I’m enjoying serving our community in this new role, assisting Chief of Staff Jim Williams with planning, directing, supervising, and evaluating the day-to-day administrative operations of the Borough.

A big thank you to my friends at the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States, where I had the chance to grow and learn to lead over the last four years, and a big thank you to everyone who has supported this platform over the last year!

I’ll be pausing this project for the time being. Thank you for coming along for the ride!

Kuba’s Corner will return in the future.

Today is Election Day. It’s time for our community to vote!

You hear this every year, but this is an important election. The results affect majorities on both the Board of Education and Assembly which, in turn, will alter the direction that both bodies take for years to come. There are stark differences between many on the ballot, and those differences matter.

As every single candidate, the Daily News Miner, and many citizens have been saying for weeks and months: it’s important that you use your voice today.

If you’ve already voted, or have a voting plan in place, then I challenge you to text (or call) 5 friends and make sure they get to the polls.

Historically, our voting turnout is abysmal. These candidates have worked too hard to have a low turnout this year.

Polls will be open for 13 hours today, from 7am to 8pm. You can find more information about how and where to vote here.

Thank you for doing your civic duty, and I encourage you to become not just a voter, but a voting activist today: make sure that your friends and family vote, too!

-Kuba

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I recommend getting it done early if you can, and bringing at least two friends: you’d be surprised how few people actually follow through and vote.

Less than 20% of registered voters tend to actually turn out to local elections!

Reach out to friends and set up a voting date! Group activities increase positive peer pressure.

If you’re looking for who to vote for, many partisan organizations such as the Interior Republicans and Interior Democrats have published their endorsements, along with many non-partisan organizations like the Alaska Center.

Candidate Forums are Ongoing

Municipal candidates have up to 4 debates this week… which is a lot of public speaking time!

Those are:

* Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, at 1:00 pm. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Constitution Day Candidate Forum. UAF Wood Center. Free entry.

* Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 at 9:15 am. West Valley High School school board forum. (Entry for students only).

* Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 at 12:00 pm. Visitor Industry Forum. Wedgewood Resort. $20 for an optional lunch, but otherwise free entry.

* Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Assembly & School Board Candidate Forum. In-person at the FNSB Assembly Chambers, live-streamed on KUAC FM 89.9. Free entry.

Candidate Finances

Candidate finance reports were due two weeks ago. The Fairbanks Daily News Miner came out with a good (though featuring a number of errors and misspellings) report about those finances. Some highlights from that article:

• As of 30 days before the election, School Board candidates Meredith Maple and Bobby Burgess each raised over $20,000. I would add that Ms. Maple and Mr. Burgess each had over 170 individual donations, showing their broad support.

• As of 30 days before the election, Assembly candidate Liz Reeves-Ramos was leading all candidates in fundraising, with over $21,000 raised. She also had over 170 individual donations.

The next report is due just after a week before Election Day.

Around the Corner

I’ve got some exciting personal news that I’m looking to share in the near future… a new job that I’m thrilled to start.

That transition is a small part of my slower publishing pace, though a big part of that has also been… I’ve been tired! Which is a poor excuse. Maybe settling back into life in Fairbanks is a better one?

You’ll be hearing more from me soon.

I hope you have a chance to vote, and hope you’re feeling well!

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I’m facilitating a Fahrenkamp Lunch forum tomorrow at 12pm, noon, with local candidates endorsed by the Interior Democrats. Scott Crass and Nick LaJiness are running for Borough Assembly, while Shoshana Kun is running for Fairbanks City Council.

Borough Assembly candidate Liz Reeves-Ramos has also been endorsed by the Interior Democrats, but is not able to join us.

Zoom Info:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/78627714765?pwd=KY0U9gihtT4kOca6c7uaLF6xk6oYVm.1

Meeting ID: 786 2771 4765

Passcode: 086679

Tune in over Zoom tomorrow to hear them talk about important community issues and why they decided to run for public office.

This event is organized and paid for by the Interior Democrats of Alaska, PO Box 70766, Fairbanks, Alaska 99707-0766.

Hope to see you there!

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There are a lot of ways to get involved with local elections, but a central pillar of that effort is getting to the voting booth on October 3!

Here’s your final reminder to get registered to vote/update your voter information ahead of these upcoming elections.

At this point, you can do so online through the State of Alaska Division of Elections or by mailing in a paper form. In both cases, you’ll need a state of Alaska drivers license or other state ID: check the above links for details.

A reminder that even if you haven’t had a chance to update your voter information, you’re still able to fill out a questioned ballot.

Information about questioned ballots (from the Alaska Division of Elections):

Questioned Voting

You may be asked to vote a questioned ballot if your name is not on the precinct register, your residence address has changed, you do not have identification, you already voted according to the precinct register, or an observer challenges your qualifications to vote.

• You will sign a questioned ballot register and complete a questioned ballot envelope with your information. The ballot is a normal ballot.

• Your voted ballot goes inside the secrecy sleeve then inside the envelope.

• You will return your ballot to a poll worker.

• Questioned ballots go to the Questioned Review Board who will determine if your ballot can be counted. We will send you a letter if you ballot was rejected or partially counted. Questioned ballots go to the Questioned Review Board who will determine if your ballot can be counted. We will send you a letter if you ballot was rejected or partially counted.

