U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola released statements after the U.S. Department of the Interior released its long-delayed draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Ambler Access Project
“This road is guaranteed under federal law and will facilitate access to crucial supplies of copper, cobalt, gallium, germanium, and other minerals that our nation currently imports from abroad. This is particularly important as China cuts off exports of gallium and germanium, cobalt is produced through modern-day slavery in the DRC, and some of our best analysts are forecasting shortages of copper within a decade,” said Murkowski. “Given the clear terms of the law and the strategic importance of this project, you would expect the Biden administration to prioritize its approval with reasonable mitigation measures for subsistence. You would also expect them to recognize that Alaska has repeatedly demonstrated that subsistence rights can safely co-exist with road infrastructure. My team and I will review this document closely, but based on what Interior released today, it does not appear they have undertaken the serious, credible analysis that we expected and deserved.”
“Here we go again. The Biden administration is reversing yet another fully completed Environmental Impact Statement—approved by the previous administration—on a critical Alaska project,” said Sullivan. “Our country is in the midst of one of the most dangerous periods since World War II. One of America’s greatest strengths over our adversaries is our energy and critical minerals. Remarkably, the Biden administration has sought to unilaterally disarm these strengths, including with today’s Ambler Road supplemental EIS, which sets up more hurdles to access one the biggest deposits of much-needed critical minerals in our country. Additionally, this supplemental EIS is almost certainly counter to ANILCA, which mandates that the Interior Secretary ‘shall’ grant an Ambler Road right-of-way not subject to judicial review. Finally, it is dishonest for the Biden administration to suggest that this project will become a public road, ignoring the fact that the application is for a private road, paid for with private funds. This is classic Biden administration: undermining American strengths in a very dangerous time, subverting the clear intent of federal law, and lying to Alaskans.”
“Projects in the Ambler mining district could create good-paying jobs for local communities while also developing an Alaska-based supply chain for the critical minerals our country needs to compete with China and create a cleaner energy grid,” said Peltola. “Those communities and local tribes must be adequately consulted. From my conversations with impacted communities, they want a private road, and I believe that a private road can find a balance between providing economic opportunities for the region while also protecting subsistence. I will continue to encourage the Interior Department to complete this process without further delays.”
The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 guarantees a right-of-way across federal lands to provide access to the Ambler Mining District. Federal permitting for the AAP began in 2015 and included a rigorous environmental review and environmental and economic analysis. After holding 18 public meetings and considering over 3,000 unique public comments, in July 2020, the Secretaries of the Interior and Transportation signed a Record of Decision selecting the Northern Alignment as the approved route for the road. That same month, after holding 21 public meetings and reviewing over 21,000 public comments, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a joint ROD choosing Alternative A as the preferred alternative; subsequently BLM and National Park Service issued a 50-year ROW permit for the AAP.
In February 2022, the Biden Administration sought a voluntary court remand to conduct an SEIS for the road. President Biden held a roundtable on “Securing Critical Minerals for a Future Made in America” on the very same day—failing to recognize that the Ambler Mining District is one of the nation’s best options to produce them, but foreshadowing his administration’s incoherence on this issue.
The court agreed to DOI’s remand request in May 2022, but placed conditions on it to ensure it would move forward expeditiously. In June 2023, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland testified to Congress that permitting would be completed by the end of the year, but just days later, the administration filed a court brief announcing a delay for a new ROD until mid-2024.
The Interior Department has set a 60-day public comment period from the date of the SEIS’ publication in the Federal Register, which is expected next week.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy joined 18 other governors in sending a letter to President Joe Biden expressing support for the State of Israel.
“The Hamas attack on Israel was not a land dispute. It was a terrorist attack on the outpost of democracy in the Middle East. As Americans, we must stand with those who share our values,” Dunleavy said on X/Twitter, referring to the attack on Israel by Iran-backed terrorists who killed as many as 1,300 people, in a highly coordinated operation on Saturday.
“We pledge our steadfast support to our ally Israel following the appalling attacks perpetrated against Israel’s sovereignty and innocent civilians on October 7, 2023,” wrote the governors to Biden. “We write today to make clear that our states absolutely condemn these heinous acts of terrorism led by Iran-backed Hamas and proudly stand Israel and the Jewish people.”
The governors, all Republican, wrote that “when the lives of American citizens hang in the balance, the American President must speak boldly and act decisively.”
