Prior to 2:00 PM Tuesday 08/11/2020 e-mail the assembly using testimony@muni.org to voice your thoughts on AO 2020-66 (it will not be part of the public testimony), AR 2020-292 (revoking emergency ordinances), AR 2020-296 (allowing in person testimony again), AO 2020-79 (new Office of Equity and Justice at $180,000 a year), and AO 2020-65 (prohibiting counseling of youth seeking guidance with unwanted homosexual thoughts). Some of the ordinances are carried over from the Tuesday 07/28/2020 Assembly Meeting.
We are mightiest when we stand united. Join us. Lift up your voice. Be a witness.
Head over to Heather Meadows Neighborhood to 'Opt In to Help Out'.
1:30 PM Friday 08/07/2020 Special Assembly Meeting – CARE Act Funds for small business relief
From Assembly Member John Weddleton:
SPECIAL ASSEMBLY MEETING, FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2020,
TO AUTHORIZE USE OF $7 MILLION OF CARES ACT FUNDS
FOR SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF
The closures of restaurants and bars puts a huge part of the burden of tamping down Covid-19 on their already weakened shoulders. We need to act quickly to help them.
<snip>
Because the Anchorage Assembly is following the Mayor’s Emergency Order, EO-15, which limits indoor gathering to no more than 15 people, the Assembly Chambers at the Loussac Library will be closed to the public. The resolution under consideration is not a public hearing item, however, community members are encouraged to email their comments regarding to the resolution to the full Assembly at AssemblyMembers@anchorageak.gov.
People wishing to speak during Audience Participation at the end of the Special Meeting can sign up to do so by emailing Testimony@anchorageak.gov by 10 a.m. the day of the meeting. In the email, please include your name, phone number, and in the subject line: Audience Participation for Special Meeting.
Please send in your comments right away. And then join us in protest. Bring your signs to Loussac Library about 12:45 PM Friday 08/07/2020.
4:30 PM Thursday 08/06/2020 Protest at Little Dipper Diner
The community is rallying around Little Dipper Diner.
4:30 PM Protest to support Little Dipper Diner
1921 W Dimond Blvd #106 , Anchorage
6:00 PM 08/05/2020 AO 2020-66 Online Meeting w/Muni
The Municipality is conducting an online meeting 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Wednesday 08/05/2020 to explain the Administration’s position and to accept questions from the public via chat.
It is expected that this will be largely a repeat of the explanation given to Assembly Members on 07/27/2020, new information is not expected, however there is value to attempting to present rational questions to the administration. The press release (with instructions) is here.
4:30 PM Wednesday 08/05/2020 Protest at Kriner’s Diner
The community is rallying around Kriner’s Diner tonight.
4:30 PM Protest to support Kriners Diner
2409 C St, Anchorage
AO 2020-58 - Tabled indefinately
AO 2020-66 - Vote will occur Tuesday August 11, 2020. Public testimony is closed. A recall petition was filed with the Clerk's Office Monday 08/03/2020 for Meg Zalatel. The recall petition for Felix Rivera may not be filed until he has served 120 days, early September 2020.
There is a protest at Loussac Library formed by grass roots folks Monday night 08/03/2020.
There is a protest at Tuesday 08/04/2020 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Tikahtnu Commons - Theatre parking lot, hosted by Sara Boyer of the FaceBook group 'Taking Back Anchorage'.
There will be a protest Tuesday 08/11/2020 4:30 PM - Midnight at Loussac Library to greet the Assembly members when they arrive to vote on AO 2020-66 and to ensure they must meet our gaze when they leave.
07/28/2020 Update and an important article
About 50 - 70 people greeted the Assembly as they arrived on Monday 07/27/2020. We stood witness. After five hours of discussion and more expert testimony (no peons allowed inside but experts are immune to the Covid), the final vote on 2020-66 was postponed until August 11, 2020. This is an opportunity to continue ensuring our neighbors across Anchorage know what this ordinance is and means to our financial future, and the probability of success in reducing alcoholism and drug addiction related homelessness.
