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Anchorage Assembly set to approve major city lobbying contract with former Mayor Mark Begich’s firm

The Anchorage Assembly at Tuesday’s meeting is set to approve a new lobbying contract with a firm that employs former US Senator and former Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, raising questions about transparency in city government.

According to Assembly meeting documents, the firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP was selected from seven applicants to provide federal and state lobbying services for the Municipality of Anchorage. The initial contract runs from July 1 through Dec. 31, at a not-to-exceed cost of $90,000. Two optional one-year renewals at $200,000 each could bring the total contract value to $490,000.

Begich, who also owns hotel properties periodically leased by the city for use as homeless shelters, is named in the contract as the “Lead Lobbyist.” Though he is not a registered lobbyist, his involvement in municipal matters is ongoing. He arranged for the sale of Municipal Light & Power when Mayor Ethan Berkowitz was in office, and his contracts with the city to house homeless individuals in his hotel properties has been worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The lobbying contract outlines specific safeguards to address potential conflicts of interest, requiring Mark Begich to disclose whether he is acting on behalf of the city in any meeting or communication with municipal officials. If no such disclosure is made, it will be presumed that he is not representing the city. Likewise, failure to disclose a conflict of interest will be taken to mean none exists.

The firm’s responsibilities include engaging with Alaska’s congressional delegation, monitoring and influencing key legislation, and pursuing federal funding opportunities on behalf of the city. Brownstein is also required to provide at least two briefings per year to both the Administration and Assembly, as well as regular written reports detailing its lobbying activities.

The contract comes at a time when Mayor Suzanne LaFrance and the Assembly are working to increase Anchorage’s influence in Washington, DC, and Juneau amid shifting federal and state funding priorities.

Also notable is that LaFrance’s chief of staff, Susanne Fleek-Green, formerly served as state director for Sen. Begich during his tenure in the US Senate and she served as former Mayor Ethan Berkowitz’ chief of staff, as well as her job in the Biden Administration running Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.

While Mark Begich is the Democrat uncle of Rep. Nick Begich III, a Republican currently representing Alaska in Congress, there is no indication that the contract would involve any lobbying directed at his nephew, the congressman. But the contract is awkward and does not acknowledge that conflict of interests that Mark Begich has.

The Assembly is scheduled to vote on the contract during its June 24 meeting. The agenda for the meeting is at this link.

Two hospitalized after small plane crash at Big Lake

Two men were seriously injured Tuesday morning when a small plane crashed at Big Lake Airport, prompting an emergency response from Alaska State Troopers and local first responders. The Big Lake Airport is essentially a 2,400-foot-long airstrip one nautical mile southeast of the central business district of Big Lake in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

The crash was reported at 9:36 am on June 24. According to the Alaska State Troopers, the aircraft involved was a Piper PA-32R-300, a single-engine plane commonly used for private flights.

Both the adult male pilot and an adult male passenger sustained serious injuries in the crash and were transported to a Mat-Su area hospital for treatment. Their current conditions have not been disclosed.

The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified and is expected to lead the investigation into the cause of the crash.

Senate parliamentarian axes Sen. Lee’s land sale provisions from Big Beautiful Bill

A sweeping federal land sale proposal by Sen. Mike Lee of Utah has been struck from the Senate version of President Donald Trump’s signature tax and immigration budget package following a ruling by Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough.

Lee’s plan would have opened millions of acres of Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service land for sale across 11 Western states.

The proposal, which was part of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s budget reconciliation bill, targeted the sale of 0.5% to 0.75% of BLM and Forest Service lands in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. In all, about 82 million acres in Alaska alone were eligible for consideration under this plan, although the total mandated sale across all states was capped at 2.2 to 3.3 million acres over five years.

The parliamentarian, who is the rules arbiter of the Senate, deemed the proposal incompatible with the strict requirements of the budget reconciliation process. Elizabeth MacDonough ruled on Monday that the provision violated the “Byrd” rule, which mandates that reconciliation measures must have a direct impact on federal spending, revenue, or the debt limit.

Lee signaled he is not backing down.

