The Anchorage Assembly officially waded into the state’s complicated process of figuring out where to house the controversial Legislative Information Office for lawmakers.
During its Tuesday meeting, the Assembly passed a resolution asking the state’s Legislative Council to re-think a move to purchase the Wells Fargo building in the Spenard neighborhood.
The measure’s sponsor, downtown assembly member Patrick Flynn, said the switch in location goes against the city’s long-term comprehensive development plan.
“I don’t do this very often, but I have to give a shout-out to our friends in the Federal Government, because they have abided by our comprehensive plan, and have located their administrative offices downtown in virtually every instance,” Flynn said, pointing to the new National Park Service building and U.S. Forest Service facility, both located within the Central Business District.
Though seven of the body’s 11 members voted to keep the LIO dowtown, the measure stopped short of saying they want it to stay in its current 4th Avenue space, as opposed to relocating to the state-owned Atwood building a few blocks away.
The price-tag for the Wells Fargo purchase is $20 million dollars less than what’s been proposed to buy the current 4th Avenue building, though the Legislative Council is currently evaluating whether the building meets lawmaker’s needs.
Midtown assembly member Dick Traini sided with the body’s more conservative members in opposing the measure.
In an emailed statement shortly after the vote, Amy Slinker, a spokesperson for the 4th Avenue building’s owners, wrote, “We’re pleased with the assembly’s action tonight.”
The assembly also unanimously passed an ordinance adding clearer protections for whistleblowers, and finalized minor changes to a five percent sales tax on commercial cannabis products when sales begin.
Zachariah Hughes reports on city & state politics, arts & culture, drugs, and military affairs in Anchorage and South Central Alaska.
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