Action Needed to Make Alaska SaferBy Debra CallOctober 16, 2018
Unfortunately, recent headlines have only underscored these unacceptable trends. We all mourned with Kotzebue and prayed for Ashley Johnson-Barr and her family. And we all watched with outrage as the Schneider case unfolded. I've mourned with my fellow Alaskans, but there is something deeper. As an Alaska Native woman, I know that while the statewide statistics are devastating, the reality for too many Alaska Native women and rural communities can be even worse. Although Alaska Native women and girls are less than 10 percent of the total population, they comprised almost half of the victims of felony sex offenses last year. In Western Alaska, felony sex offenses are 106 percent above the statewide average. During the past four years, our elected leaders haven't just failed to make things better, they have actually gotten worse. We can and must do better. It will take real leadership and a comprehensive plan if we want to make Alaska communities - from Juneau to Nunam Iqua - safer. This is one of many reasons I'm so proud to be running for lieutenant governor with Mark Begich. Mark rolled out his comprehensive Keeping Alaska Families Safe plan in July. We've both been traveling the state and talking to Alaskans about how to keep our communities safe in both urban and rural Alaska. As Mark has explained, there has been a systemic failure to address the exploding opioid epidemic and increasing crime within our communities which has led Alaska to have the highest rates of crime in the nation. This is unacceptable. From addressing the opioid epidemic, substance abuse and mental health issues to fully staffing the Departments of Public Safety, Law and Corrections and disrupting the "business" of drugs criminals have been getting away with for too long, we are offering real and ready-to-implement solutions. We must also bridge the gap between urban and rural law enforcement. That's why I strongly support Mark's plan to cross-train village police officers (VPOs) and village public safety officers (VPSOs). Mark has proposed an exchange program that gives VPOs and VPSOs the opportunity to interact directly with law enforcement from across the state. This would include VPOs and VPSOs training in urban areas with police and Alaska State Troopers, as well as urban officers spending time in our rural communities. While Mike Dunleavy is too busy campaigning to share his crime plan with Alaskans, Mark Begich and I are busy talking to Alaskans about our detailed, comprehensive plans because Alaskans deserve to know how their leaders will keep them and their families safe. Though I have never run a campaign or served in public office before, I am Dena'ina Athabascan with deep roots in Alaska, and I know we can do better. My grandmother set up her fish camp on the beach of Cook Inlet. She fed 13 kids with fish she caught and raised her family on our ancestral lands. One of the best ways to honor my grandmother's efforts to protect her family is to ensure Alaskans today have the opportunity to live in safe, healthy and successful communities all across the state. We have all seen what a difference it makes when we come together and support Mark's vision. With his leadership and your support, I know we can do it again. I am proud to be a part of the Begich-Call ticket and I hope you will join our team. Our children are counting on us.
Debra Call About: Debra Call is running for lieutenant governor on the Democratic ticket with Mark Begich gubernatorial candidate. More about Debra Call, click here.
Editor's Note:
Received October 14, 2018 - Published October 16, 2018 Related Viewpoint: Viewpoints - Opinion Letters:
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