Boots on the Ground – Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Gets “Sullied”
New Mayor Dan Sullivan is working his magic on Anchorage. Yes, he’s all sunshine and light, breezing in to the Chamber of Commerce meeting with a strong message of hope, radiating enthusiasm as he celebrated Anchorage’s successes and looked to the future with strength and optimism. And yes, I’m being completely sarcastic.
St. Elias was our “Boots on the Ground” Mudflatter, and offers us this glimpse into the Chamber of Horrors Commerce when Sully took the floor.
By St. Elias
On Monday at the Chamber of Commerce lunch, I listened to new Mayor Sullivan talk about his first 90 days. Talk about a depressing delivery; it was a study in negativity. It is the worst “glass is half empty” speech a mayor has uttered since the Tom Fink days. He made Chicken Little look like a piker. Sky is falling everywhere and of course it is all Mark Begich’s fault.
If this is the leadership rhetoric we have in store for us over the next three years, Lord help us. No mention that the bum economy is a direct result of eight years of the most destructive presidential rule in US history. Nor did he comment that both Forbes and People Magazines have Anchorage listed as the most tax friendly city in the country. He didn’t even bother to point out that the Wall St. Journal and Business Week recommend to all young entrepreneurs that, Anchorage is the place to be.
Today, Sullivan is reunited with his old assembly colleague, Coffey, and now that the two “Dans” are running the city, the chamber has suddenly morphed into a right wing side show. Last winter it was pretty moderate. One can expect his/her table mates at lunch now to have no compunction over mouthing rabid wingnut speak so all around are forced to hear their slanted viewpoint(s).
Sullivan even has Dave Harbour taking the lead role in the Chamber’s antagonistic stance toward clean air efforts. They have joined forces with the US Chamber which itself is currently under considerable fire for promoting status quo pollution. (Most remember Harbour as being Mystrom’s empire building Anchorage Parking Authority czar who ran afoul of and then made famous, the “Parking Meter Fairies”.) There is quite an effective movement afoot right now which petitions US corporations to quit funding any chamber of commerce that promotes this anti-environment crusade.
Anyway, it’s too bad. I sort of enjoyed the Chamber last winter, but I won’t be attending much, if at all, from here on.
St. Elias deserves an award for sitting through that meeting and not voicing opposition to Sullivan’s speech. The US Chamber has certainly been on the wrong side of the global warming issue of late, has been losing some high-profile members, and has been called out repeatedly by the media. Here’s an update:
US Chamber Shrinks Membership 90%
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2009/10/us-chamber-caves-membership-numbers
Sully would make these budget woes disappear if he would tax all the mega-church properties – Hell, Prevo himself for all the politicing they are doing in clear violation of separation of the two.
Why aren’t Achorage homeowner’s more outraged about this tax burden in them when all the wealth of these Churches are riding on their dime?
These are our visionary leaders if Alaska, Dan Sullivan who thinks the largest city sucks and Sarah who told Western Alaskans that they had to move to get jobs. Way to think outside the box folks.
@2 I See Villages from my House -
“…Way to think outside the box folks.
——————————-
i don’t think the mayor and his ilk realize the box they are peering out of is in a dusty closet in an abandoned paradigm…
I don’t forgive them but I do see the dirt in their eyes and the phlegm in their throats…
I’m not sure we can get them outta there in time to save em but we can sure keep outta there ourselves
And push for urban renewal which tears down those nasty decaying places…
(told you so)
Democrats need to unite around one candidate for whatever position is open. Dan Sullivan won because the opposition was divided and unorganized. Keep that in mind when the Governor’s seat comes up on the ballot.
In my opinion, one of the things that got Sully elected, was the 11th hour media coverage of an employee who worked at Sully’s bar who got a DUI after a drinking binge (at the bar, after closing time). Intended to discredit Sully, it had the opposite effect-his followers came out in droves to support him, otherwise they probably would not have paid attention and stayed home on voting day. Since Repubs outnumber Dems in Alaska, perhaps Dems could get the many ethnic community members to register and vote. We need to build some coalitions and have a surprise turn-out.
We all know that one day your President is going to be paying Alaska a visit. I hope your Princess will be there. She can then talk her tough talk on SUFON. Of FLOTUS needs to been on her podium; to have that intelligent debate. We all have to do our share in decreasing the number on red coats in our state before they destroy it.
