The Anchorage Assembly received leaked copies of alleged text messages that were on an internal team communication app known as “Slack” between members of the contract company Henning, Inc., which appear to show people who are in charge of managing the homeless shelters joking about using cigarettes, coffee, and bus passes to incentivize their homeless clients to vote. There was also some idle chatter about having a Glock firearm handy and boxing gloves.
During the Assembly meeting Tuesday, members of the Assembly all had copies of the text messages that Chairman Chris Constant entered into the record and the agenda. The copies of the text messages were provided by the Anchorage Clerk, who works for the Assembly, but the source of the messages was not revealed on the record. The packet was an “Assembly Informational Memo” submitted for the Assembly to discuss by Chairman Constant was not revealed by the Assembly.
Some of the text messages were posted on X.com by a member of the Anchorage community. They are clearly out of context:
Assemblyman Daniel Volland said that reviewing the messages gave him further doubts about whether Henning should ever be awarded another bid, due to these communications and other complaints the city has received.
However the contract with Henning was extended or the 56th Street operation by a vote of 10-0, with member Meg Zaletel recused and Scott Meyers absent.Henning manages homeless operations on 56th Street, at the Golden Lion hotel, and has managed some of the operations at the Alex Hotel and Aviator Hotel during the cold-weather months of operation.
Some of the text messages that the Assembly found disturbing were between Henning employees and Alexis Johnson, who is the Anchorage Health Department housing services division manager.
The Assembly generally concluded that personnel and contract matters like this should begin with the department itself and that they would circle back to the matter if no action was taken by the city. Mayor Dave Bronson did not attend the meeting on Tuesday to respond.
