Note from Rep. Gara: It’s Still Alive? Anchorage Legislative Building Lease Too Expensive, Not Ended Yet
January 6, 2016
ANCHORAGE – A funny thing happened when I was gone for vacation. At first it looked like legislators would come together and finally agree that we needed to end the overpriced Anchorage Legislative Office Building lease. Then they didn’t.
Read More →
NEWS: Legislative Office Building Renegotiations: Rep. Gara Says Costs Should Not Exceed Moving to Much Cheaper Atwood State Office Building
January 5, 2016
ANCHORAGE – Last month, the Alaska Legislative Council voted to allow 45 days to potentially renegotiate the costs of the controversial Anchorage Legislative Information Office Building (LIO) in downtown Anchorage. Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) is concerned Republican leaders, who have repeatedly voted and stood against Democratic efforts to move from this space, might renegotiate a new contract that still costs far more than existing options. Rep. Gara wants the public to know how much one of the options would save so they can fairly evaluate any attempt to renegotiate this lease. A report by the non-partisan Legislative Research Division shows that moving to the Atwood State Office Building would be 80 to 90% cheaper than the current Legislative Information Office Building, which costs roughly $4.2 million a year. Whether moving to the Atwood Building would cut the costs by 80%, or over 90%, depends on how much space the Legislature leases. However, Rep. Gara believes the cost of any lease should be at least as low as moving to the Atwood Building.
Read More →
NEWS: Community Input Sought by East Side Anchorage Legislators Before Upcoming Legislative Session
January 5, 2016
ANCHORAGE – In the final days before the start of the Second Session of the 29th Alaska Legislature, Sen. Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) and Reps. Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage) and Gabrielle LeDoux (R-Anchorage) invite East Anchorage and JBER constituents to a pre-session town hall constituent meeting on Thursday, January 7, from 6:30-8:00pm at the Begich Middle School, 7440 Creekside Center Drive, Anchorage.
Read More →
Rep. Wool’s Newsletter: Happy New Year Edition
December 31, 2015
I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season and have a fun and safe New Year. Here’s some of the results of the budget survey I sent out in November.
Read More →
Rep. Kawasaki’s Newsletter: Happy New Year!
December 30, 2015
The holiday season is much more than the morning dustings of snow, Christmas lights, scrumptious treats and holiday gatherings. It is a time of hope, joy and giving. Yet, the current state of our state economy and budget contribute to a sense of insecurity and anxiety.
Read More →
