AKconvo

Casey speaks with Michael Patterson of the Anchorage Tenants Union. This is a lively debate about the impacts of rent control, rent strikes, landlords and tenants. Mike promotes greater government power in managing housing and land use. Casey discusses unintended consequences, the role of private property and risk.

Casey speaks with Andrew Jensen the managing editor of the Alaska Journal of Commerce about his recent article about homelessness. Andrew discusses what he discovered cleaning up a homeless camp, what he saw and how the situation has evolved in Anchorage. The conversation covers the Alaska budget and economy, factors that lead to homelessness, and potential hurdles to Alaska's future.

Casey talks with legislative staffer, local politico, and undeclared candidate for Alaska House District 6 Elijah Verhagen. The Alaska legislature is the smallest state governing body in the country. Alaskan's, especially those that spend time and effort following politics in Alaska, elevate our state representatives higher than in other states in the country. We discuss what it is like to be a staff member, what actually gets done, and how people get along. We also have a discussion about the infrastructure of political parties, the presence of lobbyists, and how a bill becomes law.

Dr. Brett Watson is an economist and has completed a lot of research into how commercial fisheries benefit Alaskan communities. Dr. Watson discuses how the multiplier effect of commercial fishing and how it differs when a non-resident and a resident catch the fish. Casey and Brett discuss a recent paper The local impact of commercial fisheries of which Dr. Watson was a co-author. The conversation also includes discussions on commercial fishing supply chains and the potential impacts of losing market share.

Ed is back for a second time to talk about how monetary policy works at the national level. Governments have an ability to pull levers to induce investments and expansion but what if this contraction is different? People spend stimulus checks differently based on incomes and this shock to our economy may have the ability to fundamentally change the way businesses operate. Casey and Ed also discuss the collapse of oil, oil markets, and the financial gorilla that is for Alaska even though it is being overshadowed by a global pandemic.

This is a unique episode recorded as a monologue and is going to be used as a framework for future episodes as we all navigate what COVID-19 and the oil price collapse means for our economy and Alaska specifically. This episodes include talks on applying new knowledge to past events, economic decision making for families, and the unmeasured costs on society. Additionally, Casey talks about the reality of oil prices today. The changing supply conditions, and the eventual need to rethink life in Alaska.

Are we getting the results we want in education? What are our desired outcomes? What is the best possible way to spend each additional dollar of education funds? This week Casey speaks with Bob Griffin, Education research fellow with the Alaska Policy Forum. The conversation includes discussion of a mastery based system, the Alaska reads act and the importance of reading by 3rd grade. How to structure education to more effectively reach our desired outcomes is a theme throughout this episode. Also interesting is how Alaska children stack up against other children in the lower 48.

The current ‘fee for service’ billing model of medicine has led to complex, burdensome, and expensive costs of health insurance; short, often ineffective doctor visits, and many hidden costs. It leads not only to frustrated and confused patients, but high rates of physician burn out. This reality has, unfortunately, become our accepted norm. Casey Talks with Dr. Gayle Hornberger, a family care physician and owner of Midnight Sun Family Medicine in Fairbanks. MSFM is a Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice which abandons the traditional ‘pay for service’ model, for a ‘membership-based’ approach that operates outside the red tape of insurance. The DPC model is a newer model that boasts better outcomes, potential cost savings to customers, and a more personal relationship with your family doctor. Casey and Dr. Hornberger discuss how a DPC practice operates, and what you can expect. This episode offers a peek behind the curtain of the medical insurance industry, the business of medicine, and the basics of the DPC model.

Flying is a way of life in Alaska. Alaskan's rely on airplanes for transportation, medical care, and for cargo. Casey talks with Colleen Mondor about the terrible no good year for air carriers in 2019. The conversation begins with an interesting story of early travel in Alaska. Colleen touches on the important turning point crashes in our history and the alarming record of Alaska's largest rural carrier RAVN air group.

Casey talks with the president of the Hoodoo Brewery. Craft breweries in Alaska have really exploded over the last 10-15 years. Casey and Bobby talk about what it takes to learn the business and the supply chain of breweries. Have you ever wondered if Alaska uses its own barely? The craft brew scene also faces a lot of regulations to keep them from becoming bars or places of entertainment. Yoga and beer? I don't think so.

