Legislature(2019 - 2020)BARNES 124
03/14/2019 01:30 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Alaska Marine Highway System: Public Testimony | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 36 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 14, 2019
1:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Louise Stutes, Co-Chair
Representative Adam Wool, Co-Chair
Representative Matt Claman
Representative Harriet Drummond
Representative Andi Story
Representative Dave Talerico
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Sara Rasmussen
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY SYSTEM
PUBLIC TESTIMONY CONTINUED FROM 3/12/19
- HEARD
HOUSE BILL NO. 36
"An Act repealing an exemption for containing or confining loads
being transported on highways; and providing for an effective
date."
- BILL HEARING CANCELED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
SANDRA HICKS
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
TIMOTHY LINDOFF
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
ELLIE HOBLET
False Pass, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
JOHN MURPHY
False Pass, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
MAKENA SANDELL
False Pass, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against reduced service on the
Alaska Marine Highway System.
RYLEE MULKEY
False Pass, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on the importance of the Alaska
Marine Highway System.
BRIANA SCHILLING
Wrangell, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
LUANN MCVEY
Douglas, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of continued funding
for the Alaska Marine Highway System.
KIRSA HUGHES-SKANDIJS
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
ALICIA HUGHES-SKANDIJS
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
FATHER FRANK REITTER
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
CHRIS BERN
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
JOE MACINKO
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Urged the legislature to submit a veto-
proof budget.
KATHY PEAVEY
Craig, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
MARY THOLE
Skagway, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
TONY GREGORIO
Chignik Lagoon, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
ROSETTA PRING
Skagway, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
LENNON JENNINGS
Skagway, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
ROYCE BORST
Skagway, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
AYDEN FLORES
Skagway, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
EZEKIEL COUGHRAN
Skagway, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
ELIZABETH BACOM
Petersburg, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
MARILYN MENISH-MEUCCI
Petersburg, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
CATHY RENFELDT, Executive Director
Cordova Chamber of Commerce
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
DAVID OTNESS
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
GEORGE REIFENSTEIN
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
TRAVIS LEWIS
Alaskans For Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
CALVIN WILSON, JR.
Organized Village of Kake
Kake, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
DONALD WESTLUND
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
CAMILLA GAINE
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
MJ CADLE
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
BETH SHORT-RHOADS
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
ROBERT NIELSEN
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
FAITH LEE
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
CHANDLER O'CONNELL
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
MELISSA CULLUM
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
COLTON WELCH
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
JANICE LEVY
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to cuts to the
Alaska Marine Highway System.
HEATHER PETERSON
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
PAT JACOBSEN
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
MARY FORBES
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
SHAWN DOCHTERMANN
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
MATT MOIR
North Pacific Seafoods
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
JOSH COUGHRAN, Superintendent
Skagway School District
Skagway, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
PAIGE ROSS
Kake, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
JACKIE MULLER
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to proposed cuts
and/or privatization of the Alaska Marine Highway System.
PAUL NELSON
Haines, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to proposed cuts to
the Alaska Marine Highway System.
TONY TENGS
Haines, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
PENELOPE OSWALT
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
BECKY CHAPEK
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
DEBRA ADAMS
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
MARY DAHLE
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
ERIC WALLEN
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Alaska Marine
Highway System.
GLENN WADE
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
KRIS BENSON
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
JAYNE ANDREEN
Douglas, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Alaska Marine
Highway System.
BOB SYLVESTER
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
STAN HJORT
Petersburg, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
GAYLE NICHOLSON TRIVETTE
Petersburg, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
JOHN KISER
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
MICHAEL MICKELSON
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
KAY GUYMON
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
SUSAN WALSH
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
MIKE SALLEE
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
TRINA ARNOLD, Regional Director
Juneau Office
Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System on behalf of 400 crewmembers currently on AMHS
vessels.
JAMES FOSTER
Haines, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
JEFF KASPER, Southeast Regional Manager
Alaska Public Employees Association
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
JUSTIN PARISH
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
DAN EGOLF
Haines, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
PATRICK PHILPOTT
Haines, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
JAN WRENTMORE, President
Skagway Marine Access Commission
Skagway, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
SETH HOWARD
Anchorage, Anchorage
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
PAT PALKOVIC
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
FRED STURMAN
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of cuts to the state
budget and the distribution of those cuts throughout the state.
MIKE MCCARTHY
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
POPPY BENSON
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
BECKY WORKMAN
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
JAN TROJAN
Craig, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System on behalf of herself and others from Prince of
Wales Island.
LACY FOSMORE
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
SARAH ROARK
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
CHRISTINE NIEMI
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
BRIAN MCCARTHY
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
NOLA LAMKEN
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
BOB CRUISE
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
ELLIE CULLUM
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
ANN FOSTER DOMBKOWSKI
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
FRANK LEE
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
HEATHER LENDE, Assembly Member
Haines Borough Assembly
Haines, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
CATHRYN COATS
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
MARGIE DEMMERT
Angoon, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
LAURA STEELE
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
RICHARD COOK
Haines, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
SHAWNA WILLIAMS-BUCHANAN
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
GEORGE DALTON, JR.
Hoonah, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
KRISTIN MAHLEN
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
MARCELO QUINTO, President
Camp 70
Alaska Native Brotherhood
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the Alaska Marine
Highway System.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:30:00 PM
CO-CHAIR LOUISE STUTES called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Representatives
Drummond, Talerico, Story, and Stutes were present at the call
to order. Representatives Wool and Claman arrived as the
meeting was in progress.
^ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY SYSTEM: PUBLIC TESTIMONY
ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY SYSTEM: PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Continued from 3/12/19
1:30:44 PM
CO-CHAIR STUTES announced that the only order of business would
be a hearing on the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). She
explained that the scheduled hearing for HB 36 was postponed to
allow for additional public testimony on AMHS. She noted that
the usual committee aide is not present, as she is currently on
a ferry and interviewing riders about the importance of AMHS.
CO-CHAIR STUTES recognized that the record for number of public
testifiers was broken during the two preceding AMHS hearings.
She thanked members of the public for their participation. "Our
ferries are important to us," she stated, "and you are making
that very clear." She said the public participation sends a
loud and clear message to the administration of Governor Michael
J. Dunleavy that AMHS is every bit as critical to Alaskans as
land highways.
CO-CHAIR STUTES noted that public testimony would be limited to
one minute to allow everyone the opportunity to speak.
1:32:56 PM
SANDRA HICKS relayed that she began riding AMHS ferries in 1974
when she lived on Annette Island with the United States Coast
Guard (USCG). She described the wonderful occasion of the
first ferry coming to Metlakatla. She shared that she continued
to ride the ferries after moving to Sitka and Juneau. She
expressed disappointment that some committee members are not in
attendance. She observed that those members represent non-
coastal [communities]. She stressed that those members are the
ones who "need to hear it most." She noted that she is wearing
green and orange for luck in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day
and commented that she hopes the state budget will not be "an
April Fool's budget" for AMHS. She remarked that legislators'
cars are carried to Juneau every year on AMHS ferries at no cost
to them. She thanked the committee for hearing additional
testimony. She concluded, "It's not only our lifeline; it's our
bloodline. She characterized AMHS as the lifeline and
bloodline of coastal communities and said those communities
would die without it.
1:34:30 PM
TIMOTHY LINDOFF spoke some words in Tlingit, which he called the
language of his grandfather. He said the following in English:
Our grandparents ... did, in the past, to work with
the state. When Bill Egan was first governor, we
brought the first ferries in Southeast Alaska to
Hoonah. I was a fairly young man; I was so excited
... [knowing] that I was able to work on there.
MR. LINDOFF thanked the people present. He shared that he had a
stroke in 2009 and was "fortunate enough to come through." He
thanked "all the great people that are testifying" and
emphasized the importance of [the ferries]. He said, thank
you in Tlingit and expressed appreciation to "each one of you."
1:36:56 PM
ELLIE HOBLET informed the committee that she is a third-grade
student from False Pass, Alaska. She listed the reasons the
ferry is important to her community, as follows:
If the ferry goes away, then the population of False
Pass will get lower because of the difficulties. In
some communities that is the only way they can get in
and out of town. Another reason we need to keep the
ferry running is because when the plane has something
wrong with it then the ferry can come and pick people
up. But I think the most important thing is that it
brings people together from different communities
close by, because we need to see family. For me,
these are really important reasons why we need the
ferry. Please have Alaska keep the ferry. It is
important to me and Alaska.
1:38:17 PM
JOHN MURPHY relayed that he attends to False Pass School. He
said, "We need the ferry to move people into False Pass." He
explained that the ferry is important because visitors come to
the region and "buy things." He said the ferry is important to
those who live in Alaska. During summer, the ferry brings
people from all over the world to False Pass, "and some might
like to stay." He said the population of False Pass is 150, and
that number would diminish without the ferry. He noted that a
lower population is bad for False Pass and could result in
residents losing their school.
1:39:56 PM
MAKENA SANDELL identified herself as a high school student at
False Pass School. She said the State of Alaska (SOA) should
not reduce ferry service because it is an important means of
transportation that is more affordable than flying. She noted
that planes bring mail to False Pass, but not many passengers
because the cost is prohibitive. She added that the ferries
transport bicycles, kayaks, and motor vehicles to False Pass.
