Fairbanks borough mayor candidates’ differences are illustrated by junkyard debate
Published Monday, October 19, 2009
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — The two finalists for borough mayor, Luke Hopkins and Tammie Wilson, were the only two incumbent Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly members on the original six-candidate ballot.
The assembly also is where Hopkins and Wilson took part in a heated 2005 public debate, one that highlighted the recently-elected Hopkins’ public resume to date and sparked Wilson’s introduction to the local political process.
The arguments then mirror, to a degree, more recent comments from the candidates on zoning policy, a major function of local government.
Five years ago, Mayor Jim Whitaker assigned a committee to review the process used to enforce borough laws, particularly zoning codes, and recommend improvements. Whitaker said, explaining the decision in late 2005, that public managers were receiving complaints almost daily from landowners with neighbors who strayed regularly from zoning laws by, for example, keeping more stuff in their yard than code allowed, breaking so-called “junkyard” laws.
Laws regulate the amount of junk property owners can keep in their yards but don’t mention potential citations or fines. The job of enforcing those laws had largely fallen to public attorneys, and the borough had relied on letters and, in messy situations, lawsuits to force those with illegal junkyards to clean up.
Until the debate, Hopkins had served on the borough’s Planning Commission for seven years starting in January 1997. The planning commission views and handles zoning matters. He joined the assembly in late 2004 and was assigned to the code-enforcement committee. In early 2005, he and two other assembly members recommended a citation process to streamline and increase enforcement of a slate of laws, including a handful of zoning rules.
“We have all kinds of issues in zoning where (rules) are ignored,” Hopkins said during the resulting discussion. He said he preferred the enforcement plan to the thought of “more lawyers upstairs to prosecute these issues.”
The proposed fine for breaking junkyard rules, however, proved contentious and drew dozens of residents to a downtown hearing in September 2005.
Enter Wilson, who had attended one or two public meetings but said the prospect of fines led her to start commenting publicly. Wilson told the assembly that junk on her North Pole property left her in violation of code and argued the enforcement plan sought to restrict private property rights.
While the plan’s stated intent, she said, was to respond only to specific public complaints, future assemblies or administrations could expand enforcement.
“If someone doesn’t like what’s on my land,” she said at the Sept. 22, 2005 meeting, “let them pay for my property taxes, let them pay for my land and let them do what they want.”
Borough officials and assembly members defended the proposal’s purpose, but the nine-member assembly rejected the plan. Members later revived the ordinance but stripped mention of all but a few penalties before it passed.
Wilson soon thereafter became a regular at the assembly’s public meetings and work sessions. Whitaker followed the debate by creating a task force to review junkyard laws and named Wilson a member. About the same time, Whitaker appointed Wilson to the borough’s advisory Air Pollution Control Commission, where she remained until joining the assembly one year ago.
Last month, Hopkins and Wilson responded to a Daily News-Miner questionnaire that included a question about land-use: “Should borough officials start citing property owners who violate land-use (zoning) laws, such as junkyard rules? If so, how aggressive should enforcement be?”
Hopkins noted in his response that the prospect of citations for junkyard violations had been stripped from the 2005 plan. He indicated the question of how to enforce land-use rules remains largely unresolved.
“Citations should be used only after borough officials fail to resolve conflicts,” he wrote.
Wilson opposed the idea of enforcing land-use rules and said the borough should instead focus on protecting private property rights such as “grandfathered” zoning privileges, which occasionally give landowners elbow room around zoning laws.
“Unlike the city, the borough does not have police powers,” she wrote. “Therefore, we should not attempt to implement unenforceable rules.”
Contact staff writer Christopher Eshleman at 459-7582.
Community Discussion
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This clearly demonstrates the stupidity of simplistic bureaucrats and simplistic knee-jerk politicians like Hopkins. "Junkyard" was defined in such a way that if you had a boat trailer, a motorhome, and a 1937 Duesenberg, you had a "junkyard." There was no distinction between the guy who had a pile of lumber on his property and a salvage operation like K&K recycling. Hopkins approach has been to make broad rules that turn everybody into lawbreakers.
Tammie is more reasonable. She recognizes that we're all different and it's not necessarily "junk" on a farm in Salcha, even though it would be out of place in downtown Fairbanks.
If you want simplistic, Hopkins is your man. If you want someone more in tune with individual situations, vote for Tammie Wilson.
go Tammie! She is real, and what we need.
If you can't enforce it, why spend the time & money to even write a law? And, if you can't enforce it, you are only encouraging belligerent activity.
Very similar to being a patsy for alcoholics. Hence, a patsy for the common criminal.
Bah. FNSB populace, excluding Fairbanks & North Pole cities is too minimal for a borough police force.
As I recall that meeting, Ms. Wilson's comment on her junkyard was, "Buy it or shut up." Typical for a woman who believes that her attitude represents that of the majority. It most certainly does not.
