Our Tulips Got Moosed Up

Our tulips disappeared some time in the last few days.  There are remnants left.

But a moose clearly found them tasty.  I watched once from inside the house as a moose, two feet away on the other side of the glass snacked on one flower after another.


I didn't see it happen this time, just the remnants. There weren't any flowers yet.  

In this case it even pulled the whole plant out, bulb and all.  I guess the bulb isn't as tasty as the greens.  




There is evidence in the yard that moose were here, though this pile is among half a dozen that the melting snow revealed  and isn't from the tulip tasting party.  

Time To Stop and Reflect on What's Really Important

I got a call today asking me if I knew anything about Ron Miller.  I met Ron when I started blogging the Alaska Redistricting Board.  He was the Executive Director helping to coordinate the enormously complex task of redrawing the map of the state's 40 house and 20 senate districts.  It's complex because it has to meet various Federal and State constitutional and statutory requirements, involving a lot of data analysis.  There's great pressure because the board has only 30 days to come up with its preliminary draft plan, and then 60 more days to complete the plan.  And how the maps are drawn will greatly influence who gets elected for the next ten years and thus the future of the state.

The board has spent the last few weeks making sure that people in over 30 locations had a chance to meet with the board.  Ron was the man in charge of coordinating all this - both the administrative side (just making all the travel arrangements for five board members and some staffers was a logistic challenge) to the arrangements for all the computer support and working out the districts.  He was the person the board turned to help them get their work done.

My caller had heard that Ron had died.  I've just gotten a confirmation e-mail from a member of the staff.  From that first day when Ron invited me to snack on a cookie in the back after a long, lunchbreak-free six hour meeting, Ron has been unfailingly helpful and cooperative - as have all the staff and the board.  He told me that they weren't allowed to use State money for food, it was staff and board member contributions.  I last saw Ron just two days ago at the final public hearing on Friday. 

Ron tended to stay in the background, but it was clear that the board depended on Ron and his staff to arrange all that was necessary for the board to do its job. 


It's important to sit back regularly and pay attention to what's really important in life, to the people who are important in our lives, to let them know we love them.  Life is short.  Live it well.

Ron, I didn't know you long or well, but my life was better for having met you.  My thoughts are with your family now as they summon the strength to endure your passing and to carry on with you in their hearts.

Writing For the ADN - Trolls and All

About ten days ago, I called Anchorage Daily News editor Pat Dougherty and asked why the ADN hadn't run anything on redistricting, except a couple of cut and pasted press releases.  How the maps are drawn will determine who gets elected to state office for the next ten years.  They're no longer a paper of record he said.  We just don't have the staff. Sean's in Juneau.  There's lots of things to cover, we have to make choices.  I suggested at least they publish the Anchorage district maps proposed by the board.  He said he'd look into it.  Then he asked if I would write a commentary.  I wasn't thrilled, but decided I had a responsibility as a citizen to take the opportunity to share what I knew. (I realize that might sound sappy, but it's exactly how I felt about it.)

A compass piece is limited to 700 words.  That wasn't easy because there was so much background information to convey - it didn't leave much to say.  I sent it in - much in outline form - and said I knew they might not like the style, but it seemed the most reader friendly way to get the facts.  I got an email back from Editorial Writer, Frank Gerjevic, suggesting they post the background bullets in a box and that I write more opinion.

700 words.  It's good discipline, but it also means you have to limit what you say, how you qualify things, the examples you give.  I got it out Wednesday afternoon I think.   It was published Friday.  I had to sign a form saying it was an unpaid, one time affair and that the ADN had rights to it.  And I was supposed to send a photo, but I forgot and they used an old one they had from the last time, which was probably six or seven years ago.

They added the headline, which is normal, but it was definitely one I wouldn't have chosen.  It politicized the piece much more than I intended.  Plus they highlighted a sentence I would have left buried at the end. If they changed anything in the piece itself, I didn't notice,  except in the box they said the board would present its final plan.  I had written, "Present Plans." This was for plans presented by interested parties, the board's final plan isn't due until June 14.   Otherwise, the box contained the necessary background information - though I didn't see it in the online version.   

I tried to be as objective as I could be. I would show where things were uncertain and give evidence for hunches.  I set up the key criteria the board has to meet in creating the plan, then went through each one.  There were others, but I was limited in words, so I chose the ones I thought most important.  700 words didn't give me space to even say that.

1.  One person, one vote - was fairly easy:  they had the stats that showed their districts were well within the allowable deviation. (I didn't independently run the numbers to verify this, but I assumed what they said was true.)
2. No retrogression - I gave the board a thumbs up on this one too.  I did say that the DOJ had to approve it, so they were motivated to keep the nine Native 'majority/effective' seats.  I doubt they would have tried that hard on this one without the DOJ watching.  I don't think a Democratically controlled board would either.  But when you know it won't be approved if you don't do it 'right', that does get your attention.  I didn't have room to talk about why this isn't racial gerrymandering - as one or two board members suggested at one point - and how, in fact, it helped to make sure that Alaska Natives, who make up nearly 20% of the state population now, get  their voice is heard in the legislature.  
3. Districts compact and contiguous - I noted that there was one humongous district (well I didn't use that word) but that the existing approved districts also had one.
4. Socio-economically cohesive - hard to evaluate - there are some questions.  Could be better, but probably a pass.
5. Senate districts composed of contiguous house seats - one that doesn't pass this.  But I pointed out that they couldn't find a way to have not retrogression without this non-contiguous pairing.  (But at Friday's hearing some people found a way.)
6. No political gerrymandering - I knew I needed to be totally factual here.  I acknowledged it was hard to know intent.  I gave an example of a board member saying he didn't know the impact of his plan on constituents.  Given that he is an ex-politician who lost to a currently sitting politician, I said I found it hard to believe.  I didn't say he lied, because I don't know that.  I do know it is hard for me to believe he didn't know.  That is definitely true.  But I also acknowledged that the politician who beat him ended up in a safe district.  I said watching them do the Anchorage map was like watching the pea under the walnut shells.  That's how I felt when it happened.  I simply couldn't keep track of whole districts as they moved neighborhoods back and forth trying to get the population numbers right.  I mentioned some seats where, after the fact, it looked like the lines had been drawn to just get some Democratic incumbents into the same district so they'd have to run against each other.  But I couldn't put up the maps in compass piece. [Hmmm, maybe I could have, I didn't ask.] But I can here.   

