We're in Detroit - At Least the Suburbs

We drove past the Hemingway house in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago, where Hemingway spent his childhood and where Frank Lloyd Wright lived, on a gray, windy, wet day and flew to Detroit.







This isn't the first time we've been in the Detroit airport, but the first time it's been our destination.  I've walked through this wonderful tunnel a couple times while in transit here.  The lights change colors and flow like Northern Lights and there is tinkling music that makes this walk almost fun.  I'm reminded that airports are the big depots of the present where cities spend many millions for giant travel palaces, taking the place of the great train stations of the past.  Except that people could possibly face the indignity of a TSA patdown to enjoy the luxury of the airport.  We've managed to go through without being scanned or patted down and the TSA officials in Anchorage were polite and respectful.  The ones in Chicago pulled that off less successfully, though it seems they were given instructions to be that way. 

We're in a hotel and will be picked up soon to go to an engagement party for my son and his fiance at her parents' home.  And we are delighted.

Detailed Redistricting Maps and Post Plan Public Hearing Schedule

[UPDATED April 30, 2020:  None of the links in this post is any good any more.  One suggestion for the next redistricting board is that they work something out with the State and/or Legislature or with the State Library to set up a website that will serve the Board and then be preserved into the future.  There was lots of useful information for the next Board and the public as we look ahead to a Board forming next year.  I haven't checked links on other posts about the Redistricting Board.  If they were to sites other than the Board's, they may still be up.]

I'm in Chicago and don't have time at the moment to look at these carefully, but I did get a message saying they have posted detailed maps.  So you can look now to see where you district has ended up in the draft plan.  Remember - this is the proposed, not the final plan.  So check out what they did in case you have issues.   In the Board's Plan 1, my census block has been carved out of my old district 24 and put into another district.  I have to check on the other one.

Board Posts Detailed District and Regional Maps for Draft Redistricting Plans

Anchorage, AK - Today, the Alaska Redistricting Board has posted detailed maps for each of the Board's draft redistricting plans that were adopted on April 13, 2011.  Maps for House Districts and major regions of the state for both "Board Option 1" and "Board Option 2" are available for download at http://www.akredistricting.org. Additional maps, data, reports, plans submitted by the public and other materials will be posted to the Alaska Redistricting Board website by staff over the course of the redistricting process, which will culminate with the adoption of a final plan in mid-June of this year.  They've also posted a schedule of public hearings, again starting in Anchorage.  I won't be back for that one, so the rest of you should go.   Public Hearing Schedule      Monday, April 18 Community:  Anchorage, AK Location:  Anchorage Legislative Information Office Building, Room 220  Time:  2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Tuesday, April 19 Community:  Fairbanks, AK Location:  Fairbanks City Hall, City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor Time:  2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 20 Community:  Juneau, AK Location:  Alaska State Capitol Building, Room 106 Time:  1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Thursday, April 21 Community:  Cordova, AK Location:  City of Cordova Public Library Time:  1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 25 Community:  Healy, AK Location:  Tri-Valley Community Center (Fire Hall) Time:  12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Community:  Palmer, AK Location:  Mat-Su Borough Assembly Chambers Time:  2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 Community:  Delta Junction, AK Location:  Delta Junction City Council Chambers Time:  10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Community:  Nome, AK Location:  Nome City Council Chambers Time:  10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Community:  Dutch Harbor, AK Location:  Unalaska City Council Chambers Time:  1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Community:  Kotzebue, AK Location:  Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly Chambers Time:  3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Community:  Tok, AK Location:  Tok Legislative Information Office Time:  3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Community:  Cold Bay, AK Location:  City of Cold Bay Community Center Time:  7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 Community:  Bethel, AK Location:  Yup'iit Piciryarait Cultural Center Time:  10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Community:  Glenallen, AK Location:  Glenallen Legislative Information Office Time:  10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Thursday, April 28 Community:  Galena, AK Location:  Galena City Hall Assembly Chambers Time:  1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Community:  Barrow, AK Location:  Inupiat Heritage Learning Center  Time:  3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 29 Community:  Kodiak, AK Location:  Kodiak Island Borough Assembly Chambers Time:  12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Community:  Sitka, AK Location:  Centennial Hall, Maksoutoff Room  Time:  1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 30 Community:  Craig, AK Location:  Craig High School Library  Time:  11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Community:  Ketchikan, AK Location:  Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly Chambers  Time:  4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday, May 2 Community:  Wrangell, AK Location:  Nolan Center  Time:  11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Community:  Seward, AK Location:  Seward City Council Chambers Time:  2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 3 Community:  Petersburg, AK Location:  Petersburg City Council Chambers  Time:  11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Community:  Homer, AK Location:  Homer City Council Chambers Time:  11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Community:  Kenai, AK Location:  Kenai City Council Chambers Time:  4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 4 Community:  Skagway, AK Location:  Municipality of Skagway Assembly Chambers  Time:  9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Community:  Haines, AK Location:  Haines Borough Public Library  Time:  1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Community:  Valdez, AK Location:  Valdez City Council Chambers  Time:  2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thursday, May 5 Community:  Angoon, AK Location:  Angoon Elementary School, Gymnasium  Time:  10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Community:  King Salmon, AK Location:  Southeast Alaska Vocational Education Center  Time:  10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Community:  Dillingham, AK Location:  Dillingham City Council Chambers  Time:  3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Community:  Hoonah, AK Location:  Hoonah City Council Chambers  Time:  3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Statewide Teleconference and Plan Presentations  A statewide teleconference will be held on Friday, May 6th via the Alaska Legislative Information Office (LIO) network.  Date:  Friday, May 6th Time:  9:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Location:  Alaska Legislative Information Office Network The full Redistricting Board will be in attendance at the Anchorage LIO, 714 West Fourth Avenue, Room 220, Anchorage, AK 99501.  The morning session will be reserved for presentations of plans and plan revisions by members of the public. Those wishing to present redistricting plans or plan revisions at the May 6th hearing must notify Redistricting Board staff by 5:00PM (ADT) May 2, 2011 via fax (907-269-6691) or email (info@akredistricting.org). Plan and plan revision presentations will be limited to a maximum of 30 minutes per presentation.   The afternoon session will be reserved for public comments on draft plans released by the Board. This is the last date for public testimony before the Board begins deliberations on a final redistricting plan. A supplemental notice will be issued listing the LIO locations participating in the teleconference and a toll-free call-in number for those who do not have access to an LIO.