Mark Begich did a little too much “horsetrading” as Mayor for my taste, but Dan Sullivan sucks the joy out of a room (or a city) faster than a Shop Vac sucks up water.
Obam in Alaska? Why would an unemployed nobody even be asked to meet, greet or be in the presence of the President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner? She’ll be at home in her PJs crying the blues that all those high paying speaking engagements fell through, that life is so unfair ’cause she should have gotten a prize, too. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaa… In another year people will be saying, “Sarah who?” Unless the Palin clan decides to replace Jon & Kate. Maybe that’s what the addition is for, so the whole Palin clan can live on one compound -excluding playboy Levi, of course.
Polly-
Registered non-partisan and undeclared voters outnumber both parties’ registration numbers by a good bit.
It’s part of what frustrates both parties here…
Good, bad , or indifferent Alaskan voters prefer to register as de facto independants…
Whether they REALLY are independant is another whole issue…
Wide turnout helps… or has in the past.
I am not convinced yet though that enough folks are awake to the ramifications of following the likes such as Sully into oblivion.
He pushes a set of buttons with his black and white POV of the world…
I think it’s the buttons we have to concentrate on…
Breaking the links to fear and foolishness they lead to…
Hey, at least your Chamber didn’t have to listen to Frank the Bank yesterday. Not that I was at the one here, but he was their featured speaker…
GET. OUT.
AKM
Those of us who live south of Anchorage (Kenai) on the Inlet CAN see Anchorage from our houses – the Brown Cloud that floats down the Inlet 3/4 of the year.
There are days when it looks just like the Brown Cloud that floats from Denver to Boulder.
Yes, it is quite the sight, framed against Mt. Redoubt and Illiamna, all sickly brown and yellow against the stark white mountains.
Clean up your act, Anchorage.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough paid $24,000 to try to have the Inlet Belugas de-listed as threatened, so maybe we can shoot some money north to make that Brown Cloud even bigger!
Recall election?
9 Alaska Pi- Thanks for you insights.
–
Sure glad I missed that Chamber Luncheon.
Last night I attended a sobering presentation by security managers from Walmart, Sears, and Target regarding the range of shoplifting crimes (personal to professional) which they encounter. They expressed frustration that Mayor Sullivan has just introduced Ordinance No. AO 2009-122 at Tuesday night’s Assembly meeting. This ordinance would amend the code to add “a civil violation alternative for thefts under $50, excluding alcoholic beverages.”
http://publicdocs.muni.org/sirepub/cache/2/jis2v3bj3moxyk55bheltyrs/14314310162009090955750.PDF
In short, if the theft isn’t more than $49.99, it could be treated simply like a minor traffic ticket. Only a fine if caught, no arrest. While this may make sense for the first time offender, it is an open invitation to habitual thieves, and puts stores at greater risk of losses which cost us all. I hope the Assembly will narrow this amendment before considering passage.
@13 Polly
Me too!
Really glad I wasn’t there. Nor the one here in Juneau… sounds like. Urg…
Thank you St Elias for not running screaming off into the bush after this luncheon but maintaining ( or regaining) enough composure to report here.
Someday we will all have to repay that favor… somehow.
( and , no, I won’t go to our own Cof C luncheons and listen to how the cruise ship industry is our best friend or how the fed “taking over” health care will kill ALL business in the US…
no, I won’t. I’ll think of something else… something which won’t cause me to stroke out…)
I have yet to meet a Chamber of Commerce that I like. As a growing small business owner, I have no intention of supporting that organization in any way.
Funny, I liken Dan Sullivan to Tom Fink, as well. Anchorage will stand still or drift backwards until we can get this sourpuss out of office. I really don’t like his style at all, and don’t get me started on Dan Coffey.
8 Paula Says:
October 16th, 2009 at 7:32 AM
Obam in Alaska? Why would an unemployed nobody even be asked to meet, greet or be in the presence of the President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner? She’ll be at home in her PJs crying the blues
Funny, Paula (lol ) and you are probably right. But we know that she doesn’t see herself as having to have an invitation. The Chambers will use her to oppose the Whitehouse. They think people are afraid of her. No telling what secrets they are keeping that she doesn’t want out. Remember, she quit for the best interest of Alaska.
