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- The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) has made clear in its surveys of businesses: affordable housing is one of the most important factors in recruiting and retaining young professionals and their families. As it stands now, companies have a difficult time getting young professionals to remain, many of them disappointed by the lack of quality available in the housing market at their price point. Simultaneously, many properties lack the amenities seniors require to age in place or retire in Anchorage comfortably.
- Building affordable housing is therefore key to the healthy growth of our neighborhoods and economy. Increasingly, we will have to do in-fill development, as we have relatively little easily-developable land remaining. My administration will seek creative policy solutions to promote housing development all across the Municipality, including working with those in the industry, as I have before, to ensure our regulations are not imposing illogical requirements or unnecessary burdens. To be clear, that does NOT mean gutting our building safety code or our land-use regulations which promote walkability, livability, and “eyes on the street.” Rather, it means partnering with those who actually do the building to determine the best, safest, and most affordable way to renew Anchorage’s housing stock, as well as looking for opportunities along our transit corridors for modern, multi-use development.
- Housing has proven to be the most effective connection to make so that people can be successful in their jobs or mental health treatment. We must connect those experiencing homelessness with the resources they need. Investments in rapid re-housing or permanent supportive housing are cheaper than allowing people to try to live in green spaces or emergency shelters, stressing our emergency medical systems. My Administration will pursue a multifaceted approach of increased collaboration between private organizations, investments in proven housing programs, and improving emergency shelter to keep our green spaces safe for everyone. :We have seen programs work in other communities, and we must not be afraid to take bold steps forward.
- WHAT WE’VE DONE SO FAR:
- Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance (AO 2018-43)
- Served on the AEDC Housing subcommittee
- Co-Sponsored affordable housing policy of Unit Lot Subdivision (AO 2017-75)
- Supported Downtown property tax abatement
- Co-sponsored Right of Way code on driveways amendment (Amendment to AO 2020-83)
- Co-sponsored Transit-supported corridor ordinance
- Co-sponsored micro-trenching ordinance to promote affordable broadband (AO 2020-83)
- Prevented certain additional, expensive additions to latest round of building code
- As our community looks to the future and works to recover from the Coronavirus, my administration will lead a multi-faceted approach to recovery.
- Economic Resilience and Recovery
- My top priority is to lead the Municipality out of the COVID crisis and recession. We need strong leadership in the Mayor’s Office, leadership that is capable of building community coalitions to provide information to all those who need it and enforce strong protections for public health and safety.
- With clear adaptation guidelines, a commitment to public health and science, consistent masking, and the continued support of the small business community, we can find ways to keep the Anchorage economy open and safe. With a community commitment to masking, our economy can begin to recover even before the virus is fully eradicated. We will continue current programs to waive or reduce Municipal fees, provide small business grants and rental relief, and suspend regulations that might not be practical during a viral pandemic.
- Once case counts are down, I will safely move us out of our State of Emergency and will build out Municipal economic programs as soon as I take office. Coming as it will in mid-summer, the transition to a new Administration will work closely with the existing Municipal leadership; as the only candidate running who is currently serving in office, I am best positioned to begin that transition early and to hit the ground running on Day One. Municipal recovery programs will also be closely connected to those funded and led by the State and Federal governments, and will continue the current, all-out effort to vaccinate our population.
- Equity in Recovery
- Equity has been top of mind for myself and other leaders since this pandemic began. If we want Anchorage to recover fully, we need every community and small business owner to have an opportunity to get the help they need. I support an equity audit of the CARES Act dollars and other coronavirus relief funds. While we all only hope that we do not live through another crisis like this one, we need to know how well we operated during this time, make policy adjustments, and see what needs to change in our routine operations.
- As a Municipality, we must improve our constituent communication. I’ve heard that feedback and intend to act upon it quickly to provide better information about services, new ordinances, and budget questions. This must be coupled with an improved website so everyone can access information easily and in the language they need. The Municipality’s CARES Act website has won awards for accessibility and presentation; the rest of the website, to put it mildly, has not. Retooling that website will be one of the most significant IT projects of my early Administration.
