Video Clips
Quoted moments from Alaska public meetings, hearings, and press conferences.
David Boxley
“I'm really proud to, uh, begin this process, like I said, of, of reframing Sincere History. I don't want anyone to— I, I want everyone to stop thinking that we were these foreign transplants.”Sealaska Heritage Institute: Laxgyibuu Clan Crest with David R. Boxley | Sealaska Heritage · Aug 12, 2026
David Boxley
“We have always been, uh, the next-door neighbors, Julie Plingett and I, always, to the point that we're families. But that's the truth. So it's not like somebody grabbed us from Florida and dropped us in Southeast Alaska.”Sealaska Heritage Institute: Laxgyibuu Clan Crest with David R. Boxley | Sealaska Heritage · Aug 12, 2026
David Boxley
“My people are at the beginning of reclaiming this, and it's going to be the same for the other clans. It's a relearning for us, but I still find it really important to say it's not made up.”Sealaska Heritage Institute: Laxgyibuu Clan Crest with David R. Boxley | Sealaska Heritage · Aug 12, 2026
David Boxley
“We come to this glacier as we're making our escape and the story goes that there were 6 canoes and 2 of them turned back and went over the mountains to the Nass River and began to settle down on the Nass.”Sealaska Heritage Institute: Laxgyibuu Clan Crest with David R. Boxley | Sealaska Heritage · Aug 12, 2026
David Boxley
“Which is a plateau in the interior of British Columbia in between the headwaters of the Skeena, Nass, and Skeena Rivers.”Sealaska Heritage Institute: Laxgyibuu Clan Crest with David R. Boxley | Sealaska Heritage · Aug 12, 2026
David Boxley
“We are defined by William Duncan and being colonized and moved to Alaska. And that's all most anybody knows, including our own people. About being who we are. And I— the more I've learned, the more that kind of infuriates me.”Sealaska Heritage Institute: Laxgyibuu Clan Crest with David R. Boxley | Sealaska Heritage · Aug 12, 2026
David Boxley
“when we first moved to Matkavik, Alaska, we came to Alaska The world was, um, upside down for us. And, um, you know, we were, you know, we had to sign paperwork that said there's no hot nacho, no calling shotlins, and no face painting, and all the things”Sealaska Heritage Institute: Laxgyibuu Clan Crest with David R. Boxley | Sealaska Heritage · Aug 12, 2026
David Boxley
“it shows that they got to the Nass first, learned Somali, and then people decided to keep moving south, eventually going to a place called Makle-Kaafle, which is where all of the Kaafle is now in British Columbia.”Sealaska Heritage Institute: Laxgyibuu Clan Crest with David R. Boxley | Sealaska Heritage · Aug 12, 2026
David Boxley
“when we went with Duncan and when you know, whether it was because we'd become Christians or whether it was because, uh, it was safe there, he had medicine that could help us from smallpox, whatever it was, um, we voluntarily gave up our chief system, which is how our house system runs.”Sealaska Heritage Institute: Laxgyibuu Clan Crest with David R. Boxley | Sealaska Heritage · Aug 12, 2026
David Boxley
“it's really important to me that in thinking about this history, that the Laki'pul originated, migrated down the Stikine, and we used to live further north in Alaska in ancient, ancient times.”Sealaska Heritage Institute: Laxgyibuu Clan Crest with David R. Boxley | Sealaska Heritage · Aug 12, 2026
David Boxley
“they all said, oh, we heard our grandparents speaking Somali, but they'd always tell us, this is not for you. Or, you know, they kind of laugh at them when they tried to talk. It was because they were trying to protect them from what they'd all gone through.”Sealaska Heritage Institute: Laxgyibuu Clan Crest with David R. Boxley | Sealaska Heritage · Aug 12, 2026
David Boxley
“We gave up potlatching. That is devastating to try to maintain these kinds of stories and things.”Sealaska Heritage Institute: Laxgyibuu Clan Crest with David R. Boxley | Sealaska Heritage · Aug 12, 2026
Phil Hofstetter
“And I also, I did put a little indicator in there as a discussion for the board just based off of Cindy's report. And that we put it on the agenda as old business to maybe just, you know, formally acknowledge that housing is an important workforce constraint and we should really evaluate some potential solutions and maybe just, you know, put on the record at least at some point that we should be looking either in town for potential housing, you know, with no financial commitment obviously for today, but with, well, you know, looking at specific projects, either that is, that could either be looking at grants for housing and that we have partnerships with the borough to develop housing of our own using the upper lot, or that, or looking at housing that's in town, existing housing to obtain and purchase as part of PMC.”Petersburg Borough: Petersburg Medical Center Hospital Board Meeting July 2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Phil Hofstetter
“You know, we do a really good job with our workforce locally and we recruit, but if you actually look at how many people outside of Petersburg come and live, it's low, it's a lot lower, and it's really hard to recruit route, and when people get here, housing is always an issue. So I just wanted to put it out there as something to consider, and I did have a legal review completed that we are allowed to, you know, obtain property or housing and follow this line as it supports our workforce initiative going forward.”Petersburg Borough: Petersburg Medical Center Hospital Board Meeting July 2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Mary Evans
“I'm asking the Planning Commission to pause this process and allow time for meaningful due diligence and community discussion before Petersburg establishes a precedent that may be very difficult to reverse.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Liz Cabrera
“It's kind of like why, why we are bringing up the data center ordinance is so there is some guidelines for what is allowed and what is not allowed as far as data centers. That's the whole reason to discuss it now, because if there's nothing in place, then if somebody wants to put one on industrial property, there's nothing to stop them.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Liz Cabrera
“We've never done moratorium per se that I remember.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Liz Cabrera
“This suggests it's prohibiting, not banning, and one year from the effective date.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Liz Cabrera
“you could just add a provision saying data centers are prohibited in all districts from this date to this date.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Becky Knight
“my first request is number one, that you authorize a moratorium on all such centers until at least our community can develop policies on them.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Becky Knight
“Planning Commission, we the Planning Commission have received nothing.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Mary Evans
“The borough's FAQ about the data center states that the 2025 Marine Industrial Overlay does not apply to this parcel because it's privately owned. But the Marine Industrial Overlay ordinance itself does not appear to state that the overlay applies only to borough-owned property.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Mary Evans