I remember a time when junkyards had to be fenced in to hide them. I remember when anyone whose yard went unmowed in a neighborhood was paid a visit by the neighbors, who would offer to mow it for them. There used to be pride among neighbors, and people used to care about how their yard looked. Now, a drive out in the North Pole area includes open views of dog yards and junk yards and I don't know what all - it's hideous.
The borough should be able to fine people who can't confine their junk to their backyards, or who don't obey the codes. If someone lives with that much squalor in their front yard, I can only imagine what the interior of their home looks like. I've seen hoarders on television - it's a disgusting way to live.
I will absolutely NOT be voting for that woman. I don't want someone of her caliber representing the borough in any way - I'm appalled that she won election on the assembly in the first place, but then again, she ran unopposed. She may be "real", but she is definitely not what we need. Roseanne Barr is "real" - we don't want her for our mayor either. In these days of rude behavior, we need someone who can express himself with calm dignity, not someone who blurts out whatever she thinks. She's disgraceful!
Vote for intelligence, not ignorance. Vote for dignity, not crudeness.
Don't vote then, disillusioned.
So, what can a person do about someone that truly has a junkyard and a complete eyesoar that continue to haul in junk from the dumpster in hopes of using it one of these days. What rights do the neighbors have?
Eif you mow your lawn, and find a car .... you might be a redneck.
disillusioned said in a previous post, "I'm learning that I actually have the views of a Democrat!"
That seems to be the real issue in this campaign. The partisan left wingers know they have a guy who's solidly in their camp. The rest of us would be much happier with Tammie Wilson.
Fairbanks deserves Wilson for mayor. Move it more to the redneck, and let the rest of us be thankful we don't live there. Keep me out of NativeSon's neighborhood, for sure.
The luke bunch are digging into their s**t bag to try to smear Tammie,
as they dont want to talk about their overbearing, shove it down you
throat,vote on this issue where you lose whicever way you vote,
install an IM program that robbed the people of their money and did
no good at 40 below, and will if elected go after your wood stove
as its their mentality.
Now they want tp paint Tammie as a red neck who knows nothing. If
they thought so little of her why did they appoint her to serve on
committees and how did she get elected in her own right?
No this junkyard bull sh** is a last minute, desperation of the old
smear tactic. Will the people be led by the nose by these chamber
of commerce stooges.....AGAIN??
“If someone doesn’t like what’s on my land,” she said at the Sept. 22, 2005 meeting, “let them pay for my property taxes, let them pay for my land and let them do what they want.”
...and THIS is who we want representing our borough? Holy Crap! Be careful Fairbanks...be very, very careful.
Ya, see this is just typical Tammie Wilson. She serves up knee jerk reactions to problems, because that's all she's capable of. The fact of the matter is that MY private property rights are infringed upon if my next door neighbor has so much junk in his yard that my house becomes difficult to sell. MY property value is brought down my HIS actions. These aren't victimless crimes. Does Tammie also think people have a right to commit murder? Or to steal the snow machine they want? It's easy to scream about "private property rights." It's much more difficult to actually consider what that means. Tammie doesn't consider it, because she's not smart enough to consider it. That's why I won't be voting for her.
SpiritofAlaska sez: what can a person do about someone that truly has a junkyard and a complete eyesoar. The answer is that you could buy enough property so that you won't have to see or hear anything you neighbors do.
Snowbilly Thank you for showing your real stupity. How can you even think that the cost of your property is a crime? What "crime" are you talking about? Murder is a crime, stealing is a crime, assualt is a crime, your property value up or down is NOT a crime, it is just your bad investment. The real crime here is that you have the "right" to vote. You deserve Luke.....
Cue the dueling banjos: Daa daa daa daa daa ding ding doo.
I don't wanna live en one of dem fancy stick built homes. I like my doublewide and all dem washing machines and junk cars in my front yard. When I goes down to dem dar dumpsters and bring home all my new junk I can store the new junk in my old cars.
Aint noobody gonna tell me what to do. Nosirree JimBob.
Where's Jeff Foxworthy when we need him?
If you don't like what your neighbor is doing on his land, buy it. I remember a few years back I went down to my property in Washington state and cut some trees to keep the space more open and one of the neighbors complained. I explained that the land and the trees were for sale any time she wanted to write the check. Fairbanks does have its share of nutburger junk collectors but I prefer junk to loss of property rights.
Wilson's passion for trash is shocking anywhere else but Fairbanks. Take a drive down South Cushman and admire the beauty of a trashed environment. Turn west on 23rd and admire trashed people. Go out to the Cushman rifle range, dump your trash, set your vehicle on fire, then shoot it full of holes. No one will stop you, most weekends it's encouraged. Wilson is correct in saying the borough does not have police powers and if Wilson is elected you can bet it never will. Hopkins on the other hand has the vitality of a dead seagull and if you think he has a chance of changing borough powers you need to set down your meth pipe for a minute and relax. Fairbanks will maintain the right to look like Fairbanks and those pesky convenance agreements you sign when you buy property will be useful when you run out of toilet paper in your outhouse.