- Strength in Community
- We have lost over 250 Alaskans to COVID-19. I will honor them properly and remember the losses of our community and State. My administration will continue to provide mental health support to the Anchorage School District to help our kids recover from this trauma and seek to expand those resources into the broader community.
- We need to talk about the pain of the pandemic that we have all endured, honor the memory of Alaskans who we’ve lost, and pay them tribute by coming together to move forward.
- WHAT WE’VE DONE:
- Worked with the Assembly to receive and distribute $156 million in CARES Act funds to respond to the needs of the community
- Championed the use of $10 million in CARES Act funds for Child Care Relief with colleagues on the Assembly
- Worked to Distribute $584,960.83 in Rental Assistance Response Funds to 628 Households
- Voted to appropriate $10 million in Small Business Stabilization for those businesses impacted by COVID-19
- Advocated for and voted to appropriate $14 million in Hospitality and Tourism Stabilization Funds
- Economic Recovery and Development
- Downtown Revitalization
- Modern, successful cities have thriving downtowns, and Anchorage’s has been neglected for too long. Our downtown should be the premier location in Alaska for live music, great food, convenient shopping, award-winning art, and other forms of entertainment. The benefits of a healthy downtown reverberate throughout an entire community.
- To make this vision a reality, my administration will invest in projects to make downtown a safer, cleaner, more walkable and vibrant neighborhood. One crucial component is ensuring that folks actually live downtown, where they can serve as “eyes on the street,” shop at and spur the construction of grocery and drug stores, and build more of a sense of community, even in areas traditionally thought of as purely commercial. That means regulatory changes, incentives, and the cooperation of the Municipality’s property holding entities, including the ACDA, to build housing. It also means working closely with the Anchorage Downtown Partnership, the Downtown Community Council, the AEDC, Visit Anchorage, Bike Anchorage, and other entities, who should be in constant communication, with the Municipality serving as a key convener.
- Another common feature of thriving downtowns is a more pedestrian- and bike-friendly physical environment. Getting people out of their cars helps promote locally-owned small businesses, and keeps people out later, in greater numbers, with a sense of shared safety. If we can achieve buy-in from the adjoining businesses, my Administration will seek to transform 4th Avenue and E Street into pedestrian promenades. These have been successful in other cities in increasing spending from foot traffic, and increasing opportunities for markets, outdoor eating, and live music. There are further opportunities for private-public partnerships to develop the empty storefronts into community assets, and places that the Muni can install or encourage bike racks or other bike storage. Additionally, the existing trails, murals, and shops need to be showcased, and through investments in well-designed signage we can lead folks to them. This wayfinding system can also highlight Indigenous places and language, a feature highly desired by our visitor community.
- All of these plans will require cooperation with the Downtown merchants themselves, and will be designed to pencil out in dollars-and-cents. Together, we can develop a new color palette for Downtown, as was done with the Mountain View façade revitalization project, with the Municipality covering a percentage of design and providing technical assistance. Anchorage’s downtown is famously beige (“Keep Anchorage beige,” goes the sardonic rallying cry), but efforts are already underway to change this impression, and give it a renewed sense of history and vibrancy.
- Anchorage’s downtown should serve both our residents and our visitors. Today, despite the tremendous efforts of a number of businesses and nonprofits, it struggles to serve either adequately. My administration will change that.
- Outdoor Economy
- There’s no doubt that 2020 was the worst year for the Anchorage visitor industry in modern times. But I believe we are poised for a comeback. I know that there are thousands of businesses and employees eagerly awaiting the 2021 season. Anchorage has historically done a good job of catering to visitors on tour buses and cruise ships, and Alaska as a whole has appealed to those looking for the most extreme outdoor challenges. We should still appeal to both of these groups, and my Administration will partner with tourism businesses to do so. However, we must simultaneously develop the “missing middle” of Anchorage tourism -- the travelers seeking unique but accessible experiences, but who that currently find more options in places like New Zealand, Iceland, or even Colorado.
