Letters to the Editor

Letter: In Anchorage, no mercy?

As state oil prices spiral down and a coronavirus vaccine is months away at best, more Anchorage citizens are jobless. This is the first step toward homelessness. After home payments, food amounts suffer. Starving sends people into vehicles for shelter. Nonprofit donations are low. When the money for food and gas runs low, vehicle shelter is lost. Next step is base survival. If hopelessness sets in, lawlessness could result. Backyards are raided for bikes and scooters.

As I write this, using library wi-fi, I hear horn-blowing, speeding SUVs storming the assembly beach. In the back of SUVs next to leftover potluck, they grab their fancy glossed yard signs. Wives and children march to the lake to choke the geese with bread. A goose sign would say “birdseed.”

A half hour later, with raw vocals, the belly can flip no more. I consider what I see — homeownerness. Extreme cases carry balloon payment scores. As they rush home, and slow down just enough, you see the hopeless fellow on the corner has a sign. It says “Anything.” 

Has Anchorage lost its mercy? Could you give a little?  Missions, kitchens, shelters and non-profits need “anything” you can give. The ‘Pick.Click.Give’ commercials have stopped. Is it now “yell, starve, run ’em over?” I hope not.

Brian Davies

Anchorage

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