Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson is looking to defund the Federation of Community Councils, citing the federation manager’s opposition to the proposed Holtan Hills housing development as overly political.
The Girdwood development, which was voted down by the Anchorage Assembly last month, would have provided mixed density housing.
“In light of recent media coverage concerning the Federation of Community Council’s Manager engaging in political activity, working to kill the Holtan Hills housing development in Girdwood, and receiving financial compensation from people in Girdwood for these efforts, I am exploring options to take back the taxpayer grant funds provided to the FCC,” Bronson wrote on both Facebook and Twitter. “We cannot have an FCC Manager undermining Municipal projects, engaging in political activity, and accepting monetary compensation while acting in their official capacity.”
The Federation of Community Councils keeps people informed on local government and provides technical support to Anchorage’s 38 Community Councils. Community councils are run by citizen volunteers and provide a way for Anchorage residents to participate in decisions made by their local and state governments. Assembly members and legislators often attend community council meetings in their districts to provide direct updates on what they’re working on.
Anchorage Assembly member Daniel Volland equated the move to silencing residents.
“I hope the Mayor recognizes the important role Community Councils play. I doubt he would want to defund the FCC, which effectively would mean defunding the voices of Anchorage citizens,” Volland said.
FCC manager Mark Butler played a crucial role in advising a group of Girdwood residents called “Halt Holtan Hills” on how to craft messaging opposing the Holtan Hills development. Butler’s salary is funded by a municipal grant. Butler also helped Girdwood residents reach out to other community councils for supporting resolutions. Over 10 councils passed resolutions opposing the housing development.
The FCC is supposed to be nonpartisan and not take sides on issues. Instead of dealing directly with Butler on any FCC rules that he may have broken during his advocacy, Bronson is looking to defund the FCC all together.
Anchorage’s community councils have a long history of giving residents a voice and connecting them with the public process.
“Community Councils bring representative democracy directly to Anchorage residents,” Volland said. “There’s something powerful about folks getting involved, using their voices, and advocating for projects and quality of life that are important to them on a regular basis, with local and State representatives listening.”
The Bronson administration has an antagonistic relationship with community councils. Although representatives of the administration are often invited or requested to give updates during council meetings, they rarely show up. Last summer, the Northeast Community Council requested someone come to a meeting after Bronson transformed Centennial Campground into a homelessness camp without notice. Neither Bronson or one of his representatives showed up. Similarly, they ignored requests from several councils around his proposed Nativation Center on Tudor and Elmore.
In one rare instance in early 2022, administration members Portia Erickson and Terrence Shanigan attended a Rogers Park Community Council meeting. Shanigan was caught on a hot mic saying, “they needed a little slapping around,” and referencing song lyrics about lying, “Hush, hush, hush, let’s lie…I know it’s wrong, but let’s lie together, in a way.” Erickson laughed.
