Patty Zimmerman for Juneau Mayor

Article © 9/29/99 Juneau Empire

Areawide assembly candidate Patty Zimmerman claims to appeal to voters who ``traditionally don't have hope or faith.'' She is passionate about campaign finance reform and deplores the necessity of buying television ads and signs. ``I have avoided using anything in my campaign that isn't biodegradable.'' The cruise industry isn't paying its fair share in Juneau, Zimmerman said. She supports the $5 cruise ship passenger fee proposal and would go it one better. Citing an Empire ``My Turn'' column by a former assembly member introducing the possibility of a $50-a-head fee, she said, ``I think the fee should be higher. Mexico once instituted a $15 head tax for anyone entering the country, and the cost of living in Alaska is significantly higher than in Mexico.'' The city could enhance its revenue base by building attractions such as a theme village on the Thane Road rock dump, she said. But first, existing buildings on the site would have to be removed and the gold extracted. Toxic wastes would also have to be removed, which she thought would be paid for by the federal Superfund. She also would like to see the city turn Mayflower Island near Sandy Beach into an Alaska Native theme village.

Revenues could be further enhanced by increasing fines for ``what everyone agrees is inappropriate behavior, such as indoor smoking,'' the fine for which could be boosted to $500, she said. ``Cash incentives motivate people. I also think there should be cash incentives for helicopters with mufflers.'' Zimmerman said she didn't think state funding cuts would affect Juneau much and thought they would primarily affect other communities in Southeast. Toxic wastes figure in Zimmerman's deliberations about the high school bond proposition as well: ``I do not support the school bonds. More important is cleaning up the toxic waste dump under Riverbend School. We could pick up the school by getting enough people with cranes out there. The willpower and love and cooperation in this community are enough.'' The usual rationale for passing the school bonds - overcrowding - is not in evidence, she said. ``The classic behavioral sign of overcrowding is violence, whether it be among mice or people. And I haven't seen that yet. We're doing fine. The kids seem happy, the teachers are managing things fabulously. We don't have metal detectors at the doors, and I am pleased.'' Zimmerman did call for better school-building maintenance in Juneau and said she had talked with a teacher about leaks at the former Marie Drake school. ``He said he would like to see the building he's in fixed before we build another one.'' Zimmerman called for more public involvement in city decision-making. ``The World Bank and other international agencies like to call for internal accounting,'' she said. ``Juneau citizens would benefit from these kinds of procedures. We need to get more public involvement in the city manager's decisions.'' Zimmerman supports transferring the city clerk position from the city manager to the assembly because it would make the clerk's office more responsive to the public, she said. ``It would add more balance. Right now we have a very powerful city manager's position.''