I was born and raised here and I loved building my permit free house on frozen jello. My neighbor has 6 more dead cars on his property than the convenance allows and he recently invited a couple to live in the van next to his outhouse. It sucks but I don't think about it much when I'm caribou hunting in the Brooks Range, snowmachining in Talkeetna or dipnetting in Chitina.
That's the tradeoff folks, love it or leave it or run for office, then I'll know for sure you're crazy.
Who can believe anything Hopkins says about any issue, since he will change his mind if he thinks he will gain votes by doing so. Notice when Hopkins was in trouble regarding his vote for the bag tax, he made his appearances on the local conservative talk shows with his new change of heart attitude. Now he has nothing to do with them. Hopkins is the biggest hypocrite this community has seen in a politician in a long time. He is a good example of saying anything to win a few votes. Yea, if you want to carry on the tradition of self interest Mayors, vote Hopkins. Hopkins = Obama and Chicago Democrat type politics in the North. NewsMiner, why not ask Hopkins what went on in the secret meetings of the Port Authority? Of course he will lie and say he can not say because they were confidential.
Wilson supporters be ready to take them on because they will play nothing but dirty politics till the election. Like their leader Obama has said in his handbook on how to play dirty politics, tell enough misinformation to make the other person look bad and questionable is the way to win. Won't believe a word Hopkins says anymore. I guess we will have a week of his lies answering these questions for the paper. if elected watch, he will flip/flop on these answers if it is to his and his buddies advantages.
I interpret Wilson's comment to mean that since the FNSB can't enforce rules about the condition of one's property, then the FNSB should not create unenforceable rules about property. The FNSB should proceed to enjoin landowners whose property is a junkyard, as the article states has been past practice. A few suits which require hoarders to clean up their properties, along with an award to FNSB attorneys for costs and fees should get the attention of messy property owners.
I agree that the DNM is trying to smear Wilson, however, I would like to know if she really believes that folks can do whatever they like with their properties? That is clearly not the case. I would like to see her write an article in response to this in the near future.
Black or white. This or that. God forbid people engage in constructive communication with their neighbors.
If you live in a neighborhood where the garbage dump lawn adornments are the norm...stop b*tching. You moved there.
If you live in a neighborhood where the yards are kept up, don't expect your neighbors to just allow you to start mucking up the area with your junk. You moved into their area.
If you live in a neighborhood that's trying to clean up it's image, get with all your neighbors and express your concerns, your plan, and what you believe the benefits to be. If someone doesn't want to part with their "worldly treasures", get a neighborhood petition together and force the issue.
Wilson and Hopkins, on this one, are both wrong. No ones rights should interfer with those of others. Making laws that favor either position are wrong- junk yards or no. People, get out of your homes, engage with your neighbors, and work it out.
Interesting that many of the same people who squeal about government getting involved in their lives are here... wanting government to get involved in their lives.
To the junk collector crowd: Just curious what's wrong with you. Is it reasonable to believe that the honey buckets and rusted out cars that fill your yard are of any value???
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
Shokd you ask the motives of the junk collector... remember Irene? There is a section of road named after her in this town, she was collector and built a maze out of the stuff. These are the people of our town.
disillusioned
Remember saying this?
"But since my "falling out" with Governor Palin, I'm learning that I actually have the views of a Democrat! And if this could happen to me at my advanced age, I think it could happen to others. It's never too late to open your mind!"
You have also made reference in other posts that you voted exactly as your Republican husband told you to do and remained ignorant about politics for many years.
Please do continue to learn about politics and do your research on both of the candidates and remember there is no "perfect" person for the job of Mayor.
After researching Luke's past records and affiliations, I have decided to support and vote Tammie Wilson.
I do not want a continuation of "politics as usual" by a "Whitaker-Clone"!
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In this election, I'm looking for someone who's thoughtful and will rely on informed analysis, not ideology, to make decisions. I'm voting for Luke.
It's sad, but it looks like Fairbanks is slowly segregating itself into $200,000+ properties and junkyard-strewn slums. We've become surrounded by junk collectors and even though we're out of town a ways, the lots are too small to ignore what your neighbors are doing. They are degrading the value of our property, so we are looking elsewhere.
Hopefully the next owners won't mind, but we will have to build a fence to block out the obnoxious view/random dogs in order to entice buyers.
I'm with disillusioned...we should start regulating what junk people have inside their homes, too.
The Democratic smear machine always comes down to one tactic: The junior high trick of belittling those who disagree. Democrats so want to be part of the in-crowd that they tell each other lies to reinforce a mutual fantasy world view.
Democrats try to paint Tammie as believing in no rules. Obviously a lie. Her concept of government includes more freedom than does Hopkins', but they both have to draw a line somewhere regarding the degree of acceptable government intrusion. Tammie evidently has more faith in people than Hopkins does. She doesn't try to hamstring citizens with long lists of petty regulations, or bankrupt them with fees.
