Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan – Good Samaritan NOT
Day 4 and Anchorage is still under somewhat of a siege, from a brutal wind storm that finds the aftermath of devastation re-writing the history books under the subject of local disasters. I thought this was earthquake country, not a Mecca for tropical like storms! “War Zone” seems to fit this defining moment, as witnessed from the ground assault by once healthy standing trees, now stockpiled into pile of rubble after pile of rubble. Need a chain saw, get on the waiting list! It was a show of nature unchallenged by modern man’s ingenuity to survive with designs challenging the worst of storms, as even the flight control tower at Ted’s hangar went evacuated - due the fierceness of this overnight blow. This is a city conditioned for extraordinary wind activity, hurricane force winds are common during the season’s change, but not with this type of power and duration – as this was a monster, the “mother” of all storms. Think the “Deadliest Catch” crew has it tough, hang on to your hat! As in this scenario, we found ourselves playing David, the wind as Goliath. But when the calm came to be, it was time to assess the damage, which was an insurance adjustor’s nightmare. It is sad when the person you have been dealing with for over 31-years on concerns of enough or not enough coverage informs you that filing a claim may cause the insurer to dump your coverage, for filing a claim! This is not what I want to hear, not when my house has been the victim of a so-called “Act of God”. How convenient an excuse to ward off responsibility – global warming ring a bell of concern this monster? But there is calm now, and this is when the “Good Samaritan” comes out in all of us, or at least it should. Indications so far are favorable even though many still without electricity are beginning to show a hint of rage, yet all-in-all civility reigns. Alaskan’s have a knack to come together when need be – herein was that case, to test us once again. There wasn’t much else to do otherwise then help out, as with no electricity it means no hi-tech communicating. Down was the “Net”, down was the cable TV, “how sweet it is”. I grabbed my chain-saw to help my elderly neighbor run some clean-up chores, along with assisting to re-establish a mail drop box. The latter a crucial element for the elderly awaiting that social security check, and it was the beginning of the month and even with the streets littered with branches and roof shingles, the “Pony Express” was out and about their duties. Frost hit this morning, so being without electricity means being without heat, wood stoves are a saving grace. And the local coffee huts were doing a brisk business, many on portable generators. Talk about a good investment. Need a generator – get on another waiting list! And as electrical contractors and utility linemen continued to work endless hours to restore tranquility, if only the Municipality of Anchorage saw to it the same “concern” – as that “Good Samaritan” thing was a no-show with the Mayor’s gang. Oh I forgot, the MOA is under the direction of Mayor Dan Sullivan, so what else would we expect, except “NO RESPECT”. I wonder, could it be that he is managing this “crises” from a “beach on Hawaii”? Hey ADN, you want a story about helping, here it is. The CEA workers were burdened down with a massive workloads, 16-hour plus days, a few hours for cleanup and then back to the chainsaws – dangerous work it was. Tropical storm downpours and whipping winds prevailed after the mighty blow, making the cleanup attempts a miserable task. So were the many independent contractors in overdrive, out and about making an income while assisting the utilities’ cope with the fallout. But when these types of scenarios hit home, it isn’t just the money aspect that brings out the best in humans. We have an affection to help out our fellow men, woman and children in times of need. I had wind damage to my overhead electrical service and it has been a chore living without the necessities, but I also realize that everybody is doing the best they can, sometimes the wait for assistance is tough to swallow – patience has its limits. Hauling water from my neighbor was doable, as was the fact he allowed me to run an electrical cord to fire up the refrigerator – a cold beer was still something to look forward upon after a soak and wet day cutting away the debris. And even though the insurance guy told me we could charge the claim for a hotel instead of camping out, conditions at home were better than the thought of a bed-bug ridden accommodation. See, most of the hotels were booked, as it was still tourist season and many without the necessities had already vacated away from their homes. I can’t blame those families with kids, as it was getting a little chilly. And with loose “hot” wires still a problem as were limbs falling from the sky, it was safer at an “extended stay”. So better them then I was my sentiment. It was rather peaceful around the neighborhood. And with the people, well above and beyond normal friendships blessed the situation still in a critical stage of recovery. Talking about how the neighbor up the road helped here, and on and on and on. Finally, late Friday night the CEA crew showed up, to safe out a downed power line and remove trees in the right-of-way. These guys go out of their way to help the customers! It was not hard to see that they had a grueling job, the faces of exhaustion told the story without words of what was still to be accomplished. It was one day at a time. But now that my “number” was the priority, the linemen were quick and thorough to explain to me what needed to be done next to get my home back into the “lights on” zone. My service entrance was damaged, which means a contractor would have to repair the damages. I had already filed a claim, and by Saturday the repair work was in the works. Everything was going well, until such time I was told the “bad” news – indeed “sad” news to say. Now it’s the weekend, and the contractors have taken the liberty to divorce the “weekend rates” they would normally charge house-owners for “emergency” callouts – at least that was true in my case. Yes, local contractors absorbing the overtime burden to give homeowners a break – like already eluted upon, the “Good Samaritan” wins out in some instances. That’s what it is all about when push comes to shove. Sure