Crucial Tests and... Less So

February 18, 2022

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I talked to the Alaska Municipal League this morning at Centennial Hall. They had half a dozen legislators in to talk about the pieces of a fiscal plan. Local government leaders keep working on it, because it's key to Alaska's future: education, the economy, public safety, and the list goes on.

It's tough to make progress on hard fiscal decisions when there's a little cash around. I have to hand it to local government leaders—they don't know the word quit.

Clean Water

Thank you to everyone who called into the Senate Resources hearing to testify about PFAS on Wednesday. The committee learned a lot about how terribly PFAS affects Alaskans around the state, and just how far it's spread.

One surprise testifier stole the show. Chris Hladick was the federal Environmental Protection Agency administrator for our region of the country from 2017-2021. He urged the committee to pass the bill. He talked about the nightmare of having PFAS in your water and urged Alaska to act now, not wait for the federal government to go through years and years of process.

Alaskans are drinking contaminated water and we need to fix it. That means more testing for PFAS compounds, clean water for people who are affected, and no more spraying PFAS that can pollute our water supplies.

I'm working with the committee chair and members to get the bill moving soon.

I met with members of the Key Coalition this week. They spoke powerfully about how important it is to help Alaskans live independently.

A Lonely 'No'

It turns out I broke the comity of the Senate this week.^* Apparently we'd passed every bill so far this session unanimously. Then I was the lone ‘no’ vote on a civics education bill.

I'm actually a big fan of civics education. The bill was a tough vote because I liked almost everything in it. Alaska students need more civics. And the curriculum includes Alaska Native Tribal ways of governing. Still, I voted ‘no’ because the bill makes the test a graduation requirement.

I worked at the Department of Education & Early Development when Alaska started implementing high school graduation tests at the end of the 1990s. That policy was an educational and financial failure. We’ve since rolled it back and mailed a lot of young people diplomas after the fact.

While this new bill is put together very differently than the old high-stakes exit exam, I wasn’t going to vote to sidle back in the direction of graduation tests.

^{*Comity actually survived. But I did get a fair bit of good-natured razzing about it.}

All my best,

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Events & Happenings Around District Q

Juneau Pour the Love: Cabin Fever

The four Juneau breweries are joining forces in another bid to bring goodwill and support community projects! All through February, stop by and enjoy special brews to help build a new public use cabin at Eaglecrest.

Juneau Wolf Songs

Original music by Alaska composers, presented by Orpheus Project with many collaborators from Juneau to Los Angeles this weekend only – celebrate our famous wolf , Romeo , at TMHS.

Juneau Parks Clue #2

Colonel Coho with trekking poles in the greenhouse?! Join this free and fun spin on the classic game run by CBJ Parks and Rec This time the clues are along the Auke Lake Trail.

Juneau Mudrooms

It’s back! The first show’s theme is “under construction.” Reserve yourself a seat for the first one on March 8^th. Grab one quick!

Juneau Innovation

JEDC’s annual innovation summit is ON! Be a part of Talent Transformation in a Dynamic Economy. March 16-17 at Centennial Hall.

Haines Discovery Kits

Get to the Haines Library and check out your discovery kit to open up a world of fun!

Haines Winterfest

Feb. 26^th the winter games return! Sure, the Olympics are over, but we’re talking about fun at the Southeast Alaska State Fairgrounds – games followed by a cookoff and potluck!

Haines River Talk

Come listen to stories on the theme “Saved by a Song.” Seven speakers, seven stories, seven minutes, 7:00, for $7. Plus live music and more -- happening March 17^th at the Chilkat Center for the Arts.

Skagway Babies

Stories, songs, and fun with Ms. Anna! The Windy Valley Babies get together every Wednesday in the library at 10 am.

Skagway Teens

Get out of the house and go to the library for a weekly night when your parents aren’t allowed to come bug you - Fridays at 6:30 pm!

Gustavus Mending

The fix it, repair it, upcycle it event is postponed. Stay tuned for an updated time!