ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A crowd outside the Midtown Mall gathered Friday to protest a pair of Anchorage Assembly ordinances that would expand homeless services in Anchorage by authorizing the purchase of four buildings to be used as service centers and amending zoning laws to allow new locations for shelters.
The Anchorage Assembly has heard public comment for multiple nights on the issue, delaying a vote for the ordinances.
Thad Phillips, a business owner in midtown, was at the protest and said he thinks the ordinances are allocating money incorrectly.
“The consistent message is that you can’t solve the problem — which is drug and alcohol use that leads to homelessness — and do that in close proximity to liquor stores, and pot shops and the social network they’re in right now,” Phillips said.
He hopes that the assembly will vote against the ordinances. Other protesters gathered Friday afternoon expressed the same sentiment and carried signs that said “Save Midtown no on 2020-58 & 2020-66.”
“We have the opportunity to transform Anchorage’s homelessness response system by making strategic investments to stabilize and quickly house adults without homes,” the municipality stated on its plan.
The municipality has proposed purchasing the Midtown Alaska Club, America’s Best Value Inn, Bean’s Cafe’s location on Third Avenue and a fourth facility in midtown.
According to the municipality’s proposal, those facilities would become engagement centers, supportive housing or substance abuse treatment centers.
The Anchorage Assembly will meet Monday to hear additional public testimony. After all comments have been heard, they can begin to debate and vote on the ordinances.
Because of Emergency Order EO-14, the public will not be able to enter the Assembly chambers. Comments can be submitted either over the phone, or through email. Written comments or requests to be called for comment can be sent to Testimony@anchorageak.gov before 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
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Protesters gather against Anchorage homeless service ordinances - KTUU
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