Protecting Your Rights: Serving Sand Lake, Spenard and Turnagain

February 4, 2022

Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation Investigation

Last week, the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee approved a $100,000 investigation into the APFC Board's firing of Angela Rodell. I took a few minutes to reflect on this issue.

Click here to watch my latest video update

Youth Mental Health in Alaska & House Bill 60

My office is sponsoring House Bill 60, which amends existing K-12 public school health education statute to include mental health education guidelines. Given that 50% of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, and 75% by age 24, we know that we need to starting having conversations about mental health at an early age. This legislation is an important first step in helping our kids.

Alaska's adolescent suicide rate, based on data up to 2019, is three times higher than the nationwide rate. And the rates are increasing:

Since 2007, suicidal ideation has increased 33% among male students and 69% among female students.
In 2019, 22% of Alaska high school students planned a suicide attempt in the past 12 months.
Pre-pandemic, 38% of Alaska high school students felt sad or hopeless everyday -- this is over a 10% increase in a 10 year period.

The impact of the pandemic on youth mental health is beginning to appear in data, and the early numbers show a worsening trend. Distressingly, recent Alaska state data shows increasing rates of suicide attempts among 11-to-14-year-olds.

In December 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General took an uncommon step and issued an advisory declaring youth mental health as a crisis. The advisory emphasized that this issue has been further exacerbated by the pandemic. Included in the recommendations is a need for "recognition that mental health is an essential part of overall health." Across Alaska, parents, advocates, healthcare providers, and policy makers want to address this crisis. Youth mental health advocate and Alaskan Claire Rhyneer, who has been an advocate for HB 60, recently provided testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions. You can watch her testimony and learn more about the impact of struggles with mental health here.

We will continue to update you with our efforts and opportunities for public support as we work to get HB 60 signed into law. To sign up for our HB 60 distribution list, click here.

Meeting Alaskans

Emma Broyles, Miss America

I was pleased to meet Emma Broyles, who was recently crowned Miss America. We are proud that she is the first Alaskan and first Korean-American to win the title. She earned her title through hard work and commitment. We can’t wait to see all she does this year!

Thor Brown, Teamsters Local 959

It was great meeting with West Anchorage neighbor Thor Brown of the Teamsters Local 959, the largest private sector union in the state. Thor served 5 years in the Marine Corps before becoming a construction driver on the North Slope. It was during his time up north that he joined Teamsters Local 959. He also worked with Lynden Transport and United Freight & Transport, Inc. before joining Local 959 staff in 2016.

In Case You Missed It: State of the State

Last week, I took a few minutes to reflect on the governor's 2022 State of the State address and the economic challenges we face during the upcoming legislative session.

Click here to watch

Community Events

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

Sand Lake Community Council

When: Monday, February 14 at 6:30 PM

Where: Virtual Zoom Meeting. Click here for details.

Free Museum Admission Day - Sponsored by the Alaska Black Chamber of Commerce

General Admission is free thanks to the generous sponsorship of Alaska Black Chamber of Commerce. Visit with and learn about black-owned businesses in Alaska, check out the exhibition “Black Lives in Alaska: Journey, Justice, Joy,” and celebrate Black History Month.

When: Saturday, February 5 from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Where: Anchorage Museum, 625 C St.

For more information, visit the event Facebook page.

Anchorage

Assembly

Reapportionment

Every 10 years, after U.S. Census and State Redistricting, the Anchorage Municipality approves an updated city district map through a process called reapportionment. To see the current draft maps, click here. To leave a public comment on the drafts, click here.

The next meeting on Anchorage Municipal Reapportionment is upcoming:

When: Wednesday, February 9 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Where: City Hall, 632 W 6th Ave, Conference Room 155