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MRAK Almanac: Easter train, Don Young event, ‘Unplanned’ movie in Juneau

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April 19, 1933: John W. Troy, owner of the Daily Alaska Empire, was inaugurated as the 12th governor of Alaska, a position he held until 1939. Born in Dungeness, Washington, Troy was a reporter for a newspaper in Port Townsend after graduating from high school there. He published newspapers in Washington and Alaska and was the editor of Alaska-Yukon Magazine from 1911 to 1912. He was then editor of the Daily Alaskan Empire for 20 years before being appointed governor. He died in Juneau on May 2, 1942.  Read about his interesting life here.

April 19, 1989: The Alaska Supreme Court ruled that the Legislature did not violate the Alaska Constitution by remaining in session more than 120 days because, in spite of an Alaska constitutional amendment limiting regular session to 120 days, the governor issued an executive proclamation reconvening the Legislature on the 121st day. Read about how it unfolded here.

April 20, 1999: Two teens killed 13 people and injured 24 others before committing suicide at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colo.

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IT’S CALVING SEASON: The first reindeer calves of 2019 have arrived at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm. Male and female calves were born late Friday, April 12, and the third, a female, arrived April 13 at 5 am. “We found it Saturday morning when we came in to feed,” said reindeer caretaker Erin Carr. Two more calves arrived April 16. Read more here.

April 19: Good Friday.

April 19-25: Unplanned, the movie, has a limited engagement in Juneau at Glacier Cinema. As one of the youngest Planned Parenthood clinic directors in the nation, Abby Johnson was involved in upwards of 22,000 abortions and counseled countless women on their reproductive choices. Her passion surrounding a woman’s right to choose led her to become a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood, fighting to enact legislation for the cause she so deeply believed in. Until the day she saw something that changed everything. Friday: 7 pm and 9:30 pm. Saturday: 1 pm, 4 pm, 7 pm, and 9:30 pm. Sunday: 1 pm,4 pm, and 7 pm. Monday-Thursday 7 pm.

Watch the trailer here:

April 20: Friends of the NRA Southeast Alaska annual banquet in Juneau at Centennial Hall, 5 pm.
April 20-27: Passover, also called Pesach, celebrates the exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery in 1200s BC.
April 20: Easter train from Anchorage to Indian and back. Magic tricks, Easter bunny. candy. Details here.
April 21: Easter.
April 22: Congressman Don Young, Dean of the House and longest serving Republican in the history of Congress, will make an appearance and be toasted at the Chugach Alaska Corp. Atrium, 3800 Centerpoint Drive, $250 suggested contribution to Alaskans for Don Young.
April 27-28: Kenai Peninsula Sport Rec & Trade Show, Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Floyd Hall signs no plea deal, will face trial

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PATRON SAINT OF STOLEN CARS COULD FACE TIME IN THE ‘GREYBAR HOTEL’

Anchorage’s Floyd Hall, who has made a national name for himself by recovering hundreds of stolen vehicles, will go to trial next month and face prosecution for reckless driving.

His case goes back to the summer of 2017 when he was trying to keep pace with a stolen truck and ended up being shot at by its criminal occupants, who were never caught, although the truck was recovered.

Hall, who describes himself as a “hippie biker rocker” and his colleagues known as “The A Team” have a knack for finding stolen vehicles in Anchorage. They know where all the lowlifes hang out, and people trust them with information.

They post their exploits on Facebook, sometimes posting live video of Hall recovering vehicles. With Anchorage crime rates, there’s always plenty for the team to do.

In Anchorage, your chance of becoming a victim of a property crime is one in 18. Anchorage has one of the highest rates of motor vehicle theft in the nation, according to the FBI.

Floyd Hall was charged in August 2017 for what police called a high-speed chase. He says he was just following the stolen truck, and he was not speeding.

The 54-year-old this past month asked prosecutors to change just two sentences of the plea deal — the one in bold below — but they refused.

Now, Hall has chosen to go to trial on May 2, 2019. Unfortunately, his volunteer lawyer has dropped him.