- We know you don’t even have to leave the Municipality to enjoy all that Alaska has to offer, and part of the benefit of visiting Anchorage is being able to flight-see during the day then grab a locally-made beer before calling it a night. By making Anchorage more accessible and appealing, travelers young and old will stay for one more night, which could bring in an additional $137 million in tourist spending. When the Municipality invests in our world-class trail system and close-to-home recreation opportunities, we not only improve the health of our residents, we capitalize on economic opportunity as tourists come to enjoy those resources, too.
- Anchorage has 250 miles of trails, 223 parks, and 82 playgrounds throughout the Municipality. We should work with our existing tourism operators to create exciting opportunities to explore both these in-town resources, and the surrounding mountains, waters, and forests. This would give people options for adventure during the day - and then still be able to enjoy the bars, restaurants, and shops when they return. My Administration will target our bond spending towards these types of targeted, high-impact projects. We will furthermore work with our State and Federal partners not only to seek grants and alternative funding sources, but also improve access to State Park lands and Federal Forests for recreation opportunities. Finally, we will re-engage the Parks Commission and resume the “Park Summits” that existed during the Begich Administration, calling together a variety of stakeholders from around the community, and seeing what kind of projects they want to develop, and that our neighborhoods support.
- Knowledge Based Economy
- The past year has not been easy, but it has shown much of the world that many jobs can be done from anywhere. And if you can work from anywhere, why not live in a place with a spectacular natural setting and a high quality of life? In order to retain and attract these residents, Anchorage must develop thriving and livable neighborhoods with walkable streets, affordable housing, and accessible transportation, as well as fast, affordable broadband and competitive prices for our electricity. We should foster our already burgeoning start-up economy to support the innovative and creative minds of Alaskans already developing successful businesses. Anchorage-based art, code, and products are already being shared nationwide and beyond. The creativity and resilience of our community helps cultivate unique ideas and projects that could only be created here.
- My Administration will regularly bring together small business owners to communicate and collaborate, in order to ensure policies that support local development and knowledge are implemented. This includes streamlining our permitting processes, encouraging more community events, and partnering with organizations to train and incubate our entrepreneurs, such as programs housed at our universities (see our Education section). Anchorage’s economy must diversify, and increasingly the world’s wealth is built upon the knowledge economy. We must invest in that economy here and create the jobs of the future.
- WHAT WE’VE DONE SO FAR:
- Proposed the ordinance to stop Easy Park from charging for on street parking on holidays and weekends (AR 2017-94)
- Served on the board of the Anchorage Parks Foundation
- Engaged in discussions with the State about developing more public use cabins and a hut-to-hut system in Chugach State Park
- Passed resolutions in support of restoring the Eklutna River (AR 2017-324)
- Voted for bonds that invested in parks and trails, particularly trail connectivity and inclusive play
- Served as the Assembly representative to both the AEDC and the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce
- Supported the development of the grant funded Anchorage i-team (AR 2017-35)
- Supported micro-trenching ordinance to promote affordable broadband (AO 2020-83)
- Supported cell phone tower ordinance to improve service throughout town (AO 2015-142)
- Helped restart the UAA/APU Assembly Internship Program
- Anchorage’s future relies on equitable and quality education for our kids. The Municipality needs to think creatively about offering after school programs and tutoring in order to help kids get back on track after the interruptions caused by COVID-19. These interruptions have also highlighted the disparities in our education system. ASD students need to know that their education can be used to build lives and businesses without going out of state to find opportunities. We will work to expand meaningful internship and apprenticeship opportunities with local businesses and within our Municipality. We will also build on the recent investments made by the Assembly in early childhood education; studies show that investing $1 dollar in early childhood education leads to $4-9 dollars in return.
- The success of our students also involves the success of their families--this means making sure that their caretakers get the information and support they need. This includes quality, affordable childcare for those who need it, which has been a priority for me since first joining the Assembly.
- EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
- When we support families and offer accessible child care, our economy grows. Affordable child care helps working families and their children build a successful future. Preschool costs in Anchorage can often outpace that of college tuition -- that cost is holding back innumerable families from access to these otherwise economically beneficial programs. I worked on the Assembly to put $2 million in alcohol tax funding towards early childhood education, the first significant investment from the Municipality to serve these needs. I also worked with Members Zaletel and Quinn-Davidson to put $15 million childcare subsidies into our CARES Act distribution, an action that kept many providers from closing permanently. We will continue advocating for access to child care programs, and work together with the State to maintain funding for current investments. My administration will partner with the Anchorage School District to expand child care options, Pre-K opportunities, and other opportunities to invest in our young children.
- HIGHER EDUCATION
- In addition, we cannot neglect the institutions of higher learning within our Municipality. As the son of two University of Alaska graduates who moved to Alaska specifically to attend the school, I understand the powerful impact our universities can have on our community. Today, the field of economic development embraces a concept called “Campus as Catalyst.” That is, most of the thriving cities around the world have at least one large, high-quality university that is closely integrated with local industry and government. My Administration will work to build bridges between the Municipality and both UAA and APU, with regular meetings between staff, and a voice for students in our decision making. We will furthermore use the platform of the Mayor’s Office, working with the Assembly, to highlight and oppose any draconian cuts to UAA.
- WHAT WE’VE DONE SO FAR:
- Continued to fund the Anchorage School District at the maximum amount allowable under State Law
- Explored shared services at our joint Assembly-School Board Meetings, which benefit both bodies
- Stood against Governor Dunleavy’s budget cuts to UAA and public education (AR 2019-105 and AR 2019-237)
- Urged the State to continue reimbursing School Bond Debt
- Started the Anchorage Assembly Internship Program for UAA and APU students
- Funded the Municipality’s first significant investments in early childhood education and child abuse prevention in the Alcohol Tax
- Fought for CARES Act funding for child care grants at $15 million, one of our most significant investments
- INDEPENDENCE FROM UNSTABLE STATE BUDGET
- For many years, it has been clear that Anchorage must seek more financial independence from the State. State revenue sharing programs which used to account for as much as 40% of municipal funding have fallen to less than 1%. As the Municipality of Anchorage shoulders these new financial burdens, we must find a balance between providing critical services and keeping rates, fees, and property taxes affordable. Slashing property taxes, promising no cuts to services, and then spending down our savings isn’t leadership, and it isn’t fiscally responsible.
- MUNICIPAL BUDGET LEADERSHIP
- We will continue to approach our budget challenges in a diligent and comprehensive fashion, working with the professionals at our enterprises and utilities, as well as the industries they support. We will seek ideas and answers from all sides. Internal audits on departments and programs will play a major role, as we continue to evaluate every line-item and contract. My administration will offer additional communications and community engagement surrounding the budget process to ensure our decisions are informed and understood by all residents. Leadership means taking into account the needs and values of the whole community, and taking careful, thoughtful action to minimize negative impacts that come from necessary budget adjustments. Finally, we must continue to diversify our revenue streams away from our heavy reliance on property taxes and maintain the excellent bond rating that keeps the cost of borrowing for the Municipality low.
- WHAT WE’VE DONE SO FAR:
- Deposited the net proceeds from the sale of ML&P into the Municipal Trust
- Passed fuel tax to off-set property taxes and diversify our income streams
- Approved targeted cuts to every department except public safety for first three years on the Assembly
- Passed a balanced budget every year
- Worked with the School District to find shared services and provide more efficient government
- Voted to support an audit program that has returned millions to the Municipality in wrongfully-claimed tax exemptions
- Government Accessibility and Transparency
- In my time in public service, community input has helped me develop new ideas, changed my mind, and allowed me to think about problems from different perspectives. This is thanks to the residents who take the time to attend community councils, write emails, call in, or step up to the microphone to share their thoughts. I have seen the tangible benefit that open communication with the public provides. In my administration, I’m committed to making engagement in local government easier.
- A simple start is to make the municipal website easier to navigate. At present, while the new COVID-related portions of the site have proved powerful, some of the legacy sections are confusing, opaque, or simply free of useful information. I also recognize that constituents need a better calendar of community meetings in order to fully participate--it’s a very simple step we can make to improve access. Although the coronavirus has limited so much, I plan to continue online events and flexible testimony components in order to increase accessibility for all who wish to participate in meetings.
