By KEITH MCCORMICK, JARED GOECKER, SCOTT MYERS
Anchorage is at a crossroads. We have reached a point of normalizing the sprawling, unauthorized encampments that have taken over many of our public spaces. They cause serious harm to both the neighborhoods they spring up in and to the campers themselves, who often become trapped in cycles of addiction and dysfunction. There is no version of these camps that promotes well-being. They are fundamentally incompatible with healthy lives and with a healthy city.
For too long, neighborhoods and public spaces have been taken over by encampments where drug use is rampant, women are being trafficked in plain sight, people are being murdered and hurt, and our parks, meant for children and families, are rendered unsafe. Anchorage’s timid, accommodating response to encampments is not mercy. It is not tolerance. It is abandonment. And it has allowed this problem to grow into a crisis.
That’s why we introduced AO 2025-74, an ordinance that clearly prohibits camping on public property and makes such conduct a Class B misdemeanor. This ordinance empowers our city to take swift, lawful action to restore public order while upholding the due process rights of individuals. This ordinance also gives the city the ability to divert people into mandatory rehab and treatment, a tool desperately needed to help break the cycle of addiction that has destroyed so many lives.
This is not about punishing people for being homeless. We want services and support to be available to those who will take advantage of them. This is about drawing a firm line against the chaos unfolding in full view of all. This is about protecting the vulnerable — from residents afraid to let their children walk to school, to the individuals being trafficked or slowly dying in tents, out of sight and out of hope. Failing to act in the face of this growing crisis would not be compassionate; it would be cruel.
We’ve crafted AO 2025-74 in line with the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which confirmed that municipalities have the right to regulate public spaces. Our ordinance focuses on conduct, not status. It is not illegal to be homeless, but it is no longer acceptable to turn our city’s greenbelts, sidewalks and bus stops into sites of criminal activity and human misery.
Enforcement is not the enemy of compassion. In fact, it is the first step towards real help. No outreach team can succeed in an environment where lawlessness is tolerated. No detox bed, housing program or shelter expansion will make a dent if we continue sending the message that anything goes in Anchorage’s public spaces.
We know this ordinance won’t solve everything overnight. But we also know that the hands-off approach adopted by the city in the past hasn’t worked. The result has been more deaths, more fires, more violence, more decay and a city in decline. It is time we acknowledge what everyone else sees plainly: this approach has failed. We need a reset. AO 2025-74 is that reset.
Let’s stop pretending that tolerance of public camping is kindness or acting as if we can’t do anything about it. We need to recognize the problem, take action to fix it and start building a better, safer, and more dignified Anchorage together.
The public will have a chance to weigh in on this ordinance at the regular Assembly meeting at 6 pm on June 24 at the Loussac Library. We encourage everyone to show up, speak out and help us confront this issue with the seriousness it demands.
Keith McCormick, Jared Goecker and Scott Myers serve on the Anchorage Assembly. McCormick is from South Anchorage, Girdwood and the Turnagain Arm area. Goecker and Myers are both in the Eagle River/Chugiak area.
Awesome starting point. About time!
Mayor Bronson tried to fix this problem a few years ago. Where was your support then?
Well said. In the past five years, under uber liberal Assembly direction, the homeless issue has grown exponentially, unabated regardless of the millions allocated to “solve” the problem. The proposal being advanced by these civic-minded, responsible assembly members is a great start at reversing the decay of Anchorage, reducing illegal activity, and finally offering help to those homeless individuals who need it the most. I commend these leaders for offering this solution.
These people do not want help. If they did, they would get it. These are losers that apparently want to be skid row bums, nothing more. Look at how Las Vegas deals with this… They don’t, they make them leave unless they are making music or doing an act so to speak for money. You do not give them things other than food and help IF they want to clean up. Like I said. Most do not and want to continue being a leech on society. Run them out of town, put them on fire island we don’t care! Anchorage is no better than LA and Portland at this point with the lawlessness and bum camps!! No more stupid bills for this…. They need to be told to get out and if they do not arrest them!
