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Black History Month ignores the real issues

Suzanne Downing
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19
Black History Month ignores the real issues

LET’S STOP PATRONIZING WITH HOLLOW LEGISLATION

By REP. SHARON JACKSON
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

This week, after thoughtful consideration, I have withdrawn my support for House Bill 72, a bill that would make Black History Month permanent in Alaska. As the only African-American in the Alaska House of Representatives, I want you to understand why I felt compelled to do this.

February is Black History Month in the U.S. Since 1976, every U.S. president has acknowledged the contributions of African-Americans to the fabric of our nation. Yet, despite the shiny facade of cultural awareness, the black community remains as impoverished, divided and oppressed as ever. Our problems are almost never addressed head-on, yet we continue pledging our loyalty to any politician who happens to say a few nice words about us.

We cannot continue to be blinded by the fact that a legislative body celebrating the existence of black people doesn’t solve any of our problems.

Those who know me best know that I always tell it like it is, so here it goes: I’m not going to support any more empty efforts aimed at appeasing the black community. I don’t want platitudes. I want real policy solutions.

I’m tired of watching politicians – usually of other ethnicities – act like they care about the black community by passing feel-good bills, and then avoid answering the tough, painful, uncomfortable questions that challenge the black community. That isn’t empowerment.

I’m tired of watching programs like affirmative action in schools or businesses that allow in only enough black people to meet a quota and throw away the rest. That isn’t empowerment.

I’m tired of being told that “Black Lives Matter,” only to watch governments spend millions of Medicaid dollars each year to pay for the termination of black lives in the womb. That isn’t empowerment.

Having Black History Month doesn’t change any of these things. In fact, I would argue that it condones them. Our country does need to have a conversation about race, but not the one the mainstream media is force-feeding us.

Let’s answer these questions instead: How can we expect black children to grow up and be successful or empowered when only 45 percent of them have a father in the home to help teach them right from wrong? How can we talk about the disproportionate numbers of black men in prison before we acknowledge that they’ve been left to a life of addiction through drugs and alcohol? Society isn’t corrupted for imprisoning high numbers of black men and women – it’s corrupted for enabling so many disadvantaged people with welfare checks to remain addicted and hopeless for their entire life preceding arrest.

These are real questions that need real answers – not redundant recognitions of black existence. Rather than spending resources to keep people down, we should be investing to lift them up.

I’m not going to stand here and allow anyone else to patronize African-Americans and promote the terrible idea we are all victims. Good intentions pave the way to nowhere. The underlying issues must be addressed, and we, the Legislature, must have the courage and fortitude to face them.

Sharon Jackson is a U.S. armed forces veteran and serves District 13 in the Alaska House of Representatives.

House Majority setting dividend at “what’s leftover”

Suzanne Downing
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58

PFD WOULD BE ~$650 UNDER HOUSE BUDGET

In a House Majority press conference today, leaders of the Democrat-led bipartisan caucus acknowledged — in their own ways — that Gov. Michael Dunleavy is right about at least one thing: Alaska doesn’t have enough revenue to pay for the status quo budget without additional revenues. And they agreed that taxes are off the table.

Gone was the chest-beating days of House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, who in February angrily called the governor’s budget an “outrageous proposal.”

Now, Edgmon used softer terms: “The changes being proposed are pretty dramatic.”

They were striking a more conciliatory tone regarding the budget, and they were now stating publicly that Alaskans have spoken and are ready to give up much of their Permanent Fund dividends.

After traveling to eight communities around the state, the House Finance Committee co-chairs said that the vast majority of people who testified about the budget are opposed to the cuts proposed by Dunleavy. For every Alaskan who expressed support for the Dunleavy budget, another five testified against it, said House Finance Co-Chair Neal Foster.

Instead, they’re proposing an operating budget much like last year’s, but with about $47 million in trims to Gov. Walker’s nearly $6 billion spend. Dunleavy’s budget was such a shock to them, they didn’t even want to use it as the basis for their plan. Instead, the House Majority took up the budget of ousted former governor.

Speaker Edgmon said the Democrat-led caucus was formed around the principle of “providing a responsible budget that would protect essential services but also spend within the means of available revenue for the upcoming year.”

“It will be a budget that also contains a sustainable Permanent Fund dividend and doesn’t tap into savings in order to fund for it,” he said.

