The Anchorage Assembly is set to consider a $75,000 spending proposal at its Tuesday meeting that would fund weekend shuttle service to grocery stores for residents of the Fairview neighborhood. The proposed spending is a surprise “laid on the table” agenda item placed at the last minute in order to prevent public participation.
Proposed by Mayor Suzanne LaFrance, the spending aims to address the community impact of the recent closure of the Carrs grocery store on Gambell Street, which shut its doors on May 10.
The store, for 50 years a neighborhood grocery and pharmacy for Fairview residents, has long been a hang out for inebriates, thieves, and vagrants. It closed due to financial losses from chronic shoplifting and due to broader public safety issues for both employees and shoppers in the area. Rather than addressing lawlessness, LaFrance and the liberal Assembly are providing shuttle services.
The mayor’s proposal would provide free rides to grocery stores located approximately two miles away in Midtown Anchorage, including Fred Meyer and Carrs at the intersection of New Seward Highway and West Northern Lights Boulevard. The service would run on Saturdays and Sundays through October 27, when Anchorage’s transportation department is expected to implement adjustments to broader transit services.
The weekend shuttle program would be operated by NeighborWorks Alaska, a local nonprofit organization. If approved, the temporary service would serve as a stopgap solution, but could continue indefinitely.
The Assembly is expected to vote on the measure during its June 24 regular meeting that begins at 5 pm at the Loussac Library ground floor meeting room. The spending is a “laid on the table” item, which is supposed to be reserved for emergencies but is used by the Assembly when it does not want to give the public advance warning about an action. The public can watch the meeting at this link.
Instead of a Band Aid, how about offering Red Apple $75,000 if they open a store in the area…….
Typical underhanded last minute item added to agenda for vote with NO public input for free shuttle rides. Neighborhood Works has merged with ANCHORAGE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, (ANHS) INC. and Neighborhood Works is no longer a viable corporate entity as of 8/30/2023 Merger (AK Corporation Database).
Guess who is the president of ANHS Inc. per the Alaska Corporation Database?
-Deborah Bonito (President)
-Stephanie Kesler
-Sue Wolfe
-Kathleen Plunkett
-Tasha Hotch.
Deborah B. is married to Mark Begich, who also benefits from the Assembly contract awards. Not what you know, but who you know that gets you the $$$ in the Anchorage Municipality. Or so it seems looking from the outside.
Well isn’t that special. We were not offered that service when Carrs shut down at Northway Mall. I smell picking pockets again to fill other pockets. What a bunch of idiots. You know it will pass.
The financial profligacy and radical leftist insanity on the Anchorage Ass-embly is constant.
Once again.
On the last Muni election ballot, there were bond initiatives for Police and Firefighting equipment. Which means the Assembly thinks the Muni should incur debt to provide the services the taxpayers are paying for.
But, they have $75K for taxis?
Why not give the Store the $75,000 so the residents don’t have to be transported else where????