The Alaska House wants almost $1,000,000.00 of Alaskans' money to keep a pricey, upscale gallery open in Manhatten's swank Soho District. At the gallery, Alice doesn't want to discuss her finances or be very specific about how she may profit from The Alaska House (it is a non-profit corporation), but she wants the Alaska Legislature to fork over something between $600,000.00 and $875,000.00 to keep the place open and staffed over some indefinite future time frame.
Alice (whose husband is war profiteer David Rubinstein, who may have made billions investing in the killing of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Iraqis, Afghanis, Pakistanis and so on) is currently bankrolling the electronic daily, Alaska Dispatch. I love the Dispatch, and Rogoff's money has led, over the past three months, to the hire there some of Alaska's best writers.
One of Rogoff's biggest backers for ripping off the .875 million dollars, is Kodiak-based state legislator, Gary Stevens:
Alaska House was to be on the agenda at the Legislative Council's meeting on Oct. 28, but was pulled because lawmakers who wanted it discussed were unable to attend. One was the president of the Senate, Kodiak Republican Gary Stevens.
"It's a great venue for Alaskan artists and discussions and debates on Alaska to help people in New York understand what Alaska is all about," he said. "The question is, should there be state money and if so, how much?"
How about NONE, Gary.
Let us encourage Alice to finance the dang thing from some out-of-state foundations. Or in-state, for that matter. That million bucks could buy a lot of fuel for Alaska villages this winter, for one thing. Or windmills. Or greenhouses. Or better research on finding out why the salmon runs on the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers are dying.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government and Citgo, spurred on by Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, are going through with their plans to once again grant millions of dollars worth of fuel vouchers to some Alaska's neediest. No doubt, some Native Alaskan artist, his hands warmed by Hugo's fuel, will create some wonderful work of art this coming winter, that will find its way into a gallery, whether or not Alice's is propped open by money from Alaska that should have been sent elsewhere.
Progressive Alaska's new poll:
Who is doing more for Alaska and Alaskans - Alice or Hugo?
hat tip - Celtic Diva