The Alaska Redistricting Board is holding statewide hearings as it gets ready to draw new boundaries for the state's legislative districts based on the 2010 census. The board held public hearings in Anchorage and Wasilla this week and has six more planned before the end of the month. All are scheduled to begin at noon and last until 7 p.m. except the Kotzebue hearing from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Anchorage Daily News Announces Hearings - After the Fact for Anchorage and Wasilla
There's a brief rewrite of the Alaska Redistricting Board's press release under Legislative Briefs in the Anchorage Daily News today:
Redistricting Board Chair John Torgerson - Video
I got to talk to Alaska Redistricting Board chair John Torgerson Tuesday at the Anchorage public hearing. I asked about publicity for the hearings. He said they're using the State of Alaska Public Notice site. I suggested not that many people used it, but he said he did. True, he is a former state Senator so he might be more familiar with how the state makes announcements. But I suggested most people wouldn't know to look there.
And you really do have to know what you're looking for. I went back and googled it.
Here's what the page looks like:
Did you see it? I've linked the image to the page. So you can double click it, but since the list changes you might not get to the same page.
I asked if they considered putting ads in newspapers. You can see his answer on the video.
UPDATE 10am: I didn't click on the state public notice link because I already knew the information. But this morning I did to confirm the Juneau location and discovered these notices are written by the same people who write the ten page small print agreement for credit cards and cell phones. Look how easy it is to find where the public hearings will be:
And you really do have to know what you're looking for. I went back and googled it. Here's what the page looks like:
Did you see it? I've linked the image to the page. So you can double click it, but since the list changes you might not get to the same page.
I asked if they considered putting ads in newspapers. You can see his answer on the video.
UPDATE 10am: I didn't click on the state public notice link because I already knew the information. But this morning I did to confirm the Juneau location and discovered these notices are written by the same people who write the ten page small print agreement for credit cards and cell phones. Look how easy it is to find where the public hearings will be:
ALASKA REDISTRICTING BOARDAnd if you want to know where the hearings will be you have to open yet another file!]
AMENDED NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
On March 15, 2011, the US Census Bureau delivered local redistricting data for the state of Alaska to the Alaska Redistricting Board. That data has been posted on the Board’s website at: www.akredistricting.org. According to Article VI of the Alaska Constitution, the Board must release a proposed redistricting plan or plans within 30 days of receipt of the census data.
To assist the Board in its work, the public is invited to submit comments on the data and proposed redistricting plans via email (info@akredistricting.org), mail (Alaska Redistricting Board, 411 West Fourth Avenue, Suite 302, Anchorage, AK 99501), telefax (907)269-6691 or in-person at hearings to be held in Anchorage (March 22, 2011), Wasilla (March 23, 2011) , Juneau (March 25, 2011), Ketchikan (March 26, 2011), Fairbanks (March 28, 2011), Kotzebue (March 29, 2011) and Bethel (March 30, 2011) at the locations and times listed in the ATTACHMENT to this notice. A statewide teleconference via the Alaska Legislative Information Offices network will be held on March 31, 2011 from 12:00PM—7:00PM.
Any individual, group or organization wishing to present a proposed redistricting plan at any of these hearings is required to provide reasonable advance notice to Board staff by telephone (907)269-7402, telefax (907)269-6691, or email info@akredistricting.org.
Plan proponents must also include in their notice to Board staff whether they will present paper copies or an electronic version of their plan to the Board and whether any special equipment is needed for their plan presentation. Plan proponents will be given a fixed amount of time to present their plan dependent upon the number of plans proposed at a respective hearing.
The Board may conduct a short Board meeting at the start of any public hearing session to address administrative matters.
The Board will schedule a separate portion of each public hearing to take public comments related to redistricting issues not associated with any plan presented at that hearing. These comments will be limited to 5 minutes per individual, group or organization.
Please note that the public hearing on March 31, 2011 will be the only hearing on this schedule to be conducted via teleconference. Redistricting Board members will be in attendance at the Anchorage LIO site for the March 31 hearing. Members of the public at the Anchorage LIO site on March 31 will be able to provide testimony and present plans during the teleconference.
These are Public Hearings. If you need special accommodations, please contact 907-269-7402.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
More Hearings: This Time Parnell's Oil Tax Bill
It's hard to try to be fair and balanced on this one. Sometimes there just aren't credible stories on both sides.
This is the bill where the Governor would give the oil companies a break of $2 Billion - yes, with a B - a year in exchange for . . . nothing except the vague hope that this will cause oil companies to invest in Alaska in the future. None of the people supporting this would make this kind of deal with their own money.