There is an extremely important article by Suzanne Downing you need to read. Mayor Berkowitz has already signed a contract with the Golden Lion hotel to purchase it for $9,000,000, in advance of the passage of AO 2020-66 which ostensibly is the permission to do the purchase. What on earth is going on with this administration???
https://mustreadalaska.com/mayors-vagrant-hotel-purchase-plan-postponed/
07/27/2020 Midnight.
Standing witness as they leave.
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07/27/2020 11:52 PM Move to postpone rest of 2020-66 August 11. Passes.
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07/27/2020 11:40 PM Now I think working on an amendment that controls when the Ron Alleva property is purchased. Sorry having trouble tracking. More discussion of funding. “Let’s be open and honest” huh. Well that would be an interesting experience with this Assembly. Voting.... Fails 6-4.
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07/27/2020 11:31 PM Now voting on an amendment to purchase Mr Alleves property by Brother Francis. More filthy accusations. A lot of discussion. Suddenly they’re worried about funding sources. Voting.... Passes. They added something about market value.
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07/27/2020 11:30 PM Voting on whether to bring Ak Club up as day and night shelter simultaneously with transportation. Passed.
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07/27/2020 11:27 PM More amendments. I apologize I’ve lost track of what they are voting on. Ah - voting to split it into individual property purchases. That passed.
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07/27/2020 11:25 PM They’re revoting on something - reconsidering Golden Lion. Jamie says she accidentally hit the wrong button. Fails again.
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07/27/2020 11:23 PM Weddleton amendment to remove Ak Club fails.
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07/27/2020 11:20 PM Did Felix just say his district is not a neighborhood???
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07/27/2020 11:19 PM Still talking about Heather Meadows / Ak Club. Jamie defending Heather Meadows.
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07/27/2020 11:14 PM Meg talking about holistic approaches and all or nothing stuff.
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07/27/2020 11:11 PM Talking about Ak Club. Weddleton says it’s too small and will hurt Heather Meadows.
Pitting neighborhood against neighborhood. Stand together. We are strong together.
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07/27/2020 11:10 PM Weddletons amendment to remove Golden Lion failed.
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07/27/2020 11:09 PM Probably going to extend to August 11.
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07/27/2020 11:00 PM As predicted, Weddleton introduced amendment to remove Golden Lion from the ordinance. This is calculated to stop the legal action.
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07/27/2020 10:25 PM They will also be adding new Municipality employees to the Health and Human Services Dept to work with the homeless shelters / services. They admit they will be buying more buildings.
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07/27/2020 10:16 PM The day engagement center at the Ak Club 630 W Tudor Rd is expected to be up and running quickly. Heads up, Heather Meadows. No words on where day center clients go come nightfall. I imagine they’ll go into woods by Heather Meadows.
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07/27/2020 10:00 pm Assembly member Kennedy asked essentially whether our testimony had any effect. Were our alternate suggestions considered? Nope. Not really. We have informed the process going forward on the RFP. Oh and transportation. Oh yeah, and they’re going to improve communication and they hope we stay as engaged going forward.
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07/27/2020 9:51 PM Neighbors, I expect this is going to run until midnight. I would truly like to have at least a small group outside the chambers to show the Assembly that we stand witness. We virtually have work tomorrow and another late night isn’t fun.
But please come stand with us as the Assembly departs. I’ll keep posting updates and try to give a heads up if it appears they’re breaking up sooner.
If you can, please come stand with us.
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07/27/2020 9:42 PM Folks you truly need to be listening or watching this meeting. They are revealing themselves. As suspected, this is the tip of the spending iceberg.
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07/27/2020 9:38 PM They are admitting that it will be over $22 million and that they’ll come back for more money.
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07/27/2020 9:23 PM Yes, yes there are schools by these facilities. Denali PEAK and SAVE High School. So they will screen the pedophiles and exclude them from some facilities, not all, and push them out to these family neighborhoods. Way to protect the community. And no discussion of the predators that are attracted to vulnerable drug addicts / alcoholics that homeless.
