Looking at the amount of money spent on Anchorage Assembly races by unions’ political action committees leads to only one conclusion: They really, really like the five incumbents standing for re-election in Tuesday’s municipal election.
With six of the Assembly’s 11 seats up for grabs, it is easy to understand the unions’ – including public employees unions and trade unions with city labor contracts – interest in this election. The liberal makeup of the Assembly could be changed by voters in this election.
The organizations’ political action committees have spent more than $75,000 on the six races, with one race, in Chugiak/Eagle River, where there is no incumbent in the contest – receiving only $2,000 of that amount.
Unions poured a lot of money into Tuesday’s election to keep the status quo.
“Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program.” Milton Friedman
It seems like ages, not just a few months, since COVID-19, coronavirus, and social distancing became part of our everyday vocabulary. The coronavirus is challenging our state, our country and the rest of the world unlike anything we’ve experienced in our lifetimes.
There is much unknown about the virus from a medical and health perspective. Medical researchers and epidemiologists will soon figure this out and provide the tools needed to beat this scourge back.
When that happens, it will be a monumental achievement that saves many lives. Those responsible deserve all the accolades that come their way.
But, that accomplishment, when it happens, may not be what many people will remember. Instead, it may be the cultural and economic impacts that come to mind – and how government and our citizenry responded to them.
We know this event is already changing our lives in many ways.
We’re already more conscious of our health and hygiene habits – especially relating to the people we come in contact with – including healthcare providers on the frontlines of medicine.
We are discovering that our physical presence in an office, classroom, or meeting isn’t as important as we imagined. One wonders how this will affect HR policies, demand for office space, and the need for grand university campuses in the future.
Likewise, regular trips to brick-and-mortar buildings, whether a grocery, department store, bank, or medical clinic suddenly don’t seem so necessary. Even the less computer-savvy among us are learning to order groceries, make a bank deposit, and confer with our doctor online.
Could this mean we eventually will spend more time exercising, pursuing other interests, and interacting with our families and friends?
This new paradigm portends beneficial changes in our culture – as long as organizations, companies, and workers are willing to adapt to consumers’ changing consumption habits. Those that do will be the winners in the new recovered economy.
The direct economic consequences of this crisis aren’t well defined. In the short term, we know it will be devastating.
In Alaska, private employers are especially vulnerable because of our over-concentration in the oil and visitor industries.
The growing world-wide oil glut and current price war will depress oil prices indefinitely, negatively impacting both production and exploration.
Alaska’s visitor industry is fueled almost exclusively by discretionary purchases – the first to be reduced in a recessionary economy. Negative stories surrounding the ease of viral transmission in airports, aircraft, and cruise ships will linger in the public’s mind. Unfortunately, this means our visitor industry won’t likely recover for several years.
Many other businesses – from restaurants to retail stores, hair salons, dog groomers, and dry cleaners – are all taking a hit. Few areas of our economy will escape unscathed – except, it seems, maybe the government workforce.
This unprecedented economic disruption has triggered a massive government response at every level. Congress passed a $2 trillion relief package and Gov. Dunleavy has proposed millions in state economic assistance. Local municipalities are formulating their own aid plans.
Short term, this is necessary and helpful. But it won’t be enough over the long run. Ultimately, history will judge us on how we individually and collectively rebuilt our economy. Holding government itself harmless from economic impacts doesn’t help accomplish this.
This begs the question: Why did our state legislature just pass a budget that contemplates providing state services as usual – presumably continuing to fund salary step increases and job security for all state workers – when, by some estimates, 39,000 Alaskans will have gotten layoff notices in our private sector?
Alaskans like to think of themselves as a hardy, self-reliant breed. But, without much regard to whether we can afford it, we’ve come to expect “free” PFD’s, unending government assistance and grants galore funding expansive amenities – arts, parks, pools, museums and special programs. We’ve poured billions into education and Medicaid without improving student achievement or health outcomes.