She questioned how False Pass residents would be able to replace
their vehicles without ferry service. She said False Pass
School holds fundraisers for school equipment and school trips.
She explained that much of that money is raised during "Ferry
Friday," during which students sell jewelry, glass balls, and
baked goods to tourists on the ferry. She noted that many
community members earn extra income from tourists who would
likely not visit the Aleutian Islands without the ferries, as
airfare is expensive. She asked the committee to ensure [ferries
run] in the future.
1:41:32 PM
RYLEE MULKEY said he would like to inform legislators about the
importance of the ferries. He said they allow people to travel
from Cold Bay to False Pass to visit family and friends. He
remarked that the ferries are important drivers of income and
referenced the bake sale fundraisers for school field trips. He
expressed hope that this income source does not close. Mr.
Mulkey said that without the ferry, people may not be able to
experience the beauty of the Aleutians, such as seeing a bear
with cubs, a pod of whales, or even "some porpoises passing by."
1:42:35 PM
BRIANA SCHILLING testified in support of AMHS. She identified
herself as a 24-year-old resident of Wrangell, Alaska, with a
four-month-old son. She explained that her child was born in
Juneau, as no one in her small town delivers babies. She said
all pregnant women who live on Wrangell Island must leave it to
give birth. She noted that this is true of many small
communities in the state. She credited AMHS for its ability to
transport her, her family, and her vehicle to Juneau, where she
spent a month waiting for her son to be born. She said this
method was "simple, reliable, and cost-effective." She noted
that it would not have been possible through Alaska Airlines,
which provides the only other means of transportation off
Wrangell Island. She stated that she returned to Wrangell via
AMHS when her son was a week old. Ms. Schilling remarked, "I,
as well as many others, rely on the ferry system. It is our
vital method of transportation. It is our highway, and we
depend on it." She thanked the committee for listening.
1:43:45 PM
LUANN MCVEY asked the committee to preserve funding to support
AMHS. She continued:
To balance the state's budget, we need to stop paying
the oil companies to take our oil, cap or stop
[permanent fund dividend] (PFD) payments, and
institute an income tax.
Yes, the ferries are subsidized. According to a March
2016 study by the McDowell Group, in 2014, the state
spent $117 million on the ferries, with a net economic
benefit of $273 million, thus Alaska gets a 133
percent return on its investment in the marine
highways.
MS. MCVEY said since coming to Alaska in 1957, three generations
of her family have been able to explore Alaska and visit other
towns for work, school, and recreation. She emphasized, "The
ferries are not a frivolous expense for those of us who live
here in places that are not connected to roads. They are our
roads."
1:44:59 PM
KIRSA HUGHES-SKANDIJS relayed some of the challenges that face
people who need to move their households into and out of Alaska.
She noted that some of these people are military service
members. She remarked that, if any member of those families has
a history of driving under the influence (DUI), then driving
through Canada is not an option. She noted that air
transportation can be prohibitively expensive, especially with a
large amount of cargo to move. She said AMHS is not only the
indubitable lifeblood of the coastal communities, but it is also
the only way except by air that people can enter or leave
the state without leaving the country. She mused that this
point has been overlooked by "people in the Interior and the
Mat-Su."
1:46:05 PM
ALICIA HUGHES-SKANDIJS quoted Governor Michael J. Dunleavy, as
follows:
I don't envision at any time that there would not be a
functional and robust ferry service in Southeast, the
panhandle of Alaska.
MS. A. HUGHES-SKANDIJS said she too cannot envision such a thing
because AMHS and its ferries are vital to Southeast Alaska's
economy and community, as well as the health and safety of its
residents. She said cuts to AMHS would affect not just
Southeast Alaska, but other coastal communities too. She said
AMHS is also vital to the state economy, culture, and way of
life, as well as the health of residents across the state. She
stated, "The ferries are our road system." She said she cannot
imagine "any way to go forward if you shut down a road system in
any other part of the state." She emphasized her opposition to
the proposed cuts to AMHS and urged [the legislature] to fully
fund it.
1:47:25 PM
FATHER FRANK REITTER identified himself as the pastor at St.
Mary's Catholic Parish in Kodiak and noted that he was
previously a pastor in Valdez, Cordova, Dutch Harbor, and
Unalaska. He stated that he is testifying on behalf of himself.
He noted that 288 people testified during a previous hearing on
Tuesday, March 12, 2019. He said this indicates the "dire
straits" costal Alaskans would find themselves in should
proposed cuts to AMHS be enacted. He said the testifiers have
made the reasons [for preserving the ferry system] and the
impact [of not doing so] abundantly clear. He continued:
The Coast Guard, the State Police, and local agencies
spend millions of dollars to prepare to be, and then
to be, a lifeline to save one individual. No one asks
if it's cost-effective. Roads are the lifeline of
communities. There would be a radically different
Alyeska without the Seward Highway; a radically
different Wasilla or Talkeetna without the Parks
Highway; a radically different Alaska without the
[Alaska-Canadian Highway] (ALCAN). People in coastal
communities are some of the most hard-working,
creative, and iconic Alaskans. Please keep the same
lifeline their landed brethren have. Thank you.
1:48:42 PM
CHRIS BERN identified himself as a six-year resident of Kodiak
representing himself. He remarked, "You do not realize what you
have until it's gone." He recalled what Kodiak Island was like
in the early 1960s before the Motor Vessel (M/V) Tustumena began
service. He said, "Back then it was funded by tickets sales and
a state income tax that was all pre-oil." He recalled [riding
the ferry] to go to sports tournaments a couple times a year.
He opined, "There was a need then and there is now." He
advocated against closing AMHS and characterized the idea as
"poor thinking." He argued that the ferry system worked in the
late 1960s and should be able to do so now. He noted that a new
ferry dock was constructed on Kodiak Island at a cost of
millions of dollars, so to "mothball all that stuff" does not
make sense.
1:49:52 PM
JOE MACINKO identified himself as a 45-year resident [of Kodiak]
and a previous resident of Sand Point, Alaska. He said he
supports the ferry but argued that it does not matter how much
heartfelt testimony is given; the ferry will be lost unless the
House of Representatives and Senate produce a "veto-proof
budget" to circumvent Governor Dunleavy's line-item veto power.
He opined that the governor has already shown he does not care
for rural Alaska. He restated his message for the House of
Representatives and Senate to ensure the budget is veto-proof
before it is submitted.
1:50:47 PM
KATHY PEAVEY testified that she fully supports "keeping the
Alaska Marine Highway operation [sic]." She commented that AMHS
employs many people she knows, and "those workers are the
healthy lifelines of our communities. She noted she also
supports the Inter-Island Ferry Authority. She described times
she has relied upon AMHS, including an instance when she needed
to transport her vehicle for repair to Bellingham, Washington,
as the job could not be done in Alaska. She stated that she has
used AMHS for over 30 years to travel up and down the coast of
Alaska and to Canada and Washington. She voiced support for
AMHS workers.
1:51:51 PM
MARY THOLE said she supports AMHS and shared that AMHS has been
a lifeline for her family in transporting them for medical care.
She said the ferry also provides access to home-building
resources and affordable groceries in Juneau, as well as to
Juneau International Airport. Without this access, she said,
Skagway residents would have to drive to Canada to shop. She
stated that residents of Skagway need to be able to access
affordable health care via affordable, reliable transportation.
She said the ferries are a consistent means of travel to access
advanced health care. She noted that AMHS ferries are the
primary means by which local students travel to leadership
conferences and competitions for sports, robotics, and drama,
debate, and forensics. She stated, "The ferry connects our
school districts in a way that students in Anchorage visit their
rival schools by the bus system." She said airline travel is
far too expensive for [such travel].
1:53:13 PM
TONY GREGORIO, testifying from Chignik Lagoon, Alaska, stated
that the ferry system is vital to his community. He explained
that air freight costs are very expensive. He indicated that
the recent fishing season was the worst season we've ever had."
He noted that elderly people in his community depend on the
ferry to travel to and from Anchorage because they cannot afford
to fly. He noted that salmon fishing is virtually the only
source of income in the community. He concluded, "If we have to
take my PFD, take it. I mean, we need this ferry system."
1:54:40 PM
ROSETTA PRING told the committee that she is a sixth grader from
Skagway who is representing herself. She asked committee
members to imagine that one of their family members had a
terrible illness and "you couldn't go and help them." She said
this could happen to everyone who depends on AMHS if it were to
shut down. She asked, "Do you really want that to happen to the
state?" She opined that the ferry is a gateway to the world
outside Skagway; it is needed for "sports, family vacations, and
emergency getaways." She said the ferry "means a lot to
different people in different ways," including family issues
thousands of miles away and "a luxury vacation that we're
missing out on." Ms. Pring said she has begun playing
basketball and has not been able to travel [with her team] once.
She said that's not fair. She noted that the cost of air travel
is high, so ferries are the only affordable means of
transportation available.