Lee wrote on X, “Housing prices are crushing families and keeping young Americans from living where they grew up. We need to change that. Thanks to YOU—the AMERICAN PEOPLE—here’s what I plan to do: 1. REMOVE ALL Forest Service land. We are NOT selling off our forests. 2. SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE the amount of BLM land in the bill. Only land WITHIN 5 MILES of population centers is eligible. 3. Establish FREEDOM ZONES to ensure these lands benefit AMERICAN FAMILIES. 4. PROTECT our farmers, ranchers, and recreational users. They come first. Yes, the Byrd Rule limits what can go in the reconciliation bill, but I’m doing everything I can to support President Trump and move this forward. Stay tuned. We’re just getting started.”

A revised proposal has already been reportedly submitted to the parliamentarian for consideration, removing Forest Service lands from the sale plan and limits eligible BLM parcels to those within five miles of existing population centers, among other restrictions.

In total, MacDonough has ruled 32 provisions out of bounds under reconciliation, including several other energy and resource-related items. Among them are the fast-tracking of offshore oil and gas development, the undoing of Biden-era fee reductions for renewable energy projects on federal land, and forcing a full vote on the Ambler Road in Alaska.

Anchorage Assembly moves to silence critics with new discretionary limit on public testimony

The liberal majority on the Anchorage Assembly is moving forward with yet another restriction on public participation, with a new rule that would allow the chair to block individuals from testifying more than once per quarter.

The proposed change, which is embedded in a broader package of procedural rules, states:

“If the person requesting an appearance has submitted multiple appearance requests within a 90-day period, the chair may, at their discretion, limit the speaker to one appearance every quarter. The clerk shall provide written notice to the speaker on behalf of the chair prior to denying a request pursuant to this subsection.”

In other words, it will depend on whether the chairman of the Assembly likes the testifier.

This latest proposal is just the newest layer in a pattern of measures adopted by the Assembly that are designed to suppress dissent and limit public participation..

The Assembly already enforces several restrictions on how and when residents may testify:

  • Time limits: Individuals are limited to three minutes of comment per agenda item.
  • One chance to speak: Residents may only testify once on each item, even if the item spans multiple meetings or amendments.
  • Mandatory sign-ups: Testifiers must sign up in advance, often online, and in some cases are required to summarize their comments in writing ahead of time.
  • Content restrictions: Comments must remain on-topic, and rules prohibit any “criticism or attacks” on individuals — even public officials.

The rule barring criticism has been inconsistently applied and has drawn fire from residents who view it as a way to shut down legitimate grievances. The chair, currently Assemblyman Chris Constant, retains wide discretion to cut off comments for what he deems inappropriate behavior or language.

Several high-profile incidents have fueled concern that Assembly leadership is more interested in silencing the public than hearing from them.

In one recent incident, Assembly Chair Chris Constant was caught on camera mouthing an expletive (“F— you”) at a woman waiting to testify during a heated meeting. The moment was captured on video. Watch the clip here.

In another case, a young Anchorage man spoke passionately during public comment about his decision to leave the city due to deteriorating conditions. After respectfully calling out the Assembly’s decisions, Chairman Chris Constant lashed out at the man and audience, calling them “disrespectful.” Watch the exchange here.

Both instances sparked outrage among citizens who say Assembly leaders show open contempt for the people they serve.

The proposed quarterly limit is yet another mechanism to insulate the Assembly from accountability and avoid difficult conversations. While proponents claim the move is about “efficiency,” the real motivation is to stifle frequent critics and prevent ongoing scrutiny from the public.

The rule change would grant the Assembly chair nearly unilateral power to decide who gets to speak and how often.

In recent years, residents have noted that the Assembly has become less welcoming to public participation. With meetings dominated by procedural formalities, a limited window for public input, and an overt hostility toward criticism, the suppression has worked, as public attendance at Assembly meetings has dropped dramatically.

The ordinance can be found at this link under the new public hearings agenda item. The Anchorage Assembly meeting begins at 5 pm on the ground floor of the Loussac Library in Anchorage. Agenda and agenda packet are at this link.

Anchorage Assembly chairman sabotages vagrant crackdown with $15 million ‘poison pill’ tax

An ordinance aimed at clearing illegal encampments from Anchorage parks and playgrounds faces a dramatic twist at tonight’s Anchorage Assembly meeting.