“Josh [Fink] can’t afford to do a trial,” Hall said of his pro bono lawyer. He has been assigned a court-appointed attorney.

The official police report says that on Aug. 31, 2017, police received a report of shots fired from a stolen white 2001 Chevrolet Silverado. The shooters, and presumed car thieves, escaped before police arrived. Witnesses said there was a high speed chase that occurred.

Anchorage police say that its officers have a 90 percent recovery rate for stolen vehicles, although it’s unclear how many of those vehicles are recovered by Hall.

“APD appreciates the community support and involvement when necessary. The community is a vital partner in some of our investigations. However, please allow officers to take the lead on criminal investigations. Our officers have the required training and skills to handle these calls and our number one goal is to keep the public and our officers safe. We want to remind the community not take the law into their own hands, instead, call 911 for emergencies or 907-786-8900 for non-emergencies.”

Hall runs a Facebook group where people post information about their stolen vehicles and he reports on those he finds:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/145416002751804/

 

Employee union thinks it runs Alaska Psychiatric Institute

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By ART CHANCE
SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR

It’s been almost 20 years since I last saw anything like Jake Metcalfe’s screed on behalf of the Alaska State Employees Association, AFSCME Local 52, regarding their “legal” actions over the State’s contracting out the management of the Alaska Psychiatric Institute.

I thought we had beaten the childish behavior out of ASEA, and they did pretty much stop behaving like spoiled brats under Jim Duncan, the now-retired executive director of the public employee union.  I guess Duncan’s influence on ASEA has faded as mine has faded at the State.

Here’s why it is so easy to despise some public employee unions: Who runs the Alaska Psychiatric Institute is absolutely none of ASEA’s business.

Art Chance

The State could contract with Attila the Hun to administer API. As long has Attila honors the terms of ASEA’s contract, what else he does is none of the union’s business.

The Alaska Constitution may require the State to provide for mental health care but it doesn’t specify how, and ASEA has neither the standing nor the expertise to make a claim.

ASEA has one and only one role: It can negotiate regarding the wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment of the members of the general government bargaining unit of State employees and it can enter into an enforceable written agreement setting out those wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment.

The State of Alaska’s programs and policies are, frankly, none of ASEA’s business and its members and agents have no more rights or voice regarding them than any other citizen.   Because they are large, loud, and undisciplined they arrogate all sorts of power over policy to themselves and as it is said that celebrities are people who are famous for being famous, ASEA is powerful because some people think they’re powerful.

ASEA prattles on about the need for a cost efficiency study and they’re simply being ignorant or dishonest.   There is no requirement for a cost efficiency study unless the contracting out might result in the layoff of general government unit employees. The supervisors’ union, Alaska Public Employees Association, has a similar requirement, but contracting for management that doesn’t result in the layoff of represented employees can be done at the State’s discretion.

The lawsuit is really just guerilla theater, but the unions/Democrats are enjoying some success with these old communist tactics against an administration for the first time in a long time. There is almost nobody in the appointee ranks who has ever even seen conflict and confrontation between the State and its unions, and those few were far down the organizational chart at the time. Today, but a mere handful of people are in the State who were anywhere near the decision-making level the last time there was serious conflict, and none is working for the Executive Branch, nor want to.

We got sued and had unfair labor practice complaints filed against us a lot in Cowper, Hickel, and even early in the Knowles administration.

Myths notwithstanding, we rarely lost the ultimate issue. The State never talks about this stuff, and the unions shout from the rooftops whenever they win one; that’s how myths are born.

I always advised my principals that they could expect to lose on the temporary restraining order and probably on the injunction as well.  Few Superior Court judges are well versed in the arcana that is collective bargaining law and they figure the State can wait and can fix anything with money, so they grant the injunction to buy time to make their decision.

Of course when they get a temporary restraining order, the unions scream “We Won, We Won!!” and the media, which knows nothing about this stuff, gives them the lead story telling how the noble union defeated the evil State.