“This type of international chaos and violence is a direct result of your administration’s appeasement-first foreign policy,” the letter said. “We call on you to project American strength by…clearly and unequivocally condemning these attacks and supporting Israel’s unquestioned right to respond and defend itself.”
Led by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, the other governors who signed the letter included Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Idaho Gov. Brad Little, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon.
This is the story of how Alaska’s property tax assessment process has failed the Haines community.
This issue affects everyone. We all pay property tax either directly to the borough or through rent payments.
A wise man once told me that local government’s currency is the trust, respect, and goodwill of the people. I concur and believe it is unfortunate that the entire approach of the assessor’s office toward the people of Haines under Contract Assessor Michael Dahle’s guidance appears to be bankrupting the Haines Borough of the currency it once held from the people it serves.
Significant changes were implemented to Haines assessments for 2023. This is not news to property owners because the change is obvious with increases in assessments and tax bills. The increases are the result of a new mass appraisal methodology that combines the cost method with some market comparison data. This combination creates an exotic hybrid valuation model that ignores actual market sales conditions for property in Haines adding speculative costs to replace existing structures.
The inevitable result of using this valuation model is a significantly inflated valuation of property for many parcels. This is due to costs to replace existing structures using factors that include modern building codes and architectural standards with current costs of construction materials using professional building contractors and other inflationary factors.
This approach by its very nature is regressive, shifting a disproportionate tax burden to middle and lower-valued properties owned and rented by those in our community that can least afford it. Buildings that are 20 years or older with functional obsolescence and homebuilt structures are particularly impacted. The injustice that has been created by this regressive taxation scheme will then compound year after year.
It is not a coincidence that we are experiencing the same chaos that brought lawsuits against the City and Borough of Juneau in 2021. Borough Manager, Annette Kreitzer should have known better when she recommended that Dahle be retained as a contract assessor.
Dahle’s Alaska certification as an assessor expired in 2006 according to Heather Windsor, Certification Board Committee Member, of the Alaska Association of Assessing Officers. His appraiser accreditation in the State of Washington is listed as “suspended” by the Washington Department of Revenue. That is “suspended,” not expired.
The injustices that are occurring in Haines this year under the direction of Contract Assessor Dahle are systemic and not isolated occurrences. A total of 227 appeals have been filed by Haines residents. Instead of receiving serious inquiries and site visits in response to their appeals many appellants are receiving threatening emails saying that the assessment will be increased if relief is pursued to the Board of Equalization.
One homeowner received a threat from the Assessor’s Office that his assessments would be increased if he refused to drop his appeals. The appellant continued forward with his appeals and ninety minutes before the deadline for his packet to be submitted for the BOE hearing he received a notification via email that all four properties would be increased. The building value for two of the properties increased over 33%. Even a vacant lot went up $10,000.
You can hear the appellant’s BOE testimony yourself from the Haines BOE hearing on October 11, 2023, starting at 26 minutes and 10 seconds (26:10) at the below link:
An open letter was recently published in Haines detailing a personal account of the property owner’s experience when the property owner appealed the assessment on their modest property in the Mosquito Lake area of Haines Borough. In preparation for the BOE hearing the property owners obtained a certified appraisal with a value of $620,000 which was supported by the testimony of a local real estate salesperson with 26 years of experience in Haines.
Contract Assessor Dahle responded with a recommendation to the BOE to increase the assessment up to $1.1 Million. That is correct, after seeing the appraisal the Assessor’s office adjusted the value up, not down.
During the hearing Haines BOE members expressed their belief that the appellant met the burden of proof beyond a preponderance of evidence. Their deliberations were interrupted in advance of the vote by Haines Mayor Doug Olerud to discourage finding in the appellant’s favor out of fear that it would set a precedent. Olerud was not a member of the BOE but was acting as chair. His non-voting role should have prevented him from entering the deliberation.
Apparently, the ability of a property owner to succeed on appeal was unacceptable to the mayor regardless of the overwhelming evidence. All BOE members fell in line with the mayor’s direction. The final decision was $818,700 because it was a number presented by the assessor at one point and seemed like a compromise between the $1.1 Million recommended increase and the appraisal of $620,000.
Similar cases have also become publicly known, including a local small business owner and two other heartbreaking appeals that were heard at the Board of Equalization (BOE) meeting on October 5, 2023. Many other residents have dropped their appeals due to the threat of their property assessments being increased further if they pursued justice to the BOE.
