A Nesbett Courthouse hearing room was filled Tuesday with Alaska supporters of Rep. David Eastman, who is defending his right to be a member of a group dedicated to defending the U.S. Constitution, and still be able to serve as a lawmaker in the Alaska Legislature.
The crowd, some wearing shirts that read, “Elections by ballot, not by bench” had gathered to make a point to Anchorage Superior Court Judge Jack McKenna, who was weighing procedural questions. The complainants, who are trying to have the courts and the state Division of Elections disqualify Eastman over his membership in Oath Keepers, are attempting to keep the trial in Anchorage, rather than move it to Palmer, as requested by Eastman. Palmer is closer to where Eastman and the lead complainant, political activist Randall Kowalke, lives. Kowalke and the leftist Northern Justice Project that represents him also want the judge to make the decision, rather than to have a jury trial. Those decisions are pending.
The Oath Keepers is a national group with tens of thousands of members, mostly from law enforcement and military backgrounds. The leader of the organization, Stewart Rhodes, is associated with the Jan. 6, 2021 incident at the U.S. Capitol, where a rally got rowdy and some of the zealous Trump supporters went inside the Capitol and disrupted the certification of the 2020 election of Joe Biden to the presidency. Rhodes, and four co-defendants are on trial this month for committing seditious conspiracy by plotting to use violence to stop the transfer of power from President Trump to Biden. The evidence against Rhodes is mounting in his trial, which will resume Monday, but its unknown how many people knew what Rhodes was up to in the events leading to the Jan. 6 disruption. Oath Keepers is a loosely knit group of patriots who have sworn allegiance to uphold the U.S. Constitution.
McKenna has already ordered the Division of Elections to delay certification of House District 27 election results pending the result of the trial that he has already granted. But he also decided that Eastman could remain on the November ballot. The trial itself is currently scheduled for Dec. 12, although court dates often change.
Parents and teachers throughout Alaska are reminded frequently of the need to adapt to new ways of teaching and ever-changing curricula. Mostly, we’re told, it’s due to societal and cultural shifts in our country that must be addressed.
I wonder if the school boards and administrators promoting these changes have ever considered adapting to their reality – one of declining enrollments and under-utilized schools.
One need not look too far back in history to realize this isn’t new.
The closure of Capital School in downtown Juneau decades ago offers one example and demonstrates how such situations can ultimately benefit the community.
Capital School was an aging structure with declining enrollment and high per-pupil costs. After a long and contentious battle, its students were folded into other local elementary schools and the building eventually became offices for the Alaska Legislature. Similar transformations took place with the nearby Scottish Rite Temple, The Behrends House, and now the Assembly Building, all of which are essential components of Juneau’s Capitol Campus.
We learned then and should realize now that the health of our schools depends on the vitality of our economy and community demographics.
Recognition of this has now dawned on two major school districts in Alaska.
Fairbanks closed three elementary schools and eliminated 121 positions this year, largely because the district has lost 2,000 students.
The Anchorage School District recommended closing six elementary schools next year as it attempts to reconcile a projected $68 million budget shortfall and a continuing loss of students.
There are various reasons for why this is happening but school funding isn’t the primary one. ASD Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt specifically cited the declining community birthrate as one of the factors. ASD CFO Jim Anderson defended the cuts saying that it would also help the district increase efficiency and potentially make services more readily available to students.
State demographers note in a recent ADN article that Alaska’s population has been aging and Anchorage and Fairbanks’ populations have notably shrunk over the past decade.
The Juneau School District (JSD) is once again facing a similar challenge. While a school board sponsored economic report in February 2022 projected a decline of almost 1,200 students over the next ten years, the Juneau Board of Education has stubbornly refused to act. According to the report, “JSD enrollment declined in 14 of the last 17 years; the district now has 20 percent fewer students than in 2004. The enrollment decline has been driven by demographic factors – principally declining births”.
Juneau City Manager, Rorie Watt, in an April 4, 2022 memo to the Juneau Assembly and the Juneau Board of Education, warned of negative demographic trends and aging school structures. He suggested that it was “appropriate to add potential school closure into the mix of the discussion of facility renovations.”
Watt noted that such discussions will be difficult (and no doubt emotional) but necessary, nonetheless.
