Mayor Bronson's stealth nominee to the Health Commission seems like a disaster
Yesterday after I brought to light that Anchorage Mayor David Bronson had stealth nominated Jim Wojciehowski to the Health Commission—having added his name to the addendum on Friday for a confirmation vote this Tuesday, there was enough interest to justify spending a day compiling and writing a bit more.
Wojciehowski, in an April 2021 far-right Alaska Watchman blog post, claimed that elected officials in the Municipality "were under the unbridled power of an emergency declaration, basing decisions on myopic flawed data, mainstream panic porn, and a desire to hold on to the unlimited power they granted themselves."
Wojciehowski also wrote in the same piece that Mat-Su had "less Covid-19 related hospitalizations and deaths per 100,000 and no mandates." His statement predated a published analysis that found Mat-Su had a "large number of excess deaths last year," raising questions about COVID-19 reporting.
The Alaska Watchman "article" was shared on the Wojo Journal Facebook page—a traveling journal page where Wojciehowski and his wife Joyce document their travels. In the April 18 post, "J&J"—(read Jim and Joyce) wrote that they were hitching their wagon to Dave Bronson and encouraged readers to "do their own research," when arguably, "doing our own research" could lead to immeasurable, unnecessary suffering.
A post on the Wojo Journal Facebook page was flagged as "False Information" in October of last year for providing inaccurate information on masks.
Save Anchorage
While not a member himself, his wife has been a member of the Save Anchorage group since August 7, 2020. Save Anchorage is a group with a known history of sharing misinformation about COVID-19, masks, and vaccines.
In several instances, posts made to the group by the Facebook account of Joyce Wojciehowski are 'signed' at the end by "Jim." That designation appears primarily on comments and posts related to subjects concerning COVID-19.
One such post made to the group asked Dave Stieren, Communications and Community Outreach Director at the State of Alaska, whether Governor Mike Dunleavy cared that the "Assembly and unelected acting Mayor's" Covid-19 policies were "killing" people in the Municipality of Anchorage at "twice the rate of the Mat-Su."
A separate post signed "Jim" cited an Alaska Covid Survey. In the post, "Jim" notes that Save Anchorage is a bit of an echo chamber and wrote that while he would like to be "optimistic" that a majority of Anchorage residents see the Assembly and "unelected mayor" as he did—the survey indicated that might not be the case.
Another comment by "Jim" in the Save Anchorage group was made in response to an anti-COVID-19 testing post that bemoaned "mandates." Perhaps unsurprisingly, Wojciehowski took a potshot at Assemblyman Forrest Dunbar, who was running for mayor. He affirmed in the post that he would speak about testing at a future Anchorage Assembly meeting.
The Facebook account also shared a link to the group in April. The link directs to a "health hypothesis" filled with, to be honest, anti-masking nonsense and misinformation. The hypothesis was recently retracted.
Perhaps worth noting is that the Facebook account shared a false claim about coronavirus death statistics last year. The "data" came from the social media account of "Mel Q," a supporter of the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory whose Twitter account was deleted by the social media service on August 31, 2020.
While that particular post was not signed "Jim," I think, given the sheer number of posts made to the group and its subject matter, it's reasonable to ask whether "Jim" was using his wife's Facebook account to post to Save Anchorage.
Wojciehowski wrote in the comment section of Must Read Alaska that Anchorage Assemblyman Rivera has "narcissistic personality disorder" and spelled out his interpretation of COVID-19 data, repeating his now questionable claim progressive members of the Assembly killed residents faster in Anchorage than in the MatSu.
Anchorage Assembly Testimony With Video
Wojciehowski has repeatedly testified in front of the Anchorage Assembly and has frequently emailed the Anchorage Assembly.
On May 12, 2021, he testified that masks were theater at this point, noting that he doesn't need a mask as someone who has received the COVID-19 vaccine.
In front of the Assembly on April 27, 2021, Wohciehowski appeared to assert that mask-wearing in public places is "panic porn," a phrase he has used more than once.
At a Special Assembly Meeting on April 20, 2021, Wojciehowski testified that he sends the Assembly "a lot of emails" and again invoked the phrase "panic porn," claiming that the mainstream media is working to "keep everybody terrified."
In addition, Wojciehowski stated before the Assembly that over 80% of people who died in Alaska with a "Covid related diagnosis were over 65 years of age," a statement some might interpret as being dismissive of older individuals who have contracted the virus and died as a result—but hey, they were old and going to die anyway right? So what's 10 or 20 years off their lives?
On April 13, 2021, before the Anchorage Assembly, Wojciehowski testified that thirteen months ago, "the power grab began with the original proclamation of emergency" and referred to Acting Mayor Austin-Quinn Davidson as the "unelected acting Mayor."
Wojciehowski testified before the Assembly on 3/23/2021, 2/23/21, 1/26/21, 1/12/21, and 12/20/20.
Mr. Wojciehowski is entitled to his views and opinions. Still, given his views on masks, his interpretations of COVID-19 data, his arguably contentious attitude towards members of the Anchorage Assembly, his referring to the homeless as "vagrants," and his involvement with the Save Anchorage group—at a time when the Delta variant is quickly spreading in our city—this nomination should give us all great pause.
