Some Anchorage school board members are working hand-in-glove with select Anchorage assembly members to extend the emergency powers of the mayor and keep schools closed, because some teachers do not want to return to the classroom.

A private meeting is planned for coming days between School Board member Deena Mitchell, Assembly members Meg Zalatel and Felix Rivera, and the Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson to hammer out the agreement. Quinn-Davidson becomes mayor at 6:01 pm on Friday, Oct. 23. Zalatel, Rivera, and Quinn-Davidson are all subject to current attempts to recall them.

Other Assembly members have been approached to encourage the extension of the emergency orders and proclamation, which expires Nov. 30.

The emergency extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic would allow the school board to continue locking the schools, with the support and direction of the Anchorage Education Association, which has taken the position that there is no practical way to implement safeguards from the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, a petition is reportedly circulating in factions of the community to shut down the Ben Boeke ice arena once again, and return it to sheltering vagrants through the winter. The Sullivan Arena is also being used to shelter vagrants, as a way of spacing them out at existing homeless shelters.

The Anchorage School District has a plan in place for those parents and/or teachers who would prefer not to go back to school in person. Students can continue to get their education by the ASD online program. But they will not have the opportunity to return to the classroom, if the current plans unfold to extend the emergency declaration in Anchorage.

Lawsuits or unrest may be in Alaska’s future after the 2020 General Election is over, if a recent demand letter from Alaska Democrats is any indication. At the very least, the demand letter indicates the level of deep conspiracy-level distrust that leftists have for the election system and their intent to discredit the results.

The Alaska Public Interest Research Group is among other Democratic front organizations flexing their muscles with the demand that candidates sign an oath supporting election demands — demands for conditions that are already met by the checks and balances established in the election process.

It’s another attempt in a long list of attempts by Democrats to change how elections are conducted in Alaska and the U.S.A. and indicate they are queuing up lawsuits they intend to file after the election is certified, if they don’t like the results.

The signers of the demand letter want Republican candidates to outline their personal plan to ensure elections will be fair. This plan must be in writing or social media or by press release by Oct. 26, the group says. There is no “or else” included.

The demands include putting prohibitions on the press.

“We are now asking that you publicly commit to uphold democracy this year, ensuring that regardless of the winners, we swear in a government elected by the people in a free and fair election,” the letter says.

The demands are mostly a restatement of what is already accepted and produced by all elections in America in the present era, and is a partial list of what election workers are paid to do. The demands include:

“We ask you to publicly reassure Alaskans of the following: 

• Every eligible Alaskan voter will have the opportunity to cast their vote on or before November 3rd, without interference or intimidation.
• Every eligible vote will be counted, including vote-by-mail ballots, a safe and secure voting option. Efforts to stop ballot counting before all votes are counted will be recognized as a threat to the democratic process and will not be tolerated.
• Voter intimidation by individuals or groups at polling places and ballot dropbox locations will not be tolerated.
• Unless an opponent concedes after a substantial portion of ALL ballots have been counted, winners will not be declared by candidates, news outlets, or elected officials until the Division of Elections certifies the 2020 General Election (Target date 11/25/20); allowing time for all mail-in ballots to be counted and any reported election irregularities to be investigated and remedied.
• An outline of your plan to ensure that election results will be respected and a peaceful transfer of power will occur will be shared publicly in advance of November 3, 2020.
• The voice of the Alaska people will be heard and accurately represented during the national joint congressional session to confirm election results.“

According to the groups, government officials must prohibit the free press from declaring a winner, and must muzzle the free speech of candidates or their supporters until the government says the election is called.

The group’s letter was signed by hardline Democrats:

• Besse Odom, a registered Democrat from the Poor People’s Campaign
• Evan Anderson, a registered Democrat from the Alaska Center for the Environment Education Fund
• Pamela Miller, a registered Democrat with Alaska Community Action on Toxics
• Alexandra Veri Di Suvero, a registered Democrat and executive director of the Alaska Public Interest Research Group
• Jessica Girard, a registered Democrat, Director Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition
• Theresa Lyons, a registered Democrat, director of YMCA in Anchorage.
• Kendra Kloster, a registered Democrat, Native People’s Action Community Fund
• Siqiniq Maupin, Director for Sovereign Inupiaq for a Living Arctic
• Enei Begaye, Executive Director, Native Movement
• Charlene Apok, registered Democrat, Director of Data for Indigenous Justice
• Reverend Matthew Schultz, registered Democrat, Pastor of Anchorage First Presbyterian Church

Candidate David Nees threw the red flag on the demand:

 “I have observed the Division of elections doing a fine job of enforcing points 1 and 2 in my 40 years of voting in Alaska. Point three is a Federal crime please feel free to use your voice to report violations or get Division of Elections to allow observers at polling places. Good luck with point  four the press always try to declare a winner, But, that said  the current state law about counting absentee is to be followed, especially the postmarked date must be followed, and the state needs to toss out the case for correcting ballots. ‘Peaceful transfer of power’ I toss the B.S. flag. Electoral college process satisfies the verification process,” Nees wrote.

Joe Biden said during Thursday’s debate that as president he would transition the nation away from the oil industry, which is currently the bedrock of the national economy.

America’s oil and natural gas industry generates 10.3 million jobs in the United States and is responsible for 8 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. 

President Donald Trump responded by quipping: “Oh. There’s a big statement.”

Biden said he would move the nation to zero-emission energy by the year 2035 and bring solar and wind energy into greater usage.

Trump responded that Biden was antagonizing the oil industry, which forms crucial parts of the economies of several red states.

“Will you remember that, Texas? Will you remember that, Pennsylvania? Will you remember that, Oklahoma?” Trump said during his time at the mic.

Trump gave a strong performance in the Thursday debate, but Biden voters were relieved that their candidate did not botch too many opportunities. Biden, who has taken four days off from campaigning to prepare for the debate, appeared to run out of steam by the end of the debate and was caught checking his watch at one point, about 10 minutes before the debate ended.

Power the Future issued a press release after the debate, saying “Joe Biden endangered Alaska’s economy and the industry responsible over a quarter of our private-sector employment.  By reiterating his opposition to fracking on federal lands and in federal waters, he threatened short- and long-term economic growth.  Then, he went one step further and clearly stated that he would “transition from” oil.  Alaskans were demeaned and dumped on by the Vice President tonight. Every Alaskan should be asking how this radical agenda benefits our state.”