Juneau is a government town, except for May through September, when it’s a tourist town.
But the best jobs in the Capital City are with state and municipal government, and locals treasure them. Especially valued are the union-protected jobs.
Maybe that’s why one woman decided to verbally harangue OMB Director Donna Arduin as Arduin was shopping in a local (and locally owned) store on Seward Street.
The woman was described by witnesses as emotionally overwrought and hostile, but she didn’t present an actual threat.
A posting on Facebook shows that such encounters could be more common for Arduin in this Big Government, Big Public Employee Union town.
Malena Marvin, a Bernie Sanders supporter, posted a request that people in Juneau “educate” Arduin, and post videos of themselves doing so onto their Facebook timelines.
Marvin’s post has now been shared more than 212 times, and by many Juneauites.
Arduin is in charge of producing a budget that is no more than the actual revenues that Alaska has, which is $4.6 billion. She’s made $1.6 billion in cuts from the budget offered in December by Gov. Bill Walker (which had grown substantially from the year before.)
Should Arduin be assigned a security detail? Must Read Alaska has asked the Governor’s Office to comment on whether the OMB director needs a body guard or if she’s going to have to fend for herself, but has not received an answer.
However, the first step has already been taken: As of 10 days ago, the door to the offices of OMB have been locked for the protection of the workers.
Juneau, it should be noted, is the third wealthiest city in Alaska, after the Denali Borough and Skagway. Juneau has 1,109 millionaire households out of a total of 12,986.
