The Bronson Administration on Tuesday reversed a long-standing policy imposed by former Municipal Manager Amy Demboski, who put a gag order on department heads so all public communications would run through her office.
Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson announced on Dec. 19 that Demboski was no longer working for the city. Bronson declined to provide further details, but Demboski the next day told the Anchorage Daily News that she was fired over highlighting that the administration was breaking municipal code by exceeding the set capacity for the homeless shelter at the Sullivan Arena.
Demboski originally imposed the gag order in September 2021, demanding that the Assembly and their employees route all communications through her. This included requests for information or assistance on constituent issues, creating bottlenecks and slowing response on municipal issues.
Dave Bronson had promised during his mayoral campaign to run a transparent and open government. That promise quickly eroded when Demboski took control of communications. For many months, the administration and department heads refused to attend committee meetings and provide information about issues like FEMA reimbursements, homelessness, or COVID-19 updates.
The administration still often requires Assembly members to send questions in writing, slowing response time for dealing with municipal issues and interfering with the public’s ability to have questions answered quickly or transparently through their representatives.
Kohlhase waited only eight days after being appointed as acting manager to lift the gag order and reopen lines of communication between the Assembly, the public, and the administration.