Lady you have no clue what anybody needs down there cuz you never had to go through it now that you’ve been in nasty person to the rest of the world with your words just know One day you or a very close family member will face exactly what the rest of us have not just remember this not everyone that is homeless or nasty as you per say is a drug addict alcoholic or anything in between they were displaced get your facts straight before you open your mouth cuz you’re rude you’re disgusting and I really honestly wish it upon you
Put the bottle down and do some proofreading. And I’ll bet you never paid a dime in municipal taxes that have funded this debauchery. The Assembly should be charged with misappropriation of funds and/or theft of public monies.
I agree with you that you have said. I belive the money has been going to someone pocket. The assembly needs to be fired because of that. A bunch of LIBERALS. Shame on the whole bunch of you people that work on the ASSEMBLY. Fire them all!!!
Lady you have no clue what anybody needs down there cuz you never had to go through it now that you’ve been in nasty person to the rest of the world with your words just know One day you or a very close family member will face exactly what the rest of us have not just remember this not everyone that is homeless or nasty as you per say is a drug addict alcoholic or anything in between they were displaced get your facts straight before you open your mouth cuz you’re rude you’re disgusting and I really honestly wish it upon you cant see why people are so kean
I have been trying to get help, instead I have been victim n witness to endless attacks upon these people! We are trying! I work every day 10 or more hours! It’s the weaponizing of the systems that has created a modern day holaucoast! And now we can’t exist on public domain, private domain nor kill ourselves without breaking a law, somebody please think about that!
This is what Dave Cuddy and I put forward in 2020….it still can work and Anchorage should build the rehab solution…support the ordinance….take our city back and “Make Anchorage Safe Again”.
Jan 2020 “intervention 2020”
Basic Plan Outline
Arrest • Assess • Reset Plan • Action Plan • Forgive
Reorganize existing resources for homeless and mentally ill to address a number of issues:
• Use criminality as a “gateway event” that will allow an external intervention.
• Homeless Population that is involved in criminal activities can then be segregated. Mental illness, substance issues and health can be assessed on intake either through arrest or volunteer placement. While incarcerated mental health issues can be addressed and if needed court orders sought.
• The Palmer Correctional Center could be used and provide almost immediately 500- 900 beds. (added note it was empty at the time)
• Arrest (accountability), Trial and divert, Assessment (cause determination), Plan (individual plan), Incarceration (work the plan), Completion (success or failure), Forgive (clear the criminal record if successful/fresh start).
• Data could be gathered that would determine the issues that created the problems perhaps 20-30 years earlier. The intake would provide real data that could point clearly to solutions in policy development to slow the flow of people who are failing and struggling. Pull up the roots of disfunction.
• Recognition of that people will require long-term care.
Objectives:
1. Make Anchorage Safe Again.
2. Address Mental Illness, alcoholism and drug addiction directly.
3. Provide the under and uninsured drug and alcohol rehab.
4. Use the Palmer facility by moving the addicted and mentally ill into this location with the right team of operators to address these needs and a segregated unit for those NOT arrested but voluntarily want the services to clean up.
5. Identify Funding mechanisms.
6. Have leaders who are elected take up this idea set and evolve a solution through the political process.
How about no.
Anchorage has never had a good history WRT mental health issue resolution, drug addiction problems, etc. You are suggesting another money pit. The track record of the Ernie Turner Center is proof… they do a great job of cleaning a customer’s pipes for a month and then boom, the customer rate of recidivism is astronomical.
You state that this is a complex problem that requires an esoteric solution w/ caring and compassionate access to the collective Anchorage taxpayer wallet. The Begich family sucks off the MOA teat enough. This is a simple issue that requires penalizing lawbreaking behavior exclusively first. After that’s done you can offer counseling if you like but it’s not part of solution.
This is a job for a stronger man than would suggest the kinder / gentler approach you propose.
Total agreement. This is another solution that puts the same morons in charge that created this in the first place.
I can tell you the problem! Many of them are targeted individuals! The system is designed to harvest the “deplorable” the bar associations uses the ssi trust as a blank check on them, then buys up monopolies to keep the ethnic cleansing in operation.