There are many places in the lower 48 now where it costs you over $30,000 in permits and "impact fees" before you even can start to build a cabin on your own property.
"The Democratic smear machine always comes down to one tactic: The junior high trick of belittling those who disagree."
...And the Republicans are capable of anything better?
...And the Republicans are capable of anything better?
Do you think Wilson is really a Republican? From the comments quoted in the article, she sounds like a pure Libertarian to me.
Just wanted to thank the News Miner for starting to bring forth articles that highlight each candidate's position on various issues. I would like to see one on management styles and/or experience. The Mayor will be "managing" the Borough and for the undecided voter, this is an important issue. I would like to see in depth, what experience each candidate has actually managing other people and what in their prior jobs or volunteer work shows their decision making skills. Telling us that Tammie manages or managed property or ran a small business and that Luke worked at the University does not tell us what each of them did in their respective positions that is relevant to how they will manage the Borough and the personnel that they will be in charge of. Again, I think an important issue for each of them to disclose is, who is your inner circle of advisors, who will your chief of staff be? That information will clue the undecided voters in as to who may best fill the Mayor's post, because it is a direct reflection of how they see the Borough being run.
Thank you - Diane
"If someone doesn’t like what’s on my land," she said at the Sept. 22, 2005 meeting, "let them pay for my property taxes, let them pay for my land and let them do what they want."
That's like saying "and if someone has a problem with the meth house on my property they can suck it!"
Gee that Tammie sounds like a winner!
Vote LUKE!
chillyfilly: I was specifically referencing NativeSon's comment. It's been my observation that "the junior high trick of belittling those who disagree" is one of the most consistently bipartisan acts in American politics. Only a blind ignorant fool would fail to notice this.
If Tammie gets elected, I'm putting a huge cell tower on my property. After all, It's my property and I can do what I want.
Interesting article there DNM. I think I'll take a little drive and see if one or the other of the two candidates would be a good neighbor.
While I'm on the subject of neighbors, has anyone taken a little drive by where Dog's Bar used to be? It's almost scary to drive by a couple of those places. Hard-core anti-zoning folks I guess.
I have a friend who recently moved here from Colorado. She is currently renting her house there and recently received a fine from the neighborhood association there because a shrubbery planted in the front yard exceeded the height set for shrubs in the HOA. It now counts as a tree and she doesn't have a permit to have a tree in her yard. While this is a somewhat extreme example, it is the kind of thing that people fear when you start talking about making "adjustments" to the private property rights.
There are plenty of neighborhoods in Fairbanks with fairly strict controls on what can and can’t happen in the neighborhood (see the newer developments on Chena Ridge). When looking for a house I specifically choose to find a neighborhood where I didn’t have to deal with that. If that is your thing because you are scared about your property value, that’s fine, get together with your neighbors and get some rules established, or look for a neighborhood with rules already in place. However, please don’t assume that all of us care a bit about what our neighbor’s yards look like. If someone next to me starts rednecking their yard up, I’ll assume my property value will go down, and so should my taxes.
THE Bottom Line Is...........
Hopkins and his ilk want to Tax, Spend, and Control.
The borough was never intended to have enforcement powers, PERIOD.
Whitiker and his clone Hopkins have been trying to subvert that reality for years. They got their foot in the door with the I.M.,now it's wood stoves, and so called "junk".
If you like seeing your taxes and rent and the price of everything else go up, vote Hopkins.
If you like in your face Borough Big Government...Vote Hopkins.
If your happy with our N.E.A Gov. monopoly public education ......Vote Hopkins
I could keep going. but ...It's really time for REAL PEOPLE to VOTE for a REAL PERSON ,,,,,,,.....Tammie Wilson
Chris,
I used to assume that taxes would go down if my neighbors screwed up the area too, but after a few trips to the assessors office I found out about assuming once again.
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
I appreciated Diane's comment. It would definitely be enlightening if the DNM researched and wrote the kinds of articles she suggests.
Thanks to the News Minus for setting the debate with this pro Hopkins article.
"Fairbanks borough mayor candidates’ differences are illustrated by junkyard debate."
How about something more like;
"Fairbanks borough mayor candidates’ differences are illustrated by how they voted on taxes, property rights issues, and the role of borough Government in general"
My money is still on Tammie.
Thank you, Diane, for your common sense suggestions. The more information, the better. There is no need to be afraid to learn more. I would prefer, though, to hear it from the horses' mouths. The FDN filter we could live without.
Personally, I've decided on Tammie. She represents my family.
Right on Tammie...I can do whatever I want with my land!!!!!!
Why I may just build a 25 story skyscraper...out of plywood, or my own gas station, where I sell fuel out of glass jugs ala Gabon...or maybe I'll open an abortion clinic...or a mosque...how about I let Russian hospitals dump their radiological waste on my property for a small fee...or start a polar bear farm...
