Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Happy Friday! Last Friday, I spent the evening and the night with the Anchorage Police Department, learning what it’s like to be a police officer in Anchorage. Thank you to all the men and women who serve in our community’s police force!

Anchorage Police Department Ride Along

Last Friday, I spent the evening and late into the night riding in the passenger seat of a police car. The shift started at 3 pm and lasted past midnight. I rode along as Officer Ranger investigated burglaries, served arrest warrants, transported individuals to the sleep-off center, and talked with kids about safety. We concluded with monitoring a drunk driver in the hospital while waiting for a search warrant. The experience reminded me that our police force is vital to our community and the our officers’ work is indispensable. I encourage other citizens to take advantage of the opportunity and get a first-hand look at what it’s like to be a police officer in Anchorage. You can sign up online by filling out this application: muni.org/Departments/police/forms/Documents/ridealong2015.pdf.

Rep. Claman with Officer Ranger before his police ride along last Friday.

Throughout my time on the Anchorage Assembly and as mayor, I have always been a strong proponent of the Police Academy. Without academies, there are not enough qualified officers to effectively protect and serve the community. Currently, Mayor Berkowitz is committed to regular police academies and has announced plans for three police academies in 2016. The Mayor is committed to getting more officers in our community.

Rep. Claman with Officer Ranger before his police ride along last Friday.

An interesting video about the work our police officers do in Anchorage.

Last month at the Sand Lake Community Council meeting, several neighbors were concerned about public safety due to several shootings that have taken place in the area. I will be hosting a community meeting on public safety in coordination with the Anchorage Police Department in mid-November. Keep a look out for more information!

The Anchorage Police Department is currently hiring officers. See above for more information.

Regulatory Commission of Alaska Report

In one of my first electronic newsletters, I wrote about an, “Independent System Operator” or “Unified Service Operator” which is a not-for-profit organization that helps unify the electrical grid. The ISO or USO combines the transmission facilities of several transmission owners into a single transmission system to move energy over long distances at a lower price than the combined charges of each utility between the buyer and the seller.

This summer, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) wrote a report that provides the Legislature with several recommendations to move forward with the ISO/USO concept:

•   Recommendation 1: An independent transmission company should be created to operate the transmission system reliably and transparently and to plan and execute major maintenance, transmission system upgrades, and new transmission projects necessary for the reliable delivery of electric power to Railbelt customers.
   
• Recommendation 2: System-wide merit order economic dispatch (economic dispatch is the short-term determination of the optimal output of a number of electricity generation facilities, to meet the system load, at the lowest possible cost, subject to transmission and operational constraints) of the Railbelt’s electrical generation units will bring the maximum benefit to the ratepayers.
   
• Recommendation 3: Though history strongly indicates that the current voluntary transmission restructuring and economic dispatch efforts by the utilities may fail, the Commission believes the utilities must be given the opportunity to succeed.
   
• Recommendation 4: Enforceable and consistent Railbelt operating and reliability standards are necessary for consistent, safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the Railbelt electric system.
   
• Recommendation 5: The RCA will need funds from the state to implement the proposed recommendations.

I will continue to work to make Anchorage and Alaska a place for efficient, reliable, and affordable energy. The Independent System Operator is an effective step forward for this goal.

Community Events and Opportunities  

It’s getting to be that time of the year, for more information about learn to ski programs, click here.

The AMATS (Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions) is recruiting citizen advisory committee members until October 23rd. Click here for the application.

As always, please let us know if you have suggestions or concerns.

Sincerely,

    Rep. Matt Claman

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