On the Horizon

Coming up the pipeline is most candidates first financial disclosure form, where those running for public office needs to publish the names of everyone who donated to their campaign, as well as how much they gave. We’ll be taking a look at that information after the deadline this Tuesday.

Thanks for reading, and have a great Sunday.

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We have about a week left on this adventure. A more normal posting schedule will return soon.

In the meantime, here’s a summary of some recent updates and happenings in Interior Alaska.

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The Fairbanks North Star Borough has released an excellent candidate information packet that features a photo, biographical information, and a non-partisan position statement from each of the candidates (that had chosen to respond) running for Borough Assembly, School Board, the Interior Alaska Natural Gas Utility Board (IGU), Fairbanks City Council, and North Pole City Council, along with sample ballots and information about the voting process.

You can download the packet below, or find it here on the Borough Website.

Finalpamphlet

8.76MB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

If you see candidates whose platform speaks to you, I’ve written a list of ways you can help their campaigns here.

Our local elections are October 3.

From Yarrow Silvers, for the Alaska Current:

Ben Carson’s ‘Little Patriots’ Curriculum Not Being Implemented Throughout Alaska

Despite claims on social media from the former Housing Secretary's conservative think tank, supplemental curriculum is not implemented statewide.

Following Ben Carson’s tour, supported and partially organized by Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, the former U.S. Secretary of Housing’s conservative think tank took to social media to announce its patriotic and faith-based curriculum was being installed in Alaska’s public education system.

That isn’t exactly true, though, as Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) Commissioner Deena Bishop later clarified that individual districts can decide whether to adopt the “Little Patriots” curriculum.

Read more here.

From Bella Martinez, for the Alaska Current:

OPINION: Fairbanks, We Need More Full-Time Citizens

Election workers make your ability to vote a reality. They ensure our community is represented by the people we want without ever saying a word about who to vote for. Isn’t that what being an Alaskan is all about? Isn’t that at the heart of living in a community with one another, sacrificing to ensure our shared survival?  

Living in Alaska is hard and will only get harder for many of us without proper representation. Our ability to ensure a prosperous future lies in our elections. It lies in your hands and whether you choose to use them to help your community have a say in their future.

We can choose to give our time to this process, which many take for granted. The last day to register to vote is Sept. 3, and the only requirement to be an election worker is to be a registered Alaskan voter.

I hope you come out to the polls to vote on Oct. 3, but more than that, I hope you choose to give your time to your neighbors. Ensure they may exercise every right they hold under our constitution and may have access to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 

Read more here.

Dermot Cole has been doing a lot of research around the Kinross ore-hauling operation. Some of the highlights include a post stating that the kind of trucks that will be involved would be illegal in all other 49 states, protestors being removed at a recent Kinross event, and more. Jack Barnwell of the Daily News Miner also has a story about protesters around the Carlson Center.

Here’s a picture of one of the trucks in the wild. Advocates for Safe Alaska Highways is leading efforts against the ore-haul plan.

From Jack Barnwell, for the Daily News Miner:

Want to create your own budget for a city? Now you can.

The City of Fairbanks wants more public engagement and education on its budget process, so it’s launching an online simulator.

City staff provided the City Council with an overview at a work session last week.

Chief of Staff Michael Sanders said the new simulator will allow the public to explore how to balance a city budget based on the various revenues, operational and capital expenditures.

“It will be a very good tool for letting the public see what we are doing,” Sanders said. “This gives them the ability to give us a good deal of data on what they want.”

Read more here.

Seems like a great idea.

And just for fun, here are a few picture of my partner Kat, my friend Robert, some family and I enjoying all that Poland has to offer (part 1).

Thanks for reading, and hope you’ve been well.

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With grade school in the Fairbanks North Star Borough starting back up this week, it’s a wonderful opportunity to talk about the multimedia contest that Kids Voting North Alaska (KVNA) is holding through October 4, the day after Election Day in our Borough.

This contest invites youth to submit posters, videos, essays, or memes around the theme of “Vote Local: Your Right, Your Power”.

The contest is open to any K–12 students within the Borough, whether they attend public, private, or home school.

I recently joined the Board of KVNA and am excited to see the entries later this fall! Please share far and wide.

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Full entry details are available here, and also noted below. Comments and questions can be send to education@kidsvotingnorthalaska.org.

Vote Local: Your Right, Your Power

Questions to ponder as you create your entry based on this theme:

• How does voting in local elections affect your life?

• What do local elected officials do for you?

• What’s one thing you want changed in your community and how can
  voting make a difference?

You aren't required to answer these questions but they may help you in addressing the theme in your creation.

✬ Our Local Governments: Fairbanks North Star Borough (includes the school district), City of Fairbanks, and City of North Pole
✬ Local Elected Officials: Borough and city mayors, borough assemblymembers, city councilmembers, and school board members.
✬ Local Government Services include schools, libraries, ball parks, soccer fields, public parks, swimming pools, Big Dipper, Birch Hill Recreation Area, Pioneer Park, Carlson Center, Chena Lakes, Tanana Lakes, city police, fire and ambulance services, local roads (including snow plowing), and more.

Wow! Our local governments do a lot!

