[video] Anchorage Neighborhood Heroes: Alexander Avenue Drainage Project

Video celebrating the Alexander Avenue Drainage Project and it’s heroes. Shelly Hennessy, Action Committee Leader, and the East Thunderbird Condo Association are honored. Hosted by Representative Sharon Cissna.

Newsletter from Rep. Sharon Cissna

Dear Constituents and Neighbors:

A celebration was held and an award was given this past June to highlight a District 22 project and its final passage in the State Capital Budget. The award for the Alexander Street drainage Project completion included a presentation as an example of how communities and neighbors can make a difference. This project is located in the eastern side of the Airport Heights Community Council. The project process started formally about three years ago. If you watch the video, linked to this page, you can see that the ‘start’ was when enough neighbors started talking about what was happening in their basements (each had not mentioned the problem to fellow condo association members, thinking that they were the only one with disgusting corrosive pools in their crawl-spaces.)

Democrats on Education Proposal: Fair Compromise, Schools Still Deserve Better

Lots of good for schools, but not enough to prevent cuts this year or in the future

JUNEAU – Today, House Democrats claimed a partial victory in the debate over school funding as the House passed a bill that provides far more resources to Alaska’s schools than what the governor proposed. The governor flat funded education and later proposed what was effectively a $10 million one-time increase, far short of keeping up with inflation.

Democrats Offer Savings, Education, and Energy Budget Amendments

Amendments target proven ways to build today’s resources into tomorrow’s opportunity

JUNEAU – Today, House Democrats offered a series of amendments to the state operating budget targeted to saving money, reducing waste, improving schools, and lowering energy costs.

“Our goal all year has been to find ways to build today’s resources into tomorrow’s opportunities,” said House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau). “The Permanent Fund, our children’s education and Alaska’s home energy efficiency rebates are all proven ways to do that.”

Rep. Petersen Resolution Supports Community Efforts to Create Muldoon Park

“Community effort to create this park is an example of grassroots democracy at its best”

JUNEAU – As the Anchorage Assembly considers a proposal that would hurt the efforts by Muldoon area residents to create a city park on the former site of the Alaska Greenhouse, Rep. Pete Petersen (D-Anchorage) has introduced a resolution (HCR 27) to support the effort to create what local residents have dubbed the “Muldoon Park Strip.” Despite residents’ desires to create the park, the Municipality of Anchorage is considering whether to sell most of this land.

“As the representative for Northeast Anchorage and Muldoon, my job is to listen to my neighbors and help them build the community they want,” Petersen said. “The community effort to create this park is an example of grassroots democracy at its best and I am proud to stand with them.”

Democrats Call on Governor to Make Stronger Commitment to Education

Keeping up with inflation allows schools to focus on where to improve, not where to cut

JUNEAU – Today, House Democrats called on the governor to join them in an effort to prevent Alaska’s school districts from having to make more cuts in the classroom due to inflation. The legislators sent a letter to the governor earlier today requesting that he be open to meeting school district needs by increasing the per-student allocation enough to cover the costs of inflation.

Committee to Hear Democrats’ Bill to Create Non-partisan Primary Election

Bill would give Alaskans freedom to vote for any candidate, regardless of political party

JUNEAU – Today, the House State Affairs Committee is scheduled to hear Democratic legislation (HB 77) to establish a non-partisan primary in Alaska so Alaskans can have the freedom to vote for whomever they want in each election, regardless of their, or the candidate’s, party affiliation. Representative Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage), Representative Sharon Cissna (D-Anchorage) and Representative Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks) sponsored the legislation, and Representative Pete Petersen (D-Anchorage) is a co-sponsor.

Democrats: Today’s Resources Build Tomorrow’s Opportunity; Democratic Response to the State of the State shows vision for Alaska

JUNEAU – In her response to the governor’s state of the state speech tonight, House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula (Juneau) told Alaskans that Alaska must use today’s resources to build tomorrow’s future.

“You’ve elected us to lead, and it’s our job to lead in a way that honors Alaska’s courageous spirit by using today’s resources to build tomorrow’s opportunities,” said Rep. Kerttula.

Rep. Sharon Cissna Statement on Texas TSA Law

Americans should travel with “security and dignity intact”

In February of this year, Rep. Sharon Cissna (D-Anchorage) made national headlines following an encounter she had with the TSA (Transportation Security Authority) while traveling. An airport full-body X-ray scan revealed scars from breast cancer surgery, prompting the TSA to subject Cissna to an invasive hand search. Cissna refused and began a long journey back to Juneau by automobile, ferry and small aircraft.

Legislature Requests TSA Hearings in Alaska

Air travel, airport procedures of upmost importance to Alaskans

JUNEAU – Today, fifty-nine of sixty members of the Alaska Legislature sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs requesting hearings be held in Alaska on the often invasive procedures used by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA).

“Alaskans depend on air travel more than most other Americans,” said Rep. Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage) who drafted the letter and gathered signatures from his colleagues in the State House. “The committee needs to hear from Alaskans about our unique concerns.”