To keep open a school with much higher average per-pupil costs hurts students through its drag on the district budget. It selfishly ties up resources that can be used to improve the quality of education for all students.
Some may find school closures disheartening, but they also provide an opportunity for the local government and school board members to examine an array of options. A phenomenon sweeping the country now is the re-purposing of government buildings into other uses.
While Juneau’s two high schools and some elementary schools are under-utilized, these discussions need not be limited to school buildings. One of Juneau’s three libraries and its city museum could also be examined for repurposing or more effective use of space.
As Juneau’s demographics change, state offices and employees continue to dwindle, and work-at-home policies become the norm, it’s imperative that we all begin to adapt to this new reality.
Better to get creative now to save these buildings for other uses before we’re forced to bulldoze them later.
Policy makers should realize that blaming school ills on lack of funding will not change the basic fact that fewer babies are being born and that local taxpayers and state revenues are not a bottomless piggy bank.
After retiring as the senior vice president in charge of business banking for Key Bank in Alaska, Win Gruening became a regular opinion page columnist for the Juneau Empire. He was born and raised in Juneau and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1970. He is involved in various local and statewide organizations.
Bert Lloyd Cottle was born Oct. 8, 1953 to Benny and Marlene (Jensen) Cottle in Palmer, Alaska when Alaska was still a territory. Bert grew up in Wasilla, attending Wasilla Elementary and graduating from Wasilla High School in 1972 – just one month after his mother earned her High School GED. Before attending college he worked for his dad at Cottle’s Corner Texaco.
Bert attended Trinidad State College in Trinidad, CO – earning his degree in Law Enforcement and Political Science. He was a graduate of the Northwestern University Traffic Institute, Chicago, IL – Drug Enforcement Academy, Glenco, GA – State of Alaska Corrections Academy and the FBI Academy, Quantico, VA.
After college Bert began his career in Law Enforcement in Valdez serving 23 years – eight years as Chief of Police. He was the first Police Officer in the State of Alaska to be appointed by the Governor to serve on the Alaska Alcohol and Beverage Control Board. Bert remained in Valdez to serve the community for a year on the City Council and then 10 years as Mayor. He was appointed by the Governor and served 2 years on Alaska Homeland Security Task Force.
Bert was always busy. Along with his Law Enforcement and Public Service careers in Valdez, through the years he also enjoyed his endeavors of owning a book store, bubble gum machines, driving tour bus, renting skiffs, designing and selling his own silver coins, managing an RV Park and working as office manager at North Pacific Fuel. He loved Valdez and the people who made it home for him for many years. He was a huge part of the community.
He served on the Alaska Gasline Port Authority, Alaska Municipal League, BPO Elks, Eagles (where he was the Easter Bunny for 25 years), Advocates for Victims of Violence, Pioneers of Alaska, and many more.
38 years later Bert returned home to his roots in Wasilla. He served the City of Wasilla as Deputy Administrator for 3 years before becoming Mayor for 6 years in the same building where he attended elementary school. Bert was appointed to serve as a member of the Alaska Workforce Investment Board and served again on the Alaska Municipal League Board. Bert was a person who got things done. During his time with the City of Wasilla he was instrumental in acquiring grants, land for parks, getting public support to build a new public library, a new Police Department building, securing land for and moving the Honor Wall.
After concluding his terms as Wasilla Mayor, earlier this year he was appointed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to serve as community outreach manager. He enjoyed his time in this position interacting with many of the communities and villages in Alaska and serving his State.
Bert lived the motto “Protect and Serve”. His entire life was spent in public service – protecting others and his community as a Police Officer, and then serving his communities and his State through public office. He was passionate about taking care of and protecting children, women and our seniors. He worked hard to start a breakfast program at the elementary school and secure long term senior care in Valdez and served to support My House Mat-Su Homeless Youth Center in Wasilla, an organization that helps homeless teens. Bert never cared about recognition or having his name on a building or plaque – he just wanted to help others.
He could organize people to accomplish things and then lift them up with encouragement and praise. He believed with all his heart that one person can still make a difference.
Bert loved and collected lighthouses. It was said that this was so fitting as Bert was the rock to stand on and the light in the storm for so many throughout his life. The legacy of service he leaves behind will impact all of us for many years to come.