“You’ve got a governor’s budget that’s looking to displace cuts and possibly shift to local governments up to about a third of the overall budget, and then you’ve got a Permanent Fund dividend that’s twice the size it was last year. And so you’ve got sort of these ends of the spectrum, and our question…to a lot of Alaskans was, where do we meet in the middle? What essential services do you want, and what’s your version of a sustainable Permanent Fund dividend?” Edgmon said.

“A lot of Alaskans — not all — but a lot of Alaskans are willing to take a reduced Permanent Fund dividend,” he told reporters.

BUT HOW MUCH IS THE DIVIDEND?

Right now, the Permanent Fund dividend could be anywhere between $500 and the $3,000 Dunleavy has proposed, as he wants to return to the traditional formula and not turn the dividend into a political football.

Walker’s dividend amount was set at $1,800.

In the House’s “Leftover Dividend,” method, it currently looks like about $650. But the House has not actually put that down on paper.

“Right now our intent is to take care of the budget first, and then come back to the PFD amount later,” said Rep. Foster.

Rep. Chuck Kopp said that over the past few weeks he has seen more agreement among lawmakers, “paths coming together, rather than further divergence, a recognition that we can’t overspend, we can’t continue to go into savings, we can have a healthy dividend, and we can have good roads, schools, and public safety.”

Cancer: Still the leading cause of death in Alaska

Suzanne Downing
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8
Cancer: Still the leading cause of death in Alaska

BUT HOMICIDE HAS MOVED INTO TOP TEN LIST

In 2017, the 10 top causes of death claimed the lives of 3,139 Alaskans and accounted for 76 percent of the 4,114 deaths across the state, according to the latest report from State of Alaska Vital Statistics Division.

Nine of the 10 leading causes of death were the same in 2017 as they were in 2016, and in 2008.

But the 10th leading cause of death in the state is now homicide, replacing influenza/pneumonia.

Compared to the United States as a whole, 8 of 10 of the leading causes of death were the same, but although in Alaska homicide is No. 10, it didn’t make the top 10 list nationwide.

The top 10 causes of death in Alaska are:

  • Cancer
  • Heart diseases
  • Accidents
  • Chronic lower respiratory diseases
  • Suicide
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes
  • Liver and Cirrhosis
  • Homicide

CANCER

The 2017 age-adjusted mortality rate from cancer dropped 25 percent since 2008 (136 versus 181 per 100,000).

Cancer was the second leading cause of death in the US but has decreased by 13.5 percent nationally since 2008.

In the last decade, age-adjusted rates of cancer:

  • Decreased the most in the Northern region of the state (47 percent).
  • Decreased by 6 percent in American Indian/Alaska Native people, 27 percent in white people and 43 percent in other race groups.
  • Decreased in both sexes by approximately 25 percent. Rates were consistently lower in Alaska females than Alaska males.
  • Decreased in all age groups; the largest decrease was in those age 65 and older.
  • The most frequent type of cancer mortality in Alaska was in the trachea, bronchus and lung; that has been consistence since 2008. This, even though smoking has declined in Alaska 28 percent between 1996 and 2016. Smoking among Alaska Natives is double that of non-Natives, 41 percent compared to 17 percent.

SUICIDE

The mortality rate due to suicide was 27 per 100,000 in 2017, nearly twice the rate in the US (14). Suicide mortality rates increased in both the US (21 percent) and Alaska (12 percent) from 2008 to 2017. Three times as many men than women are successful in ending their lives in Alaska.

Suicide increased by 39 percent from 2008 to 2017 in Anchorage, the highest increase statewide. In 2017, Alaska Native people had a rate that was more than twice any other race group, and suicides have increased by 19 percent in this population from 2008 to 2017.

LIVER DISEASE

Chronic liver disease mortality rate in Alaska was 15 per 100,000 in 2017, an increase of 62 percent since 2008. The U.S. rate as a whole was 11 per 100,000 in 2017, an increase of 18.5 percent since 2008.

HOMICIDE

Homicide rates doubled from 2008 to 2017. The rate was similar in Alaska and the rest of the U.S. in 2008, but surpassed the US rate in 2015. A greater percentage of Alaska Natives died by homicide  than white Alaskans in all years from 2008 to 2017.

The homicide AA rate in Anchorage  increased by 359 percent from 2008 to 2017 (2.7 to 12.4 per 100,000).

The entire report is at this link.

