With all the attention paid to other items on the Assembly’s most recent agenda, the relatively small contingent paying attention to an amendment to Anchorage’s noise code didn’t manage to break through the background, well, noise. That may change soon; here’s why:
If, as it has often been said, politics is indeed Alaska’s second favorite indoor sport then redistricting is the ugly, bloody side of it where sportsmanship often goes out the window (and, for some, is perhaps a four-letter word). Why? Because there are few things more fundamental to the political process than determining how neighborhoods will be represented. And as the state’s redistricting process moves forward the situation in which the municipality finds itself is, sadly, no surprise – hence our title term “snafu.”
I’m struggling as I write this, trying to keep in mind two thoughts from those who preceded me. The first comes from John F. Kennedy:
“I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House – with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”
I was out and about last weekend, particularly on Sunday, enjoying our fantastic spring weather. Gazing out at Knik Arm I happened to note, for at least the second time this year, a TOTE vessel loitering mid-channel during a low tide, which harkens back to the Assembly’s establishment of the port committee. That’s as good a reason as any for another update.
Regular readers know I’ve been cautiously optimistic about the potential of the so-called Highway to Highway project, which would provide a freeway connection between the Glenn and Seward highways. The most likely solution would entail a below-grade (cut and cover, in transportation vernacular) route in the vicinity of Hyder Street to link with Fifth Avenue somewhere near Merrill Field. This approach has the potential to reunite Fairview, which is currently divided by the Ingra-Gambell couplet, thereby improving neighborhood access to businesses and amenities on either side. Aside from the obvious benefits to vehicular traffic, that’s why I’ve been generally supportive of the project, and that’s why I’m concerned that it appears the project is slowly dying.
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