Bert leaves behind his soulmate, best friend and wife, Cathy. Children Benjaman Cottle, Patrick Olson (Chey), Terrijean Lundfelt (Christian), Bob Olson (Kimberly), Wendilynn Muto (Akira), Stephanie Morgan (Ryan). He is also survived by his parents Benny and Marlene Cottle, Sister Janet Stannard (Bill), Brother Henry Cottle (Claudia), His Grandchildren who were his joy and his world – JeannaTe’ and Jason Jenn-Lundfelt, Draven, Elora, Lucas, Odin and Rowan Olson, Reyana and Kai Muto, and Austin Morgan. Bert also leaves behind so many loved Cousins, Nieces, Nephews, close friends Craig and Rose Teich, and countless others that he considered family.
A Celebration of Life for Bert will be held 4 pm, Dec. 3, 2022 at the Curtis Menard Memorial Sports Center, 1001 S. Clap Street, Wasilla. All are invited to attend and celebrate an amazing man taken too soon. Flowers may be sent to the Menard Center for the celebration. Those wishing to make donations in Bert’s name can send them to My House Mat-Su Homeless Youth Center, 300 North Willow, Wasilla, AK 99654.
Bert will be laid to rest in the Aurora Cemetery in Wasilla, along with his beloved dog Barkley, who died of a broken heart the same day.
As the drama of the political season unfolds, none of the headlines or debate discussions have addressed true news, like the State of Alaska’s Child in Need of Aid crisis.
Alaskan politicians have not been able to resolve this epidemic that has plagued our state for at least 15 years and it’s not front-page news. The State of Alaska’s new go-to agency, the State of Alaska Department of Family and Community Services was commissioned in July.
This same agency was previously DFYS (Division of Family & Youth Services) and OCS (Office of Children’s Services). The name has changed; however, not enough changes have remedied the fact that over 3,000 of our Alaskan children are in crisis, and yet Juneau never talks about it. Why aren’t these alarming statistics front page news in the newspaper today?
Yes, there are over 3,000 Alaska children in state custody. This means the State of Alaska has taken control away from 6,000 parents to raise their own children. A large percent of these children is Alaskan Native from our rural communities. To visualize these 3,000 young people, imagine the entire population of Kotzebue or an entire cruise ship full of children. You and I are responsible for their safety. And yet, many of them are anything but safe. These children deserve, at a minimum, to have safe, stable, loving homes.
While on the campaign trail, I learned of one 7-year-old child, Isaac. Isaac has been a ward of the state, off and on, his whole 7 years of life. He has been in 27 foster homes, stretching from his home in rural Alaska to foster homes 1,000 miles away from his village.
Isaac told his social worker he wants to be “OCS” when he grows up as he was moved from one foster home to another. This is Isaacs’ normal. Why? We pulled him from his family long ago and we are responsible 24/7/365 to care, nurture and hopefully see he is loved. How can this developing child not be further injured by being endlessly shuffled through 27 strange homes? And when he is moved from one home to another, garbage bags are used as his luggage. Garbage bags. It is humiliating for me, as an Alaskan, to know we use garbage bags to transport this little guy’s precious treasures.
This is real life happening right under our noses. Why don’t we ever hear about it? These child cases are all classified “confidential” by the courts and are closed the public. With today’s system, a family member can harm a child, and even though OCS is aware of it, the perpetrator is rarely charged and held accountable. And because no one hears a peep, the abuse can continue. And it does.
Every Alaskan could share a story about this silent epidemic. In a group setting, just bring up the words “foster care,” “OCS,” or “child protection.” You will quickly realize that children in need of aid in Alaska grow up, they become a human trafficking targets and a statistic in the correctional and mental health systems. This is grim. This is tough. This is where Alaskans need to get tough.
Every Alaskan I know cares about children. Our state does not adequately support our foster homes, so we do not have enough of them. Our state agencies are not partnering enough with the rural communities, Native corporations, and tribes, so we are constantly battling one another. There is a revolving door shortage of child protection officers/social workers, but this is not a surprise. For $24 an hour, these super-people must fly into communities through every kind of weather, enter homes, investigate cases, write legal pleadings, testify in court, and take kids from families then get up the next day and do it again.