COMPLETE RULES AND GUIDELINES

GENERAL

• All work must reflect the theme:
  Vote Local: Your Right, Your Power. 

• Each work must be submitted with a Kids Voting North Alaska (KVNA) Multimedia Contest Submission Form (printed or electronic).

• All entries become the property of Kids Voting North Alaska.

• All work will be judged based on originality, composition, overall quality, and adherence to contest theme, rules, and guidelines.

• Each piece of work must be free of any political implication (non-partisan and no candidates or issues) and must be appropriate for K-12 audiences.

• Each entry that is mailed or delivered by hand must indicate the name, age, grade, and school of student on the back of the entry. This is not necessary for electronic entries.

• Each entry must be the original work of a single person.

• Students may submit more than one entry. Each entry must use a separate submission form.

TYPES OF ENTRIES

Poster: 

• Posters must be on plain paper (not lined). 

• Posters must be at least 8.5 x 11 inches (larger is acceptable).

• Posters may be submitted on paper or in digital format via the submission form.

Video: 

• Short format videos of 60 seconds or less.

• Videos may only be submitted via the online submission form.

Essay: 

• Grades 3-5: 50 - 100 words

• Grades 6-12: 100 - 250 words

• Essays may be submitted on paper or in digital format via the submission form.

Meme: 

• All entries must fit on 8.5 x11 paper.

• Memes may be submitted on paper or in digital format via the submission form.

ELIGIBILITY

The Kids Voting Multimedia Contest is open to all K-12 students within the Fairbanks North Star Borough. This includes students attending schools/homeschooling through schools that are not part of FNSBSD.

AGE GROUPS

Entrants compete in one of four-grade level groups: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

DEADLINE/SUBMISSION

All submissions are due no later than Wednesday, October 4th (the day after the local election). 

Include an electronic submission form or printable submission form with each entry. Submission details can be found on the form.

JUDGING

Judging will be conducted by a committee chosen by KVNA who will select either winners or finalists based on these rules and guidelines. If KVNA decides to have the committee select finalists, winners will be selected by Fairbanks students through Ranked Choice Voting ballots.

PRIZES

Prizes may include gift cards for various items.

SUBMISSION USES

Any and all submissions are the property of KVNA and may be featured in local news, on the FNSBSD website, Kids Voting North Alaska site and social media, and in various public forums around Fairbanks.

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I’m facilitating a Fahrenkamp Lunch forum today at 12pm, noon, with local School Board candidates Meredith Maple, Bobby Burgess, and Tim Doran: join us over Zoom!

Zoom Info:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/78627714765?pwd=KY0U9gihtT4kOca6c7uaLF6xk6oYVm.1

Meeting ID: 786 2771 4765

Passcode: 086679

Meet the candidates and hear about issues facing our students, staff, and greater community in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

This event is organized and paid for by the Interior Democrats of Alaska, PO Box 70766, Fairbanks, Alaska 99707-0766.

Hope to see you there!

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We can build the kind of community we want, but we have to do it together. Working with a campaign is an extremely effective way to make change.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of ways you can get involved.

You can find contact info for all the campaigns in our community here. A simple email saying you’d like to help goes a long way.

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1. Volunteer: Dedicate your time and skills to a candidate's campaign. You could assist with a wide variety of tasks like delivering yard signs, phone banking, managing social media, simple data entry, and more! There are many, many tasks associated with running an effective campaign, both “big” and “small”: your active involvement makes a difference.

   1. Not comfortable phone banking, or doing another specific task? That’s okay! There are so many things that need to be done that most campaigns will work with you to find something that matches your skillset.

2. Donate: Contribute financially to the campaign, regardless of the amount. Your donations contribute to essential campaign resources, enabling a candidate to reach more voters and more effectively communicate their vision.

   1. The reality is that running for political office, even on the scale of something like Borough Assembly or School Board, takes a significant amount of money. Radio time, yard signs, mailers, buttons and pins: it all adds up to many thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.

   2. A financial contribution, though not an option for everyone, is seen as a serious endorsement by many. Any amount helps.

3. Write Letters to the Editor: Craft letters or opinion pieces for the Daily News Miner that express your support for a candidate and their platform. Publicly sharing your endorsement can influence undecided voters and increase campaign visibility.

   1. Here are examples from Alex, Eric, Kate, Shaun, Mindy, Kristan, Betsy, Cathy, Martha, Ashley, and John D and Linda S that I was lucky enough to receive last year.

   2. You don’t need to be any sort of “big wig” to write a letter in support of someone. As a resident of our community, your voice makes a big difference!

4. Spread the Word: Leverage your social media platforms and personal connections to amplify a candidate's message. Share campaign updates, endorsements, and informative content to engage a wider audience and foster support.

   1. Even if you don’t work with a campaign directly, sharing posts and messaging from a candidate is very effective, especially on platforms where they are less visible already.

5. Door Knocking: Engage your neighbors by going door-to-door to introduce the candidate and distribute campaign materials. If you live in a dense neighborhood like Downtown or University West, ask a candidate to come walk with you or go by yourself with their materials.

   1. Personal interactions can leave a lasting impression, encourage residents to learn more about the candidate's platform, and will keep them front of mind on October 3.

