As an Alaska Native living in rural Alaska, I am concerned about rank choice voting (RCV). First of all, when you normally vote yes on anything – that means we want it. And no means to reject it.
Well, this isn’t what’s happening in this case. Very confusing. We have approximately 240+ villages. Do we have 240+ dominion voting machines in all of our villages? There is not enough dominion voting machines installed in all our villages, so ballots have to be sent to Juneau to be counted.
In 2022, there were ballots from six villages: St. George, Levelock, Ambler, Kiana, Kobuk and Noorvik – that weren’t tabulated in the final count. In rural Alaska there are so many more obstacles, weather, airplane mechanicals, internet issues, bush planes cancelling and mail bags being lost, etc.
Another issue with RCV, is the language barrier. My dad is 94 years old and trying to explain how RCV works to any native Elder is confusing. It’s complicated in English! It’s discouraging to elders and many people in the villages and they say, “I want the old way back!” It’s discouraging and causes many to not want to vote.
One thing that bothers me was that this wasn’t started as a grassroot effort by Alaskans. We didn’t have any issues with our voting system. Why change something that wasn’t broken? One vote. One candidate. Straightforward, honest and simple.
Another frustrating thing for me is the outrageous amount of money from out of state put into and spent in Alaska trying to push and convince Alaskans we want RCV. Why? I went to the APOC website and there is 12+ MILLON DOLLARS donated from New York, California, Washington DC, etc. to advertise and pay people to push RCV on us. That is a lot of money!
But what was surprising and appalling to me was they gave Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), $50,000.00 to push the Vote No agenda at AFN. Why didn’t they invite the Yes on 2 team to attend and educate our people on both sides? It would have been nice to hear both sides of the issue.
If this was such an awesome, super great voting system why aren’t all of the other states using it, not only Maine and Alaska? Why are they trying so hard to keep RCV in Alaska? It’s unfortunate we changed our system that was never broken.
I hope you join me in voting Yes on 2 and go back to what worked perfectly! One vote. One candidate. Don’t let outside people and money, try to convince and buy us off. We don’t trust or want RCV!
Cynthia Erickson
Tanana, Alaska
Working smoke alarms cut the risk of home fire deaths in half
Daylight saving time ends on November 3 and the American Red Cross encourages everyone to test their smoke alarms as they turn their clocks back to make sure the devices are working.
“Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half as you only have about two minutes to safely get out,” said Tanguy Libbrecht, Regional Executive for the American Red Cross of Alaska. “Every second counts when there’s a home fire, and the sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get to a safer place. When daylight saving time ends this weekend, test your smoke alarms to help prevent a tragedy in your home.”
Over the past month, local Red Cross volunteers responded to help 55 people in Alaska affected by 18 home fires, which account for most of the about 65,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually across the country.
SMOKE ALARMS When turning your clocks back this weekend, test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries if needed. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to create and practice with your family, or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in app stores.
•Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
•Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Components such as sensors can become less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer’s instructions.
•Practice your two-minute home fire escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to escape a burning home before it’s too late.
•Include at least two ways to get out of every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or a landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone can meet.
IF YOU NEED HELP If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Contact your local Red Cross for help.
HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVES LIVES Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 2196 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans, and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or follow us on social media.
American Red Cross
Alaska Region
Anchorage, AK
Why I’m thanking local businesses this month
As a consumer advocate and supporter of local businesses, I’ve noticed something that often goes unspoken: Great businesses rarely get the recognition they deserve. That’s why I’m particularly excited about Better Business Bureau’s Thank a Business Month this November, and I want to share why I believe we should all participate.
In my time working with local businesses, I’ve seen how reviews can make or break a small business owner’s success. A kind word, a shout-out to staff, or heartfelt thanks shared online can make someone’s day (and even help that business create new customers)!
Here’s what I find most compelling, though: when we take the time to share positive experiences, we’re not just helping that business – we’re helping our entire community. Just think about how many times you have relied on honest reviews to find a trustworthy mechanic, a reliable contractor, or a quality restaurant. Every authentic review becomes a guidepost for other consumers. But don’t just take my word for it: According to BrightLocal, 98 percent of consumers read online reviews when researching local businesses.
So, yes, leaving good and honest reviews for your favorite local business helps it succeed, but it also helps the people in your community who are looking for a business they can trust.
When leaving these reviews, you have several options to choose from, including Google Reviews, Yelp, Trustpilot, and, my personal choice, Better Business Bureau (BBB). Yes, I am biased toward BBB, but for good reason.
What I particularly appreciate about BBB’s approach to customer reviews is its commitment to authenticity. For example, fake reviews are a big problem online these past few years, but BBB has long been committed to ensuring the authenticity of reviews. BBB verifies every reviewer’s contact information, gives businesses a chance to respond before publishing, and notably, doesn’t allow anonymous posts or compensated reviews. This creates a trusted platform where genuine customer experiences can shine.
That said, there is more than one meaningful way to say “thank you” to the best businesses in your community. Simple actions like referring friends and family, engaging with businesses on social media, or even just making a point to shop locally can make an impact.
As we approach the holiday season, entering into these final two months of the year, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the businesses that have made our lives easier. That family-owned hardware store that always has the part you need, the local café where they remember your usual order, the HVAC technician who helped you fix your heater quickly and affordably, or the auto shop that squeezed you in during an emergency – these businesses deserve our recognition.
If you need more convincing, note that the sales many small businesses make during these final two months of the year account for roughly 19% of their total annual revenue, according to the National Retail Federation. This means your reviews and support now can help these businesses finish out 2024 as a success.
Personally, I’m committing to writing at least three BBB reviews this month for businesses that have impressed me, and I encourage you to do the same. It only takes a few minutes – but it can make a big difference in supporting our local business community.
Want to join me in thanking a business? Visit BBB.org/Thanks to learn more about how you can participate in “Thank a Business” month. Let’s work together to strengthen our local business community by acknowledging those who serve it well.
Cameron Nakashima
Better Business Bureau
Great West + Pacific