Nobody hears about it when the injunction lapses and when the union ultimately loses the case on the merits.

The State really has only two risks, assuming competent representation from Law, which is not always a safe assumption: a collapse of political will when it is enjoined, or the unions/Democrats finding a judge who wants to be pals with unions/Democrats in the hope of being rewarded a judgeship by a Democrat administration.  The latter is especially a risk in a gubernatorial election year, and I’ve had some pretty good cases just sold out from under me.

So, big, bad ASEA is standing out in front of the Dunleavy Administration’s house and threatening to huff and puff and blow the house down. So, far pounding their chests and huffing and puffing has worked pretty well for them. We’ll see if the Administration goes running out of the back of the house again.

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.

Winners, losers in the confirmation process

ANALYSIS: TRUST BROKEN BY CHARACTER ASSASSINATION

The confirmation process for the Dunleavy Administration devolved late in the evening on Wednesday. Shameful behavior on the floor of the joint session left the Legislature’s reputation muddied.

At the last hour, the confirmation of Karl Johnstone for the Board of Fisheries was brought back for a vote, and he was voted down, 24-33.

Some of his supporters in the House and Senate had left for the evening, not realizing the vote would be brought back for consideration once they left the chamber, and the pro-commercial fishing forces prevailed after an anonymous allegation of sexual harassment was brought up by Rep. Ivy Spohnholz earlier in the evening in front of the entire House and Senate.

Johnstone lost the appointment on that second vote, but so did human decency and the sense of fair play in the public process.

[Read: Democrats weaponize anonymous allegations]

A review of the winners and losers from the day:

WINNERS

Gov. Michael Dunleavy: In spite of the Democrats’ most savage attempts to embarrass him and take out three of his commissioner appointees (Price, Brune, and Clarkson), his entire cabinet was confirmed, giving him a grand slam. The behavior of the progressives in the Legislature weakened their position on the budget, as they have no moral high ground.

Public Safety Commissioner Amanda Price: She weathered withering and false accusations, including repeated insinuations and a hallway whisper campaign led by Reps. Zack Fields and Adam Wool, both hardline partisan Democrats who acted like the “good-old-boys” club of yore.

Rep. Laddie Shaw: He gave the speech of the day in his support of Commissioner Price. Shaw had asked her a number of pointed questions in committee and admitted he had concerns that she had not answered them all adequately, but in the end he said the word of the law enforcement community persuaded him that Price, an unconventional choice, had earned the right to lead the Department of Public Safety.

Public Safety Employees Association: They got their preferred choice for Public Safety commissioner.

Bruce Tangeman: The Commissioner of Revenue sailed through his nomination with 100 percent of the House and Senate present voting for him. Although he has a tough assignment with a drastically reduced budget proposal from the Dunleavy Administration, the Legislature trusts him.

Strong conservative women attacked by the Left: They were targeted but dished it right back. Commissioner Kelly Tshibaka was targeted for her Christian beliefs and Commissioner Amanda Price was targeted because she is an unconventional pick for the Department of Public Safety. Hardline Democrats thought they smelled blood in the water and circled for the kill — but they thought wrong.

DNR Commissioner Corri Feige: She won 100 percent support, even from the super-liberal, uber-greenie Rep. Andy Josephson, who withdrew his objection and voted for her.

Rep. Louise Stutes and United Fishermen of Alaska: Stutes was able to get a victory against her number one target, Board of Fish nominee Karl Johnstone.

It took “Poison Ivy” Spohnholz to deliver the death blow, with an anonymous accusation lobbed at the last hour against Johnstone. It was right out of “Rules for Radicals.”

Rep. Sara Rasmussen: She showed herself to be fearless in defending fairness and an honorable process, calling out progressives like Rep. Geran Tarr, who were making unfounded character attacks on citizens who had offered to serve on volunteer boards.

LOSERS:

Rep. Zack Fields: After he had smeared the reputations of both Commissioners Kelly Tshibaka and Amanda Price, “Zack-Attack” looked like a misogynistic bully; the majority of members voted against him.