   2. Many candidates benefit from having a driver when they go door knocking, if you’d like to help with this but are less sure about the face-to-face interaction.

6. Canvas Local Events: Attend community gatherings, the farmers market, and local events with campaign materials in hand. Engaging with attendees and discussing the candidate's platform can help sway opinions and secure additional support.

7. Encourage Voting: Play an active role in increasing voter turnout by reminding friends, family, and neighbors about the election coming up on October 3. Offer assistance with voter registration and help individuals navigate the voting process.

   1. Let people know of their options: absentee, early, and in-person voting are all valid options in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

8. Coordinate Carpooling: Organize transportation for voters on Election Day, ensuring everyone has access to the polls. Removing logistical barriers can have a positive impact on voter participation and contribute to the campaign's success.

If you want to help in these or other ways, consider reaching out to a candidate or two whose values resonate with yours. You can find contact information for all local candidates here.

If you have other ways you think of to help or have any questions, please let me know in the comments below!

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Full stop.

Anyone who’s willing to shine the spotlight on themselves and spend so much of their valuable time serving their community so publicly, for free or close to it, starts off with my respect.

That goes for my opponent from last year, Brett Rotermund, for other folks I don’t agree on in the current Assembly… even for the man with the walrus.

I have my biases. Many of the candidates this year are my friends or those that I look up to. I already think that some candidates harbor ideas that could cause harm.

I ran for Borough Assembly last year, and I didn’t win. Sometimes, the consequences of that make me feel bitter. I wish that our community had taken a different path 10 months ago.

But…that’s not what happened. I respect that, too.

There are serious repercussions to each race. The priorities of our elected officials matter.

So does the tone of discourse around their election.

I’ve been wrestling with the best way to approach writing about the upcoming races, and I think I’ve settled on it: I’m going to share my (often strong) opinions freely, but I’m going to try to be fair to each candidate.

I will call out what I see, but I won’t go digging in anyone’s trash or chasing rumors.

Clear as mud?

Let’s take a look at who filed by today’s deadline.

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ASSEMBLY (SEAT D) 3-year term Individual Holding Seat – Tammie Wilson

Liz Reeves-Ramos

(907) 978-9914

lizforboroughassembly@gmail.com

Website: https://www.lizforfairbanks.com

Tammie Wilson

(907) 590-7602

Tammie.K.Wilson@gmail.com

Website: https://fnsb.gov/676/Tammie-Wilson, no campaign website or social media account could be found (will update)

ASSEMBLY (SEAT E) 3-year term Individual Holding Seat – Jimi Cash

Nick LaJiness

(907) 590-1317

nickforfairbanks@gmail.com

Website: https://www.nickforfairbanks.com

Jimi Cash

(907) 799-2692

cashforassembly@gmail.com

Website: http://cashforassembly.com

ASSEMBLY (SEAT H) 3-year term Individual Holding Seat – Aaron Lojewski

Aaron Gibson

(907) 978-3058

info@gibsonforfairbanks.com

Website: https://gibsonforfairbanks.com

Scott Crass

(907) 251-0800

scott@crassforfairbanks.com

Website: https://www.crassforfairbanks.com

SCHOOL BOARD (SEAT E) 3-year term Individual Holding Seat – Timothy Doran

Tim Doran

(907) 712-4772

timdoran512@gmail.com

Website: https://www.facebook.com/DoranforSchoolBoard

Michael Humphrey

(307) 922-3805

michael@humphreyforschoolboard.org

Website: https://humphreyforschoolboard.org

SCHOOL BOARD (SEAT F) 3-year term Individual Holding Seat – April Smith

Bobby Burgess

(907) 799-7549

burgessforschoolboard@gmail.com

Website: https://www.burgessforschoolboard.com

April Smith

(907) 347-1357

april@aprilsmithforfairbanks.com

Website: http://aprilsmithforfairbanks.com

SCHOOL BOARD (SEAT G) 3-year term Individual Holding Seat – Maggie Matheson

Meredith Maple

(502) 337-5897

mapleforschoolboard@gmail.com

Website: https://www.mapleforschoolboard.com

Maggie Matheson

(907) 978-5012

maggie.b.matheson@gmail.com

Website: https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/2660, no campaign website or social media account could be found (will update)

I don’t think IGU Board candidates generally have websites, but if I find any I will update them here.

INTERIOR ALASKA NATURAL GAS UTILITY BOARD (IGU) (AT-LARGE SEAT C) Individual Holding Seat – Luke Hopkins

Jim Dodson

(907) 388-8459

jdodson@ak.net

INTERIOR ALASKA NATURAL GAS UTILITY BOARD (IGU) (AT-LARGE SEAT D) Individual Holding Seat – Bert Bell

Sherri L. Wall

(907) 888-4509

SherriWall44@gmail.com

Pete Kelly

(907) 331-6292

petekellyalaska@msn.com

No campaign websites or social media accounts could be found for City Council Candidates (will update later).

Fairbanks City Council, Seat E – Three-year term

Lonny Marney

907-371-5130

lonny.marney@acsalaska.net

Sean MacDonald

907-799-4782

seanforfairbanks@gmail.com

Fairbanks City Council, Seat F – Three-year term

John Ringstad

AK 99701 907-590-2026

john.c.ringstad@gmail.com

Shoshana R. Kun

907-590-8313

srkun1013@gmail.com

North Pole City Council – Three-year term

Lairy Terch III

907-378-9233

larry@alaska.net

Ellen Glab

660-464-1072

Ellen.D.Glab@gmail.com

Benjamin Williams Jr.