- My Administration will hold more town halls on the municipal budget, listening sessions on important topics, and Q&A sessions so that the public knows where we stand. We will utilize technology to increase information accessibility and communication, and improve reporting tools for things like potholes, abandoned cars, and flagging ADA accessibility issues.
- Anchorage is an Indigenous place. We all reside on the lands of the Dena’ina people, who have stewarded them for thousands of years. We are fortunate to be one of the only cities or Municipalities in Alaska with an Indigenous sovereignty actually within our borders: the Native Village of Eklutna. There are ways to incorporate the history of this land and the culture of Alaska Native peoples to make Anchorage a more vital, deeply-rooted, and innovative community.
- TEACHING OUR SHARED HISTORY
- Surveys have demonstrated that the #1 thing our visitors ask for is more experiences involving Alaska Native culture; Indigenous placemaking is both the right thing to do and the economically smart thing to do. Anchorage should be a worldwide leader in cultural tourism. By integrating information about Alaska Native culture into our trails and neighborhoods, our residents and visitors can both learn about the history and the continued stewardship of Alaska Native people within the Municipality. When exploring the city, Alaska Native language and art should ground us in our shared story. This not only improves neighborhoods, it makes them safer. For too long, Indigenous people have been made invisible in what is actually Alaska’s “largest village,” and that can lead to members of this community falling through the cracks in Municipal services.
- WHAT WE’VE DONE SO FAR:
- Sponsored and passed the first Indigenous naming ordinance in Anchorage’s history, so that so Dena’ina names must be considered (AO 2017-98)
- Co-sponsored resolution calling for the restoration of the Eklutna River (AR 2017-234)
- Led process to name Chanshtnu Muldoon Park (AR 2016-284 and AR 2017-234)
- Co-sponsored resolution recognizing the sovereignty of the Eklutna Tribe and to establish formal government-to-government relations (AR 2019-426)
- As Chair of the Public Safety Committee, held the first hearing in Anchorage’s history on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
- Infrastructure and Transportation Development
- A well-connected city, with multiple ways of getting around, is both a more livable city and one better positioned for economic success. More and safer bike lanes, better-connected trails, safer pedestrian crossings, more public transit options, and well-designed traffic calming are all necessary if we are to create a transportation system built around people and neighborhoods, not just cars.
- Folks who don’t have personal vehicles, or perhaps don’t want to use them at that moment, should be able to access their doctor’s appointments, late shifts, college classes, and happy hours without having to worry. And our merchants should be able to take advantage of that additional activity and commerce! This summer, many residents enjoyed ‘Biking the Moose,’ doing “Bird to Gird,” and otherwise exploring the Municipality on two wheels. Many also utilized bikes to make vital trips around town, and we need to make sure our roads have safe lanes for non-car travel to reduce injuries and fatalities.
- Our trails offer unique transportation options other Municipalities cannot compete with. By strengthening our Parks Department to do more, particularly focused on trail connectivity, we can offer a unique way to explore the city to both residents and tourists. I hope to see a future where everyone has many options to get to work, whether it be by car, bus, bike, foot, or ski. Diversifying our transportation options will make Anchorage a more pleasant place to live for those already here and a more attractive destination for those considering a move from elsewhere; it can be a real selling point for our community.
- Port of Alaska
- There is no single infrastructure project in Anchorage more crucial to our future than the Port of Alaska. Although major mistakes in construction and design in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s have caused our community tremendous harm, the Port nevertheless handles fuel and freight that reaches 90% of Alaska’s population; it must be repaired and modernized. My Administration will work closely with the Port User Group, JBER, the State, the federal delegation, and other stakeholders in order to build and rebuild a Port that will last long into the future. Communication is the key, and breakdowns in communication and expectations have hampered this project in recent years. Only by modernizing the Port can we maintain Anchorage’s position as an economic hub for the State, while providing a critical lifeline for goods in times of disaster and emergency. As part of this project, we must continue our litigation strategy that has recovered millions from those responsible for the early-2000’s debacle.
