Comments (35)

tpm devotee wrote on July 20, 2007 3:39 PM:

Good job, Laura! Fine work!

Amazing how people believe they can simply get away with their lies!

"turn" - as in "the worm"

aklocal wrote on July 20, 2007 3:39 PM:

What would it take to have a realtor do a market appraisal based on the sale date? Wouldn't that be pretty easy?

onsetdresser wrote on July 20, 2007 4:01 PM:

Brilliant! Thanks Laura and TPM!

Snarkboy wrote on July 20, 2007 4:09 PM:

"Word of honor ..."

Ha, ha, he so funny!

Mike Conwell wrote on July 20, 2007 4:10 PM:

What would it take to have a realtor do a market appraisal based on the sale date? Wouldn't that be pretty easy?

aklocal 3:39pm

Used to be my business, ordering Broker Price Opinions (BPO's) and Appraisals. Across the country, it would cost you $75 or so. In remote places like Alaska, Hawaii and desert New Mexico, could run up to $150.

Chicago Title, Lenders' Services, INC (LSI) and American Title company are (were) running large scale BPO outfits.

Zillow Fan wrote on July 20, 2007 4:13 PM:

My property is listed at zillow.com and probably yours is too. Didn't bother to look for AK property, but it ought to be pretty easy to get within 20% or so, especially with an assessment on hand.

k wrote on July 20, 2007 4:20 PM:

if you get the address, can you get something to pop up at cyberhomes.com?

security code: front as in river

JEP wrote on July 20, 2007 4:22 PM:

Viva la Blogs!!!
...of course you realize there is no way the MSM would have ever produced this information, especially juxtaposed against the current lie. Not much doubt, the "ignorance of the market" defense just went out the window.
This kind of blogging has changed the way we find our news.

Laura, you are making history here,

Keep after em'!

JEP wrote on July 20, 2007 4:25 PM:

"Word of honor" is Republican code for "I'm about to tell a lie..."

FlyOnTheWall wrote on July 20, 2007 4:45 PM:

Laura,

I posted on the previous thread evidence that the Murkowskis had sold two Anchorage properties in the previous two years, both for substantially more than the assessed value. (And the more expensive of the two sales was undisclosed, likely due to the same erroneous conflation of the disclosure provisions for assets and transactions that was at fault in Kenai.) But the same is true of Penney; he's in the real estate business, for crying out loud, and routinely sells property for more than the assessed value.

The terrific quote you've found, though, further underlines his sleaziness. Senator Murkowski is indeed a terrific neighbor to have; that is, if you wish to maximize the value of your own (rapidly appreciating, speculative) property. Murkowski was a bitter opponent of the Knik Arm Crossing approaches being routed through her neighborhood in Anchorage, and forced the issue back for repeated rounds of study. Similarly, the value of Kenai River real estate is in constant jeopardy, subject to the health and vitality of the river itself, which is hostage to competing interests. So it's not just that Penney wanted access to Murkowski for purposes unspecified. Just having her invested alongside him serves to align their interests. She'll fight tenaciously to defend her own property; we've already seen that. And since not even Ted Stevens is immortal, Penney seems to have lined up a new protector to replace the old.

MW wrote on July 20, 2007 4:51 PM:

Let me get this straight: Penney thought the assessed value was $120,000 (the 2005 assessment), but he sold it to Murkowski for $179,400 which just happens to be the exact amount of the 2006 assessment. Is he suggesting that this was some kind of coincidence? Who set the $179,400 price?

Anonymous wrote on July 20, 2007 5:06 PM:

So what? Clintons did it.

anon wrote on July 20, 2007 5:11 PM:

I love small government advocates, until government can help them make money.

Anonymous wrote on July 20, 2007 5:14 PM:

BRUTAL

MSM where are you?

FlyOnTheWall wrote on July 20, 2007 5:15 PM:

MW:

Not quite. Penney claims he thought the assessed value was still $120,000. Murkowski says that they agreed on a price equal to the assessed value, which, it turned out, was actually $179,400. The way I read it, Penney claims to have been surprised by that when the sale was transacted, not unaware of it until later. It's still a load of hooey, but there you have it.

