Assembly Overrides Mayor’s Veto

Wed, July 28, 2010
Posted in Alaska News, Alaska Politics

Photo 1: Assembly Chair Dick Traini and Mayor Dan Sullivan attempt to persuade Assembly Member Bill Starr on the veto override vote. Starr would later vote in favor of the veto override. (From left) Assembly member Chris Birch, Traini, Sullivan and Starr.

The annual fill-the-boot, Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser with off-duty and on-duty Anchorage firefighters can take place this year as usual.

Last night, the Anchorage Assembly overrode Mayor Dan Sullivan’s veto that blocked on-duty municipal employees from participating in private fund raising events.

Photo 2: Brian Arnold and his mother, Marge, after the veto override. At an early public hearing, Brian testified in favor of firefighter participation in the Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser.

Like last year, he and his mother plan on joining the firefighters at Lake Otis Boulevard and Tudor Road during Fill-the-Boot.

RELATED STORIES:

Mayor restricts “fill the boot” fundraiser (21 July 2010)

Photos and story by Len Anderson, KSKA – Anchorage

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Comments

Lump9409

so , who is putting out the fires while all this is going on ? Anchorage assembly of bleeding hearts, bah!!!!
alaskangirl

I'm curious as to why the Mayor had to call attention to this in the first place. The firefighters have been doing this for years and no one seemed to notice until he brought it to everyone's attention. Hidden agenda?
Nick

I'm sure the on-duty personnel could respond to an emergency if called to do so. All this tax-payer talk is not reasonable. If you were really concerned about tax dollars, why don't you ask the mayor for his father's insurance money back. I have the idea he didn't deserve it to begin with. The policy was anything but proper or legal. If the mayor gives back the money then I'll side with you on the fundraiser by the city employees.
alaskabruce

Main issue aside, do some research on how much of your donation goes to 'administrative costs'. It's a huge money maker for a group of people who sit around raising money. No closer to cures than they were 20 years ago.
Nick

If I pass by their I'll give a buck or two just because the mayor vetoed the idea.
Stephan Patterson

Mayor Sullivan is correct. Every city and state in the country is suffering from waste. It has nothing to do with the mayors concern for the needy. This issue is about allowing public servants who we pay to collect their salary while not performing the duties that we are paying them to do. Wouldn't we all like to be payed for our job while we are away on personal business?

I am the citizen. I am the boss. Your good intentions are to be commended, do them on your own time. Now get back to work.
Signed, "The guy who is paying you."
Joysongkid

Mayor Sullivan, thank you for attempting to keep our tax dollars from paying for activities that are supposed to be "volunteer" in nature. I resent my hard earned tax money going to pay for municipal employees to do "work" that is not connected to their hired positions. I would like to take my tax money back and donate it to the charity of my choice instead. This is unfair hijacking of my charitable preferences!
Stephan

This writer is absolutely right!
Kids

Mayor Sullivan their are a lot if people out here in Anchorage that think you need to get over your self. You have taken it upon yourself to make a lot of bad judgements that are going to come back to haunte you. You need to listen to the people of Anchorage. But most of all the people on the East side. We maybe the poor side of town as I have heard said. But we have a lot of power.
Al Gore

So the Mayor needs to get over himself it sounds like good advice you should take yourself. Ohhhhh you have a lot of power on the east side. Why does that sound like a bit of pride maybe self aggrandizement. Yea Get over Yourself!!