You live in the FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR BOROUGH...there are laws and rules and zoning codes you have to abide by, just as there is in any non-3rd world country.
Just because you're a white-trash hoarder doesn't mean you get to pick and choose which codes you will abide by.
The prospect of having someone in office with such disregard for borough regulations that are on the books should worry anybody who really gives a crap about our community.
And as always, if you want smaller (or non-existant) gov't, you live in the right state...move your arse up the road to Livengood, and appoint yourself emporer or something...
All of the candidates who ran for mayor in the October 6th election asked the public for their support based upon positions taken both in the past and commenting on the future. Try and stick with this type of inquiry and stay away from making caustic comments about one person or the other. Blowing out your neighbors candle to make yours burn brighter is a terrible way to choose a leader. I sat next to Luke at all of the forums and tented next near Tammie at many of the places where we sought to engage voters during community events borough-wide. I find them both to be honorable and well intentioned individuals who have the communities best interest at heart. I agree with Diane that we now should focus on who has the ability to lead the borough these next 3 years - and who best can work with the assembly, the state legislature and administration, as well as the congressional folks. Like it or not local politics isn't always centered locally. Pick a mayor who can move the community forward - the challenges are many and the time is now. Please vote on November 3rd.
Charlie Boddy
My wife and I are voting for Luke. No way do I want the trailer park queen helping to further drive Fairbanks back to the stone age.
“If someone doesn’t like what’s on my land,” she said at the Sept. 22, 2005 meeting, “let them pay for my property taxes, let them pay for my land and let them do what they want.”
If she said the above and doesn't have any qualifications to what is on the surface a brain-dead kneejerk - she can kiss where I can't.
I've been involved in a situation where I couldn't sell a piece of property because a swamp rat type moved close by and made what I owned nearly impossible to dump for any price. And in this case it wasn't only because he had turned it into a junk yard but some of his personal hobbies were a bit on the antisocial side too.
So thumbs down on the new-comer unless I hear some caveats to her statement.
I think there are two thing worth noting:
First, the person who has to enforce the rules is never popular. There is no quicker way to lose friends! I ask that those of you disinclined towards Hopkins consider that the person who has to be the 'bad guy' has a hard job.
Second, if I understand this article correctly and the article has its facts straight, we are talking about the how the borough can enforce existing rules. These laws against junkyards already exist. Simply disavowing enforcement is equivalent to thumbing your nose at the law. What people like Wilson should be doing is trying to get borough codes changed to allow, or at least not forbid, the kind of yards they think are appropriate.
Thank you for your wise and insightful comment, Mr. Boddy.
I think its pretty clear from the tone and content of the Newsminer's editorials and news topics that all the Libs in the newsroom are backing Luke Hopkins for mayor. This is not a new revelation. And on that note, I will be working harder for TAMMIE WILSON. This election is a no-brainer. GO TAMMIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LMAO, Madtrapper!
7:25 a.m. "Hopkins . . . has the vitality of a dead seagull."
I almost spewed the coffee on that one!
I think if Tammie wins, maybe I'll open up a Terrorist Training Camp on my property. And a steel mill. And maybe a factory that melts down guns and woodstoves into Obama/Biden buttons. While I'm at it, I'll probably throw in a few prisons or death camps, a monster truck racecourse, and a Chinese Consulate.
Seriously, people. We live in a community, some of which is densely populated. There are certain things that cannot be done in certain areas! When one's activities on their property PREVENTS another from enjoying their own property, there's a problem. A junkyard diminishes all the property values in the area and may leach toxins into the groundwater. A terrorist training camp may result in CIA airstrikes, demolishing buildings on other lots. A monster truck racecourse would be deafeningly loud.
For the most part, property restrictions make sense--there are some really idiotic ones (like the fellow above whose shrubbery turned into a tree and got him fined), but by and large, they are logical, if not always properly implemented.
If you live near Livengood, sure. Do whatever you want. When you live within a few dozen yards of other folks, though, you've got to keep them in mind.
Twain - "how did she get elected in her own right?" She ran unopposed.
Why wasn't this vetted by Bartos and Hutch? She's at the end of their conservative tobacco road. It is what the Republican Party and FOX News has nurtured and bred.
Pollution, meth, and junkyards and leave me alone while I trash everything = the Tammie Teabaggers -trashers and billies versus the rest of the civil world. The law don't apply to me crowd. I was told by radio I don't need to pay taxes. If I do I'm unAmercan. If I don't I support freedom the way the founded Fathers said. Catch me if you can.
They are free until they show up at the hospital, without insurance, or have to go to jail for cookin on their mortgaged property.
Why don't they grow up? Cause it's fun being a sort of pirate. No responsibility at all.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
DNM interview of Tammie Wilson.......www.newsminer.com/news/2009/sep/29/fairbanks-north-star-borough-mayoral-candidate-tam/
DNM interview of Luke Hopkins......www.newsminer.com/news/2009/sep/29/fairbanks-north-star-borough-mayoral-candidate-luk/
Now, go do some reading and get some facts before posting. You may or may not have to cut and paste the links into your browser.
snowbilly said "The fact of the matter is that MY private property rights are infringed upon if my next door neighbor has so much junk in his yard that my house becomes difficult to sell. MY property value is brought down my HIS actions. These aren't victimless crimes." And he's right on all three counts.