The Book Table - Oak Park

This is one of those special independent book stores.  Obviously the people who buy books for this  store aren't using the same model as the buyers at chain book stores.  This book store is for people who think.  And then I noticed the prices were considerably lower than most places.  For new books.  So I talked to Jason at the counter.  I should have taken notes, but essentially I think he said they go through discounted lots and other sources of  lower priced books.  He also mentioned being kind if I recall correctly.  On their website, they expand:

 We have great publisher's overstock, and we do just about every other legal thing you can imagine to stock great titles at even better prices. After working in seven different bookstores between the two of us over the years, we learned a lot of secrets on how to get the best books and sell them at the best prices, so we do just that. Also, if we don't have a book in stock, we'll happily special order it--and even most special orders will be offered to you at a 20% discount, and it generally only takes a few days. 

We chatted a bit and soon he was looking for some books for me.  How about a first edition of Limbo?  $200.  Not exactly what I was looking for.  He got some more options.  I gave him more information, and bingo, he came back the just the sort of thing I was looking for. 

It's not like people don't know about this bookstore.  It's been there for eight years.  And the Chicago Reader named it the Best Bookstore for 2010. 

What the Constitution Says the Redistricting Board Should Do

Now that they've passed the draft plan and people start finding out how it affects their districts, maybe people will start paying attention.  Here's what their job is.  As you can see, there are nine sections before these two:

§ 10. Redistricting Plan and Proclamation

(a) Within thirty days after the official reporting of the decennial census of the United States or thirty days after being duly appointed, whichever occurs last, the board shall adopt one or more proposed redistricting plans. The board shall hold public hearings on the proposed plan, or, if no single proposed plan is agreed on, on all plans proposed by the board. No later than ninety days after the board has been appointed and the official reporting of the decennial census of the United States, the board shall adopt a final redistricting plan and issue a proclamation of redistricting. The final plan shall set out boundaries of house and senate districts and shall be effective for the election of members of the legislature until after the official reporting of the next decennial census of the United States.
(b) Adoption of a final redistricting plan shall require the affirmative votes of three members of the Redistricting Board. [Amended 1998]

§ 11. Enforcement

Any qualified voter may apply to the superior court to compel the Redistricting Board, by mandamus or otherwise, to perform its duties under this article or to correct any error in redistricting. Application to compel the board to perform must be filed not later than thirty days following the expiration of the ninety-day period specified in this article. Application to compel correction of any error in redistricting must be filed within thirty days following the adoption of the final redistricting plan and proclamation by the board. Original jurisdiction in these matters is vested in the superior court. On appeal from the superior court, the cause shall be reviewed by the supreme court on the law and the facts. Notwithstanding section 15 of article IV, all dispositions by the superior court and the supreme court under this section shall be expedited and shall have priority over all other matters pending before the respective court. Upon a final judicial decision that a plan is invalid, the matter shall be returned to the board for correction and development of a new plan. If that new plan is declared invalid, the matter may be referred again to the board. [Amended 1998]

Board Approves Draft Plan While I'm Away

I'm at the airport now waiting for our flight to Chicago and then on to Detroit.  Which is why I skipped this morning's Board Meeting. I had a few loose ends to tie up before we left. But the world works in mysterious ways.  After team teaching with Dennis at a UAA sociology class this afternoon about the organization Healing Racism in Anchorage, I went to the Thai Kitchen for dinner.

