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Israel, U.S. complete rocket launch in Kodiak

Suzanne Downing
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9
Israel, U.S. complete rocket launch in Kodiak

Israel and the United States successfully completed tests of an advanced Arrow 3 missile defense system in Alaska, the Israeli Defense Ministry told the Times of Israel.

The tests were performed at the Alaska Aerospace Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak, operated by the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, which is owned by the State of Alaska.

“The weapon system successfully demonstrated hit-to-kill interceptions of ballistic targets in space, according to the ministry, which added that the operation was conducted in Alaska in order to test capabilities that cannot be tested in Israel. The rocket system succeeded in simultaneously intercepting multiple targets,” the Times of Israel reported.

The Arrow 3 will allow Israel to intercept long-range ballistic missile targets outside the atmosphere, and provides more capability in shooting down Iranian nuclear missiles

Temporary flight restrictions had been established for the Kodiak launch facility in recent days in anticipation of the tests. The most recent launch took place early on July 28.

Israel’s Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer was in Kodiak for the launch, according to the newspaper. Watch the video from the Israeli government was posted at the Times of Israel:

 

[Read: Israel to test rocket launch in Kodiak]

The Pacific Spaceport Complex is located at Narrow Cape on Kodiak Island, surrounded by 3,700 acres. The complex provides a suite of services to government and commercial customers.

Sen. Dan Sullivan offered this comment today: “Alaska’s critical role in our nation’s missile defense and that of our allies was demonstrated again this month with the successful joint U.S.-Israeli test of the Arrow-3 Interceptor at the Kodiak Launch Complex. I’ve worked to successfully advance legislation these past three years that has bolstered our missile defense and the testing of these systems in Alaska. This test should send a strong message to our common adversary, Iran, about our ability to deter any aggressive act against our allies in the region. Lastly, I want to thank the great people of Kodiak who have been host to American and Israeli officials working to achieve this milestone.”

Facebook poll draws copycats: Results

Suzanne Downing
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7
Facebook poll draws copycats: Results

Hours after Must Read Alaska posted a 23-hour Facebook poll on how Alaskans view the “proper” amount for the Permanent Fund dividend, both a big union-backed website and a liberal pollster posted copycat polls using the exact same language on their own Facebook feeds.

The results were all over the map.

In the original Must Read Alaska poll, 29 percent of participants chose the $1,600 PFD, while 71 percent of participants favored a $3,000 PFD. Over 4,000 participants took part.

In the leftwing/union copycat poll, the split was closer, 43 percent for the $1,600 option, and 57 percent for the $3,000 PFD. That poll is still running, so results may vary.

Ivan Moore’s copycat poll, however, was hidden from sight after only a few hours.

Moore, too, used the exact same language as the Must Read Alaska poll, and his poll at his Alaska Survey Research company Facebook page was originally set to run the poll for six days. It went 28 percent for the $1,600 PFD and 72 percent for the $3,000 option. The results were evidently not what he expected.

Although Alaska Survey Research made the poll disappear, several people were able to get a screenshot of it:

Warning: Foul language ahead:

Ivan Moore, who positions himself as a legitimate pollster, was having a particularly rough day, and ended up cussing out someone on his Facebook feed regarding some possibly questionable polling he’d been doing on Facebook about the presidential race:

$3,000 PFD leaves Senate Finance for Rules Committee

Suzanne Downing
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35

WHERE IT WILL BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK

An amendment to increase the Permanent Fund dividend to the full statutory amount of $3,000 moved out of Senate Finance Committee.

The amount, which is the statutorily set PFD, is expected to be reduced again when it hits the Senate Rules Committee on Sunday. Sen. John Coghill of Fairbanks is chair of that committee and is on record as favoring a more modest dividend.

The “full dividend” amendment was offered by Sen. Mike Shower of Wasilla, District E. Voting with Shower was Sens. Peter Micciche, David Wilson, Bill Wielechowski, and Donny Olson. The four voting against the $3,000 were Sens. Click Bishop, Natasha Von Imhof, Bert Stedman, and Lyman Hoffman.