Bugger came back with: "Snowbilly Thank you for showing your real stupity. How can you even think that the cost of your property is a crime? What "crime" are you talking about?"
Bugger, you missed something. The "crime" is that the junker is breaking a borough ordinance. The only difference between a law and an ordinance is that the former is enacted by a state legislative body (or a national one) and the latter is enacted by the borough assembly or the city council. And in this particular case, one has teeth - the other currently does not, unless challenged in court.
The simplistic suggestions that if you don't want a junkyard next to your house, "don't buy it", or "buy enough property so you don't have to see it", don't cut it. Either an area is zoned for junkyards, or it is not. Those of us who believe in the rule of law will apply to the planning board for a variance should we want to do something that conflicts with the ordinances in our areas - Wilson apparently adheres to a different set of beliefs.
Wilson seems to appeal to that strata of our population that believes in frontier laws and justice for a town that has long outgrown its frontier roots.
Tuna, disillusioned never said that "we should start regulating what junk people have inside their homes, too." She said that she "can only imagine what the interior of their home looks like." No suggestion of regulation, just an observation.
I recently helped an oldtimer move into the Pioneer Home from his home of 60+ years off Badger Road. The gentleman had a collection of cars, trucks, washers, dryers, farm and construction equipment, snowmachines dating back to the 60's - you name it, he had it, in a maze of stacked up junk that only he understood. Inside his home was a similar maze, with papers and magazines stacked taller than I am (6'3"), furniture, dishes, and the like, most of which he amassed in his years as a self-described dumpster diver. He didn't sell these items - he merely collected them. At some point, someone should have stopped him, saving him from a lifetime of hoarding.
It's common for people to sing the tune of 'private property rights'- until their neighbors do something they don't like! And there is nothing private about a junkyard- unless it's fenced!
Here is a terrific example of how junk and trash can be worked into a landscape :
http://artsytime.com/img/misc/slumdogs-l...
Martha Stewart would be proud!
Isn't that the Alaska motto? "Trash Alaska".
Isn't that what the Last Frontier bit is all about? Let us all cover this great land with junk yards, clutter, and trash as quickly as we can.
I remember in the late 1990's, when Anchorage set a bunch of rules to clean up the city's easment areas, and set restrictions on the mess people could make. You could have a mess as long as you had a fence, or kept it covered with a tarp. Otherwise the city would intervene. It was amazing how many junk cars got towed out of the easments and sent to the scrapper or to auction. It certainly had a great affect on neighborhoods. Many people got the 'keeping up with the joneses' bug and started cleaning up, just because the city started cleaning the area up. In the end whole neighborhoods were remade with a different feel.
So it seems to me that you either vote for selfishness and trashing Alaska, or vote for some common sense rules to being a good neighbor and keeper of our great state.
Take time and read Bartos's thank you letter in Sunday DNM. "GVEA ia an anchor customer and key to the Port Authority's bonding ability. It is imperative that your electrical co-op follow through on its MOU to purchase power... My group will continue our efforts..." Hutchinson supported Hopkins on being put on the Port Authority. Now Bartos is showing his link to that group. Junk yards will be determined by the assembly not the Mayor. But the Mayor sits on the board of directors of the Port Authority and will serve as it's chairman soon. you people are being lead like sheep to the slaughter, Divide and conquer with issues the Mayor has no power over, in the meantime the one issue that the Mayor will be involved in is going unnoticed and the questions unanswered.
By the way Dermont Cole on Anchorage Edition summed it up when he state Hopkins is the status quo candidate (keep things as they are) and Wilson represents change and reduction of government.
Darf - Bring on the evidence for your claims, please. Everything you've mentioned thus far about any nefarious activities on the part of the Port Authority has been pure speculation on your part. Give us something to work with, or your efforts will continue to be ignored.
Can you imagine what the Fairbanks borough will look like IF Tammie Wilson is elected and tries to get rid of all forms of government and taxes? We cannot allow somebody with such little experience to be elected to such a powerful position in our community. Tammie Wilson is junk so I think we should get rid of her!!!
Good luck Luke!
Dogwatcher
10/19/2009, 12:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
Why wasn't this vetted by Bartos and Hutch? She's at the end of their conservative tobacco road. It is what the Republican Party and FOX News has nurtured and bred.
Pollution, meth, and junkyards and leave me alone while I trash everything = the Tammie
--------------Comment
Are you coming down with H69N41.2 version of Palin-osis or is your blood sugar running low?
Perhaps your Babble Fish is ill?
Tammie is quoted saying
“If someone doesn’t like what’s on my land,”
and
“let them pay for my property taxes, let them pay for my land and let them do what they want.”
