By AlaskaWatchman.com

The Anchorage Assembly continues to assert that Mayor Dave Bronson lacks authority to create policy, while also seeking to commandeer this power as a function of the legislative branch. This behavior is dangerous and compromises our democracy.

The attack on the executive branch by the Assembly (in particular members Christopher Constant, Meg Zaletel, and Felix Rivera) is detrimental on many levels. They continue to chip away at the mayor’s executive authority while simultaneously calling the mayor and his administration “incompetent.”

Chris Constant loves to talk about incompetencies almost as much as he likes to talk about fantasies, but let’s focus on incompetencies for now.

At the Nov. 7 Assembly meeting, the Assembly proposed an ordinance to approve an operating agreement by the administration between O’Malley Ice and Sport and the MOA to operate the Sullivan Arena. After over an hour of arguments, some Assembly members continued to berate and accuse the Bronson administration of not following the law, of being incompetent, and placing blame on them for the very mess that Chris and Meg created. They seemed to be actively practicing the adage of “a lie said often enough, loudly enough becomes true.”

I watched the entire debacle, and the behavior of some Assembly members is abhorrent – namely Chris Constant, Meg Zaletel and Felix Rivera. They couldn’t seem to grasp the concept that the administration has no obligation to seek Assembly approval for operating agreements. Talk about incompetence. It’s their job to understand the code. They could not wrap their heads around the fact that operating agreements are not leases (incompetence again), and even after hearing lawyers and real estate professionals explain what an operating agreement is, they continued to accuse the mayor of lying, not following process, and wasting taxpayer dollars by not informing them of an operating agreement.

The mayor apologized for not bringing it to their attention out of courtesy … but he really didn’t need to do that. As a member of the electorate, I strongly believe it is they who owe the mayor an apology. The patience the administration practiced during that assembly meeting was an act of God.

Anchorage – pay attention! Chris Constant is doing everything in his power to prevent Bronson from winning his mayorship next year. He called the Mayor a “squatter” in the municipality and is doing everything in his power to have him removed including by spreading misinformation, lying, and stripping the executive branch from the authority it has.

The future of our city depends on who is elected this coming April. Do your homework, don’t just listen to media that’s being manipulated by certain assembly members who are attempting to usurp what and who YOU voted for.

The views expressed here are those of the author.

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OPINION: Anchorage Assembly erodes democracy by usurping mayor’s authority

Laura Temple
Laura Temple is a resident of Eagle River, Alaska.


35 Comments

  • Tamra Nygaard says:

    This assembly is a load of petulant children, raised in communism, and sent here from California to mess with our beautiful city. Between their obvious lack of morals and ethics, their conflicts of interest, and their low class behavior, they really need a serious time out. Anybody here want to run for assembly? I suspect we could rally enough support to get one or two of the serious offenders bumped off the assembly and replaced with… adults.

    • Proud American says:

      The assembly was voted in by we the people of anchorage, if you don’t like how democracy works then move to North Korea. If you hate this city, country and the values that it was founded on then leave.

      • Ceak says:

        the assembly was voted in by the people and mail in ballots. Mail in elections need to end.

      • DaveMaxwell says:

        Very naive thinking! No accountability/ cheating leads to? Defunding the police ‍♀️ leads to? No legitimate checks and balances leads to?
        Agency investigating themselves leads to?
        This is a short IQTest. Pass or fail!
        The obvious is staring you in the face, take the test, and the results might shock your inebriated mind back to sobriety!

      • Tamra Nygaard says:

        You seem nice.

      • Coliseum in the Snow says:

        The actions of the Assembly since the beginning of Bronson’s administration have demonstrated their ill will toward a conservative mayor and their desire to do everything they can to obfuscate the good work he is trying to accomplish. This in itself is lamentable. The Assembly should be working to accomplish the good of the people of Anchorage, not spending their time and our tax dollars trying to wrest power from the executive branch.

        A citizen can lament the actions of the persons on the Assembly without hating our country and the city of Anchorage.