- The full opportunity to export value-added goods from Anchorage to other markets has not been fully explored, and I look forward to helping develop a small business community that can capitalize on the opportunities which come from a reliable, thriving Port.
- Renewable Energy and Reducing Energy Costs
- Sustainability and energy efficiency have been priorities of the outgoing Administration, and they will continue to be in mine. Energy costs are a burden for many Anchorage residents, and can prevent large-scale investment by commercial and industrial businesses in our community. By diversifying our energy sources and converting to more modern technologies, we can increase our energy independence and lower costs.
- OPPORTUNITY FOR INVESTMENT
- There are ample opportunities for solar, wind, and hydro energy production across the Municipality, and perhaps less traditional sources like tidal and in-pipe hydro in water and wastewater as well. Even without new energy sources, there are significant savings to be had simply by upgrading things like insulation and lighting in Municipal buildings.
- My administration will seek comprehensive energy audits for Municipal facilities, a continuation of the existing Intra-Admin Resiliency Task Force, and the further creation of an Environmental Equity Council to work on the issue of environmental inequalities. The technology and community knowledge exists to save money for ourselves, our residents, and our businesses, while simultaneously lowering our greenhouse gases and other forms of environmental impact. Anchorage can lead the way as a truly great, resilient northern city.
- WHAT WE’VE DONE SO FAR:
- Co-sponsored transit-supported corridors development ordinance (AO 2020-103)
- Co-sponsored a resolution urging Congress to increase investment in active transportation (AR 2020-42)
- Supported multiple bond measures for trails, pedestrian facilities, better drainage, traffic calming, and complete streets
- Hosted a community townhall on and fought for additional funding for snow removal
- Co-sponsored resolution urging state to put the Port on a State General Obligation Bond
- Supported construction of the Petroleum-Cement Terminal
- Currently working with the Port leadership, the Assembly Utility Committee, and the Port Users on finance mechanism for the cargo terminal
- Supported bonds and grants encouraging conversion to LED lighting along trails, in parks, at Municipal buildings, and within utilities and enterprises
- Passed the Anchorage Climate Action Plan
- Passed ordinances leading to the consolidation of Chugach Electric and ML&P to find efficiencies (AR 2017-235)
- Supported experimenting with electric buses at Transit and the purchase of electric garbage trucks at Solid Waste Services with the assistance of federal grants
- Public safety and public health are prerequisites for quality of life in our community. For many years, Anchorage has struggled with high levels of domestic violence, alcohol and substance misuse, generational trauma, untreated mental illness, and homelessness. Although many of these problems were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are real reasons for optimism on the horizon if we can adapt, use best practices developed in other parts of the country, and spend our hard-earned funds wisely.
- INVESTING IN SOLUTIONS
- In 2020, the people of Anchorage passed an alcohol tax and dedicated the revenues to address many of the underlying causes of homelessness and crime in our community. At the same time, we are starting to see the pay-off of years-long investments in the police department, which recently stood up a cold-case unit and has far more resources to address theft and violent crimes than when I first joined the Assembly. We are also seeing new private-partner resources dedicated to supportive housing, pay-for-success, and other programs designed to promote stabilization and wellness.
- MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT
- Many of our public health and safety challenges are directly related to mental health and substance abuse, which are often, but not always, co-occurring. The Municipality must take a more active role in addressing these issues and be a more active partner with the State, which has traditionally run most programs. We have heard horror stories of police officers sitting in their cruisers in the Providence parking lot with a person going through crisis in their backseat and nowhere to take them. Our police leadership has made clear that they see treatment and mental health stabilization as key to ending the revolving door seen on our streets.
- We should seek additional federal, private, and Mental Health Trust dollars to build sustainable mental health and treatment infrastructure, including a “23-Hour Crisis” short-term stabilization center to complement Anchorage’s incoming Mental Health First Responders program. We must also responsibly deploy the $15 million for treatment mandated by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska in the sale of ML&P and design the program in such a way that it can utilize Medicaid funds to be sustainable. Finally, to accomplish these goals, we need to restructure the Health Department, which is now a “catch all” that is strained beyond its resources. All of these things are possible, and indeed we are poised to make real change in the coming months and years.
