. Protecting our salmon and deciding who gets first crack at the sustainable take is a huge deal. Alaskans need to be confident they'll get a fair shot in front of the board.

That doesn't happen without some balance—both of user groups and regions. This board slate doesn’t have either. Instead of the traditional board make-up: 3 sport fish folks, 3 commercial fishing folks, and a subsistence user, sport fish is way overrepresented. Subsistence is pretty much absent.

And all but two of the members live within a 50-mile circle. Put one edge on Willow and the other on Anchorage's Potter Marsh and you'd have 71% of the board covered. (To cover Alaska you'd need a diameter more like 2,000 miles.)

That just doesn’t make sense. I asked one nominee today whether all regions of Alaska could feel they had advocates on the fish board. He said I shouldn't worry because he understands both the Mat-Su and Anchorage. That level of 'statewide vision' is exactly the concern.

We'll take public testimony on the Board of Fish nominees Monday, April 19 in the Resources Committee. Please e-mail your thoughts to [email protected], or call in at 3:30 pm: 586-9085 from Juneau or 844-586-9085 from everywhere else.

All my best,

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Events & Happenings Around District Q

New Worlds

Wearable Arts 2021 is huge! The theme is "Intergalactic," and it’s so big, with so many parts, it'll encompass most of May – scavenger hunts, onine trivia, and of course, the art pieces. Don’t miss out!

Community Cleanup

Earth day is right around the corner, so let’s help clean it up. May 1^st Join CBJ, Litter Free, and Trout Unlimited in this Litter Free event!

Gardens Abound

The struggle of gardening in the rainforest is real. Juneau Public Libraries and master gardener Corinne Conlon can make it easier: May 1st they'll host a free talk online!

Serene Contemplations

Enjoy the Juneau Symphony String Quartet April 18^th. Hear amazing local artists play Haydn & Bach, and sing Handel and Mozart.

Haines 1984

The last one got rescheduled, but try again tonight: It’s not Orwell, it’s Wonder Woman! The Southeast Alaska State Fair is showing Wonder Woman 1984 April 16th, 8 PM at the Fair Grounds.

Spring Fling

This year Haines’ annual party will be outdoors on April 23. By then I’m just sure we’ll have left the snow behind!

Clean Sweep

Spring cleaning is right around the corner! Join the Skagway Chamber of Commerce April 17^th to help clean the community. Pitch in here.

I-Spy

We might not be out of winter yet, but try and find all the springtime objects at the Kone Kompany. Start by picking up your checklist at Grizzly’s General April 3^rd – 18^th and help support the FTC Robotics Team!

Wild Nights

Skagway's Kanopy Movie Club is back! This time it’s a RomCom about the life of American Poet Emily Dickinson - happening April 21st.

Wisewomen

May 6th - Mobile Mammograms are coming to Gustavus. SEARHC's Wisewoman Women's Health Program is partnering with Breast Cancer Detection Center to bring the latest in digital tech. Early detection saves lives!