The gray area is the board's option 2 for district  21. (Option 1 is the same for these districts.)  The black lines are the old district boundaries.  On the far left is a green triangle that shows  Democrat Les Gara's home.  This was basically his district.  On the right, you can see a little chunk of gray gouged out of the green.  The little green triangle there is Sharon Cissna's home.  You can see it was in her old district inside the black boundaries.  There's enough spill over from all the nearby districts that one could easily draw lines that would have left them in their old districts and gotten the right population numbers.  And Cissna's old district now has no incumbent.     NOTE:  These maps are from Alaskans for Fair Redistricting, a group of union and Native organizations.  I haven't verified them independently. 

Another I mentioned was my own district - or rather former district since my neighborhood was cut out of it.  The old black borders were vertical.  Now, the colored districts are horizontal.  Democrats Berta Gardner - green triangle lower right of pink - and Mike Doogan are now in the same district.  And there's an incumbentless district in much of Gardner's old district, now 26.

I also pointed out that at the public hearings people from Eagle River and Muldoon complained about being paired together in a district.  Yet the board took just enough of a chunk east of Muldoon from Democrat Pete Petersen's district to get the part where he and Senator Wielechowski live and put that into a much more Republican district.

I didn't have enough words to point out the Republicans who were paired with other incumbents and why I think these were either out of necessity (in Southeast they lost a seat and four of five house members are Republican)  or into situations where they were likely to beat the Democrats, but I did mention that there are now 24 Republicans in the House and only 16 Democrats, yet 8 Democrats and only 6 Republicans were paired with incumbents.  The fewer there are, the fewer one would expect to be paired.

I also pointed out  that there were four Republicans and one Democrat on the Redistricting Board, so it was inevitable that the plan would have Republican fingerprints.  I didn't say it would be gerrymandered or corrupt, though there is a hint of possible wrongdoing. I pointed out the circumstantial evidence - I don't think I left out anything significant that pointed in the other direction - and I left it open.  Accident?  Inevitable?  Gerrymandering?

As I mentioned earlier, newspapers, not writers, pick the headlines.  Of course, the Daily News chose a headline that would get readers' reading - "For Republicans, Redistricting Is All Good."  And they highlighted the quote about the fingerprints.  So, if readers thought that I had written the headline, I can understand they might think I was partisan.  But then everyone is partisan to some extent, but I do think I stuck to the facts in my analysis of how the board was doing.

I did also ding the board a bit for their minimal website and poor public notice of meetings and the fact that there are no public computers available to try out the software they use for the mapping, and without which it is really difficult to get all the numbers matched up right.

What I'd forgotten about was the online version gets comments.  I'd given up reading the comments for the online ADN a long time ago, because they are frequently so nasty and shallow.  Here on the blog I let people say what they want, as long as they do it with some reasonable civility.  I don't moderate comments before they are posted, but I reserve the right to take down comments. . . well you can read my criteria below the post.  So, the next post will be on the phenomenon of trolls.

People Around the State Drift In To Testify Now and Then

6pm[Adjourned until Monday, May 16]

Chair Torgerson is convening as there are new people to testify.  So we just convened for a minute or so and adjourned.

Dick Stoffel, Republican Chair for new district 13 - goes from my place to north of Delta about 8 hours away and doesn't seem very compact.  At least keep the district within the Borough would make a logical guideline.  Keeping us more concise together.  Understand Fairbanks doesn't want to be in Matsu either.  That's my comment
3:55

4;22

Lance Robers - Fairbanks, reiterate what I said before.  Support Board Option 2, glad you brought Salcha back in.  Senate with 11 and 12 better.  I like board option 2.  Because of VRA we had to cut out parts of Fairbanks I like.  Wanted to encourage you on Board Option 2.  I'd like Eilson to be part of 11 instead of 7.
On Senate Loop, D7, glad you brought it in with the rest of the neighborhood with Summit.  should get all of Senate Loop.  Good together with other side of summit.  Don't care which district. 
Recess at 4.21 (Torgerson is 'excused' and McConnochie convened and adjourned.  She's using a different clock than the one on the wall.)

Torgerson is back 4:28

Richard Giessel? - thank you. Currently id District 31, but .  Anchorage resident since 1974.  Built house in 1979 in S. Anchorage. 2001 violated spirit if not law.  Current plans also.  I oppose the board's plans.  The AFFER will force me to resign my position, but strongly support the AFFER plan.  It puts principle about politics, complying with geographic lines and Community Councils.  AFFER considers many of those things and support it - N. of Huffman to Old Seward.  Old boundary of Assembly d.6.  Also support AFFER D32, compact from Girdwood to Huffman and north to Abbot.  Chugach and Seward.  All community councils in area.  Southernmost MOA area.  Like it's compactness and conformity with Community Councils.

Denise Morris - Got lots of paper here.  Good afternoon.  Appreciate your time, effort, and energy and public service. I know it requires you to be away from your home and family members and we appreciate your effort.  I am the President and CEO of 1st Alaskans Institute and testifying today as individual from Aleut Community in St. Paul.  1st Alaskans has taken lead in educating Native community about the process.  Unfortunately, but for individuals to activiely participate in process - it's a vast state - the hearing taking place today the ability to call in and participate.  When you go to one hub community, not being telecommuted to smaller communities.  Need opportunity to expand people's ability to participate.  Another comment we heard at our think tank is the opportunity to get answers to questions that are still unanswered.  Public input complete a month before the process is completed.  Questions about legal definitions of population that public may not have opportunity to comment on.  I'm not sure what others have raised.  Hope I'm bringing up new issues.  Also, maximizing the Alaska Native vote and preserving what we've worked so hard to maintain and increasing it where there is growth.  About 19% of the vote based on how people have identified themselves.  As people have continued to move around the state.  Reminds me of tests - literacy and citizen tests in the past.  Just asking equity in the process.  Faith, input, ability to participate it the process. 

the other thing, no reason any plan adopted should be retrogressive.  Enough plans that show that a plan can be drafted that is not retrogressive.  Talking about majority-minority and influence seats, that those are considered when looking at the population as a whole. 

Alaska Native community and cultural diversity.  There are more common issues that united us than separate.  There are different regional needs across the state, but common needs we have as well. 

Want to reiterate that growth of Alaska Native population is represented in the redistricting.  there are key issues - domestic assault, housing, and other issues - we need adequate representation to be sure those issues are addressed. 