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07/27/2020 8:37 PM Assembly meeting has been extended to midnight. Hanging out in Loussac parking lot, listening to testimony on my phone. In it for the long haul tonight. It is a beautiful evening to stand in solidarity against these stinkpots. Come chill and listen with us in the parking lot at Loussac.
Let’s give these rascals a good send off when they exit the Assembly chambers in a few hours.
I’m in it for the duration. I know you are too.
Together we are mighty.
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07/27/2020 8:06 PM The Assembly members are taking a 20 minute break. I'm going to return and watch the meeting on my phone.
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07/27/2020 8:05 PM Discussing cost of building new on Mental Health Trust land vs buying and renovating existing property.
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07/27/2020 7:51 PM Zing Jamie Allard! Hold their toes to the fire.
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07/27/2020 7:39 PM Discussion of funding, MLP funds, medicare reimbursement, etc.
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07/27/2020 7:06 pm Mayors spokesperson discussing the funding and legality of CARES act funds.
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07/27/2020 6:55 pm still explaining logic of ordinance.
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07/27/2020 6:25 PM
A great turnout. We greeted most of the Assembly with chants. We greeted the incomparable Jamie Allard with cheers of approval. What a mighty champion and voice of reason she has been.
Outside the chambers. Denied entry - Covid + Emergency Powers.
About a dozen of us listening to the Assembly Meeting on our phones and discussing better ways to solve these problems.
Currently the Mayor and his spokesperson are discussing their logic and reasoning.
Will post periodic updates through the evening.
Please listen yourself - go to
https://anchorageak.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php…
THEN - come back and greet the Assembly as they depart. We don’t know what time that will be. Watch and make your best guess on when you return to Loussac.
Don’t let them leave without facing us.
———————//
Please stand witness on Monday, 07/27/2020, beginning at 5:00 PM, to our Assembly and Administration, and Mayor Berkowitz making their decision on AO 2020-66.
We expect that the Assembly to comply with the Mayor's will, not ours.
We expect that AO 2020-66 will be passed.
Mayor Berkowitz has ordered the chambers closed, the voters denied entry, for our own good against Covid.
Do not let them pass AO 2020-66 without our witness.
Bring your signs. Join us at 5:00 PM Monday 07/27/2020 at Loussac Library. Let us raise up our voices in protest as the Assembly arrives. Let us show our continued opposition to misuse of CARES Act to purchase these run down buildings for doomed treatment centers and unplanned shelters.
Let us remain as long as it takes, so after they pass AO 2020-66 they are forced to look us in the eyes, knowing they failed to serve us, or Anchorage.
We. Are. Mighty.
Protest!
4-6 pm, Friday 24 July @ Old Sears Mall, where the new CARRS is located. Benson and the New Seward Hwy, Standing up against the Mayor and the MOA. Stop the Crime!
11:45 AM 07/23/2020
Hello neighbors
We were tremendously successful in extending testimony. Tremendous. Our initial hope was to push to midnight and force a continuance to the next regular Assembly meeting scheduled for 07/28/2020. We were outmaneuvered and Chair Felix Ramirez forced us into an exhausting night after night of testimony.
We all reached out to more friends, more neighbors. We filled the chambers each night, we maintained our cool (mostly) in the face of provocative behavior on the part of our elected officials. We helped each other in every way. We proved just how mighty we are in word, deed and action.
We pulled together and put a last minute mailing to our neighbors within a 3/4 mile radius of the three buildings. That required a massive hands on effort - well over two dozen people over about 10 hours - and got the word out to 6,000 more people.
We weathered pushback and an attempted rally from the Coalition to End Homelessness (according to Suzanne Downing Mayor Berkowitz paid $5,000 for FaceBook ads for CTEH to fight our grassroots). We sent hundreds and hundreds of email testimony. We spent nearly 30 hours testifying, 3 and 6 minutes at a time. We witnessed phone calls to supporters attempted multiple times, phone calls to regular folks attempted once and dropped.
