Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson released the following statement after the Sept. 29 Assembly meeting in which he expressed support for those who were drawing comparisons between Nazi treatment of Jews and the proposed mask mandate. The fourth night of public testimony will continue on Oct. 4 at 6 p.m.
BRONSON’S STATEMENT
“I understand that we should not trivialize or compare what happened during the Holocaust to a mask mandate and I want to apologize for any perception that my statements support or compare what happened to the Jewish people in Nazi Germany – that was one of the most evil and darkest times in our world’s history. I should have chosen my words more carefully, and if I offended anyone, I am truly sorry.
Anchorage has always been a city that takes care of its neighbors, no matter what differences exist among us. We love a good debate and talking about issues that matter to us and our families.
I respect everyone’s right to petition their government, to speak up in favor or opposition to major policies with wide-ranging impacts. But we must do so with decorum and respect. It is never appropriate to resort to name-calling, intimidation, or hatred, under any circumstances.
Everyone in this city loves Anchorage, as do I. Every member of the Assembly loves Anchorage. Being called to serve in public office means you want to make your community a better place. That is certainly why I chose to run for mayor, to make sure our city moves forward and becomes the city we all know it can be.
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But we cannot achieve that if we shout each other down, insult our neighbors, and use profanity and offensive language to describe one another. It is counterproductive and creates a toxic environment where nothing can get done.
So, for those who gather in opposition to this ordinance, I ask you, please keep it civil. Keep your comments forceful but respectful, and based on policy, not personality.
For those of you who gather in support of the ordinance, I ask the same thing. We must keep our composure and listen to one another if we are to move this city forward.
The last two nights have been passionate and even heated at times. That being said, let us debate the issue tonight on its merits, and let’s refrain from mean-spirited and offensive language while doing so.
Members of the Assembly, you have my full support in asking for calm tonight, and my pledge to work with you to ensure all voices are heard in a way that respects everyone as equals. My faith compels me to follow the Golden Rule, and I would ask the same from everyone here tonight.”
TAKING ACTION
- The Oct. 4 public hearing on the proposed Anchorage mask mandate begins at 5 p.m. The public may submit written comments at www.muni.org/testimony. There is no sign-up list for in-person testimony. It is on a first come basis. Click here for more information.
- Click here to read the draft mask mandate ordinance.
- Click here to email or call Anchorage Assembly members.
48 Comments
Screw that, tell them what you think of them.
F that! You should NOT apologize for an actually relevant comparison! NEVER bend the knee to these SCUM leftists. If they wanted a civil debate, they would have treated the citizens they despise with some courtesy: The majority of the assembly has insulted, demeaned and mocked people that are against their agenda. They are getting what they give and should get more of it! F these Fers!
A relevant comparison?! In the Holocaust, 6 million people were systemically hunted down, tortured, and murdered. This is about putting a piddly piece of fabric on your face to prevent the spread of a deadly disease. There are literally zero points of commonality between mask mandates and the Holocaust.
You were wrong it’s about marking people who refuse to take a false vaccine and using that to discriminate against them and force people to do something against their wishes… It’s an accurate comparison.
Here’s a thought if you’re such a freaking coward why don’t you stay home and allow the adults with an ounce of common sense to live there alive…? The answer is you cannot. You are a brownie. You are scum
And you are a true class act.
Stay. Home. COWARD. I am a class act. I allow others to live their lives and respect their choices, in general. When they attempt to intrude on mine? I push back. Unlike you cowards, I am not fear filled about a virus that is incredibly survivable. Again: Stay home COWARD.
That kind of hatred makes all in your camp look bad.
Hilarious! I have seen your bile and childish diatribes and passive aggressive attacks on others because…. you are a coward. A yellow belly. Basically, a child. STAY. HOME.
Ironic, the hate you accuse others of, is what you have become. Simply look in the mirror and picture yourself in a gestapo or NKVD uniform. Your choice, they’re both evil.
I don’t stay home because I care about my community. That is also why I get vaccinated. To protect myself, and my community. That is also why I wear a mask, in case I get a rare but possible breakthrough infection, despite my vaccination. To protect others. Because I care about my community.
In the old days civic responsibility was a conservative principle, while leftist hippies refused to care about anyone but themselves. These days many RINOs, such as those who refuse to protect others from a deadly disease, voluntarily group themselves in with the hippies of yore.
hahahaha……
I have only been reading the Watchman for a few weeks now (I am glad I found it), and I have made my way around the comment sections. Some of the most absurd comments I have seen in here have come from you, sir. I would highlight some of your lame statements but I am confident that it would be pointless.
Since the piddly piece of fabric on your face does nothing to prevent the spread of infectious aerosols, you are just as likely to jeopardize the health and lives of fellow human beings. You should stop being so selfish and just stay home.
I agree with Scott
So deadly you have a 99.99% chance of survival. Are you saying 6 million haven’t died from COVID? I’m confused.
