The Assembly will hear the most recent iteration of the mayor’s “sidewalk sitting” ordinance on Tuesday, November 22. It’s been intriguing to view the e-mails on this subject with the vast majority opposing the measure as an affront to free speech. Meanwhile the administration contends they’re trying to head off a larger problem and that the law is modeled after a court-tested version in place in Seattle.
By now many readers already know that Brendan Joel Kelley, erstwhile editor of the Anchorage Press, was fired this morning. Change happens, and hopefully this will ultimately turn out well for Brendan, whom I consider a friend, but what I know about the situation is troubling to me.
If you’ve never had the opportunity to watch or listen to Alaska Edition (formerly Anchorage Edition) on KAKM or KSKA please allow me to recommend it. Even if you aren’t a news junkie like me it’s particularly nice to see Paul Jenkins offering thoughtful commentary befitting his status as an elder statesman of Alaska journalism, rather than the sometimes-bizarre screeds he writes for the local paper. But I digress.
I’ve received a few questions, and more than a few compliments, for being the lone vote against the now infamous taxi cab ordinance. To offer some perspective on this topic, below is a lightly-edited exchange I had with a gentleman who contacted me via Facebook and posted on my blog (please note I’ve removed his name to protect his privacy):
At a 1 pm meeting tomorrow (Thursday, September 29) I expect the AMATS policy committee to release the draft Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) for public comment. For those who aren’t transportation wonks, it might help to learn the MTP is the guide for allocation of federal, state and local dollars and will replace the existing Long Range Transportation Plan. Here’s a story from the local paper that provides some insight.
Despite the fact that I’m the only Anchorage municipal official to maintain a blog (as far as I know) I am not known for quick adaptations to new technology. I once had a Blackberry but didn’t like it much, our family computer is laughably old and my wife maintains the mp3 player in our home. Yes, my nieces and nephews tease me about this and, some day, my kids probably will too.
I received an interesting e-mail last week, here’s how it read:
Greetings,
Our office has moved. Our new address is 820 East 15th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. Please update your records to reflect the new address.
Thank you,
Amanda True
Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority
Tomorrow evening’s (September 13) Assembly meeting is shaping up to be relatively quiet. The agenda, while somewhat long, has a fairly small number of measures likely to draw much attention. That, and at least three Assembly members are slated to be out of town with one beyond cellular range.
As many readers may know I returned to full-time employment earlier this year, which might help explain the relative dearth of recent blog posts. Sorry about that. But increased interaction with people generally less involved with the political process has the benefit of providing perspective one might not otherwise enjoy. So I’ve appreciated my co-workers’ recent questions about the current kerfuffle between the Plumbers & Pipefitters union and the city.
For those steeped in transportation planning, news that Anchorage’s Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) is undergoing an update is old hat. The rest of the world population can be forgiven for wondering what that means.
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