Fairbanks: Winter is Coming! The PFD, Elections, and More!

September 28, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

Interior Alaskans have really had a blessed autumn. We have had warmer days, over a longer span of time and these longer seasons are certainly welcome to folks who wish to recreate or finish up the last-minute summer projects. But winter is coming. Are you prepared? The e-newsletter contains information about your notes about getting ready for winter, safety for drivers and pedestrians, the Permanent Fund Dividend amount and why it is important to vote next week!

Watch Out Winter Drivers!

The peak hazardous driving conditions are nearly here in the interior. Remember to always drive with your headlights on, brush any snow and ice off your taillights and give yourself extra time to reach your destination in dangerous conditions. Before driving a long distance you can check out The Alaska Department of Transportation’s handy Know Before You Go road condition map or dial the new 511-INFO.

Snow and icy roads also mean that Alaskan drivers are sharing the roads with maintenance crews working hard to clear the roads for us to get where we need to go. Please give snow plows the space to do their job and keep yourself safe. For more tips check out DOT’s Do’s and Don’ts for snowplow safety.

Finally, winter driving also means that the sun will rise late and set early, making it very important to know your surroundings and follow established traffic rules, especially in school zones. As many of you know, a 12-year-old child was hit while walking through a cross walk with a crossing attendant on her way to school two weeks ago.

Stop for School Buses: Be vigilant when you see a school bus with its stop arm extended and lights flashing. Stop at a safe distance to allow children to board or disembark safely.
No Texting or Phone Use: Avoid using your mobile phone while driving, especially in school zones. Distracted driving poses a significant threat to our children’s safety.
Watch for Crosswalks: Keep a sharp eye out for pedestrian crosswalks, and always yield to pedestrians in these areas. Children may not always be as cautious as adults when crossing the street.
Follow Parking Rules: Please adhere to designated drop-off and pick-up zones, ensuring that your vehicle does not obstruct traffic flow or create hazardous situations.
Stay Patient: Remember that school traffic can be hectic, but patience goes a long way in preventing accidents. Plan your morning routine to allow extra time for potential delays.
Set a Positive Example: Your children are watching and learning from your behavior. Model safe driving habits to instill a lifelong commitment to road safety.

The Cheapest Electricity is the kWh That's Not Used

Did you know that by running your ceiling fan in reverse you can improve the heat circulation and efficiency in your home while saving money? The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation also offers weatherization for income eligible households through various weatherization service providers around town. Any household that received LIHEAP (low income heating assistance), SSDI, ATAP, TANF, APA/IA, Food Stamps or Senior Benefits in the last year may also be eligible. You could qualify for improvements like weather-stripping, thermal doors, and triple-pane windows usually at no cost to participants.

The PFD is Coming Next Month. Is More Coming?

The PFD amount of $1312 was recently released by the Alaska Department of Revenue. The House and Senate overwhelmingly passed a state budget this year that was balanced, paid down debts, increased funding for priorities like education, public safety, public assistance and key Fairbanks items like demolition funds for the downtown Polaris Building, funds for the UAF drone program and more than $7 million for the Interior Veterans Cemetery. The legislature also approved language that an additional amount of a PFD may be added if the price of oil is sufficiently high as to have a surplus of revenue coming from our oil resources.

I remember the first PFD the state issued back when 1982 when I was just a 7-year-old at Joy Elementary School. My parents were able to put the PFD away for me in a new savings account for college because we were fortunate to have a dual income household. The PFD nowadays is used as a bridge for the general costs of living for many Alaska families these days. It helps to pay for school clothing in the fall, to fill a heating oil tank or donate to the many churches and charities that improve the social safety network for those in need. Cuts to the PFD tend to harm those who are least able to afford it including seniors on fixed incomes, rural Alaskans, families with young children and college students. Cuts to the PFD are the worst way to fund government and I will continue to progress the dialog that we need to receive a fair share for our public resources, whether they be oil and gas, gold, fish or timber. Check out my comments on the emergency stimulus Permanent Fund Dividend like the one that was supported last year. HERE.

Local Decisions are Made by Local Elected Officials -- So Vote!

Most of the issues, whether it be road maintenance, property taxes, school graduation rates or police/fire safety are local issues. My office receives scores of calls every day on issues that are impacting a family and most of them are not related to state business, but federal and local government business. It is not just important that you have great representation at the state level - your local City Councils, Borough Assembly and School Board contain the decision makers about policies that impact your everyday life! Election Day is less than a week away, today is the last day you can vote early at the Shoppers Forum Mall, tomorrow the mall will transition to in-person absentee ballots only. The City of Fairbanks Clerk’s Office at 800 Cushman Street as well as the City of North Pole Clerk’s Office at 125 Snowman Ln is also offering absentee voting till October 2^nd (excluding weekends) from 8:00am-5:00pm. Get out there and vote for your favorite candidates!

A Shutdown is Bad for Business and for Alaska

The federal government looks likely to shut down, but it is completely unnecessary! The US Senate, including Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, voted yesterday on a plan to avert a shutdown by an overwhelming vote of 77-19. The extreme republican shutdown in the House will cause a rippling effect through both federal and state agencies here in Alaska and is likely to start on Saturday at midnight without a clear date of when the shutdown might end.

The impacts to regular Alaskans will be particularly amplified as the State of Alaska has had some of its own problems within agencies from which the public relies upon. Long waitlists for Medicaid or public assistance and the ability to get licenses or permits to work or payment for services are all in jeopardy. In addition, nearly a million federal workers and their families will not receive paychecks, half of the federal workers will be FORCED to work without pay and the military and Alaskans should expect a delay in disaster response, travel delays a slowing of the federal court systems. While the Alaska Legislature has very little direct say in a federal shutdown, I do hope that you will encourage others to speak against an extreme republican shutdown that will be felt by every Alaskan and every American.

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,