It's important to remember that the Governor was a Conoco-Philips lobbyist in a previous life. It helps to believe your fantasies when you're a lobbyist, but now that he's governor he's supposed grow up and represent the people of Alaska. The oil fairy doesn't exist Sean.
Let the Finance Committee know what you think.
This is the bill where the Governor would give the oil companies a break of $2 Billion - yes, with a B - a year in exchange for . . . nothing except the vague hope that this will cause oil companies to invest in Alaska in the future. None of the people supporting this would make this kind of deal with their own money.
It's important to remember that the Governor was a Conoco-Philips lobbyist in a previous life. It helps to believe your fantasies when you're a lobbyist, but now that he's governor he's supposed grow up and represent the people of Alaska. The oil fairy doesn't exist Sean.
Let the Finance Committee know what you think.
The House Finance Committee will be holding its first public hearings on the Governor’s oil tax bill, HB110 this coming Thursday and Friday. You can testify from the
Anchorage Legislative Information Office (LIO) at
716 W 4th Avenue, Suite 220
at the following times:
Thursday, March 24 5:00pm – 8:00pmFriday, March 25 3:00pm – 7:00pm
For more information, please contact the LIO by phoning 269-0111 or by emailing Anchorage_LIO@legis.state.ak.us.
Information on the hearing comes from Rep. Berta Gardner's newsletter.
Information on the hearing comes from Rep. Berta Gardner's newsletter.
PeggyAnn McConnochie, Redistricting Board Member, Video
The most recent appointee to the Alaska Redistricting Board is PeggyAnn McConnochie, who replaced Albert Clough. PeggyAnn (don't leave off the Ann) is also a blogger (real estate advice, though the header photo is definitely not Juneau) and I got to talk to her during a break yesterday. We talked about the computer program they are using to create plans.
Right now, the board should be meeting in Wasilla at the City Hall.
They're scheduled to be there until 7pm so wonder on by if you're in the neighborhood.
If it is anything like yesterday in Anchorage there will be plenty of time to talk to the Board members because not many people showed up to make presentations to the board.
And Matsu has big changes coming up. Your districts are well above the ideal size, so you'll probably pick up one, even two districts depending on how they redraw the lines. Here's a map of SC Alaska and you can see the numbers. The ideal size is 17,755 per district and you can see the Matsu districts are mostly well over that number.
District 15 - Wasilla seat held by Rep. Mark Neuman is 46% above the ideal at 25,974.
District 14 - another Wasilla seat, this one held by Rep. Wes Keller is 33% above at 23,682.
District 13 - neighboring Palmer seat held by Rep. Carl Gatto is 32% above at 23,507.
District 16 - Chugiak seat held by Rep. Bill Stoltz is above the target of 17,755 by 21% at 21,559.
A couple of neighboring districts are low:
District 6 - the large interior district north of Fairbanks held by new Rep. Alan Dick is 19% below the ideal size of 17,755 at 14,235.
District 12 - the large seat that stretches from around Chickaloon to Valdez held by new Rep. Eric Feige is 16% below the target at 14,811.
But these are districts with high Alaska Native populations and the board has to be careful about "retrogression." Here's from a previous post on the criteria the board will use:
An attorney for the Native American Rights Fund argued that these guidelines were simplified and the changes were misleading. She argued that the Federal guidelines do not include the word 'avoidable' before regression for example. Attorney White respectfully disagreed, but did agree to another change she suggested.
Right now, the board should be meeting in Wasilla at the City Hall.
They're scheduled to be there until 7pm so wonder on by if you're in the neighborhood.
If it is anything like yesterday in Anchorage there will be plenty of time to talk to the Board members because not many people showed up to make presentations to the board.
And Matsu has big changes coming up. Your districts are well above the ideal size, so you'll probably pick up one, even two districts depending on how they redraw the lines. Here's a map of SC Alaska and you can see the numbers. The ideal size is 17,755 per district and you can see the Matsu districts are mostly well over that number.
District 15 - Wasilla seat held by Rep. Mark Neuman is 46% above the ideal at 25,974.
District 14 - another Wasilla seat, this one held by Rep. Wes Keller is 33% above at 23,682.
District 13 - neighboring Palmer seat held by Rep. Carl Gatto is 32% above at 23,507.
District 16 - Chugiak seat held by Rep. Bill Stoltz is above the target of 17,755 by 21% at 21,559.
A couple of neighboring districts are low:
District 6 - the large interior district north of Fairbanks held by new Rep. Alan Dick is 19% below the ideal size of 17,755 at 14,235.
District 12 - the large seat that stretches from around Chickaloon to Valdez held by new Rep. Eric Feige is 16% below the target at 14,811.