A real long-term danger we face is that this crisis will make us more dependent on government when we need to be willing to restructure our priorities to fit a new reality: Expect less from government and do more for ourselves.
Win Gruening retired as the senior vice president in charge of business banking for Key Bank in 2012. He was born and raised in Juneau and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1970. He is active in community affairs as a 30-plus year member of Juneau Downtown Rotary Club and has been involved in various local and statewide organizations.
Judy Eledge, Randy Ruedrich, and John Binkley are the three electors for the Alaska Republican Party this presidential cycle. They were chosen as a slate forwarded by Nominations Committee and passed by convention to cast the electoral college votes in December. There were 221 delegates to the convention, and the slate passed 117-28, with some delegates not voting.
In December, electors meet in their respective states to cast their votes for president and vice president. The position of an elector is historic, symbolic, and prestigious. Each state gets a number of electors equal to its U.S. Congressional representation. Alaska has three electors.
Democrats and Republicans choose their electors through an election process at their state conventions.
In Alaska, each elector must pledge that he or she will cast his or her electoral vote for the winning candidate of the party.
Eledge, of Anchorage, is the chair of the Anchorage Republican Women’s Club, and Ruedrich, also of Anchorage, is the former chair of the Alaska Republican Party. Both are deeply involved in party politics. Binkley, of Fairbanks, is a former state representative and senator and ran for governor in 2006. His family business purchased the Anchorage Daily News from Alice Rogoff in 2017, saving the state’s largest newspaper from bankruptcy.
Mike Tauriainen was elected to be the party’s national committeeman, and Cynthia Henry was reelected to national committeewoman during the party’s convention, which was held by teleconference for the first time.
Tauriainen was a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from Alaska and was one of 12 delegates from the state who was bound by state party rules to support Ted Cruz that year. He and his wife Kay live in Kenai and are longtime activists in the party. Tauriainen replaces Peter Goldberg.
Henry was first elected as national committeewoman in 2016. She also was a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from Alaska. Like Tauriainen, Henry was one of three delegates from Alaska bound by state party rules to support Ted Cruz in 2016 at the national convention.
Glenn Clary was re-elected as ARP chairman and Vice Chair Ann Brown was also re-elected. Newly elected to positions in the state party were Secretary Chris Carter, and Assistant Secretary Debbie Clary.
GRANT, YUTE, RYAN WILL START PICKING UP MAIL SERVICE RAVN CANCELED
Clearing up confusion created when RavnAir Group suspended flights to most of rural Western Alaska this week, the company said it will continue flying to Unalaska, one of its main routes.
The company, which ended service to most of the nearly 140 rural communities it serves, will run four flights a week to Unalaska, and will provide charter flights as needed to what is the top fishing port in the United States.
Last week, the company announced it was ending service to nearly all rural communities and halting 90 percent of its flights.
Grant Aviation and Yute Air, however, are stepping up to fill the void for many communities formerly served by RavnAir, grabbing up the mail contracts from the U.S. Postal Service. The situation is in flux as the companies look for opportunity, but struggle with the small fleets they operate.
Writing to the people of Western Alaska via Facebook, Yute Air said, “With everything that’s going on we wanted to make sure you knew we are still here and flying strong. With Ravn’s abrupt departure we will try to fill any needs that may arise. Until this is over Yute is here with you ‘Wings of the People.'”
Grant Aviation General Manager Dan Knesek stated his company will do what it can to make sure the mail gets delivered and emergency needs are taken care of.
The rural carriers also include Ryan Air, which is jumping into fill the void left by Ravn. The company will add Stony River to its Upper Kuskokwim mail and freight route that includes Chuathbaulk, Crooked Creek, Red Devil, and Sleetmute three times a week.
The situation with the air carriers in western rural communities is dynamic and none of the three carriers remaining to serve the small villages have the number of planes needed to fill the void. But for now, many communities that were suddenly without freight and mail have an option emerging, and the reshuffling took place within 72 hours of Ravn announcing its decision to ground its fleet for now.
