This recent legislative session resulted in over 100 bills which directly impacted communities – good and bad. It is apparent that in order to be ready for the next Alaska Legislative Session, AML and city and borough leaders must cement the main priorities for communities into a workable plan and informing the legislators and the public as to what municipalities provide to Alaskans and to the State. We must also reach out to our community groups and organizations to carry the message.

AML will provide strong, factual information to legislators and the public. Work will begin immediately to:

• AML will solicit and/or produce regular editorials, compass pieces, Letters to the Editor, newspaper articles or advertisement informing the public about what local governments do. AML will strongly encourage and support city and borough leaders in submitting opinion pieces and letters to the editor on key municipal issues, especially the submission of opinion pieces and letters to the editor from rural cities and boroughs to the urban news outlets.
• AML will encourage city and borough leaders to contact their legislators while they are in their home districts in preparation for the next session. It is especially that legislators involved in discussions of the need for local tax increases.
• AML will help to facilitate presentations to organizations such as Rotary, Chambers, School Boards, the Press, and any other organizations needed to achieve statewide, grassroots support.
• AML will focus on strong partnerships with organizations throughout the State with which to carry an allied message to the Legislature.
• AML will work closely with the new legislatively created “Commission on Local Government” (SCR 14) especially to highlight “specific reasons for the hardships that communities in Alaska have experienced” and to “develop recommendations for Alaska's cities.”

This will take the work of all city and borough officials. All members, at some time, may be called upon to write a letter, a compass piece or give a presentation (if comfortable with public speaking), depending upon the needs. AML would request that anytime an elected official or employee of an AML member community travel to Juneau, that they contact AML. We will check event schedules for opportunities, as well as discuss your community’s needs to result in one of the above information routes.

For further information, or to discuss ideas that might further this program, please call AML at 1(877)636-1325 or contact kathie@akml.org; or jeremy@akml.org.