And yet, for the past two decades, the Division of Family & Community Services (formerly DFYS, OCS) has enjoyed the biggest budgets of public money in the state. Where do the millions of dollars go? Let us dig into the line items of those budgets and see how responsible Juneau has been with public funds set aside for children like Isaac.
The more I learn of this shattered system of our children in crisis, the more I am convinced that Juneau is ignoring these very tough issues.
As governor, children in need of aid will receive my immediate attention. I am ready to shake up Juneau and get this crisis in the forefront. Alaskans have been ghosted on this subject for years, it is time for transparency relating to this epidemic.
As governor, I will find the answer to these questions of “why” and I will demand cooperation with the communities and tribes of Alaska. Tough leadership is needed more than ever now in the State of Alaska. We cannot be proud of the Alaska Child in Need of Aid crisis, but it is time this makes the front-page news. Isaac and the other 2,999 children are counting on us.
Charlie Pierce is a candidate for governor and the former mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Congresswoman Mary Peltola, a Democrat representing Alaska’s at-large congressional district, talks about abortion constantly.
“I’m not going to stop until every single person in our country has their right to choose is protected,” Peltola wrote Thursday morning on Twitter in one of her many tweets about abortion. On the campaign trail, Peltola speaks about abortion just about as much as all other topics combined.
She uses the word “choice” when she speaks of the procedure that stops a beating heart. She calls it “freedom.” She never says the word “abortion.” And curiously, she says “person” rather than “woman” when speaking of abortion rights. Recently, Peltola has also taken to listing her approved pronouns.
But it was not universally accepted in the Twitterverse on Thursday that “choice” would only be about abortion. Several libertarian-leaning readers responded that, as long as she’s talking about choice, maybe she should consider other choices, such as vaccine mandates. Others asked about the choice of the child, or when was it too late to tear a child limb from limb.
Peltola has not addressed things like trimesters, nor has she publicly acknowledged that the overturn of Roe vs. Wade sent the decision on abortion legality back to the states, and in Alaska, abortions are legal until the moment of birth. She just sticks with “freedom” and Alaskans have been giving her a pass on that because of her cheery personality.
Indeed, Peltola has received lavished praise from people like Sarah Palin and Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Murkowski said she will be voting for Peltola, while Palin, who has been a pro-life candidate in the past, has all but said the same.
Sarah Palin and her opponent for Congress Mary Peltola.Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Congresswoman Mary Peltola.
While Twitter is a neighborhood that typically gives Peltola a lot of tweet reinforcement with hearts and re-tweets, her views were not universally supported in the responses over the past several hours since she made her broad-stroke abortion statement.
Some of the pushback Peltola got includes these quips to her “right to choose is protected” insistence. A selection of responses:
“Including vaccinations?”
“I’m choosing life and those that protect it.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re against Vaxx Mandates. Thank you.”
“Right to choose what? Abortion on demand? Any gestational age? Stop w campaign slogans.”
“What about the innocent baby’s right to choose?”
“To choose what? To choose to kill their own child. That is in no way a right.”
“Choose? Like choosing to own a gun? Or just whatever fits your agenda?”
“Every woman having unprotected sex has already made the choice.”
“Amen. These vaccine mandates are outrageous.”
“Who cares.I’m worried about food on my table……….”
“Right to kill a baby? Kill, kill, kill, dismember, rip apart, shred limb from limb? You mean that choice instead of abstaining or protecting.”
“Does this include the child that is being burned by acid ? or the child tat is being ripped apart by pliars? asking for a friend.”
“I choose realism. ‘Pro-fish’ is a joke! Your husband runs the FSB unfairly allocating our states fish and wildlife resources based on whim, not science or law. Do you even fish? For what? My family uses nets, dipnets, rod and reel and we are successful despite your empty words.”
“No one has the right to choose to kill their own child.”
“They do have a ‘right to choose’ one of the over 21 methods of birth control available today. By making smart decisions, they can avoid unwanted pregnancies from occurring. You are promoting the “right to choose”, you are promoting abortion, the taking of life.”
“I choose not to get the ineffective booster.”
