In his first veto, Anchorage Mayor Bronson rejects new advisory board made up of people who have experienced homelessness

Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson on Friday vetoed an ordinance passed by the Assembly earlier this week that established a board made up of people who have experienced homelessness to advise the Assembly and the mayor.

Felix Rivera, the Assembly member who spearheaded the ordinance, immediately called for the Assembly to override the veto.

The ordinance, which passed 9-2, created a city advisory board to “provide input and feedback to the assembly and mayor on housing and homelessness solutions with the goal of centering the perspective of those with lived experience,” according to the ordinance.

In a statement to the Assembly, Bronson cited the existence of the city’s Homeless, Housing and Neighborhood Development Commission (HHAND), which advises the city on housing, homeless and community development needs, and the Houseless Resource Advisory Council (HRAC), an independent group of members who have been or are currently homeless.

“There is no need to create an additional board and incur increased costs to simply replicate the advocacy work already being done by HRAC or HHAND,” Bronson said.

It is the first time Bronson has exercised his veto power as mayor. The Assembly could override that veto in the next 21 days if it can muster a two-thirds majority vote, according to the city charter.

“As you know, addressing homelessness is a pillar of my administration,” Bronson said in his statement to the Assembly. “The homelessness crisis in Anchorage does not require another board or commission to contemplate or pontificate policy suggestions or to make advisory recommendations. Instead, the homelessness crisis demands action.”

In a statement Friday, Rivera said he was “astounded” by the veto, and pushed for the Assembly to override it. He said the creation of the board was supported by multiple community organizations, including HRAC and HHAND.

“It appears that the mayor is more interested in playing politics than listening to the voices of those with current and lived experience of homelessness,” Rivera said.