He’s not wrong, though! It started out as pitting one group of people against another, convincing them that the problems with the economy and society were because of the Jews. The mentality was the same! The Jews were dehumanized as “less than”. Then people were encouraged to report them. All this was “for the greater good”. Look how dehumanized people are now, how many comments about how unvaccinated and anti-maskers shouldn’t get treatment, shouldn’t be employed, should be forced into submission, even deserve to die from COVID. Who thinks that way about fellow human beings?! We SHOULD draw comparisons because this is how it started! The conditioning comes first. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Look at Australia.
Who thinks this way about fellow human beings? Evidently most commenters on this website, who seem to think it’s within their constitutional rights to jeopardize the health and lives of their fellow human beings.
No you’re basically being a child over a virus that is so incredibly survivable that it’s not even worth mentioning… You have no right to force behavior on me. I hope I run into one day because you will see me walking around without a man and without any concern about the impact my behavior has on you… If you’re scared keep your distance and stay home and make love to your pretty little fears like a child
Are the 4.75 million people who have died from it also not worth mentioning?
No, they are not. People die daily, you may be surprised. Their demise does not allow you to tell me what I must do. Stay home, COWARD
So Scott, I figured you were a selfish bastard but thanks for admitting to it in such plain language “without any concern about the impact my behavior has on you”. When someone tells you outright that he is a selfish petulant dick, believe him. I believe you.
Tell me, do your concerns about personal liberties “You have no right to force behavior on me.” extend to a woman’s right to choose whether or not to carry a fetus to term?
“AB” is an example of a propagandist who demonizes and blames those who do not consent to unconstitutional attacks on their individual liberty. IT is a LIE to falsely accuse others of jeopardizing the health and lives of fellow human beings because they do not give their informed consent to others medical advice. Each individual makes and informed decision about what is best for their own individual well-being. No one is required to harm their own health in order to supposedly protect others health, which it doesn’t do anyway. Additionally, “AB” the accuser, is hypocritically shaming and coercing fellow human beings to do something that may jeopardize their health and their life, as well jeopardize their God-given liberties.
Well put. I don’t typically attempt to be articulate to the enemy. Glad to have you on the right side.
Ah Nicole,
You also espouse such adamant feelings about personal liberties “Each individual makes and informed decision about what is best for their own individual well-being. No one is required to harm their own health in order to supposedly protect others health”
So, I must ask you too, does this apply to abortion?
Well said! You are exactly right. I am a religious Jew and have studied the Holocaust extensively, as well as having what was left of my family in Europe destroyed in the Holocaust. I am the last person who would trivialize the Holocaust. The tactics of the left to gain totalitarian power are EXACTLY what the Nazis used so successfully. We must draw the comparison loudly, not apologize for it!
Thank you, Shifra, for your needed voice of reason.
Agreed. Similar to how Jews were blamed and dehumanized prior to having their individual human rights legally revoked and subsequently exterminated, those who refuse to consent to self-harming mask orders and extermination shots under the guise of a never-ending manufactured medical emergency are being blamed for harming others health and safety, and set-up for discrimination, starvation, confinement, and eventual extermination. We’ve seen this kind of evil before. The mask orders. encouraging citizens to rat-out their neighbors, and threatening businesses if they don’t refuse to serve the noncompliant – it’s all training exercises for the coming death shot orders.
Nicole,
Since you oppose “encouraging citizens to rat-out neighbors” you must also oppose the Texas abortion law that offers up a $10,000 bounty to rat out your neighbor? Good work, I knew I could count on you.
“The belligerent man has his rights” is a maxim of law of this country. Being decorous is sometimes inappropriate. Overriding rights of every man woman and child in Anchorage may be be greeted with something beyond a decorous whimper. It may be said about St Peter: “Peter swore”. Peter was a successful deep water fisherman I believe.
I greatly appreciate Mayor Bronson’s humility. It is a testament to his leadership.
The mask mandate idea is ridiculous and the issue really is creating more problems than helping. Most people have been wearing masks, especially when asked by a business. I was in Anchorage most of the day yesterday, visited several businesses and most people were wearing masks or distancing. Only one business had a sign posted asking people to do so, as it was a small space , and people complied out of respect. There were enough people wearing masks everywhere to diminish any possible viral load pretty significantly. No offensive law necessary. This strong arming by the assembly has only caused offense, all to make an unnecessary law that treats people like small children. It is indeed really angering, Still, vitriol will solve nothing. People showing up and speaking in a respectable manner is effective. Keep it up!
In America today our diets have been tampered with. Our beef is now full of antibiotics and even estrogen. In the two hundred years of preparation leading to tossing off foreign tyrants in 1776 the men and boys had not been saturated with estrogen and girl culture. In this current international invasion of the US the same type of foreign aristocats and interested, meddling monarchs have laughingly thought ahead to give themselves an edge for taking our rare earth minerals etcetera efficiently and on schedule. Thank those like Mayor Bronson and President Donald J Trump who work to defeat tyranny.
Your homophobia is showing. Either that or you are just to meek to come out.
The mask mandate ordinance.. discriminates and divides based on vaccination.
WTF is wrong with our local government!?
This is straight tyranny!
C’mon Ralph,
Explain to me how a mask mandate equates to division based on vaccination? Oh, you must be trying to say that being fully vaccinated might allow folks to return to a normal life without masks or mandates at all? Thanks for clearing that up.