Assembly Chairman Chris Constant is introducing a substitute version — or “S version” — that would attach a $15 million tax-funded price tag for enforcement, in a move designed to kill the proposal from within.

The original ordinance, backed by conservative Assembly Members Scott Myers, Jared Goecker, and Keith McCormick, seeks to prohibit unauthorized camping, squatting, taking over and criminal activity on public lands. The gained public support from residents frustrated with rising crime, drug use, and organized theft rings operating out of makeshift encampments in municipal green spaces.

However, the core ordinance faces opposition from the Assembly’s liberal majority, who have resisted similar enforcement-first approaches in the past.

Now, with Constant’s “S version,” the ordinance would require the city to raise $15 million from taxpayers to fund enforcement efforts — an amendment that could turn the tide of public sentiment against it and force the ordinance’s own sponsors to vote against it.

The sudden fiscal attachment is a “poison pill,” designed to sink the original ordinance without appearing to oppose it outright.

The maneuver comes after weeks of increasing crime and arson in vagrant encampments, with growing demands from Anchorage residents for visible action on the city’s drug and mental illness crisis, particularly in neighborhoods like Fairview and Spenard, where residents have reported encampments overtaking public spaces.

Last week, when the city began abatement of the Davis Park “SLAZ” encampment, the squatters lit numerous fires in the park and created a public safety crisis. While that camp has been cleared (and burned), the vagrants seem to be edging back into it.

The original ordinance would have authorized law enforcement to remove illegal campers from parks, trails, and playgrounds, and impose fines or criminal penalties for repeat offenses. It also sought to prevent areas from being re-occupied once cleared.

Assembly Chair Constant’s S version, added to the meeting agenda just hours before the scheduled public hearing, shifts the focus from enforcement to cost without offering a concrete plan for how the $15 million would be spent or what departments would administer the funds.

Constant is weaponizing the budget process to undermine serious public safety legislation.

That section of the S version effectively proposes creating a new tax — subject to voter approval — specifically earmarked to fund the enforcement and social services related to illegal encampments and displaced homeless individuals. But in doing so, it raises a serious question:

Why create a new tax for something the existing Alcohol Tax was already supposed to fund?

When voters approved Anchorage’s Alcohol Tax in 2020, they were told the funds — roughly $12 to $15 million annually — would go toward public safety and law enforcement support, substance misuse prevention and treatment, mental health services, and homelessness response, including shelter, case management, and outreach.

The Alcohol Tax was sold to the public as a long-term solution to reduce vagrancy, substance abuse, and the visible impact of homelessness on public spaces.

Now, by proposing another tax levy dedicated to exactly those same goals — “addressing prohibited campsites” and “providing for the management and care of displaced homeless persons” — the S version duplicates the stated purpose of the Alcohol Tax, implying those funds are either misallocated, insufficient, or mismanaged. It also creates a political trap: If conservatives vote for the ordinance, they’re effectively endorsing a new tax. If they vote against it, they kill their own anti-crime measure. The new tax effort shifts the focus from enforcement to taxation, and would delay immediate action on public safety while punting the solution to a future election.

    The Anchorage Assembly meeting begins at 5 p.m. tonight at the Loussac Library, with the encampment ordinance set for public hearing. A large turnout is expected.

    The agenda and documents can be found at this link.

    Surprise $75K for free rides for Fairview hits Anchorage Assembly agenda for Tuesday vote

    The Anchorage Assembly is set to consider a $75,000 spending proposal at its Tuesday meeting that would fund weekend shuttle service to grocery stores for residents of the Fairview neighborhood. The proposed spending is a surprise “laid on the table” agenda item placed at the last minute in order to prevent public participation.

    Proposed by Mayor Suzanne LaFrance, the spending aims to address the community impact of the recent closure of the Carrs grocery store on Gambell Street, which shut its doors on May 10.

    The store, for 50 years a neighborhood grocery and pharmacy for Fairview residents, has long been a hang out for inebriates, thieves, and vagrants. It closed due to financial losses from chronic shoplifting and due to broader public safety issues for both employees and shoppers in the area. Rather than addressing lawlessness, LaFrance and the liberal Assembly are providing shuttle services.

