Dear Friends and Neighbors,

August is here, and we are finally enjoying a sunny summer in Anchorage! I hope you are getting outside, enjoying the long days and warmer weather.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy summer in Alaska is by attending concerts. There are always great concerts around the state, from small, intimate shows to large festivals.

Whether you're into rock, country, pop, or something else, you'll surely find a concert you'll love. Check out this list by the Alaska Concert Connection for concert schedules.

On my birthday, my eldest son Cooper joined me on a bike ride from Bird to Gird (Bird Point to Girdwood) Amazing trip! The trails are finally dry!

Homelessness

An article in the Anchorage Daily News about homeless camping bans in San Diego drew many parallels to the growing homelessness issue here in Anchorage. Like San Diego, Anchorage's homeless population is growing significantly, outpacing available shelter space and access to low-income housing.

The closure of the Sullivan Arena as a "low-barrier" shelter in 2022, with no apparent plan of where people would go, has exacerbated the crisis. It is worth noting that temperatures in Anchorage will start dropping in September, adding another layer of urgency for individuals with virtually nowhere to go. We need a comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness, including increasing shelter space, expanding access to affordable housing, and providing more support services for people who are homeless.

I have been hearing about this repeatedly from constituents who are uncomfortable with seeing so many people on the side of the street in their neighborhoods and business owners in Midtown who are dealing with losing business because customers do not feel safe walking into their businesses. And from the perspective of those without an indoor place to sleep, with freezing temperatures 60 days away and more outdoor deaths than ever in Anchorage, getting a workable plan has truly reached a level of life and death.

Employer Child Care Survey

Do you own or run a business in Alaska? If childcare is not on your mind, it probably should be!

Access to childcare is the number one challenge facing businesses in Alaska. Without access to affordable, quality childcare, many parents are forced to choose between working and caring for their children. This can lead to businesses losing valuable employees, and it can also have a negative impact on the state's economy.

The Alaska Chamber and thread are conducting a survey to better understand the relationship between employers and childcare, and how and why they benefit from early care and education. Please take 5 minutes to fill out the survey

The rain didn't stop us from having a great time on Saturday at the Roger's Park Block Party!

You're Invited to our Midtown Meetup

How can I better serve you? Do you have ideas on making Midtown a more marvelous place to live and play? How do you think we should be investing state dollars? Would you like to see more investment in things like childcare, roads, infrastructure, parks, and trails? I want to hear from you!

We're making something special this week. Bring your family to our weekly Midtown Midweek Meetup this Wednesday, August 2nd, from noon-1 at Lucy Cuddy Park. We will be serving fresh squeezed lemonade!

Serving you,