In testimony during the Oct. 5 BOE meeting, one of our neighbors spoke about how difficult it has been to disparage her single mother’s accomplishment and expose the defects of their homebuilt house. She was forced to display the substandard conditions of her abode on the record and in public. This is something that should have been resolved in a private meeting with the assessor where the less fortunate among us have an opportunity to be treated respectfully and with dignity.
You can hear the recording yourself at the following link:
These types of situations can cause people to feel bullied and helpless that can create a sense of desperation and hopelessness to the point of suicide. Alaska has one of the highest suicide rates in the nation. Haines itself has endured the loss of too many of our friends and neighbors that have taken their own lives in recent years out of a sense of the hopelessness they endured.
This is not a joke or a game to the people who have suffered the indignities that has occurred this year from “city hall.”
We are better than this and our government must be held accountable by the people they serve!
The systemic pattern of threatening property owners with additional increases if appellants continue their appeal to the Board of Equalization will not stop if we consent with silence. We must stand up and speak out to ensure the government is held accountable.
I do not fault the current assembly that are serving as BOE members. They have been thoughtful and genuinely appear to want to make the right decision. But during their deliberations they have been pressured by Mayor Olerud to side with the Contract Assessor despite statements and overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
But I do fault a failure by our State and local government to establish checks and balances on the heavy hand of government against the public they serve.
Calls to the State Assessor’s office to expose process errors and Contract Assessor Dahle’s threats to increase assessments if appellants refused to drop their appeal resulted in a BOE retraining that occurred on Sept. 21. During the retraining, State Assessor Joseph Caissie encouraged the BOE to support the Assessor’s opinion.
Caissie’s argument was that even if the model the assessor is using consistently established assessments at 150% or even up to 200% of full and true market value that was okay if there is “uniformity.” In Mr. Caissie’s words, the job of the assembly is not to reduce assessments to market value, but instead “the job of the assembly (is) to set the mill rate lower.”
Hear the State Assessor’s words of advice to the Haines BOE on this link for the full context of his argument during the training.
Unfortunately, the argument that it would be fair and equitable to uphold assessments to more than full and true market value based on the new hybrid valuation method instituted by Dahle in Haines this year fails to hold water for several reasons.
State of Alaska Statute 29.45.110 requires property to be assessed at its “full and true value as of January 1 of the assessment year…the estimated price that the property would bring in an open market and under the then prevailing market conditions in a sale between a willing seller and a willing buyer both conversant with the property and with prevailing general price levels.” Use of a cost methodology that creates significantly inflated valuation of property fails to meet that mandated assessment valuation.
The regressive nature of the mass appraisal with the exotic hybrid cost methodology disproportionately burdens owners of middle and lower-valued properties.
Inflating property assessment beyond “full and true value” circumvents the will of the people that live in communities, like Haines, that have enacted millage cap rates to limit the taxation on property.
What is the root cause of the problem that is occurring this year? It all started eleven months ago when Borough Manager, Annette Kreitzer committed our government to contract with Dahle. It appears she committed to Dahle without seeking proposals from other contract assessors. Kreitzer then went to the assembly on December 13, 2022, for a procurement resolution to reward Dahle with a long-term contract paid by you and me, the taxpayers of Haines.
Dahle previously worked for CBJ in the assessor’s office and was at the center of the chaos in 2021 that occurred when commercial properties received increased assessments to 150% regardless of the area they were located or how the Covid-19 shutdowns affected their industry.
Multiple property owners sued CBJ in Superior Court with the intention of elevating to the Supreme Court if necessary. CBJ struck a compromise with the appellants that included the municipality enacting an ordinance that required the assessor’s office to work within state and nationally recognized guidelines.
CBJ Ordinance 2022-21(b) adopted December 12, 2022
During this time, a Juneau appellant watched Dahle perform at a BOE hearing in June of 2022. I was informed that during the hearing Dahle publicly disparaged professionals that provide evidence contrary to his assessments and referred to certified appraisers as “hired guns”. The appellant told me he expected Dahle to be present for his appeal to the BOE. However, Dahle was noticeably absent, and it was announced that he was suddenly “retired.”
A few short months later Dahle was then invited into our community and offered a contract to work for the Haines Borough by Kreitzer, who is also from Juneau.
Once Kreitzer had Dahle under contract significant changes to assessments were undertaken by putting into place the new regressive methodology. The people were not provided with transparency or an opportunity for public comment about the potential for unintended consequences.