The email testimony (it is a MASSIVE file) (added - original was corrupt, this is current to 07/22) is here:
http://publicdocs.muni.org/sirepub/cache/0/ddjqb245ka0vcu552badvx45/109879807242020082221932.PDF
Despite 75% - 90% (I've heard a range of estimates) being vehemently opposed for a wide variety of reasons, it has been clear we have been neither listened to nor heard. Assembly Member Constant displayed particularly egregious behavior, and while he feigned interest after the 'The face you make when you have to listen to the peasants' meme, last night he was occupied posting a squirrel to his personal FaceBook page during the testimony of Jacky Gorlick (thank you Jasmine for screen shotting that jewel).
Finally, last night, the testimony drew to a close. And even then, with the very difficult 5 PM start, we kept the Assembly Chambers busy until 11:30 PM, with approximately the last hour them postponing 2020-58 (B3 zoning) indefinitely and the Mayor and Administration pressuring the Assembly to push through 2020-66. This was expected.
Please watch the last hour or so of the Assembly meeting so you can hear the Mayor's explanation and watch the Assembly's body language. This link should take you directly to the last hour:
https://anchorageak.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=14&clip_id=7721
So where are we now?
A vote will be taken. Legal action will ensue (I don't have much information on this), and I fully expect to see a number of recalls initiate. The Assembly made a number of mistakes that are on record and they helped our efforts through their hubris.
On Monday 07/27/2020 6:00 PM the Assembly will meet. The Mayor will speak to the Assembly again. The Assembly will deliberate. Then we fully expect AO 2020-66 to pass.
The Mayor flexed his Covid granted Emergency Powers, and prohibited large gatherings. The Assembly will not have to look us in the eyes while they vote.
I would like to see us outside, en masse, before the Assembly gathers. They should see that we are still watching, that we haven't gone away.
I think it would also be wise to break the massive collection of public testimony emailed out into sections and tally for / against and the arguments used. I think that could be helpful though I am not sure yet how we would use that information. Let us see what wiser heads say (it would be a significant effort).
I thank all of you for the work you have done. This was grass roots. None of us are paid. We each had different effective ideas and acted on them independently while aiding our neighbors with their ideas. I remain astonished at how effective we were. We are mighty.
We expect AO 2020-66 to pass. We expect shenanigans and negotiations. We expect legal action and recalls. While the last week or so has been grueling this was the first skirmish. We need to continue spreading the word and malfeasance of our elected officials to ensure our other efforts are successful.
I'm pretty pooped. I am sure you too, are pooped. Get a quick rest and then we will get back into the fight.
5:00 PM 07/22/2020 Final Push - Please attend
Neighbors
We have worked hard to bring awareness to our neighbors. We have put in hours of our lives into testifying, educating, and attending.
We are all tired and certainly frustrated.
We need to see this through to the end.
Perhaps this will be the last night of testimony.
Perhaps this is the last opportunity to make our shouts resonate through the chambers.
We need to stand witness tonight. We need the Assembly to see our determination and know that we are not going away. That we are going to watch them like hawks to be better stewards of our Anchorage, our home.
Come stand with us tonight, even if you have already testified.
Let us fill the Assembly Chambers to overflowing.
Let us fill the Wilda Marston to overflowing.
Let us be in front of the Loussac, standing witness to the Assembly and their decisions.
Let us show them definitively that We Are Watching.
And that we -insist- that they do better.
Stand with us tonight.
5:00 PM Wednesday 07/22/2020
5:00 PM 07/22/2020 Testimony before the Assembly continues
3600 Denali St, Loussac Library
We will not be silent. We will be heard. Our neighbors have a right to be heard.
We ran the clock to midnight for the fourth night of testimony. We heard from people deeply involved in the homeless industry who were opposed to facets of these ordinances. We heard from folk who work intimately with the homeless who were strongly supportive. There is room for all of these voices.
Astonishing testimony tonight.
If you have been on the fence about testifying in person or by phone, this is likely to be the final night of testimony. An unknown number of people are waiting their turn to do phone testimony, a few did not get an opportunity for in person testimony tonight.
Note that the Assembly is choosing to start testimony at 5:00 PM, very difficult for working people. Please share the word, please knock on a few doors early Wednesday.
