After a month-long break, there's a lot to catch up on! I'll keep the updates brief so you can get back to picking berries, fishing for silvers, or whatever fun fills your August weekends.

Rep. Story & I celebrated the JDHS Girls' Swim Team's championship win last year with a legislative citation. These hardworking athletes got two hours of swimming in before the 8:30 am presentation!

Seafood Taskforce

Alaska's seafood industry is in crisis. That's an ugly phrase, but it's no exaggeration. Processors are closing, fishing families are paying more for fuel than the value of the fish they catch, salmon numbers are below projections, and halibut and crab stocks aren't healthy. Low prices, international competition, and poor markets all compound the problems. High interest rates make weathering the storm harder than usual.

Alaskans know how vital our fisheries are—seafood is a huge sector of our economy, a critical natural resource, and an essential part of our way of life. This year the legislature passed SCR 10, creating a task force similar to one from the early 2000s, when the salmon industry looked bleak. We had slightly different issues to work on back then, but a series of changes the task force suggested helped the state's single largest employer bounce back.

I'm proud to report Sen. President Gary Stevens appointed me to the new Seafood Industry Task Force. We had our first meeting last week, where we hammered out a schedule for our work on solutions for the industry.

We'll meet with fishing families and stakeholders, communities and financial types. This effort will need all hands on deck, so if you have ideas I'd love to hear from you, too. Come next session, we want to be ready with serious, impactful legislation to help Alaska seafood businesses get back on their feet.

Earlier this summer, I went to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region summit. Five States and five Canadian provinces came together to work on shared issues and cross-border opportunities.

Coming Together

For the second year running, Juneau had a serious natural disaster. Flooding impacted around 290 homes, far more than last year. Visiting the neighborhoods, seeing the damage to homes and vehicles and lives, was truly awful. My heart goes out to all who were affected by it.

As the water receded, we got another reminder of what an amazing community this is. Because along with the damage, we've all seen the capital city pull together. An incredible number of volunteers stepped up to help neighbors.

Agencies from the Department of Transportation to the Red Cross to good-hearted folks who took a day or a week off work to do their part were out cooking, wading knee-deep in muddy crawlspaces, and ripping out soaked insulation. Forty National Guardsmen deployed to help clear homes and haul debris. Team Rubicon and other volunteer organizations deployed.

The governor promptly approved the city's request for a disaster declaration. The Department of Environmental Conservation opened the spill response fund to clean up 'orphan' oil drums and other spills—removing contaminated soil, making homes safe from vapors, and dealing with potential water contamination.

Earlier this week Governor Dunleavy officially asked to increase the response amount above the initial $1 million cap to a new total of $4 million, to better address the effects the flood has had on our community. I've worked to support that request.

Not everyone likes to ask for help. If you know folks who had damage, please urge them to apply for individual assistance from the state. There is up to $21,250 available for structural damage to a home, and up to $21,250 for personal property as well. The state workers who run the program are in the business of helping—it is absolutely worth it to apply. You don't have to be a homeowner, either: there's rental assistance available, too.

Folks can apply here to get help. If you’re having issues navigating the process, you can call 1-844-445-7131 or reach out to 907-632-2165 to schedule help in person. The deadline to apply is October 9!

If you have any other questions about the flood or the resources available, please don't hesitate to reach out.

I joined Rep. Story and the Davidson family to remember George Davidson. He was director of AMHS in the 1980s. He was also on the Juneau Planning Commission and an engineer who built bridges, docks, and other infrastructure all across Alaska.

Putting up Guardrails

SB 242 was my bill improving fairness and transparency in Alaska property assessments. It became law this month as part of SB 179.

The new guardrails include minimum qualifications for tax assessors, and published standards for them to use. It makes touchy appeals less likely by guaranteeing you can meet with the assessor when you disagree. It also improves appeals by preventing assessments from being raised during the tax year (unless requested by the homeowner.) It levels the playing field by requiring clear explanations for any differences between the assessment and a fee appraisal.

The bill also protects voters by changing the default of who hears appeals to an appointed board of equalization instead the elected assembly or council. That matters because if your assembly members are also deciding appeals, they can’t talk freely with their constituents about important policy issues surrounding how property is assessed.

Municipal governments keep their essential local control, but taxpayers also get some really important protections.

No New Spills

Finally! My PFAS bill, SB 67, has been six years in the making. After a lot of work and countless rewrites it’s now in law.

Starting in January, everyone who can safely use PFAS-free firefighting foam will need to switch over. The rule is delayed for the oil and gas industry, which can have such infernal fires there isn't a PFAS-free alternative that works quite yet. When there is, the state Fire Marshall will oversee the switch.

The new law also reimburses small communities for safely disposing of the old toxic foam before it spills. Too many Alaskans already have contaminated drinking water from PFAS—we’ll be dealing with that for years. SB 67 keeps the problem from getting any worse!

Juneau Harvest Festival

Join the fun tomorrow (Saturday) at the 30^th Juneau Harvest Festival! Check out the farmer’s market, live music, bake sale, games, flower exhibits, and more!

Juneau Chamber Music

On Aug. 31, head to the state museum for the duo Tour de Force performing on the violin, viola, cello, piano, and bari sax!

Juneau Board Games

On Aug. 25, join Platypus Gaming Day at the Douglas Library. Don’t miss out on the fun and games!

Juneau Youth Art Night

Unleash your creativity at art night on Aug. 26 at the Zach Gordon Youth Center!

Haines Summer Concert

Check out the final Dalton City Limit Summer Concert Aug. 29. It’s free and fun for all!

Haines Backcountry Games

On Aug. 31, throw your hat in the ring for the Backcountry Games! There’s tug of war, the fish toss, and so much more!

Haines First Friday

Believe it or not, September is right around the corner. On Sept. 6, join the first Friday fun.

Haines August Snack Attack

Bring the kids to the library to make (and eat!) great snacks! Coming up: make homemade salsa & guacamole on Aug. 26, and Thai peanut dipping sauce on Aug. 28!

Skagway Music Saturday

Tomorrow, head to the library to make some noise! You can play the library’s mandolin, ukulele, guitar, banjo, & piano!

Skagway Klondike Road Relay

Start getting in shape (and get your costume ready) for Sept. 6 when the Klondike Road Relay takes off! If you’re not a runner, you can join the fun handing out water or cheering folks on!

Gustavus Historical Photos

On Aug. 27, come to the community center to check out cool historical photos of Gustavus as part of the Community Curiosity Series.

Gustavus Strawberry Jam

Join the fun at the Strawberry Jam Aug. 31! Live music, food, games, and more!

Gustavus Contra Dance

Head to the community center tomorrow (Saturday) for Contra Dancing! No partner needed, just come join the fun.

Klukwan Tot Tales at the Library

Don’t miss the final tot tales for the summer on Aug. 27. Bring the kids for stories, songs, crafts, and more!

Klukwan Community Garden

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, come out to the Klukwan Community Garden to play in the dirt. No experience needed!

Is there an event in our district I should know about? Please call or email!

Want to Send Snail Mail?

Alaska State Capitol

Room 514

Juneau, AK 99801

You Can Call:

800 550 4947

907 465 4947

Or Email Me!