For Ravn, the question is more difficult since they’ve breached the contract with the Post Office. Mail contracts don’t come around very often. This could permanently damage Ravn’s ability to recover financially in rural Alaska because the bypass mail is a major source of revenue. Few air carriers have succeeded in rural Alaska without having their revenue supplemented by the mail contracts, which can comprise up to half of their revenues.
The aviation community that serves smaller communities in Alaskas is close-knit and the bypass mail contracts are a key part of their business model.
This story has been updated to reflect 14 cases, rather than earlier reported as 13.
Alaska saw 14 new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus since yesterday, for a total of 172 cases identified statewide to date.
Two more Alaskans have died because of the virus, bringing the deaths to five in Alaska since the outbreak reached the farthest north state at the beginning of March. The first death in Alaska was March 26.
A total of 16 people have been hospitalized for treatment, although not all of those are in hospitals now.
The 172 cases now diagnosed includes the five deaths but does not include the number of Alaskans who have recovered from the virus. Although COVID-19 is a considered a “reportable disease” with the Centers for Disease Control, reporting recoveries is a less exact science and that information is likely to be inaccurate, therefore the State Department of Health and Social Services is not yet announcing the number of recoveries.
Cases reported in the past 24 hours are likely to be from those who caught the virus up to two weeks ago.
51.5 percent of Alaskans who have become ill with the COVID-19 coronavirus are women, and 48.5 percent are men.
The ages most impacted by the virus are those between the ages of 30-39. They comprise over 20 percent of the known cases so far.
The communities most impacted by the outbreak are in urban or small-town Alaska:
About 2.8 million people per year die in the United States from heart disease, cancer, injuries and various other illnesses, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Infections related to the coronavirus COVID-19 could kill 100,000 to 240,000 people this year, according to projections offered by government officials on Tuesday.
On paper, those COVID-19 deaths amount to a 3.6 to 8.6 percent increase in American deaths. In reality, the percentage will be lower.
How much lower? No one knows.
But what is known is that COVID-19 strikes heavily at those with heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other pre-existing illnesses.
Italian doctors who examined the charts of 355 patients who died in that country reported to the American College of Cardiology that they found “heart disease (in) 30 percent; diabetes, 35 percent; active cancer 20 percent; and other serious conditions.”
Doctors in China have reported similar findings as have officials at the CDC. A CDC study released Tuesday reported, that “among all COVID-19 patients with complete information on underlying conditions or risk factors, 184 deaths occurred; 173 deaths (94 percent) were reported among patients with at least one underlying condition.
“These results are consistent with findings from China and Italy, which suggest that patients with underlying health conditions and risk factors, including, but not limited to, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, COPD, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic renal disease, and smoking, might be at higher risk for severe disease or death from COVID-19.”
Given that some people who die “COVID-19 related deaths,” as the Boston Globe refers to these fatalities, were destined to die from pre-existing conditions such as cancer and heart disease before the year is out, the number of people reported dying from those diseases is sure to drop in 2020.
How much will it drop? Again, no one knows.
What is known is that more than 647,000 people per year die from heart disease in this country, according to the CDC; and more than 599,000 die from cancer.
What is also obvious is that many if not most Americans are now living in fear of the newest disease to threaten in ways they never lived in fear of those old, established diseases.
DAILY SCARES
“Coronavirus could kill more Americans than WWI, Vietnam or Korean wars, White House projection shows,” CNBC headlined this week.
“CORONAVIRUS HAS KILLED MORE IN THE U.S. THAN THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, DEATH TOLL SOON TO PASS 9/11,” proclaimed Newsweek.
“The coronavirus death toll surged past 4,000 in the United States on Tuesday, eclipsing the total from the 9/11 terror attacks as New York City traded ‘Ground Zero’ for ‘epicenter,’” reported USA Today.
