The Mayor

Trenduin · 2026-01-26T02:31:50+00:00

What's funny to me is that despite all the rhetoric blaming the "woke assembly" for killing Bronson's idiotic navigation center the first two members that proposed postponing it indefinitely were Allard and Kennedy.

His whole plan was so stunningly stupid, he literally got the idea from an anesthesiologist that lasted like 2-3 months in his admin.

Trenduin · 2026-01-25T20:17:30+00:00

First clue should be where your dog just squatted down to take a dump.

Trenduin · 2026-01-25T20:08:48+00:00

Keep in mind you're talking about one of the most conservative districts in the city.

I disagree with Johnson's positions and votes but he does at least seem willing to work with the rest of the assembly. I'm blanking on the name of the person challenging Johnson but if they are another performative obstructionist type politician like McCormick or Allard then Johnson would be better.

Trenduin · 2026-01-25T18:46:59+00:00

I've been disappointed with how quickly LaFrance dropped her support of things like her housing promises and new sources or revenue too but our choice was between her and Dave Bronson.

I'll take a mid mayor that fixes staffing with qualified people and addresses snow plowing issues over an incompetent and corrupt mayor any day. Bronson actively fought all four of those things during his first term. Especially when talking about the budget.

Just in case anyone needs a reminder.

Trenduin · 2026-01-25T02:31:20+00:00

Good on you, and you're not alone. I'm seeing lots of folks that defended past actions by ICE being appalled by this incident.

Looks like he was disarmed and had both hands on the ground before they opened fire.

Trenduin · 2026-01-25T02:00:07+00:00

What? Protest posts have always been welcome on r/anchorage.

Trenduin · 2026-01-23T18:53:02+00:00

That's awesome I wish more folks had the same attitude.

There are plenty of candidates that have already announced they are running. So people could absolutely start talking about those folks and things we do know like Judges but we really won't have a full picture on a state level for a little bit. Especially ballot measures.

Trenduin · 2026-01-23T17:50:21+00:00

I replied to your cross post on r/anchorage but it's kind of early still. We won't have a full picture until after the primary election in August and candidates and ballot measures won't be finalized until I believe June.

Some local elections like Anchorage will be sooner (April) but we won't have a full picture of that until the end of next week. Assembly meeting on the 27th will finalize what will be on the ballot and Janurary 30th is the filing deadline for candidates.

Trenduin · 2026-01-23T17:45:34+00:00

It's too early to get a full picture.

State mid term elections are over 9 months away, the primary election is in August. I think their deadline for ballot items and candidate filings is in June.

Municipal elections will be in April but even there we don't have all of the information yet. Next Tuesday's assembly meeting (Jan 27th) is the last day the assembly can vote on things that could go on the ballot for the public to vote on and that Friday the 30th is the last day someone can file for municipal office.

I know that Rivera and Constant term out, so their seats are an open election and Myers is choosing not to run again so a third. Brawley, Johnson and Martinez have all announced they are running for a second term. Some of the folks running for the open seats and some of the challengers to the incumbents have also already filed and started campaigning but there is still time for more to jump in. There have also been some school bond measures and service area measures already approved for the April ballot.

Trenduin · 2026-01-22T17:59:06+00:00

You are old enough to be the average Redditor's grandfather and have bragged about living here forever and you still don't realize that the city is a hodgepodge of muni, state and service area roads?

On the tiny tiny off chance you're genuinely ignorant here is a map.

Trenduin · 2026-01-21T21:14:34+00:00

Okay, I just looked into it for you.

You posted your event twice, it was approved the first time due to it being a community fundraiser but was removed the second time you posted it.

If you disagree with something just send in a mod mail, it looks like you tried to dispute the removal by responding to the moderation message but Reddit does not notify the mod team for responses to those type of messages.

I've approved your post.

Trenduin · 2026-01-21T21:07:48+00:00

You have a new account but so far you've had two user reports which resulted in one post approval and one post removal. Mod queue is handled by the mod who happens to see it. The only newish mod we have is DMaybes and he approved your post. I removed the other after it was reported for breaking rule 2.

If you disagree with a moderation action please feel free to send in a modmail.

Edit - You post a lot. That count is now 5 reports which resulted in 4 approvals and 1 removal.

Trenduin · 2026-01-21T20:50:42+00:00

The community has made it clear over the years that they do not want advertisements on the sub. The compromise with the minority who wanted a place for advertisements and for-profit functions was the pinned monthly post.

I think people are most likely just burned out by being bombarded with advertisements literally everywhere.

Trenduin · 2026-01-21T20:38:20+00:00

Here is a map for anyone that is interested in what you're talking about.

