Representative
CHRIS TUCK

I want to hear from you, share your thoughts, voice your opinion. Together we will make a difference.

Click here to visit my Website
 
Click here to write me an email

Call me anytime:
   (907) 465-2095
   Toll-Free (866) 465-2095

Visit me:
   January-April
   State Capitol Bldg. Rm. 426
   Juneau, AK 99801
   (907) 465-3810 fax

   May-December
   716 W. 4th St., Ste. 370
   Anchorage, AK 99501
   (907) 269-0242 fax

Contact Other Elected Officials:

Governor Parnell,
Anchorage Office:
907-269-7450
EMAIL: Gov. Sean Parnell

Senator Mark Begich,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5915
EMAIL: Sen. Mark Begich

Congressman Don Young,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5978
EMAIL: Rep. Don Young

Senator Lisa Murkowski,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-3735,
EMAIL: Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Public Safety, Education and Jobs
Constituent Meeting, Saturday, March 13th

Dear Neighbors,

As I arrived in the office at 7 a.m. this morning, I heard news of a shooting within passengers arguing in a car at the corner of Independence and Congress.  This comes on the heels of repeated problems near Dimond Mall.

I have zero tolerance for violence in our neighborhoods. 

We deserve to feel safe in our homes, and to live in neighborhoods that offer a good quality of life and stable property values.

As an immediate response, I have asked the Anchorage Police Department to attend tomorrow’s District 29 constituent meeting. 

Questions they will answer include whether the recent incidents are isolated or there is a growing public safety problem.  Dimond Center management has also been asked to join the meeting.

I'd like to partner with you to develop local crime watch groups, to help bring safety and security to our neighborhoods. 

The Neighborhood Crime Watch Program is a free crime prevention tool offered by the APD .  It creates concerned neighbors, safer neighborhoods, communication between neighbors, heightened awareness, and attention to home security.  Please contact me if you're interested in starting a group.

I’m here for you, and am committed to helping our families and neighborhoods grow safely into prosperity.

Yesterday, the House passed the operating budget, House Bill 300, on a vote of 34-6 and sent it on to the Senate.  The operating budget is the portion of the budget that funds the ongoing operations of state government. 

During the House Floor vote on the budget, I and other Democrats sought to

reverse a cut removing 70% of the 2011 funds available for work on the AGIA gas line. This cut may delay progress on Alaskan’s having a gas line. 

Here’s why I voted to support the funding:

·         Alaskans need a pipeline.  We need those high paying, family-sustaining, long-lasting jobs that come with benefits, where we can take pride in our work product.

·         We need reliable sources of energy, at costs that don’t put families in the poor house or force businesses to cut employees to keep the lights on.

·         We need to grow new industries to take Alaska into the future.

·         The funding would allow the state to prepare the pipeline project and bring it to bid.

Representative Chris Tuck speaks to University students in support of higher education funding, while Senator Bettye Davis and Representatives Pete Petersen look on.

I also voted for an amendment that would have restored University funding that was stripped out of the budget a few weeks ago.

Unfortunately both those amendments failed.  I voted against the budget because, while it’s largely good, it fails to adequately prepare Alaska for the future. The budget now heads to the Senate for further review.

Now that the House is finished with the budget, other bills will begin moving through committees much more quickly.  Please contact my office with thoughts on any legislation that you support or have concerns with.

I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you in person tomorrow, at my mid-session constituent meeting. 

I'm here for you,

      Chris Tuck
      Alaska State Representative
      District 29 - Anchorage

Tuck’s Tips: 

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Mark your calendars, the Anchorage Daily News 2010 Spring Job Fair is coming up March 24, 2010 at the Dena’ina Center.  Click here for more information. There will be resume evaluation and prospective employers include The Alaska State Troopers, NANA Management Services, First National Bank of Alaska, The Anchorage School District, Providence Health & Services and many more.

Permanent Fund Dividend Application Due

The deadline to file your Permanent Fund Dividend Application is March 31st.  It’s quick and easy to apply online at:  http://www.pfd.state.ak.us/index.aspx  If you miss the deadline nothing can be done to receive the PFD, so to be certain, double check your status here.  When applying, don’t forget to Pick. Click. Give.  It’s a simple way to share a part of your PFD with your favorite Alaska charities.

HOME SECURITY TIPS

Burglars usually seek the easiest target.  This means that you can take easy and inexpensive steps to make your home safer.  Here are some suggestions:

Daily Safety:

• Use a timer or photo electric cell that automatically turns a living room light on at dusk, particularly if you are going to be away at the time;
• Leave a radio on with the volume turned low when leaving home, even for short periods;
• Always close and lock garage doors;
• Secure automatic garage door transmitter in glove compartment of your car;
• Secure all obvious (and not so obvious) points of entry to your home. Pretend you are the burglar...stand outside your home and plan how you would get in. Then install secure locks on all doors and windows;
• Lock up all ladders, ropes, or tools that could help a burglar gain entry;
• Keep all shrubbery trimmed near your doors and windows. Don't provide concealment or climbing platforms for the burglar;
• Brightly illuminate all entrances, preferably with vandal-proof fixtures;
• Keep your grass cut, your leaves raked, etc., to indicate a well cared occupied home;
• Empty your mailbox or arrange to have it emptied as soon as mail is delivered;
• Install new locks when moving into an apartment or previously owned home;
• Keep extra keys out of sight and in a safe place - never hide a key outside. Most hiding places are obvious to burglars;
• Avoid displaying valuables items near windows with open drapes or shades;
• Never leave a note on the door explaining why you are not at home;
• Never leave doors or windows unlocked when leaving home;
• Display only your last name on your nameplate or mailbox;
• Start a "buddy system" with your neighbors in order to watch each other's homes; watch for "movers or "repair people" at a house where no one is home.

When Leaving Home for Several Days:

• Don't cancel your paper or mail deliveries. Ask that your neighbor pick them up every day;
• Leave a key with a friend or neighbor. Ask that the house be checked periodically;
• Have the drapes periodically opened and closed, and have different lights turned on and off so the house appears occupied;
• Store all your valuables;
• Tell police when you are leaving and when you plan to return. They will check on your house periodically;
• Consider asking friends or relatives to live in your home while you are away;
• Leave a car in the driveway, or ask a neighbors to park in it;
• Ask your neighbor to put some trash in your trashcans.

Daily Telephone Security:

• Never giver personal information (name, age, address, etc.) to a stranger on the telephone;
• Never let a stranger on the telephone know when you will or will not be home;
• Never let a stranger on the telephone know you are home alone. Instruct babysitters never to tell anyone who calls that they are home alone with children;
• Teach children who are old enough to be left alone never to tell a stranger who telephones that parents are gone. Teach them to say, "My mom can't come to the phone now. May I take a message?"
• Credit card/social Security #, etc. Do not give out credit card or social security number to someone whom you do not know or whom you did not call.

When Planning a Trip:

• Consider having your telephone "put on vacation." (Notify the telephone company approximately two weeks before your trip, and arrangements will be made for an operator or a recording to state they your telephone is temporarily out of order each time it rings);
• Use "call forwarding" if available in your area. (Call forwarding can give callers the impression that residents are home when they are actually away, by transferring your incoming calls to another telephone number. Your local phone company can provide you with further information.)