Kati Capozzi heading up Alaska Chamber of Commerce

Suzanne Downing
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0
Kati Capozzi heading up Alaska Chamber of Commerce

The Alaska Chamber has hired Kati Capozzi as its next president and chief executive officer. She replaces Curtis Thayer, who left the Chamber to head up the Alaska Energy Authority.

Capozzi is well known in the public and political sectors in Anchorage, having led the “Stand for Alaska Vote No on 1,” group that worked to successfully defeat  Ballot Measure 1 in November 2018. The Vote No campaign won 62 percent of the statewide vote.

Prior to leading Stand for Alaska, Capozzi was communications and project manager for the Resource Development Council for Alaska, where she managed large events, led communications efforts, and monitored legislation that concerns the business membership. She also worked for the Alaska Oil and Gas Association.

“Kati Capozzi is a perfect match for this demanding role,” said Cory Baggen, Chamber chairman. “Her expertise in engaging Alaskans on the importance of a stable and competitive economic environment will serve the Chamber membership well.”

She has a bachelors degree in business administration from University of Alaska Anchorage.

The Alaska Chamber is a non-profit  business organization founded in 1953 that promotes a positive business environment in Alaska. The Chamber represents more than 800 businesses, manufacturers, and local chambers from across Alaska.

‘Filthy Fuhrer’ and prison perps charged with murder and mayhem

Suzanne Downing
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0
‘Filthy Fuhrer’ and prison perps charged with murder and mayhem
‘WHITES ONLY’ PRISON GANG IS … IN PRISON

U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced this week that his office has charged members of a white supremacist gang known as the 1488s and some of their associates.

The charges involve usual gang stuff: murder, assault, kidnapping, and running a racketeering enterprise involving narcotics distribution and firearms trafficking. The murder rap comes from an incident involving stolen drugs and a stolen Hells Angels vest by a gang member who ended up dead.

Indicted for murder, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, kidnapping, and conspiracy are men whose nicknames names sounds straight out of true crime literary genre:

  • Filthy Fuhrer, (formerly Timothy Lobdell), 42. In 2017, Lobell changed his name legally to Filthy Fuhrer in Anchorage District Court, Judge Pamela Washington presiding. The name change took place the same year he is accused in the murder of gang associate and petty drug dealer Michael Staton.
  • Roy Naughton, aka “Thumper,” 40.
  • Glen Baldwin, aka “Glen Dog,” 37. Baldwin is still at large and believed to be in Florida.
  • Craig King, aka “Oakie,” 53.
  • Beau Cook, 32.
  • Colter O’Dell, 26.

It’s unclear how a prison gang can actually be broken up when the punishment is just more prison.

Fuhrer, Naughton, Baldwin, King, Cook, and O’Dell are accused of having a role in the August 2017 beating, kidnapping, and murder of Michael Staton, whose gang name was “Steak Knife.”

Staton was the subject of a missing persons report by Alaska Department of Public Safety in 2017 after his family reported him missing in Wasilla. His beaten body was found rolled up inside a carpet. His remains were unclaimed by family members and eventually disposed of by the State Coroner.

Michael Staton

Two other key members already pleaded guilty to murder in aid of racketeering:

  •  Nicholas M. Kozorra, aka “Beast,” 29
  • Dustin J. Clowers, 34.

The 1488s are a violent and whites-only prison-based gang with as many as 100 members operating inside and outside of state prisons throughout Alaska and in Arizona and Colorado.

Gang members allegedly offer protection to white inmates if they join the gang, and all members are required to “be white, look white and act white.” They don’t accept gay members.

Members allegedly often sport tattoos incorporating Nazi-style symbols. The most coveted tattoo of 1488s members was the 1488s “patch” that could be worn only by “made” members who generally gained full membership by committing an act of violence on behalf of the gang.

The 1488s take their name from a white supremacist slogan and the “Heil Hitler” salute, with H being the 8th letter of the alphabet.

“The highest priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Alaska, which is consistent with the priorities of the Attorney General of the United States, is to stop violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Schroder.  “We will focus on chronic violent offenders, including criminals who unify through racial hatred and commit violent crimes.”

“While the violent crimes these individuals are charged with are certainly serious in and of themselves, their affiliation in support of a white supremacy enterprise is of even greater concern,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffery Peterson of FBI’s Anchorage Division.  “This impactful case demonstrates law enforcement’s abilities to penetrate even the most secret organizations through cooperation at all levels and sharing a common goal.”