Shortly after the Finance Committee adjourned, Senate President Cathy Giessel, and Sens. Stedman, Von Imhof and Coghill met; subsequent to that meeting, the bill was sent to the Rules Committee, where it will be considered tomorrow and passed to the floor.

BILL COMBINED WITH INCREASE IN STATE SPENDING

HB 2001 has another aspect to it that is sure to be controversial: It adds back about 80 percent of the vetoed budget items that were red-penned by Gov. Michael Dunleavy.

Of the $444 million in vetoes that Dunleavy made to the operating budget, HB 2001 leaves just $91 million of the cuts in place, restoring funding to myriad programs, including $110 million to the University of Alaska System, funds for Medicaid, Public Broadcasting, Senior Benefits, and more.

[See all the spending items here]

In the committee substitute bill that passed, funding of the dividend itself is decoupled from the earnings of the oil royalties, with $875 million coming from the Earnings Reserve Account of the Alaska Permanent Fund, $172 million coming out of the Statutory Budget Reserve (draining it), and $900 million coming from the General Fund.

The differences between the House and Senate bills will likely end up in a conference committee. The House bill is either $1,335 or $1,600, depending on whether the House Republican Minority allows the Democrat-led Majority in the House to access the Constitutional Budget Reserve.

Alaskans may be confused at this point about the amount of their share of the oil wealth, which should be in their bank accounts in early October. The Legislature, by abandoning the statutory formula, is left to battle it out politically for the fourth year, but this year it’s clear that the leaders of the Legislature are forcing the dividend to compete with every other program needing funding.

Shame poles get partisan with Tlingit carvers

Suzanne Downing
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19
Shame poles get partisan with Tlingit carvers

Social media photo by Christina Cranston, the co-carver of the pole.

They’re calling it a ridicule pole for Gov. Michael Dunleavy and President Donald Trump, Tommy Joseph, a Sitka Tlingit master carver, told KCAW radio in Sitka. Or a shame pole, if you prefer.

Joseph and his carving partner Kristina Cranston say they’re trying to shame the governor for his vetoes of a budget — an event that has paralyzed the Legislature for months. Sunday will  be the 194th day of legislative session.

The carvers, upset over Republican leaders, worked with the tools they have and made a ridicule totem.

The shame poles of spending growth: The Alaska State Budget’s unrestricted general fund spending on agency operations since 1975, with the current veto shown in red.

The shaming totem poll has captured the attention of the media, as it should, but conservatives have quietly responded, asking Must Read Alaska unanswerable questions:

  • Where’s the shame poll for the most recent former lieutenant governor, who was forced out of office?
  • Is there a shame poll for the Hoonah man who killed two policemen.
  • How about the Angoon man who sexually abused a six-year-old?

There are some things that just cannot be talked about.

Former Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott displayed large artwork of a new shaming pole that featured William Seward, the Secretary of State who pushed for the purchase of Alaska from Czarist Russia. The art was prominently featured right outside the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for half of his tenure in office, and he said it would help bring closure for a shameful part of Alaska history.

[Read: New art at lieutenant governor’s office honors shaming of William Seward]

But at the end of his tenure, Mallott was forced from office for unsavory overtures toward a teenager.

Totem poles are a relatively new development in Northwest Native art. Before the introduction of metal tools in the 18th Century, which were brought by Europeans, totem poles were the size of a walking stick.

As metal tools became available through interaction between Natives and explorers, the poles developed into the monument sizes we see today — large, impressive, and now full of political commentary about those of European heritage.

Earlier this month, Tommy Joseph and other Native artists and their friends draped totem poles in black shrouds to protest the death of art in Alaska with the defunding of the Alaska State Council on the Arts.

But as time has shown, art is not dead at all. It’s just taken a partisan turn.

 

MRAK poll: Most want $3,000 Permanent Fund dividend

Suzanne Downing
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11
MRAK poll: Most want $3,000 Permanent Fund dividend

In a 23-hour, nonscientific poll on Facebook, with more than 4,000 participants, the early results favored the $3,000 to a greater degree than the final results. As the hours wore on, the poll was widely shared among the liberal elite, with many of them encouraging their friends on Facebook to share it with more of those who would vote against a $3,000 dividend.