Jim Holm:  Curious - citizens test.  Give me some thoughts on that. 
Morris - in the past indigenous people, in order to vote had to prove they were citizens, but in our history, they were not always considered citizens and not allowed to vote.
Holm:  Earlier we had testimony about people in fishing communities who were counted, but not voters because not citizens.

Morris:  Important for people who are citizens and reside here, looking to the future.  We do consider the people who are hear.

Holm:  I'm talking about non-citizens who work in Alaska who were counted.  How does that relate to First Alaskan issues.

Morris:  Not sure that's an issue related to our positions. 

White:  You've mentioned the 19.1% of Alaska Natives.  But have you looked at where there are Natives but it is impossible to make a Native effective influence in any urban area.  We all know the phrase Anchorage as the largest Native Village in the state - 23,000 - but so dispersed, I was wondering if you have any idea of Natives in urban areas?

Morris:  If we do have that information it is not in my memory bank and not immediately available to me.  But I can check when I get back and let you know.  And the other issue relating to population - where they reside and communities.  In Anchorage large population here in Anchorage.  Important not to look at this as a Rural-Urban issue, they all need to be represented.

White:  Understood.  You know we cannot get the numbers in Anchorage anywhere close - Natives are so intermingled in the population.  But can't look at 19.1%, but have to look in areas where they are geographically cohesive.

Morris:  I've looked at the Bering . . . I'm not a population expert, but I know there have been a number of different plans and testimony presented.  The challenge is to look at the various plans where there is no retrogression.  I'm hoping at the end of the day there will be no retrogression.  That's the challenge.  And I understand it's difficult.

Torgerson:  You realize that the Board did put out the first non-retrogressive plan.  There have been some interesting approaches given us this morning.  We have struggled from early on to not have retrogressive plan. 

White:  Is First Alaskan's position that no retrogression more important than not crossing cultural lines?

Morris:  For me, myself, and I no retrogression.  As Natives there are more things that join us than divide us. 

White:  So, if two plans - one with seven but keeps the cultures together and another with nine, which would you prefer?

Morris:  My personal would be nine.

Carol Beecher:  I live in 19 Anchorage.  I'm in favor for AFFER and appreciate the plan they have put together,  They've tried to keep to the Constitutional mandates to keep like districts together.  Military bases also inhabits a lot of that area.  I appreciate how they are making SE to work which is a real trick.  Not letting Haines be part of Juneau so they don't have any voice.

Bethel:

Mary Weiss - I testifed when the committee came here.  Once again state what I call the Giraffe district that stretches across the state would be detrimental to representation to the Delta or YK.  The rights map or map fo City of Bethel.  Looks like compact district, some of the up river communities involved with Bethel as they are already.

McConnochie - is that the plan you refer to the one that was given to us when we were there?

Weiss:  Yes, the one given by Eric Middlebrook.  City Council meeting with public input.  Conversation within YK Delta.  Hope you consider it.
Adjourned 4:56

5:04 Torgerson convening again
Charles Degnan Unalakleet - Thank you for allowing me to speak.  Dis 39, I would like our district to be as small as possible.  And borroughs should be in their own districts and not split up.  We are so large with small communities that small communities ignored in allocation process. 

Fairbanks
Ian Olson - testifying today to endorse the Rights map submitted to the redistricting board and the modifications made by the FNSBorough.  Borough deserves five districts.  Briefly I lived in Juneau, Juneau should have the same applied to them.
D9 neighborhoods in city boundaries ending up in proposed d8.  All should be within one district as much as possible.  Western part should follow boundaries.  Senate should give City of FB one Senator and current board map does that and encourage you to maintain that.  Lastly, map should attend to borough boundaries. Not dissect them this way and that way.  Should be broken only once if necessary.  In FNS if broken should be in SE near Eilson.  Don't believe Eilson should be included with areas north of Fairbanks, real stretch for socio-economic compactness.

Barbara Gazaway Anchorage audio - East Anchorage.  East Anchorage as boundaries stands we have good working class community, Assembly and CC level we work well. However, the part where we live borders on the park and part of that area has been put with ER and I'm finding as I speak to people, people are confused where they belong for the Assembly.  Our rep doesn't quite understand what happens in our sliver of the district, because member lives in ER.  I see in your plan, part of our community is put with ER.  That is so confusing with my neighbors.  They have nothing in common.  We'll probably have to travel greater distance to votes.  Some people ride buses and will have to bus to vote.  Rights plan keeps our district 19 together as it is now, which would be a wonderful thing to keep our community together.  thank you very much.  I appreciate the work you do. 
5:12 Recess

5:42 Fairbanks
Sonia Kawasaki - live in Northern portion of aurora neighborhood in the city limits.  Not fair for the seven streets in my district to be removed D9 was enlarged, if so, why would people outside of the city limits brought in and people in the city taken out.  If the proposal would go through, my neighborhood in the city is the only one not represented by one of the districts represented by Fairbanks.  Your representative should speak for you.  Be subtracted moved into HD8, in that district, not identify with issues of Chena Ridge, Parks Highway, it's absurd.  Neighborhoods east and west of our area brought into D9 and we were pulled out.  Comparable density and neighborhood character, but not in the city.  No reason not to keep all of Aurora in the city together.  Constitutions says consideration should be given to local city boundaries.  People in our neighborhood not aware because not being publicized.  They would also be upset.  We'd have to drive past new portions added to our district to go vote. 
Also concerned my Sen district. Had been in E and now in D, neither my senator nor representative would focus on issues that are city issues and politics and would rather focus on broader issues of the borrough.  Urge you to look at this and Spruce, Pine, Willow etc. back into district 9 and maintain our City of Fairbanks representation.

Kenai
Blake Johnson - Nikiski - I'm for the Rights group.  Judy Saylor's talked to you about how it's been done before.  Have worked with Southern parts of Anchorage before, makes it easier and better for other districts.  I'm traveling around in Fairbanks now and don't have my notes.

Torgerson:  I take it you have my number and can call me.

Blake:  I do.

Torgerson:  It's 5:48 Recess. 