907-388-5911

bbc1williams@gmail.com

All races except the city races are at-large, meaning that everyone who resides in the Borough can vote in them.

Anyone who has filed has until next Monday, August 7 to withdraw.

Election Day is Tuesday, October 3! You can learn how to vote on the Borough website.

Thank you to the candidates for stepping forward.

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Anyone who resides anywhere within our borough can vote for Assembly, IGU and School Board: residents who live within Fairbanks or North Pole limits also vote for council members of their respective cities.

Local elections and candidates are non-partisan by state statute.

Election day is Tuesday, October 3. You can find the full list of resources around the election on the Borough Website.

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Borough residents will also vote on (at least) two ballot measures. The current measures are:

FNSB Proposition 1

Expanding Health and Social Service Powers

“Shall the Fairbanks North Star Borough exercise on an areawide basis additional health and social service powers to expend opioid settlements funds to provide grants to local providers for opioid remediation?”

Ordinance No. 2023-19 Adopted by the Assembly on April 13, 2023 (PDF)

FNSB Proposition 2

Exempting From Taxation Farm Structures Used Exclusively for Farming Activity

“Shall the Fairbanks North Star Borough exempt from taxation farm structures used exclusively for farming activity, as permitted by state law and as described in Ordinance No. 2023-34?”

Ordinance No. 2023-34 Adopted by the Assembly on June 22, 2023 (PDF)

Absentee and early voting will be available this fall. If you receive the Permanent Fund Divided (PFD), you can likely vote in this upcoming election: if you’re unsure or have any questions, I’m happy to help connect you with folks who can help with voter eligibility and registration, or you can update your voter information online here.

Here’s a full schedule of upcoming dates to keep in mind, straight from the Borough website:

Stay tuned for analysis, a look at the track records and campaign strategies of candidates, and plenty of election-related news.

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“Neat!”, thought most of the crowd, including the parade judges (who on all accounts were NOT in on the “joke”).

Unfortunately, the walrus turned out to be symbolizing something pretty…gross.

The walrus was a transphobic reference to the book “Johnny the Walrus”, written by American conservative political commentator Matt Walsh.

The book allegorically compares being transgender to pretending to be a walrus, through the story of a child named Johnny.

It was published by DW Books, a division of The Daily Wire, a media company founded in part by Ben Shapiro.

The author, Matt Walsh, is an established grifter adept at punching down and stirring up support through making fun of (often imaginary) liberal and progressive people and causes. He’s happy to sell you a “Leftist Tears” tumbler, too.

Here’s a video of the author rather smugly reading the book itself:

The giant walrus in today’s parade (also named Johnny) was a dog whistle, coded political messaging to garner support from a particular group without provoking broad opposition.

On his website, Michael Humphrey states that he stands for:

• Protecting children by stopping the spread of radical gender ideology

• Creating opportunities for more parental involvement in school

• Targeted budget control with the goal of smaller class sizes and teacher salaries that keep up with the cost of living

His website also states that he’s a conservative christian and running for FNSB School Board Seat E. This seat is currently held by retired educator Tim Doran, who’s also running for re-election.

I take no pleasure in a post like this, but dog whistles can be easy to miss.

Borough-wide elections for School Board and Assembly are later this fall on October 3.

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The previous version of the Comprehensive Roads Plan was put into place in 1991.

From the outside, I know that the timeline for the plan has been stretched to make sure that residents have the chance to weigh in….though I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that this is the first times you’ve been made aware of a chance to provide feedback.

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From the Borough website:

The stated goal of the Borough is to evaluate and update the 1991 Comprehensive Roads Plan in order to improve the current and future road network by creating appropriate and strategic road corridors and access points across the borough.

The process aims to:​

• Bring together and build from the knowledge of residents, community leaders, transportation experts, and the private sector.

• Understand how the borough has and is projected to grow and change, and related challenges and opportunities for a future roads network.

• Take advantage of new and improved data on things like permafrost, wetlands, and other topographical features.

• Share and document examples of successes and lesson learned from the 1991 Plan and related roads policies.

After the comment period closes on July 14, Borough staff will compile all public comments and convene a Steering Committee to review and make recommendations for the Final Plan.

The Final Plan will then go before the FNSB Platting Board, Planning Commission, and Assembly as part of the adoption process this winter, during which there will be additional opportunities for community input.

You may learn more and submit comments about the Road Plan draft through the Borough website by this Friday, July 14.

Sun Jam Summer Celebration: Saturday, July 15

The Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition (FCAC) is having a party to celebrate renewable energy efforts in the Borough.

The FCAC Renewable Energy Working Group will highlight the success they have had in organizing around GVEA programs and increasing solar energy use through their annual Solarize campaigns. They will also be showcasing renewable energy options for Alaska in a continued push for a transition off of fossil fuels.

Live music, food, and games will be provided. You can track and learn more about the event on Facebook or by emailing sarah@fbxclimateaction.org.