“Why does everybody want to kill babies what about the baby.”
“Thank you! My Right, as a Senior Citizen, to chose my Doctor, my Medical Care, my Medications, whether to Vaccine or not, what to eat, what to drink, what to wear, where and when to Worship, where to live, where to travel, are God Given Rights!”
“Except babies though… those are just parasites until the cord is cut.”
“Why is it “pro-life” vs “pro-choice” and not “pro-life” vs “pro-death/abortion/murder/killing” ?”
“So your whole life revolves around the ability to abort a child. Forget the insane Inflation & not being able to afford to live. It’s more important to abort a kid. You’re a sick loser.”
“What you are really saying is “I’m not going to stop until every single person in our country has their right to kill innocent human beings is protected”. That is wrong. The unjustified taking of human life should always be illegal.”
“How about advocating for responsibly sex decisions too? Ya know, to avoid pregnancy and abortion. And should abortion be available up until birth? Third trimester babies should be aborted? Is that your position?”
“Are you talking about vaccines, too, or just killing babies?”
“ICYMI there was a document called the US Constitution that became effective in April of 1789 that did that! Or are you speaking for the millions of ‘persons’ murdered by abortions. What about their rights?”
There were a few positive comments as well, but a surprising number of readers who were not standing for it and were willing to ask the tough questions, such as this one:
“Do babies at some point have a right to life? AT what point does you moral center tell you to not rip a baby apart?”
Project Veritas, an investigative journalism project that recently revealed Sen. Lisa Murkowski campaign staffers taking about how their colleagues had worked to rig Alaska elections with Ballot Measure 2 in 2020, has released a newly leaked document showing steps the FBI will take to intervene in “election crimes.”
The document comes at a time when Alaska’s congresswoman has called for “repercussions” against those who spread misinformation online. Congresswoman Mary Peltola, a Democrat, made that remark during a campaign debate on Wednesday in Anchorage.
The FBI lists “misinformation” as a possible election crime, describing it as “false or misleading information spread mistakenly or unintentionally.”
The document categorizes “disinformation” also as a possible election crime, and says it is as “false or inaccurate information intended to mislead others.”
It continues, “Disinformation campaigns on social media are used to deliberately confuse, trick, or upset the public.”
How “misinformation” and/or “disinformation” is distinguished by the FBI isn’t described. But Project Veritas reminds readers that not long ago the Biden Administration attempted to create a “Disinformation Governance Board” at the Department of Homeland Security. Early in the Biden Administration, the effort was focused on unacceptable information about the Covid-19 virus, its origins, treatments, and vaccines.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, DHS is prioritizing combating all forms of terrorism and targeted violence, including through its efforts to support the first-ever National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism. Since January 2021, DHS has taken several steps in this regard, including:
established a new domestic terrorism branch within DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis dedicated to producing sound, timely intelligence needed to counter domestic terrorism-related threats;
designated domestic violent extremism as a “National Priority Area” within DHS’s Homeland Security Grant Program for the first time, resulting in at least $77 million being spent on preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to related threats nationwide;
provided $180 million in funding to support target hardening and other physical security enhancements to non-profit organizations at high risk of terrorist attack through DHS’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP);
increased efforts to identify and evaluate MDM, including false or misleading narratives and conspiracy theories spread on social media and other online platforms, that endorse violence; and,
enhanced collaboration with public and private sector partners – including U.S. critical infrastructure owners and operators – to better protect our cyber and physical infrastructure and increase the Nation’s cybersecurity through the Department’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
During the Debate for the State on KTUU on Wednesday, Congresswoman Mary Peltola doubled down on her statement about how the Second Amendment is primarily for hunting and subsistence, and that she would support legislation limiting the sales of firearms to 18-year-olds.
Taken to its logical conclusion, that would mean young men could go to Afghanistan and die for the country, but not be able to own a gun to protect his home.
Peltola also said there should be repercussions for people who spread misinformation in the media and online.
Taken to its logical conclusion, Peltola would want people punished if they express views she disagrees with or statements she feels are not factual, a violation of the First Amendment.
“The fact that across America people can go on television and radio and print media and online and tell lies and there are no repercussions, I think that being able to broadcast lies has really caused a lot of division on things that should be an open and shut case,” Peltola said.