Gets some detectives from outside the state that can’t be bought, intimidated or killed and I guarantee the problem will be %80 fixed!
Just refer to yourself “Doctor Begich”, we’ll know who you are
If you go to the city website for homeless there is a “reimagine Anchorage” quote. They sure have did a good job with the new image.
Thank you Messrs. McCormick, Goecker, and Myers so much for introducing AO 2025-74. Your explanation, of why this is both necessary and compassionate was remarkable and compelling. It’s a shining example of positive community leadership that has been lacking here for quite some time.
Please keep up the good work.
Way too expensive.
I agree!
Excellent first move!!
– “Let’s stop pretending that tolerance of public camping is kindness or acting as if we can’t do anything about it.”
– “They cause serious harm to the campers themselves, who often become trapped in cycles of addiction and dysfunction.”
Jesus H F! Knock it off. Nobody gives a rat’s behind about the drug addled roach that recently ripped off their kids bike and dropped a deuce on the sidewalk. If that thief were to freeze to the gutter tomorrow Anchorage would be better for it. This should be exclusively about removing the city’s effluent, period. Never muddle your thoughts such that your goal is cloaked in some kind of do-gooder BS.
Grow a pair and get to work. None of us want to hear another compassionate lie. Do something you can be objectively proud of; flush Anchorage’s waste. Now. There are already enough laws on the books that pertain to public inebriates, arson, camping in town, drug use, prostitution and more.
Stop being an impediment to progress. Require that applicable law be enforced and don’t pretend you’re doing something useful by batting the topic around in a comfortable office chair. You already know what to do.
Sadly this David vs Goliath effort wont cure a pimple on an elephants ass with Mr F-U man and his team of miscreants leading the gangster style behavior amongst them.
But at least their opposition to common sense will hopefully be another nail in their coffin come judgement day.
Despite — no, BECAUSE OF — the manifest common sense and logic of this proposal, it will be heatedly fought, and defeated, by the assembly’s pernicious and death cultish Marxist Nine.
You’d be surprised how quickly the homeless problem would clear up , if the homeless were moved to the neighborhoods of those on the Anchorage Assembly and the mayor.A couple of fresh piles of human excrement on ones front lawn is a big motivation to change one’s mind .
Remember all those libs in Martha’s Vineyard that wanted illegals allowed in other communities, but threw a sh..fit when they were dropped off in their community?
So you think a ton money will be suddenly available for affordable homes, training programs, and assistance would suddenly materialize if the homeless move into nicer areas of town? I’m interested in how you think this would work. Please elaborate on your simple minded and inadequate reasoning on how to solve homelessness and not simply shuffle people around.
If the ordinance passes, we have to get APD and the courts on board as well or it won’t work. I wasn’t impressed with the police chief at the homeless committee meeting on Tuesday. He didn’t even have an idea of how many homeless are in Anchorage and he was full of excuses. I don’t want police weighed down by paperwork either while those arrested get right back out the next day. That has to be addressed.
NOT bad enough yet simply because the encampments have not impacted the affluent neighborhoods. When that does happen the city council will act swiftly. Remember Marth’s Vineyard 2022…took just two days to move the 50 non-residents off the Island.
Nobody’s this stupid …are they?
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Stick bums, homeless kids and illegal aliens in jail, stiff ’em with fines, that’ll fix the problem, show the world you’re serious, right?
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What happens when the jail’s full up and the judge says let ’em go, because it’s overcrowded?
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What happens when bums can’t pay their fines?
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What happens to repeat offenders?
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What happens to homeless kids and illegal aliens?
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What happens when the real criminal element sees cops too busy busting bums to do anything else?
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Face it, if you lot had the smarts and really wanted to fix this problem, wouldn’t it be fixed by now?
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No, you’ll not risk upsetting Anchorage’s home-grown homeless industry leaders, so why the fuss?
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Maybe the fix is in, just not like we thought?