People keep saying that we are looking at 3 years of this with Dan Sullivan. I would be willing to bet money that he wins re-election handily and that we are stuck with him for 6 years. I didn’t vote for him last time, and I can’t think of a reason why I would vote for him next time, but unless something very different goes on in the next three years, we are in for more of the same. I think we all need to keep that in mind and see what ideas and candidates can come up before then.
For the sake of transparency, I work at the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce and want to clarify a few factual inaccuracies. The Anchorage Chamber hosts “Make it Monday” forums with speakers that span the political gamut and by no means does a particular speaker imply an endorsement of any kind. When Mark Begich served as Mayor we also invited him to speak during his first 90 days, and on a frequent basis. It is important for the business community to hear directly from our elected officials.
Also, we have not taken any position on any clean-air legislation. The U.S. Chamber and Anchorage Chamber are two very distinct organizations.
I encourage public dialogue and discourse, but hope the debate is based on facts. You may contact me directly at 272-2401, or e-mail Emily Ford at emily@anchoragechamber.org with any suggestions for business-relevant, future Monday Forum topics.
-Sami Glascott, president, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce
The truly odd thing about the conservative Anchorage business community and our new Mayor is, Anchorage contractors of all kinds would be toast if the Federal government stopped spending money in Alaska. Their one hand rails about federal spending while the other hand eagerly takes federal money. One hand rails about taxes while the other hand takes tax-generated money, no problem. One hand rails about lobbyists and their influence while the other hand pays lobbyists to represent their business interests. One hand claims Republican ideological purity while the other hand behaves in exactly the opposite manner. I wonder if they know how they really sound? The whole conversation by Republican business people is fundamentally corrupt.
Our Mayor did the same thing. He constantly complained about the previous mayor to the point that he sounded like a 6 year old that needed a nap.
Every week, it seemed, for the first year, he made a derogatory comment.
AKM–not only that, but he was on KINY’s Capital Chat too:
Former Governor Murkowski calls for state plan to replace falling oil production
Former Governor Frank Murkowski was in Juneau Thursday.
He spoke to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce at Noon and will attend tonight’s Kensington Mine Celebration sponsored by the mine’s developer at Centennial Hall.
He was a guest first on KINY’s Capital Chat in the morning.
He told us then he would carry a message to his chamber audience that the state needs to act to replace falling oil production. …
AND:
Man Palin threw out of office disappointed that she stepped down
During his time on KINY’s Capital Chat Thursday former Governor Frank Murkowski said he was disappointed that his successor in that office, Sarah Pain, left office before her term was finished and he thinks most Alaskans were.
Murkowski doesn’t think Palin felt comfortable with the responsibility of governing.
When asked about the prospect that Palin could be his party’s presidential nominee in 2012, Murkowski said if she set her mind on a “crash course” on international affairs, he thinks she would do very well.
Murkowski says Palin is very personable and comes across well, but if she doesn’t know the subject “she can trip over things.” …
Bob Poe was on the second half of Capital Chat. That must have been interesting…
In fairness I suppose I should have mentioned that there was a note of comedy at the event. At least for me there was, although I’m not certain what to make of the underlying implications.
This occurred during the question and answer segment. The chamber accepts only written questions on paper passed out during the luncheon. Sullivan had already addressed a couple of questions and was pretty relaxed. He even appeared to be getting a little cocky, if not arrogant. The chair, Tony Izzo, reads the next question: “Well you extend the coastal trail?” A beaming Sullivan responded with a resounding “NO”.
Cheers of Yea ,Yea, went up along with loud clapping. Unfortunately for Sullivan, cheering was from a couple of women, or at least as near as I could tell there were only two, who quickly shut up. For the most part the audience was absolutely quiet. A look around didn’t reveal any smiling faces, in fact, the expressions on the conservatives at my table were dead pan. The old oxymoron was evident: “the silence was deafening”.
Sullivan, as a politician, is pretty “fast on his feet”. As soon as he recognized that his exclamation had came across as a you know what in church he immediately tried to recapture lost momentum. He more or less explained that his position was based upon the previous administration’s failure to take care of and maintain parks, trails and such. Furthermore, people are getting robbed and raped on the trails. You have to maintain and police what you have before you build new he indicated. However, if we are all good boys and girls and help him get the city ship back on even keel, maybe in four or five years, parks and recreation might get a goody or two.