Waving signs reading “END CHILD HUNGER,” a small band of Juneau activists took to the streets on Saturday to protest the political gridlock they say is keeping a school meals bill from being heard in the Legislature.
The six to 10 people, including the group’s newly famed leader whose recent hunger strike has garnered press attention across the state, stood at the intersection of 10th Street and Egan Drive near the Douglas Bridge to make their message heard: schedule a vote for Senate Bill 3.
“All we want is for it to be heard and scheduled,” said Kokayi Nosakhere of Anchorage. “If we lost on the floor — OK, that’s democracy. But release it from committee so that it can go for a vote.”
Nosakhere, 37, who once weighed 260 pounds, hasn’t eaten in 19 days. He’s lost 35 pounds in 19 days.
“This is wrong what they’re doing, and somebody has to stand up,” he said in an interview Saturday. “I’m willing to sit here on a hunger strike and say you cannot do this in my America, you cannot do this. You must act right. Get in contact with your humanity.”
Senate Bill 3, sponsored by state Sen. Bill Wielechowski, a Democrat from Anchorage, is an act to provide funding for school meals, and it would provide a state match for schools enrolled in the federal Free and Reduced Price School Breakfast and Lunch Program.
According to a statement online from the Senate Bipartisan Working Group, Alaska is one of the only states that does not supplement the federal program. Senate Bill 3 would provide school districts with a base amount of 35 cents for breakfast and 15 cents for lunch. The Anchorage Daily News reported that would cost the state a little more than $2 million a year.
It would help thousands of Alaskan schoolchildren, Wielechowski said in a sponsor statement.
“Currently in Alaska, twenty percent (20%) of schools participating in the school lunch program do not offer school breakfast, impacting 22,253 Alaskan children, 6,850 of whom are children from low income families who qualify for free or reduced price meals,” the statement reads.
The bill, which passed the Senate in February of last year, has been pending in the House Finance Committee since March of last year. That committee is co-chaired by Republican Rep. Bill Stolze, whom Nosakhere is challenging to set a hearing date for the bill.
“What’s so bad about a school meals bill that they don’t want to release a school meals bill for a vote on the floor?” Nosakhere asked. “Just let it out of committee — that’s all we’re asking for.”
He added, “The demand is not to arm wrangle him, the demand isn’t to take his ego from him, the demand isn’t to take his chairmanship, the demand is do your job and just process the bill.”
Nosakhere — who allows himself to drink four ounces of juice in the morning and in the evening at the imploring of his friends and family who fear the hunger strike will lead to brain damage — and other activists in Juneau have been sitting in House Finance Committee meetings for the past week. He says he’s met with numerous legislators on the issue, but says his request to meet with Stolze has been denied four times already.
“On Monday, I’m going to go to his office and sit there and wait on him for a meeting,” he said.
Juneauite Christina Mounce, who helped organize Saturday’s protest, has been sitting in those committee meetings too and has been frustrated the bill hasn’t been given a higher priority.
“They’re addressing things like film tax initiatives and we’re going to change who the Alcohol Board answers to, but this isn’t up for debate yet,” she said. “This isn’t scheduled. It’s going to die in committee if it’s not, and that really bothers me that I’ve been seeing things that I think are kind of lower priorities than feeding our kids than going up before this, and nobody’s provided an explanation. So people are just left to speculation.”
By 2015: AMERICA Movement, which is what the group calls themselves, speculates the bill is being held hostage in exchange for oil company tax breaks.
“They’re holding up a whole lot of bills for House Bill 110,” Nosakhere said.
That bill would overhaul Alaska’s Clear and Equitable Share, or ACES, Act, and lower the amount of taxes oil producers pay by as much as $2 billion a year.
Stoltze told the Anchorage Daily News he is not holding the bill up in exchange for support for lower oil taxes, but has concerns the measure would create a new entitlement. He told the Anchorage paper he plans to hold a hearing on the bill during the current legislative session.