“We are very proud of the meticulous work done by all of our trooper investigators and the investigators from our partnering agencies,” said AST Captain David Hanson, Commander of Alaska Bureau of Investigation. “This outcome was made possible through the effort and guidance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which resulted in an array of federal indictments on numerous 1488 gang members.”

An additional 14 indictments resulted from the investigation into the 1488 organization, members, and associates including:

  • Christopher Davidson, 35, sentenced to serve 90 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms;
  • Justin Eaton, aka “Skulls,” 44, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm;
  • Justin Hoff, 30, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm;
  • Taylor Lack, 23, sentenced to serve six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
  • Mica Messinger, 37, sentenced to serve 70 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
  • Angie Minnick, 41, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail and for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances;
  • Alexander Netling, aka “Bruiser,” 25, sentenced to serve five years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
  • Michael Oman, aka “Donkey,” 29, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm;
  • Jason Rose, aka “Honkey,” 42, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
  • Shawn Schmidt, 33, sentenced to serve 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
  • Charles Soper, aka “Slim,” 25, sentenced to serve 34 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
  • Jeffrey Robinson, 37, sentenced to serve nine years in prison for drug conspiracy;
  • Roy Naughton, sentenced to serve 100 months in prison for carjacking;
  • Colter O’Dell, sentenced to serve 27 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the indictment, as part of their operations, 1488s members and associates allegedly engaged in illegal activities under the protection of the enterprise, including narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, and other illegal activities to generate income.  The 1488s allegedly had a detailed and uniform organizational structure, which is outlined in written “rules” widely distributed to members throughout Alaska and elsewhere.  Members of the 1488s allegedly acted in different roles in order to further the goals of their organization, including “bosses” who had ultimate authority in all gang matters. “Key holders” were allegedly responsible for all gang matters within penal facilities where 1488s had a presence, and in “free world” Alaska (outside of prison). “Enforcers” were allegedly responsible for enforcing the rules and performing tasks as assigned by higher-ranking gang members.

Agencies involved include the FBI and AST Alaska Bureau of Investigation Special Crimes Investigation Unit and Technical Crimes Unit, the Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) Mat-Su Drug Unit, AST ‘B’ Detachment Major Crimes Unit and Criminal Suppression Unit, and AST’s participation in the Task Force Officer program led the investigation.  Investigative Assistance was provided by IRS Criminal Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Anchorage Police Department (APD), the State of Alaska’s Department of Corrections and the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS).

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Taylor and James Klugman of the District of Alaska and Trial Attorney Marty Woelfle of OCGS.

Sandra Sullivan, 1939-2019

Suzanne Downing
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3
The mother of U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan passed away on March 27, 2019. Sullivan has cancelled some of his events planned for this week in Alaska, to attend to family.
Here is her obituary:
Sandra Sullivan died peacefully on March 27, 2019 surrounded by loved ones.
She is survived by Thomas, her devoted husband of 59 years, her children Frank (Barbara nee O’Rourke), T. Sean (Mary nee Conway), Tom Jr. (Mary nee Frain), Dan (Julie nee Fate), Kathleen Sullivan (Blaise Dupuy) and Julie Sullivan (Bruce Shagvoc), as well as her beloved brood of 16 aspiring grandchildren: Sully, George, Grace, James, Virginia, Joe, Margaret, Meghan, Audrey, Rose, Isabella, Ingrid, Laurel, Will, Rory and Grady.
Born Sept. 23, 1939 in Dallas, Texas, she was transported North through the love of Thomas C. Sullivan, to the winters of Cleveland, Ohio. Over all these years, she never truly lost her Southern accent.
This one life, touched the lives of multitudes of people, many of whom her immediate family would never know. Sandra was a lovely woman, both inside and out, known for her engaging personality, once winning the title of one of Texas’ Ten Most Beautiful as a sophomore at University of Texas in Austin. She later completed her undergraduate education at Baldwin Wallace in 1980 wherein 1999 she was awarded Doctor of Humane Letters, Honorary Degree. For 14 years she served on B-W’s Board of Trustees.
A woman of faith, Sandra quietly supported numerous charities for the homeless, for women’s shelters and half way houses where people could find dignity and a new lease on life. Sandra was inspirational in establishing, with her husband Thomas,
The Sullivan Family Foundation that supports such initiatives throughout the Cleveland metro area. Sandy and Tom have been especially involved with education, specifically Metro Catholic and Urban Community School. Among these, another Sullivan Family charitable trust, Sullivan Scholars, is lovingly dedicated to the children and young adults of Northeast Ohio.
From elementary through high school and university, Sullivan Scholars champions the aspirations of underprivileged youth who have found their creativity and dreams through Sandy’s signature compassion and good will for all. Over decades, Sandra spent time feeding “the folks” who needed sustenance and found it at The West Side Catholic Center.
The literacy service at WWCS is named for her, the Sandra Sullivan Learning Center for Life. She was a founding Board Member of the Community Service Alliance, which provides affordable, supportive housing for men coming out of homelessness.
Sandra had the brilliant idea of converting disused convents and rectories dotted throughout the Cleveland area as community homes for homeless men, providing job training and a way out of the grind of systemic poverty. In homage to her signature vision, one of the first of these conversions was named “Sandy’s House” in her honor. Her family will always remember Sandy’s cherishing the beauty of God’s creation.
All her six children were partly raised in Cleveland’s much-loved Metroparks picking up any refuse that crossed their path. She was a supporter of the Metropark’s Nature & Science Center and as an avid gardener, Sandra advocated for ecological preservation and healthy living long before the dictates of public conscience.
She also supported The Nature’s Bin in Lakewood a health food market that trained people with disabilities, providing them life skills and a community to flourish in. With her trademark energy, she would light up any room she entered. Whether working with impacted communities or courting other philanthropists to raise funds, she treated all with dignity and respect, truly living ‘love in action’ through her ministry in the inner city. “With God all things are possible”, she would often say. And through God this one remarkable woman transformed the lives of many, giving opportunity and hope, kindness and respect.
Funeral Mass Monday, April 1, St. Raphael Church (525 Dover Center Rd., Bay Village) at 10:30 am. Meet at the church. Interment will be at Lakewood Park Cemetery.
Friends may call at Chambers Funeral Home of North Olmsted, 29150 Lorain Road at Stearns Road, Sunday, 2-5:30 pm on Sunday.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the MCS Vision Endowment Fund, Metro Catholic School, 3555 West 54th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44102.