But these are districts with high Alaska Native populations and the board has to be careful about "retrogression." Here's from a previous post on the criteria the board will use:
Then there are the Federal Statutory Redistricting Principles - two sections (2 and 5) of the US Voting Rights Act.
- Section 2 - No denial or abridgement of voting rights on account of race, color or status as a member of a language minority.
- Section 5 - No avoidable retrogression. Retrogression is drawing a district in a manner that worsens minority voting strength as compared to the previous district configuration. The minority group must be a large, cohesive and vote as a bloc.
An attorney for the Native American Rights Fund argued that these guidelines were simplified and the changes were misleading. She argued that the Federal guidelines do not include the word 'avoidable' before regression for example. Attorney White respectfully disagreed, but did agree to another change she suggested.
Google Works in Mysterious Ways - Liz Taylor's Husbands and Bones of the Foot
There was a bump in hits to the blog this morning. People were getting here by googling variations of "liz taylor's husbands/children."
(Let's pause a moment in remembrance of this beautiful woman and talented actor whose life was filled with great and not so great moments. Each person is born with different personal characteristics and into different life situations. There are no instruction books for life that fit all those different conditions. The life of a beautiful woman has its own opportunities and hazards. The life of child celebrities has additional perils. Elizabeth Taylor got to meet some of the most interesting people of the 20th Century, and was, perhaps, one of them herself. But that's not, as her life demonstrated, a guarantee of generally sustained personal happiness. Taylor's work for cures for AIDS has made a big contribution as did her excellent acting.)
Back to google's mysterious ways. People are getting to my post on Famous People Born in 1909 which includes a short bio of one of Taylor's husbands, Mike Todd, which includes the line, 'and one of Elizabeth Taylor's husbands.' (The one, I'd note, that seemed like the one that would last, but he died in a plane crash. But a lover who dies in the height of the romance can never do wrong, so who knows?) But could this humble blog's obscure mention of Taylor be snagging google hits for this? I googled to see where What Do I Know? showed up. I gave up after 20 pages of google. I did a google image search and didn't find the Todd picture I have up either.
A second google mystery I've been pondering: Suddenly one day last week I was getting hits on a post about my wife breaking a bone in her foot. People were googling "bones of the foot" or 'foot bones." I tried googling and again couldn't find a google page leading here. But then I noticed these were image searches and there is a picture I found and posted (with attribution) with bones of the foot - in addition to an x-ray of my wife's foot. And that showed up near the top of google images. But why is google sending them to my blog instead of the original site with that picture? I realize this has to do with other factors google uses to rank websites and that blogs that update regularly like this one gain some advantage that way. But what changed last week after 10 months with no hits from people searching for foot bone pictures? It's like all of a sudden the switch was turned on. And it's continued every day since.
These are hits I don't think I really 'deserve.' They are accidents of google algorithms. But then there are hits google botches - getting them to this blog, but not really to the best page here for the search terms.
And since I'm doing this parenthetical blogging post, I'd note that I started a Famous People Born in 1911 post. I have a list of names and started some bios. But each year the internet gives me more 100 year old names than the previous years and my bio research keeps getting more elaborate and it takes more time. And I'm distracted by other topics. But I want to do this one because this year would be my father's 100th birthday. So it might happen.
(Let's pause a moment in remembrance of this beautiful woman and talented actor whose life was filled with great and not so great moments. Each person is born with different personal characteristics and into different life situations. There are no instruction books for life that fit all those different conditions. The life of a beautiful woman has its own opportunities and hazards. The life of child celebrities has additional perils. Elizabeth Taylor got to meet some of the most interesting people of the 20th Century, and was, perhaps, one of them herself. But that's not, as her life demonstrated, a guarantee of generally sustained personal happiness. Taylor's work for cures for AIDS has made a big contribution as did her excellent acting.)
Back to google's mysterious ways. People are getting to my post on Famous People Born in 1909 which includes a short bio of one of Taylor's husbands, Mike Todd, which includes the line, 'and one of Elizabeth Taylor's husbands.' (The one, I'd note, that seemed like the one that would last, but he died in a plane crash. But a lover who dies in the height of the romance can never do wrong, so who knows?) But could this humble blog's obscure mention of Taylor be snagging google hits for this? I googled to see where What Do I Know? showed up. I gave up after 20 pages of google. I did a google image search and didn't find the Todd picture I have up either.
