During an election year, when someone is running for the Anchorage Assembly, they want our votes, right? I think it’s a bad idea in proposing to build the homeless shelter at Tudor and Elmore. It’s such a beautiful open land, that I could imagine where a lot of the homeless people will be hanging around that area, drinking and drug activity going on in a residential area, across from the Alaska Native Medical Center. Year-round, many Anchorage families use the trail to bike ride, jog and walk their dogs. This is where Anchorage has in past years had marathon runs along the trail; they also have baseball and other sport events there.
Currently, the Northway Mall is vacant. Wouldn’t it cost less to renovate the mall as a homeless shelter instead of having to break ground to build the foundation and the shelter? The Northway Mall has such a big parking lot that they could break pavement, have picnic tables etc., where the tenants that stay/live at the shelter could just mingle around at that area.
If the shelter is built along Tudor and Elmore roads, who will be policing that area? The Anchorage Assembly members are seeking our votes to improve Anchorage, to make it “safe for everyone.” They’re suppose to work for us, to keep us residents safe. They wanted our votes, so why are they not listening to the public that are against having the homeless shelter there, like in 2021 when the public voiced their opinion at Assembly meetings?
— Ellen Baier
Anchorage
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