OPINION: LaFrance can catalyze downtown and Midtown revitalization

Policies and priorities of the mayor have a significant impact on economic opportunity in our city. After three years of economic stagnation and increasing concern about public safety, it’s clear Anchorage needs more experience at the helm of our municipal government. One of the many reasons I’m enthusiastic about Suzanne LaFrance is that there are immediate steps she will take to revitalize areas like downtown and Midtown.

Commercial cores like downtown and Midtown are where our city’s greatest challenges are on display, and where we have some of the greatest opportunity to turn things around, from public safety to transportation to housing.

It starts with a mayor who walks the talk on public safety. Under Mayor Dave Bronson, our police force has shrunk by nearly 50 officers, resulting in inadequate response times and insufficient patrols in our community. Our next mayor must immediately engage with downtown and Midtown business owners, community councils, APD, and AFD to improve public safety. LaFrance understands the problem. It starts with running enough police academies to staff up, and continues with resolute support for police and other first responders including advocacy for a meaningful retirement plan. Alaska’s worst-in-the-nation retirement policies for public safety mean we are losing officers to the Lower 48 every week. LaFrance has always been a strong supporter of our public safety departments, and is the only candidate endorsed by local police and firefighters.

LaFrance is also a champion of our city’s crisis response teams, including the Mobile Crisis Team and Mobile Intervention Team. We have to build out our mental health continuum of care so police can do their job and professionals can respond and help people in crisis. It is unacceptable that so many people in crisis have been abandoned to wander the streets of downtown and Midtown. Bronson’s failure to address mental and behavioral health has meant more and more residents don’t want to venture to local businesses in downtown and Midtown.

Public safety is a pre-requisite for economic revitalization, but there’s more that a competent mayor can do to support economic growth. For years, our local businesses have urged the city and state to modernize our dangerous, dysfunctional roadways. Bronson has ignored this priority of the business community, but Suzanne LaFrance will listen. We need safe, attractive, modern streets that are inviting for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers to patronize local businesses. And we need to get the snow off our streets, trails, and sidewalks when it snows. It’s not that complicated — cities across America have modernized their streetscapes to encourage redevelopment and growth, and manage to get the snow cleared in the winter.

Downtown and Midtown need more housing. With decades of private sector experience and municipal expertise, LaFrance has the experience and approach to work with developers and get more housing built here in Anchorage.

Finally, we need a mayor who understands how rapidly evolving energy technology can drive innovation and reduce costs for businesses and consumers. Unlike Bronson, who has turned down federal funds that would have reduced municipal costs for our bus fleet, LaFrance has a background in tech and understands how to collaborate with Chugach Electric Association and Enstar to drive energy innovation. As our Cook Inlet gas supplies dwindle, we need a business leader who supports innovation.

For too long, Bronson has allowed downtown and Midtown to deteriorate, along with our entire community. Anchorage needs new leadership. LaFrance has a record of fighting for our local businesses and neighborhoods to restore growth and prosperity to our city.

Dr. Daniel Volland is a small-business owner and represents North Anchorage on the Anchorage Assembly.

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