1:55:59 PM
LENNON JENNINGS, a fifth grader at Skagway City School, asked
that AMHS be funded. He argued that many people would be forced
out of Southeast Alaska if the ferry system went unfunded, as
people would not want to live in places without reliable
transportation like Skagway. He relayed how his teacher was
able to ride a ferry during poor weather to visit a dying
relative, something that would not have been possible without
AMHS. He said it would be heartbreaking if someone were unable
to visit a dying family member because there was no ferry
service. He noted that school sports would be affected by the
ferry not running, as students would be unable to travel to
other communities to play other teams. Mr. Jennings described
riding the ferry with friends as "the best thing ever.
1:57:06 PM
ROYCE BORST, a fifth grader from Skagway, stated that school
activities depend on AMHS service. He relayed the
disappointment he felt when a basketball tournament was
canceled. He urged the legislature not to "cancel the ferry."
Mr. Borst said he and his family travel by ferry to catch a
flight in Juneau when they want to visit family members in
Wisconsin. He said his family would no longer be able to do
this if ferry service is canceled, because flights are
expensive, and airplanes cannot fly out of Skagway when the
weather is inclement.
1:57:53 PM
AYDEN FLORES, a fifth grader, testified in support of keeping
the ferry. He said the ferry is needed by families for
vacations and by the school for transportation to events related
to robotics, track, and basketball. He said those trips would
likely not be possible without ferries. He relayed that the
weather in Skagway results in a high likelihood of canceled
flights. Mr. Flores said it would be impossible for his parents
to made essential work trips including to other states
without AMHS. He also spoke to the role ferries play in helping
people visit sick relatives outside of Skagway, noting that his
grandmother lives far away and is a smoker.
1:59:13 PM
EZEKIEL COUGHRAN named two reasons why the ferries are
important: For visiting sick/dying relatives and for attending
sports competitions. He relayed that he was recently upset to
have a sports trip canceled because the ferry was unavailable,
and flights were not able to depart Skagway. He said to not be
able to travel out of Skagway during inclement weather would be
devastating.
2:00:01 PM
ELIZABETH BACOM testified in support of AMHS and argued that it
is necessary for island communities. She relayed that her
pickup truck had an airbag recall but no mechanic in Petersburg
would make the repair. She explained that to barge the vehicle
would have been a hassle and would have left her family without
a vehicle for two weeks. She described the process through
which she rode the ferry to get the truck repaired. "Even with
the reduced schedule," she said, "it worked for us." She
mentioned that there was a time in January when five consecutive
Alaska Airlines flights over two and a half days did not arrive
to or leave from Petersburg. "Without the ferry," she
explained, "there is no redundancy in transportation for island
communities that have failed air transport." She recalled that
in the aftermath of [the terrorist attacks of September 11,
2001,] there were no planes flying for three days. She argued
that, before cutting, there should be a thorough, unbiased,
impact analysis.
2:01:32 PM
MARILYN MENISH-MEUCCI identified herself as a resident of
Petersburg since 1961. She recalled watching M/V Malaspina make
its first trip through Wrangell Narrows. She stated that she
supports full funding for AMHS. She called AMHS crucial for
residents of coastal communities. She said coastal residents
use AMHS for almost everything connected to their lives. She
remarked that there is not one state highway that pays for
itself. She said she does not want $90,000 spent on a
consultant. She remarked, "The statewide steering committee
looking into the future of the Alaska Marine Highway that is in
place now should be trusted to come up with options." She noted
that the steering committee members "all live here and have a
vested interest in getting it right." She shared that she
supports a state income tax, a $10 school tax, and a
smaller/eliminated PFD. She remarked, "Restart the reservations
for the Alaska Marine Highway for this fall otherwise you will
definitely kill the Alaska Marine Highway."
2:02:39 PM
CATHY RENFELDT, Executive Director, Cordova Chamber of Commerce,
said AMHS is a vital and essential means of travel out of
Cordova. She said it is also a necessary shipping resource for
Cordova's businesses and the Copper River salmon fishery. She
relayed that six of the nation's top 12 ports for commercial
seafood landing rely on AMHS as their only connection to the
hard road system. She stated that it is in the best interest of
all Alaska businesses to have a year-round ferry system carrying
customers. She remarked that dismantling AMHS would likely
force up to 75,000 residents of 27 communities off the hard road
system and cause them to make purchases through Seattle,
completely bypassing Anchorage and the rest of Alaska. She
stated that this would mean a huge loss of revenue for Alaska
businesses. She opined that AMHS needs reform but noted that
the AMHS Reform Steering Committee has already put time and
money into a comprehensive study. She stressed that SOA should
work off that study. She said SOA has many financial challenges
but emphasized the importance of AMHS.
2:03:59 PM
DAVID OTNESS criticized Senate Bill 21 [passed in the Twenty-
Eighth Alaska State Legislature] and the oil tax credits that
resulted from it. He argued that Senate Bill 21 is the cause of
the current budget debate. He noted that SOA funded AMHS for 15
years "prior to oil." He also referenced federal subsidies. He
opined that the governor's proposed budget was drawn up by
"ultra-right libertarian groups" with the goal of broad
privatization. He suggested that people look up the American
Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to "find out what's going on
with this governor and a lot of representatives."
2:05:17 PM
GEORGE REIFENSTEIN said he spent 18 years working on [AMHS]
ships. He briefly discussed his career. He noted that he was
appointed and served as Operations Manager during the
administrations of Governors Steve Cowper, Wally Hickel, and
Tony Knowles. He characterized AMHS as a weave that enables
commerce, creates educational opportunities, and brings people
together. He said it was not an accident that the surveying
for AMHS ferry terminals began immediately after statehood. He
characterized AMHS as "a compact to bring the rural communities
on par with the more urban centers. He opined that it is
important to remember that the connection delivered by AMHS was
owed and promised to the people of Alaska.
2:06:41 PM
TRAVIS LEWIS, Alaskans For Alaska, said he grew up in the
community of Elfin Cove and now lives in Hoonah. He noted that
he cannot remember a major life or family event that did not
involve a ferry ride. He relayed anecdotes of a birth and of a
funeral involving a ferry ride. He identified himself as "a
retired airborne infantry officer" and noted that he has been to
six of the seven continents. He commented that everywhere where
there is cheap energy and cheap transportation, there are
healthy people and a thriving economy. He noted that the
locations that do not have cheap energy and transportation are
home to people in poverty. He asked the committee to not "turn
the coastal area of Alaska into a third-world country
situation." He remarked, Everyone in Alaska is in the same
lifeboat; if one side goes down, we're all going to get wet."
He invited committee members to research Governor Jay Hammond's
"original tax plan on the Permanent Fund and how it should be."
He also invited committee members to look at reports on ferry
revenue generated by the Southeast Conference. He asked the
committee members to find a way to tax out-of-state businesses
that come to rural areas and do not contribute to local
infrastructure, noting that coastal communities are overwhelmed.
2:08:20 PM
CALVIN WILSON, JR., Organized Village of Kake, identified
himself as a representative of the Organized Village of Kake and
said he works with the federal Tribal Transportation Program
(TPP). He called AMHS the lifeline of coastal communities
across Alaska, including the Village of Kake. He said members
of his village depend on AMHS for delivery of essential goods
and services. He stated that the safety of the ferry system
allows Kake's student athletes more opportunities to travel and
compete. He said Kake residents rely on the ferry to connect
with family in times of sadness and celebration. He said the
Organized Village of Kake opposes any reduction in service or
increase in ferry costs. He asked the chair's permission to
submit Resolution 2019-03 by the Organized Village of Kake in
full support of AMHS.
CHAIR STUTES let Mr. Wilson know that the committee aide would
be happy to receive the resolution.
2:09:39 PM
DONALD WESTLUND noted that SB 38, which relates to disaster
relief appropriations, does not contain funding for AMHS. He
stated that this is a disaster for the coastal communities. He
called AMHS the safest and longest highway in Alaska. He asked,
"What price do you put on a life?" He said he supports using
all PFD moneys for essential services. He added that he does
not support an income tax. He stated that he does not want to
pay back a portion of the PFD to SOA or the federal government.
He restated that he would prefer SOA use all his PFD for
essential services. He compared dismantling AMHS for Southeast
and Southwest Alaska to tearing up Interstate-5 in the Lower 48.
He asked the committee to please support and fund AMHS.
2:10:45 PM
CAMILLA GAINE stated that she is speaking on behalf of maritime
communities. She identified herself as a resident of Alaska for
almost 25 years and a current resident of Haines. She said she
works for AMHS as an oiler on M/V Kennicott but is not
testifying to defend her livelihood as she is retiring this
year. She explained that she is advocating for a way of life
and noted that Haines residents depend on ferry service for mail
delivery, access to healthcare, and job commuting. She said
AMHS transports Haines's school children to wintertime
competitions and broadens their educations by providing access
to programs in other communities. She said year-round residents
deserve improved, dependable, and more-affordable ferry service,
especially in the winter months. She continued:
Does our governor and his imported [Office of
Management & Budget] (OMB) director wish to shut down
our year-round maritime communities? Or are they
merely ambivalent because the AMHS is not part of
their constellation of special interests?