Peltola also said she is for President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program. That program has been ruled illegal. Peltola has also come out in favor of more food stamps to help veterans make ends meet.
In other words, fewer rights for Americans and more handouts.
Peltola appeared with three other congressional candidates at the KTUU-Alaska Public Media-KTOO Debate for the State on Wednesday. She and Sarah Palin continued their mutual admiration society, complimenting each other, and Palin nodded in agreement with Peltola’s answers, while Republican Nick Begich and Libertarian Chris Bye stuck to conservative principles.
In his closing statement, Nick Begich differentiated himself from Peltola, saying she was controlled by the D.C. lobbyists already. Begich said there are two teams: One that wants to take more money from taxpayers’ pockets, and wants no resource production in America, and another team — Republicans — who want to put more money in Americans’ pockets and give them their rights back. Peltola, he said, is on the wrong team.
All six commercial radio stations in Juneau have been sold to BTC USA Holdings Management, Inc., based in California and owned by Cliff Dumas, a morning host in Bakersfield, Calif. The $1.3 million deal includes stations in Ketchikan and Sitka, as well as Texas.
Full Service Classic Hits 1230 KIFW/102.3 K272FV Sitka
“Dumas will own 80 percent of the new company through his Broadcast 2 Podcast Inc. with the Bryan Woodruff-led Local First Media Group holding the other 20 percent. In addition to hosting mornings at KUZZ, Dumas has also hosted mornings at KRST Albuquerque and spent a decade at KSON San Diego. Dumas is a member of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame for hosting mornings at KHAM Hamilton and CISS-FM Toronto, was the voice of CMT Canada and the Canadian Country Music Awards, and produced and hosted many Canadian Country music specials,” according to RadioInsight.com.
Alaska exited the Covid-19 pandemic with a financial surplus of $96,800 per taxpayer, snagging first place in an analysis of each state’s fiscal health.
Alaska had a $41.5 billion tax surplus following 2021, according to financial watchdog Truth in Accounting. The group studied the most recent data from all 50 states’ 2021 annual comprehensive financial reports. It found that 31 state governments did not have enough money to pay all their bills, in some cases leaving hefty tax burdens on future taxpayers.
The story was very different in Alaska, where the state had $41.5 billion to pay $15.4 billion worth of bills, leaving it with still billions left in surplus.
The state’s healthy financial position was fortified further by $12 billion in federal COVID-19 funding and increases in rents and royalty revenues, the report said.
“Notably, like most states in this year’s report, some of Alaska’s economic condition improved only on paper due to stock market increases in 2021. However, these increases are transitory as financial markets are volatile and the gains recorded previously may not have been realized through actual sale of the market assets,” the authors wrote.
State debt overall appeared to improve due to increased market valuations of pension plans and federal COVID funding, according to the report. But as Covid funds go away, and market conditions continue to fluctuate, 2022’s financial evaluation is poised to look less favorable for state debt, the report predicted.
Unlike some states, Alaska was able to fully pay public employees’ retirement benefits in 2021. Across the country, total unfunded pension liabilities were $699 billion, the report found.
“Unfunded retirement liabilities were the largest contributing factor to the $1.2 trillion in state-level debt,” said the authors. “One of the ways states make their budgets look balanced, when they are not, is by shortchanging public pension and OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits) funds.”
Other top-ranking states boasting taxpayer surpluses were North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and South Dakota. On the flip side, taxpayer burdens were the heaviest in Massachusetts, Hawaii, Illinois, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
This isn’t the first time Alaska has landed at the top of TIA’s list for fiscal health. The analysis included the state’s Earning Reserve Account as assets available to pay bills. It also found the long-term debt in Alaska went down, noting it was primarily due to a decrease in unearned revenue and Covid relief funds.
“Even though Alaska was financially sound before and during the pandemic, the state still received federal support from Covid-19 related grants which contributed to the continuing financial health of this state,” the report said. “The uncertainty surrounding the full economic recovery post-Covid makes it impossible to determine how much will be needed to maintain government services and benefits in the coming years. However, the surplus Alaska had and additional funds will help the state weather any future public health or economic crises and downturns in the market.”