The writer of the April 29 letter to the editor “Homeless shelter politics” cannot possibly believe the Northway Mall is the ideal place for a mass homeless shelter. I would have to assume she is not familiar with the surrounding areas of the mall. Just across the street is the Merrill Field airport, with aircraft stored, parked and flown from there. I would ask her, just as she asked about policing at Tudor and Elmore, who will police the areas around such a vital and important asset to this city as Merrill Field?
Even what appears to be minor damage to an aircraft can be harmful in ways most do not understand. People can die because of even minor damage unnoticed. It would not be safe for pilots, aircraft owners, businesses relating to aircraft, the university or even to the homeless. Near, too, is a hospital, blood bank, a new surgery center and numerous businesses, all within a block or two of the Northway Mall. I realize no one wants a mass shelter anywhere near their residences, and that includes those who live in residential areas near the Northway Mall. Yes, there are residential areas there too, and they are no less than the letter writer.
No one wants a mass shelter anywhere near them, but that is what our elected officials are trying to navigate to find the most effective place for shelter and services. Should there be no shelters in any area, everyone will just complain about the massive camps. Suggesting any neighborhood that does not affect oneself does not help; it just shows one’s biases and lack of knowledge of the city of Anchorage.
— Karen Delkittie
Anchorage
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