What we did receive was a propaganda campaign from borough officials selling the merits of the change as being “fair and equitable” in public statements to KHNS, CVN, and on the record in public meetings.
The Haines Borough also officially acknowledged the change in methodology in the FY24 adopted budget. In the “Manager’s Memo” section of the final FY24 Budget Kreitzer documented the following:
“We are continuing with a contract assessor in FY24, as he assists in training staff, and continuing the move toward mass appraisal, which will ensure more fairness and equity in property valuations in the coming years.”
– Page 3 of the Manager’s (Page 5 of the FY24 Budget)
“As we move toward a mass appraisal system that will provide more uniformity and equity in assessments, this year individual property values increased by about 16% over previous years. As we continue down this path, it should result in fewer spikes in property assessments in the future.”
– Page 4 of the Manager’s Report (Page 6 of the FY24 Budget)
Alaska Statute 29.45.150 protects the public’s interests by requiring a municipality to take formal action by resolution or ordinance in advance of enacting a systematic reevaluation. By requiring formal action, a municipality is required to disclose the new approach and provide an opportunity for the public to weigh in with public comments prior to adopting the change.
Haines Borough failed to provide the public with an opportunity to learn about and provide public comments on the systematic proposed change as required by statute. A Haines resident has received a legal opinion letter which states in part that:
“The manner by which the Haines Borough has assessed real property within the Haines Borough deviates from procedural requirement set out in state law and the Haines Borough ordinances…Without corrective action by the Haines Borough to cure the improper adoption and application of the new assessment methodology and conformity with mandatory timelines for appeals, further action by the Haines Borough Board of Equalization regarding pending property tax appeals violates applicable legal principles.”
When assembly members were made aware of the requirements stated in AS 29.45.150 during public comments at the Sept. 26 assembly meeting, this issue was referred to the borough’s legal firm, Chandler, Falconer, Munson, and Cacciola. In response, the attorneys issued a 12-page letter explaining why in their opinion it was okay for the Haines Borough to have gone forward with a systematic assessment change without a resolution or act.
As a former assembly member, I have experience with the borough’s law firm and their ‘circle the wagons’ approach when public concerns are raised about borough actions and / or process issues. My suspicion has always been piqued when I read phrases like, “ambiguous,” “antiquated,” “alternative interpretation” in opinion letters from the borough attorneys.
Now that the public has called out our government for an alleged violation of Alaska Statute 29.45.150 which, the government is now claiming there has not been a systematic reevaluation. But the record speaks for itself. You can hear Dahle himself state that there is a plan to change to “a mass appraisal standpoint rather than an individual appraisal standpoint”. This was stated on the record during the December 13, 2022, Assembly Meeting. The recording is available at the link below and Dahle begins speaking at 57 minutes and 30 seconds into the recording (57:30).
Attorney Joe Geldhof from Juneau wrote the opinion quoted above for one of our appellants and is very familiar with the Haines Borough. It is my understanding that the last time he was willing to take on an issue with Haines Borough it resulted in the overturning of an election. The case resulted in Daymond Hoffman being seated as an assembly member despite the fact the Haines Borough claimed they did nothing wrong in the counting of the votes. He is not an attorney that puts forth frivolous arguments.
Between Chandler, Falconer, Munson, & Cacciola or Joe Geldhof, I would choose Geldhof hands down for truth and accuracy.
I am speaking out publicly on this issue because an injustice is occurring, and it needs to be corrected. Our government receives its authority from the people it serves. It is time that “we the people” regain control of our government through our elected representatives.
Please reach out to your elected officials and request them to make a commitment to reverse these injustices by becoming an advocate in support of legislative changes. We need to ensure there are codified protections for the people against the heavy hand of “city hall” to protect appellants rights against regressive and unjust property assessments and unlicensed contract assessors.
We can and must do better.
Haines resident Brenda Josephson has held elective office on the Haines Borough Assembly and Haines Borough School Board. She also served her community as a Haines Borough Planning Commissioner and Haines Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She is licensed by the State of Alaska for real estate sales and is federally licensed tax professional authorized by the US Department of Treasury to practice as an Enrolled Agent before the Internal Revenue Service.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this Open Letter to Haines is what I believe to be true and accurate after months of research. It became my mission to learn how it was possible that our assessments could go so far off the rails in just a few months after the loss of our longtime staff assessor. My journey on this road to discovery has not been alone and others have noteworthy details I have not shared.