A second google mystery I've been pondering: Suddenly one day last week I was getting hits on a post about my wife breaking a bone in her foot. People were googling "bones of the foot" or 'foot bones." I tried googling and again couldn't find a google page leading here. But then I noticed these were image searches and there is a picture I found and posted (with attribution) with bones of the foot - in addition to an x-ray of my wife's foot. And that showed up near the top of google images. But why is google sending them to my blog instead of the original site with that picture? I realize this has to do with other factors google uses to rank websites and that blogs that update regularly like this one gain some advantage that way. But what changed last week after 10 months with no hits from people searching for foot bone pictures? It's like all of a sudden the switch was turned on. And it's continued every day since.
These are hits I don't think I really 'deserve.' They are accidents of google algorithms. But then there are hits google botches - getting them to this blog, but not really to the best page here for the search terms.
And since I'm doing this parenthetical blogging post, I'd note that I started a Famous People Born in 1911 post. I have a list of names and started some bios. But each year the internet gives me more 100 year old names than the previous years and my bio research keeps getting more elaborate and it takes more time. And I'm distracted by other topics. But I want to do this one because this year would be my father's 100th birthday. So it might happen.
Redistricting Board Member Marie Greene of Kotzebue
Marie Greene is the sole member of the Board not appointed by a Republican elected official. She's the President/CEO of the NANA Regional Corporation and talks about her role on the board and how to prepare for the Board hearings in rural Alaska.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Randy Ruedrich Brief Video
I should have mentioned on the last post that I had to leave at five to get to my own meeting - Healing Racism in Anchorage. I'm home now and ready to take off, but here's a brief comment I got from Randy Ruedrich, head of the Republican Party.
I've video that I'll add later from three more of the Board members and another person who spoke to the Board today.
[I've always had some sort of mental block that changed Randy to Rudy. I actually wrote Randy a couple of times today and changed it to Rudy. I've fixed it in the post here and will get to the video soon, but that takes more work. Sorry. And thanks DZ]
I've video that I'll add later from three more of the Board members and another person who spoke to the Board today.
[I've always had some sort of mental block that changed Randy to Rudy. I actually wrote Randy a couple of times today and changed it to Rudy. I've fixed it in the post here and will get to the video soon, but that takes more work. Sorry. And thanks DZ]
Two More: District 6 and District 17&32 (Eagle River)
4:40pm
Geri Simon - attorney by trade, work for village corporation here in Anchorage, speaking on my own behalf. Process is very important to my family and people home in the Interior. As you know District 6 has 90 odd villages. Mine has 100+ people on a good day. Want to keep the district as much as possible as it is. Good representation now. Everyone has equal opportunity to gain from our current representation. Interior Alaska saw the greatest out migration - to Fairbanks mostly. As you draw the lines take those folks into consideration. Some parts of Fairbanks has a large number of Alaska Native population. I've worked with the Native vote process since 1998 and used numbers then. Now better technology.
Also encourage group to visit some of the more rural areas District 6 - while you go to Bethel, many won't be coming in from outlying communities. About $340 from
to Fairbanks one way. I work for Tyonek here. It's $150 one way for a half hour flight. If people go into to town to testify it will be because they also have a medical appointment.
Pete Giessel - District 17 resident. Don't want to waste your time. ER districts horribly mangled, especially 32 from ER to Hope. Divides community, doesn't keep them together. Part is much more like 17 voters, the rest doesn't share our concerns. It's a bad division. Those parts of 32 should be put back with rest of Eagle River.
Geri Simon - attorney by trade, work for village corporation here in Anchorage, speaking on my own behalf. Process is very important to my family and people home in the Interior. As you know District 6 has 90 odd villages. Mine has 100+ people on a good day. Want to keep the district as much as possible as it is. Good representation now. Everyone has equal opportunity to gain from our current representation. Interior Alaska saw the greatest out migration - to Fairbanks mostly. As you draw the lines take those folks into consideration. Some parts of Fairbanks has a large number of Alaska Native population. I've worked with the Native vote process since 1998 and used numbers then. Now better technology.
Also encourage group to visit some of the more rural areas District 6 - while you go to Bethel, many won't be coming in from outlying communities. About $340 from
to Fairbanks one way. I work for Tyonek here. It's $150 one way for a half hour flight. If people go into to town to testify it will be because they also have a medical appointment.
Bruce Schulte on District 28 Changes
During the break I got to talk to one of the folks who testified, Bruce Schultze, who is from District 28 and had suggestions. He also talked about how he found out about the meeting - he got a call from Randy Ruedrich.
District 28 is in south Anchorage.
District 28 is in south Anchorage.
AFL-CIO, Logging Contacts, and District 21
About 4:05pm three more people:
Joelle Hall - AFL-CIO Political Director. Thank you all for doing this. Public service not being paid, this is a big task. I wish there were 40 million more behind me making good use of your time.