Send a red pen to lawmakers

Suzanne Downing
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0

By ANCHORAGE DAILY PLANET

While unions and their fellow travelers noisily are demonstrating against Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget proposal that aims to close Alaska’s $1.6 billion budget without resorting to taxes or slashing Permanent Fund dividends, there is something you can do to be heard.

Send your state representative or senator, and the governor, a red pen to remind them you support Dunleavy using his veto pen like a chainsaw on any budget that arrives at his desk with the same ol’ budget bloat that got the state into trouble in the first place. You can get instructions and a sample letter here.

The unions and others who benefit from government spending are working hard to keep their gravy train on the tracks. They would rather you be taxed and your dividend slashed to the bone before giving up a penny in spending.

They would have all of us believe Alaskans want the spending to continue, but 145,631 Alaskans voted for Dunleavy and his agenda in the last election.

Read the rest of this editorial at Anchorage Daily Planet:

http://www.anchoragedailyplanet.com/152725/send-a-red-pen/

 

Film Review: Documentary pushes back against Constantine mine in Haines

Suzanne Downing
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0

TO BE SCREENED IN SITKA APRIL 7

A half-hour documentary about the Palmer Project, also known as the Constantine Mine, is making the rounds in Southeast Alaska and at environmental film festivals around the country.

“Rock, Paper, Fish,” sponsored by Patagonia (outdoor gear company), Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, and Peak Designs, will be seen next in Sitka at the Mean Queen lower level on April 7 from 6-8 pm. It’s hosted by the Sitka Conservation Society and Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, which is one of the film underwriters.

The film showcases the lives of commercial fishing families in Haines, and those of the Tlingit village of Klukwan — all of which depend on the salmon runs of the Chilkat River.

It’s a beautifully shot film — this is scenic Southeast Alaska, after all — and follows the playbook one would expect of an anti-mining documentary, arguing that whenever mining and fish come into the same place at the same time, “the fish lose.”

Watch the Rock, Paper, Fish trailer on Vimeo here. 

That’s not always the case of course. At Greens Creek Mine on Admiralty Island, the salmon swim right up to the mine. Greens Creek is anadromous fish stream the crosses right in front of the mine portal, where workers cross a bridge to get inside the mine every work shift.

What’s more, the coho, chum, and Dolly Varden have increased over time because the mine company has actually enhanced the fish habitat. It’s the same type of geology as the Haines Palmer Project — a massive lead, zinc, and silver deposit that has brought hundreds of good-paying jobs to Juneau, diversifying the economy.