2:11:49 PM
MJ CADLE identified herself as a resident of Ketchikan. She
shared concerns about what would happen if AMHS shut down and
there was another event like the [the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001], meaning residents of coastal communities
would not be able to leave. She added that, in the event of a
major emergency, no one would be able to send help to coastal
communities. She expressed additional concerns about possible
oil spills and the role of ferries in carrying responders to
affected waters. She echoed previous concerns about healthcare
and the high cost of flying to address medical needs. She
stated that she is in favor of AMHS. She said she feels AMHS
should be treated and funded the same as road highways. She
said, "I think you should charge tolls on the highways of the
North. If you close the ferries, close the highways; they're
the same." She shared her support for including restaurants,
bars, and gift shops on the ferries to increase revenue. She
also shared her support for lower fares to increase ridership
and revenue. She said there should be a ferry pass like the
Eurail Pass. She stated that she would like to see an increased
schedule to spur economic development. She shared concerns
about increased shipping costs, noting that costs have doubled
over the past decade. She remarked, "I am concerned this is a
push for the capital move by decreasing access to Juneau and I
am concerned it's a push for the highway out of Juneau."
2:13:05 PM
BETH SHORT-RHOADS identified herself as a Sitka resident
representing herself. She remarked as follows:
We have a solution to our ferries. It's the Alaska
Marine Highway Reform Initiative drafted by Southeast
Conference. This plan will make ferries a viable
public corporation owned by Alaskans much like the
Alaska railroad. Ferries are a good investment. They
have a $273 million economic impact, provide 17,000
good-paying jobs, and are a main source of transport
for Alaska seafood. 2019 is a turning point for
Alaska and we all feel it. Alaskans: We're turning
out in record numbers. Keep speaking out. Talk to
lawmakers about the ferry reform initiative.
Lawmakers: We know you didn't take this job to watch
out infrastructure crumble. 2019 is your opportunity
to change history. Thank you.
2:13:58 PM
ROBERT NIELSEN identified himself as a Sitka resident
representing himself. He reflected on the original intent of
AMHS when it was established in the 1960s. He spoke to the
previous isolation of coastal communities and the high price of
groceries. He advocated for the entire legislature to take a
holistic approach to lowering the cost of transportation across
the state. He advocated for lower prices of groceries and fuel.
2:15:11 PM
FAITH LEE identified herself as a Sitka resident representing
herself. She asked whether reductions to AMHS would reduce
federal highway funding in Alaska, and by how much. She urged
committee members to consider the impact of AMHS reductions to
the culture of Alaska's coastal communities. She spoke to equal
access to roads, connections, and gatherings. She noted that
the ferries are the only means for some communities to access
fresh produce. She added that the ferries allow members of
coastal communities to come together and share meals, noting
that there are no restaurants in small communities. She
reiterated that cuts to the ferries impact the culture of the
people of Alaska. She also mentioned the loss of living-wage
jobs. She asked how many people would lose their jobs. She
referenced cuts to education and asked how many people "in your
department" would lose their jobs. She stated, "Alaskans must
support Alaskans."
2:16:26 PM
CHANDLER O'CONNELL identified herself as "a born and raised
Sitkan" representing herself. She said AMHS is critical for
Sitka's small businesses, healthcare, educational opportunities,
family connections, emergency services, and independent
travelers. She pointed to independent travelers as "a potential
growth industry for our state." She said AMHS is essential
infrastructure and just as fundamental as any of Alaska's state-
funded roads. She said to eliminate AMHS would be
discriminatory against coastal villages. She remarked that the
state's current challenges offer an opportunity to discuss the
kinds of infrastructure necessary to accomplish its goals and
grow in the future. She shared her support for a progressive
income tax and the repeal of some oil company subsidies before
cutting essential services like AMHS. She asked committee
members to listen to all the people who have called in to
testify.
2:17:36 PM
MELISSA CULLUM said she moved to Southeast Alaska nearly 15
years ago. In that time, she explained, she has relied heavily
on AMHS to travel for work, pleasure, and for medical reasons.
She said AMHS connects over 30 villages and outlying communities
to larger hubs throughout Southeast Alaska and Southwest Alaska.
She noted that 57 to 62 percent of the ferries' total capacity
is used to transport vehicles, goods, and services. She said
the ferries serve the needs of two-thirds of Alaskans and are
part of the national highway system, which receives funding in
order to secure the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.
She stated that the 3,500 miles of the Alaska Marine Highway
accounts for 62 percent of the entire Alaska highway system.
However, she said, the funds that support AMHS are the only ones
being considered for cuts. She paraphrased Congressman Don
Young by saying the success of Alaska's economy depends directly
on AMHS's ability to move people and product efficiently and
safely.
2:19:10 PM
COLTON WELCH identified himself as a lifelong Juneau resident
representing himself. He called it "an absolute slap in the
face to Coastal Alaska and to rural communities" that the AMHS
budget is "on the chopping block" while SOA continues to
subsidize oil companies, pays out large PFDs, and refuses to
impose an income tax. He noted that Alaska had an income tax
well before the PFD. He said SOA has an obligation to serve its
people, especially its indigenous people. He shared that he has
many family members in Kake and expressed that, without the
ferries, he would not have had the opportunity to spend time
with them. He continued:
I feel as though when you take these things away from
us that you are condemning our families, our cultures,
our ways of life, saying that ou are not good
enough, because you're not on the road system."
MR. WELCH made a call to representatives to "stand up for us"
and asked that they form a veto-proof majority. He expressed
how worried he is and said the current budget situation appears
bleak, which is why so many people have testified passionately.
2:20:27 PM
JANICE LEVY identified herself as a lifelong Juneau resident and
said she opposes cuts to AMHS. She said AMHS is the highway
that connects Southeast Alaska economically, medically,
educationally, socially, and culturally. She cited AMHS as the
reason why Southeast Alaska has become a cohesive region. She
noted that AMHS was not "built overnight" and warned that the
dismantling of the system would not be easily fixable. She
suggested repealing Senate Bill 21 [passed in the Twenty-Eighth
Alaska State Legislature], halving oil production tax credits,
or making it so the credits only go into effect when the price
of oil drops to $40 per barrel. She quoted a Juneau Empire
opinion piece by former Senator Joe Paskvan: "The forecasted
credit each year through 2028 is never less than $1 billion a
year." She emphasized the $1 billion figure.
2:21:43 PM
HEATHER PETERSON said the ferry has been a vital lifeline to her
community in Kodiak and its surrounding villages. She described
how the ferries helped her parents operate a rental car
business. She said AMHS brings tourists to Kodiak daily and
this keeps the business alive. She noted that 7,000 people live
in Kodiak and an additional 7,000 people reside on the grounds
of the USCG base there. She said the ferries enable Kodiak
residents to travel to the mainland. She said this allows them
to shop for cars and school clothes, as well as to drive to the
Lower 48. She commented that the ferry enables the annual
Kodiak Crab Festival, which allows residents and people from the
surrounding villages to come together. She said she resents
comments that she deems ignorant, such as "You choose to live
there." She noted that she was born in Kodiak and AMHS has
connected her to her home state all her life.
2:22:47 PM
PAT JACOBSEN said, "I don't think there could be too much
testimony in favor of the ferry system, which is so important to
coastal communities." She recounted riding ferries to move her
nieces in at University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). She
described paying an expensive fee to ride the ferry but not
having to pay to use the roads to Anchorage. She said she
understands and supports that ferries charge fees for their use.
She continued, "Not one highway pays for itself, but all provide
important travel opportunities and add to the quality of life in
this great state." She noted that, although she has not driven
on state highways for several years, she recognizes that other
Alaskans rely on them and therefore she supports all aspects of
the highway system. She said Alaska is known for its residents'
independence, but also for the way they support others. She
said, "In many aspects of life, we are all in this together. I
support the land highways, but certainly the marine highways as
well."
2:23:54 PM
MARY FORBES echoed what previous testifiers had said about AMHS.
She said she strongly supports toll roads on the mainland. She
noted that it is a part of life in the Lower 48, where the money
paid in tolls goes toward the maintenance and upkeep of the
road. She said if the ferries are going to be cut, then there
needs to be tolls on mainland highways as well.
2:24:32 PM
SHAWN DOCHTERMANN identified himself as 41-year resident of
Kodiak. He said he supports fully funding AMHS. He said he
concurs with all prior testimony except for testimony in support
of privatizing AMHS. He said his primary concern after fully
funding AMHS is a replacement vessel for M/V Tustumena, which he
noted was built in 1963. He remarked that M/V Tustumena incurs
cost overruns every time it undergoes maintenance. He said the
2019 capital budget appropriated $29 million as matching funds
for a $244 million replacement ferry, meaning the federal
government would fund 90 percent of the cost. He called that a
great deal. He noted that Governor Dunleavy's proposed budget
removes those funds and "put[s] all of that in the highway
fund," which he said is inappropriate. He remarked that a
proposal was supposed to be issued in January 2019 and a
shipbuilder selected in July 2019. He asked committee members
to "forge ahead with getting all the money needed and getting
the [$29 million] back where it's supposed to be."