The headlines have stirred a social panic which complicates current government efforts at social distancing, according to a team of researchers at the University of Hawaii, who note that “humans are hardwired to seek safety in numbers, but not hardwired to shelter in place.”
DR. ZINK ISSUES ADVISORY: WEAR FACE MASKS IN PUBLIC PLACES
Alaska now has had 157 cases of COVID-19 coronavirus, an increase of 11 since Thursday. There are no new deaths. The increases have been modest day after day this week, reflecting Alaskans’ compliance with health mandates.
It’s far too soon to declare victory, but what Alaskans are doing appears to be working.
Two new hospitalizations brings the total hospitalized to 15, although some are no longer in the hospital. Of those 11 announced today, one is a traveler who is not from Alaska — only 10 were Alaskans. 6,016 individual Alaskans have been tested.
“We seem to be holding our own and we seem to be doing better than the vast majority of states,” Dunleavy said, speaking about the number of people tested and the number those who are known to be infected. He was also encouraged that no deaths have been reported since last Saturday, when a 73-year-old man died at an Anchorage hospital from the coronavirus. He had been admitted to the hospital five days earlier.
If the state’s influenza chart can be used to track how well Alaskans are adhering to the social distancing and hand washing mandates, then there’s good news on that front.
The Wuhan coronavirus known as COVID-19 is much more contagious than influenza A or B, but the cases of flu in Alaska have fallen almost to zero. That’s important, because flu is transmitted the same way as the coronavirus — through droplets. Last year, 18 Alaskans died of complications from regular influenza.
At the end of March, 2020, after what started out as a heavy flu season, the flu was all but over, as shown by the red line below:
Dunleavy was cautious about the progress Alaskans have made is staving off the spread of the coronavirus. And his caution is understandable, since the numbers could spike at any time for this virus, which spreads in clusters.
But looking at some of the models, it appears Alaskans have a strong desire to not get infected and are minding the advisories and mandates for social distancing and sanitizing.
The University of Washington model for Alaska says Alaska is still 11 days away from “peak deaths” expected from COVID-19. That model predicts there will be five associated deaths per day by April 14, a rate that will continue for several days before tapering off to four deaths per day by April 21. By August, 148 Alaskans will have died from the illness, the model predicts.
From the trends, however, it looks like Alaskans intend to cheat death by beating the models, and they are right now leading the nation in both low case count, numbers tested, and numbers of deaths. The first case in Alaska was detected on March 12, and it’s been growing as more people are tested, but not expanding as exponentially as it has in New York City and other urban areas where people cannot avoid each other.
State Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink today issued the 10th health advisory for the State of Alaska: Wear a mask when in public to cover both your nose and mouth. This prevents you from spreading the virus if you are an asymptomatic carrier of it.
At this point, Zink said, everyone should assume they’ve been exposed to COVID-19 and could be spreading it. Zink’s advisory has specific instructions for how to use masks, when to use them, and when and how to remove them:
Health Alert #10: Recommendations Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings
Scientific evidence available to date indicates that asymptomatic and presymptomatic shedding of the virus that causes COVID-19 is occurring. This means that people who have no symptoms whatsoever may be infected with the virus and capable of transmitting the virus to others when interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing. This heightens the need for community-wide implementation of control measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among people who are not experiencing symptoms of illness.
The primary ways to do this are through social distancing, frequent hand-washing, and disinfecting high-touch surfaces. Another tool that may help to minimize transmission while people are around others outside of their household is the use of face coverings. Because we are experiencing a nationwide shortage of medical supplies, including facemasks, we recommend that Alaskans make their own face coverings and wear them in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) — especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. This recommendation aligns with current national guidance from the CDC.
The following measures are highly recommended for all Alaskans:
Wear a cloth face covering in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies).
Make sure the face covering covers both the nose and mouth.
Do not remove the face covering until you return home.