This is genocide. The mask fiasco is a “mask”, a distraction by some useful idiots. This disease is successfully managed with antiviral and over the counter supplements! Censorship, division, lies and coercion are their tools. Keep your eye on their vax. The evidence has and continues exploding against it, have you noticed who is ignoring it???
Code (sign language, morse, etc) is not law. They are different words and mean different things. This is a hearing, in proper English, not code. The proper Engkish language is an opportunity to hear the public say what is in their hearts and minds TO the public servants. (Try not to sleep in the meeting Peterson). The code is not the law. The law, US Constitution, says do not infringe the the speaking of the public while informing the servants of the publics’ views. Certainly servants do not shush their masters as is attempted here.
Who’s the winner? The code or the US Constitution? Anything in conflict with the US Constitution is void for effect. Anything.
Constant has LaFrance under voice command. Stop it.
Every time the phone rings I sneeze. Ringing phones make me sneeze. Example of the fallacy of false cause. The amygdalas are enlarged because of a lifetime of conscious prayers and contemplation with the Creator. Not because of alleged covid. Junk science is contemporary, capricious and often wrong.
The aspect of the ordinance requiring civilian and business enforcement is rightfully compared to the beginning of the nazi take-over of Germany.
This happens all the time when folks call the police to report public safety threats, or even minor stuff like noise complaints.
Kenneth,
So we should discontinue REDDI so as not to impose on the personal liberties of the s@@tfaced driver? Great idea!
I was an anti-masker during the last mandate because I believed it was unconstitutional and I had problems breathing without a mask on. I was shunned, isolated and victimized. I had a representative of Walmart’s manhandle me and I would have said something, but she realized the legalities and backed off. I spoke to Mayor Berkowitz regarding the lack of a caring grocery store worker and he disregarded me completely. This negates HIPAA regulations. I will dig in my heels again, against the installed tyrants passing illegal mandates. This path might well wind up in a FEMA camp. You go ahead, Mr. Mayor. Wish the unelected assembly good tidings while expecting the people who voted for you, who stood watch with you, to be “civilized” while our rights are being flushed down a toilet. Make no mistake. I was treated with as much disdain as the assembly could enforce on me, and I believe that is just the beginning. The closest anyone can come to explain these control-hungry oppressors is “NAZI”.
Mayor Bronson- No apologies. The yellow star of david is a reminder to what these kind of people (the assembly) are capable of. Masks are not for our safety, but enforce compliance, to bend the population to their demands. It’s on-par with demanding people to wear hammer and sickle party lapels. Those not wearing them are considered “enemies of the state”.
Those of you of the Jewish faith- There is nothing anti-Semitic about the wearing the yellow star of david. It’s a reminder of the horrors created by hate. The yellow star of davids represent the oppression. The “assembly”- Careful what you vote for. A Warsaw Uprising could come your way.
2 things.
The Nazis dehumanized the Jews by call them dirty disease spreaders – they were banned from public venues, heath care access, and getting an education – sounds familiar, huh? We all know what happened next.
In a Republic the rights of the Individual supersede the rights of the masses, the majority, and the State.
In Socialism, Marxism, and Fascism the rights of the masses, the majority, and the State supersede the rights of the Individual.
Let that sink in – look at where the last 40 years of public education, and the current MSM and state sponsored propaganda has gotten us…
We are living in dangerous times – Wake Up Sheeple!
I was surprised to hear about the apology. While I have never worn a yellow star around, I do not think for one second that the people wearing one are meaning disrespect to holocaust victims. As many have stated, it is a call to remember the atrocities committed against those people and for us to stand against it happening to us. Why this would offend anyone, I have no idea.
People wear pink ribbons to remember those who have survived or died of cancer. Should citizens no longer wear pink ribbons and seek to fight against cancer because it may cause others to remember the suffering of their loved ones?
I am originally from Texas. When I hear people say “Remember the Alamo!”, I do not get offended because Texans were slaughtered by a much larger Mexican army. It’s a reminder that even when the odds are against you, sometimes you have to “batten down the hatches” and take a stand.
Good grief.
“People who wish to be offended will always find some occasion for taking offense.” – John Wesley
Greg,
You know, I understand the logic and sentiment you espouse. However, you must be a friend of Scott and not give a damm about how your behavior impacts others. You may not understand why co-opting the Star of David for a modern mostly political issue might offend someone, but, when the Anit-Defamation League says it does, why not just take their word for it?
Why should I or anyone give a rip about what the Anti-defamation League says? Quite frankly, I don’t care if anyone wears one or not, but no one has belittled the Jews by wearing a yellow star. Some Jewish people have spoken in support of their use. None of these people (that I have heard) have referred to the holocaust as if it were a good thing (except for the leftist woman that said the research done on the victims was beneficial – talk about reprehensible). And this is well beyond a political issue, but after reading your comments, I suspect that you would not do well in a meaningful conversation about anything of substance.
I just gotta say, the cognitive dissonance displayed by many of the comments on here is just deafening.
Th, th, th, that;s all folks.
1Katahdin