Before J got there, I recognized a gentleman I'd seen and chatted with at the Redistricting Board meetings recently.  He invited me to join him, I countered that he should join us at a bigger table.  And that's how I found out I didn't miss much at this morning's session where, Randy Ruedrich told us, they talked about Senate pairings.  We had a good dinner and interesting, amiable conversation.  But appears from the website, that the Board passed the draft plan at their afternoon session, which Randy passed up and I was in class.  Here's their official announcement.

Anchorage, AK - Today, the Alaska Redistricting Board adopted draft redistricting plans for the purpose of soliciting public comment before adopting a final plan. Two of the plans are statewide plans prepared by the Board that differ only in the configuration of state senate district pairings. The Board also adopted alternative plans for Southeast Alaska and the Mat-Su region that can fit with either of the Board's statewide plans.

All draft plans adopted by the Board today have been posted for public download at http://www.akredistricting.org. 

After the Board's action today, Chairman John Torgerson made the following statement:

"The Board worked hard in an open manner to build draft plans that protect Alaska Native voting rights while providing fair and equal legislative representation for all Alaskans."

Torgerson added that he believed the Board's draft plans achieve lower population deviation ranges than previous redistricting plans, stating that "A fundamental redistricting principle is the one person one vote rule which means that everyone's vote should be weighted equally. I believe our draft plans reflect the Board's commitment to that principle."  

The Board was required by the Alaska Constitution to adopt a draft plan or plans within 30 days of receipt of census data which occurred on March 15, 2011. After receipt of the redistricting data, the Board held hearings in Anchorage, Bethel, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kotzebue and Wasilla in addition to a statewide teleconference on March 31^st to solicit public opinion.

The Board began drafting redistricting plans in public work sessions at its Anchorage office on April 4^th.  

To set the framework for its draft plans, the Board initially focused on rural Alaska. One of the Board's first actions was to formally state their intention to draft a plan that included 9 Alaska Native influence districts. This was done to comply with the Voting Rights Act requirement of avoiding retrogression when drafting new redistricting plans. Retrogression occurs when a redistricting is drawn in a manner that worsens minority voting strength as compared to the previous plan.

In order to solicit a full range of opinions from Alaskans, the Board also adopted plans submitted by private groups as follows: statewide plans from Alaskans for Fair Redistricting, Alaskans for Fair and Equitable Redistricting and the Rights Coalition; regional plans from the Alaska Legislature's Bush Caucus, and the City and Borough of Juneau; and single district plans from the City of Valdez and the Bristol Bay Borough. The Board is releasing these plans as they were presented to the Board. The Board does not endorse any of these plans and did not attempt to verify the accuracy or legality of any private plans. 

The Board will begin a series of public hearings around Alaska on April 18 to take comments on its draft plans and private plans that were released today. The public hearing process will end with a statewide teleconference on May 6^th.  The Board will then begin meeting in public work sessions on May 16 to draft a final plan for adoption by June 13, 2011.

The Board's draft plans are subject to revision before the Board adopts a final plan.

Kay Brown's blog at Alaskans for Fair Redistricting gives details on what the districts look like in clear, precise reports.

Hatching New Alaskan Bloggers

Someone at Ole! asked me to teach a class for them.  I have enough to keep me more than busy, but they persisted. I think you should teach about what you know and have a passion for and so I suggested blogging. 

I'm learning that I know a lot about a very narrow niche of blogging.  When I started I was open to a wider universe of options, but when I chose to go with Blogspot as my blogging platform I narrowed my thinking considerably.  And while I keep learning about how to do things on Blogspot - and they keep changing things - I'm more just using it as a tool to  write my posts.

So having to put together a four 75 minute classes over four weeks made me see how much I'd hunkered down.  This isn't all bad.  You can start getting proficient in you little area of expertise and actually do something, like concentrate more on content than process.  And there's way too much to know about everything.  A little focus is good.  As long as you make time to wander outside your normal brain patterns regularly

There were about 15 participants the first week, none of them youngsters, with a wide range of expertise - from a person who didn't have an email account (but she created a blog in class) to several people who had already had blogs, but hadn't gone too far with them.  Each has learned to do new tricks with their blogs - from adding bold headlines, tabbed pages under the header, photos, labels, etc.

Many who didn't already have blogs, and some who weren't even sure what a blog was, though they'd heard about them, have actually created blogs.  So I'd like to introduce a few of these Alaska bloggers.  (I only have a few of the url's - but I saw the blogs in class last Friday.)

Those who had already created a blog:

Dorothy had set up a blog Meanderings by Dorothy to write about some of her interests such as Tai Chi, contract bridge, and Anchorage Opera. It was very basic, but now she has  added pictures, has a hit counter, and has set up links in categories.  

Joe's blog, HodgePodgepourri,  focused on documenting family history and personal recollections, has been around a couple of years.  There's an interesting series of tales, last November, of his childhood working in the "Buckingham Palace" a hotel his family owned in Indiana. 