I heard a rumor that the next meeting is Monday, May 16 at the Redistricting Board's office on 4th Avenue.  It's six now and the board's been chatting about non-board stuff.  Time to adjuourn

Willie Hensley Testifies

Anchorage audio
Kenneth Evan Beetle?? - District 21 - strongly disagree with the way my district is cut up. pushes the boundaries of District 21 into Muldoon and 19 and tragic situation with military bases.  I have 2 sons in military bases - the way it pushes to military bases we have transient votes.  But other end goes to - my house is about $230,000 - and other end is $300-400,000 houses in ER.  Totally opposed.

Bruce Schulte - South Anchorage - will confine my comments to there.  Initial 2 options.  boundaries cut through neighborhoods, don't follow geographic, physical boundaries, both separate Oceanview and Southside - so similar should be joined. Am fan of latest AFFER plan.  Appeal is the boundaries follow campbell creek, Seward Hwy.  Don't cut through neighborhoods unnecessarily.  Combine Oceanview and South??

Don Gray from District 7 Fairbanks (audio) In favor of what NSB mayor testified.  To make a few substantive changes in districts as they exist now.  Realizing changes have to be made.  If they aren't broken.  Don't try to fix them.  Tweak what is needed.  Don't politically play.  Some will be Democratic others Republican, that's just where people live.  Appreciate the efforts you have made.  Thank you for your work


David (Anchorage in person) Pruse?  District 10 downtown Fairbanks.  I've already testified what I want.  Took Lameda section - NW corner and put it into D9 which you should have been.  Then shifted us from Dennis Road to Lackload Road.  Based around Ft. Wainright.  Being born and raised there.  Feels right.  Rep. by Sen Pasqvan - you kept both of them together.  In Fairbanks people made disparaging comments.  Sorry.  We're better than that.  Describe Fairbanks.  in center.  Go to Ester far left - to Salch far right.  You did a good job overall. You know the demographics better than I don.

Torgerson:  I'd like you to give your testimony all over again. 

Willie Hensley - Shocked at how fast this is going.  Chair of First Alaskan Institute.  Views not my own.  Taken role in educating Native people in the process.  Day is long and pressure heavy.  I've done this in past.  I participated as voter in Alaska's first election.  Our people in those days had no voice.  My grandfather couldn't vote in territories because he was Native.  Little Natives could do to influence public policy.  No Dogs or Native sings were up still in 1940s.  We've made great progress.  facilities we have could not then be imagined.  In 1966 when I took office we'd lost senate seats, down to two seats.  The old ice block had disappeared.  Virtually no representation at Constitutional Convention - one of 55.  To me as participant in political process since 1960s I believe if you work hard enough you can change things for the better.  Despite huge districts in the early days, State did respond. Better schools, water, airports, unviersity.  Divisive issues like land claims.  We got through that. Pipeline, D2. Permanent fund.  Native Alaskans chose and want to be involved.  Rather than be forced by VRA to do it a certain way.  We should say we can do better than that.  Consider districts for districts for Alaska Natives to have fair representation.  Work you are doing is particularly important because issues will escalate in difficulty and complexity.  We have lived in time of plenty with oil money.  Future could hold a much different picture.  Incumbent all Alaskans have a voice i good and bad times.  Your role in selecting Native districts is critically.  It will enable them to continue to have a voice in the future.

Torgerson:  that's all we have - wait someone else?

Lora  Reinbold Representing ER and have looked at most of the maps.  The one the makes the most sense is AFFER.  Especially District 17 and 18.  It seems the most realistic of ER.  Military integral part of our life.  I deal with 50% in high school in ER.  Only think I'd ask you to consider.  Students do go to ER high school from military.  People in ER are unique and have unique needs.  Reps have to be uniform so we can have good representing.  We can't meet with people in Hope and Basher. 

Break
3:48pm Jeff Jacobson (audio) - was mayor of North Pole.  Was surprised the two boqrd options carved up our community.  Such large districts that would dilute our representation.  connecting us with parts of state that connects us with people with little common with us.  I like the Rights Coalition and the Fairbanks plan which makes natural district. 

"If anyone is going to fire my reps, it should be the voters and not the board." Redistricting Testimony

That quote in the title comes from the last person to testify in the first batch of afternoon testimony  - it's at the bottom.  But it makes a lot of sense.
As always, these are notes on the fly.  They get a sense of what was said, but leave a lot out because I just can't keep up. 

2pm Board back to order.

Anita not here
Sonia Short - (Not yet)
Brian Hoag?  -
Torgerson - We're on teleconference.  We met at 10am heard from six groups, AFFR, Rights Coalition, AFFER, MOA, Fairbanks, Calista.  Some interesting new ideas.


Brian Hoag?  Fairbanks - Here on other business and saw I had another opportunity and thought I'd take it.  Generally think pretty good job with the plan, my neck of the woods, Fairbanks area balanced fairly well. Happy to see Salcha and Eilson back in the fold.  Districts appear to be very well balanced unlike past experiences.

One more thing about district, helpful to maintain the numbering system.  Cuts down on the confusion.  Thank you.  11 and 12 in particular, back up 7 and 11, Eilson is probably better suited for district 11, and if have to back population out, can look in NNW of Dis. 11.  ONly other thing, I know there is a reason for everything, but D9, section of College Road, then dips down to slough and then back to College Road, natural thing would be to continue along College Road.  Balance thing.  Maybe on the west side come off sooner.  On east side dips down to the slough.  Maybe that's something we can look at.  I know there's a reason for everything.  thank you for your service.

Mike Symanszki:  Live in Big Lake.  Honor of being in Legislature several times, very compact south Anchorage district.  Thought once to run for the Senate and ended up in the donut district from S Anchorage to Whittier, Cordova, Valdez, McKinley and almost got Tyonek.  So thought I'd stop by and share my perspective.  Lots has happened since I was in he legislature.  Constitutional amendment now requires single member Senate districts.  I commend all of you in this process cranking out plan in 90 days.  Message:  Living in Big Lake, as former Rep. the challenges of meandering districts just doesn't work.  Separateion, ability to represent is just absurd.  More compact, dense, closer relationships you can have in House or Senate districts the better.  I couldn't do it.  Oil interests fighting with Fishing, pro and anti development together.
In Valley where I am now.  Numbers about 5.7 house districts - 3.5/2.5 Senate districts - shows how I've done my homework.  Now, in Big Lake, we have Senator who lives in Birchwood.  Don't get a lot of attention when asking for representation.  Shouldn't put these tail sections of districts which are hard for reps to represent.  Anchorage and Fairbanks will be compact.  SE - have islands - difficult.  Like to see the Valley particularly held to compact unit.  That's all I have to say.

Torgerson -
Mariam Landow - last time held testimony here, some testified they liked AFFER plan because it follows Community Council plans, but while true in South Anchorage, I have map here to show.  AFFER's original map superimposed over Community Council lines.  This morning's map is slightly different, but not that much.  The second map is identical to that put forward by the Muncipality this morning.
What AFFER said about Community Councils isn't true - they don't follow CC lines.  Put CC's into up to four districts.  Looking at Senate pairings, most CC are not united. Randy Ruedrich says his plan matches CC's.  He criticized your plan for leaping across the Seward Highway to split a community council.  AFFER's plan does exactly the same plan.  I think the board shouldn't consider either of the plans - AFFER and MOA's - using Ruedrich's own plan.  Urge you to do one better to keep Community Councils intact.  Thank you.

John Olson -AUDIO - I'm against modifying the language.  RE is known as demon god of the underwolrd took me to court.  I don't know why you are modifying the language.  Anyone could change this to anything they want to change it to.  There's nothing there.  That's it.

John Ford - Petersburg - my thing is, so called redistrict is WHY?  Create more revenue, steal more money out of people's pocket books?  Alaska has no contracts to go by.  Engage theft of Petersburg theft of property, I'm a first hand witness.  High officials destroying maps of land owners and committing array of crimes for theft of property and no one ever does anything about it.  Do as you wish baffle the people with a maze of BS.  That's all I have to say cause that's what this is.

Torgerson:  Back to Anchorage.

Jerrod McCort?  - Thanks for opportunity to comment.  D31 does jump slightly over the highway, but that's a business district.  Oceanview where I live .. Options 1 and 2 flawed.  Maps ....can't hear.  Doesn't actually go to Beachcomber drive.  Goes behind my house.  Rely on creek that is little more than a drainage ditche.  and ignore more significant landmarks - Campbell and Chester Creek.  AFFER map improved since last testified.  29 doesn't go into Sandlake.  I support AFFER 30 from Campbell Lake.  All in Assembly district.  Also AFFER 31.  Half of Huffman/O"malley are in district 31.  AFFER maps follows Constitutional guidelines.  Thank you for your time.

April Ferguson - I have with me Natalie Landreth. VP of BB Native Corporation.  Thank you all for your public service.  I hope like you we won't be here in July.  Focus on Boards 2 option.  Both 1 and 2 purport to have 4-2-2-1 plan.  But current plan, based on ?? not only has the population changed.  ABility to elect is the standard to be used.  Now called effective district and influence district is gone.  The AG does not rely on any fixed demographic percentage . . . often includes election history, patterns, crossover patterns 7471 guidelines of Federal REgister.  Board seems to base their plans on fixed 35% and 50% criteria.  Have not done any anaysis yet.  I understand that VRA expert won't have analysis done til about May 10th.  And she is not sure 35 and 50% would still be valid.  And testimony won't be taken on her analysis.
Sen. C at 39.2% - 37 only has 46% - why considered a majority district.
1.  What is actual floor for Native district
2.  Public Comment period open several days after her report made public.


Matt Ganley -representing Bering Strait Sea Corp.  Concerned with D39 and severe mutations.  Once all had a nice compact, contiguious 39, easy to define socio-economic unit.  Like your 1 or 2.  It fits the ideal the vra is looking for.  Shares the same futures economically of its people.  Like what it looks like in Options 1 and 2.  We met with AFFR and they took to heart what we discussed.  Much better picture now for residents of the region.  AFFR is ideal  for 39.  If can't be achieved, another possible not completely acceptable.  5-0 plan.  Bush Caucus modified 5-1-2-1 plan.  Boundaries much the same  Not ideal for us stretches to Canadian border.  But what it does avoid is a significant block from Fairbanks area into D39.  Thank you for your public service and putting up with us.
Torgerson:  You aren't in favor district from Bering Sea to Canadian Border.
Matt:  Not, but would prefer this one.

Matsu LIO
Burt Cottle, Wasilla Dept. Administrator.  Like to consider separating Wasilla and Palmer and not put us int he same Sen district would help.  Then both Senators could work together and not be pitted against each other. 

Juneau LIO
Jaeleen

Sitka LIO
Lorainne Stedman - Southeast concerns.  Hearings in Sitka last week - from 1-3, didn't overlap lunch hour or after work.  Hope you get comments by email.  Not in favor of eiether paln.
Doesn't reflect ...
Private plan, like those that keep SE intact. 4 and 2 best for SE with outflow of population. Splitting Sitka isn't good.  Basically islands with no road connections.  Native influence considerations need to be addressed.  with disollution of Ds.5, should be able to work it out.  Very out of sync, .... recommend looking at private plans that keep SE intact, moving SE into interior isn't good.

Glenallen LIO
Wilson Dustin I'm from Sustichina?  ?? Tribal Council, Option 2 may be modified to be acceptable.  The AFFR proposed plan we favor.  Chistschina??

Ketchkan?  ??  - We simply don't understand how you can take two communities - always a big part of Ketchikan into separate district - island that has our airport in separate district.  Look at Rights plan and AFFR, both do good job of SE.  Also four contiguous house seats and senate seats in SE.  ONly constitutional way to do it.  Either AFFR or Rights plan, take adequate account of minority voting issues we have to consider.

Haines
Kathleen Menke?   I support the plan presented by Rights Coalition, either alternative 1 or 2 I would support. For SE Alt 1 is better because Yakutat isn't included.  But Alt 2 addresses needs of people across the state, like Bethel and Kenai, if it works best for the rest of thestate moving Yakutat is accepatble.  I think the Sen pairings are so sensible.  Put people together in common socio-econ interests.  IN SE in particular.  We're losing a district so those four districts need to be HD1-4 and Sen Aand B - anything less would be totally unfair to SE.  Compact, contiguous districts int he best interest for all Alaskans.

Matsu
Elizabeth Gray - Hello.  Asst. B Manger for Matsu Borrough.  Both plans have problems but Option 2 - doesn't go to Delta Junction.  Option 1 carves up Matsu and doesn't meet Constitutiona req.  Dis12 is up and out for sole reason to join fairbanks for Senate connection.  Option 1 is worst.  District A in 2 is better.  At least share history of coastal communities.  DA in 1...  Option 2 still has deficiency.  12 people on Western Parks Hwy - line should be moved east and let people be in House D 13 back into borough.  Other ties shared by 13 residents - in community councils.
There are needs for large districts, but we should keep borough together.  Carefully consider constitutions requirements, reject option 1, and pick one that works.  We should have 5 representatives.  We'll be submitting proposal for revision.  thank you for your time and dedication.  Hard job and we appreciate your service.

Unalakleet -
Frances Degnan - live in 39, I believe we need to stay with socio-economic status of district, as compact and contiguous as you can make it.  Shouldn't cross from bering sea to CAnadian Border for one district.  We are Coastal and Riverine.

Anchorage;
Vicki Russel - Good Afternoon.  thank you.  President of Alaska Women for political Action.  Non-partisan dedicated to election pro equal rights and pro women.  At our last meeting we supporte AFFR plan
1.  Good compromise undr Alaska's constitutional requirements - recognize you worked hard.  AFFR does a good job solving the problems.  Right number of Native districts to comply with VRA.
2.  In urban areas, should minimize changes - not pair incumbents.  We feel AFFR has done it well.
Thank you for this chance to speak and your service on the board.

Juneau:
Jaelene  Araujo  - VP Sealaska, originally from Angoon.  Alaska Native.  Express my appreciation for being mindful and trying to avoid retrogression.  We've lost population in SE and is difficult.  We do have important points
1.  Try not to have incumbent pairings or at least avoid having us lose both native incumbents.
2.  continue native influence in SE - present 2 Native leaders representatives
Comment board for working within VRA standards but see problems
1.  both AK incumbents would have to face non-native incumbents from urban areas
2.  A district constitutional problems because of contiguity
Prefer alternative plans because native incumbents won't face challenge
Different plans from Bush Caucus, AFFER,  problems with each of them
Top choice
1.  Board plan, but alternate
2.  Bush Alt 5-1 both reps unopposed, but no Native influence int hat plan
3. AFFER plan, possible to not have both Native people opposed.  But splitting Sitka, Stedman could end up in either because he has two homes.
k

Anchorage
Daryl Nelson - thank you for allowing us to testify.  I believe owner of successful advocy services focuses on issues not party lines.  Also believe that Chugiak and ER should be together  Now, Chugiak is part of Matsu.  We need to focus on, go by borders of municipality.  If you split the two, very hard to work on campaigns, heard to talk to people.  I've worked on many campaigns and it's really hard in wheel chair to go house to house.  If you include ER with Chugiak, better yet.  If only two options.  I prefer #2.  Peters Creek and N. Peters Creek part of Matsu
I'm Daryl's Mom - Bonnie Nelson - Daryl's made trips to Lower 48 to teach legislators about disability issues.  I ran for State House last time.  Really hard in the area.  Good experience.  He was my campaign mangers.  Hard to deal with issues in ER, Chugiak, and Palmer.  Can't represent people in good way.


Wasilla - Mayor. Mr. Upright

I know it's a tough job. Weighin in.  Tough options. From Senate district side, don't see it working for benefit of Wasilla.  Connecting us to Palmer SEn. not helpful.  Also connecting us to West and north.  They have a different development mindset - basically none at all.  Assist us with a SEn. dedicated to Wasilla area. Thank you for your time.

We'll do some off net.

Daniel - Wasilla Need for borough in need our five seats.  Your plans cut us up.  We need five dedicated house seats.  Look carefully at Rights plan - gives us what we need and deserve.

Patricia Higgins in Anchorage - Live in 30 now in Anchorage. I wear many hats, just as citizen now.  Member of my community Council.  At our meeting last week.  Looked at Census map.  These numbers come out good.  Should be able to do Anchorage bowl without going outside.  But shocked when I saw the map.  Break boundaries where toally not necesary.  We need process and lines that are fair.  District 30 now, we'd have five house and senators.  Acnhorage boundaries all over the place. Across the Seward Hwy.  Neighborhoods together don't have common characteristics.  Need to go back.  Keeps neighborhoods together.  Certainly keep boroughs and cities together.

David Metheny - Anchroage 24.  Would like to see a map repsectiful of local govt. boundaries, particularly borough.  Doesn't split SEn district without contiguous house districts.  Map that didn't put half Muldoon and ER together. Matsu get five full disticts like they deserve.  I'd like to stay in District 24.  I like my representatives. If anyone is going to fire my reps, it should be the voter and not the board.

Calista Stresses Cultural Heritage - Supports AFFER Plan

Last presentation - Calista Corporation

Martha Davis and Andrew Guy

Guy:  Thanks for letting us speak.  Yupik people in this area face many challenges in YK Delta.  Described as still living in 3rd world conditions - no running water.  How important reapportionment is to us.  Boundaries should not be drawn to damage rural house districts.  We understand that DOJ do not distinguish between different cultures.  Do not understand our need to preserver our culture and language.  This board cannot ignore DOJ rules.  Thus you must find boundaries that will meet DOJ mandates.  You have heard AFFER plan.  We support this plan as the districts are compact.  However, AFFER if there is no acknowledgment of??? if DOJ says there must be nine districts, then we support AFFER plan.  4 majority house 10-7, two min 2/6   One challenge is that urban Fairbanks district has five and one must be paired in non-contiguous senate district.
Therefore we offer a third option.  Another 9 native district.  All house districts paired in contiguous matter.  Bush caucus put together.
Restores to D7
Tyonek and?  into 6.
You can see great care taken to honor native boundaries.
9 Bering Straits and most of Doyon
?
6 BB and Aleut region
5 Coastal Kodiak and Chugiak
?
1-4 SeaAlaska Region
Most of the Native Corps are in single districts.
Only Anchorage divided into many districts.
Stand in place of local boundaries.
Necessary to extend beyond in some instances - long east west distances, but only if consolidate villages into one voice.....
Honor ANCSA boundaries
Compactness
Contiguity
Socio-Economic
Cultural

If AFFER doesn't meet DOJ approval, then we offer this plan.

11:20
White:  Southeast - it would mean does not pair Native?  District 4 all within the borough of Juneau?  Yes.  Borough boundary of Juneau only broken once.  That's where 2 comes in.

Davis:  Blow up of Juneau shows in clear detail. ....
Thank you Mr. Guy.
11:23
Torg. We'll stand at recess until 2pm

Fairbanks Mayor Presents Alternative Fairbanks Plan

[The Mayor presented via audio.]

10:50  Mayor Luke Hopkins, and Chris ???

Mayor:  I hope you have our maps printed before you.
Torg:  yes we do
Mayor:  Don't need full 1/2 hours.  Sent letter in April, some of those conditions and comments are no longer relevant for this presentation.  But submitted Fairbanks NSB - similar to Rights Coalition plan.  Tweaking within NSB boundaries and what I want to discuss today.
Issue wherever possible Muni's excess population should go into one group.  All the parts have problems with the excess going off to other groups with out the SEconomic connections to our borough.  Every other piece wants part of us.  But tied to different Socio-economic groups.  Different cultures, different economic basis, no urban concerns, different lifestyles, and other issues.
Our census population is how I want to pull the concerns of our residents back within our burough.  Half districts - 8,000 Fairbanks citizens grouped with off road rural communities with no se similarities and off-road, is of concern to me.

Geo and road boundaries and cohesive neighborhoods, reducing to possible neighbors along ??? streets.  Not sure what final plan you have, can't see from here.  Our map, as we go along Chena Hotsprings road, separates t2o rivers area into 2 separate districts, our plans puts them back together and makes more sense of Geo boundaries - pipeline, major roads, sloughs, meeting requirements of deviations, but dist 6-10 wholly in borrough, and 5 matches with road district that includes NPole, agricultural areas along Eilson, Military and road access all the way to Valdez.
Looking at population changes that Rights group post, we offer different plan - can have all within Borough except for the 8,000 that is tied economically/work with highway to Valdez.

Looking at other plans we heard and viewd - things like school districts, utlities etc. all point to issues FNSB that we've taken ?????  I know that in boradest sense, concluding here, our ecoomic consideration not similar to Ketchikan or Holy Cross when I look at our population.  Also don't mix well with Matsu which has its connection to anchorage economy.  We have cohesive grouping within its boundaries.  When have to divide up a borough and must take it out of borough, excess should go to brouping with similar characteristics.  Every plan excepts Rights plan has paired Fairbanks residents who drive ten miles to work on paved roads, running water, shopping centers, do not match.

We hope you consider this carefully in your next plan.  Thank you

11:03
Chris:  Our plan does not take in any other boroughs, no Matsu, no parts of Denali, trying to stay within our boundaries and serve our citizens.
Torg:  Questions.  Legal counsel has questions.
White:  I'm looking at the maps.  In our grouping. Map3.  The broadest overview.  You combined.  Coming up from South Valdez district - you went left to fill out the district.  Why not go right?   Why combine Eilson?
Mayor?  Criteria for that area.  I don't believe it addresses the concentrated population we have in the borough.  Not a lot of agriculture, military or pipeline employment in the right.  That's the reason, if I understand question and map.
White:  We had testimony that said keep Eilson with Fairbanks not Valdez.
Mayor:  that's when we were looking at some of the plans.  Finally had Rights plan - that testimony to now, when we do it, not the way the Rights plan did it, this is the best for people who have similarities.
Chris:  going to right, just bombing ranges.  Voting precincts would have huge disconect.  That area is nothing.  Had gone off to left side and combined it with Salcha south, huge discontinuous area.
White:  Can you tell us how much of North Pole you put into 5?
Mayor:  Yes between 5 and 6 along pipeline route.  Both are tied in same Senate district.  We have different house districts.  Took from Coalition plan.  Moved approximately 2 blocks addressed two rivers along hot springs road.  Within 6 the entire NP city - took the entire zip code.
White:  Senate pairings?
Mayor:  5&6  7&8, 9&10
White:  Deviation in 5 3.??% over.  Why so high?
Mayor:  Within the allowable.  When tried to move that half district around, felt being within the acceptable deviations, it matched the socio-economic aspects of the borough.  There could be some tweakings of 5 in the Rights plan.  Portion around Tok might rduce some of that.  Our balance for our proposal, thought you'd find it acceptable.
White:  Thank you very much, we appreciate all the work you did.

11:10 

AFFER Presents Revised Plan

Mayfield (l) and Ruedrich

The presenters have gone through lots of details and I couldn't keep up with things, but this should give you at least a sense of what was covered.  I'll take advantage of the break (until 2pm) to clean up the typos and add pictures.  So check back.  The public presentation starts at 2pm.]

[AFFER is Alaskans for Fair and Equitable Redistricting - apparently headed by Republican Party chair Randy Ruedrich.]

Randy Ruedrich with AFFER, Thank you for your incredible work - reports from people all over the state saying you'd been there.
We want to update our basic plan.  David Mayberry will do that.

We've revised our map after hearing public testimony.  Complies with board principles and respect Native and cultural differences.  Cleaned up boundaries to match drainages... and improved some district compactness.  Focus on VRA, which requires us to protect as best we can rights of Natives, converted one district into Majority district - 37 from influence to majority.  Minority District 2 reinforced and is at 35.65% and % of all Natives in 2 is 36.??%

Dist. 37 is blend of Athabascan, Aleut villages?  others stay more homogeneous.

Adding non-Native residence in D6 reduces ???

Specifically SE map
Districts 1-4 - Overall objective to protect Native VRA district in SE.  Reassigned Cordova, D 5 is 6000 short and basis for D2,  Several camps removed to, and from D5, got new 2 with 37.8%, we're calling it the fishhook district, heir to ice worm district.  Adds Juneau airport and Switzer district.
Dis 3 starts at 3400 under, adding Gustavus, Tanakee Springs, ....  gets to 2.2% deviation.
[Can't keep up with all the details.]
For comparison, 1972 map used over 800 miles of water to connect Kodiak and Adak so feel our water connections ok.  SEn A pairs 1 and 2 has AK native% of 28.19%

Interior Dis. 5-10
Reduce District 5 AKMinority to 2?% = Eilson AFB available for NSB district.
6-10 not changed from original AFFER map 3/31.

Matsu
11-16  - they should get five districts  Uses Knik bridge to Link S. Matsu and Anchorage.
Core= Palmer, Big Lake, Houston have been adjusted based on feedback
New 15 - Wasilla - Houston extends down the Knik Bay road to Prt Mc.
Dist. 11 reaches right size by dropping Eilson AFB on N.

Anchorage
Restores ER community to single district.  S Anchorage linkage gone based on complaints.
Campbell, Chester and Fish creeks used as Constitution.  Anchorage used for Assembly districts.  EAFB - added.
Adjusted to conform to CC and Assembly.  Segment of 29 rolled into D 27 - better conformance to fish creek.
29 Taku/Campbell has been simplified.  Irregular boundaries south of Dimond Mall unresolved.
D30 best for matching natural boundaries - n campbell lake, N. assembly boundary,  Western is Seward Highway,  and match D 32
Changed 32 - relatively compact - Girdwood to Huffman Road and Hillside. All remote areas reassigned to more compact options.

Kenai Map - Populations balanced by adding small neighborhood from 33 into 34 and moving 33/35 boundaries northward using local input

Rural and Western map -
D 40 - -4.9%   79??%  changed up to 88%
others reassigned to 38 - N 86.5%
37  has 5.15% deviation ????? -4.?% deviation

AFFER looks forward to answering any questions.

Ruederich:  Aerial photography of Anchorage.  Most CC splits we made captured majority of population.  If look at Campbell Park CC - most is in South, tiny part here - we added this small piece back side of road to Basher to this little area south of Tudor to 95% of the population added to Scenic Park?? 

Precinct here has core of NE CC  - below the rest of NE with Scenic Park and Basher.
Our basic premise early on that a solid 7 district map from VRA expert.  So we came up with plan for our group that covers a nine VRA districts.  One new Senate influence by going in and taking the d5, coming out of SE - different by adding Copper River Ahtna people and combing them with district to only Minority influence gives us 35.3 ANatives in thsi combined Kodiak and Aleutian district.  The people we used before are available to reconstruct the other three historical minority districts.  S1/2 of 39,  added Denali Borough, southern NSBorogh Salcha precint - creates two majority seats and most importantly a Sen majority.  78% in 7  and combined sen seat of 7 and 8 = 69%.  Goes ito NSB to Canadian border - that district when combined with 10 has Sen 68.1%.  We have created a paired Maj/Minority seate,  ??????  three senate seats and 4 majority/minority house seats, and minority influence district and the d2 David talked about earlier.
It's a nine VRA seats - only significant change, taken population out of Western Matsu and given to Eastern Matsu.  Awful fast sorry.

Torg:  We don't have copies.  You must have a non-contiguous Senate seat.

Ruedrich:  Minor House seat in SE not paired for VRA {Voting Rights Act] sen. seat.  Took a 28% seat and paired it with a majority seat to get majority influence Sen. seat.  Only complication is to reach over Salcha.  Went around N and S sides of Fairbanks.

McConnochie:  Which pairings

Ruedrich:
1.  North - 2 house seats and sen majo
2.  Pair of Yupik - both majority house and sen  = 6
3.  Min influence in D6 - the other influence is 2 in SE.
4.  Pairing of 5 and 6 gets Min Senate
Ten districts to get the nine entities.

White:  [Missed this looking for an outlet for the computer]  How Native reps paired?
Ruedrich:  Reason Wrangell is VR district because it has significant Native population.
 Kookesh would be in Sen A by himself

White:  For all groups - have you provide your GIS shape?? files to us.
Torgerson:  Next Fairbanks NS Borough.  From Fairbanks.  Just  a moment.
10:50am

City of Anchorage - Community Councils the Basis of Our Government

Baker, Ossiander, Gruenstein

Debbie Ossiander, Barbara Gruenstein, Larry Baker, Mayor's Chief of Staff

Ossiander:  We've heard a lot about your plan.  I've put together a committee of people from where the most comments came from and common understanding.  Best approach constitutional guidelines - physical, geographic marks, respect our neighborhoods.  Our charter says city should be in community councils and these are good voices for neighborhoods.  Although compact, fairly diverse.

Color coding is our community councils - these should be recognized.  Talked about clerk about her concerns about split precincts.  Found real commonality of interest between assembly and mayors office.

Three most problematic parts of your draft plan.
1.  Southern Boundary of Anchorage - Lower hillside and Kenai.  Ours stops at Portage - southern boundary of Muni.
2.  Lots of discussion about NE.  Growing quickly, High density housing. NE CC talked about you for 90 minutes.  Not happy.  Draft plan had NE cc split into 4 legislative districts.  We tried to keep it intact.  Best way to combine with Elmendorf.
Also talked with ER folks.  I was here before as individual.  Now speaking as Assembly member.  We believe natural connection with ER going north - common on a lot of issues.  We believe the give, if it comes, should be at that part of town.

We are arguing for our neighborhoods, boundaries.

Gruenstein:  Anchorage has 119 district split among Assembly districts.  I've been clerk for 8 years.  We have these split precincts hard for voters and everyone to understand.  We made a charter amended on 2008 to have our process after state is done.  Before had to do it before state done.

Baker:  I think as Debbie mentioned, current plans, go to the very heart of our charter and governance.  Dire concern, it does not accomplish goals of our charter.  Made sincere attempt to go back to our charter so boundaries coincide by creeks, major highways, and particularly community councils - and your plan doesn't accomplish that.  We're not here to weigh in about the rest of the state, but what best represents the best for Anchorage.  On your far right, not only best for CC, the basis of our government, and also variation by district and it's less than one percent which goes to the VRA.  Tried to make your life easier, but also a plan that truly goes to what our govt. is all about - creeks, highways, CCs, and precincts.  Hope you'll give consideration.

Torgerson:  You mentioned Chugiak to Matsu - Northern Boundaries.
Ossiander:  No, that's the one that goes beyond the Borough.
Holm:  Maintained earlier tired to maintain community councils, but I see a number of cases were the cc are also incorporated in a number of house districts.  Say NE corner - you have 4 house districts in that one blue area.  That was the complaint when you started.  It seems that you left it.

Ossiander:  We face the same problems you did. No perfect solution.  Looked at historic neighborhoods. Impossible to achieve in perfect sense. Not exactly alligned to our goal, But much closer than yours.

Torgerson:  We did not use Community Councils in ours.  And we felt the Muldoon pain.

You divided the bases?

Baker:  We really looked at it on a total basis.  Those we could closely align and not divide, others we came as close as we could.  In S Anchorage, Taku/Campbell - they usually have more elected officials than citizens - six house districts - six reps and 2 senators and 4 assembly members and sometimes 12 citizens as well.  This really condenses this more.

Torgerson:  Thank you for all the work
Next:  Alaskans For Fair and Equitable Redistricting.  Brief at ease.
10:17am