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Arrest bums, pump up crime stats, get lots more federal and state money, get bums on Medicaid, welfare, and registered to vote, help ’em vote of course, manage their money for them, justify your damned sales tax, that’s your “service and support”?
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Rezone neighborhoods, get your tiny-house racket up and running and forced on every neighborhood?
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Two of you should be working on getting other Anchorage neighborhoods into Eaglexit, where crap like this wouldn’t happen in the first place.
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One of you should be concentrating on getting your damned sales tax “passed”.
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What if socialist Anchorage at a “breaking point” isn’t the tragedy you’re making it?
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Suppose for a moment Anchorage was allowed to “break”, what’s the worst that could happen? An 80’s style exodus, regime change, muni bonds downgraded to junk, city government and school-district “leaders” escorted out of town, epic election fraud exposed, financial collapse from tax revenue loss?
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One last thing… can you not talk about ” building a better, safer, and more dignified Anchorage together” while you tolerate the Assembly Chair’s tantrums toward citizens who object to mutant male pervert-predators bunking in women’s shelters? Remember what your mob did to us during China flu hysteria, there’s your “together”, boys.
Umm…I don’t think Goecker, McCormick or Myers were on the Assembly during the Covid debacle…
Can we do anything to help make housing more affordable in Anchorage and see if that helps? I don’t think its a coincidence that homelessness spiked at the same time as post-covid inflation.
Those are hard questions. Republicans would rather play pretend reality functions on an entirely different plane of reality than what most Earthlings experience. Good luck getting any sort of competent problem solving from these fascist fruitcakes. Right now the Republican answer for homelessness and poor economy is to provoke a major war with Iran… good luck.
Yup, Neighbor Works is a joke! They put homeless people in apartments, they pay 40 bucks a month, and bring all their friends with them that camp next to th e building! I tried to get help from this joke of an agency, and, no, because I am not on the street! I am a senior that got myself out of bs, and pay 1000 a month, but able bodied met heads pay 44 a month! I call bullsh÷#!
I remember when I wrote young master Constant an email a few years back asking why can’t we arrest these homeless people for breaking the law?
He replied: that’s a real “genius” idea – no court is going to put someone in jail for camping.
I guess you can just do things.
This law criminalizes the people it claims to protect. If you charge people camping who have nowhere to go except camp, then what is charging them going to do?? They will just go back home at the end of the day, which is a CAMP.
Republican propaganda at its best. Arrest someone and make their life harder in the name of “progress” 🙄 This is that typical blissful ignorance from the republican party that we’re all tired of.
OK Ty, what is your solution? I’m sure it involves more tax money and more bureaucracy to spend that tax money because they know better than you. Typical liberal solution, “….more money will fix the problem”. Just like global warming.
Absolutely on the mark. We sit here and throw millions of dollars at the problem and all we’ve managed to do is create an industry to support the Homeless without actually doing much, if anything, to solve the problem.
They can pass all the ordinances they want, but if the MOA wont enforce it, whats the point. Face it, Anchorage is a soon to be dead city. It will continue down its current path until a massive change with the current regime.
I have been attacked by homeless person while I lived in Anc. I have since left because of that situation.
This AO is mute point. It will help nothing. These people choose not want help because they think living in shelters and getting thier life together is too much work. They are lazy and would rather stay homeless than do any work to fix them selves.
We need to hold these people that choose to be this way accountable. I would rather see them in jail if they dont want to be in a shelter. Both cost options the people of Anchorage. And its a price I am willing to pay. Enough is enough when it comes to these people that choose to be homeless and commit crimes and act foolish.
I think it might just as well set up a reservation of sorts where they homeless are sent to away from Anchorage. They can be in their own little homeless village and suffer away from the city.
These people have choices and many are choosing homelessness to maintain a criminal posture.
Rehabilitation or one way ticket to Portland. They’ll welcome them with open arms
Get rid of the narcan and give them free fentanyl! Problem solved!
The moa will not enforce anything related to the vagrants.