Here’s a snapshot of the poll about halfway through the polling period before the Left had fully gotten engaged:

 

Permanent Fund bills moving through Legislature

Suzanne Downing
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9
Permanent Fund bills moving through Legislature

ONE IS FOR $1,600, THE OTHER FOR $1,500

House Bill 2003, which is a piece of new legislation to appropriate funds for the Permanent Fund dividend, passed the House on Friday on a vote of 22-12, and was sent to the Senate. The bill provides for funding to pay eligible Alaskans $1,600 dividends this year.

In the Senate, SB 2001 was considered by Senate Finance Committee on Saturday morning. It would provide dividends of $1,500 to eligible Alaskans.

The Senate bill also restores $75 million in vetoed funds to the University of Alaska System, which results in a net reduction to UA of $65 million, including the $5 million reduction recommended by Senate Finance in the committee substitute for HB 39, the operating budget that was passed by the Legislature.

The Senate Finance Committee recessed to the call of the chair, and the Senate will gavel in on the floor on Saturday at 2 pm.

After the floor session, Senate Finance will meet again today, and there will likely be amendments to bring the Permanent Fund dividend back up to the statutorily established level of $3,000.

Gov. Michael Dunleavy is on record in support of a $3,000 dividend.

(This story is a moving target. Check back for updates.)

Game on! Surprise strike is unfair labor practice

Art Chance
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41
Game on! Surprise strike is unfair labor practice

By ART CHANCE
SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR

The Inlandboatman’s Union’s strike caught the State of Alaska flat-footed.  A good title for a piece about it would be, “At 2 PM We Slept.” Those of a certain age will recognize that as a take-off on a famous book about the Pearl Harbor attack, “At Dawn We Slept.”

What happened to the State of Alaska this week was the labor relations and political equivalent of the opposing team taking the opening kick-off and running it back for a 100-yard touchdown.

It is embarrassing and inexcusable that it happened, especially for me, since some of the people who should have done something are my hires and former subordinates. In their defense there hasn’t been any real controversy between the State and its unions since the 1990s, so none of them has any experience with anything but relative labor peace.

The union has committed multiple unfair labor practices and their own words, and Creepy Joe Biden’s words, are the only evidence one needs.

First the union has an illegal proposal regarding “Cost of Living Differential” pay on the table, and, second, they’ve been all over the media saying that their primary motive is political opposition to the governor’s budget cuts.

Sorry, boys, budget cuts aren’t “wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment,” the legal duty to bargain. This is largely a politically motivated strike and the union has both statements and proposals that graphically evidence that.

The factual predicate of a legal strike (and the IBU does have a legal right to strike) is the existence of a valid state of impasse in bargaining. A valid state of impasse exists when a party has a good faith belief that further bargaining will not result in an agreement.

An unfair labor practice is a bar to a valid state of impasse and so long as there is an unresolved unfair labor practice, the offending party cannot resort to economic weapons such as a strike or lockout.

Word is they’re bringing in a federal mediator again. In my experience the federal mediators were good company but not good for much else other than it was a step you had to go through to make sure you had valid impasse for employees without a right to strike or with a limited right to strike, such as AMHS employees.

Here’s where it gets complicated, and where the amateurs and State lawyers who do labor relations once in awhile get lost:

The State has valid unfair labor practice charges that it can use to get the Alaska Labor Relations Agency to force the IBU to end the strike and return to bargaining.  Usually reliable sources tell me that the Administration is being advised that it shouldn’t file the ULPs for fear that the Alaska Labor Relations Agency will order the State and the union to arbitration over their contract dispute.

Whoever is giving that advice is either sabotaging the Administration, is a coward, or is simply ignorant.

A reading of the plain language of the controlling authority, AS 23.40.200(a)(2) informs us that only a court can order the State and the union to arbitration. In the unlikely event that the State could demonstrate that a ferry strike poses a threat to public safety, not convenience or economics, but safety, a court could order the IBU back to work and order the parties to interest arbitration to have an arbitrator form their contract subject to Legislative approval.