Scott Kendall: Gov. Bill Walker’s former chief of staff did lasting damage to himself. After allowing Craig Fleener, Hollis French, and Al Kookesh to remain on Walker’s payroll despite rarely showing up for work, Kendall attacked senior policy adviser Amanda Price for perceived absenteeism during the three months that their work histories overlapped. He recommended to legislators that they not confirm her appointment based on rumors he had heard about her from Grace Jang and Lacy Wilcox. But Kendall overplayed his hand. His free use of hearsay testimony has put his reputation as a lawyer at risk, and who will hire him to manage their campaign?

[Read: Walker’s chief of staff brings his wrecking ball to committee]

Elected Democrats: The unfounded accusations made by Democrats against the nominees appeared to be a case of Dunleavy Derangement Syndrome. Notable was when Rep. Geran Tarr insinuated that Board of Education nominee Bob Griffin acted like a possible kidnapper and pedophile (because he was doing a study of school bus routes in Anchorage as a part of his work as a candidate for school board.) Also notable was Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, who evidently thought Valerie Davidson had the proper qualifications to run the State’s largest department into overspending and underperforming, but said Crum doesn’t have the qualifications to fix it.

AFL-CIO Alaska President Vince Beltrami: The labor boss who lost his choices for governor (Walker, and then Begich) lobbied hard to stop the nomination of Adam Crum for commissioner of the Department of Health and Social Services. The union doesn’t like the privatization of Alaska Psychiatric Institute, although it put up very little effort itself to save the dying institution under the Walker Administration, leaving employees and patients in clearly unsafe conditions and the very accreditation of the facility in grave question.

Environmental Activists: Try as they may, the environmentalists just could not take out DEC Commissioner Jason Brune, who was once the spokesperson for Anglo-American, when it owned the Pebble Project. Even Rep. Tammie Wilson spoke on Brune’s behalf, and she has sided with Democrats more often than not this year.

Fish politics: It’s just hit a new low in the tension between personal use interests and the commercial fleet. The loss of Karl Johnstone to the Fish Board is not the end of the world for him, but now it appears United Fishermen of Alaska will try anything to throw the nomination of a sport fishing advocate. Who will want to put their name forward to represent sport fishing interests now that UFA has shown its colors? Of course, the UFA should be careful for what it’s asking for: The governor will now appoint someone who is purely a sports fishing advocate, and he or she will serve until the end of next session.

Truth and honor: The Legislature has never seen accusations stoop to such a low level. Members like Rep. Spohnholz making unfounded accusations on the floor of the House and Senate against witnesses who could not defend themselves put the reputation of the institution in a poor light, and gives the governor an upper hand when it comes to public perception. Even the staff members of some of these progressive Democrats have to be wondering if they are playing for the right team, and just how low their bosses will go to destroy someone.

Trust: The ability of legislators to work together with a basic understanding of the rules of engagement has been damaged by what occurred in the joint session on Wednesday. Those who sided with the progressives in the House might be having second thoughts about who their new comrades really are. Even Rep. Bart LeBon of Fairbanks, who has been working with the Democrats as an ally, could not save the appointment of his friend Vivian Stiver to the Marijuana Control Board. The Democrats ignored him. What will happen during his re-election next year when the Democrats put Kathryn Dodge, who lost to him by only one vote, up against him?

Democrats weaponize anonymous allegations against Fish Board nominee

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‘ME-TOO’ KAVANAUGH MOMENT, AND NO DUE PROCESS IN JOINT SESSION

In a joint session of the House and Senate this evening, House members opposing the nomination of Karl Johnstone for the Fisheries Board pulled the pin out of their grenade.

Rep. Ivy Spohnholz rose to claim she had been contacted by “more than two women” who said Johnstone had made inappropriate comments that were sexual in nature and that made the women feel uncomfortable. The allegations she made were from anonymous sources.