“I'm of the opinion that we need appropriate limits and safeguards in place before, not after, this project is greenlit and a precedent is established.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Mary Evans
“The proposed facility could ultimately consume the 2 megawatts of electricity continuously, 24 hours a day, 365.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Jesse Kiehl
“Well, the Senate, please come to order for the purposes of a technical session. Because we are in a technical session, the roll call is waived today”Alaska Legislature: Senate Floor Session - August 11, 2026 11:00am · Aug 11, 2026
Jesse Kiehl
“There are no items of business on today's daily calendar, and no matters of unfinished business are in order today.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Floor Session - August 11, 2026 11:00am · Aug 11, 2026
Jesse Kiehl
“As we're in a technical session, there are no Senate resolutions for introduction today, nor Senate bills.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Floor Session - August 11, 2026 11:00am · Aug 11, 2026
Edith McKee
“Commissioner McKee, could, could we propose to postpone approval until we can see an updated 65% design showing the modified typical section and reduced footprint. Is that something we could propose?”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Amma Abaza
“So if we do postpone, does that mean that a second public hearing would happen and the public has a chance to comment again?”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Taryn Olson-Yell
“When it was originally constructed in 1976, the facility served roughly 1,400 properties. Today it serves approximately 4,600 properties, which is over 3 times the customer base.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Edith McKee
“I move in case 2026-0095 to postpone approval of the context-sensitive solutions transportation project review plans in hand for AMATS Mountain Air Drive extension until after a updated 65% design is submitted.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Janice Zilko
“Under this new site plan, two 15-foot-tall transformers would be located immediately adjacent to their property and less than 25 feet from their house. The transformers and razor wire would extend above the screening fence.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Edith McKee
“I think that they've made a really concerted effort to work with the community and reduce the visual impacts to create a facility that blends with the community. I think the removal of the tower is a tremendous improvement over the original design that was proposed.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
John Rodda
“Chugach Electric Association is requesting conditional use approval to upgrade the existing Campbell Lake substation at 1000 Southport Drive. In the R-1 zoning district. Um, Chugach is also requesting variances from landscaping and fence height requirements.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Bruce Schulte
“Having been involved with the initial appeal of the previous project, I will say that this, this reiteration, both the process and the design, are very much improved. The CHUH-GAAT did do away with the, the elements of the original design that were most concerning.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Connor Eshelman
“I want to thank, uh, the Baileys for being so thorough. We did meet with them and have every intention of re— uh, taking a closer look at sections, uh, near their area once we have updated survey information.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Edith McKee
“this is the cut line that, that the residents have shared shows the cut line literally going right up to the front of their property. And the DOT process would typically require that you acquire a right-of-way that encompasses your total project footprint, so your cut and fill limits would have to be acquired.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Chelsea Bailey
“The addition of the 7-foot buffer and an 8-foot multi-use path paired with a 2-to-1 drainage ditch and back slope requires a significant right-of-way acquisition and will have a disproportionate impact to our property.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Taryn Olson-Yell
“The project includes a complete replacement of the existing substation, so we are installing 2 new transformers for needed redundancy, and those 2 transformers are enclosed on 3 sides by a concrete barrier for additional visual and noise buffering.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Janice Zilko
“This design places the burden of the CEA rebuild disproportionately on the family next door when additional, additional options appear feasible. We don't believe this design meets standards of Criteria 4 nor 7 for CUP approval, nor does it meet the standard for variances, which states approval will not adversely affect the use of adjacent property.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
John Rodda
“The— and approved a variance from landscaping requirements along Southport Drive to replace required buffer landscaping trees with more— substituting more shrubs.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Edith McKee
“I intend to support the motion, um, because the, the conditions as presented in staff packet have been met. Additionally, I feel that the, the petitioner has made significant efforts with the community to reach a compromise and incorporate their design considerations.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Connor Eshelman
“so right now we are, uh, coming to you with our 65% level design. We are looking to start our right-of-way process, uh, which will take approximately 2 years, putting us into construction, uh, in 2029 or 2030.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Chelsea Bailey
“Uh, so because formal— informal discussions with the project team have failed to yield alternative designs and solutions, we're relying on the commission tonight to establish binding conditions that protect our property.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Janice Zilko
“I believe CEA can do better landscaping in this area. Between the two fences, the space is tight at the west corner, but there are very attractive, relatively fast fast-growing, ultra-compact landscape trees that are commonly used in tight spaces and anchorage.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Bruce Schulte
“I think those are solvable. I think that some amount of trees either within Chugach property or on Mr. Stevens' property could solve that problem, and I would encourage Chugach to get with Mr. Stevens and get some resolution of that, something that both sides can live with, because other than that, I think this is a greatly improved project from the community perspective.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
James Michael
“I would strongly encourage this body to further push for clear answers regarding the ultimate goal of this project, for whom the road access is actually intended to benefit, and what the long-term impacts of the current alignment will be.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026
Brett McKinnon
“one of the proposals that we would like to see in place is that the design does not necessarily get approved and move forward until we see that survey with the existing structures already plotted out to depict the right-of-way impacts, to those existing structures”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - August 10, 2026 - 2026-08-10 18:30:00 · Aug 11, 2026