Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson’s administration met with the Anchorage Assembly in a closed door session today to ask for $827,000 of taxpayer funds to settle two wrongful firing disputes against Bronson and the municipality.
The disputes are with former Municipal Manager Amy Demboski and former Director of Equal Opportunity Heather MacAlpine, both of whom were fired by Bronson. The Bronson administration has not said specifically how the requested money would be split up between the two claims.
MacAlpine was fired while investigating unlawful discrimination claims against Library Deputy Director Judy Eledge, and Demboski was fired after she sent an email to Bronson outlining concerns she had about illegal contracting and a toxic, misogynistic workplace.
No decision was made during the meeting, but the Assembly voted afterwards to seal the tapes for 50 years. The Assembly set a public hearing for May 23, where the public can weigh in. Assembly Chair Christopher Constant said that he plans to hear public testimony early in the evening.
“I think it’s always good to have transparency,” Assembly member George Martinez said after the meeting. “The public hearing will be important.”
MacAlpine filed two lawsuits against the city, one in state court and one in federal court. While Demboski has not filed suit, she sent a scathing demand letter through lawyer Scott Kendall alleging she was wrongfully fired, and making public a laundry list of claims of corruption, improper contracting, permitting a toxic work environment, and other unethical behavior.
In July 2022, Bronson’s then-Acting Municipal Attorney Mario Bird, now Acting Chief of Staff, filed a response letter to MacAlpine’s lawsuit alleging that she was “unsure of her duties.” The response letter denied most of the claims MacAlpine made in her lawsuit.
The response further claims that “the MOA acted in a manner that was proper, reasonable, lawful and in good faith.”
MacAlpine was investigating workplace complaints of employee harassment, racist comments, and a “hostile and discriminatory work environment” created by Eledge in her position as Acting Library Director.
Shortly after the complaints were made, former Human Resources Director Niki Tshibaka attended a Library Advisory Board meeting wearing a t-shirt that said “I’m with Judy.” Tshibaka later resigned, citing a toxic work environment.
MacAlpine’s lawsuit also alleges it is common knowledge among library employees that Eledge has a personal relationship with Bronson and will not be fired or reprimanded regardless of her actions. Recordings of Eledge making similar statements to an employee were recently published by the Anchorage Daily News.
Eledge remains a top official at the library. Gov. Mike Dunleavy appointed Eledge to a national education commission in March.
The Assembly is considering a resolution on Tuesday calling for Eledge’s resignation due to “risk of financial liability and lawsuits against the Municipality,” and “inflammatory, discriminatory and racists statements” attributed to her.
