|
Welcome to Anchorage Update
Greetings!
There's a lot going on in Anchorage as we enter the
heart of our short summer season. The city tests a program to bring more
accountability to probationers, it's smooth sailing at Lake Otis
and Tudor and preparations for community budget dialogues are in full swing.
Read on for more details and, as always, feel free to email me at mayor@muni.org, or follow me on facebook or twitter.
|
|
New approach brings promise of swift justice
for parole violators
 Officials with the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA)
and the State of Alaska Department of Corrections (DOC) have teamed up to test
a new approach to handling criminals who violate probation. As a result, specific
parole violators can now expect to face swift and certain punishment.
The DOC and MOA launched a test program this
week meant to reduce crime and drug use by probationers by taking action immediately
against offenders who violate conditions of parole.
This weeks announcement that Anchorage
will test the State's Probation
Accountability with Certain Enforcement (PACE) program, puts a fresh twist on some long-time ideas about crime
deterrence.
For
many years, classical deterrence has relied upon the threat of a mild
punishment imposed reliably and
immediately has a much greater deterrent effect than the threat of a severe
punishment that is delayed and uncertain.
The PACE System targets high risk offenders,
who if they violate their parole, will immediately be served by police with a
bench warrant for an accelerated, in-court hearing.
The concept is to immediately stop smaller,
more minor parole violations before they grow into a major offense.
The program is modeled after a similar system
in Hawaii that realized a significant decrease in probation violations and
repeat crimes after adoption.
"When technical violations occur there
are immediate consequences and people on probation realized they are
immediately accountable," said APD Chief Mark Mew.
Mayor Dan Sullivan said, "The Municipality of
Anchorage, working with our fine police department, stands ready to make sure
this program works and that criminals know that Anchorage is NOT a good city in
which to commit crime or violate probation. This is good, smart justice, and we
are proud to test the PACE model. DOC leadership is to be commended for their
innovation."
|
Construction complete at one of Anchorage's
busiest intersections
The worst is over for the thousands of commuters that travel through the Lake Otis Parkway
and Tudor Road
intersection every day; a major construction project is complete ahead of
schedule. As such, no more intersection closures are necessary.
Lake Otis and Tudor now has new traffic patterns, including additional left
and right turn lanes. The upgrade should allow traffic to flow more freely,
thus reducing congestion and improving vehicle and pedestrian safety.
Work on the shoulder, bus stops and landscaping continues through
October, so please be aware of workers and use caution while adjusting to the
new traffic pattern. Visit www.AlaskaNavigator.org for more information.
|
City-wide contest to recognize everyday heroes
This year during
National Emergency Preparedness Month (September), the Municipality of Anchorage's
Office of Emergency Management, Public Libraries, and the North America Outdoor
Institute will recognize and honor the community's everyday heroes.
Beginning Aug. 1,
citizens can nominate Anchorage
residents who have acted as heroes during an emergency, or residents who have
made exceptional efforts to prepare the community for emergencies through volunteerism
and/or advocacy.
Traditionally,
heroism is attributed to first responder and military heroes. But the
extraordinary efforts of citizen rescuers who helped save the lives of four
plane crash victims on June 1 are a stirring reminder that our community also
has everyday heroes - regular people who see an emergency and take action.
A committee of
emergency response and preparedness personnel will select community heroes to
be recognized and receive awards at the annual Safe & Sound Emergency
Preparedness Fair on Sept. 11 at the Loussac Public Library at 3600 Denali Street.
Who's Your Hero? will
accept nominations Aug. 1-22 online, or by fax or mail. Contest rules and
additional information are found online at www.muni.org/oem.
|
|
Your
voice is needed! Plan to attend one of the city's community budget
dialogues
The Municipality of Anchorage is facing difficult choices in
these times of increasing costs and declining revenues. Upcoming spending, tax,
and budget decisions will affect all Anchorage
residents.
You are
invited to participate in a dialogue about what sort of city you want to live
in, what services our government should provide, and how to pay for them.
Please plan to attend one of the following dialogues:
Wednesday,
Aug. 4
Embassy
Suites Hotel, 600 E. Benson Blvd.
Tuesday,
Aug. 10
Eagle River Lions Club, 16630 Eagle River Rd.
Wednesday,
Aug. 11
ASD
Headquarters Bldg., 5530 E.
Northern Lights Blvd.
5:15-5:40
p.m. light dinner
5:45-8:45
p.m. (starts promptly)
You don't
need to be a budget expert to participate! These small group dialogues will focus
on what is important to you, your family, and neighbors. The results will be a
key input to the Mayor and Assembly members as decisions are made about next
year's budget, services, and taxes.
Please go
to www.muni.org for more information or to sign up. Walk-ins are
welcome too, but space is limited.
Funding
for these dialogues provided by:
Rasmuson
Foundation
Northrim
Bank
First
National Bank Alaska
Municipality of Anchorage
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Mayor's Calendar
- July 16
Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center 35th Anniversary Picnic
- July 17
KNBA
Picnic
- July 23
Covenant House Community BBQ - July 27
Regular
Assembly meeting
- July 28
Anch.
Economic Development Corp. Investor Luncheon
|
|