If you wish to provide testimony on the phone, email Testimony@anchorageak.gov by 2:00 p.m. the day of the meeting with your Name, Phone Number, Agenda Item [AO 2020-58 and AO 2020-66] you wish to provide testimony and Subject Line: Phone Testimony.
6:00 PM 07/21/2020 Testimony before the Assembly resumes
3600 Denali St, Loussac Library
In person testimony is more effective and powerful than telephone testimony, without a doubt. Yet - we have directly observed that if you aren't on the right side of the testimony, you get a single shot at your telephone call (miss the call? Too bad, no testimony for you). So -continue asking friends and neighbors to consider testifying. Request they consider signing up to testify by phone BUT to show up in person. We can protect our work from being outmaneuvered and shut down early by an execution of emergency orders for Covid closing in person testimony.
Also - the Coalition to End Homelessness has put out a call to their supporters to testify. This is fine - whether you support or oppose additional housing, the real issue is the process, the use of Covid funds, the lack of transparency, the rush to spend, the placement of the facilities, and so much more than just whether the homeless need aid.
Here is the information from the clerks office:
If you wish to provide testimony on the phone, email Testimony@anchorageak.gov by 2:00 p.m. the day of the meeting with your Name, Phone Number, Agenda Item [AO 2020-58 and AO 2020-66] you wish to provide testimony and Subject Line: Phone Testimony.
Please continue to knock on a few doors, ask people to read the flyer we mailed Friday / Saturday, and to think carefully about whether we want an Assembly that follows the Rule of Law and adheres to Title 21 regulations - or sneaky pete's who redirect federal tax dollars that came from OUR pockets that were intended to help our small business owners and their employees not become homeless themselves during the lock downs.
Zoning Changes Allowing a Homeless Shelter by our Homes
Ordinance AO 2020-58 will 'allow homeless and transient shelters in the B3 Zoning District by conditional use; waiving Planning and Zoning Commission Review...'
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ADDED 07/10/2020 11:00 PM: ORDINANCE AO 2020-66 AUTHORIZES THE PURCHASE OF 4 PROPERTIES.
-Will abandoning this review process lead to abuses of community involvement
-Will placing alcohol treatment centers next to liquor stores be effective?
-Why is this a Covid emergency if there are zero cases of Covid amongst the homeless?
-Will misusing the CARES Act funds to buy buildings for an existing problem violate Federal law, forcing Anchorage to return $22.5 million to the Federal Government?
-Our small businesses and their employees have been damaged by the lockdowns - why can't we use the CARES Act monies for their intended purpose - to provide relief to our small businesses, and perhaps prevent their employees from falling into homelessness themselves?
-Why did neighbors of the proposed sites not receive ANY notification from the Municipality regarding such a neighborhood altering plan?
-Why does the Assembly not follow the rules that every other business in town follow - if you build a grow shop, neighbors receive multiple notifications about the proposal and multiple opportunities to weigh in
-There are so many questions and nothing but platitudes and 'trust us' from our Assembly
Read More About Ordinance No. AO 2020-58 and Ordinance No. AO 2020-66
AO 2020-58
http://publicdocs.muni.org/sirepub/view.aspx?cabinet=published_meetings&fileid=1097428
http://publicdocs.muni.org/sirepub/view.aspx?cabinet=published_meetings&fileid=1097429
http://publicdocs.muni.org/sirepub/view.aspx?cabinet=published_meetings&fileid=1097430
AO 2020-66
http://publicdocs.muni.org/sirepub/view.aspx?cabinet=published_meetings&fileid=1097431
http://publicdocs.muni.org/sirepub/view.aspx?cabinet=published_meetings&fileid=1097432
http://publicdocs.muni.org/sirepub/view.aspx?cabinet=published_meetings&fileid=1097433
http://publicdocs.muni.org/sirepub/view.aspx?cabinet=published_meetings&fileid=1097434
View last weeks testimony here:
Expand 2020 - Assembly Meetings under ARCHIVED VIDEOS & AGENDAS, then click on the videos.
