As we gather with loved ones this holiday season, our thoughts naturally turn to those in our community who are struggling. The holidays have a way of bringing our shared challenges into sharper focus. When we drive or walk through Midtown, the reality of the affordability crisis and the number of unhoused neighbors is impossible to ignore. It weighs on me.
We need solutions that balance compassion with fiscal responsibility. My background in small business and work as a paralegal have taught me that we cannot simply throw money at a problem and hope it goes away. We need a plan that is practical, sustainable, and respectful of the hardworking taxpayers who foot the bill.
Unfortunately, my opponent, career politician and Dunleavy sidekick Dave Donley, is plotting a different path. He wants to resurrect Dave Bronson’s $20 million Big Tent Boondoggle, a failed project that has already cost taxpayers millions in wasted legal settlement fees.
Dave is out of touch. We simply do not have the funds for this.
Anchorage families are already tightening their belts. We cannot afford to gamble taxpayer money on recycled, expensive ideas that have already been rejected. We need to focus on housing affordability and targeted services that help people get back on their feet, rather than warehousing them in a massive, costly facility that drains our municipal budget.
I am running for the Anchorage Assembly to bring common sense to our local government. I believe in a budget that prioritizes public safety, a thriving small business community, and effective housing strategies without breaking the bank.
Wishing you and yours a warm and peaceful holiday season.
Janice