Grumpy wrote on July 20, 2007 6:07 PM:

What I don't get is, how was a real estate discount supposed to influence Murkowski as a senator? She's already pals with Penney; she'd vote in favor of his interests by pure reflex. Same goes for Ted Stevens and how Veco had another floor built on his chalet: Stevens already supports anything Veco stands for. If they were bribes, the money was superfluous.

Unless, of course, our honorable lawmakers were extorting the money by threatening to switch sides.

FlyOnTheWall wrote on July 20, 2007 6:22 PM:

Grumpy,

It has to do with the way Washington works. Stevens and Murkowski would certainly have voted for Veco or Penney, but most items are a foregone conclusion by the time they come to a vote. Would they have cashed in a chit with the administration by placing a phone call to a senior official, and asked for a favor? Would they have earmarked funds or introduced a special bill, and traded votes on other issues to ensure its passage? It's not a question of whether they would have been supportive; it's a matter of how supportive they were willing to be. And, as I pointed out above, there's an elegant simplicity to this transaction. By selling her an adjoining lot, Penney effectively aligns their interests. It's not just the six-figure discount - it's that henceforth, what's good for Penney is also good for Murkowski. That's alliegance that bribes alone can't buy.

Rowling wrote on July 20, 2007 6:46 PM:

SPOILER ALERT: Hedwig the Owl and Snape die in the last book, but Harry Potter, Ron and Hermione live!!

johnnydoughey wrote on July 20, 2007 7:35 PM:

The only place I read that the selling price was for $179,400 was from a statement by Murkowsky on one of these news stories. I'm waiting to see what the actual price was when it is verified by documents. If the assessment, as stated, was $120,000 previously, I wouldn.t be surprised to see the sale price coming in closer to that figure... (sad to be this cynical, isn't it?)

trailfollower wrote on July 20, 2007 7:43 PM:

What Bob Penny gets out of it is grants to his so-called 501(c)(3)which has gotten loads of cash from grants in the last few years. If you look at Senator Ted Stevens disclosure reports you will find that he has received expensive weaponry (engraved, of course) for the last several years from this so-called nonprofit. A reading of the 990s for the Kenai River Sportsfishing Association for the last few years show that they have dribbled out a few scholarships (Mark Hamilton, the president of the University of Alaska is on the board of directors) and a couple of grants to the Department of Fish and Game. So this is a way for the department (if they are state grants) to funnel some of its money, or if they are federal grants, to get ex-budget funds for their programs. In any case, nonprofits shouldn't be giving expensive gifts to US Senators, nor should they be socking away grant money by the ton. Now, you might think that Senator Lisa is in a position to give this nonprofit grants and bring others to the big honking money losing event it hosts every year for elected officials and big corporations. And you would probably be right. Always follow the money, kiddies.

trailfollower wrote on July 20, 2007 8:20 PM:

Not only that, but Senator Lisa has been appointed to the Indian Affairs Committee and is the ranking R, we are told. Bob Penny has spent many years and many dollars defending sportsfisherfolks against the claims of (Indian) subsistence users. Do you think they won't talk subsistence issues while sharing gossip over the fence now that they are neighbors, and all.

Stephen Taufen wrote on July 20, 2007 8:29 PM:

Bob Penney is not ignorant of the fact that Ben Stevens (his access, and power over appointees for Board of Fish and changing regulations and powers at state level ) and Ted Stevens (his buddy in the Senate for changing national fisheries laws, and control over regional federal fish council issues important to his riches) are going, going, gone... as is Don Young (his cover the House side guy re regulations and amendments for fisheries). His old cronies Frank Murkowski and Tony Knowles are no longer viable, on any level, and Penney doesn't have control over the new administration of Governor Palin. So, who's left to politically convene with but dear little 'niece' Lisa? But Penney just hung himself with the April 2007 testimony about Kenai River properties. He knew the value was up another 50%. Do doubt about it. He was 'favoring' his friend. But she happens to be under federal legal restrictions about accepting such favors. And they both knew it. Where is the nearest women's federal prison anyway?

Code words - rubber boots, as in what they have both got in their mouths. Keep on talking and the code word will be shovel - as in self burial.

northofdenali wrote on July 20, 2007 9:23 PM:

No doubt about it, anyone named Murkowski or Stevens in this state, and their good buddies, are as corrupt as a politician can be. The problem in this red, red state is that almost all of our politicos are Republican neocons - and it's monkey see, monkey do - they protect each other fiercely.