The Alaska Labor Relations Agency cannot order the State to arbitration; its only power is to order the union to cease the strike and return to bargaining.  This doesn’t even take any legal skill to figure out; if you can read plain English you can read the law and figure it out for yourself.

Unfortunately, the Administration is in Juneau in a sea of lefties and greenies who see the ferry system as the salvation of the Tongass Forest and the prevention of a road to Juneau.   I’ve never met a conservative State lawyer, though I’ve known a few who could be objective. The State lawyers live surrounded by lefties and greenies who love the ferry system and hate Republicans. I’m proud to say that in my 20-odd years with the State, I never asked a State lawyer what I should do. I told them what I planned to do, asked them if they had any legal issues, and assured them that I’d give their concerns due consideration.

It is probably too late for the unfair labor practice findings to do anything meaningful to stop the strike before the end of the summer season if at all, but the State should persist and get an order and decision from the Alaska Labor Relations Agency so that it can use it to buttress damage claims against the union for the illegal strike. The State’s objective should be to economically destroy the IBU over this.

I always figured that few State employees would strike once they were told that they couldn’t take paid leave to strike. For the IBU, Aug.  1 is a red letter day, because if they aren’t in pay status on Aug. 1, they lose their State health insurance. If their strike goes on for over 23 days, they start losing retirement service credit.

It isn’t coincidental that the IBU’s 1977 strike ended at 20 days.

It is likely that the IBU will say it is calling its strike and will report to work on Aug. 1.   They’ll show up on Aug. 1, be in pay status and get their August health insurance and go right back on strike.  That will on cost the State about $700,000 for the August health insurance plus the wages for a day or two will be another several hundred thousand dollars; call it the better part of a million and a half bucks so the Administration can look like it is being nice.

If the Administration lets them do that, they’re idiots.

If anybody in the Administration knew what to do, the State is in the cat bird’s seat; the damage has been done. The tourist season is wrecked, the revenue for this summer season is lost, so why would you want to give the IBU anything now to come back to work.

Lay off the licensed employees other than those necessary to keep the tied up ships safe over the winter.  The people of coastal Alaska and the private sector will figure out a work-around. Look how quickly Allen Marine was able to provide transportation from Juneau to the State Fair in Haines.

[Read: Alaska Life Hack: How to get around Southeast Alaska without the ferries]

If anybody cares if there is a ferry system next spring, maybe the State will have topics about which they can talk to the maritime unions.

Art Chance is a retired Director of Labor Relations for the State of Alaska, formerly of Juneau and now living in Anchorage. He is the author of the book, “Red on Blue, Establishing a Republican Governance,” available at Amazon. 

Is this the right time to JACC up taxes?

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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12
Is this the right time to JACC up taxes?

By WIN GRUENING

During recent deliberations, Juneau Assembly members reviewed a list of pending projects that have been submitted for financial support in the near term.

City Finance Director, Bob Bartholomew, outlined one-time capital improvement and grant requests totaling between $34 million and $85 million depending on how the state budget picture finally shakes out, as well as a $5 million hit to CBJ’s annual operating budget that needs to be addressed.

Most Alaskans are focused on state budget battles, so it’s easy to lose sight of the impacts on municipal budgets downstream.  Indeed, our local governments should proceed cautiously before making any large new non-essential financial commitments. No one knows what the new budget landscape will look like, but our city leaders should be prepared to deal with a range of scenarios.

This set of circumstances has highlighted the amply publicized new Juneau Arts and Culture Center which has formally requested a $7.5 million grant from the city – to be funded by transferring $4.5 million in sales tax proceeds previously approved for Centennial Hall convention center and adding $3 million from undesignated sales tax revenues. This is in addition to a 2012 $1 million city grant and the donation of city land for the site in the Aak’w Village District.

