By Ken McCarty
There is a very old saying: “A person is foolish who gives pearls to swine.” The implications and application are to avoid giving time, energy, and wisdom to those who do not appreciate or value what is given. Anchorage has acted as one who has not appreciated the pearls of the people, values, and desires of Chugiak / Eagle River (CER). Today, this is more prevalent as Anchorage ignores the CER Comprehensive plan, community councils, Service Areas, and the general voice of the people.
Over the decades, the people of CER have had a strong relationship with the Mat-Su Borough in the support and development of CER. In the ‘50’s and ‘60’s when CER sought for electricity and phone services, it was Mat-Su who came through with MEA and MTA. When resources were sought, it was often Mat-Su who supplied them on the Palmer Hwy, which later became known as the Old Glenn. When CER reflects on its values of life, opportunity, and government, it is with kindred spirit of Mat-Su, not Anchorage.
Throughout the years there has been discussion of detaching from Anchorage. In 1974, a positive vote of the people of CER occurred to detach, but the outcome was overturned by the Alaska Supreme Court in 1975. For the past decade, there have been discussions to detach, but they have been unfulfilled. Despite Eaglexit’s best efforts, including its recent pursual of an informal technical review by LBC, the home rule borough solution faces formidable obstacles and may never come to fruition. Continued concern is that Anchorage is out of control and is taking down communities like CER, which means we need to act now to detach. Annex Now offers an alternative.
In 2024, a new concept called Annex Now to Mat-Su began to be developed. Despite Eaglexit’s best efforts, including its recent pursual of an informal technical review by LBC, the home rule borough solution faces formidable obstacles and may never come to fruition. Annex Now is an organized, unincorporated, grass roots entity of people in Chugiak Eagle River.
In the past year and a half several preliminary discussion meetings occurred, and general announcements were given at the Mat-Su assembly. In May 2025, a 540-page preliminary proposal was submitted to the State Local Boundary Commission, and feedback was returned to the Annex Now group in July. A key question was “What does Mat-Su say about the idea?” On Tuesday, December 16, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly will hear and vote on a resolution to pursue the Annex Now to Mat-Su. Once the Resolution is passed, the process to detach from Anchorage and be annexed to Mat-Su can happen very quickly.
There are many reasons to consider annexing to Mat-Su. First, the State Supreme Court overturned the decision to detach by forming a new, independent Borough as unconstitutional. Second, the concept of detaching from one Borough to be part of another is a viable option by the Local Boundary Commission. Third, annexation to Mat-Su is aligning with a borough proven to be fiscally functional and respectful of resident-respected governance. In addition, it has a well-established and State-recognized effective education system. Fourth, annexation would have economic benefits to all residents of Mat-Su and CER in the form of lower taxes, service fees, permits, and property taxes. In addition, annexation would provide economic stimulus that would be invested in logistic benefits of roads, rail, and jobs rather than tax money going to Anchorage’s failed homeless programs.
Annex Now provides the opportunity of a viable and realistic detachment from Anchorage. On December 16, the Mat-Su Assembly will consider the resolution to pursue interest in the annexation discussion and give notice to the LBC of such investment to the process. If this option is pursued, the final vote will be cast by the people of Mat-Su and CER. Anchorage will not get a vote. Mat-Su residents who approve of annexing CER can attend the Regular Assembly Meeting on December 16 and tell the Mat-Su Assembly that now is the time for the pearls of CER to be honored.