When removing the face covering, avoid touching the front of the face covering (because it may becontaminated). Remove it by grasping the ear loops, ties, or bands and immediately discard or place ina designated container for laundering.
Wash your hands immediately after removing the face covering and before touching anything else.
Wash face coverings in hot, soapy water between uses.
Do not wear N-95 or surgical masks; these are needed by health care workers and first responders.
Do not rely on face coverings as the primary way to prevent COVID-19 transmission, and be careful to
avoid developing a false sense of security through the use of face coverings. Continue to follow social
distancing measures, including maintaining at least six feet between yourself and others, staying at home, avoiding touching your face, and washing your hands frequently.
What is a cloth face covering?
A cloth face covering is a material that covers the nose and mouth. It can be secured to the head with ties or straps or simply wrapped around the lower face. It can be made of a variety of materials, such as cotton, silk, or linen. A cloth face covering may be factory-made or sewn by hand, or can be improvised from household items such as scarfs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels.
How do I make a homemade face coverings?
Cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost. There are a number of instructional websites and videos that people can refer to for making face coverings; two such videos are available at https://youtu.be/VgHrnS6n4iA and https://youtu.be/1r2C1zGUHbU
How well do cloth face coverings work to prevent spread of COVID-19?
There is limited evidence available on how well cloth face coverings help reduce COVID-19 transmission. Their primary role is to reduce the release of respiratory droplets into the air when someone speaks, coughs, or sneezes, including people who have COVID-19 but have no symptoms. Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for physical distancing and washing hands and staying home when ill, but they may be helpful when combined with these primary interventions.
How should I care for a cloth face covering?
Wash your cloth face covering frequently, ideally after each use, or at least daily. Have a bag or bin to keep cloth face coverings in until they can be laundered with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. If you must re-wear your cloth face covering before washing, wash your hands immediately after putting it back on and avoid touching your face. Discard cloth face coverings that:
• No longer cover the nose and mouth • Have stretched out or damaged ties or straps • Cannot stay on the face • Have holes or tears in the fabric
House Minority Rep. Lance Pruitt is asking Gov. Mike Dunleavy to direct the Alaska Department of Revenue to distribute this year’s Permanent Fund dividend payments as soon as legally possible.
“The law gives the Governor and Commissioner of Revenue wide latitude as far as payment of the Permanent Fund Dividend,” Pruitt said. “Rather than wait until the traditional October date, releasing the funds as early as he legally can after the July 1 effective date, would give immediate critical financial assistance to Alaskan families and also infuse our state’s economy with cash it desperately needs during this difficult time.”
In a letter to the governor, Pruitt encouraged Dunleavy to notify the Permanent Fund Corporation of his intentions as soon as possible so investments can be liquidated without significant loss. It would also enable the state to get cash into the hands of Alaskans quickly, several weeks after the federal stimulus payments are delivered.
“Alaskans need assistance and our state is well-equipped to provide it,” added Rep. Pruitt. “While many of our members are dissatisfied with the amount of assistance the Legislature chose to provide, every dollar will help Alaskan families during this critical time, and I hope the Governor is receptive to our request.”
By order of the mayor of Anchorage, sporting goods stores around Anchorage were shuttered today for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency. Municipal workers ordered Sportsman’s Warehouse, Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shop to close until further notice.
A survey of other shops that remain open showed that gun stores are remaining open, as are pawn shops, check-cashing shops, e-cigarette stores, liquor stores, and pot stores. Churches are closed, as are bars and sit-down restaurants.
Target remains open because it has a food department, but Cabela’s, which is next door, was shuttered today.
In other municipal news, as of April 8 at midnight, the People Mover will stop running until further notice.
AnchorRIDES will provide a limited number of trips to People Mover bus riders. Enrollment in this service is required and trips must be scheduled 1-7 days in advance. For details visit:http://www.muni.org/…/…/Pages/COVID19TransitInformation.aspx