2:25:50 PM
MATT MOIR, North Pacific Seafoods, said he is testifying in
support of AMHS. He relayed that many goods and services move
between Kodiak and the mainland, including frozen seafood and
commercial fishing gear. He stated that it is important to have
an affordable way for instate commerce to function. He said
AMHS is one of the most affordable modes of transportation for
the Kodiak community. He said the ferries also transport crew
members, supplies, vehicles, and coastal community athletic
teams. He encouraged committee members to support AMHS.
2:26:52 PM
JOSH COUGHRAN, Superintendent, Skagway School District, said he
is accompanied by several high school students and the student
government advisor. He stated that they have inspired his
comments. He said AMHS represents the lifeblood of the
community, especially as relates to the school. He commented
that it is difficult to quantify just how much the school
district depends on ferry service in Skagway. He said the
cessation of service would fundamentally change the way Skagway
School operates and would ultimately result in Skagway's
children receiving a less robust educational experience and
would threaten the wellbeing of some of the school's most
vulnerable students. He noted that the district does not have
the capacity to employ special service providers such as
physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists,
speech pathologists, vision and hearing screening providers, and
people authorized to provide immunizations. He said he could
speak at length about the vital medical services provided by
AMHS to communities like Skagway that do not have a medical
doctor or surgical facilities. He said the ferry is important
to Skagway's year-round economy and helps the district train its
staff.
2:28:10 PM
PAIGE ROSS introduced herself in English and in Tlingit. She
said she is [indisc.] years old. She identified herself as a
student of Kake City School District. She said Kake has access
to air travel but noted that the weather is often inclement.
She shared that she has severe food allergies which require many
shots. She said that this makes it harder for her to travel on
planes than on ferries. She said she must travel by ferry to
get her food. She shared that she would be a junior high
basketball player in the fall, and that it would be safer for
her to travel by ferry than by plane. She said that, without
ferries, the lives of people in Kake will be more difficult than
they are now. She asked the committee members to not cut the
ferry. She thanked the committee in English and in Tlingit.
2:29:10 PM
JACKIE MULLER said he is opposed to cuts to and the
privatization of AMHS. He said it is "a lifeline for the
villages."
2:29:54 PM
PAUL NELSON identified himself as a resident of Haines
representing himself. He noted that a person named Tracey
Harmon had to leave before she was able to testify. He
requested that AMHS and other essential public transportation
systems not be shut down. He said Alaska has the capital, the
people, and the resources to operate AMHS and all essential
public services. He said what Alaska does not have is a
management strategy that uses available resources to maintain
essential public services and distribute a PFD. He remarked
that there are companies and nations with far fewer resources
than Alaska that are using proper resource management to service
the people who own those resources. He said he would contact
every legislator with the outline for how this is being done.
2:31:07 PM
TONY TENGS identified himself as a retired ferry worker and a
former bartender. He said that, in order to pay expenses, AMHS
has increased fares to the point where many people decide not to
travel with it. He said another big problem is that those who
can afford the trip do not want to ride the ferry. He
attributed this to the elimination of basic elements of
hospitality, such as onboard bars. He remarked, "The AMHS
representative lied to the legislature in saying that not even
one route was profitable with the bar position." He said that
becomes irrelevant when one considers loss of gross revenue from
travelers not wanting to sail with AMHS due to the lack of basic
hospitality during what can be a long and stressful trip. He
recalled how AMHS moved people south in the days after [the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001] when they could not
fly.
2:32:16 PM
PENELOPE OSWALT identified herself as a resident of Cordova and
said she represents herself and her husband. She said she
believes SOA needs to fund AMHS as a transportation corridor for
rural Alaskans, as it was originally intended. She remarked
that many have worked for several years on a possible reform
plan to keep AMHS alive and sustainable. She said Governor
Dunleavy's proposed budget demonstrates that he means to gut any
possible system. She said the reasons why Alaska's coastal
communities need ferries have already been stated [by other
testifiers]. She said she wants legislators to help keep rural
communities economically viable. She urged legislators to roll
back credits to oil companies and charge what other oil states
charge to harvest resources. She requested the institution of a
state education and income tax to ensure all users of Alaska's
systems pay their fair share. She asked that the Permanent Fund
[Dividend] be reduced to what it was originally intended to be,
which she clarified is "a bonus, not something to support your
families on." She continued, "Please take the politics out of
our transportation system" and asked that AMHS be funded. She
concluded by saying Alaska is so much more than Anchorage and
Fairbanks. She said, "We do believe in ferries."
2:33:29 PM
BECKY CHAPEK echoed the testimony of Ms. Oswalt. She said it is
tedious to have to grovel about the ferry year after year. She
called AMHS an essential service that "we don't necessarily
deserve, but that we have, and we need to keep." She said the
issue of AMHS is a political football. She stated that the
legislature is a team without a coach. Continuing the metaphor,
she said the quarterback gets selected by popular vote, so he or
she is not always the best person to "figure out what to do."
She said there does not appear to be a long-term plan and opined
that it is not a very good way to run a business. She
characterized the AMHS issue as "political terrorism" and spoke
of more to come with "the budget shortfall," which she said was
the reason why the Permanent Fund was founded.
2:34:45 PM
DEBRA ADAMS identified herself as a 40-plus year resident of
Cordova. She expressed disappointment that not all committee
members are present, noting that AMHS is a crucial issue for
many communities. She said the entire committee needs to hear
this testimony. She took issue with the assertion that SOA is
"subsidizing the ferry system." She clarified that AMHS is "our
road" and roads are not subsidized, they are maintained. She
said AMHS is important to fishing families like hers because
they use it to acquire thousands of dollars' worth of equipment
from Anchorage. She said the ferry also carries fishing
families' product to Anchorage. She said she is a teacher of
20-plus years and said the ferry is the most economical means of
travel for Cordova residents.
2:36:01 PM
MARY DAHLE said a comprehensive AMHS is vital to Alaska. She
commented that most of the fleet was built prior to the [Trans-
Alaska Pipeline System]. She noted that numerous independent
surveys have shown that Alaska's Interior benefits from AMHS.
For every dollar spend on AMHS, she explained, $2.30 is returned
to Alaska's economy. She said the impact of the proposed cuts
would be devastating to Alaska's economy. She commented that
reducing AMHS's budget by $96 million would wipe out almost $221
million of economic activity within Alaska. She expressed that
she does not believe privatizing the system is the answer, as
SOA would lose control over vital infrastructure. She concluded
by saying it is SOA's responsibility to provide solid
infrastructure. She said supporting a solid, government-run
AMHS is supporting the greater Alaska economy.
2:37:07 PM
ERIC WALLEN identified himself as a 40-year resident of
Ketchikan. He said he hopes the committee members are all
familiar with the 2016 McDowell Group study that showed AMHS's
economic impact far exceeds its costs. She remarked that a
highway is the lifeblood of an economy. "When you shut down a
highway," he said, "you kill commerce." He opined that Alaska
cannot afford that. He said the benefits provided by the
ferries are countless and understated. He said they provide
access to other communities, to shopping opportunities, and to
healthcare. He relayed that, during the previous week, M/V
Malaspina transported over 400 Southeast Alaska students to and
from Sitka. He said it is completely irresponsible to not plan
to fund AMHS. He commented that the damage to ridership is
probably already happening as reservations are not being taken
beyond October 1. He said this undermines trust in AMHS's
reliability. He said it also appears to be purposeful and
malicious mismanagement to disregard the 2016 McDowell Group
study in order to spend $60-90,000 to get another study hoping
to get a more desirable answer. He said he would like to see a
commitment to full funding of AMHS for the residents of and
visitors to Alaska.
2:38:17 PM
GLENN WADE said he has "lived here" since the mid-1970s. He
said he is here to add strength to the voice to keep AMHS
running. He recognized "the abundance of reasons" why AMHS
should keep running and expressed his shock that "this process"
has to exist. He said Governor Dunleavy's administration needs
to hear these reasons. He questioned whether it is legal to
remove infrastructure and public safety measures for only one
segment of the state. He noted that this would not treat all
citizens equally as it would penalize 10 percent of the
population. He suggested that all Alaska highways should be
treated equally in order to keep AMHS going.
2:39:17 PM
KRIS BENSON identified herself as a 20-year resident of Juneau
testifying on behalf of herself. She said the proposed cut to
AMHS that caused the cessation of winter service is no different
than a cut to the Department of Transportation & Public
Facilities (DOTPF) maintenance budget that might cause it to
close the Parks Highway for the winter to save money on plowing.
She agreed that this is an equity issue. She suggested that the
discussion about cuts needs to be refocused on revenue. She
opined that residents do not need a big PFD and mused that they
did not previously receive a big PFD. She said she would much
rather have state services and the continued existence of AMHS.
She stated that she wants to see the implementation of an income
tax as well as equitable taxation of oil companies.
2:40:15 PM
JAYNE ANDREEN identified herself as a 25-year resident of
Douglas and a previous resident of Homer. She said she has
ridden ferries throughout her 40 years. She recalled times when
the ferries allowed her to travel to Juneau when flights had
been canceled. She said AMHS is a delightful way to travel.