Ed  has a very focused blog, Building an Alaska Wilderness Sauna, on the family's sauna at their cabin.  There are dramatic pictures of it burning down.  He's recently put up a lot of step-by-step pictures of the rebuilding.


Michael had begun a Wordpress blog, but wasn't doing much with it.  Since the class began, he created a new blog, Reflections,  to share his interest in philosophy and particularly the ideas in his book, The Reality of Being.

The last one for this post, is Lynne's first ever blog, Koralling Genius.  Lynne can't actually see her blog, because she is blind.  But she can hear it.  And you can tell she has a lot of thoughts on how the world tends to dismiss people with disabilities.  I think this is a blog that will give people a view of the world they don't usually hear.  And give her a platform where she can speak without being prejudged. 



This week, as I head off to Detroit to J1 and B's engagement party, several local bloggers will be guests in the class to talk about their blogs and blogging.  Thanks to Phil at Progressive Alaska, Kellie, at Stress Management, Peter at Frozen Grin and Off and On:  The Alaska Parkinson's Blog, and Mel at Henkimaa.

Redistricting Board Adjourned Early to Tweak

[UPDATE 5pm:  The Board has posted "Conceptual Regional Maps" that are still being tweaked to become, as a package, their draft plan.  In some cases - Southeast and Wasilla - there are alternative maps, but only the main options are shown.  

The staff is still working on getting the deviations (amount each district is above or below 17,755) as close to zero as possible, and to make the districts cleaner looking and more compact.  The four maps I looked at - Anchorage. Rural, Juneau, and Matsu - didn't have district numbers on them, but all but the Juneau maps have more information than what they handed out at the meetings.  Juneau was already more detailed. 

-  Rural
- Southeast
- Fairbanks/Interior
- Matanuska-Susitna
-Kenai Peninsula
-Anchorage]

The Board looked a bit more at Matsu, adopted staffer Jim Ellis' plan as Matsu Plan 1 (Wasilla is in two or three different districts)  and Member Brody's plan (which puts downtown Wasilla all in one district) as Matsu Alternative.

They then adjourned to let the staff prepare the maps for tomorrow when they will try to approve them for the Draft Plan.  The detailed map of the Anchorage districts I was promised yesterday, and then today, wasn't available.  I talked to the attorney about this.  He was concerned that the board would be expected to post each iteration of a plan when everything was still in flux.  And said it would be available Thursday.   I pointed out that the plan was approved by the board even though they didn't even see the details, when they approved it and that I would post with appropriate disclaimers that this was what they had approved as the working draft and the absolutely final draft plan would be completed by Thursday, April 14.    I would be happy with just taking pictures off someone's computer screen.  He said he'd get back to me.  There appears to be a significant shift in districts to the south, based on my sitting there watching what they were doing.  But even if you videotaped the whole process it would be hard to tell where things ended up.  The map they handed out yesterday was so big there were no landmarks with which to figure out where the district borders were, even approximately.  I have some maps showing this on the post about yesterday's meeting.

I also talked to board member PeggyAnn McConnochie after the meeting and clarified the districts in her map.  I want to do a post on this - but in brief, the three northern SE incumbents stay in their own districts in her latest version and the two southern SE incumbents would be in one district.  The two incumbent Senators are in the same House district.  And there is one district that will have to have a non-contiguous connection to another district outside SE to make up a Senate district. 

Here are my notes from this morning's meeting:  [Usual disclaimer:  these are rough notes, but give a reasonably accurate account of what happened.  But check before you bet the farm on any of the details.]

Redistricting Board April 12, 2011  11am meeting

[I got here at 11:20 - they are looking at another map of Matsu.  Staffer Jim Ellis was presenting when I came in and there’s a new map.  This one splits up the city of Wasilla into, it looks like, three districts.  At this point, I couldn’t tell you at all how it’s different from the previous ones.]