The is a vagrant motorhome parked at the end of the street. No enforcement
The only way you fix it is to vote out the incumbents on the City Council and the Mayor. It is time. They have taken advantage of the majority of the people far too long and benefited from the chaos that they have instrumented since covid. Wake up Anchorage! Get out and vote and voice your opinion whenever the majority is being left in the dust. 20% of the population should not be dictating to the other 80% of the people. This country is “of the people, for the people”, not ” of the person, for the person!
As someone living through this crisis every single day, I need to say what this ordinance really does—because the people writing it clearly aren’t listening.
This law doesn’t “restore public order.” It criminalizes people for being poor. It punishes people who have nowhere else to go. You’re not solving homelessness—you’re sweeping it out of sight.
I’m not causing problems. I don’t trash public spaces or light fires. I’m trying to sleep, stay warm, breathe, and survive. And now I have to be afraid of being arrested just for lying down. That’s not justice. That’s cruelty.
If there aren’t enough shelter beds, if rent is too high, if housing is out of reach—then where do you expect people to go? The U.S. Court of Appeals already ruled in Martin v. Boise that it’s unconstitutional to punish unhoused people when there’s no shelter available. Anchorage is in the 9th Circuit. You know this.
Stop pretending this is about “safety” or “order.” This is about pushing us out of sight, out of mind, and out of the community. You want to fix homelessness? Then start with housing, mental health care, addiction treatment that doesn’t come with handcuffs, and actual support systems—not jail cells.
We’re not the problem. The system failing us is.
—Trinity L., Anchorage Resident
Please wake TF up.
They don’t want to solve the problem.
There are million$ and million$ of dollars through NGO’s and Non-,Profits to “fix” the problem – some of the Anchorage council members are receiving $’s to “fix” the problems.
This is called corruption.
Always remember, many of these people are in fact mentally ill and deserve our compassion, prayers and our help. If you think other wise, you may be a democrat. The ones who willingly fell into drugs and booze should be incarcerated and put to useful work. Rinse and repeat. And those of you who harbor childish fantasies such as dumping them on some remote island or worse, please just grow up or shut up. This is an adult problem. Your retarded babbling is just that. So zip it.
Every person who supports IS supporting masking unhoused people illegal. Karma would see you all suffer worse than those you view as less than human.
Anchorage is not at the breaking point. Not even close to it.
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If the population of Anchorage was close to any breaking point over the vagrants, they would have voted differently in the last several elections. But… the same names that amplified the problem continued to get re-elected, and no one shows up at the Assembly meetings to provide testimony against aid for the homeless.
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Yeah, we are complaining, but when election time comes around, Constant will get re-elected, LaFrance will get another term, and the problem will continue unabated.
As a person who lived downtown Anchorage 3rd st and Ast corner there I can tell you first hand from having a level floor window there my area was constantly used as a toilet and trash dump by homeless constantly for the last 2 and half years. Sadly I can also tell when it’s officially tourist season because they come down and force the people out the there sorry to say disgusting encampments that have zero respect for the neighborhood…the entire neighborhood not like just behind Ramada it covers the entire downtown area of straight garbage theft and drugs and a really noticeable thing people walking around showing there private parts. Happens all the time all day night long in some section of downtown. Do I know a answer no I don’t. All I could think though was honestly the problem got moved out of site for tourist season. What poor neighborhood just got all these people dumped on them ?? Your right not all are bad not all are mentally fit and it’s sad but there is a large portion that just don’t give a fuck. I’m captain obvious here by saying something drastic and new needs to happen because the ways tried have not worked. I wish you all the best and I recently no more then a week ago moved to Arizona and gotta tell very nice not dealing with that outside your door anymore. Let them move into where the rich live and see how quick something good or bad happens though. The homeless should be moved to the city cousins housing areas till the problem gets fixed. Watch how fast they get working on something most likely by force but what’s the answer ???
As a person who travels to Alaska for vacations sometimes I will admit I do not want to stay in Anchorage because of the homeless issues. When we land in Anchorage we rent a car and leave. I tell everyone I know do not waste time in Anchorage.
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