Representative Gara has been touring the community on easier and challenging ways to make a difference in a foster child’s life. He’s provided this primer, with contact numbers, on simple and less simple things we can do to make a child’s life better.
Read More →
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 →ANCHORAGE – Today, Alaska Governor Bill Walker unveiled an ambitious budget plan called “The New Sustainable Alaska Plan” that shifts much of the burden of paying for state government from the oil and gas industry onto the backs of hard-working, average Alaskans. The Governor’s proposal includes fundamental changes to how vital state services in Alaska are funded including new or increased taxes on income, fishing, mining, tourism, alcohol, tobacco, and motor fuel. The Governor’s proposal also makes drastic cuts to vital early education opportunities in Alaska and would result in significantly reduced Permanent Fund Dividends. The 13 members of the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition thank Governor Walker for his leadership and the public process used to come up with the proposed budget plan but will insist that every proposed change be thoroughly vetted by the Alaska Legislature.
Read More →I just wanted to take a moment to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and a Happy Holiday Season – on behalf of myself and my wife Kelly.
Read More →
I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
I’d like you to know about our Holiday “Laptops for Foster Youth Drive”, which has become even more important with the alarming increase in the number of foster youth in Alaska, from less than 1,800 five years ago to over 2,800 today. The following press release lets you know about many ways you can help, from donating a laptop, to becoming: a foster youth mentor through a program we started at Big Brothers Big Sisters; a foster parent; or an adoptive parent for a foster youth.
ANCHORAGE – Five years ago Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) and Amanda Metivier, Executive Director of Facing Foster Care in Alaska (FFCA), sat down to try to figure out how to make the lives of Alaska’s foster youth better without waiting on legislative action. As a result, they started a volunteer effort called “Laptops for Foster Youth.” This week they are launching a “Holiday Drive” seeking donated laptop computers. New or donated laptops can be especially useful for foster youth because they often move frequently on short notice.
Read More →