It seems to be a board and generalized term. I have to wonder if these quotes should be expanded on?
I am not sure how she voted on the renewal of the original renewal Dogs Bar or the transfer to a new location. I don’t seem to remember her voting for either of these.
It could be a conflict, given the strength of these statements. Can anyone shed light on this? I know Zoning and land use are extremely complicated, or I could be completely confused
the more junk you have the lower you taxs are. Thanks If we beter our property we get our taxas raised. kind of backwards dont you think lot of junk on Hurst Rd I think is to close to spring creek
Unreal... It'll start looking a lot like Palin's Wasilla.
You just HAVE to love all the brand new people who joined today just to bash candidates...
YouneedmeT, you need help. Tammie & Luke BOTH are intelligent adults with their own ideals, heck they likely even share some! I am curious to see if you are capable of making your argument for Luke with maligning Tammy's intelligence & character. Others have done so rather well, can you? Try it, make a good, VALID point if you dare.
You have only done damage to yourself, now we all know you are just a hack.
Diane, I agree on the inner circle information. A person's associates can really reflect the mindset in which a person exists. I too would like to see that answered.
The poster formerly know as Elephantsagainsttammie, also known as doobieman, is back. You need me doobie.
So the socialist/democratic tactic is still to question someone's IQ level if they aren't lemmings like their regular followers (ACORN anyone). That's pretty low brow if you ask me. Well they did manage to make Mrs. Palin pretty wealthy. Anyway, back to "YouneedmeTammie", if your IQ is so much higher because you support Hopkins, can you explain why the politicians who graduated from Yale, Harvard, Princeton and Berkley have totally bankrupt our country.
Even junkyards owners know how to build wealth.
Yo neighbors, the sky is not falling and I don't want to spend the tax dollars I give the borough to solve your property problems. All property owners have legal means to bring their issues to solution. The borough will take a worthy issue to civil court to resolve it. You, the property owner, can take your problem to court to resolve it. The system is there for all neighbors to use.
It may be a slow and bulky system but it does exist for property owners so stop whining? If you buy in to a subdivision with stict covenants, like the Doyon subdivision off Peger Road, you buy into a stricter code than the borough has. This is your choice as it should be. If you violate a covenant you agreed to when you purchased the property it is up to the other property owners to resolve the problem through civil action.
As far as Tammie not knowing how to run a borough I am sure Luke or Tammie will have qualified staff to advise them. After all, for the money we pay department heads and administrative heads any new Mayor
will be well informed to make decisions and try to get the assembly to agree with them.
Many of us want change. Luke showed us change when he conveniently changed his support of the bag tax. That is really not the change I am interested in. Tammie will surely provide change, good or bad.
Luke will be government as usual, bad or worse. Neither candidate will destroy the borough in the three years they have as Mayor.
So I am going to vote Tammie this time around because I am tired of the stale air hanging around in the assembly chambers.
I just wanted to echo Charlie's sentiments about both candidates who are still running. Both have the interests of the Borough and its residents at heart, just a different philosophy of how to get there. All of the candidates that ran thought they had a skillset to offer and they all had visions of what was the right way to lead the Borough during the next three years. My congratulations to the bloggers who are actually trying to bring out the differences in the candidates remaining, not trying to bash, smear or label them. They are both good people who deserve our respect, just as the people of this Borough should be respected enough to let people ask questions that are important to them, without being called names.
There is nothing evil about inquiries about the candidates and there is nothing wrong in the DNM running articles trying to get the information out. I'm sure both sides think the articles are against them, especially if they think that people reading the article will think negatively about their candidate. People vote for the person that they think will most closely mirror their views. I am enjoying the greatest freedom this country has to offer - the chance to participate in our great democracy without fear of repercussions.
I missed one of the posts earlier, but have been told it involved my husband, my son, my dogs, and my cats. I'm sorry to say that that person doesn't know as much as they thought they did, as I don't have any cats, but I'm doggone proud of my husband and son (& sometimes the dogs!) But perhaps that person is knowledgable enough to know who vandalized my husband's sign at the corner of Chena Hot Springs Road and Nordale Road by first writing on it and then when we fixed it, shredding it.
So if the knowledgable person would like to provide the answer to that one - I would be most appreciative.
Thank you - Diane
do you know what you get when you cross doobieman with a-rod? you get Youneedme Tammie.
Thank you DNM for writing the article about the junkyards. I also agree with what Bullseye wrote with regard to the article.
How about something more like;
"Fairbanks borough mayor candidates’ differences are illustrated by how they voted on taxes, property rights issues, and the role of borough Government in general"
A whole article on the candidates' stance on junkyards? There are so many differences between the two candidates. I urge you DNM to write more about the issues and questions that have been brought up in these blogs.
I find this discussion quite interesting!
Wow!
The burro budget is $150 million, the property tax burden is $4,000 per house hold , fuel is $3,250 per thousand gallons and trolls talk about junk yards effecting property values! Hummmm!