The Palmer Project would have to go through state and federal permitting processes, once the mining plan is more final; it’s still in the exploration stage. That means there will be an extensive environmental impact statement required, with public comment.

That’s the purpose of the film — to lay the groundwork for negative public comment.

The Palmer Project is 25 miles from the Chilkat River, and in this mountainous country, everything drains into rivers, which sustain one of the world’s largest bald eagle populations, plus grizzly bears, and small settlements of humans trying to carve out a living in a town with few job opportunities, but with five species of salmon wagging their tails up river every year to feed everyone.

There’s plenty to worry about and plenty of opportunity to push an anti-mining message. The Constantine Mine can expect more films and more focus as it continues its explorations.

But the filmmakers do acknowledge there are some Alaskans eager for mining jobs. Constantine has been active in the area for years, drilling for samples, building drilling pads, and selling the project to investors. Plenty of locals have worked seasonally for the company.

The scenery alone is worth the time spent watching the film, but we’re reminded that this is the same group that did the “Irreparable Harm” film opposing the Greens Creek Mine. That film won Best Short Film at Yale Environmental Film Festival, and Best Environmental Film, Alaska Film Awards, funded by Southeast Alaska Conservation Council. It blames the mine for elevated mercury content in the liver of a seal harvested nearby. That has been a widely disputed and still unproven premise.

“The prospect of [the Palmer Project] has deeply divided the communities [of Haines, Klukwan], and left them struggling to keep pace with the agenda of multinational corporations,” the filmmakers write.

The Palmer Project is focused on copper, zinc, silver, and gold in an area consists of 340 federal unpainted lode mining claims over 6,765 acres, and 63 state mineral claims over 9,200 acres. In 2014, Constantine was also the successful bidder in the Haines Block offered by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, which gave Constantine a total of 82,000 acres in all of its mining claims in the area.

The film, which has a clear bias and can’t honestly be considered a neutral documentary, was shown this month at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C., and around Southeast Alaska, including Juneau, Klukwan, Haines, Skagway. It will hit the Yale Environmental Film Festival, the Vancouver Elements Film Festival, and the International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula, Mont. in April.

The filmmakers are Colin Arisman and Connor Gallagher, who specialize in these types of films.

To learn more about the Palmer Project from the company’s website, click here.

Have you seen the film? Add your own review below.

Sen. Donny Olson criticizes Nome police?

Suzanne Downing
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16

ARRESTED WOMAN LATER ATTENDED AND SPOKE WITHOUT INCIDENT AT GOVERNOR’S MEETING

Sen. Donny Olson took a stand against Nome Police today, after they handcuffed a woman who approached and yelled at Gov. Michael Dunleavy as he arrived at the Nome Airport, on his way to giving a budget presentation.

Brenda Evak was arrested at the airport by the local force for disorderly conduct, prompting Olson, a Democrat from nearby Golovin, to issue the following statement from Juneau, on the State of Alaska Senate Democrats letterhead:

“This afternoon, I was notified that Nome resident Brenda Evak was arrested today for using her First Amendment rights to voice her concerns to Governor Dunleavy at the Nome airport,” Olson said in a statement.

“All Alaskans and Americans have the right to free speech. It is outrageous that an Alaskan expressing an opinion to the Governor is treated this way. Alaskans are angry, and they feel like their voice is not heard. I hope Governor Dunleavy takes the experience from this event to understand the impact his budget is having on all Alaskans and uses it to finally start governing this state on behalf of its people,” Olson said, evidently not in command of all the facts surrounding the incident, including the inconvenient truth that his own local police force were in charge.

It’s unclear why Nome police arrested Evak, who was shouting loudly but who had not made any apparent threats. State Troopers were not involved in the decision.

The governor then held a meeting at a local church, gave his presentation on the budget, and opened it up to questions. About 15 people from the audience spoke, a mix of some who support him and others who criticized his budget.

Among those attending were a number of his former students who came to Nome to see him, and the quiet majority of people who attended the meeting supported his approach to fiscal responsibility.

Evak, who was wearing a Defend the Sacred sweatshirt, was released by police and attended the meeting, where Gov. Dunleavy welcomed her to speak.

Evak’s question to him was, “How much money have you been paid by the Koch Brothers?”

The answer he gave was that the Koch Brothers had not paid him anything.

There was clearly organized opposition at the meeting, but the governor made sure everyone who raised their hand had a chance to speak.

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