the contractors could charge the exorbitant overtime rates realizing that “Mr. Insurance” will be footing the bill, but we all know that into today’s reality, that it is all passed on to the consumers in the end. So taking liberty to soften the blow, it is a good “American” thing, what we learned as youngsters from John F. Kennedy: “Ask what you can do for your country”. So if we all give a little bit here and a little bit there, it softens the blow. But now came the last ditch hitch that would send the entire faith of mine about the “Good Samaritan” down the tubes. Before water is restored to my dwelling, before heat is restored to my dwelling, the electric guys need what’s called a “green tag”, from the Municipality. Basically, some inspector must approve the work! Now this was work performed by insured contractors that hire only “journeymen” electricians, those that have accumulated over 8000 hours in the trade and are “licensed” by the state. Now you would think that the city would also relax their bad habits, like the fact that in order for me to get that “green tag” I will have to call out the inspector on an “emergency” call! And instead of the $50-dollar inspection fee Monday through Friday, I must be willing to cough up $500-dollars! When I voiced my concern to the inspector upon this highway robbery, I believe he was in agreement. The dam city idiots under Dan Sullivan could not even stoop to help out their own city in need. So all those irate stories from customers still without, don’t blame it on the utility companies, don’t blame it on the contractors, look downtown to Mayor Sullivan’s office and you will see where the real crime of greed is perpetrated. It is a crime when the Mayor either doesn’t see the concern or doesn’t care about the concern, that his city is just recovering from dire times and anything and everything he can do to soften the blow, that is his responsibility. Just to lower the inspection fees for a “single weekend” and have an inspector on the clock, isn’t that what we pay property taxes for? Could not the city absorb this during such a disaster – sure it could. When I checked the records of other cities faced with the same type of situation, respectful cities with respectful mayors always waive the “emergency callout” burden! Sad it is here in Anchorage when other priorities like maybe beachcombing discinfranchises the public. But this is what comes to be with a Scott Walker mentality. The fact that the city abandoned the citizens during this crisis is testament that there comes before us an element of power that is dead set at trying to dictate what the “City Fathers” would frown upon, that being “NO RESPECT. Had this storm occurred many years ago under George, believe me, he had the courage to stand up for the community when every little bit of effort helps. With Dan, like already questioned, maybe he’s enjoying that “beach in Hawaii” as we struggle along trying to get by. And this guy wants to run for the U.S. Senate? Talk about duty “unbecoming” a city mayor and it would be more of the same in D.C. as he sits on Don Young’s lap – at least he’d be gone far away and maybe then we could get some decency back in the mayor – called RESPECT!
Day 4 and Anchorage is still under somewhat of a siege, from a brutal wind storm that finds the aftermath of devastation re-writing the history books under the subject of local disasters. I thought this was earthquake country, not a Mecca for tropical like storms! “War Zone” seems to fit this defining moment, as witnessed from the ground assault by once healthy standing trees, now stockpiled into pile of rubble after pile of rubble. Need a chain saw, get on the waiting list! It was a show of nature unchallenged by modern man’s ingenuity to survive with designs challenging the worst of storms, as even the flight control tower at Ted’s hangar went evacuated - due the fierceness of this overnight blow. This is a city conditioned for extraordinary wind activity, hurricane force winds are common during the season’s change, but not with this type of power and duration – as this was a monster, the “mother” of all storms. Think the “Deadliest Catch” crew has it tough, hang on to your hat! As in this scenario, we found ourselves playing David, the wind as Goliath. But when the calm came to be, it was time to assess the damage, which was an insurance adjustor’s nightmare. It is sad when the person you have been dealing with for over 31-years on concerns of enough or not enough coverage informs you that filing a claim may cause the insurer to dump your coverage, for filing a claim! This is not what I want to hear, not when my house has been the victim of a so-called “Act of God”. How convenient an excuse to ward off responsibility – global warming ring a bell of concern this monster? But there is calm now, and this is when the “Good Samaritan” comes out in all of us, or at least it should. Indications so far are favorable even though many still without electricity are beginning to show a hint of rage, yet all-in-all civility reigns. Alaskan’s have a knack to come together when need be – herein was that case, to test us once again. There wasn’t much else to do otherwise then help out, as with no electricity it means no hi-tech communicating. Down was the “Net”, down was the cable TV, “how sweet it is”. I grabbed my chain-saw to help my elderly neighbor run some clean-up chores, along with assisting to re-establish a mail drop box. The latter a crucial element for the elderly awaiting that social security check, and it was the beginning of the month and even with the streets littered with branches and roof shingles, the “Pony Express” was out and about their duties. Frost hit this morning, so being without electricity means being without heat, wood stoves are a saving grace. And the local coffee huts were doing a brisk business, many on portable generators. Talk about a good investment. Need a generator – get on another waiting list! And as electrical contractors and utility linemen continued to work endless hours to restore tranquility, if only the Municipality of Anchorage saw to it the same “concern” – as that “Good Samaritan” thing was a no-show with the Mayor’s gang. Oh I forgot, the MOA is under the direction of Mayor Dan Sullivan, so what else would we expect, except “NO RESPECT”. I wonder, could it be that he is managing this “crises” from a “beach on Hawaii”? Hey