    The mayor’s proposal would provide free rides to grocery stores located approximately two miles away in Midtown Anchorage, including Fred Meyer and Carrs at the intersection of New Seward Highway and West Northern Lights Boulevard. The service would run on Saturdays and Sundays through October 27, when Anchorage’s transportation department is expected to implement adjustments to broader transit services.

    The weekend shuttle program would be operated by NeighborWorks Alaska, a local nonprofit organization. If approved, the temporary service would serve as a stopgap solution, but could continue indefinitely.

    The Assembly is expected to vote on the measure during its June 24 regular meeting that begins at 5 pm at the Loussac Library ground floor meeting room. The spending is a “laid on the table” item, which is supposed to be reserved for emergencies but is used by the Assembly when it does not want to give the public advance warning about an action. The public can watch the meeting at this link.

    The agenda is at this link.

    Burning issue: Smoke sends Fairbanks air quality south

    Wildfires burning across Alaska’s Interior are creating widespread air quality concerns, particularly in and around Fairbanks, where smoke from multiple fires has led to elevated pollution levels and reduced visibility.

    As of 6:45 pm Monday, the Air Quality Index in Fairbanks ranged between 124 and 136 — a level categorized as Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The primary pollutant is fine particulate matter (PM2.5), smoke essentially, which can aggravate respiratory conditions. However, air quality gradually improved throughout the day and is expected to reach Moderate levels by Tuesday, though smoke remains present.

    The smoke is primarily driven by increased fire activity. Bear Creek Fire in the Denali Borough has grown to 21,000 acres. Northeast of Delta Junction, the Twelvemile Lake Fire (#220) has grown significantly, and is now estimated at approximately 13,907 acres. The fires have prompted a robust response by the Alaska Division of Forestry, which is also actively engaged in two other area fires: the Lake George Fire (#224), at an estimated 200 acres, and the Sand Lake Fire (#292), at roughly 2,856 acres.

    Fire crews are prioritizing point protection for multiple threatened cabins in the Twelvemile Lake Fire. Pumps and sprinkler systems are being deployed around structures, with both ground and aerial teams supported by boating operations. This logistical effort is resulting in increased traffic on local waterways and roadways, especially around Twelvemile Lake, Healy Lake, Sand Lake, and Lake George. Travelers in these areas are advised to use caution and remain alert to rapidly changing conditions.

    Although Monday’s weather has brought some relief, including cooler temperatures and potential precipitation, fuels across the region remain critically dry. The number of new fire starts dropped to 9 on Sunday, a significant decrease from more than 30 starts detected on Saturday. Still, approximately 184 fires remain active across the state.

    Elsewhere in the Interior, smoke conditions vary. Tok continues to experience Unhealthy air quality with visibility limited to 1–5 miles. Fort Yukon and Bettles are seeing mostly Moderate conditions, with intermittent periods of AQI levels deemed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. In contrast, Galena and McGrath are currently experiencing Good air quality with minimal smoke impacts.

    Overall, heavy smoke is expected to lift slowly in most areas, though periodic haze and visibility challenges will persist. Visibility in most affected zones should improve to between 6 and 10 miles, though localized conditions will vary.

    Residents are being encouraged to monitor air quality reports and wildfire updates regularly and to take precautions, particularly if they belong to sensitive health groups. While improved weather may aid suppression efforts in the days ahead, fire and smoke activity remain dynamic.

    Breaking: Iran-Israel ceasefire deal? Trump says so

    Another twist in the conflict in the Middle East: President Donald Trump announced Monday that Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total” ceasefire, bringing an end to a short but intense conflict that began earlier this month. The announcement was made via Trump’s TruthSocial account. He said he and the White House have brokered the agreement personally.

    The ceasefire comes after 12 days of escalating violence that began on June 13, when Israel launched an airstrike on suspected Iranian nuclear facilities. The attack set off a cascade of retaliatory actions, including US strikes on Iranian targets and an Iranian missile barrage on a US military base in Qatar, which occurred Monday but caused no damage to the American base..

    Trump said the ceasefire would unfold in a staged sequence: Iran is to begin a 12-hour pause in hostilities, followed by a reciprocal 12-hour pause by Israel. The war would be declared officially over 24 hours after the initial pause, ending what Trump refers to as the “12 Day War.”

    “It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE… for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!” Trump posted. He praised the leadership in both nations for what he called “stamina, courage, and intelligence,” and warned that a prolonged conflict “could have destroyed the entire Middle East.”