She echoed previous reasons for continued ferry services. She
shared an anecdote of a friend who required emergency eye
surgery in Seattle. The friend had an air bubble injected into
his eye which precluded him from flying for six weeks. She said
that once he was released, her friend thought he would be able
to take the ferry out of Bellingham, but unfortunately M/V
Columbia was out of service at the time. She explained that he
was reduced to buying a cruise ship passage to get home. She
said she supports an income tax and the elimination of oil
company subsidies. "When we have an unexpected expense," she
said, "we find the revenue to cover it."
2:41:32 PM
BOB SYLVESTER said he supports full funding for AMHS, including
upkeep that has been recently lacking. He requested a return to
a fuller schedule. He said he is willing to pay through a
broad-based graduated tax that includes all workers, including
non-residents. He stated that he has been riding the ferry
since the 1970s and called it "an enjoyable way to get around,
and a necessary one."
2:42:32 PM
STAN HJORT said he is representing himself as well as everyone
who benefits from the ferries. He stated, "Governor Bill Egan
figured that when the ferries were started, we were money-ahead
because we didn't have to build the roads." He said most roads
in the Railbelt region were built by the federal government
before or during World War II. He said residents of the
Railbelt region are using roads for which they never had to pay.
He said that includes the Alaska Railroad. He remarked,
"Raising prices when revenues are down is absolutely stupid."
He requested a "driver rides free with vehicles" option for the
ferry, especially during the winter. He said this would be a
trade stimulator. He suggested the reopening of onboard bars
and gift shops. He explained that it is obvious that a well-
managed bar will add revenue. He said a large portion of summer
ridership travels to the Interior. He added that the dollar
amount associated with those travelers surprised even him.
2:43:49 PM
GAYLE NICHOLSON TRIVETTE identified herself as a resident of
Juneau. She said she agrees with previous testimony in support
of AMHS. She explained that she was born and raised in
Petersburg and has traveled by ferry since "they first steamed
up the Narrows" when she was 15 years old. She said she has
long-relied on the ferries for commuting, to visit her family,
and to help support her 90-year-old mother so that she can
continue to live independently in her own home. She described
it as painful to watch the ferries be neglected over the last
several years. She said they used to be full of not just
locals, but also tourists who would visit small communities.
She said the ferries were previously well-marketed and featured
[more] incentives for people to travel on them. She encouraged
committee members to look at different types of revenue.
2:44:54 PM
JOHN KISER identified himself as a resident of Southeast Alaska
presently in Cordova. He said he is also in favor of preserving
AMHS funding. He noted that, due to present job uncertainty and
an upcoming Washington State Ferries (WSF) retirement bubble,
"we're about to lose several trained ferry workers." He
suggested moving quickly to avoid this. He stated that the
military does not eliminate poorly performing units, rather it
gets rids of the leadership. He suggested that the
administration needs to "study the issue" and replace bad
management making bad decisions. He said he is also in favor of
a state tax and reducing the PFD before reducing AMHS funding.
He continued, "That gives us enough time to elect people who
will do the right thing."
2:45:47 PM
MICHAEL MICKELSON identified himself as a lifelong resident of
Cordova testifying in support of AMHS on behalf of himself and
his business. He said he strongly opposes major cuts to AMHS
while there are no commensurate cuts to the land-based state
highway system. He said he supports an oil tax and would be
happy to pay an income tax or stop receiving a PFD to support
AMHS and other essential state services. He stated that there
are plenty of worldwide models of ferry systems that work. He
concluded, "Let's work to make ours better."
2:46:29 PM
KAY GUYMON identified herself as a 50-year resident of
Ketchikan. She said she has never seen a highway system pay for
itself. She continued, "How would we expect our ferry system to
pay for itself?" She opined that AMHS is very badly managed and
suggested "they should really look at that."
2:46:53 PM
SUSAN WALSH said she is here to join the hundreds of citizens
who have spoken out against cuts to AMHS. She stated that when
Governor Dunleavy campaigned in Southeast Alaska, he spoke
passionately about returning the state to more prosperous times
like when he arrived in 1983. She commented that the governor's
proposed budget cuts would return Alaska back to territorial
times. She said the state's fiscal dilemma should be shared
equitably through a progressive income tax or a [PFD] returned
to the 1983 figure of $383. She opined that oil companies
should also pay their fair share. She requested that the 2016
McDowell Group study on the economic impacts of AMHS be used.
She said if a new study is to be commissioned, then the
suggestions of ferry workers should be considered, as they
recognize the system's problems and can offer viable solutions.
She drew a contrast between ferry workers and those who do not
have "the vaguest idea of the integral part this highway plays
as the lifeline for Alaska citizens
2:47:52 PM
MIKE SALLEE identified himself as a lifelong resident of
Ketchikan. He said he has used the ferries since AMHS's
inception and rode the ferry to travel to Fairbanks to attend
UAF in the mid-1960s. He listed additional communities in
Southeast Alaska and beyond to which he has traveled via AMHS.
He compared AMHS to land highways and noted that AMHS does not
require ditches to be dug, roads to be plowed, or avalanches to
be cleared. He said he has used AMHS as a dive fisherman for
boat transportation; he noted that he knows other divers who use
ferries to travel back and forth to the fisheries. He explained
that this generally occurs between October and December.
2:49:26 PM
TRINA ARNOLD, Regional Director, Juneau Office, Inlandboatmen's
Union of the Pacific, said she represents 400 crewmembers on the
vessels at this time. She stated that eliminating AMHS would
eliminate 400 jobs from "our communities." She said there is an
understanding that the ferries are essential. She said to cut
the ferries would cut off Alaskans from the rest of the state.
She mentioned that she was born and raised in Alaska and is a
third generation AMHS employee. She said, "This saddens me;
this is very emotional for me. This was part of my life, my
childhood, and many of us in Southeast Alaska and the Aleutian
Chains are very affected by this. Please fund the Alaska Marine
Highway."
2:50:33 PM
JAMES FOSTER identified himself as a 30-year resident of
Southeast Alaska and a current resident of Haines. He said he
represents the voice of reason. He stated that privatizing AMHS
is a mistake. He said AMHS is a highway and should be
administered as such. He referenced privatization efforts in
Canada that he said did not work. He added, "They also tried
fast ferries if you don't remember. Didn't work." He commented
on the sizable salaries paid to Canadian ferry CEOs. He stated
that Canada now has less service and higher fares. He added
that workers took a 30 percent cut in wages and benefits. He
said thousands of Canadians have signed petitions to bring
administration back under government control. He asked, "Would
you privatize Egan Drive, set up a toll booth, and let the
profiteers reap the profits?" He said, "We don't need
carpetbaggers running the ferries, taking profits at Alaskans'
cost and livelihoods, and risking our lives without access." He
restated that the Canada example shows that privatization does
not work.
2:52:08 PM
JEFF KASPER, Southeast Regional Manager, Alaska Public Employees
Association, said the Alaska Public Employees Association (APEA)
supports year-round ferry service fully funded to all
communities that are currently served. He commented on the
"extraordinary and unprecedented amount of public testimony on
this matter" and said, "to me, it seems like the people have
spoken."
2:52:54 PM
JUSTIN PARISH said it is strange that tremendous uncertainty is
being thrust upon the communities of Coastal Alaska. He
referenced his time as a legislator and member of the House
Resources Standing Committee, noting that he often heard how
unfair it is to cause uncertainty by discussing the rate of the
subsidies that SOA provides to the oil industry. He stated that
Governor Dunleavy's administration is putting communities in
fear of their existences and putting families in fear of their
lives. He said some families need to travel regularly for
medical reasons and there is not another economical or reliable
means of transport available to them. He added that the
administration is putting children in fear of their futures by
jeopardizing a fundamental part of their educations. He called
it "profoundly unjust. He asked committee members to pass a
veto-proof budget.
2:54:09 PM
DAN EGOLF identified himself as a ski shop and tour company
owner in Haines. He agreed with previous testifiers who said
reduced scheduling caused reduced ridership. He said that his
store benefited for 15 years from promotion of the Golden Circle
Route between Whitehorse, Haines, and Skagway. He discussed the
steady stream of summer motorhome campers to the three
communities until M/V LeConte was put on that route. He
explained that M/V LeConte is "tiny" and could not accommodate
the motorhomes, so "that revenue was lost." He said the Haines-
Skagway-Juneau ferry route used to make money. He noted that no
roads in Alaska make money. He asked, "Where have our federal
ferry funds gone?" He said there has been a maritime culture in
Coastal Alaska for thousands of years. He said, "We live in one
of the safest, most efficient, environmentally friendly, God-
given transportation corridors on the planet." He said other
states like Washington have figured out how to move people
reliably using federal funds on ferries. He asked, "Why not
Alaska?" He stated that any assertion that well-managed ferries
are more expensive than roads lacks credibility.
2:55:39 PM
PATRICK PHILPOTT identified himself as a lifelong resident of
Haines and a strong supporter of AMHS. He commented that
between 1969 and 1971 the United States Forest Service conducted
a complete survey between Ketchikan and Haines to plan for a
combined road and ferry system through the Tongass National
Forest. He suggested the maps from that survey need to be found
and examined.