Acknowledgement:
I want to thank the many people in Haines and throughout Alaska that are researchers, and professionals in real estate, contract assessments, appraisals, law, state government, and those who had personal experience as BOE appellants, some who pursued relief to the courts. These individuals, professionals, and business owners generously gave of their time to share knowledge and personal experience to help Haines avoid the challenges they personally witnessed and/or experienced.
The supplemental environmental impact statement for the Ambler Road to the Ambler Mining District was not favorable. The report was released today by the Bureau of Land Management, a division of the Department of Interior.
The road project is proposed by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA). A district court judge sent the matter back for an additional environmental review after the original environmental impact statement in 2020, saying there was inadequate analysis of subsistence impacts under the terms of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
Ambler Mining District is a mineral-rich area that would be able to provide the rare earth and other minerals needed for the Biden Administration’s electric future. Without it, the country will still rely on slave-mined minerals from China. Rep. Mary Peltola has indicated she opposes the road and the mine itself.
The draft supplemental EIS released today analyzes the three route alternatives for the proposed road from the 2020 environmental analysis, as well as a “no action” alternative under which the road would not be permitted. No preferred alternative is identified.
The updated analysis identifies 66 communities whose subsistence activities could be potentially impacted, concluding that any road alternative may significantly restrict subsistence uses in nearly half of these communities.
This nearly triples the number of communities considered, up from 27 in the 2020 analysis. The draft supplemental EIS also contains updated information on potential impacts of the proposed road to caribou and fish populations, and expands incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge gained through consultations, ethnographic interviews, comment letters and testimony, and Regional Advisory Council meetings.
Mining activity and future potential public use of the road are identified and analyzed as reasonably foreseeable, a term that is defined in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing regulations and guidance, the BLM said in a statement.
“The latest draft includes additional data and analysis informed by robust Tribal consultation and cooperation, on-the-ground perspectives, and public input,” said BLM Alaska State Director Steve Cohn. “We appreciate the hard work of BLM staff and our partners, and the many Alaska Native Tribes, Corporations and stakeholders who engaged in this updated process. Continued public input and engagement on this draft is critical to ensuring our analysis captures the proposed road’s potential impacts.”
AIDEA proposed Ambler Road to connect the Dalton Highway, which runs from north of Fairbanks up to Deadhorse, to the Ambler Mining District located in northwest Alaska. The proposed route would traverse more than 200 miles across lands managed by the BLM, state of Alaska, Alaska Native Corporations, and through the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, managed by the National Park Service.
“The additional analysis confirms that this private mining road would be a road to ruin for Alaska’s struggling caribou,” said Cooper Freeman, Alaska representative at the Center for Biological Diversity. “You can’t bulldoze through millions of acres of wilderness, migration routes, rivers and a national park without causing major destruction. The Biden administration should revoke the permits for this harmful road and keep Alaska’s wild places intact.”
The public has 60-days from publication of the draft supplemental EIS in the Federal Register, which is scheduled for next week, to provide comments. The BLM will post the schedule for public meetings, subsistence hearings and other engagement opportunities on the BLM National NEPA Register in the coming days. The BLM will review and consider all input before publishing a final supplemental EIS. The BLM will continue to consult with Alaska Native Tribes and Corporations throughout this process.
One of the more interesting races in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough’s Nov. 7 election is a school board race, where a Democrat-backed candidate has reported raising more than $38,000 to take out Republican Ole Larson, the conservative incumbent.
Dianne Shibe’s report at the Alaska Public Offices Commission’s website shows that most of her $38,000-plus is coming from the efforts of teachers union types and Outside the district. What isclear in the filings is that Larson has become a target of the Democrats, as shown by the fact that former Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Pat Chesbro is a deputy treasurer for Shibe, and Anchorage School Board President Margo Bellamy is a financial contributor.
Ole Larson has been a conservative voice in what is arguably the most conservative school district in the state. But he has raised just $9,472.49 from campaign supporters — a third of what Shibe has to spend to reach potential voters.
In the District 3 school board seat, conservative incumbent Kathy McCollum has raised $9,472, while her liberal teacher-union-supported challenger Sydney Zuyus has reported raising $4,970.
