As expected, the Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday voted to override Mayor Dave Bronson’s first veto of his term in office. The veto and subsequent override came as Bronson reached the end of his first 60 days in office as the city’s chief executive.
The Assembly’s liberal majority had voted to establish a homelessness board made up of homeless people or those who had been homeless. The mayor reasoned that boards require staff, and staff is expensive; there are already many groups doing work to alleviate homelessness in Anchorage. He didn’t see how another board would help.
The Assembly set up a special meeting in order to override the veto, which they did 9-1, with Chugiak/Eagle River Assemblywoman Jamie Allard casting the vote against the override. Crystal Kennedy, the other conservative on the Assembly, was not at the meeting.
The mayor has the authority to appoint members to the advisory board. It’s also clear that he has the ability to simply ignore the appointments to the board. It might take some time to find qualified people, according to one source close to the matter.
