Recently I was asked by a friend to volunteer at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to help keep the doors open and the outdoors safe for summer visitors. The request came from a retired former employee of the visitor center who, like me, has vast experience that would help the U.S. Forest Service through their current crisis of almost no staffing and limited budget. The request was very appealing because I had already vowed to “act locally” to help stem effects of a national crisis of federal cuts needlessly enacted by the current administration.
But ultimately I declined to volunteer not because of any of the usual excuses, but instead because I didn’t want people to think these vital federal programs can continue without adequate federal staffing. While it’s true the Forest Service has depended on volunteers for many decades to supplement their workforce in delivering public services such as educating about shrinking glaciers or explaining why it’s neither safe nor wise to approach wildlife for a closeup photo, in my 37 years of experience with the Forest Service volunteers always supplemented, not replaced, the experienced, competent staff. The current administration seems to instead want to prove that federal workers aren’t necessary. I couldn’t stomach being a part of their scam, so I reluctantly turned down the volunteer opportunity.
A couple of days later, however, I had a conversation with a local Forest Service official in charge of such decisions. He said that he is motivated to keep the visitor center and all of the vital public recreation services of the Forest Service in Juneau running as best as possible not only by using volunteers extensively, but also by diverting all available staff, no matter what their normal duties, to fill the gaps. “Don’t do it” I countered. If everything stays clean and functioning, how will the next crisis be averted, the one where they do away with all staff and sell off the visitor center to the highest bidder?
A few days later I received a request from another friend who wanted me to join a team of volunteers to regularly clean up the Forest Service picnic area near our home. This friend noticed increasing amounts of garbage accumulating at his favorite walking beach. One day a lone USFS employee was loading a sofa into his truck to cart away at public expense, and he explained to my friend that the employees who are normally tasked with cleanup and repair duties had all been recently fired, leaving only a supervisor to intermittently do the work.
I told my friend “Don’t do it.” If you keep it clean how will anyone know there are impacts to the objectionable cuts being made to these essential programs? Why will people care that there are fewer federal workers in Juneau to keep our trails open, to ensure propane gets delivered to our remote cabins and the propane heaters get fixed when they malfunction? I suggested instead that if he must do something then simply clean up the food-related items that would attract critters, and move the rest of the garbage into a growing mound of junk that can be seen and understood by all. It’s not a great solution, but at least it would make a great photo for social media.
I recognize that Americans are often reluctant to acknowledge that government provides vital services on public lands that have supported our lifestyles. Political parties seem bent on cutting programs to eliminate federal “waste” not because this reduces taxes, but instead because it opens up opportunities for corporations to increase profits. In the current example the federal staff who deliver the most essential, local services, at the lowest costs to our community are being eliminated, while “waste” continues to fund rockets exploding on launchpads.
Alaskans recognize this scam as a diversionary tactic and we know that federal programs work in concert with local communities to fund essential services that can’t be replaced by volunteers in the long run. I urge you to write to Dan Sullivan and Nick Begich. Please do act locally. I intend to continue supporting local groups such as Renewable Juneau, working to promote renewable energy use, and the Juneau Nordic Ski Club, providing ski trails for healthy winter activities. Even these groups are affected by federal cuts to their services, but at least my volunteering won’t replace competent federal workers and the clear benefits they provide.
• John Neary retired in 2019 from 37 years of experience with the U.S. Forest Service, including 30 years with Admiralty Island National Monument and most recently as director of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