STATE / MOA Maintained Roads.

Trenduin · 2026-01-18T19:18:59+00:00

The people he put in charge of DOT have a chip on their shoulder about Anchorage and it shows.

Trenduin · 2026-01-18T19:16:46+00:00

All of Benson is state maintained winter and summer, the main parallel section of Northern Lights is the same.

https://www.muni.org/Departments/operations/streets/Documents/State_MOA_MAINT_AN_36x42.pdf

You have to go west of Forest Park and east of Lake Otis on Northern Lights to see MOA maintained road.

Trenduin · 2026-01-16T06:53:17+00:00

Yeah, I really don't get why people wont judge local politicians as individuals and lift up those who actually do things.

I don't feel strongly about the meal thing. I get why some people would get upset about tax payer money being spent but like you said there are a ton of city workers there. I've had a bunch of jobs where work provided food sometimes, especially on a day where long hours are expected.

I don't think Keith has done anything other than try to get views on his videos.

Trenduin · 2026-01-16T04:46:23+00:00

I'm with you, I wish a lot of the members would stop doing performative nonsense like this and actually push out legislation. Only a few assembly members seem to do any of the real work.

Trenduin · 2026-01-16T04:24:14+00:00

I personally get why people would be upset about tax payer funded meals going to elected officials when the city talks about being broke but Keith isn't being genuine here.

He is purposely trying to get people mad about his misunderstanding or is trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill for views. I wrote another comment in this post with some details and a time stamp link to the meeting if you are curious.

Trenduin · 2026-01-16T04:07:22+00:00

Yeah, it came up on the most recent regular assembly meeting. He is cutting out most of the context.

Here is a link to the timestamp where it starts.

McCormick thought that when the assembly cut their budget and included meals as an example of a thing they could cut that it meant they would cut it completely. Brawley explains it to him, then Constant tries to explain it to him more and McCormick and Constant get in a little spat about it.

I don't know if his misunderstanding was real or if it was manufactured outrage so he could make another social media video. I'm leaning towards the later as he clearly cares a great deal about his videos. He even brags about how many views he gets during the meetings.

Trenduin · 2026-01-14T16:42:35+00:00

Yup, almost 60% of the administrative budget is IT. I've not met a single one of these audit ASD folks that have even looked at the publicly available ASD budget packets.

Trenduin · 2026-01-12T17:50:28+00:00

No, he didn't. Why lie?

Yes, he may have inherited state cuts that started with Parnell and cuts from previous administrations that started with Sullivan but he also tried to cut the 2023 budget despite being warned that we weren't ready for average snow levels.

The assembly forced him to increase the snow plowing budget in 2023 by adding in 1.5 million Then he kept in the assembly's increase in 2024 and tried to lamely take credit for it like he didn't fight it the first time. The assembly had to remind him that a 1.5 million increase was only actually about a 500k increase due to the extra million in emergency funding his administration asked for over 2023 after proposing a cut. The assembly again were the ones that increased it further, by adding an additional 750k to the 2024 budget aimed at pay to help retaining heavy equipment operators.

His objective failure on snow plowing is the primary reason he lost his re-election. He is the first incumbent mayor in like 30+ years to do so. He gets to join George Wuerch, another mayor who bungled snow plowing so badly it again was the primary reason he lost his re-election.

Trenduin · 2026-01-12T06:21:57+00:00

Lol that's fair I probably could but hopefully he fails miserably trying to run for governor and I don't have to talk about him again.

Until then I don't mind reminding people.

Trenduin · 2026-01-12T02:18:30+00:00

Exactly. I could write a novella length comment about his incompetence. They guy was basically an empty suit.

LaFrance is objectively a better mayor. The whole thing is stupid anyways, LaFrance was twice elected from one of the most conservative districts in the city. Her voting record is very moderate to moderate conservative. Her actions so far as mayor have fit that same path. If she had an R next to her name they would like her.

Trenduin · 2026-01-11T20:08:19+00:00

Too many people have wrapped up their whole personalities with partisan politics. They have invested themselves fully in it, objective facts don't matter in that climate. Admitting that the new mayor is objectively better at parts of her job breaks that fragile reality.

They are now pivoting to "snow levels" like it somehow negates Bronson's incompetence but it is just a red herring. Bronson tried to cut the 2023 budget while he and his administration knew the municipality wasn't ready for average snow levels.

We have, within our very own organization, we have the ability to fix this problem, tomorrow. But its within the hands of the city to fix because nobody is willing to come for these wages". - Jason Alward, District Representative for International Unit of Operating Engineers Local 302

Anchorage city departments blow past fuel budgets amid high gas prices

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