Whatever the reason, protestor Mukhya Khalsa, 57, said she wishes people would stop playing politics with the issue.
“There’s bipartisan support for it,” she said. “... It’s feeding children. It seems really important, and it seems like something you should not play political games with. Stoltze has publicly said, been quoted as saying, that people have concerns, other legislators have concerns about the bill becoming an entitlement. Well if they have concerns, then let them vote on it.”
Juneauite Jasmine Darrah, 26, echoed the sentiment.
“It’s just the most important thing in our state is to feed our children,” she said.
Wielechowski introduced a similar bill four years ago in 2009 that did not pass.
To read more about the By 2015: America movement, visit kokayi137.wordpress.com. To read the text of SB 3, visit bit.ly/wczWVz.
• Contact reporter Emily Russo Miller at 523-2263 or at emily.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (37)
Add comment"friends and family who fear
"friends and family who fear the hunger strike will lead to brain damage " I'm afraid they are to late.
The LAST thing Alaska needs to do is encourage/promote more dependency on the welfare state.
It is NOT the governments job to feed our children.
Alaska needs fewer moochers, & more miners, oil field workers, loggers, fishermen etc.
Don't make feeding children a political soapbox
For NewLife to say that Democrats destroyed all the jobs is like saying FDR created the depression. Take a look at the facts, instead of what Fox News feeds you. Eating their food will definitely give you brain damage...
Food stamps
Since food stamps have increased to the highest ever in history, it seems silly that the schools are somehow responsible to "feed the children". Its parents responsibility to feed their offspring, even if it is with food stamps that our taxes pay for. Get your butts up early enough to pack your children a lunch and quit relying on society to raise and feed and house and.... your children.
1 packet oatmeal = $0.25 1
1 packet oatmeal = $0.25
1 banana = $0.25
A couple slurps of OJ = $0.25
Can't get up in time to prepare this for your kid = worthless
A decent breakfast can cost a parent less than a buck and doesn't require and heavy machinery or a college degree.
Gotta agree
...with some of the posters here. If a parent can't feed their kid in the morning, that's a pretty worthless parent. No excuse.
But why punish the kid? It's not their fault.
The poor little kid that shows up to school hungry isn't going to be able to learn. Becomes a behavior problem in the classroom. And once behind, never catches up. Ultimately becomes a dropout and drain on society.
Could breakfast have altered the arc of that kid's education? Seems cheaper to all of us than the alternative.
Children
@Tikitime is talking to the wrong people. I wish this was the way it worked too. But it doesn't. School breakfasts and lunches is the most bang for the buck. The food is there, they get to eat. Children living in cars just need to walk in the school door 5 days a week.
@blackdog, There are a lot of damaged people out there, with children, lots of children. Procreation is as easy as getting drunk at the wrong party.
I am glad that there are so many people working to help children be vested in our society.
I think of this as charity at the highest level, the easiest charity in that feeding children lets them know that someone somewhere cared for them. This is a perfect way to teach compassion to children that may be learning the opposite of this everywhere else in their world.
Feed the kids!
Yes, it's the parent's job to feed their children.
But lots of them are FAILING.
Let the kids eat at school.
For many, school is the ONLY safe place they have.
Just feed them!
In light of the fact that there is no public awareness campaign to educate the moronic parents on how to do at least a passing job, or at least a way to shame parents into putting their kids first, we all know it's the only way.
Kids shouldn't have to suffer
Kids shouldn't have to suffer the consequences of their parents worthlessness but feeding their kids is not the job of the state.
I would be very willing to donate money to some elderly volunteers to cook up a big pot of oatmeal and dish out a few bananas and OJ.
I bet Catholic Community Services would probably be willing to facilitate something like this too. Uh oh! Never work unless they distributed condoms on the side.....oh well back to the drawing board.....
Maybe children of worthless parents should turn their kids over to a Catholic orphanage. Or one of the many atheist orphanages out there......?