2:56:29 PM
JAN WRENTMORE, President, Skagway Marine Access Commission
(SMAC), described SMAC as a nonprofit corporation made up of
small businesspeople and marine professionals. She said she has
owned and operated numerous businesses in the tourism industry
over the past 40 years. She called Governor Dunleavy's proposed
cuts to AMHS "a death sentence for small businesses in rural
Alaska." She said hundreds of businesses would close if ferry
service were discontinued. She said the economic impact would
be felt by communities as far as north as Anchorage, Fairbanks,
and beyond. She said visitors to Alaska who arrive by ferry
spend money in coffee shops, restaurants, bed and breakfasts,
recreational vehicle (RV) parks, and gift shops all along the
highway system. She stressed that significant damage has
already been done by shutting down reservations for the fall.
She asked for full funding for AMHS and thanked the committee
for hearing and acknowledging extensive testimony.
2:58:20 PM
SETH HOWARD identified himself as a Juneau resident. He said he
has in front of him DOTPF's informal request for proposals for
the AMHS economic reshaping consultant job. He pointed out that
the final revision on the request was made on February 3, 2019,
two weeks before the governor announced his proposed budget. He
said he would read two of the options encouraged by Governor
Dunleavy's administration. He read:
"Number one: Reshape the entire AMHS operation by
selling or giving all vessels and terminals to a
private entity to run whatever service they can
justify economically."
MR. HOWARD quipped, "Great plan. He continued:
"Number nine: Implement further fare increases,
including across-the-board increases on more expensive
runs, demand pricing for high-demand period or events,
demand pricing based on percent of remaining vessel
capacity.
MR. HOWARD asked how this plan would generate revenue for
the state, how it is in the best interest of the public,
and when SOA is going to "stop stepping over dollars to
pick up dimes."
2:59:29 PM
PAT PALKOVIC said she worked 26-plus years in Southeast Alaska
and is currently looking for a job in Southcentral Alaska. She
said most of Alaska's population lives on or near the coast.
She said AMHS ferries are a form of transportation that can
access most of the state's population. She added that AMHS has
the flexibility to respond to emergencies and natural disasters.
She said that is why M/V Kennicott was built in the way it was.
She noted that, during the summer, AMHS is the one form of
surface transportation that allows people to travel from one
part of the state to another without going through another
country. She added that it is also one of the two forms of
surface transportation that connects Alaska to the Lower 48.
She noted that the other form of transportation is a two-lane
road that goes through a foreign country. She said she learned
as a retail store order that one needs a critical mass of
inventory to bring in customers. She stated that AMHS needs to
bring back its "critical mass of services."
3:00:45 PM
FRED STURMAN said he just got off the ferry in Haines after
visiting Seattle. He noted that it is cheaper for him to drive,
but riding the ferry is "one of those deals that you've always
wanted to do, so I did it." He reported seeing "quite a bit of
dead wood" on the ferry. He argued that if AMHS receives cuts,
there should be similar cuts on the Kenai Peninsula where he
resides and to other departments and areas of the state. He
said the state needs everyone to take a big cut because "we're
$1 billion in debt." He said that is $2,000 for every man,
woman, and child in Alaska. He advocated for major cuts to all
areas of the state budget.
3:01:47 PM
MIKE MCCARTHY identified himself as a Homer resident
representing himself and his wife. He said they represent 85
years as Alaska residents. He noted that he has been a ferry
rider since he moved to Kodiak in 1989 and that he used the
ferry to move to Homer in 1997. He spoke about visiting Valdez
and Cordova via the ferry system. He said he has never heard
anything as crazy as privatizing AMHS. He stated it would be
too expensive to even consider and suggested that "whoever
brought this idea forward needs a medical exam." He compared
the idea to Project Chariot, which was a plan to use nuclear
explosives to construct an artificial harbor at Cape Thompson on
the North Slope. He said the plan to privatize AMHS needs to be
terminated like Project Chariot was. He asked for continued
support and funding of AMHS.
3:02:55 PM
POPPY BENSON identified herself as a longtime resident of Homer.
She shared that she has extensive experience with AMHS and noted
that she established the naturalist program on M/V Tustumena 30
years ago. She noted that the naturalist program is among the
amenities that has been "kicked off the ship" over the past
eight years. She said she has experience with ferries in Prince
William Sound and Southeast Alaska. She echoed previous
speakers who characterized AMHS as a highway for people who live
in coastal villages. She said AMHS should be treated the same
as any other highway. She stated that she does not understand
why SOA expects the highway to make money. She recommended an
evaluation of how AMHS is managed and how decisions are made.
She acknowledged that transportation patterns change over time
and more people fly than did when AMHS was established in the
1960s. She shared that she looks forward to looking into
studies mentioned by previous speakers. She concluded by saying
she fully supports maintaining the ferry system.
3:04:17 PM
BECKY WORKMAN identified herself as a lifelong resident of Sitka
testifying for herself. She said she agrees with most of the
points raised by previous speakers. She stated that she does
not support a PFD tax, a state income tax, or privatizing the
ferry. She said there are other ways to get money. She stated,
"If they're going to shut down our road system from October to
June, they need to shut down all road systems from October to
June." She said then maybe residents of the Interior would know
what it feels like to have "your freedom on the line." She
thanked the committee and stated that she would submit a written
statement as well.
3:05:19 PM
JAN TROJAN, from Craig, Alaska, noted that Mary Ellen Skinna, an
elder, had to leave before she was able to testify. Ms. Trojan
relayed that Ms. Skinna wanted to say that the ferry is
extremely important to Prince of Wales Island and that she would
support a state tax. Ms. Trojan said she is representing the
people and veterans of Prince of Wales Island. She said there
are 5,000 people on the island who depend on the ferry for
things like cancer treatment and orthopedic consult. She said
the ferry is the lifeblood of her community even more so than
for Ketchikan, which is located "on the next island over." She
identified herself as a cancer survivor and said cuts to AMHS
would impact the health of people on Prince of Wales Island.
She said the ferry is necessary for someone who is going to have
to travel for 12 weeks to receive chemotherapy treatment. She
reiterated that Prince of Wales needs the ferry.
CHAIR STUTES asked Ms. Trojan to identify the people in Craig
who had signed up to testify but had to leave.
MS. TROJAN named Mary Ellen Skinna and Gregory Shapely, who she
identified as elders. She said Irving Langmaid had to go to
work. She also confirmed that Martin Dale had previously been
present but had to leave.
3:07:09 PM
LACY FOSMORE identified herself as a ferry worker. She said it
is abundantly clear from the bountiful testimony that AMHS
should continue to be funded. She added that AMHS should be
funded just like any other highway in the state. She said she
worked on the Dalton Highway when she first moved to Alaska.
She noted that there are far fewer residents living on the
Dalton Highway than there are along the Alaska Marine Highway.
She asked committee members to consider that and to keep funding
AMHS.
3:08:18 PM
SARAH ROARK identified herself as an AMHS employee. She asked
if any of the committee members has been on the ferry when there
has been an elder returning to Angoon to be laid to rest. She
said she has and shared that it was a very emotional experience.
She described the drumming and singing, as well as the
participation of the entire village. She said if the proposed
budget cuts go through, that experience and event would no
longer happen. She opined that the proposed cuts to AMHS are
disrespectful and unnecessary. She suggested that the
legislature take her PFD, implement an income tax, modify the
oil tax credit system, and invest in the future.
3:09:24 PM
CHRISTINE NIEMI said she is representing herself, her husband,
her two grown daughters, her son-in-law, and her grandson. She
stated that AMHS is vital to help maintain her family ties. She
shared with committee members a photo of her grandson, Malcolm,
riding the ferry on his way home from Hoonah, where he was
visiting relatives. She explained that her husband had to go to
Seattle for surgery several months prior and was told not to
return by plane. She compared this situation to a scenario
described by an earlier testifier. She noted that she and her
husband had already arranged to ride the ferry home from
Bellingham. She thanked AMHS for getting her and her husband
home. She opined that a government that provides services to
its citizens is not too big. She argued that providing state
subsidies to [private for-profit] businesses while leaving
citizens without services is "not the right thing to do."
3:10:46 PM
BRIAN MCCARTHY identified himself as a retired deck officer who
worked for AMHS for 32 years. He said he has been to all the
villages mentioned by previous testifiers. He shared that he
spent half his time in Southeast Alaska and the other half in
Southwest Alaska. He spoke to what AMHS provides those
communities and what AMHS gets out of them. He said AMHS keeps
people together and links families. He shared experiences
during which he saw joy, love, and sadness. He echoed what Ms.
Roark had previously said about the beauty of a funeral
ceremony. He said he wants his family to have the same
opportunities he had. He argued that it would not be fair to
deprive future generations of those opportunities. He said he
is willing to take a smaller PFD.
3:12:11 PM
NOLA LAMKEN remarked as follows:
Listen to the cries from Auk Kwaan ancestors. The
governor's careless suggestion strands and abandons
elders and people with disabilities who cannot climb
the 3-foot steps on many of the small planes even when
they can fly. Already, fares have been raised beyond
reason causing pain and suffering. State ferries were
first formed because private ownership was not
sustainable. Listeners here laughed at the idea
proposed of putting tolls on Anchorage and Fairbanks
highways; unbearable ferry toll increases and
unreliable eradicate schedules are just as ludicrous.