A good read on apeonline.com
A good read on Anchorage Daily Planet
and Must Read Alaska
https://mustreadalaska.com/anchorages-progressive-left-shows-its-anti-semitic-side/
Hello neighbors
With Covid as an available tool and emergency powers still in effect for Mayor Berkowitz, it occurs to me there is a powerful tool that the Mayor can wield to shut down testimony.
What if the Mayor shuts down in person testimony?
Covid fears have already been used to limit attendance.First it was 110 permitted in the chambers.Then 60.
I think the next logical move in this chess game, is for Mayor Berkowitz to shut down in person testimony by exerting his emergency powers and claiming we are spreading Covid. I really really hope I am wrong, but we know we have angered the Assembly and we know that we have been unexpectedly successful in disrupting their plan.
This is pretty important - let us have a backup plan.
Spread the word, far and wide, that folks need to sign up to testify by phone BUT show up in person. This will protect us from the machinations of our elected officials who are bound and determined to use the $22,500,000 dollars from the CARES act to illegally purchase these properties.
In person testimony is more effective and powerful than telephone testimony, without a doubt. And we have directly observed that if you aren't on the right side of the testimony, you get a single shot at your telephone call (miss the call? Too bad, no testimony for you).
So - hit the ground today, get people signed up to testify by phone BUT to show up in person. We can protect our work from being outmaneuvered and shut down early.
Here is the information from the clerks office:
If you wish to provide testimony on the phone, email Testimony@anchorageak.gov by 2:00 p.m. the day of the meeting with your Name, Phone Number, Agenda Item [AO 2020-58 and AO 2020-66] you wish to provide testimony and Subject Line: Phone Testimony.
Please use today to knock on a few doors, ask people to read the flyer we mailed Friday / Saturday, and to think carefully about whether we want an Assembly that follows the Rule of Law and adheres to Title 21 regulations - or sneaky pete's who redirect federal tax dollars that came from OUR pockets that were intended to help our small business owners and their employees not become homeless themselves during the lock downs.
Thank you very much
07/16/2020 6:00 PM Assembly Meeting
Truly, there are no words. We heard incredible testimony Thursday night. We succeeded in getting another continuance. We are back at it on Tuesday, 07/21/2020 6:00 PM. Rest, but only for a moment. Let us reach out to our friends and neighbors, spread our concerns a bit farther. The goal is to educate our neighbors, including those we don't know yet. For Heather Meadows, there are about 1,000 residences and businesses within 1/2 mile of the proposed Tudor location. How many more are around the other sites?
They need to know about these ordinances so they can speak up.
We heard really powerful testimony tonight. Let's give more folks the opportunity to speak by making sure they know and have enough time to form their opinions.
Join us at Loussac Library again.
Tuesday 07/21/2020
Both voices should be heard.
07/15/2020 Assembly Meeting
We drove the Assembly out of time and obtained a continuance to tonight, Thursday 07/16/2020, 6:00 - Midnight. Come testify with us at Loussac Library. We need to fill the chambers with our voices again. Six minutes to speak if you speak on both ordinances.
07/14/2020 Assembly Meeting
We drove the Assembly out of time and obtained a continuance to tonight, Wednesday 07/15/2020, 5:00 - Midnight. Come testify with us at Loussac Library. We need to fill the chambers with our voices again. Six minutes to speak if you speak on both ordinances. The ordinances fundamentally change Anchorage and nobody seems to have had any idea they were coming, nothing in our mailboxes from the city, you had to know to go looking for them.
That is a big fail on government transparency.
Whether you agree with what the ordinances are trying to do or not, you will surely agree that something of this magnitude deserves an effort by the city to make sure we know about it.
You can read them on muni.org under the Assembly section. AO 2020-58 and 2020-66.
Listen to your neighbors Tuesday testimony at the link below. Your neighbors begin at 3:30:52. There was one speaker before this point, then a long discussion about procedure.
Rabbi Yosef Greenberg is a powerful speaker.
https://anchorageak.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=14&clip_id=7698
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