Maybe, blackdog...
...those worthless parents should have been given free contraceptives before they had kids, eh? Or even compulsory contraceptives.
Way to turn this into a religious debate. And a tea party debate. All in one. Next you'll be saying it's not the state's job to educate kids either.
Go sit in the corner. And write: 'I will not be a troll' 100 times on the chalkboard.
So someone who doesn't march
So someone who doesn't march in lockstep chanting the politically correct mantra "But its for the kids.." is a troll?
I made a serious suggestion that a private charity could fill a need to help out the kids. What's wrong with letting people choose to contribute their time or money to a cause they support? Or is it more important to further the statist agenda of confiscating wealth and distributing it through unionized labor to those who need it as determined by a government bureau?
I imagine the throngs of children living in cars don't get bathed regularly and probably aren't read bedtime stories. Probably wear dirty tattered clothes to school too. So maybe in addition to the welfare, foodstamps, heating and housing assistance their welfare momma is collecting we should include a nanny/housekeeper.
When did it become a crime or trollish to expect some personal responsibility?
BTW - pretty sure I could
BTW - pretty sure I could count the times on one hand where you didn't drop a gratuitous "I hate Parnell" reference in your posts.....
blackdog...
Your original recommendation had some merit. It was when you slid into the condoms and atheist rant that you became a troll. Had nothing to do with the topic and was only meant to provoke response.
It's called sarcasm and
It's called sarcasm and exaggeration and probably isn't too far from the truth......kind of like your Parnell references.....
Also...
I don't hate Sean Parnell. Never stated that I did. He's probably a fine person to know on a personal level. I just find his politics and policies deeply offensive.
And I only point out his role when the article is related to matters over which he has direct influence. Thus, it's related to the subject at hand.
The point here is that the
The point here is that the schools need to cut back on spending. Do you think the teachers are going to take a pay cut so the "poor children" can eat? NO. Do you want the schools to be the parents to children or do you want them to go back to TEACHING your children. All other stuff is the responsibility of the parents: good bad or ugly. Our schools are not designed to coddle to the masses, but to teach.
I don't really care much
I don't really care much about Parnell or whoever will replace him because Palin was the only governor we've had in recent memory who wasn't an oil shill and I'm thinking she won't be running...
Anyway, what about letting a charitable organization address the hungry kid problem? Do you really think there wouldn't be outrage from the loud 1% if CCS was feeding poor kids in the morning? What if they quietly blessed the grits while on school grounds?
I can already hear Magic Jo insinuating that the nuns would be buggering the kids in the oatmeal line and whispering religious anti-abortion propaganda to the girls slurping their OJ.
Feeding hungry poor kids in the morning is exactly what a private charity should be allowed to do.
I'm not opposed to that idea
CCS already runs the Child Advocacy Center which partners with local, state, and tribal agencies to address child abuse. It's a great organization, and you don't hear any complaints about religious influence there.
If they set up a free school breakfast program modeled on the same approach, that would be a fine thing. I think you should lead the charge, blackdog. Good idea.
Thank you Sen. Bill
Thank you Sen. Bill Wielechowski
2012 election are around the corner folks vote out Republicans.
Children
@madison89 is a troll. But Alaska is the ultimate welfare State since so much of the land is controlled by the feds.
@blackdog It costs much more public money to put these kids into orphanages and welfare than to feed them at school.
It also takes them out of the influence of any relative that may be trying to get them into custody or help them as a family.
@blackdog Your Sarcasm is so thick that I am not sure what you are trying to say about Catholics.
I can see how people would be worried about all poor children being indoctrinated into a group that sees all other humans as "lesser".
Then again there are many religious groups and people that work from selflessness and love.
We have a temporary solution on the TABLE let's use it to put food into Children.
Hari said, 'I can see how
Hari said, 'I can see how people would be worried about all poor children being indoctrinated into a group that sees all other humans as "lesser".'