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Bike Valet Service: Volunteering at Golden Days

FAST Planning and the Fairbanks Cycle Club are hosting a Bike Valet Parking service at Golden Days this year, and are looking for a handful more volunteers to provide this service. You can sign up for one of the last remaining shifts here.

This is a free, secure option for folks to store their bikes while they wander around downtown, and really looks to increase the likelihood of residents biking to major events like this.

After the Midnight Sun Festival Bike Valet was a success, FAST Planning and the Fairbanks Cycle Club hope to keep the momentum alive and generate a similar response for Golden Days…and likely future events, too.

What a cool idea. You can sign up for one of the last remaining shifts here.

Anti Ore-Haul Petition Signing Continues

Public interest in Advocates for Safe Alaskan Highway's (ASAH) anti-trucking petition continues to be strong. The petition is against the ore-haul plan proposed by Kinross. ASAH says that hundreds have signed up already.

• Here's a copy of the petition.

• Here's a copy of their flyer.

Here are confirmed locations and dates that the petition is/will be available for signing. They are working on others.

• July 13, 6-8PM at the Delta Junction Community Center

• July 21-23, a booth at the Deltana Fair

• July 29, day table at the Tanana Valley State Fair (in the blue Borealis building)

• August 5, day table at the Tanana Valley State Fair (in the blue Borealis building)

• Salcha Store, anytime the store is open

• Delta IGA, anytime the store is open

• Delta Building Supply, anytime the store is open

If you are not able to get to any of these, print the petition, sign it (you can get friends and family to sign, too) and either scan it and email it to info@safealaskahighways.org or just email them and they will make provisions to meet you in person. 

If you have been collecting signatures, please contact ASAH at info@safealaskahighways.org to make arrangements for pickup of your sheets.

You can also email me, and I’ll meet you for a signature.

Around the Corner

I’ve been fortunate enough to recently join the Board of Kids Voting North Alaska. Kids Voting North Alaska is a nonpartisan voter education program committed to helping students in Interior Alaska become lifelong voters.

I’m thrilled to be a small part of an awesome team that’s looking to empower kids of all ages to be active and engaged citizens.

Board members will be tabling most days at the Tanana Valley State Fair with the League of Women Voters: come say hi!

I’ll be excited to share plans, projects, and updates from this group going forward.

Thanks for reading!

We’re closing in on 200 subscribers, which just feels really special.

Nearly 20 of you have become paid subscribers, which really keeps me going: extra special thank you!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week.

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When: Friday, July 14, 2023, at 12pm.

Zoom Info: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78627714765pwd=KY0U9gihtT4kOca6c7uaLF6xk6oYVm.1
Meeting ID: 786 2771 4765
Passcode: 086679

Fireweed Collective is a statewide alliance of young Alaskans dedicated to building a just and sustainable future. 

After months of collaboration, the Fairbanks Hub of Fireweed Collective recently released their Young People’s Policy Platform. You can view the platform through this link, and residents of the Fairbanks North Star Borough can sign on in support here. 

See you on Zoom at noon on Friday, July 14 through the following link: 

Zoom Info: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78627714765pwd=KY0U9gihtT4kOca6c7uaLF6xk6oYVm.1
Meeting ID: 786 2771 4765
Passcode: 086679

I hope you'll join us for lunch and a talk with Fireweed Collective!

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The purpose of the meeting is to introduce an ordinance increasing the local contribution to school funding. Ordinances like this must go through a public process before they are voted on by the Assembly. The plan is to have it referred to the Finance Committee on July 20 and advanced to a public hearing on July 27.

The ordinance will attempt to increase the local contribution to somewhat make up for the half-vetoed funding increase from the state, as well as the deficit created by the Assembly in the first place. Details of any proposed ordinance, such as funding amount, are still unclear. The Assembly is somewhat limited in pursuing funding increases by the fact that they already passed a budget.

Earlier this year, the conservative majority of the Assembly chose to fund the School Board for about $9 million dollars under their ask, touting the certainty of a funding increase from the state.

The agenda and agenda packet will be published at this link at or before 5:00 p.m. later today Thursday, July 6, 2023.

Due to renovations at the Juanita Helms Administration Center, where the Assembly usually meets, all July meetings of the Assembly will be held in the Board Room of the School District Administrative Center at 520 Fifth Avenue. Road construction on Fifth Avenue will affect access to parking. Please see this map for parking information.

Strong Support for Fireweed Policy Platform

After months of collaboration, the Fairbanks Hub of Fireweed Collective released their Young People’s Policy Platform late last month. Fireweed has already gathered nearly 200 signatures from FNSB residents, about 75% of which are ages 18-35, through tabling at local events and virtual petitions.

More events and ways to help coming soon.

You can view the platform here and sign the virtual petition through the button below.

Support the Fireweed Policy Platform!

More Local Candidates Enter School Board and Assembly Races

A search for Letters of Intent filed with the State of Alaska show a growing number of candidates have entered races for School Board and Assembly seats.

I’m planing on sharing a lot of information on the candidates once the official deadline for filing closes at the end of July.

For now, I can tell you that I’ve been helping with several campaigns and am quite excited for the slate that’s brewing behind the scenes.

Around the Corner

A slew of family health concerns have slowed me down lately, but everyone is now doing well and enjoying the middle of summer.