Brody is now presenting his map. 
Brody:  The deviations are no more than 50. I could tweak it a little more
McConnochie:  Do you remember the testimony on this?
Torgerson:  The mayor wanted to split on the highway and have two districts.
[Brody’s seems to have downtown Wasilla as unified district.]
Torgerson:  The only testimony we got from Wasilla was to divide along the highway.  [So if one person, even if it is the mayor, gives testimony it has to be followed?  What do other people think?  I’m not saying to ignore him, but it would be helpful to find out his reasoning.  Is it more compelling than your reasons not to?]
Brody:  It’s ok what the mayor says, but it’s part of our charge.
Torgerson:  I would be ok, but that’s the only testimony we have.  Did they give us a resolution? [No] We could show this as split and see their reaction.  In Jim’s, in order for the rep to get to Pt. McK he’d have to drive all the way around.  We could make one the plan and one the alternate as we did in Southeast. 
McConnochie:  Let’s adopt Jim’s plan as the main plan and Brody’s as the alternate.
Torgerson:  The motion: Jim’s Tuesday plan and Brody’s as alternate.
Passed Unanimously.  That completes the pieces of the puzzle.
Brody:  Did we adopt Anchorage yesterday?
Yes.
Brody:  Can I see a copy of that?  [They gave him the map I posted yesterday which doesn’t really show any details]
Torgerson:  We have FR, FER, DEmocrats, Bush Caucus, Valdez,
Move to take all the plans submitted . . .
Holm:  I’d like to add the Native languages map.
Torgerson: We got that off the web, yes.  There was another one that seemed to be a better map. 
Motion to take all the plans on the circuit.
White:  Valdez plan doesn’t fit into any other plan . . .  Never mind.
Torgerson:  None do, we’ve taken bits and pieces, some suggestions from every plan.
Miller:  Which Bush caucus?
Torgerson:  There are four.  Scan them in and put them all on one map. Try to get them all on big maps.  That was my thought on the Bush caucus so everyone can see.  We need some identification so we know who those people are.
McConnochie:  Could we have population deviations identified on each map?
Torgerson:  Is that an issue?
Eric:  No.  That can be done.
Torgerson:  OK this will be an encompassing act, I can’t repeat it.
Greene:  One of the questions that will be raised is the minority-majority information [I think for each plan.]  When will that information be available?  We need to be prepared to respond to that before we get there. 
Torgerson:  We can’t defend any of those plans because we haven’t made anything up.  On pairings - only that we are taking a SE district and pairing it out because we have two minority districts.  [One in SE and one on the eastern boundary with Canada]
We’re going to change so much, I’m not sure it makes sense to do pairings. 
White:  AT least alternative pairings for the SE district. 
Torgerson:  Follow our constitution as nearly and as practicably as possible.  We could take a few suggestions with us.  SE and Valdez would take care of Cordova’s concerns about being connected to SE.  Or Kodiak, and we have precedent of Metlakatla being paired with Kodiak.  Let’s take care of the motion.  We’ll come back to pairings.
Unanimous pass.

Sentate pairings?  Would it be improved to say SE?  That one we know will have a pairing that will be non-contiguous. 
White:  I think we should give some ideas of what you are thinking.  So people can tell us if they like it or not.  I guess we haven’t made any pairings, but we’re taking testimony. 
Bob:  If you put Ketchikan with Kodiak and that causes a major reallignment all the way.  If not, then the others are pretty easy. 

Torgerson:  Only one I really know is Al Kookesh. 
Open for discussion.  Attempt to adjourn today and return at 11 tomorrow.  Meanwhile the staff make a big map and we’ll take the vote.  Tomorrow we can take the final vote and take the draft plan, or wait til the 14th.

Bickford:  Should we try to continue to reduce deviations? Or should we jam it all together in a big map?
Torgerson:  I don’t like the word jam.  Technical changes should be at the discretion of the staff, but I don’t know what technical means.
Holm:  Since these aren’t final boundaries, and this clean up takes most of the time, I don’t think it’s necessary.
Torgerson:  Maybe if there are some big deviations, you can do that.
White:  My concern with not offering the Senate pairings is that this might be interpreted as an incomplete plan. 
Bickford:  FR did.
White:  Not sure if you have a legal obligations.
Greene:  I won’t be in at the morning.
Torgerson:  And Mr. Holm will call in from Fairbanks.
We’ll come in at 11 just to look at the maps and then reopen at 3. 
Adjourn at 11:55.

What's With Charter College and Lt. Governors?

 I was looking for the Alaska Constitution and got linked from the Legislative website to this notice on the Lt Governor's website:

Page not found.

We're sorry, the link you tried has expired or is no longer available

Yesterday when I tried to link from a national state legislative districts website to get individual Alaska district maps, I got the same announcement, also from the Lt. Governor's page.  I understand the Lt. Governor may want to revamp the website, especially since the old pages had the name of the previous Lt. Governor on them.  And to his credit, Treadwell has not put his name on the new URLs.  But they might also pay attention to how many people are linked to them and even send them messages. 

I know this is possible because I got an email from the Greater Ormand Street Hospital in London advising me they were changing their URL and asking me to change my link to the new one.

So, while I was on the Lt. Governor's site trying to find the Constitution I found this notice:

Lt. Gov. Treadwell to Deliver Charter College Commencement Address

April 8, 2011, Anchorage, AK – Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell will deliver the commencement address to Charter College graduates tomorrow at 1:00 pm. In his speech, Lt. Gov. Treadwell will announce his goals as the new co-chair of Alaska’s State Committee on Research.
Who: Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell
What: Charter College Commencement address
When: Saturday, April 9 at 1:00 pm
Where: Atwood Hall, Anchorage Performing Arts Center, AK
Contact: Michelle Toohey (907) 269-7460

Sorry, it was last Saturday, so you missed it.  But I went to the graduation last year.  I knew one of the graduates.  Well, he still had a couple classes to complete.  Lt. Governor Craig Campbell was the commencement speaker last year at Charter College.

