Fairbanks: Town Hall, PFAS, Construction and More!

April 13, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

The Easter weekend was packed with events ranging from the Fabulous Feminist Fundraiser, a joint Legislative Town Hall, visiting friends and constituents and more. It was great to be back and to see the Polaris Building once more before demolition! Want to hear more about the Legislative Town Hall, sponsored bills, local construction and more? Continue reading!

Legislative Town Hall

Thank you to everyone who came out to the legislative town hall with Representative Maxine Dibert and me! We appreciate everyone who came and asked questions as well as those who just came to listen. We hear your concerns surrounding revenue, education, the budget, defined benefits, and early education needs. Having these town halls help us to focus on what our community is concerned about and what we need to thrive.

If you haven’t been able to make it to the town halls don’t fret! My staff is always here to help answer questions and address concerns via email and phone.

Joint Legislative Town Hall

A Budget... Possibly?

The House still has the operating budget and has not yet voted or transmitted it to the Senate. The Republican Leadership has moved their vote to this Friday, April 14^th. Once the budget passes the House, it will move to the Senate and hopefully be amended, voted on and adopted by day 120!

Last week the House heard and debated the more than 90 amendments that were offered by all members of the House. While there were great options offered, as it stands now the budget seems like it will pass with a half a billion dollar deficit! The current version of the budget draws from Alaska’s dwindling savings accounts (Constitutional Budget Reserve and Statutory Budget Reserve Fund).

Toxic Chemicals in Fairbanks Water Table!

I cosponsored a bill (SB 67) introduced by Senator Jesse Kiehl to stop the inclusion of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foam. Firefighting foam often gets into water, the environment, and even foods we eat which is less than ideal for several reasons.

But what are PFAS? Why does it matter if this foam goes into our ecosystem? PFAS are a class of manmade chemicals that have been use in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1940s. They have been in everything from nonstick cookware to certain cosmetics and some firefighting foams. The U.S has phased out two types of PFAS chemicals, those being perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) other countries may still manufacture and use them. There are two other very studied PFAS that haven’t been phased out of use, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA).

The consumption of PFAS is linked to all kinds of health problems including, but not limited to, cancers, low birthweight in babies whose mothers were given water with PFAS in them, and increased cholesterol levels.

A big way that these PFAS can get into our ecosystem is through firefighting foam, these foams are often used at airports and other industrial buildings. This bill would ban everyone outside of the oil and gas industry from using PAS-containing foams. The oil and gas industry is only allowed to keep using PFAS-containing foam till an alternative is approved by regulation. This is not only important for the people of Fairbanks but also the animals. Scientists have found that every continent besides Antarctica has had animals that are affected by PFAS. SB 67 will be heard in finance today. I have high hopes for this bill and the future of our community.

After Winter, it is Construction Season in Fairbanks

With summer coming up, a lot of construction is starting up! The construction at the Airport Way / Steese Expressway will be wrapping up mid-summer, with the reopening of the road comes a new left turn lesson. The DOT website has a great explanation of the project as well as how to use the new left turn lanes here.

There are three other projects continuing in 2023 including the Chena Hot Springs Road MP 0-6 & Roundabouts, Airport Way West Improvements and Rosie Creek Road Improvements.

Projects starting in 2023 are as follows.

Old Steese at Fox Shoulder Widening

Northern Region ADA Improvements College Road

Aurora Drive Noyes Slough Bridge Replacement

East College Road Resurfacing

5 ^th Ave Reconstruction

University Avenue (Segment 2c)

Chena Ridge and Chena Pump Resurfacing

FAI General Aviation Apron Rehabilitation

Digital Messaging Signs (Parks & Richardson Hwys)

Richardson Hwy MP 357-362 Bicycle/Pedestrian Path

Fairbanks Area Vehicle Plug-Ins

FAST planning Surface Upgrades

North Pole Steet Light Standardization

Public Testimony on Youth Discrimination Bill

I have heard your concerns over this bill over the last few weeks and am excited to announce another public testimony opportunity. HB 105 is a bill by Governor Dunleavy, I agree with many of the constituents who have emailed, called, and written about this bill calling it an attack on LGBTQ youth. We cannot let these ideological attacks ruin the lives of our youth who represent the future of Alaska.

Alaska instead should be a place where all families are able to have a warm and welcoming home. School is supposed to be a safe place for children. By forcefully “outing” students more and more children will be put in dangerous situations. It should be up to the student and the student alone to come out when they feel safe enough in their environment to do so. Creating penalties for teachers using a student’s preferred name or nickname will NOT solve the teacher shortage that Alaska is facing. We should be welcoming everyone to Alaska with open arms.

If you have time to call in and testify against HB 105 please do. You can tune in here and the numbers are listed below. You can also send a letter to my office at senator.scott.kawasaki@akleg.gov so that I can submit it to the permanent record!

From Juneau: 907-586-9085

From Anchorage: 907-563-9085

All other callers; Toll Free: 844-586-9085

I look forward to hearing testimony from Fairbanksans!

My Staff and I are Here for You

As always, I and my staff are are still working for you. Feel free to contact my office and we will assist you with issues important to you and your family.

Working Hard for Fairbanks Families,