Anchorage House Action Week begins on Monday

Comment on the future of Alaska's ferry system and get insight into how Anchorage is implementing the Alaska Reads Act.

Last year, I wrote a commentary about Anchorage’s housing market and how the high cost of housing is unaffordable for those living paycheck to paycheck.

“As the Assembly, mayor, and Alaska Legislature debate tactics on how to encourage more housing stock across the Anchorage bowl, let’s all take this moment to discuss and determine what we need to do to stabilize and build more affordable housing. It’s critical we examine current and future policies, systems, beliefs, assumptions, and funding mechanisms to ensure equitable housing solutions that every Alaskan can access. Without a community-centered approach, we’re destined to repeat the mistakes of the past. Anchorage could be one of the best places in the United States to raise a family, and we all need to pitch in to make it so.” Sen. Löki Gale Tobin

This week, the Anchorage Assembly is sponsoring the Anchorage Housing Action Week, which features events and information intended to transform housing policy in Anchorage. Events include a presentation about housing security from ACLU Alaska and a housing density panel discussion offered by the Alaska State Home Builders Association.

The culminating event for the Anchorage Housing Action Week is the Community Action Housing Summit on Friday, November 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the UAA Student Union. Learn more about the Community Housing Action Summit or click on the image to view the calendar of events for the Anchorage Housing Action Week.

Comment on the future of Alaska’s ferry system.

In the not-to-distant past, the Alaska Marine Highway System was a reliable transportation system that supported the coastal communities in Southeast Alaska, Prince William Sound, the Lower Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak, and the Aleutian chain. The system facilitated commerce, tourism, and athletic competition. Unfortunately, Alaska’s once-strong ferry system is now often unreliable and unavailable due to an aging fleet and a shortage of workers to staff the ferries and terminals.

In an effort to return the Alaska Marine Highway System to its former glory, stakeholders from across the state are working on a 20-year plan to rebuild the system. As part of this effort, the Alaska Marine Highway System is conducting a public survey until November 7. It is critical that the results of this survey represent the users of the ferry system so please click the image below to take the AMHS 2046 Long-Range Plan Public Survey.

Alaska Public Media documents how Anchorage is successfully implementing the Alaska Reads Act.

I’m an avid listener of public radio because it is one of the best sources for local news that goes beyond the headlines or soundbites. Last Thursday, as I was listening to Alaska News Nightly, I was thrilled to hear a great story from Alaska Public Media about how Anchorage is implementing the Alaska Reads Act, which is a piece of legislation that I worked on for the last four years.

When fully implemented and adequately funded, the Alaska Reads Act will have a positive impact on children, parents, and families in Alaska. Read the story about the Alaska Reads Act by clicking the image below.