We moved to Alaska 50 years ago, established our careers and raised a family. We have two kids, both in their 30s. One lives in Alaska, one is Outside. We’re batting .500.
The one that is Outside returned to Alaska for a while after college, but then left to obtain an advanced degree in an Alaska-relevant field. Post-Ph.D. in 2019, the kid considered returning. But the budget cuts to the university probably made the difference, that kid is now firmly planted Outside. Interestingly, the job does involve Alaska projects and occasional trips here. We really enjoy those visits.
The other kid recently presented us with our first grandchild, a great joy for all. Both parents are working and have a new home. They now face a staggering child care bill. Additionally, one of them is a teacher and is concerned about the steady erosion of school funding and the increasing class sizes. If their situation becomes more marginal, it would be easy to envision their departure for better opportunities Outside. They have portable skills.
So, the Dunleavy Decline is real. It is hurting our family. Our young people need support to access education, child care, and all the other opportunities Alaska provides. The ongoing degradation of our education system by the current administration is having really bad consequences.
Almost all the families we know that are batting .000 have moved Outside. If our remaining kid and family left Alaska, we’d probably follow. That would be hard, Alaska has been good to us.
— Thomas Brooks, Anchorage
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