On Tuesday the mayor and several of his senior staff presented an idea for re-shaping our approach to the 2011 budget. Cheryl Frasca, our OMB Director, learned about an organization called Viewpoint Learning and felt they could effectively:
“Engage Anchorage residents in talking about spending and revenue choices that will serve as input into the Mayor and Assembly’s decision-making.”
Weather-wise the past few days in Anchorage have been pretty spectacular with warm, sunny conditions hinting at the promise of a spectacular Alaska summer. After all, few things make locals happier than compulsory lawn-watering to keep up with hot June sunshine.
If you’re an Anchorage property owner like me, today your delivery from the US Postal Service likely included your annual municipal tax bill. Happy Saturday.
On a quiet afternoon last month – I think it was a Sunday – I happened to take a look at Knik Arm and noticed one of Totem Ocean Trailer Express‘ steamships departing the Port of Anchorage more than a little bit early. To explain a bit, two steamship companies (Horizon Lines and the aforementioned TOTE) have ships that sail from Tacoma to Anchorage, typically arriving early each Sunday & Tuesday morning. Those vessels generally depart in the evening so it struck me as odd that TOTE’s ship had cast off shortly after noon, especially since the tide looked low enough that it seemed unlikely it could clear a mid-channel shoal.
If you live or work in the neighborhoods surrounding Ship Creek (Downtown, north Fairview & Government Hill) you likely heard some louder and longer train horn noise than usual today – I certainly did. And, since I know a few folks who work at the Alaska Railroad Corporation, I called to find out what was going on.
If you’ll indulge me a moment I’ll briefly step away from Assembly matters and offer some kudos to a terrific neighborhood effort. It started during the winter with a Clark Middle School counselor, Dustin Hawes, who happens to be an ardent runner, dreaming up the idea for a spring run in Mountain View. Thus was born the “Faster Than a Falcon” 5k.
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