AFL CIO member of Alaskans for Fair Redistricting. Our view, we'd like on the record, we feel the current districting has created a good balance for Alaska voters. The most competitive district is the best for the district. When two candidates both have a good chance to win is the best - then the best candidates will win. At least nine highly competitive districts. 1/4 of the House. In any given year, the quality of the candidates, campaign, mood of people. Things can change. 53% of Alaskans are non-partisans and in competitive districts, they get represented.
In a time with lots of stridency on both sides of the aisle - Alaska is different, Alaska has cooperation.
Highly competitive districts and folks working across the aisle evidence that the plan is working well. I know lots of population change is a great challenge, but urge you to retain the competitiveness. Gives Alaska the ability to be different in the situation.
Housekeeping. Saw in public notice - I saw some administrative meetings before public hearings, can that business part be webcast or audio cast?
Steve Aufrecht [That would be this blogger]: I've been sitting at these meetings. Last time you discussed being able to talk as individuals to members of the public. I think that's the right decision. I would ask that you consider logging those contacts, at least ones more than a few minutes, so that public is aware. All the paper you get you will put up on the website. So you should at least list all the oral contact as well. Thank you.
Bill Noll: District 21, among other things, Chair of Republican party in District 21.
1. Has seen growth in population but is 1400 or so below the 17,755, as way to amend that, 21 has added that precinct on top of Stuckagain Heights - the old Joe Henry, Roger Premo district. It is now in District 32, one of the big districts. Basher could be added to 21. Don't have a cure - Senate Distric K, 21 and 22 is overall short and we welcome anything reasonable. East Side of Anchorage has up trend with the valley.
Another area - 36 comes to mind - Brother Brodie and I worked to gether in Valdez. They are terribly short in 36 - about 3000 - mutually interest both culturally and i industry - fish. East-West Access could reach out to Cold Bay even - they'd have a fishing similarity. Congratulations on Kotzebue numbers coming out well.
Fish related to Kodiak - earthquake in Japan. Is anyone paying attention to the economic impact of earthquake on fish. Sendai and that area north of Tokyo big problem and lots of buyers there. Off track from the assignment. But I see leaders of the state here, I'll call Alan Austerman to see what can be done for Alaska industry.
Torgerson: Recess at 4:15pm and wait for next wave.
 |
| Joelle Hall |
AFL CIO member of Alaskans for Fair Redistricting. Our view, we'd like on the record, we feel the current districting has created a good balance for Alaska voters. The most competitive district is the best for the district. When two candidates both have a good chance to win is the best - then the best candidates will win. At least nine highly competitive districts. 1/4 of the House. In any given year, the quality of the candidates, campaign, mood of people. Things can change. 53% of Alaskans are non-partisans and in competitive districts, they get represented.
In a time with lots of stridency on both sides of the aisle - Alaska is different, Alaska has cooperation.
Highly competitive districts and folks working across the aisle evidence that the plan is working well. I know lots of population change is a great challenge, but urge you to retain the competitiveness. Gives Alaska the ability to be different in the situation.
Housekeeping. Saw in public notice - I saw some administrative meetings before public hearings, can that business part be webcast or audio cast?
Steve Aufrecht [That would be this blogger]: I've been sitting at these meetings. Last time you discussed being able to talk as individuals to members of the public. I think that's the right decision. I would ask that you consider logging those contacts, at least ones more than a few minutes, so that public is aware. All the paper you get you will put up on the website. So you should at least list all the oral contact as well. Thank you.
 |
| Bill Noll |
1. Has seen growth in population but is 1400 or so below the 17,755, as way to amend that, 21 has added that precinct on top of Stuckagain Heights - the old Joe Henry, Roger Premo district. It is now in District 32, one of the big districts. Basher could be added to 21. Don't have a cure - Senate Distric K, 21 and 22 is overall short and we welcome anything reasonable. East Side of Anchorage has up trend with the valley.
Another area - 36 comes to mind - Brother Brodie and I worked to gether in Valdez. They are terribly short in 36 - about 3000 - mutually interest both culturally and i industry - fish. East-West Access could reach out to Cold Bay even - they'd have a fishing similarity. Congratulations on Kotzebue numbers coming out well.
Fish related to Kodiak - earthquake in Japan. Is anyone paying attention to the economic impact of earthquake on fish. Sendai and that area north of Tokyo big problem and lots of buyers there. Off track from the assignment. But I see leaders of the state here, I'll call Alan Austerman to see what can be done for Alaska industry.
Torgerson: Recess at 4:15pm and wait for next wave.
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