They were allegations that came after the committee process was completed, they never brought up before, and they were so outrageous that Sen. John Coghill, who serves as Senate Rules Chair, quickly stood up and called for a point of order before Spohnholz could continue.

“This is an accusation that has not been leveled in this building to my knowledge in any credible way” he said. “I would ask that we not go down that road,” he said. “This innuendo and accusation is out of line.”

But the damage was already done. Sen. Bill Wielechowski stood and asked that the nomination of Johnstone be tabled, and that vote to table passed closely, 28-27.

But before it was tabled, Rep. Sara Rasmussen rose to decry the injustice of bringing allegations forward that cannot be defended by the person being accused. There was no due process, she said, and as a mom of a young son, she worried about people making allegations like this against her own son in the future.

Moments before, Rep. Geran Tarr had plainly insinuated that the governor’s nominee to the Board of Education, Bob Griffin, acted like a “pedophile or kidnapper.”

Griffin had been doing a study on school bus routes, and someone called the police concerned about him following school buses.

Rasmussen also rose to object to that unfounded character assassination, and Tarr later apologized for besmirching Griffin’s character. His nomination passed.

Long-time observers say that in the past decade they can never remember the attacks against nominees being so personal, so nasty, so anonymous, and so unfounded. Republicans never made such unfounded and unsavory allegations about nominees of Gov. Bill Walker.

House, Senate confirm Price for Public Safety commissioner

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REP. LADDIE SHAW BRINGS STRONG TESTIMONY IN FAVOR

Today, a joint session of the House and Senate confirmed Amanda Price as commissioner of the Department of Public Safety. The vote was 34-25.

Rep. Laddie Shaw spoke at length about the confirmation process and said he asked law enforcement personnel across the state whether they support her, and received an affirmative.

Rep. Tammie Wilson spoke about how strong women are viewed differently than men, and she, too, had inquired among her contacts about how Price has done in her four months as commissioner, and was highly encouraged. She also noted that Price is an advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Rep. Sara Rasmussen implied that a strong woman was being held to a different standard.

Commissioner of Public Safety Amanda Price

Rep. Zack Fields attacked Price’s character on the floor, repeating allegations he made in House State Affairs Committee, and Rep. Adam Wool piled on.

But Sen. Peter Micciche characterized the campaign that has been run against Price as a “witch hunt,” and that when he asked people to back up their claims, they came up with nothing.

All of the governor’s commissioner appointees have now been confirmed:

Kelly Tshibaka, Department of Administration

Vote: 48-11 for Kelly Tshibaka

Julie Anderson, Department of Commerce

Vote: 59-0 for Julie Anderson

Nancy Dahlstrom, Department of Corrections

Vote: 59-0 for Nancy Dahlstrom

Jason Brune, Department of Environmental Conservation

Vote: 35-24 for Jason Brune

Douglas Vincent-Lang, Department of Fish and Game

Vote 58-1 for Douglas Vincent-Lang

Adam Crum, Department of Health and Social Services

Vote: 34-25 for Adam Crum

Tamika Ledbetter, Department of Labor

Vote: 58-0 for Tamika Ledbetter

Kevin Clarkson, Attorney General

Vote: 40-19 for Kevin Clarkson

Torrence Saxe, Department Military and Veterans Affairs & Adjutant General

Vote: 59-0 for Torrence Saxe

Corri Feige, Department of Natural Resources

Vote: 59-0 for Corri Feige

Amanda Price, Department of Public Safety

Vote: 34-25 for Amanda Price

Bruce Tangeman, Department of Revenue

59-0 for Bruce Tangeman

John McKinnon, Department of Transportation

57-2 for John McKinnon

VOTE FOR PRICE

Voting against Amanda Price in the Senate were Sens. Donny Olson, Mike Shower, Bill Wielechowski, Tom Begich, Click Bishop, Mia Costello, Scott Kawasaki, Elvi Gray-Jackson, Jesse Kiehl, and Cathy Giessel.

The House voted as shown:

 

Jason Hoke appointed to lead Denali Commission

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Jason Hoke of Glennallen has been appointed by the Secretary of Commerce as the Denali Commission Federal Co-Chair.

