Anchorage residents will have another chance to tell the Anchorage Assembly what they think of a proposed ordinance that would punish unauthorized encampments around the city with up to six months in jail and up to $2,000 in fines.
A lengthy and sometimes heated public hearing took place last month in which residents pleaded with Assembly members to crack down on the growing number of people who are trashing, defecating, vandalizing and using public parks and facilities as bathrooms – hijacking once treasured recreational areas and turning them into sprawling, crime infested homeless encampments.
The July 11 meeting runs 1-4 p.m. at the Assembly Chambers in the Loussac Library. Those who can’t attend in person can watch via live stream.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
Backed by Assemblymen Keith McCormick, Scott Myers and Jared Goecker the proposed ordinance seeks to address what it calls “extensive unauthorized encampments that endanger public health, safety, and the quiet enjoyment of public places.”
Currently, Anchorage’s only legal tool to address illegal encampments is to abate them, but there is no provision to impose jail time or fines for violators.
The proposed ordinance would address this by classifying illegal encampment as a Class B misdemeanor.
TAKING ACTION
— The July 11 Anchorage Assembly meeting starts at 1 p.m. in the Assembly Chambers at the Loussac Library. The public may submit written comments at www.muni.org/testimony and may also participate in-person, or by phone. Those who would like to provide comments or testimony over the phone, need to sign up online at this link by 5 p.m. on July 10. There is no sign-up list for in-person testimony – the Chair will invite the public to speak on a first come basis.
— Click here to view the agenda for the June 24 Anchorage Assembly meeting.
3 Comments
This is certainly a welcome tool in the arsenal against drug and alcohol abusers. Nothing like 30 to 90 days in the klink to sober someone up. Vagrancy, loitering and public intoxication should be prosecutable offenses again.
The problem lies in poor mental health. Our current democratic system encourages people to identify with their trauma rather than healing from it. With this current perspective from our “medical professionals”, we will not see any of these problems resolved, only pushed under the proverbial rug until they eventually become a breeding ground for cockroaches. Until our current system actually acknowledges that we have a mental health crisis on our hands, nothing will get better. I can tell you for sure though, people are profiting off the mass misery in all aspects of society and it is an unfortunate situation we are in that so many soul-less figures of authority continue to make problems worse while blaming the healthy for not doing enough, whilst doing nothing to improve the situation themselves. Just look at Meg Zaletel, the poster child of perfect human health (yeah right).
Don’t judge a book by it’s cover? No my friends, simply ignore the evidence of your lying eyes.
Soon enough though, the system shall collapse under the weight of its own corruption, and the beings of light will have to fulfil the role of rebuilding from the ashes of what once was.
Good luck humanity. You will need it.
They’re going to jail, I don’t think so Anchorage is soft on crime.
So we put the homeless in jail and the criminals get to run free.
Another misguided attempt by the Assembly.