Here are the seats up for election, with early voting starting Oct. 23:
SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 3 Three Year Term Ending November 2026 (Vote for One)
MCCOLLUM, Kathy, incumbent ZUYUS, Sydney
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 4 Three Year Term Ending November 2026 (Vote for One)
YUNDT, Rob, incumbent, unopposed
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 5 Three Year Term Ending November 2026 (Vote for One)
GAMBLE, Bill TEW, Clayton E. “Mokie,” incumbent
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 6 One Year Term Ending November 2024 (Vote for One)
ABNEY, Jackson L. COMAN, Kerby J.A. FONOV, Dmitri, incumbent GLASHAN, Stafford
SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 6 Three Year Term Ending November 2026 (Vote for One)
LARSON, R. Ole SHIBE, Dianne K.
Proposition 1 is also on the ballot. It would authorize the Matanuska-Susitna Borough to build transportation systems projects listed and issue bonds in the amount of $38,168,210, which is 50% of the cost of the projects.
The question is:
Shall the Matanuska-Susitna Borough engage in the construction, additions, improvements, betterments, repair, reconstruction, and acquisition of public roads and pathways, and facilities related thereto, in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough of the following Projects, together with all necessary equipment and transportation facilities, including improving school access, and the acquisition of lands or rights in lands in connection therewith, and issue its areawide general obligation bonds, in an amount not to exceed the sum of Thirty-Eight Million One Hundred Sixty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred and Ten Dollars ($38,168,210) for the purpose of financing the cost, in part, of the following Projects in accordance with and ratifying and approving the provisions of Ordinance Serial No. 23-077?
It’s heartening that President Joe Biden says America stands with Israel, seeing as so many in his party are standing with verified terrorists.
After going into a brief, unexplained period of hiding last week, Biden made a prepared statement: “Let there be no doubt, the United States has Israel’s back,” he said, acknowledging the historic bond between our nations.
America was, readers will recall, the first nation to recognize the nation of Israel. Notwithstanding the Palestinian supporters protesting in the streets and on campuses around the nation, our formal support for Israel has been U.S. policy since May 14, 1948, when President Harry S. Truman first proclaimed it so on the same day Israel declared itself a sovereign state.
We have to believe this president is sincere, since anyone standing with Hamas right now would be standing over the bloodied bodies of beheaded babies. Even Biden, with his pro-Palestine supporters badgering him to take up the cause of Hamas, would find that a bridge too far.
But the world is more complicated than just saying “we have your back.” Biden’s policies, since he has taken office, have shown a lack of understanding about the complexity of the world and the need for a strong national security in the United States, and how that adds to global stability. Yes, while he has called conservatives “MAGA” as a pejorative, he has acted to make America weak.
This weakening of the one country that is supposed to have Israel’s back is not lost on Israel’s enemies, which surround the still-young nation. Biden’s words ring as thin as a carbon-footprint-free, sustainably sourced paper tiger, when compared to his actual actions as the leader of the free world.
Biden and his handlers long ago put most of their eggs in the climate change basket at the expense of every other national concern. We see this from within and other countries recognize misplaced priorities when they see it, too.
His administration, obsessed with climate to the point of cult-like adherence, has allowed radical environmentalists to rule the roost., a policy that has spilled over into runaway inflation, the weakening of the dollar as the international reserve currency, our newly “woke” military focusing on pronouns instead of preparedness, and even our intelligence capabilities.
Now, with American hostages being held in Gaza, Biden says it’s going to be tough to get them out alive. A year ago, he showed far more concern when American basketball player Brittney Griner was being held in Russia on drug charges. Then, Biden willingly gave up notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for the America-hating athlete. Earlier this year, he set the price for American hostages in Iran at $1 billion apiece.
Climate change obsession is also how Biden came to be more aligned with repressive, socialist Venezuela, too. He systematically shut down Alaska’s oil potential, throwing roadblock after regulatory roadblock up to embargo our homegrown energy security.
His climate obsession is how he came to prop up China’s slave-based economy, by underwriting that country’s production of critical rare earth minerals and production of car components for the Biden electricity obsession. He won’t allow those rare minerals to be extracted here in the USA, where there are strict environmental controls. They are being mined by forced labor in China.
Since Biden took office, nearly 7 million illegal immigrants have been “encountered” at the U.S.-Mexico border, not including the untold millions of “gotaways” who slipped through. Among those who came illegally are hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans.
Last month, the Biden administration announced it is granting temporary protected status to the Venezuelans who slipped through, allowing them to stay. Who are they and are any of them terrorists?