- WHAT WE’VE DONE SO FAR:
- Funded and maintained both the police and fire departments in order to keep the city safe
- Funded police academies every year on the Assembly, increasing our sworn staff by nearly 100 officers
- Funded increases in non-sworn staff at APD, like evidence technicians and dispatchers
- Funded Mental Health First Responders
- Funded multiple fire academies, as well as smart investments in ambulances, emergency medical technology, and fire apparatuses
- Supported the lease of the new police headquarters downtown (AO 2018-84)
- Co-sponsor of the ordinance to prohibit consumer products containing harmful flame retardant chemicals, with support of Fire Department leadership (AO 2019-15)
- Resolution to support HB 182 and urge for the immediate processing on the backlog of sexual assault testing kits (AR 2020-87)
- Voted for a needle exchange program at the 4A’s to help reduce spread of infectious disease and step in the direction of addressing the opioid crisis
- Co-sponsored and passed alcohol tax dedicated to child abuse and domestic violence prevention, first responders, treatment, and programs to address homelessness (AO 2019-48)
- Sponsored Anchorage’s first ordinance to ban the sale of certain invasive species (prunus padus AKA bird cherries) (AO 2017-101)
- One of Anchorage’s core strengths is our diversity. Regardless of religion, race, national background, gender identity, age, disability, culture, or rural/urban background, the Municipality is your community. But inequality and inequity are still present in the everyday lives of many of our residents. While we have made great strides in the past several decades, there is still more work to be done.
- Equity needs to be considered in everything the Municipality does. This starts with the most basic public services such as clearing off sidewalks in the winter, offering translations of forms/notices, and making sure all public buildings are ADA accessible. These simple changes build an inclusive foundation for our future. The diversity of Anchorage needs to be celebrated beyond just Pride and Juneteenth. This means upholding the non-discrimination policies supported by voters and expanding protections where needed.
- My Administration will have the Municipal Office of Equity and Justice convene conversations and seek solutions to the problems of inaccessibility and discrimination that limit the success of our community. By investing in language access, we expand our small business communities and improve our education system. We will continue to make playgrounds and trails accessible and safe, and will invest in more assets to encourage healthy communities. Our parks and trails have allowed many Anchorage residents to maintain their health during the coronavirus crisis, and by continuing our commitment to these resources we will be investing in wellness for current and future residents at low or no cost to the users. Investments in equity pay for themselves when community members can be successful and healthy.
- OFFERING EQUAL OPPORUNITY
- We will also expand efforts to recruit and retain Municipal employees from underrepresented backgrounds. There is a tremendous amount of untapped talent and ability in our community, but it takes sustained investment in outreach, education, and internal reforms in order to present new career paths to youth who have never been made aware of the opportunities, or adults who have been systematically excluded from hiring or promotion in the past. These changes will take determined, sustained leadership from the Mayor’s Office.
- My Administration will also commit to communicating more extensively with our rural partners to ensure that Anchorage is a safe and more easily-navigable hub for Rural Alaskans. Growing up in Rural Alaska, I was always excited to come to Anchorage; I want to recapture some of that excitement for folks, and the sense that we are all Alaskans looking out for each other.
- WHAT WE’VE DONE SO FAR:
- Co-sponsored ordinance that became Ballot Measure 12 which added a twelfth Assembly Member to give equal representation to Downtown, Fairview, and Mountain View on the Assembly
- Supports Anchorage Pride, Juneteenth
- Publicly opposed and volunteered against the ballot initiative designed to repeal nondiscrimination ordinance
- Supported the creation of the Chief Equity Officer position
- Voted to prevent conversion therapy (AO 2020-65)
- Voted to recognize and celebrate individual rights of freedom of religion (AR 2016-356)
- Voted for Inclusive playgrounds (AR 2016-353) and advocated for them on the Anchorage Park Foundation board
- Established a sex-based harassment policy for the Assembly Department (AR 2018-392)
- Helped found the Muldoon Farmers Market, which partners with many refugee farmers[23]
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From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 36 min
Dave Bronson[edit]
EncycloReader
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