      • Anon says:

        Like we trust anything that requires a vote

      • John J Otness says:

        shaking my head at this statement….. leftist really cause trauma to reality…

      • Marlene says:

        I see nothing in what you post to prove your are a proud american. More like refusing to see what is quite obvious in the assembly members.

      • Marilyn says:

        But the people can’t be truly disappointed when those they elect are now acting in a way no public leader should ever act. You expect leadership and maturity. For that to be missing once elected is a disgrace No matter what side you are on.

    • Heidi says:

      Thank you! I feel exactly the same way. They are absolutely awful with a spirit of evil that is a hold of those assembly members. I feel so sorry for our Mayor, he’s wonderful and they are the mean spirited liars!

    • Natlly says:

      Exactly!!! They need to be replaced! Their tactics are evil and they are bullies who want control of everything they can get their hands on.

  • Johnny says:

    The assembly, their actions, all of them, tend to be disastrous and so far, no change. No display of leadership, none, only we see what a commenter described them as “petulant children”, nailed it.

  • Friend of Humanity says:

    I cannot find anything at this moment, but didn’t a Michigan city just dismiss its entire assembly from their duties and now new people have to be appointed? This is what Anchorage needs to do.

  • fedupwithleftistBS says:

    Until Anchorage wises up to the vote theft and corruption of this assembly and holds them accountable, nothing will change for Anchorage. One would think they would be tired of the crap going on, but then look at other leftist cities like SF, NY, LA and how they have bottomed out. I suppose if that it the filth people want to live in there isn’t much the rest of us can do to help. I remember when Anchorage was a beautiful place to live and work, but it has become the armpit of Alaska thanks to this assembly.

  • Penny Seliger says:

    There’s a Conflict of Interest with this Assembly. They are not transparent, just the opposite. Corruption is rabid. Continue the good work Mayor Bronson. The truth about this assembly will come out.

  • Ann Wilson says:

    100% correct!

  • I Love Anchorage says:

    Thank the Gods for Chris, Meg and Felix, they’re the adults in the room. The Good Lord only knows how much more in lawsuit settlements the taxpayers would be paying if they weren’t there keeping a lid in the incompetency that is hallmark of the Bronson Administration.

    • DaveMaxwell says:

      A product of the anchorage school slime!

      • I Love Anchorage says:

        Not quite DaveMaxwell, but I did graduate with honors from a private college Outside. What are your accomplishments, DaveMaxwell ? My Mother was a teacher and I have a sibling who is also a teacher, both have inspired thousands of children over the course of their careers, and I’m very proud of them. Who are you, DaveMaxwell, to cast aspersions on educators whom you don’t know and have never met ? What gives you the right, DaveMaxwell to look down upon my accomplishments with arrogance and conceit ? Are you better than me, DaveMaxwell, is that how you really feel about it ? I pity you, DaveMaxwell, I really do, because the only way that you can feel good about yourself is by putting others down. You put your pants on one leg at a time just like I do, DaveMaxwell, how dare you.

        Dave Bronson has cost the Anchorage taxpayer millions of dollars in legal settlements because of his administrations gross negligence and malfeasance. I shudder to think what this city would look like if there wasn’t a check on this Mayor.

        This is the same Mayor who hired a man who used false valor to trick and con a lot of people in this town, including the Red Cross, the National Guard and the Municipality. Mr Gerace personally dismantled the Anchorage Health Department by chasing off long time employees and targeting those who didn’t align with the Administration’s political views.

        A responsible leader would not do this, health policy should not be politicized, yet that’s exactly what this Mayor has done.

        Collectively Dave Bronson and Mike Dunleavy have done more to do destroy this state than any other elected officials who have come before them. It will take decades to fix this place. By then I’ll be retired and collecting my state pension in my Mexican villa.

    • Marlene says:

      Big wow that you and your relatives have an education. Probably from liberal schools full of BS. Thankfully, most of us adults can see that and we don’t need to know who you are.

  • DaveMaxwell says:

    Well I agree with you on two things 1.yes my name is DaveMaxwell 2. Dunleavy sucks! Other than that you have no name, I suspect your reluctant to be known because your own “accomplishments” would then be available to scrutinize. And is it possible that your hiding behind the veil of no name might reveal incompetent or communistic tendencies? Drive safe and enjoy the cartel life style!

