DOES THIS HAVE A HIGH CREEP FACTOR TO IT OR WHAT?
Tucked into the Anchorage Municipal Code governing business licenses are regulations for those who operate massage parlors and strip clubs.
Between those, one finds Code 10.40.020 — Private Detectives.
Senator Tom Begich of District J — downtown Anchorage — is Anchorage’s newest private detective. He is going to be paid to troll people.
Private detectives in Anchorage must be older than 18, not addicted to narcotics, dangerous drugs, or intoxicants, and have not been convicted of a felony within two years, nor of a misdemeanor involving assault or dangerous weapons within one year. Also, they cannot have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, assault with a dangerous weapon, traffic in narcotics or dangerous drugs or traffic in women for immoral purposes within 10 years.
The bar, it appears, is set quite low.
Although his constituents might feel uneasy answering the door to him next time he campaigns for office in 2020, his political opponents — and that includes all registered Republicans — should note that as a sitting senator, he has instant access to all voter files in Alaska, which gives him an advantage over his private sector competitors. He has information for which others have to pay and that others receive on a delayed basis.
What is Sen. Begich intending to snoop on? It’s a target-rich environment in Juneau, but he could perform all kinds of political opposition research under the guise of being a private detective.
The municipality defines a P.D.’s duties this way:
The term “private detective” means a person who engages in the business of making investigations for remuneration concerning any of the following matters:
A. Crimes or criminals or discovering information or evidence relating to crimes or criminals.
B. The identity, location, character or activities of a person or thing.
C. The habits, conduct, movements, whereabouts, associations, transactions, reputation, credibility or character of a person.
D. The cause, origin or responsibility for a fire, accident or injury to real or personal property.
E. The truth or falsity of a statement or representation.
F. Evidence to be used before an investigating committee, board of award or arbitration or in the trial of a civil or criminal case.
Who will he get said “remuneration” from?
Seeing as Begich comes from a family whose primary business is politics, it could be anything, from destroying opponents of his Democrat colleagues to assisting his brother Mark Begich in finding his political footing once again.
As a part-time musician, Tom Begich may have a hard time making ends meet, although his $50,000 plus salary as a senator is good money for a local musician.
Is this a way for Alaska Democratic Party to pay him? Is this just a license to be a voyeur?
His 36,300 constituents in Anchorage — Fairview, Mountain View, Bootleggers Cover and Downtown Anchorage — will want to know. And Gov. Bill Walker, who is keeping an eye on Mark Begich, will also be watching his back.
