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Michelle Bonnet Hale

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Get to know a candidate: Michelle Bonnet Hale

She’s seeking reelection to her District 1 seat.

Kelly Fishler

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Get to know a candiate: Kelly Fishler

She’s running for the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly District 1 seat.

Troy Wuyts-Smith

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Get to know a candidate: Troy Wuyts-Smith

He’s running for the District 1 City and Borough of Juneau Assembly seat.

People grab drinks and sun at the Flight Deck, May 21, 2020. Restaurants are among the businesses subject to a 5% sales tax in the City and Borough of Juneau. In October, voters will be asked to reauthorize the 3% of the tax that is deemed “temporary” and used for street maintenance and general city and borough operations. Voters weigh in on the matter every five years. (Michael S. Lockett /Juneau Empire File)

News

Temporary portion of sales tax is on the ballot

Voters to decide fate of 3%

People walk past commercial properties in downtown Juneau on June 3. Earlier this year, the city increased the base land value throughout the borough by 50% as part of the annual assessment process — a move that increased the tax bill for commercial property owners and generated more than 200 appeals. Wednesday night, Jeff Rogers, finance director for CBJ, said that despite complaints, the city’s process was sound and the adjustment was needed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Commercial tax assessments under review

City finance director updates committee

Barbara ‘Wáahlaal Gíidaak Blake

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Get to know a candidate: Barbara Blake

She’s running for the District 1 City and Borough of Juneau Assembly seat.

Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire A garbage can sits next to a bin from Juneau Compost on Douglas on August 31. According to company officials, each day Juneau adds about 100 tons of garbage to the Capitol Disposal Landfill near Lemon Creek. At that rate, officials expect the landfill to be full in about 20 years. The city is exploring new ways to deal with Juneau’s waste stream, including composting options.

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Juneau’s landfill likely to last 20 more years

City committee talks trash with owners

A voter fills out their ballot in person at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Oct. 6, 2020. The library was the site of one of the voting centers during the City and Borough of Juneau's by-mail municipal election. Soon, city officials will mail ballots for local elections to all registered voters in the City and Borough of Juneau. Residents must act by Sept. 5 to register to vote or update personal information. Residents who prefer to vote in person can do so early or on election day at designated voting centers. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

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Local election deadlines loom

Register, update information by Sept. 5

Kelly Fishler, a candidate for the District 2 Mendenhall Valley seat in the City and Borough of Juneau's City Assembly, sat down with the Empire for an interview on August 7. Fishler is challenging incumbent Michelle Bonnet Hale, who is running for a second term on the assembly. The election will take place on October 5 in a largely vote-by-mail affair.(Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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Fishler seeks seat on CBJ Assembly

She’s challenging the incumbent

This August 2 picture shows school board candidate Amber Frommherz. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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Frommherz seeks school board seat

Plans to focus on early childhood education

A surplus warehouse at 1325 Eastaugh Way, off Thane Road, is being considered by the City and Borough of Juneau as a possible location for a ballot-counting center should the city decide to increase its use of voting by mail in future municipal elections. On Monday, CBJ Assembly members heard public feedback on the proposal. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Public weighs in on local ballot counting center

City leaders consider options for future elections

The windows of the downtown branch of the Juneau Public Library tell passers-by that the city's overall COVID-19 alert level is high on August 20. City officials raised the alert level to curb the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19, which has been spreading rapidly throughout Alaska, including Juneau. All three Juneau Public Libraries will have reduced hours starting Monday, August 23, as staff are reassigned to help with the pandemic response, city officials said in a news release late Friday. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

News

City takes action to slow spread; calls for community support

Renew your commitment, hospital official urges

The waiting room at Custom Cuts II in the Jordan Creek Mall sits empty on Aug. 19. Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, new citywide COVID-19 mitigation measures mean that all personal services businesses must operate by appointment only and close all waiting areas. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

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Local business owners prepare to pivot

City announces increasing risk level and mitigation measures.

The City and Borough of Juneau’s Docks and Harbors department has issued a public survey as they consider improvements to the North Douglas Boat Launch Ramp, seen here on Aug. 18, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Docks and Harbors considering North Douglas launch ramp improvements

The department has issued a survey to see what the public wants.

A sign seen near Twin Lakes on Sept. 17, 2020 encourages residents to wear masks in public settings. With cases surging locally, statewide and nationally, City and Borough of Juneau announced it would be fully implementing mitigation measures. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

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City announces increasing risk level, mitigation measures

More stringent measures go into effect on Friday.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. nbsp; (NIAID-RML via AP)

News

New cases continue to surge in city, state

Nearly 800% increase in 7-day average for new case rate since July.

Juneau’s first electric bus, parked in the Capital Transit garage on April 8, 2021. As more electric busses join the fleet and the new Valley Transit Center opens, existing bus routes will be reconfigured. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)

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Valley Transit Center on track to open next summer

New bus routes, new shelters coming

Juneau’s Capitol Disposal Landfill in June 2013. Members of the City and Borough of Juneau’s Public Works and Facilities Committee have a plan to address concerns about the long-term viability of Juneau’s landfill and of complaints about odors in the Lemon Creek area. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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Tackling the trash

City eyes zero waste plan

Juneau City Hall on October 24, 2020. At Monday’s Public Works and Facilities Committee meeting, members discussed options for moving forward with a new city hall building. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

News

CBJ to consider new city hall locations

Voters will have final say

Jeff Rogers, CBJ’s finance director, joined the April 22 Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Alaska Business Roundtable’s Zoom meeting to explain why commercial properties have recently been reassessed and what it means for business and property owners in the borough. (Screenshot)

News

Strictly commercial: Property owners chafe at new assessments

Business owners question assessment process.