I support the Southeast Conference and the Marine
Access Commission, not the millions wasted on private
consultants - many who had never stepped on Alaska
ferries - and their clueless studies. Listen to the
experienced wisdom and knowledge earned by the ferry
workers and concerned citizens. Please restore full
ferry funding, quality, reliability, and
affordability.
3:13:48 PM
BOB CRUISE said that, while he appreciates the committee taking
testimony on AMHS, he is astonished there is even a need for the
public to come before legislators in support of "this vital
piece of infrastructure." He suggested that the economists and
consultants hired by Governor Dunleavy to craft his proposed
budget "must have skipped Econ 101, because in that class they
would have learned that a vital, solid infrastructure is vital
and needed to support our economy." He expressed that the
fabric of coastal communities is woven into the Alaska Marine
Highway. He said AMHS enables members of those communities to
travel, to enjoy each other's company, and to come together for
events like the Klondike Road [Relay] and the Alaska Folk
Festival.
3:15:13 PM
ELLIE CULLUM said residents of Angoon gets their food via the
ferry and SOA cannot take that from them. She said those
residents would have to move from their hometown. She explained
that she has family in Angoon. She said they should be able to
live where they want, and they want to live in Angoon.
3:16:20 PM
ANN FOSTER DOMBKOWSKI said she and her father were both born in
Juneau. She said her father was born to a Klondike gold miner.
She recalled seeing the ferries first arrive when she was in
fourth grade. She called Juneau a working-class economy and
said she hopes that can continue. She asked to be taxed so that
citizens can have services. She went over the history of
ferries going back to the 1950s. She opined that there is "no
reason for us to not have these ferries." She concluded, "We're
working class people; we can pay taxes. We've done it for
decades."
3:17:32 PM
FRANK LEE echoed the sentiments of previous testifiers. He
recalled riding ferries as far back as when he was in high
school in the 1960s. He expressed that the catamarans that have
been proposed as ferry replacements would not be able to handle
difficult conditions. He recalled visiting Ketchikan in 1968
when the wind was blowing 70 miles per hour. He expressed hope
that legislators "would work it out" and that ferry service
would continue.
3:18:47 PM
HEATHER LENDE, Assembly Member, Haines Borough Assembly, said
she is speaking for herself and identified herself as a member
of the Haines Borough Assembly. She said she has waited six
hours to speak and expressed gratitude to the committee for
taking testimony. She shared that the people of Haines feel
especially committed to AMHS because it was founded in Haines
well over 60 years ago. She said AMHS was founded to connect
the coastal communities to each other and to the rest of the
world in order to build a thriving coastal region in Southeast
Alaska. She said that has been a huge success. She urged
support for AMHS and asked that it not be shut down. She
advocated for "a more reliable system with the plan adopted by
the Southeast Conference." She said she is happy to pay for her
tickets. She said she supports a state income tax. She asked
committee members to consider at least a 1 percent tax on the
richest corporations in the world doing business in Alaska,
rather than cutting essential services. She said she would also
give up her PFD to make that happen. She concluded, "The
governor has called his budget 'agnostic but I have faith in
Alaskans and in you to do the right thing and support the people
of this state."
3:20:18 PM
CATHRYN COATS said she supports AMHS. She shared that, when she
was born 37 years ago, she was brought home from the hospital on
the ferry from Ketchikan to Prince of Wales Island. She added
that her son was also brought home on the ferry when he was born
eight years ago. She said her mother worked for the Inter-
Island Ferry Authority. She stated that [AMHS] is very
important to her and her family. She commented on the "decline
of the system in Southeast" and recalled riding the ferry when
it had a gift shop and Tony Tengs [an earlier testifier] worked
in the bar. She opined that AMHS's upper-level management can
be improved upon." She said the jobs provided by AMHS are
vital to Southeast Alaska and other coastal areas. She
identified herself as a veteran and discussed the importance of
being able to travel back and forth from Prince of Wales Island
to Ketchikan for medical care.
3:21:38 PM
MARGIE DEMMERT said she supports the ferries and shared that her
job would be in jeopardy without AMHS. She said she works at
Angoon's only grocery store, which obtains its produce and
groceries via the ferry. She said Angoon's schools use AMHS to
travel. She stated, "When we lose a loved one, they bring them
home on the ferry." She said AMHS allows her family to have an
affordable vacation without having to spend thousands of dollars
on airplane tickets. She described the ferry as "the only
lifeline" in and out of her village. She noted that residents
use the ferry to travel for medical care, explaining that
village elders cannot get in and out of seaplanes. She restated
that residents use the ferry to access medical care and to
attend family reunions. She asked committee members not to take
away the ferry.
3:22:55 PM
LAURA STEELE, after some brief technical difficulties,
identified herself as a third-generation Alaskan representing
herself. She referenced a recent comment on AMHS made by
Senator Shelley Hughes: "The whining and crying to maintain the
status quo is sad." She said she disagrees with Senator Hughes.
She said, "Alaskans are not whining or crying; we are speaking
out for the services that we depend on and doing what we can to
be part of a solution." She called the reaction of Alaskans
admirable and not sad. She said it embodies the very spirit of
Alaska. She continued:
What is sad is that we have a governor who would
rather pay out billions of dollars in oil tax cuts to
oil companies than keep Alaskans in the coastal areas
connected to reliable, affordable transportation. And
he would rather cut off Southeast Alaska and other
coastal communities than do the unpopular thing and
cut our PFDs.
MS. STEELE said she would rather have a cut PFD or no PFD
than see coastal communities cut off. She said she would
rather pay an income tax than see her neighbors "pay the
dangerous price of being isolated from urban centers." She
pleaded, "Please listen to Alaskans. We believe in
ferries."
3:25:09 PM
RICHARD COOK identified himself as a 35-year Alaska resident and
a 25-year AMHS employee. He urged legislators to bring forth a
rational, veto-proof counterproposal to Governor Dunleavy's
"proposed draconian cuts." He said it is true that AMHS has
suffered from mismanagement and political influences for many
years. He stressed that the solution is not "to throw the baby
out with the bathwater." He requested reforms to rather than
elimination of AMHS. He said the loss of AMHS would devastate
coastal communities and would negatively impact the entire
state. He said the same applies for the rest the governors
proposed budget. He said he would find a large PFD check of
little lasting value when compared to the loss of livelihood and
communities.
3:26:15 PM
SHAWNA WILLIAMS-BUCHANAN identified herself as a commercial
fisherman who currently fishes out of Cordova. She said that,
as a third-generation fisherman who has fished all her life, she
has spent the past 40 years utilizing AMHS. She said she has
ridden the ferry between Whittier and Cordova 19 times in the
last year alone. She said the elimination of AMHS would cripple
rural communities. She said she is in favor of AMHS.
3:27:15 PM
GEORGE DALTON, JR., opined that SOA does not need more than one
consultant and that one consultant should be good enough. He
noted that Hoonah's handicap-accessible van used by seniors had
to be sent to Juneau for repairs. He noted that this would not
be possible without ferry service. He commented on the number
of testifiers: "The more people we hear, the better." He
thanked the committee members in Tlingit.
3:28:41 PM
KRISTIN MAHLEN identified herself as a Fairbanks resident who
has fished out of Cordova for the past nine years. She echoed
the sentiments of previous testifiers. She said coastal
communities would be cut off from the rest of Alaska without the
ferries. She said the proposal to eliminate AMHS is an economic
and cultural attack on the residents of those communities and
their way of life. She asked for AMHS to be fully funded and
stressed that it should not be privatized, as that would cause
it to become more expensive. She noted that many people who
reside in coastal communities live off the land and do not make
much money. She said AMHS keeps small communities connected and
repeated that to shut it down would be an attack on those
communities. She stated that some villages deal with social and
economic issues that would be worsened by the removal of ferry
service. She noted that AMHS is a public health service. She
said that, as a commercial fisherwoman, she knows that many
fishing operations utilize AMHS. She said those people spend
money in all the places they go and explained that this supports
the coastal economy. She pleaded for full funding for AMHS and
repeated her stance against privatization.
3:29:58 PM
MARCELO QUINTO, President, Camp 70, Alaska Native Brotherhood,
identified himself as a lifelong resident of Juneau. He noted
that he was alive before AMHS. He stated that he agrees with
previous testifiers but said what has not been said is that
people his age remember what it was like before AMHS connected
them to urban centers for medical care, school, and cultural
relations. He opined that Governor Dunleavy's proposed budget
would "[take] us back ... 60,70 years, where we would no longer
have connections." He shared that "our children and our people"
would lose contact with each other. He said SOA needs to keep
the ferries running. He stated that the problem with AMHS
relates to scheduling and successive years of budget cuts. He
noted that ridership from Bellingham has dropped from
approximately 800 to 500 per voyage.
3:31:32 PM
CHAIR STUTES thanked everybody who took the time and effort to
testify. She thanked them as well for their patience and
willingness to cut testimonies to one minute each. She thanked
committee members for staying late and hearing testimony.
CHAIR STUTES closed public testimony on the issue of AMHS.
3:32:15 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 3:32
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting Document - Fourth Compilation of AMHS Written Testimony - 3.13.19.pdf |
HTRA 3/14/2019 1:30:00 PM |
AMHS |