United Way of Southeast Alaska

United Way Sponsors Forum for Assembly and School Board Candidates

Juneau, AK, September 13, 2004 – United Way of Southeast Alaska, together with its 32 member agencies, is sponsoring a Candidates Forum on Wednesday, September 29, 10:30 a.m. to noon, in the lower-level training room of Catholic Community Service, at 419 6th Street, in Juneau. Candidates for the Assembly and School Board of the City and Borough of Juneau will present their ideas and positions regarding health and human service issues in the community. A facilitated dialogue between candidates and audience participants will follow. The event is open to the public.

Below is a list of questions that has been emailed in advance to each of the candidates to encourage reflection about and awareness of key community issues:

Given that the amount of CBJ funding available for social services has been less than half of what’s needed, do you support increasing, decreasing, or holding the line on funding of Social Services Block Grants by the City? Where would the funds come from?
Do you support placing a 2% alcohol tax increase on the ballot to help combat the ill effects of alcoholism and other drug abuse on the community of Juneau?
Do you support funding education at, below, or above the CAP?
How can the CBJ Assembly help Juneau’s non-profits serve our community better?
Do you support increasing, decreasing, or holding the line on funding Youth Activity Grants by the City, considering that the source of funding is a percentage of the sales tax?
What can the CBJ Assembly do to improve the health and welfare of its citizens?
How can we integrate social services into the school system better, so families are getting the services that they require?
How can social service agencies help build community partnerships to foster a better educational environment for Juneau’s youth?
What are your views about the Diamond Community Center project?
What you do to help foster a sustainable, livable wage economy as an alternative to low wage, seasonal tourist industry?
How does a school district reconcile emphasis on standardized test performance with Yeat's view that "The purpose of education is not to fill a vessel, but to light a fire?"