Below is an example of what happens when voters fail to keep their eye on the conflict of interest (ie Luke, if elected, will be negotiating wage and benefit payments to his campaign contributors) and the MONEY ball!
-------- From the net news
"Armageddon in Alabama Proves Parable for Local U.S. Governments "
"By Ken Wells
Oct. 19 (Bloomberg) -- In its 190-year history, Jefferson County, Alabama, has endured a cholera epidemic, a pounding in the Civil War, gunslingers, labor riots and terrorism by the Ku Klux Klan. Now this namesake of Thomas Jefferson, anchored by Birmingham, is staring at what one local politician calls financial “Armageddon.”
The spectacle -- a tax struck down, about 1,000 county employees furloughed, a politician indicted over $3 billion in sewer debt that may lead to the largest municipal bankruptcy in history -- has elbowed its way up the ladder of county lore ..more......."
(link may not work correctly-- copy and paste heading using Bloomberg search)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?
Zing, and another doobie bites the dust.
Too bad Sarah Palin wont be the borough mayor.
Those who prefer living in the zoo will choose Hopkins; those that prefer the jungle will choose Wilson.
I'm glad to see this article. I have driven by Tammie's junk yard and it is disgusting. So glad I am not her neighbor.
I'll be voting for Luke. Regulation has its place. We need someone level-headed as our mayor.
Go Luke!
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I'm thinking the term 'junkyard' needs to be clearly defined, ie automotive recyling and recovery facility, as opposed to a good ol' HAZMAT PILE, which seems to be more common.
C'mon now. If I can go down to some place like Spokane and go parts scrounging without having a boot get sucked off by a mudhole, or get lost like in a bad horror flick, then why can't this be defined, and some standards put in place, ie business junkyard vs backyard mechanic vs. obsessive packrat.
Rocket science and one big HMO it ain't.
roadie said:
"Zing, and another doobie bites the dust."
Why do you always miss all the fun, roadie? You did come in in the middle of the big thread on this subject after numerous post had been deleted and the usual indication that they had been not shown like they usually are, so perhaps you missing the big troll is understandable.The missing posts though are still in the comment section of a couple of the major player's profile and this big farce which I suspect could be described as an attempted cyber swiftboating of Hopkins contrary to the claim that Ms Wilson was the victim. If you got enough gray matter to figure out who they are, you could spend a few minutes and see why you were so confused yesterday. Read the missing posts around 1pm on the 17th.
If I knew something about how and when the Google Crawler copies the FDNM, I could bust the main culprit but I don't so he is safe. At any rate it was a clever ruse and hilarious to observe. No matter whose side you're on, the dirty tricks was a gutbuster to watch develop.
akprincess72
"Others have done so rather well, can you? Try it, make a good, VALID point if you dare."
Who? What valid points? Let’s see, if we elect Luke we will be goose stepping to German marching music. If Tammy wins, we will live the life of “Mad Max”.
I think people come here not to debate, but for the drama, and the cliques, and we must takes these very seriously. A few people have made points, but they get drowned out by the teen age hysteria.
A few posts above yours (10/19/2009, 3:29 p.m ), I also was trying to make a valid point. It wasn’t a jab at Luke or Tammy. Given the age of the event and the sound bytes used, it could confuse the issue.
I really feel zoning and land use issues deserve a more detailed answer than what was provided in this story.
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
Tammie will be getting my vote, and that was a very wise comment Charlie Boddy.
Trucido, I was just asking if they were capable of being anything but a troll. Tammie has my vote, but I don't want to be slamming Mr Hopkins either, it is counterproductive.
Where did you Luke supports all go?
Shhhhuh Thump! Bump, Bump - - - - Thud
-----Luke Robespierre for mayor,
------ off with your head of hair!
1AKfox- maybe to work? I've always been amazed that so many crazy right-wingers have nothing to do all day but troll around having the same pointless arguments online, as a way to get their rocks of or something. They don't want to talk, or comment on the article, they want to bad-mouth eachother, and anyone that doesn't agree with them. Really, don't any of these people have anything better to do?
pot meet kettle.
Having neighbors with a lot of junk does have its upside. While it may decrease the value of your house, that only matters if you actually are planning to put it up for sale.
On the other hand, decreasing you home value means lower property taxes. Thus a slob neighbor is actually saving you money, every year.
As for being offended by their mess - well they're probably offended by your rectumlinear orderliness.
And if you decide you really have to move, then you can balance the taxes saved against the decreased sale price and decide whether it is worthwhile offering to clean up their yard or erect a fence if that will be more than offset by an increased sale price.
At least that's how I think, based on a committment to liberty instead of running to the government like a little fascist and expecting them to act like a hired thug on my behalf and do something threatening or violent against my neighbor for my benefit.
MYOB. Live and let live. Don't initiate coercion. Only small children and governments and their supporters have trouble with these simple rules to a free and orderly society.
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