    The ceasefire is reportedly scheduled to begin early Tuesday morning Tehran time, roughly six hours after Trump’s announcement. According to the proposed timeline, Iran will halt hostilities first to allow the staged de-escalation process to begin, with Israel following 12 hours later. There has been no immediate confirmation of the agreement from Tehran or Jerusalem.

    Breaking: USDA frees the Tongass by rescinding Roadless Rule

    On Monday, US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that the USDA is rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule, which is the rule that shut down logging in Alaska.

    In a move cheered by rural communities, foresters, and fire prevention experts across the West, Rollins made the announcement during a meeting of the Western Governors’ Association in New Mexico, lifted the rule that has hampered responsible forest management on nearly 59 million acres of national forest land.

    Rollins called the rule “overly restrictive” and a major roadblock to the USDA Forest Service’s core mission of sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands.

    Rollins said the decision is in line with President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation, which directs federal agencies to cut red tape that stifles innovation, local governance, and economic growth.

    Rollins noted that the roadless rule has hampered efforts to thin fire-prone landscapes, restricted local access to resources, and blocked job-creating projects in forestry and timber production. The impacts have been especially harsh in western states, where enormous swaths of forestland have been locked away from management tools like fire breaks, fuel removal, and road access.

    In Alaska, the Roadless Rule locked up over 92% of the Tongass National Forest.

    In Utah, nearly 60% of all Forest Service land was designated “roadless,” making proactive wildfire prevention efforts all but impossible across large portions of the state. In Montana, 58% of national forest acreage was restricted.

    “This is another example of President Trump fulfilling his campaign promises to open up resources for responsible development. We thank the President and Secretary of Agriculture Rollins for continuing the process of rolling back unnecessary regulations that stifle economic activity and sends opportunity overseas where there are less environmental protections, such as we have here in Alaska. Thank you, President Trump and Secretary Rollins,” said Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

    Congressman Nick Begich noted, “Today’s decision by the USDA to rescind the deeply flawed and outdated Roadless Rule is yet another a major victory for Alaska. Alaska’s forests are one of our state’s greatest natural assets and the “Roadless Rule” has long stifled responsible forest management, blocked access to critical resources, and halted economic opportunity
    particularly in Alaska, where 92% of the Tongass National Forest was off-limits. The Roadless Rule was never about responsible conservation; it was about bureaucratic overreach that undermined the ability of local forest managers and communities to effectively manage their lands. I commend Secretary Rollins and President Trump for their leadership in advancing this commonsense reform.”

    Sen. Dan Sullivan said, “I welcome the decision by Secretary Rollins and President Trump to rescind the Roadless Rule and allow for proper management of US Forest System lands in Alaska. Since 2001, this rule has hindered Alaskan’s ability to responsibly harvest timber, develop minerals, connect communities, or build energy projects at lower costs — including renewable energy projects like hydropower, which are especially critical to economic opportunities in Southeast Alaska surrounded by the Tongass National Forest. I am grateful that the Trump administration has once again rescinded this rule to put Alaskans back in the driver’s seat to make a living, support our families, and connect our communities while protecting our lands and growing our economy.”

    “Once again, President Trump is removing absurd obstacles to common sense management of our natural resources,” Rollins said. “This move opens a new era of consistency and sustainability for our nation’s forests.”

    The original 2001 Roadless Rule prohibited road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvest in designated areas. But forestry. managers have long said it ignored the on-the-ground realities of forest management, especially in fire-prone areas. Today, 28 million acres of the land previously covered under the rule are categorized as high or very high risk of wildfire.

    With the rule now rescinded, land managers will have more authority and flexibility to manage fire risk, improve access for emergency response, and support sustainable timber harvesting. Importantly, this shift re-centers decision-making with those who know the land best — local and regional Forest Service officials working directly with community stakeholders.

    The change also promises a boost to rural economies, such as that in Southeast Alaska, that have long borne the brunt of Washington’s forest restrictions. Utah officials estimate that the Roadless Rule alone has caused a 25% decrease in forestry-sector development in their state.

    The USDA’s decision marks a return to proactive land stewardship and local control, two principles that Western leaders and rural communities have championed for years.