My question is this:  What is the link between Charter College and the Lt. Governor's office?

Life Beyond the Redistricting Board

There is life beyond the Redistricting Board meetings.  The board got out early today - 3:30pm - and I walked home.   Most folks have trouble imagining walking to the University area from downtown, but it's only about 3.5 miles which isn't much if you went for a hike.  And I needed the exercise. 

Headed for the post office, I ran across what looked like the State Ombudsman office.  It turned out to be the State Library, which turned out not to be a book library, but a library for the visually impaired.  This is on the north side of what used to be called the Post Office mall downtown, near the post office.  But they directed me to the third floor, where I found the ombudsman's office.  I've published several ombudsman articles and book chapters on ombudsman offices, but had lost track of the Alaska ombudsman.  I thought they were headquartered in Juneau, but they are here in Anchorage.  But the ombudsman happened to be in Juneau this week. 














A little further on there was a man on the roof untangling the flag above the Mexican Consulate. 

On 15th at C St. there's a little mall on the north side with a little Camera Service shop.  This place is a reminder of the best of what we lose to big box stores - competent, reliable service.  Someone who can answer our questions and guide us to make the right decisions.  You can get used cameras there, accessories, and repairs.  The edge of my Canon Powershot that has the little hand strap had come off.  I figured out how to slip it back on, but I realized there were two empty screw holes.  He found some tiny screws to fit in and noticed another missing screw on a different side.  $6.  That may sound a lot for three tiny screws and putting them in, but he has a minimum charge of $37 for service.  So, if you need camera repairs, check out Camera Service Center and keep him in business in case I need more screws. 




I passed a pawn shop and saw all these cameras.  There were no Canon Powershots.
I feel uncomfortable with pawnshops, knowing many people have left stuff there because they had no money and they got pennies for the dollar for their things.  There's a lot of jewelery there.  But I did find a phillips head screwdriver.  Our two good screwdrivers are missing and I have a started project on hold for lack of a screwdriver.  $.49.

A bit further on I stopped in the Korean grocery.  They didn't have any bananas, but he offered some banana milk.  Not quite what I had in mind.  But I got a small piece of ginger. 

And on 36th I passed this bit of urban wilderness.

Which Shell is the Pea Under? Watching the Redistricting Board Create Districts

[Note:  I say 'today's meeting' here and mean Monday, but I couldn't get this posted until Tuesday. ]

I feel a little like I've been watching peas being moved around under walnut shells as the board has been moving Anchorage districts bit by bit trying to get them all as close to equal and 17,755 as possible.  On the one had they are taking a couple of blocks here and moving them into another district, but they are so close up that you can't see the whole picture, but then they move back out and you can't see enough detail to know exactly where the borders are.  Yesterday they spent a lot of time working on my own district - 24 - so after it was over, I asked if they could show me the borders of the district.  When it came up, I could see they'd taken just enough off the north, from Northern Lights south to 36th, and then just a bite out south of 36th to snatch Geneva Woods, where my representative, Berta Gardner (D) lives, putting her into 25, Mike Doogan's (D) district.

Here's what Anchorage looked like at 6pm Sunday (photo of projection on the screen):

What had happened last night when the staff had cleaned up the map, which was presented in an Anchorage map that was too big to see where the streets were?  There was only one map - below - that didn't show nearly enough detail to figure out what the new borders of districts were.   Here's what we got today, though they did some tweaking at the meeting after this was passed out:

 Not very easy to see where the districts actually are.  The numbers were clear on the map, and on my photo, and I saved it in high resolution, but they are just so small that on the computer they get lost.   In comparison, here's a map of current districts from the Lt. Governor's website:

 At least you get an idea of where the districts are.

4/10 Juneau Plan

And today there was also a new Southeast map.  They approved one yesterday, but now there was a new one.  Southeast had given me some hope that this process would be fair.  They had two Republicans running against each other by putting Ketchikan (Johanson) and Wrangell (Peggy Wilson) together.  But Kyle Johanson had a recall vote because he'd pulled out of a leadership position because his 'good friend' Charise Millett hadn't gotten the appointment she wanted.  This pairing is still there.   But they'd also left Beth Kerttulla (D), the House minority leader's downtown Juneau district pretty much intact,  but paired north Juneau's Cathy Munoz (R) with Haines' Bill Joe Thomas Jr. (R and Native).  When they approved this yesterday, it sounded like this was done except for minor tweaking.  Torgerson said, "Ok, this map and staff can make adjustments so we can pair this with D 5."  But apparently PeggyAnn McConnochie spent a fair amount of time changing this all around for today. 