There’s also just a treasure trove of stuff brewing that I’m excited to share with you when the time is right: soon!

Hope you are doing well!

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I love being and am privileged to be an American. While I came to the US as a baby, citizenship was a choice made around my 18th birthday. I still treasure the copy of the Oath of Allegiance and little flag that I received that day.

I have a pair of pocket constitutions, each given to me as a gift by friends and family. I flip through them occasionally to find a short, well-written document that serves as the foundation of our shared principles within.

My appreciation, however, is often tempered by reality, and a growing knowledge of the disparities between how and to whom those words have been applied.

The United States was founded largely by colonizing slaveowners who introduced and refined progressive, often radical ideas while actively denying many those same purported rights.

American history is full of blood, betrayal, discrimination, class warfare, and struggle, at home and abroad, an odyssey of conflict whose burdens were and continue to be borne most heavily by women, Indigenous, Black, and later immigrant families, and everyone else who fell outside of the original white, male, heteronormative, and wealthy ruling class.

Our modern middle class was built on the power of organized labor, a federal government with the resources, desire, and ability to serve our citizens, on fair and hearty taxes for the wealthy. Much of the world has now eclipsed us: the list of happier, healthier, and more educated nations continues to grow.

From our courts to elected officials, drastic acts of rolling back protections and accusing vulnerable groups of endangering an American way of life twisted by fantasy persist.

We find solutions to these issues by innovating forward, not staring back, by coming together as a diverse and mutifacted people, by emulating our allies and righting deep and systemic wrongs.

July Fourth is a time of national pride and celebration of our country’s many monumental achievements.

This year, as Supreme Court opinions trickle in and fiery lunatics attack LGBT+ youth, as abortion bans grow hand-in-hand with pregnancy-related deaths and more people are pushed into poverty as corporate profits and the cost of living soars, it also serves as an uncomfortable reminder of the vast gaps between the ideals and realities of life in America.

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You can sign the very quick google form here.

The deadline to sign is this Sunday, June 25.

Language of the op-ed:

We are athletes from Alaska, and we support transgender children playing sports on teams that align with their gender identity. Our backgrounds are diverse, ranging from K-12 to Olympic-level competitive sports. We believe all children deserve the same opportunities to play, lose, win, and learn.

It can be hard to understand what it means to be transgender, especially if you’ve never met a transgender person. But we can all agree that transgender kids should be treated with dignity and respect, just like everyone else. Trans kids are kids; just like your kids and like the kid you used to be. Trans kids like all the same things those kids like. They like to learn, dance, play, sing, and compete in sports.

In 2021, the state legislature proposed a statewide anti-trans sports ban that was stopped after overwhelming public testimony, and a similar ban by the Alaska School Activities Association was tabled after public testimony last month. But now the Alaska Board of Education has proposed a similar regulation change that would violate every student’s privacy and prohibit trans children from playing sports on teams that match their gender identity. We want to encourage the Board of Education to consider how that change would hurt trans children and all of Alaska’s young people.

Every child deserves to know what it’s like to compete in sports. They deserve to learn what it’s like to be tied 24-24 in the third set of a volleyball game, or pushing to the limit to beat a PR. What it’s like to lift up and be lifted up by your teammates. The rush and euphoria of a hard fought win! Trans kids deserve that. They also deserve to know what it’s like to have to ride the bus back home after their team didn’t play its best. To feel like they could have done better, to experience disappointment, and to learn from it. To get back to practice with a supportive coach. These are experiences that any athlete knows. They are experiences that build character, fortitude, and lifelong memories.

The purpose of school sports is not to train Olympians or elite athletes, although many Olympians and elite athletes may come out of Alaska’s K-12 sports teams. The purpose of K-12 sports in Alaska is to teach students skills like leadership, hard work, teamwork, inclusion, sportsmanship, self discipline, perseverance, and communication. Not only do trans students benefit from learning these skills, but their participation enriches those skills for others. Too often, though, requiring that a trans student compete with the sports team corresponding to their sex assigned at birth means that they don’t compete at all. 

Cisgender students suffer under this policy as well, because enforcing the policy will require diminishing the privacy of all students in order to determine their sex assigned at birth. Every student is up for questioning or investigation by adults who should be there as trusted mentors, not gender police.

We urge the Alaska Department of Education to live their mission and continue to work towards providing an excellent experience for every student by not adopting the proposed regulation changes.

You can sign the quick google form here.

The deadline to sign is this Sunday, June 25.

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Here’s a quick look at some high (and low) lights.

Dunleavy Vetoes Slash Education Funding, University Projects, and More

has an excellent article in on Governor Dunleavy’s seemingly targeted vetoes.

The Alaska Memo by Matt Buxton

'Pro-family' Dunleavy vetoes pro-family spending

Good morning, Alaska! It’s Tuesday. In this edition: After attempting to rebrand himself as a “pro-family” governor, Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivered a round of vetoes to this year’s budget on Monday that essentially cut the kind of spending you’d label as “pro-family.” The one-time boost to school funding has been slashed in half, most school maintenance s…

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3 years ago · 1 like · 1 comment · Matt Acuña Buxton

, who chairs the Senate Education Committee and was a panelist during June’s Fahrenkamp Lunch, has been a strong voice in looking to override the governor (though, as Matt notes above, that is particularly difficult in Alaska).

