OPINION: Project Anchorage is a chance to take control of our own future

Since June, I’ve been following the news about Project Anchorage, a proposal to implement a temporary sales tax aimed at revitalizing our city while providing a sustainable revenue stream to reduce property taxes. For the first time in a long while, I feel truly excited about what lies ahead for Anchorage. This proposal gives us, the residents, the power to actively shape our community’s future and invest in projects that will improve our quality of life. It’s a chance to build a city we’re proud to call home.

As someone who grew up as an Army brat, moving from place to place, I’ve experienced a lot of communities. But Anchorage has always stood out. My first time here was during middle school and the early part of high school in the 1990s when my family was stationed on Fort Richardson. In the late 2000s, I returned to Alaska, this time for good. I built my career, got married, earned my Ph.D. at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and grew a beautiful and hilarious family with my spouse. This city is my home.

Unfortunately, in recent years, I’ve watched as fewer young adults choose Anchorage as their home. The population decline has been difficult to witness, especially knowing that it’s not about teenagers leaving — it’s about the next generation not seeing a future here when it’s time to build a life, raise a family, or start a business. As a researcher and a local resident, I understand what drives those decisions.

People want to feel connected to a place where they can thrive personally and professionally, grow, and find opportunities for themselves and their families. Too often, our leaders are forced to focus on reacting to problems rather than envisioning what’s possible if we aim high. Project Anchorage allows us to be proactive. It’s a unique opportunity to dream big and take real, concrete steps to make Anchorage a city that we all want to call home.

This is our moment. Anchorage residents have been sharing ideas all summer — more than 300 project suggestions have come in from across the community. Supporters of Project Anchorage have put forward a smart, middle-of-the-road solution that captures visitor spending, reduces property taxes and invests in quality-of-life projects that will attract and retain the next generation of Alaskans.

I believe this initiative can be a turning point for our city, and I hope you’ll join me in supporting it on the ballot next spring. Let’s give Anchorage residents the opportunity to define what we want our community to be — for ourselves and for the generations to come.

Alyssa Rodrigues is a longtime Anchorage resident who returned as an adult after spending her childhood here as part of a military family stationed at Fort Richardson. As a small business owner and university employee, she now calls Anchorage home, where she lives with her spouse and three children.

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