Proposed originally as an $18 million joint venture between Perseverance Theater and the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council – not needing further public financial support – the project has ballooned in cost, and now requires a substantial infusion of public money.   Here is why:

  • In 2015, Perseverance Theatre withdrew from the partnership citing financial constraints.
  • In 2018, a $12 million general obligation bond proposal for the project failed to pass the Assembly.
  • After several years of fundraising, the project (re-labelled the New JACC) failed to attract enough donations and has only managed to raise $5.5 million, 21% of the now increased $26.4 million cost.

Now, New JACC backers insist the city provide $7.5 million to add to existing donations thereby demonstrating to potential donors a 50% local commitment towards the estimated cost.

The question remains. In these uncertain times, should government expend precious dollars on (or raise taxes to fund) non-essential proposals when it’s clear there are major financial obligations looming that take priority?

Aside from the New JACC, the largest immediate expenditures facing the city are necessary major school maintenance costs (mostly school roof replacements) ranging between $11 million and $46 million and Centennial Hall upgrades of between $5 million and $10 million.

Bartholomew also presented a list of possible ways to pay for some of this.  Unfortunately, very little of it would come from budget reductions. Most of it would presumably come from four main areas:

  • Surplus sales tax revenues over 4 years ($4 million)
  • Depletion of reserves ($4 million)
  • Hotel tax hike of 5% ($12.5 million)
  • Expansion of municipal debt repaid through property taxes ($28 million)

Despite the enormity and uncertainty of potential budget hits and how they would be funded, the Juneau Assembly introduced several ordinances this past week – possibly granting up to $7.5 million for the New JACC and authorizing up to $10 million in a 15-year general obligation bond for Centennial Hall.  Also introduced was a companion ordinance hiking the hotel/motel tax by two percent to partially offset costs of Centennial Hall improvements.

[Read: Connecting the dots between Juneau’s economy and Juneau’s needs]

These preliminary measures, in their final form, are scheduled for a public hearing and Assembly approval on August 19.  The bond proposition and the hotel/motel tax increase must be approved by Juneau voters.  An advisory vote on the New JACC funding would also be on the same ballot in October.

The Assembly apparently thinks it prudent to commit substantial funds to a new performing arts center before concerning itself with the possible need to fix leaky school roofs.

The vast amount of time the Assembly and city staff have invested in placating New JACC proponents has detracted from serious economic development efforts needed to grow Juneau’s population and job base.

How will increasing sales or property taxes or raising taxes on independent visitors improve Juneau’s economy in the future?

Whether the Assembly’s priorities match those of Juneau voters in October remains to be seen.

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.

Berkowitz civil emergency extended in Anchorage

Suzanne Downing
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18
Berkowitz civil emergency extended in Anchorage

The Anchorage Assembly on Friday extended Mayor Ethan Berkowitz’ civil emergency declaration until Aug. 6. The Assembly also directed the mayor to fund the Brother Francis Shelter, which lost state funding. The 240-bed shelter has been planning to downsize to serve 100 people as a result of those cuts, beginning Aug. 1.

The city is likely to scrape funds from other programs, and take other measures that are allowed under the emergency order , which may include taxes, if the order is extended by the Assembly.

In the mayor’s justification for a civil emergency, he outlined the problems associated with the state budget cutbacks:

  • $5.8 million cut in Anchorage-specific services to homeless, resulting in a projected 800 more unsheltered homeless in our community, adding significantly to the burden of first responders and pushing vulnerable individuals and families beyond their tipping point;
  • the temporary closing of Brother Francis Shelter, forcing 240 homeless individuals to become immediately unsheltered on Aug. 1, and the dramatic reduction of services by 140 people after its reopening on Aug. 5;
  • cuts to Medicaid, senior benefits, legal services, food banks, domestic violence case management and support, and behavioral health, causing public health and public safety emergencies and the eviction of our most vulnerable residents;
  • 41 percent cut to state’s contribution to the University of Alaska, resulting in the projected loss of 700 jobs in Anchorage and projected to push Anchorage into recession.

The emergency declaration allows the municipality to provide housing or temporary structures for emergency shelters, as well as provide social services to homeless individuals and families with no immediate options available to them.

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