The Latest

Sen. Tobin Condemns Veto of Public Education Funding

Today, Senator Löki Gale Tobin (D-Anchorage) condemned Governor Dunleavy’s decision to use his line-item veto authority to cut $87 million in one-time funding for Alaska’s public education system. “Due to the Governor’s actions today, our public schools are going to have to make do with substantially less funding than they need to provide for reasonable …

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3 years ago · 2 likes · Senator Löki Gale Tobin and Mike Mason

Her statement, given near the top of the article, is below:

“Due to the Governor’s actions today, our public schools are going to have to make do with substantially less funding than they need to provide for reasonable class sizes and prevent teachers from leaving Alaska for better opportunities elsewhere. Inflation has made it much more expensive to keep the lights on and keep school buildings warm. Unfortunately, the Governor’s line-item veto will further shift that burden to local school districts, and in many cases, local taxpayers. I fully support an effort by the Alaska State Legislature to override this short-sighted veto.” - Sen. Tobin, chair of the Senate Education Committee.

Senator Tobin is right: these vetoes will have a serious impact on our school district, as the Fairbanks North Star Borough had set (and slashed) the local contribution over a month ago.

As I wrote back in May, the conservative majority of our FNSB Assembly bet big on a theoretical increase to education funding from the State, and reduced the local funding contribution by $9 million dollars from the districts ask.

I’ve heard that certain Assembly members are now scrambling to come up with a plan to provide some additional funding for the district. This would be welcome….though it’s also an issue that they created for themselves. The details for that are still murky: a local increase is now somewhat constrained by the codified Borough budget and other factors. More on this soon.

Updated FNSB Trails Plan Passes

Earlier this week, the FNSB Assembly ended up passing the Comprehensive Trail Plan update by a 7-2 vote.

Eric Troyer (who has been a huge and effective advocate during this entire process) writes:

A last-minute compromise deal devised by Assemblyman Aaron Lojewski, and then refined by Mayor Bryce Ward and his staff, assuaged most of the private property concerns of several Assembly members. In the end, only Assembly members Barbara Haney and Brett Rotermund voted against the plan update.

The plan had been sent back to the Platting Board late last year. The Assembly incorporated recommendations from the Platting Board and went a little further, though the core of the Plan remains intact.

Very happy to see this cross the finish line.

Petitions Worth Signing

Advocates for Safe Alaska Highways is planning on collecting signatures for a petition opposing 80-ton ore freighters on public roads for a mix of safety reasons and the costs the State has committed itself to, with few benefits to most Alaskans. Details and all the locations for the petition will be sent out via email soon (I’ll try to share that here, though I recommend you sign up for the tech ASAH mailing list, too).

As I wrote yesterday, the Fairbanks Hub of Fireweed Collective is also asking for virtual signatures of FNSB residents in support of our Young People’s Policy Platform. You can learn more about the Platform here, and sign the petition in support of it here.

Ester Dome Mining Update Tonight

Save Our Domes is having an open house tonight at 5:30 at Goldstream Sports. There will be free refreshments and music.

Schedule:

5:30: Pat Fitzgerald & Robin Dale Ford open the event with music

6:00: Presentation, Q&A w/Sarah Heinchon and Anna Godduhn

7:00: Alaska Mapper Tutorial, T-shirt stenciling (bring something to stencil), and more music.

Advocates for Safe Alaska Highways will also be there to answer questions about the Manh Choh Ore Haul and gather petition signatures.

Around the Corner

I spent most of the last week sleeping in a tent or on a camp bunk bed, and it was glorious. I didn’t bring a laptop and my cell phone didn't have reception most of the time: perfect.

Betsie and Zach had a lovely wedding ceremony at a beautiful venue.

I’m back and feeling better than I have for a long while. Friends and family are in town and it’s the day after Solstice, with plenty of summer left.

Hope you’re doing well, too.

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Fireweed Collective Young People's Policy Platform For Fairbanks

4.16MB ∙ PDF file

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We are asking all Fairbanks North Star Borough residents who support the platform to sign this quick virtual petition.

While we recognize that various local elected positions individually lack the power to solve many of these issues in a vacuum, the platform is in place to make sure that those officials are aware of and ultimately act in the best interest of young people in our community.

Again, we are asking all Fairbanks North Star Borough residents who support the platform to sign this quick virtual petition.

Let me know if you’d like to be more involved!

Please, share widely!

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The school board seats held by April Smith, Maggie Matheson, and Tim Doran are up as well. April Smith has filed a letter of intent to run again.

Among the new candidates, I’ve met and spoken with Scott, Bobby, Nick, and Liz and I’m very excited they are running. All union members, all great people.

I hope you can join them at Ester Park on Wednesday: here’s the link to the Facebook event. Tell your friends!

Even one won seat shifts the majority for both School Board (depending on the seat) and Assembly.

The poster for you to share is below. Invite and bring a friend! These early events really help candidates build momentum and get the word out.

Idaho This Week

I'm in Idaho this week for some camping and two friend's wedding: I'll be away from screens and cell service as much possible.

Have a wonderful week and see you in a bit!

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