Even the Department of Homeland Security admitted recently there are grave concerns that the southern border may be exploited by terrorist organizations.
Members of the American Sheriff Alliance have sounded the alarm for immediate action due to heightened terrorist threats they fear exist because of Biden’s border policies, as a record number of known, or suspected terrorists have been apprehended by federal Customs and Border Patrol Agents in fiscal year 2023, more than at any time in U.S. history.
In his fragile state, President Biden continues to make missteps that weaken our national security and embolden hostile governments like Iran’s and terrorist organizations like Hamas.
While expressing support for Israel is commendable, it’s essential that the president’s actions align with his words, and that America’s national interests are not sacrificed in the pursuit of narrow policy agendas. The world is indeed more complicated than simply saying “we have your back.”
Social Security recipients will see an 3.2% increase to their monthly benefits in 2024, the Social Security Administration announced on Thursday. It is one of the larger cost of living increases, but smaller than this year’s, which was 8.7%, to keep up with inflation.
Annual increases are calculated with help from the Bureau of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which has shown a 3.6% increase in prices over the last 12 months.
The average Social Security check is $1,705.79 a month, according to the Social Security Administration; that varies depending on the type of recipient, with retirees generally making more than the overall average, which includes other types of recipients.
“Suppose you were born on Jan. 1, 1960, and had an average annual income of $50,000. As of May 2023, you would get a monthly benefit of $1,386 if you filed for Social Security at 62; $1,980 at full retirement age (in this case, 67); or $2,455 at 70,” according to Yahoo Finance.
It’s 2023, and men are so good, they are even better at being international pageant queens.
Two male competitors, representing the Kingdom of Netherlands and Portugal, qualified for the upcoming Miss Universe international pageant competition. The last transgender to compete in the pageant was Miss Universe Spain in 2018.
The 90 competitors this year will appear on stage Nov. 18 during the 71st Miss Universe pageant, being held this year at the National Gymnasium in San Salvador, El Salvador. Two more qualifying pageants will be held before then, but no reporting has indicated that a male will be competing for either Mongolia or China.
Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel of the United States will crown her successor in what is one of the top four international beauty pageants.
Miss Universe Organization and its brand, along with its United States-based sister pageants, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, is owned by transgender activist Anne Jakrajutatip, who bought the organization from Donald Trump.
“The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is a global, inclusive organization that celebrates all cultures, backgrounds and religions. We create and provide a safe space for women to share their stories and drive impact personally, professionally, and philanthropically. The women who participate in this international platform serve as inspirational leaders and role models to their communities and fans around the world,” the organization writes on its website.
The board of directors for Cook Inlet Region, Inc (CIRI), an Alaska Native corporation based in Anchorage, has elected Swami Iyer as its new CEO and promoted Chief Strategy Officer Sarah Lukin, to the role of president. Sophie Minich announced earlier this year she was retiring as CEO and president after 10 years on the job, and 30 years with the coporation. The board has decided to split up the dual role.
“Our Board decided to split CIRI leadership into two positions, CEO and President. This change will help CIRI foster growth and have a positive impact on the services we provide to our Shareholders, Descendants, and the 60,000 Alaska Natives and American Indians that reside in our region,” said Doug Fifer, Chair of the CIRI Board of Directors.
CEO-elect Swami Iyer most recently served as the president of Aerospace Systems at Virgin Galactic, LLC and has 25 years of experience in commercial, aerospace, defense, and cyber industries, including serving as the South Asia and Oceania chief for the deputy undersecretary of International Affairs at the Air Force.
Lukin has over 20 years of experience working with indigenous businesses across the U.S. and Canada, including her previous roles as senior vice president and chief administration officer for NANA Regional Corporation, chief operating officer for Pt Capital, senior vice president of corporate affairs for Afognak Native Corporation and executive director of the Native American Contractors Association.
Lukin is Alutiiq from Port Lions, a remote village on Kodiak Island and is a shareholder of Koniag, Inc. and Afognak Native Corporation and an enrolled tribal member of the Native Villages of Afognak and Port Lions.
Cook Inlet Region, Inc. is one of 12 regional corporations established in Alaska by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. CIRI is owned by over 9,200 Shareholders, primarily of Athabascan, Southeast Indian, Inupiat, Yup’ik, Alutiiq/Sugpiaq and Aleut/Unangax descent.
