Anchorage Assembly Chairman Chris Constant became defensive on Tuesday during the regular Assembly meeting after a video surfaced last week that appears to show him mouthing an obscenity — “F— you” — at a woman preparing to testify during a committee meeting pertaining to the homelessness crisis in Anchorage.
The incident, captured on official video, has prompted widespread public concern, with a chorus of voices calling on Constant to take responsibility for his unbecoming behavior.
The woman, Amber Brophy King, is a co-founder of the “Save Anchorage” group, a frequent critic of Assembly policies and members. It’s a group that Constant openly despises.
In the footage from last week’s committee meeting, Constant is seen turning his head to look directly at her, doing a double take as he appears to recognize her, and then clearly mouthing the two-word expletive about 15 minutes before her public testimony began.
Despite what appears to be clear visual evidence, Constant forcefully denied making the remark. During Tuesday’s regular Assembly meeting, he addressed the controversy from the dais, claiming, “What happened was gaslighting of an extraordinary type.” He asserted that he was not speaking to Brophy-King at all, but rather indicating that a seat was available for another individual by saying “For you.”
Constant also told the audience that he left the room during the woman’s testimony to take a phone call regarding his ailing mother, an explanation that some members of the public have viewed skeptically.
Brophy King, who remained composed during her committee testimony about the vagrancy crisis, stands by her account. He looked at her dead in the face and said “F— You,” she said.
The video in question, first made public at Must Read Alaska, has been widely circulated on social media and speaks for itself. Roll tape:
The incident has renewed accusations that the Assembly majority, particularly Constant, is hostile toward public input — especially from citizens who dissent from their agenda. The chairman’s behavior is emblematic of a broader culture of intolerance for opposing views. In the past, Constant was caught making the “L” for “Loser” sign at a member of the public during an official meeting, something he also denied.
It is not likely that the Assembly will take any formal action, though public pressure is mounting. At least two members of the body have privately acknowledged the video raises ethical concerns.
As for Constant, he has given no indication that he plans to apologize.
The public is invited to review the video footage and decide for themselves. But for some who watched Tuesday’s meeting, the chairman’s defensiveness did little to extinguish concerns.