In a rare victory for the conservative minority, the Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday night passed an ordinance to rein in vagrant encampments on public lands, marking a sharp shift in the city’s approach to the growing crisis of vagrancy and drug addiction that has enveloped Alaska’s largest city.
The Assembly passed AO 2025-74, an ordinance that makes it illegal to camp on public property within city limits. The measure passed by a 7-5 vote, handing a win to those wishing to restore law and order in parks, trails, and other municipal spaces.
Under the new law, unauthorized camping is now classified as a Class B misdemeanor, meaning violators can face police action, fines, and even jail time. Enforcement set to begin within 30 days. Anchorage Police will be tasked with removing campsites and citing individuals in violation of the law.
The measure passed with support from Assembly Members Scott Myers, Keith McCormick, Zac Johnson, Daniel Volland, Yarrow Silvers, Jared Goecker, and Kameron Perez-Verdia. The remaining five members of the Assembly, including Assembly Chairman Chris Constant voted against it, expressing concerns about criminalizing homelessness without guaranteed shelter for all. Many of those living out-of-doors are doing so because they do not like the structure of shelters, which have rules of conduct.
Proponents of the ordinance argue it restores public access to parks and trails that have increasingly become semi-permanent encampments. Recently, the city removed 744,000 pounds of debris and stolen goods from Davis Park, one of the worst encampments. Many trails and parks are no longer safe in Anchorage for unarmed women or unaccompanied minors.
The ordinance requires the city to monitor shelter capacity and availability. Enforcement actions, including citations and removals, must be accompanied by tracking and annual reporting to the Assembly.
Anchorage officials are leaning on recent legal precedent to back up the ordinance. In their legal justification, they cite the US Supreme Court’s recent decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which upheld the right of local governments to enforce anti-camping laws as long as shelter options exist and the laws regulate conduct rather than targeting status as homeless.
The “victory” may be short-lived. I could see the Mayor, Her Majesty, Suzanne LaFrance vetoing this ordinance.
The version that passed was the mayors version
The mayor expressed support for this ordinance
This is great, except that it won’t be enforced. After all, the police department is being “reimagined” which is simply a euphemism for no law enforcement except for those broken by white people.
Totally agree that enforcement won’t happen. Which homeless person is going to pay a fine instead of buy booze, drugs, or food? None. What’s going to happen when they don’t pay said fine? Nothing. Will they get warrants that then put them in jail? Not if the cops can’t/ don’t find them. As far as APD & no law enforcement for anyone except white people – I would venture to specify… anyone except those with ticket money.
No longer unhoused, lock them up in the big house
Huge cost to the city.
Expensive? Yes, but it is the only solution. All others have been tried and failed.
Of course they passed this now. Not that LaFrance is Mayor. They could have done so during the Bronson Administration, but that would have given the former mayor a win. No, this could never have happened during his administration and the assembly made sure it didn’t. Taxpayers and citizens suffered thanks to their inaction. Don’t forget tis.
yep. Spot on Rollo.
The AK ACLU wouldn’t let Mayor Dan break up any camps at all.
These a wipes let our town suffer for so they can “win” politically.
Guess libs feel being Captain of a sinking ship (ANC) is better then being Captain of nothing.
Sad.
My two trips to Boise were a pleasure.
I went there on personal business, picking up puppies for the Wife.
I noticed immediately how clean the city was.
Not so much as a bubble gum wrapper on the street.
I asked the fellow how this was done, and where were the homeless.
He told me, ” Vagrancy is against the law here, and it is enforced. ”
It works.
We used to have the ” Blue Ticket ” here.
One way, out of Alaska, for those down on their luck.
Bring it back.
Amazing: Not 9 – 3 or 10 – 2 lib vote. Maybe some of these assembly members are growing disaffected with the lunacy of left-wing leadership. Or, maybe, they are getting ripped by the small cast of constituents who care enough to share their opinions. Would be nice to believe the tide has turned, but I won’t hold my breath.
Sad. You raise property values for all and than say if your area is not chosen for protection against illegal camping, you are out of luck and your area suffers.
I am here to tell you none of the liberal assembled members have grown “disaffected” by this policy. Perez-Verdia is the leader of his own “homeless services” organization, and he, with Mark Begich, is profiting from the subsidized hotel housing scheme in Spenard. Making camping illegal produces more customers for his cause, yields more donations, state and federal grants… in other words, it’s just funneling more folks into his profiteering program. It did not harm the bottom line of the folks who profit from the homeless industrial complex. Therefore, it passed. Case closed.
Good example of a baseless conspiracy theory.
In listing who voted for the proposed ordinance re:camping, please print the names and geographic areas represented of those WHO VOTED TO OPPOSE THE ORDINANCE.
The Muni can feel comfortable sending the homeless, the campers, and those refusing shelter to these 5 areas.
Anchorage voters: be sure to vote as your representative stood for you.
Although not an answer, it is a tool police can use if it helps them & the Muni.
As opposed the the ‘tools’ on the assembly; which seem to be rusty, crooked & missing some parts.
LOL. The mayor was strongly opposed and now that it passed she is taking credit! Oh Suzanne, we all know the truth. Are we hoping for re-election?
Is glamping still allowed? Asking for Felix Rivera…
The cost of the “unhoused” goes way beyond removing trash from camps in public spaces or law enforcement. Every citizen pays through lost quality of life and personal safety. They pay through higher insurance costs. They pay through reduced property values. They pay through having to install alarm systems in their homes and businesses. They pay for tree and brush removal. They pay through endless bond proposals to support this insanity. They pay for rampant crime and vandalism. They pay through higher Healthcare costs. The list goes on and on. Wake up Anchorage! Enforce the law, stop allowing this to continue. Show up to vote. It will change when the average citizen has had enough. Or the good folks will just keep leaving and taking their hard earned money with them until the only ones left are the losers who were allowed to cause this mess.