Casey talks with Bryce Wrigley the CEO and owner of the Alaska Flour Company. The Alaska Flour Company is a large barley operation located in the interior around Delta Junction and traces its roots to the Alaska Barley project. Bryce moved to Alaska to take advantage of available resources and has now been participating in Alaska's Ag sector for nearly 40 years. Casey and Bryce discuss the challenges of producing in Alaska, food security, and how the Flour Company takes advantage of value added products to increase revenue and opportunity. Bryce describes the type of person required to farm in Alaska and gives his ideas for how future AG projects might be structured to be more effective.

Visit www.alaskaconversations.com Pick up a copy of Patrice's book here (https://amzn.to/38fMBvI) Patrice Gopo is the author of All the Colors We Will See, Reflections on Barriers, Brokenness, and Finding Our Way. Patrice grew up in Anchorage and they discuss memories and experiences from then including why Alaska can become an identity. The conversation turns to race and each person telling their story. There is an interesting back and forth about how we use categories and ancestry to form our social groups and if there is any validity to it.

Visit www.alaskaconversations.com Ed King, Principle of King Economics group and former chief economist for the State of Alaska joins AKconvo to discuss forecasting, modeling, and the economy of Alaska. Casey and Ed discuss where economists get their numbers, how economists can get it wrong, and a $100 Billion Permanent Fund. There is an interesting discussion about what economics struggles to measure, such as well-being and satisfaction.

Visit www.alaskaconversations.com Casey talks with Brad Keithley, the managing director of Alaskans for Sustainable budgets. Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets advocates for Alaska to have a balanced budget while maintaining the permanent fund dividend. The two discuss what has led to the current budget deficit including production declines, price declines, and changes to the tax structure. Brad makes the case for the PFD, discusses the differences in the Alaska Royalty structure, and the regressive nature of PFD cuts. The two end up debating the necessity of new revenues and the likelihood a flat tax could remain flat.

Visit www.alaskaconversations.com Casey speaks with Professor Doug Reynolds, he is a professor of resource economics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Doug discusses his recent opinion piece for the Anchorage Daily news where he explains how Alaska develops its resources responsibly. The two discuss the concerning trend of large financial institutions avoiding investment in Alaska. Dr. Reynolds makes a tongue and cheek argument for large banking institutions relocating to Fairbanks. He gives examples of large corporations signaling environmentalism while practicing the exact opposite in their operations. Professor Reynolds explains how shale oil differs from oil produced in Alaska, challenges facing development, oil taxes, and a smaller in state natural gas pipeline. The ADN article https://www.adn.com/opinions/2020/01/01/does-goldman-sachs-really-think-it-can-divest-from-climate-change/

Visit www.alaskaconversations.com Casey speaks with Craig Medred of Craigmedred.news Craig discusses his ideas concerning the future of the fishing industry in relation to the increases in farmed salmon. The fishing industry is seeing rapid and increasing changes due to advances in aquaculture. Casey and Craig discuss what that might look like for our local fisherman, the impacts that could be felt in communities and a little bit about preparation. Other topics discussed include changes in the media market, environmentalism, finding your Alaska Adventure, and changes in Alaska.

Visit www.alaskaconversations.com Casey speaks with Rick Whitbeck for Power the future Alaska. Rick is the state director for Power the future, and has over 30 years experience in Alaska policies including involvement in the past with Stand for Alaska. Power the future focuses on giving a voice to energy workers. Rick describes the benefit of developing Alaska’s resources such as oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), timber harvest in Southeast, and large mines to include the development of the Ambler Mining district, Donlin, and the Pebble Project. Rick makes the argument some environmentally focused groups are harming prosperity and opportunity in our rural communities. The two touch on employment compositions in different industries, out of state workers, education and a lively discussion takes place particularly involving the Pebble project.

Visit www.alaskaconversations.com Casey talks with Matt Schultz, pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Anchorage. The topic of discussion is Empathy in Budgeting. Pastor Schultz makes the claim empathy should guide our decisions when considering where to allocate public dollars. Casey pushes back a bit on the limits of what empathy can accomplish. The two discuss what it means to feel empathy, the difference in individual and collective empathy, and implications for State budgets. Along the way the discussion addresses homelessness, caring for the elderly, education, and the minimum wage. The discussion centers on two articles written by Matt (he has many more just search his name at ADN.com) https://www.adn.com/opinions/2019/08/14/in-budgets-and-in-life-lets-define-ourselves-by-empathy-and-compassion/ https://www.adn.com/opinions/2019/04/08/government-shouldnt-be-a-business-its-about-people-not-profits/