Captain Zero Gets Smackdown from Locals on Coastal Zone Management
Remember when Governor Sean “Who Needs the Feds” Parnell, and a bunch of Republican “Who Needs the Feds” legislators decided to push to abolish Alaska’s Coastal Zone Management program? When the bill to extend the program failed in the State House, Alaskans effectively gave away their local voices, and turned control of our coastal issues over to… the Feds.
Now, Alaskans are free to offer their opinion, and the federal government (who understandably doesn’t understand Alaskan issues to the extent we do) is free to pat us on the head, pinch our cute little cheek, and ignore us. It’s a bit inexplicable why Alaska, with more coastline than the rest of the country put together, is the only state with no Coastal Zone Management.
Rep. Les Gara summed it up well, and you can listen to his speech on the House floor HERE.
That was the frustrating part. But here’s the hopeful news. After Captain Zero and his minions in the legislature decided to give away our local voice, and hand it over to the federal government, local officials peeled the duct tape off their mouths and said, “Oh no you don’t.” Local officials have introduced a Coastal Zone Initiative that returns a voice to Alaska in federal coastal development decisions. Here’s the press release in full:
Today, Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho held a press conference to introduce the citizens’ initiative he and others filed late last Friday to ensure Alaskans have a say in decisions affecting their coastal zones. Because Alaska is the only coastal state without a coastal zone management plan, Alaskans have a diminished voice in decisions made by industry and the federal government that affect coastal communities.
“When the old program expired, Alaskans lost their say in how we manage our coastal resources. We introduced this initiative because Alaskans deserve a voice in what happens in our waters and industry deserves a predictable, streamlined process for developing Alaska’s coastal resources,” said Mayor Botelho.
Mayor Botelho, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assemblyman Mako Haggerty, and Kodiak Island Borough Mayor Jerome Selby sponsored the initiative to recreate a strong coastal management plan for Alaska.
When the Legislature and governor were unable to come to agreement to extend Alaska’s previous coastal management program, it expired at the end of June leaving Alaskans without a process to give input into federal or industry coastal decisions. The initiative would create a new plan more suitable for Alaska, not bring back the old, controversial program.
“It was disheartening for us that the Legislature and governor were unable to reach agreement on a viable program extension,” said Botelho. “Our initiative is intended to redouble their efforts to create a credible coastal management program during the 2012 legislative session. If they are unable to do so, Alaskans will have the opportunity to express their support for Alaska’s coastal program that November.”
Botelho said his group intends to collect the necessary signatures before the start of the 2012 legislative session. If they are successful, the Legislature would have the opportunity to pass a substantially similar coastal management bill. If it does not, then the initiative would be on the ballot in November 2012.
“Without a coastal management plan, Alaskans lose local control. This initiative would give Alaskans a significant say in how their resources get developed,” said Botelho.
It is unbelievable how Yawn Parnell constantly bashes ‘the feds’ but is the first one to put out his hand to take federal dollars … and the first one to call for a ‘disaster’ so the feds can pay for any damages … and then he is the first one to broker a way to give management of Alaska’s coastal zones to the feds so state citizens lose their say over their own lands/waters.
This is the same ‘governor’ who sided with Pebble Mine to keep Alaskans from going to the polls to vote on the Save our Salmon initiative. And the same guy who tells his dept. heads to not answer questions about the Chuitna coal mine in Cook Inlet … and believes he is above the law in responding to a citizens’ petition to protect their salmon streams.
Meanwhile, Sean hides away from Alaskans, never mingling or mixing … speaking only from behind a podium at prearranged appearances/speeches and then slipping out the back door. $arah trained him well.
I agree with you that Governor Parnell is afraid of the people. He doesn’t want his bubble busted so he hids from us.
Good on Mako! He is an upstanding borough rep for us rural folks on the Kenai.
Good on Mayor Botelho and Juneau for getting the ball rolling. Even moose know that our coastlines are important and locals have valuable input to offer on what goes on there.
I looked up Coastal Zone Management for Iowa and discovered that Alaska is as big as 11.63 Iowas and 423.56 Rhode Islands. Anchorage School District reports 83 languages are spoken there.Alaska’s state insect is the four-spot Skimmer Dragonfly and Brian is the official stud-muffin of the state. In Iowa’s defense we have more corn and hogs. Take that,Alaska.
Yo, Mike.
I’m a Texan.
It’s not my fault; I was born here.
Your comments compel me to retort this:
We have more jackasses here than both Eye-Oh-Way and Alaska, combined.
For examples, see: “Rick Perry”, “The Shrub”, Tom DeLay, John Culberson, Louie Gohmert, ad infinitum, also and too, as well, etc.
I think I’m gonna real like one Texan,that’s for sure. You sound like Molly Ivin’s sister or cosmic twin,rest her dear sweet Texas soul.
Proud to have signed the first round of the initiative on election night!
Stinker! PM me where and who is circulating petition now? Please? 🙂
republican governance
Where do I sign?
Here’s a copy in pdf form of the initiative and the place to get more info in coming days.
http://www.alaskacoastalmanagement.org/
Fruitloops on ADN thread are already saying it will fail to get cerified because no one will understand it.
We better get to work and make em wrong, Alaskans!
The site has expanded overnight to include FAQs, a summary/overview of the initiative, and an analysis by section of what statutes it adds to or changes.
Thank you to both AKM and Alaska Pi for keeping up with these matters and then reporting back here to share with us.
Okay, time to go do some more reading….
Would this be a good lesson for Captain Zero regarding the meaning of the saying “Cut off your nose to spite your face” ?
He never ceases to amaze me – in a bad way.
Yay!
Pfft on Parnell.