Today's alternate version

4/11 Juneau Plan - Pink at lower right (Hyder) was moved to the green - Ketchikan

While they have talked about incumbents in Juneau previously, there was no such discussion today before they approved it.  It's not real clear. Wrangell and Ketchikan are still paired.    But it looks like Cathy Munoz (R) and Beth Kerttula (D) are now in the same district.  [UPDATE April 12 afternoon:  I spoke with PeggyAnn McConnochie today after the meeting to clarify this.  I was wrong. Munoz (R) is alone in her district, Kerttula (R) is alone in her district, and Bill Thomas (R) is alone in his district.  That a key change here - separating Haines (Thomas' home) from North Juneau.  However, in this plan, both incumbent Southeast Senators - Kookesh (D) and Stedman (R) are in the same House district.] (It would be hard to pit two Democratic incumbents against each other since there are four Republican representatives and one Democratic representative in Southeast.) 

And it would help if the public notices on the Redistricting Board website were kept up to date.  The last time they were posted was March 31, 2011 and all but the April 4 meeting are scheduled there for 2pm.  But today's meeting and the next two meetings are scheduled for 11 am.  You would only know that if you went to the meetings and picked up the revised schedule.  Or if you knew to go to the State of Alaska Public Notice site which is hardly something most Alaskans even know about, let alone use.

Here are my notes for the afternoon of Monday, April 11.  As usual, these are rough notes, but the best you'll get online.  Actually, the only detailed notes.  (The board has audio up for their March 16, 22, and April 6 meetings.  And there's an agenda for April 7.  But they've been meeting every day since then and their draft plan has a deadline of April 14.)  In fact there is precious little posted on the Board's website that would help someone from the public know what is going on, when, or what happened.  None of the maps I'm posting are available, at least I couldn't find any.  I don't just mean today, but since I've been posting.  The staff has been very helpful in person, but I don't think they can keep up with all that needs to be done. 

Redistricting  Board - April 11, 2011  Afternoon  [Rough Notes Warning]

I got here about five minutes late, while I was getting the morning post up at the Westmark lobby where I could get wifi.

McConnochie has a new Southeast map.  This appears to be a total revision of yesterdays.  Holm commented that it didn’t look too contiguous, but the others said it was, using the water. 

Now they are talking about splitting Census districts into voting districts.  Eric says it can be done, but you need the right software. 
McConnochie
Bickford:  If you have zero population in a block, you can do it, but otherwise you can’t split it because they [Census] don’t have a smaller unit. 
They’re talking about there being 3 or 4 people on Admiralty Island
McConnochie:  I think this is a tighter plan.  And I go right through Yakutat. 
Motion to count PAM SE Plan as Board’s SE alternative plan.  [Except the plan they adopted yesterday has the same name.]
Holm:  Can we swap Ketchikan and Petersburg? 
McConnochie:  Can’t do it, population  . . .
[I’m not sure what they are doing now, something about Hyder and Hydaburg. Gets more Native count.]
Member Brody left.  He’d asked if the meeting could start at 1 rather than 2 because he had to leave, but Torgerson had said there wouldn’t be time to be ready by 1.  He doesn't seem happy.
Torgerson:  Any other changes - now Hyder included in Ketchikan.
Adopted 3-1.  Brody has left for Koda

Now to Anchorage

Bickford:  Only dif between 32 and 30  is 30 has this tail, we put it back in yesterday to make it look better.  Harder to explain decision by decision.  Just moving population off of 30,  Didn’t really touch ER districts, they were right on. 

McConnochie:  Any questions? 

Bickford:  District 20, long and skinny.  Mt. View.  Could be wider.
Holm:  what;s the population of 16?  Any overflow at all?  When I did it from the south, I came up with overflow beyond Peters Creek.
Bickford:  Setting the boundary at Peters Creek the numbers come out perfect for all the districts. 
Holm:  Where is govt. hill?  23.  Is that reunited?  I notice 32 is bifurcated.  Doesn’t go up through the Hillside?  Correct.  Hillside is now 30?  Yes
Torgerson:  Testimony…
Do you have a plan Jim?
Holm:  Yes, but I started with some incorrect assumptions.  Started at Indian and also south of Peters Creek.  Otherwise, everything you said is correct.  The Census block lines in the city are haywire.  But what we can’t change we can’t change. 
Bickford:  It would look completely different if we started somewhere else yesterday.  Also some worse shapes yesterday, District 30 came around this way, was awkward. 

The map they handed out doesn’t show enough detail to know where things are.

Holm:  I used more ppulation going up north than Taylor did when he took Indian out.  I don’t think mine is particuoarly instructive, the numbers are good.  Certainly tweakable.
Torgerson:  I’d like to see tweak for 32, 17, and ???  - get the numbers lower - moving 30 or 40 people. 
Bickford:  17 is down 140 an 19 is up 130 (my numbers not right)
Holm:  ???
McConnochie:  Can we do something to tweak the changes a little more? 

They’re going to rerun the numbers and see what happens
Moving from 17 to 32, no from 32 to 17.  They grabbed four block and now 22 is -171 people.  26 = -127  30=-152. 
Probably won’t get closer than that.  22 is now -75. 
Now 26 -
Bickford:  we could take 50 or 60 from 25. 

