Cars are driven on Fourth Avenue in downtown Anchorage on Oct. 7, 2024. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
As the debate around Ballot Measure 1 picks up steam, Alaskans from all walks of life should take a closer look at the real consequences this measure would inflict. Despite claims of this initiative supporting working Alaskans, it is clear it will do more harm than good—especially for small businesses and workers who are already struggling just to get by in today’s difficult economic environment.
The first red flag is who is funding this effort. Once again, groups from outside Alaska seek to use our state as social experiment by passing risky legislation that can then be expanded into other states . As is often the case, these outsiders don’t seem to understand our state’s unique economy. Ballot Measure 1 ’s supporters have proposed something that will unleash widespread negative consequences. How? It is written with vague language and overly broad definitions that leave too much open to interpretation. This will create confusion for business owners and lead to unnecessary and costly legal battles. Even worse, the measure has been crafted without considering how it will affect our small businesses — the backbone of our economy — nor the workers who rely on them for their livelihoods.