Alaska Landmine Radio

Suzanne LaFrance - Episode 366

Jeff was joined by Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. They discuss her time as mayor since taking office last July 1, the lack of snowfall this winter in Anchorage, the potential fire danger this summer due to the lack of snow, what the city is doing to mitigate the fire danger, the growing homeless and public camping problem in Anchorage, her thoughts on what to do about it, her plan to have 10,000 housing units built in ten years, a proposed sales tax from the Assembly that was tabled, and where she thinks the city is headed. 

Will Stapp - Episode 365

Jeff was again joined by Representative Will Stapp (R - Fairbanks). They discuss the problems with the budget that include the amount of the Permanent Fund Dividend, increased education spending, and other budget additions, what is happening this year compared to the last two years when he was in the majority, some of the current tensions between the Republican minority and the coalition majority, some interesting bills he recently filed including renting out the Governor's Mansion, and his ideas on how he would solve the budget mess. 

Neil Steininger - Episode 364

Jeff was joined by Juneau Assembly member Neil Steininger. They discuss his election to the Assembly last year, his time as director of the Office of Management and Budget under Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R - Alaska), the precarious fiscal situation the Legislature is in due to the Permanent Fund Dividend, increased education funding, other budget additions Dunleavy and the Legislature want, decreased revenues, and the fact that the Senate majority has said they do not want to tap into savings despite a large deficit based on what everyone wants. 

Brandon Kennedy - Episode 363

Jeff was joined by Anchorage resident Brandon Kennedy. They discuss a medical event his son Marcus had at the Mountain View Boys and Girls Club during a basketball game last August, his son's time at Alaska Regional Hospital, the start of the problems he had with Aetna when his son needed to go to a brain injury facility outside of Alaska, how his son eventually ended up at Shirley Ryan in Chicago, the insurance nightmare he has had to deal with since his son went to Chicago, and some of the help he and his family have gotten along the way. You can view the GoFundMe and more information here. 

Jon Glover - Episode 362

Jeff was joined by Jon Glover, Wildfire Division Chief for the Anchorage Fire Department. They discuss his background in wildland fire fighting with the state and federal government, the bad fire season in the summer of 2019, the fire risks facing Anchorage, some of the techniques to mitigate wildfire damage, the fire risks homelessness and public camping create, what property owners can do for fire mitigation, how fire prevention is so much cheaper than fire damage to property, and the amount of fire personnel we have in Alaska. 

Peter Wallack - Episode 361

Jeff was joined by stuntman and Anchorage resident Peter Wallack. They discuss his growing up in Anchorage, why he decided to join the Marines after high school, his time in the Marines, his thoughts about how warfare is changing, hoe he ended up becoming a stuntman, some of the movies and shows he has worked on, some of the risks of being a stuntman, and his thoughts on the old film tax credit program in Alaska. 

Frank Richards - Episode 360

Jeff was joined by Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) President Frank Richards. They discuss a recent announcement about a deal between AGDC, Enstar, and Glenfarne to potentially construct a gasline, the different gasline ideas from former governors, the issues with building a line to Fairbanks and the railing LNG to the Valley, the sheer amount of gas on the North Slope, the problems with relying on imported LNG for our energy needs, the obstacles to getting a gasline built, how their new deal is structured, and his take on how likely this project is to be successful. 

Jacob Hersh - Episode 359

Jeff was joined by Jacob Hersh. They discuss his summer internship at the Alaska Department of Law, the recent tragedy in New York City where a woman was set on fire, the homelessness problem in Anchorage, Alaska's continued population loss, his halfway mark through law school, his plans for his next summer internship, the importance of the First Amendment, and Donald Trump's incoming presidency.  

Andrew Gray - Episode 358

Jeff was joined by Representative Andrew Gray (D - Anchorage). They discuss his podcast, East Anchorage Book Club, his recent re-election victory, his last two years serving in the House minority, the history of how Mt. McKinley was changed to Denali, the incoming 21-member majority he is a member of, Gov. Mike Dunleavy's (R - Alaska) recent proposed budget, and some of the challenges facing Alaska. 

Tyler Arnold - Episode 357

Jeff was joined by Tyler Arnold from the Alaska Small Business Development Center (SBDC). They discuss his background growing up in Anchorage, how he got into web development and investing in startups, some past speeding tickets, why Anchorage is failing to attract more remote workers, some of the issues new business owners face, the number of older Alaska businesses that are coming up for sale, and the advantages of buying a business rather than working for someone.