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on July 20, 2007 10:26 PM:

Testing.

CuConnacht wrote on July 21, 2007 7:33 AM:

Alaska is the new Ohio.

St. Augustine wrote on July 21, 2007 8:51 AM:

Many factors will affect the value of real estate over the next 20 to 30 years. Realizing that unchecked global warming will raise water levels, Lisa's property could be submerged.

For any one who prefers sunnier climes, I have some prime Florida real estate at elevations of sixty feet and higher. It could be oceanfront in 30 years or so......

JEP wrote on July 21, 2007 8:58 AM:

Alaska is the new Alaska...

Someone posted here a few stories back, something to that effect. If there was ever a place where the Wild West went to hibernate, it's Alaska.

And that is reflected in their short political history.

Anonymous wrote on July 21, 2007 10:30 AM:

Again. Laura's excellent reporting with fact driven information is NOT on the leading Alaska media front page or lead story. They will let it die

Laura you are long overdue

Anonymous wrote on July 21, 2007 10:45 AM:

I didn't even know Laura was pregnent!

Excellent job of reporting.

Ed*ard Teller wrote on July 21, 2007 3:07 PM:

How is it that an expectant mother working in Washington DC can outdo ALL of the Alaska media put together in nailing down this story, which, it is beginning to appear, is going to possibly bring down the last of the Murkowski dynasty.

Just kidding, Laura. If and when you come up to Alaska, there are quite a few honest, progressive people here who would love to thank you for showing us that - YES! - these stories can be covered competently, thoroughly and with persistence. I despise our local Alaska media for their lack of interest in these issues more and more every new story you produce. Keep it up! Please...

Johnsnottoodistracted wrote on July 21, 2007 9:04 PM:

Ya know it's just like all the others with memory lose and few brain cells intact and connected.
They have never suffered from their behavior.In most cases they are rewarded with their carnal delights.
When pointed out they are breaking the law,etc. a switch goes off and brain activity is reduced.
Could be genetic.
It's from hanging out with the same group where they practice all this nonsense.And they think they are good at it.
Everyone in this last 30 years of elephant orgy mentality of we the few chosen ones are right, eveyone else is wrong has this disorder.
No one has enough brain cells for the jobs they have.How did that happen?Every single person that has a light put on them is not qualified to be in the job/position they hold?How can this be?
Realtor knows nothing of real estate?This just the lastest to float up.From top to bottom(and below)all living in the same sewer.You know the rest.

JEP wrote on July 22, 2007 9:52 AM:

"How is it that an expectant mother working in Washington DC can outdo ALL of the Alaska media put together in nailing down this story,"

Simple. Because she's a smart chick, , and she's "one of us" and she has the will to do it. And Josh has given her historic cutting edge internet and multi-media tools and a blog network of veracifiers behind her to certify her findings as accurate..

But she would not have gotten this scoop, if the local and state Alaska (same thing up there) media were not so neoconishly numb.

They want to avoid this story at all costs, because even THEY owe "The Man" somehow.

Alaska may be big in acreage, but in terms of its people, it is much more like a small town than a big city.

Everyone knows everyone else, there are few well-kept secrets. And everyone is so beholden to their economic superiors, there's very little independence in the political game.

The native Americans in Alaska know what a bunch of imperialistic, self-superior, arrogant sonsabitches these Alaska Republicans have become. These indigenous groups have suffered constant loss of their heritage and holdings, as these geographically-challenged carpet-baggers from the south invade and destroy their land.

Anonymous wrote on July 22, 2007 2:32 PM:

alaskans will soon be very familiar with JL Properties and their owners, Jonathan Rubini and Leonard Hyde

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_06/006508.php

local media dropped this story 4 years ago

Anonymous wrote on July 22, 2007 8:59 PM:

Lisa probably says "damn look at JL properties and Ted Stevens! I could even come close to that kind of sweet deal!"

jak1 wrote on July 23, 2007 4:55 PM:

>>Let me get this straight: Penney thought the assessed value was $120,000 (the 2005 assessment), but he sold it to Murkowski for $179,400 which just happens to be the exact amount of the 2006 assessment. Is he suggesting that this was some kind of coincidence? Who set the $179,400 price?

Posted by: MW
Date: July 20, 2007 4:51 PM <<

adding:
(The property was reassessed three days later for $214,000).