Residents should receive a full PFD

To the editor:

The threat of the COVID-19 virus and the ensuing economic turmoil has impacted and injured many in Alaska. People have lost jobs, their homes, children are not in school and the usual social supports are unavailable.

One of my greatest challenges was when my mother died unexpectedly. I received a phone call that mom had been struck by the car of a woman talking on her cell phone. I called two friends who stayed with me until my husband returned. A big hole had been knocked in the protective wall of my life, and they “stood in the gap”.

Alaska is in crises now, who is there for us? I want to thank Governor Dunleavy for providing a working health plan and for opening up the state while maintaining structures to protect health. Dunleavy has asked for and received funding from the Federal Government to help Alaska’s small businesses and had requested an additional PFD to be paid as soon as possible.

But, there are still missing partners in receiving emergency aid, the Alaska State Senate and House of Representatives. Senate President Cathy Giessel and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon pressured their bodies to reject the supplemental PFD. Every Alaskan is owed $5,044 as defined in the constitution. They are contesting the Governor’s distribution of dollars provided by the Feds to help keep small businesses from going bankrupt, which may result in a delay of distribution. $4 billion dollars are slated to be added to the Corpus of the Permanent Fund. This will make those dollars unavailable to help Alaskans. The Legislature can remove these fiscal gaps by reconvening in Juneau and providing Alaskans the fiscal help they desperately need. This is no rainy day, it’s a hurricane.

What can you do? Contact your Senator and Representative, as well as the Senate and House Leadership and let them know: 1. The legislature should reconvene 2. Allow Dunleavy to administer Fed funds 3. Provide an additional and full PFD as soon as possible 3. Cancel moving the 4 billion dollars. Remind them it is their obligation as public servants of the citizens of this state to listen to us and provide the financial resources to preserve our citizens right to work. They will be judged on whether they choose to “stand in the gap” during this crisis. Let that judgment be known by voting in November. They work for us.

Cheryl Kajdan,

Palmer