Hoke will replace John Torgerson, who has been serving in the role of Interim Federal Co-Chair.

The Denali Commission was created in large part by Sen. Ted Stevens in 1998 and has since been a catalyst for development across the state, including transportation, clinics, and fuel storage in remote communities. In recent years, the commission has begun to assist communities such as Shishmaref and Kivalina, which are losing ground to coastal erosion and are being relocated.

“Jason’s background in economic development makes him well-suited to take on his new role to lead the agency. We look forward to working with him in support of the Denali Commission’s goal of improving life in rural Alaska,” Alaska’s congressional delegation said in a joint statement.

Hoke’s previous work experience in Alaska includes serving as programs director for the Ahtna Inter-Tribal Resource Commission, overseeing energy, resource, and biomass projects for Ahtna and its tribes. He worked as executive director for the Copper Valley Development Association, Inc. and served as tribal administrator for the Cheesh’Na Tribal Council.

Mat-Su Assembly approves full PFD and constitutional spending cap

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What started out as a simple resolution opposing state cuts to education took on an entirely different look by the end of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting  on Tuesday.

The Assembly took public testimony for over an hour and robustly debated a resolution brought forward by Assembly member Dan Mayfield, which stated that a cut in state funding for education would create hardship for the local district. Amendments were added to the resolution and in the end, the Borough Assembly not only opposed education cuts, but is on the record supporting a full Permanent Fund dividend and a constitutional spending cap for the state budget.

Assembly member Matt Beck commented that the borough has a spending cap for the school district, so should the state. Assembly member Jesse Sumner said that state cuts necessitate a full Permanent Fund dividend because local governments will be picking up more of the costs of services, and those will be passed along to local taxpayers.

The amendments were put forward by Assembly member Ted Leonard.

MRAK Almanac: Let it rain bikes

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April 18, 1939: Glacier Bay National Monument (established in 1925 by President Calvin Coolidge) was enlarged to over 2, 069,760 acres by President Roosevelt, using the Antiquities Act. He created the largest unit in the national park system at the time.

April 19, 1999: A major explosion from Shishaldin Volcano on Unimak Island erupted on this day and again on April 23, 1999. The closest settlement is False Pass, 37 miles away. The explosive event that continued through May that year was the largest at Shishaldin during the last 175 years. (Above photo taken by R. McGimsey on April 23, 1999.

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April 17: Joint session of the House and Senate will meet to consider the governor’s appointees; this meeting has been delayed until 1 pm.

Got a spare kid-sized bike? Cycle Alaska is looking for used 12-inch, 16-inch, 20-inch and 24-inched wheeled bikes in functioning condition. They’ll be repaired by and donated to Pastor Tari’s summer lunch program at Shepard of the Valley Lutheran Church and the AWARE Shelter in Juneau. Contact John at Cycle Alaska, 1107 West 8th Street, Juneau, and contact John if you have any questions, [email protected].

April 19: Good Friday, commemorates the crucifixion. Note that next year it’s on April 10.

April 20: Rep. Sharon Jackson hosts a community conversation for District 13, Eagle River, Chugiak, at Piccolino’s, 12801 Old Glenn Highway, from 2-4 pm.

Earthquakes so far this year: 13,543 is the number of earthquakes in Alaska, give or take a few dozen since publication. Keep up with Alaska’s rock and roll here.

April 23: Meet and Greet with Congressman Don Young on the Kenai, at Ammo Can Coffee, 35559 Kenai Spur Highway, 5:30-7 pm.

April 25-27: Alaska Press Club at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Public Media. Awards and lofty speakers. Draft schedule here.

May 4-5: Jill Stanek was a registered nurse in the Labor & Delivery Department at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois, when she discovered not only were abortions being committed there, but babies were being aborted alive to die without medical care. When hospital leaders said that they would not stop, Jill went public and has become a national figure. You can hear her in Anchorage and Wasilla. Tickets here.