MARCH 18, 2014  

Open Government is Good Government

SUNSHINE WEEK

In my last newsletter, I told you about H.B. 329, a piece of legislation I proposed based on the idea of Collaborative Governance. This week, I invite you to join me, as well as people and organizations across the country, to celebrate Sunshine Week.

Join us in a nationwide discussion about the importance of access to public information and what it means for you and your community.

Sunshine Week,
March 16-22, 2014

“Launched in 2005, Sunshine Week has grown into an enduring annual initiative to promote open government and push back against excessive official secrecy.

Citizens from across the country are now gearing up for this year’s Sunshine Week – March 16-22 – to once again spark a nationwide discussion about the critical importance of access to public information.

You can help make Sunshine Week burn even brighter in 2014. There are endless ways to participate, regardless of whether you’re part of a group or simply an individual who cares about freedom of information.”

Visit http://sunshineweek.rcfp.org/ for ideas on getting involved and existing events!

Google Hangout: My proposed legislation is all about engaging constituents and including them in our decision making process. This event is going to be a great discussion forum for this topic.

What: Engaging the Public Trust: Government Transparency & Openness - Hangout on Air
• Government transparency and openness are becoming central issues regarding how elected officials include their communities in decision-making and allow for them to access information to play an active role in government.
• In the spirit of Sunshine Week, the YEO Network is hosting a Google Hangout on Air to offer skills and resources to members of the network in order to allow their constituents to play an active role in their government, and to give them access to information that makes their lives better and their communities stronger.

Date: March 21st, 2014 Time: 2:00PM EST

RSVP: Click here to RSVP

Speakers:
Emily Shaw, National Policy Manager for the Sunlight Foundation
Barbara A. Petersen, President of the First Amendment Foundation

Permanent Fund Dividend

We’re two weeks away from the March 31st PFD deadline – go to myAlaska.gov to complete you application before this deadline passes!

VOTING

The Municipality of Anchorage is holding its Regular Election on Tuesday, April 1, 2014.

Click here to find out more voter information or here to read the Election FAQ page. Remember, if you’re gone on that date, you can always complete an absentee ballot. The absentee process is described on both of the above links.

At issue are Propositions 3, 4, and 5:

• Prop 3 involves area-wide facilities capital improvement bond projects.
• Prop 4 involves parks and recreation bond projects.
  • Click here for a PDF with more information on these propositions.
• Prop 5 involves area roads and drainage service area bonds.
  • Click here for a PDF with more information on this proposition.

Airport Height Elementary Renovation

It’s been years in the making and this April 1, 2014, vote is going to be the final step!

The Anchorage School Board approved the Airport Heights Renovation and Renewal Plan last year to put in as part of its bond proposal. The Anchorage Assembly approved placement of the Anchorage School District bond proposal on the ballot April 1, 2014. Airport Heights Elementary and 18 other schools around the Municipality of Anchorage. The bond allotment for Airport Heights Elementary addresses:

• The school’s need for a multi-purpose room, and dedicated art, health and music rooms.
• The school lacks sufficient space to support special education students with intensive needs.
• Building mechanical, electrical, plumbing and control systems are in need of renewal or replacement.
• Once improved, the building would serve the students and the community for the next 40 years.

Now your votes can help ensure that our school receives the updates it needs.

Congratulations, Airport Heights!

The Airport Heights Elementary School Garden has won a grant from Lowe’s Toolbox for Education. The school plans to use the money to redesign the garden to fit the new plans for its hopefully remodeled school. The school will also be adding more beds to grow additional food for the school and to donate to Bean’s Café.

Special thanks to the school’s earliest supporter 5 years ago, the Anchorage Schools Foundation.

Sincerely,

Representative Geran Tarr