ADN, you want a story about helping, here it is. The CEA workers were burdened down with a massive workloads, 16-hour plus days, a few hours for cleanup and then back to the chainsaws – dangerous work it was. Tropical storm downpours and whipping winds prevailed after the mighty blow, making the cleanup attempts a miserable task. So were the many independent contractors in overdrive, out and about making an income while assisting the utilities’ cope with the fallout. But when these types of scenarios hit home, it isn’t just the money aspect that brings out the best in humans. We have an affection to help out our fellow men, woman and children in times of need. I had wind damage to my overhead electrical service and it has been a chore living without the necessities, but I also realize that everybody is doing the best they can, sometimes the wait for assistance is tough to swallow – patience has its limits. Hauling water from my neighbor was doable, as was the fact he allowed me to run an electrical cord to fire up the refrigerator – a cold beer was still something to look forward upon after a soak and wet day cutting away the debris. And even though the insurance guy told me we could charge the claim for a hotel instead of camping out, conditions at home were better than the thought of a bed-bug ridden accommodation. See, most of the hotels were booked, as it was still tourist season and many without the necessities had already vacated away from their homes. I can’t blame those families with kids, as it was getting a little chilly. And with loose “hot” wires still a problem as were limbs falling from the sky, it was safer at an “extended stay”. So better them then I was my sentiment. It was rather peaceful around the neighborhood. And with the people, well above and beyond normal friendships blessed the situation still in a critical stage of recovery. Talking about how the neighbor up the road helped here, and on and on and on. Finally, late Friday night the CEA crew showed up, to safe out a downed power line and remove trees in the right-of-way. These guys go out of their way to help the customers! It was not hard to see that they had a grueling job, the faces of exhaustion told the story without words of what was still to be accomplished. It was one day at a time. But now that my “number” was the priority, the linemen were quick and thorough to explain to me what needed to be done next to get my home back into the “lights on” zone. My service entrance was damaged, which means a contractor would have to repair the damages. I had already filed a claim, and by Saturday the repair work was in the works. Everything was going well, until such time I was told the “bad” news – indeed “sad” news to say. Now it’s the weekend, and the contractors have taken the liberty to divorce the “weekend rates” they would normally charge house-owners for “emergency” callouts – at least that was true in my case. Yes, local contractors absorbing the overtime burden to give homeowners a break – like already eluted upon, the “Good Samaritan” wins out in some instances. That’s what it is all about when push comes to shove. Sure the contractors could charge the exorbitant overtime rates realizing that “Mr. Insurance” will be footing the bill, but we all know that into today’s reality, that it is all passed on to the consumers in the end. So taking liberty to soften the blow, it is a good “American” thing, what we learned as youngsters from John F. Kennedy: “Ask what you can do for your country”. So if we all give a little bit here and a little bit there, it softens the blow. But now came the last ditch hitch that would send the entire faith of mine about the “Good Samaritan” down the tubes. Before water is restored to my dwelling, before heat is restored to my dwelling, the electric guys need what’s called a “green tag”, from the Municipality. Basically, some inspector must approve the work! Now this was work performed by insured contractors that hire only “journeymen” electricians, those that have accumulated over 8000 hours in the trade and are “licensed” by the state. Now you would think that the city would also relax their bad habits, like the fact that in order for me to get that “green tag” I will have to call out the inspector on an “emergency” call! And instead of the $50-dollar inspection fee Monday through Friday, I must be willing to cough up $500-dollars! When I voiced my concern to the inspector upon this highway robbery, I believe he was in agreement. The dam city idiots under Dan Sullivan could not even stoop to help out their own city in need. So all those irate stories from customers still without, don’t blame it on the utility companies, don’t blame it on the contractors, look downtown to Mayor Sullivan’s office and you will see where the real crime of greed is perpetrated. It is a crime when the Mayor either doesn’t see the concern or doesn’t care about the concern, that his city is just recovering from dire times and anything and everything he can do to soften the blow, that is his responsibility. Just to lower the inspection fees for a “single weekend” and have an inspector on the clock, isn’t that what we pay property taxes for? Could not the city absorb this during such a disaster – sure it could. When I checked the records of other cities faced with the same type of situation, respectful cities with respectful mayors always waive the “emergency callout” burden! Sad it is here in Anchorage when other priorities like maybe beachcombing discinfranchises the public. But this is what comes to be with a Scott Walker mentality. The fact that the city abandoned the citizens during this crisis is testament that there comes before us an element of power that is dead set at trying to dictate what the “City Fathers” would frown upon, that being “NO RESPECT. Had this storm occurred many years ago under George, believe me, he had the courage to stand up for the community when every little bit of effort helps. With Dan, like already questioned, maybe he’s enjoying that “beach in Hawaii” as we struggle along trying to get by. And this guy wants to run for the U.S. Senate? Talk about duty “unbecoming” a city mayor and it would be more of the same in D.C. as he sits on Don Young’s lap – at least he’d be gone far away and maybe then we could get some decency back in the mayor – called RESPECT!
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