Opinions

For a stronger, safer Anchorage, vote yes on Proposition 9

The Alaska Legislature is currently grappling with a radically austere budget proposal that has succeeded in one respect: Alaskans are no longer talking about how to improve our state — instead, we’re all united in playing defense. Instead of building a stronger economy, we now face the prospect of a prolonged recession and thousands of job losses. Far from investing in better educational outcomes for our children, we now fight to prevent 40-plus student classrooms and the outright closure of a University of Alaska campus. Forget about tackling issues like the opioid epidemic, domestic violence and a changing climate that upends livelihoods and subsistence lifestyles across the state.

It’s time for Alaskans to go back on offense. When leaders forfeit good governance by putting ideology before the people, we Alaskans must take leadership into our own hands. In Anchorage, we have a significant opportunity to do just that, by dealing a major blow against homelessness and the behavioral health challenges in our city.

Proposition 9 on the April 2 municipal ballot would create a sustainable $13 million fund that can only be used for alcohol and substance misuse prevention and treatment, behavioral health programs, public safety, and homelessness prevention and response—including camp abatements. Where would that money come from? We’d all chip in by contributing 5 percent every time we buy alcohol. That’s about $0.40 for a six pack or $0.50 for a $10 mixed drink.

Anchorage has made progress reducing homelessness: The number of people experiencing homelessness dropped by 18 percent in 2018. The city abated and cleaned up 369 homeless camps in the summer of 2018, compared to 132 in 2017. But the municipality and community partners have stretched their resources thin. There is not enough shelter space. There is not enough staff to sustain a year-round camp abatement program. There are simply not enough treatment beds for those who want to recover. If we want more progress, we’re going to have to chip in.

Proposition 9 attacks a driver of many of our public safety and health problems: alcohol misuse. Between car collisions, crime, health problems and lost productivity, the negative impacts of alcohol overconsumption costs Alaskans $1.8 billion every year. Much research has gone into how to bring that number down. Alcohol taxes are some of the most rigorously studied policy mechanisms, and the research is overwhelming: Alcohol taxes, and the services they pay for, save lives. By and large, Anchorage residents will continue to go to bars and buy alcohol, but alcohol taxes will reduce alcohol consumption for two important groups: minors and those who binge drink. Local governments across Alaska have implemented similar taxes with positive results.

The alcohol industry itself is split; some have come out against the measure, while others — notably Brown Jug — have recognized they have a responsibility to support solutions to the problems that indirectly result from their businesses. The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation is also supporting Proposition 9 because improving our community makes Anchorage a city that attracts investment and retains the most talented workers.

We all want our city to be safer. Instead of our first responders handling homelessness and alcohol-related problems, we want them focused on criminal investigations and acute public safety issues. We want fewer people to fall into addiction, and more to climb back out. We want our parks and public spaces in a condition to be enjoyed by everyone. We know we can get there, and we’re invested enough in our home to contribute to that effort.

ADVERTISEMENT

To preserve the Alaska we all love, the state still needs to get its fiscal house in order— and many of us believe that the true leaders in the legislature will reject the current budget proposal and do just that. In the meantime, Anchorage voters can stand up and show those legislators that we, as Alaskans, have their backs and are willing to be a small part of the solution. For a stronger, safer Anchorage, vote yes on Proposition 9.

Scott Kendall served as Chief of Staff under Gov. Bill Walker. He is now an attorney and consultant in private practice in Anchorage.

Jahna Lindemuth served as Attorney General under Gov. Bill Walker. She is now in private practice in Anchorage.

The views expressed here are the writer’s and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)adn.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Read our full guidelines for letters and commentaries here.

ADVERTISEMENT