I was asked why I am not in favor of taking stances on national or international issues on the Assembly such as Affordable Healthcare Act or the Paris Climate Agreement. While I am in agreement these issues are important, I also believe in using our time and staff time as efficiently as possible.
When I stepped back from retirement to run for mayor, I vowed to focus my time and energy on the well-being of Juneau. I laid out three main goals: First, and most importantly, the local economy. I believe — and apparently so did the voters — that Juneau needs to develop a stronger “makers” economy to complement the struggling public sector — working to strengthen mining, fishing, tourism, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
I also promised to support education and tackle public safety issues — from the escalating crime rate to the surging homelessness and the heartbreaking heroin epidemic. There are simply no higher priorities or more urgent threats to our way of life and our town’s future — and these are affecting us every day.
Nearly 30 years of my life was spent teaching U.S. history and government. So I respect our country’s institutions and know the difference of an executive action like the Paris Climate Agreement versus an actual Senate-ratified treaty. At the Assembly’s last regular meeting, during Assembly comments there was confusion in some Assembly members’ minds whether Assemblywoman Maria Gladziszewski’s comments about the Paris Climate Agreement were to consider crafting a resolution or to move that Juneau “adopt and honor the Paris agreement to reduce carbon emissions.” It was clarified after the vote, that it was a motion directing Juneau to adopt the Paris Agreement through the Climate Mayors network. In the parlance of our time, I “resisted.” Why?
First off, global warming is nowhere to be found among the goals agreed to by our Juneau Assembly at its Dec. 3, 2016, retreat. I personally consider that document more binding and a lot more important to Juneau’s needs than the Paris Agreement.
Second, this Assembly prides itself on doing its homework and respecting process. I sincerely doubt that all Assembly members had enough information about the Paris Climate Agreement that evening to reach an informed conclusion/vote on a motion that came at the tail-end of a long meeting. The Assembly had also not heard both sides of the argument about the Paris Climate Agreement.
Third, the local Sustainability Commission is wrapping up its work and sending a sustainability/energy draft plan to the Assembly and Planning Commission soon. Juneau prides itself on being a green community and rightfully so. We are blessed with renewable energy through our hydropower resources. I would respectfully suggest that the time when the Sustainability Commission’s draft plan comes before the Assembly’s Committee of the Whole would be the appropriate time for the community and the Assembly to reaffirm Juneau’s commitment to sustainable green energy and consider our direction forward as a community united in that goal on a local level.
People of goodwill can and do disagree about many issues but not all issues can consume the attention of the Juneau Assembly. Crime, homelessness, and drug and alcohol addiction are a few examples of challenges at the municipal that deserve our first commitment of energy and resources.
As mayor, I will remain committed to and passionate about putting people to work in meaningful jobs, making Juneau a safe place to live, supporting education, and making Juneau a showcase for Alaska.
I did not sign on to a second tour in public service to entangle our community in international issues — or to commit Juneau’s limited resources toward commitments to them. I believe every citizen should be an informed citizen. I also know that many Juneau families put in every waking hours with their job(s) and raising their kids leaving little time to study the Iran nuclear deal, the Paris Climate Agreement, the North Korea threat, whether President Donald Trump should or should not fire his Attorney General, or react to Presidential tweets on a daily basis.
I have asked the Assembly to reconsider this vote.
• Ken Koelsch is the mayor of Juneau.
