All the news and updates you don't want to miss. Private Prisons, Roadless Rule, & Page Positions October 18, 2019 Dear Friends and Neighbors, Happy Alaska Day! I started mine with a pancake breakfast to raise money for Meals on Wheels, and then met with a group about ideas to get substance abuse screening and safety plans in place for parents before anyone has to call child protective services. No matter which part of the life cycle we're looking at, let's look out for each other. Last week's fun facts were a hit. And while I can't promise I'll keep them up during session: Fun fact #1: Russia's financial pinch after losing the Crimean War was a key reason it sold its colonial claim on Alaska to the United States, effective October 18, 1867. Fun fact #2: The (Soviet) Russian Federation made Crimea an official "autonomous" republic on October 18, 1921. Less fun fact #3: There's a low-grade war in Crimea between Russia and Ukraine right now. That's why the U.S. Congress sent military help to Ukraine. Now they're looking into whether someone tried to 'sell' that help to get out of his own (political) pinch. Interesting place, Crimea... Private Prisons There's a new wrinkle in the mixed bag that is the new big crime bill. A lot of the pieces in it will mean a lot more Alaskans in prison -- and for longer times. A natural consequence is that we're going to need more prison beds. This week the governor's folks announced they want to contract for them Outside. The legislature talked about this a lot last session. A couple of different times, legislators told the governor pretty clearly we wanted to deal with Alaska inmates here in Alaska. The Department of Corrections laid out the costs of adding inmates to existing facilities and reopening the mothballed Palmer Correctional Center. After much analysis and discussion, legislators decided that was the way to go, and funded those plans. The governor signed those appropriations. Alaska tried sending inmates Outside before and the results were bad: Corruption landed legislators in jail. Alaska inmates joined prison gangs in Arizona and Colorado contract prisons, and brought those gangs back to wreak havoc here. Contract prisons broke their promises on inmate health care, rehab programs, and skills training. Inmates got out more broken -- and more dangerous -- than they were when they went in. No matter where an inmate spends their sentence, they get released in Alaska. We need to reducing the chances that they'll commit new crimes and make more Alaskans victims. Outside prisons disconnect them from their families and the support networks people need to reenter society. (Not to mention we'd be contracting with out-of-state folks for jobs that could go to Alaskans.) There are so many reasons to oppose this idea. The governor should listen to the legislature and the public: don't spend Alaskans' money Outside on a program that will increase crime in Alaska. He needs to cancel the solicitation for Outside prison beds and re-open Palmer. Then let's get back to work on reducing crime in the first place. Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day with Tlingit & Haida President Richard Peterson and Perseverance Theater Interim Artistic Director Leslie Ishii Roadless Rule The U.S. Forest Service released a draft proposal to exempt the Tongass National Forest from the Roadless Rule, re-sparking a two-decade fight. While I think a couple of tweaks were in order -- like making it easier to do hydro projects and meet some community needs -- this goes too far. There's a lot of middle ground between no updates and total deletion. There's room for a sustainable forest industry without going back to an approach that damaged fish runs and would spell real trouble for our visitor industry. Here's an outline of all the alternatives proposed by the Forest Service. I'm still learning more about alternatives 2-5 and I'd appreciate any input you have on how these proposals would impact our communities. I also encourage you send comments to the Forest Service. You have until December 17. E-mail [email protected] or mail your comments to USDA Forest Service, Attn: Alaska Roadless Rule, P.O. Box 21628, Juneau, AK 99802. I gave my staff Alaska Day off. I promised to get a picture at the Alaska Day pancake breakfast fundraiser for Meals on Wheels for the newsletter. I took the kids. We ate. We talked. We enjoyed the oompah music. I forgot the photo. Page Positions Believe it or not, we're coming up on the second (regularly scheduled) session of the 31st Alaska Legislature. We're all starting to get ready -- from offices prepping legislation to maintenance and IT folks working hard to get the building in shape. We're also looking for Pages, who play an important role organizing floor sessions, committee meetings, and generally making the trains run on time. It's a seasonal job that runs through April or May and is a great chance to learn more about the legislature. If you know anyone who's interested, have them send a resume and their DMV driving record to Micaela Bradner, the House Sergeant at Arms: [email protected]. All my best, Events around District Q Gustavus Community Open House Meet newly elected Council members and city staff, plus celebrate all the fantastic Gustavus volunteers on Oct. 26! See the details here. Klukwan Arts and Crafts Night Bring your own project or work on a beaded flower every Thursday night at the Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center. Here’s more info. Juneau Walk Around Elmo Bring the kids to play, enjoy snacks, and meet Elmo on Oct. 18! Check out the details. Juneau George Davidson and the Kohklux Maps Lecture Come listen to this free lecture on the creation of the Kohklux maps in the mid-1800s hosted by the Sealaska Heritage Institute on Oct. 21. Here’s all the info. Juneau Celebrate Survivors Celebrate the strength of survivors with dancing, drumming, and food on Oct. 25. Hosted by AWARE and Tlingit & Haida. See the details here. Juneau Haunted Station Food Drive Prepare to be scared at the haunted Coast Guard station on Oct. 25 and 26! Canned food donations are welcome. Here’s more information. Skagway Fall Festival Check out the pumpkin festival, art, music, food, and more from Oct. 18-20. Check out the schedule here. Skagway Pancake Feed The Skagway Firefighters Association is hosting this great event. Come spend time with your first responders and eat pancakes on Oct. 19. Here’s the info. Skagway Raven Reads The Skagway Traditional Council and the Public Library are hosting this family story time on Oct. 19. Bring the kids to check out the new collection of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian storybooks. See details. Haines Literary Haunted House Get spooked at the library’s haunted tours from Oct. 22-25. Check it out here. Haines Annual Doll Fair Bring your favorite doll or stuffed animal for a tea party, dress up, and crafts at the Haines Sheldon Museum on Nov. 2. See the details. Haines 25th Annual Alaska Bald Eagle Festival The amazing annual festival is coming up soon, with a local art bazaar, film, eagle release, and more. See the Nov. 6-9 schedule. Is there an event in our district I should know about? Please call or email! Visit Me! Alaska State Capitol Room 419 Juneau, AK 99801 800 550 4947 907 465 4947 Email Me! ‌ ‌ ‌ Contact My Staff: Edric Carrillo 907 465 6419 [email protected] Cathy Schlingheyde 907 465 6827 [email protected] Senator Jesse Kiehl | Alaska State Capitol, Rm. 419, 4th Avenue & Main Street, Juneau, AK 99801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected]