Returning home last Wednesday afternoon (September 30) I listened to a message on my answering machine. No name, no number – I even checked the caller identification – just a thank you for my vote the preceding evening. This was odd, usually untraceable calls to my home result in messages calling me a fuzzy-headed so-and-so (actually, they’re generally less polite than that) and they often include a more specific hint as to the topic about which they’re calling.
On Friday, October 2, the administration unveiled it’s 2010 budget proposal at a City Hall work session commencing at 11:30 am. Thus began a busy six-plus weeks of work sessions, public hearings and amendments as we attempt to balance the desire for public services with the desire to keep taxes low. Not an easy task.
Here’s the schedule thus far: (more…)
At long last, here’s the second edition of “Assembly insider baseball” – another opportunity to test your knowledge of the trivial details that probably don’t pertain to municipal governance, but you never know…
Antipathy between certain elements of the Assembly and former Mayor, now Senator Mark Begich isn’t really new or news. That said, one of my colleagues managed to generate headlines last week by claiming the previous administration withheld relevant fiscal information during the waning months of 2009, citing a memo from former CFO Sharon Weddleton.
Editor’s note: As readers will note below, I authored this post over a week ago. Today some of the facts I discuss become “official” which, hopefully, explains the delay in posting.
I’m in a somewhat reflective mood as I write this on September 12, unsure when, or if, I’ll actually post it. It all began fifteen days ago, or about a year ago, perhaps four years ago, or maybe eight years ago, depending on how you track the course of events.
From time to time we receive an “Assembly Information Memorandum” from the administration containing – wait for it – information the administration wants or has to convey to us. At our Tuesday meeting AIM 94-2009 listed various recent executive appointments along with their salaries. Most notable was former Assembly member, state legislator and Burger King honcho Larry Baker’s hire as a “Senior Policy Advisor” earning a whopping $0 (I really didn’t think about that pun until after I typed it, sorry). Given Mr. Baker’s experience that’s a darn good deal – even Erskine Bowles charged the federal government $1 for his labors. Anyhow, several of us lauded his sense of public service but I couldn’t help teasing that I hoped he wouldn’t be negotiating on behalf of the Assembly!
In addition to the comments generated by my previous post I received several phone calls and e-mails, a few of which gently suggested that some additional information might lead me to a different conclusion on budgetary matters. Since then I have reviewed some more detailed material and still have questions.
Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens, is supposed to have written:
“Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”
Monday, September 7 will mark the 127th celebration of Labor Day in the United States. It’s history, according to Wikipedia, is rooted in the violent reaction to a late 19th century labor strike:
This post will include a couple new features rarely seen on this site. First, a politician admitting his error and, second, a really, really bad pun. Regarding the former, Mr. Hall sent me an e-mail Thursday asking to meet for a few minutes and reminded me we were introduced last summer when I joined several fire fighters for a helicopter tour of Anchorage’s high-risk wildfire areas. I’d forgotten meeting him and primarily recall that a fire along the Campbell Creek greenbelt broke out shortly after I’d disembarked (good timing on my part).
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