I’d try to video this, but I’m already so backlogged with video I haven’t posted that it makes no sense.  Plus this really doesn’t tell you anything and no one is talking while they watch the blocks move around.  The only issues people are talking about  are:
1.  the numbers - the deviation from the goal of 17755 per district
2.  getting rid of strange shapes in the districts. 

White:  30 is that following some natural boundary or census blocks?
Bickford:  Census blocks. 

Torgerson:  What’s your call here?
McConnochie:  I move we adopt this.
Holm:  Second it.
Torgerson:  What is this?  Anchorage 2, 3? 
White:  You haven’t adopted any Anchorage plan yet.
Torgerson: Motion we adopted Staff/chair’s Anchorage dated 4/11.  Discussion? 
4yes and Brody is absent. 
Move on to Matsu.  And print off and give to the members so we can look at it tonight. If we get Matsu done, then we’ll have the whole state to look at tomorrow. 

2:50 back from very short break to work on Matsu.  Ellis on the computer.
Ellis:  I used a combination of roads and blocks, and the river there.
Torgerson:  looks like we’re splitting neighborhoods.
Ellis:  Some, this is just an exercise to show you the issues.  13 uses Matsu River. 
Torgerson: Can you put the city limits of palmer up?
….. 
Holm:  Palmer is not completely included in 13?
Ellis:  Yes, city is in 13.
Holm:  NW is farming area.
Ellis:  It’s in between Wasilla and Palmer.  I’d say you more rightly put it in Palmer.  But there are farms throughout here. 
14 hee grabbed balance of farm area in eastern part.  More to west - in Fairview-Knik.
Torgerson:  What’s the major difference?
Ellis:  Extended 14 . .  relatively few NS boundary lines in the area, not clean and distinct. 
Torgerson:  We did the same in Anchorage.  Just looked cleaner in Anch.
McConnochie:  Just not as clean in Matsu.
Torgerson:  Bring up the other one.
Ellis:  Apologize for the local roads, when zoomed in it could be helpful. 
Torgerson:  Looks like Taylor spilled worms on there.
Ellis:  A few differences, uses Bogard road (very straight line)
Torgerson:  I like that. 
Holm:  You are 1500 people over, so . .
Ellis:  That’s in Peter’s Creek.
Holm:  Don’t you have wiggle room you could push people toward Anchorage?
Torgerson:  Anchorage also over.   You have Palmer in the city limits with ER?
Ellis:  Yes, just as an exercise.  Awkward reach. 
Torgerson:  Meadow Lakes area.  Is 12 right on?  Population in 12.  Is that accurate?  A little over on 12.
Bickfor: You could move excess to 38.  It would help with deviation but not with Native population in 38, but you’d have some socio-economic problems.
Torgerson:  And you don’t know - Valdez and Cordova? 
Elis - it would be possible to dip in this area, but then you wouldn’t be using the Parks Highway.  Hard to find clean NS boundaries?
Holm:  Isn’t there a nice road you could use? 
Ellis:  Little roads but go into subdivisions. 

They like straight lines rather than jagged lines. 
McConnochie:  Deviations on your other map were much lower right?
Ellis:  I believe they were about the same. 

[They agreed on Matsu yesterday.  I’m not sure why we’re back here, except maybe to see the repercusions of the Anchorage border being at Peters Creek.]

Torgerson: Anyone else have a map.
Holm:  I went down to Peters Creek. 
Torgerson:  Borough wants five districts.  Our population deserves it.  Mayor of Wasilla wanted Parks Highway to be the divider of Wasilla districts.  Palmer wanted the greater Palmer area, but not clear if that was butte and Lazy Mountain or Fishhook Road.  My guess is that we won’t adopt a plan that has city of Palmer with ER.  But it does show alternatives. 
McConnochie:  Can you go back to that first plan you had? 
Holm: I think that’s more compact. 
Torgerson:  See if there’s a way to move population.  Look at 38 again.  I’d like to get the deviations down a bit. 
Holm:  Show us 12 and 11 on the chart.  11 doesn’t show anything at all.  Can we get those numbers so that we’re correct.  Right now.  If we have 1500 extra folks in those five districts.  We might be able to change boundaries of 11 and 5. 
Bickford:  We can, but it would require moving Matsu population into 5 and 38. 
Torgerson:  I’m not sure…
Ellis:  Theoretically possible to take excess Matsu population and put into Peters Creek.
Torgerson:  I don’t want to ripple into Anchorage.  Probably harder than rippling into North.  But maybe not.
Ellis;  Matsu people less happy to move north than south.  ???
Torgerson: 
Holm:  I probably think it’s ok to wait for Bob in the morning. It won’t make any difference in how many we take in.  I think he’d like to be involved. 
Torgerson:  I think we’ll take the same number whether he is here or not.
Any board comments?
Holm:  Beautiful day. 
Torgerson:  3:12.  Stand adjourned for today at 11.  Be prepared to come in and out during the day.  Adjourned.