    • I Love Anchorage says:

      I’m only reluctant to be known here as I’d be dozing myself and my family, only opening the door to abuse and harassment.
      I have a Bachelor’s and a Masters degree and am considering going back for a 2nd Masters.
      I owe a big part of my success to the many teachers and mentors that I’ve had over the years, who encouraged me to work hard and achieve my dreams.

      I am a product of the Anchorage School System, and I’m grateful for the foundation that it provided me to succeed later in life.

      I don’t know the first thing about you, Dave Maxwell, however I suspect that you harbor a lot negative feelings towards people such as myself who have succeeded at life. That’s too bad, I do feel for you and do hope that you’ll find haopiness from within, instead of finding it by tearing people down.

      Judge not lest he be judged, Dave Maxwell.

      • DaveMaxwell says:

        Glad you got your burdens off your shoulders!

      • Matthew myers says:

        Didn’t take you very long to drop resume. Since nobody knows your name, you should’ve claimed 4 doctorates from Harvard (or any other formerly great cesspool). It would give you even MORE authority in this argument! The weight of your poorly crafted screed certainly does not on its own.

    • John J Otness says:

      Delusional educators bragging about graduating ignorants…. lowest test scores in the nation deserves a trophy….
      Indoctrination is not education and I pray all that are involved in this communist dumbing down of our youth are charged
      and thrown into prison for the lives destroyed…. You had one job and that was to teach…. But your egos just could not handle that
      so your agenda became brainwashing and evil…….

  • Don says:

    Makes you wonder about this terrible trio of miserable people that really hasn’t done anything to the betterment of the city other than challenging the mayor on every single thing he says or try to do. Are any of these three attorneys or do they consult one on the side or just simply say this doesn’t seem right, this is disturbing, I don’t know about this. It’s an embarrassing clown show on both sides. Bronson has more than his share of faults dealing with people but for the sake of the city try to come to some sort of compromise. The people of Anchorage are sick of it…

  • Michael J Thurber says:

    The City Council gives the appearance of a Social/Communist governing structure. They don’t like the Mayor because he isn’t their guy. Typical.

  • Norman Egolf says:

    Why are you calling “our Democracy”?
    America, including Alaska is REQUIRED to have a government “Republican in Form”.
    Advocating for Democracy is advocating for the overthrowing of the government.
    It is however YOUR government not mine to overthrow.
    Registered voters are the only persons government has authority over anyways. They consented to be governed. And absent consent, government has no authority over anyone. As long as you’re registered to vote, you waive your inalienable rights and subject them to the whims of government.
    #TheMoreYouKnow

    • Friend of Humanity says:

      I know that not consenting is critical in winning this war against this illegal regime, but I have never heard that becoming registered to vote means that you consent to being governed. Seems to me that IF we had an Alaskan government that was governing as the founding fathers intended, we would be governing for the people and by the people. We would be electing our officials – not having some globalist evil regime selecting the people who represent us.
      I don’t know. Maybe I am wrong; but, it sounds to me like you are encouraging people not to vote. This is what is wrong in our state (even in Mat-Su Valley): People are not getting out and voting, the evil regime knows it and this is how they have been taking control. I’d like to see where registering to vote takes away our consent. Do you have some links to share?

      • Friend of Humanity says:

        I was listening to this Ann Vandersteel show on the 15th, and the discussion was about how we give our rights away and how we can stop doing this. I believe that I have to agree with Norman on the issue of registering to vote. My question is, HOW do we navigate this crooked system and still get out and vote? This Ann Vandersteel video may help answer this question.
        11/15/2023 Right Now with Ann Vandersteel ft. Brent Johnson
        https://www.brighteon.com/ab2ac70d-71d7-412c-a6bf-757997419ddd

  • Penny Johnson says:

    just you watch, hundreds of thousands of dollars in Outside money will come to Anchorage to elect a radical Left Mayoral candidate. Term limits have kicked in for Constant, Zaletel & Rivera. They will be replaced by identical radical Leftist Marxists.