Alaska Landmine Radio

Jeff and Paxson from the Alaska Landmine break down what transpired over the last five months with the proposed Holtan Hills housing development in Girdwood. It started with a proposal from the Heritage Land Bank in 2021 to build housing in Girdwood. It heated up when many Girdwood residents opposed the development at an Anchorage Assembly meeting in December 2022. In February, the Assembly voted to table the development, preventing it from moving forward. Since, Paxson uncovered how a small group of wealthy Girdwood residents manipulated Anchorage community councils with misinformation related to the project. The situation is a case study in how rich and powerful people abuse the public process to stop new housing from being built. 

Jeff was joined by Representatives Julie Coulombe (R - Anchorage) and Justin Ruffridge (R - Soldotna). They discuss how their first session as legislators has gone, their roles in the House majority this session, the concurrence vote the House took to agree with the Senate's turducken budget, some of their frustrations with the budget process, why the both voted against agreeing with the Senate's budget, some of the problems within their majority, and how next year's session might play out. 

Jeff was joined by Alaska Landmine columnist Jacob Hersh. They discuss his time in Juneau during the start of session compared to the end of session, some political members of his family, his observations of the political process in Juneau, issues with Alaska fisheries, his plans for law school, some problems at the Driftwood hotel in Juneau, the state budget, and his thoughts on other issues facing Alaska. 

Jeff was joined by Representative Will Stapp (R - Fairbanks). They discuss how the military brought him to Alaska, how we was awarded the Purple Heart fighting in Iraq, how he met his wife, why he got involved in Alaska politics, why he decided to run for the State House, the fiscal challenges facing Alaska, this year's operating budget, and his thoughts on how session might end this year. 

Jeff was joined by Representative Jesse Sumner (R - Wasilla). They talk about his race and how there were four Republican candidates, Alaska's new voting system, how the House Republicans were able to take back power this year after six years of being in the minority, what the amount of the dividend may be this year, how he was able to get an artificial intelligence to draft a bill to legalize gambling on Alaska ferries, what the future of artificial intelligence could look like, and the proposed Kink Arm Bridge.

Jeff was joined by Representative Ashley Carrick (D - Fairbanks). They discuss her time working as a legislative staffer for former Representative Adam Wool, the district in Fairbanks she represents, her race and how it was the only legislative race with more than four people, how she overcame a well-known opponent, the chaos that ensued in the Alaska House amid budget debate, her thoughts about some of the procedural moves the House majority made, the budget process, and the new freshman caucus in the House. 

Jeff was joined by Representative David Eastman (R - Wasilla). They discuss the chaos that ensued in the House on Wednesday (4/5/2023) amid debate on the budget, the factors that caused it, the fight between the House majority and House minority, Eastman's position in all of it as he is not in either caucus, the dynamics between the majority and minority in the Legislature, how the majority tabled several of Eastman's budget amendments, and how the budget process might play out this session. 

Jeff was again joined by Senator Robb Myers (R - North Pole). They discuss the new 17-member Senate majority and why he did not join, some of the internal workings of the Senate, his position on key issues like the size of the Permanent Fund Dividend, his recent re-election, his position on the recent controversial pay increase issue, ranked choice voting, his job as a truck driver, and what a long term fiscal plan might look like. 

Jeff was joined by newly elected Representative Justin Ruffridge (R - Soldotna). They talk about an early attempt to make him Speaker of the House (that he was unaware of), moving to the Kenai Peninsula when he was a kid, how he got to know Karl Malone, why he ended up becoming a pharmacist, the healthcare system, why he decided to run for the Legislature, the growing toxicity in politics, and his campaign. 

Jeff was joined by Trevor Storrs, president and CEO of the Alaska Children's Trust. They discuss how he grew up in Canada, how he ended up in Alaska, the history and role of the Alaska Children's Trust, the importance of good role models for kids, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and a current bond proposition on the Anchorage ballot that would dedicate marijuana tax revenue for child care and early education.