I think that is the problem with religious charities doing work anymore. Just because it says "Catholic" in the name of a charity or community organization the church haters jump to throwing the indoctrination card. But to suggest that public schools indoctrinate students to the statist agenda you are immediately tagged as a conspiracy theorist kook.
I wouldn't be surprised if CCS has already inquired about helping in schools and been shot down but I do plan to check in with them this week.....
The parent who "couldn't get up" may not be "worthless"
They may simply be too exhausted after working two or three minimum-wage jobs just to make ends meet.
Don't base everything you think about the poor on what Rush Limbaugh taught you...or on Reagan's fables about the "welfare queen".
Also, just to remind everybody here AND any Republican presidential candidates who might be reading this(sorry, should have used smaller words for them)
Most folks who use social services are WHITE. Always has been the case, always will be. Shame on anybody who said different.
Now THAT is a troll right
Now THAT is a troll right there....that's all the food you get....
I agree
blackdog
Don't have kids if you can't properly provide for them
Over half of all kids born in AK arrive on medicaid, WIC and food stamps. How much more money for food are taxpayers supposed to hand over to people who can't manage their own finances? Kind of tough to go hungry on WIC + food stamps...
Let's not forget about the PFDs the same parents steal from their own children to make their kids support themselves.
You can't always know what's ahead, though.
Basically, a lot of people here are asking poor people to voluntarily go extinct.
News flash: if the all did, a generation later, there'd be just as many poor folks as there are now.
Because the system we have causes poverty. It needs at least a certain level of poverty to keep workers afraid of standing up for themselves.
Poverty isn't genetic. It's MADE to happen, intentionally, from above.
This article might explain
This article might explain the reason behind so many poor kids being born: http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/26/10511064-condom-use-101-bas...
It's just a thought.
JUST SAYING
Poor kids or Corporate Welfare you choose.
The weak and poor suffer first
A-lot of the comments here just sound like GOP stereotypes. Welfare has never been the problem, We the people got sold out. Where's are bailout? Alaskans take care of Alaskans. You think the Oil mafia seeking these tax breaks and taking there money out of AK, are offering to pick up the bill for are children's education/health?? Maybe if they paid for there outstanding Exxon clean up bill we wouldn't have to starve Children.
Its just my opinion, Money Vs Humanity is never OK
Living Wage
Minimum Wage in AK is $7.75/hr. I challenge anyone who believes that everyone accepting welfare in our state are "moochers" to live off of $1240/month. Now factor in that you are lucky if you can find a one bedroom in this town for $800, not including utilities. That leaves you with $440. Factor in utilities, we'll budget for $75 a month, and you're at $365. Now, you can't afford a car on this budget so you ride the bus. That's another $36 for yourself, and then $12 for any youth. So, for this example, we'll keep it to one child. We're now at $317. But wait, who is watching your child while you're working 40 hours a week? In Juneau, the non-profit child care centers charge $938/month/child for full time, 5 days a week, care. So, you are now in a deficit of $-621/ month. As it is, you can not even afford rent and child care while making minimum wage without assistance.
Hopefully the food banks can provide you with food. But, unfortunately, food banks can usually only provide bread and baked goods. So now, on top of being poor, you're fat from eating nothing but baked goods and bread, yet still vitamin deprived from crappy food. Minimum wage jobs rarely provide benefits, so hopefully you don't get sick.
Blaming the people for the rate of welfare use is like blaming the Jews for the Holocaust.
To sum up the arguments
To sum up the arguments presented here:
"Parents who can't feed their kids are worthless and lazy and shouldn't have had kids in the first place. It's not the kids' fault but I'll be damned if a single penny from my paycheck goes to support them! Maybe someone else who is not me can step in and do something about this travesty."
Nearly every post above is a judgment, not a solution. It's all well and good to tell people what they should have done, but they've already done it, so it serves no purpose other than to stroke your own ego for being such a virtuous, foreward-thinking citizen who never makes mistakes, ever.