Jeff Brown_Jtool

Jeffrey Brown

Age: 54

Family: Angie Kearns-Brown, and 4 kids

Occupation: Social Work/Alaska Public Safety Information Network

Previous government experience or community involvement: I was involved with the Bear Valley community council as citizen for years, and worked with citizens to save Section 36 parkland from sale by the city, and worked to give input for the Anchorage 2020 plan. I ran for the House of Representatives, District 32, in 2004.

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s Degree

What is the latest book you’ve read? Or, what book do you recommend and why?: Reading now: My Sons old textbook: The Native People of Alaska, by Steve Langdon

COVID closures, cancelled civic and culture events and the decline of summer tourists have turned Anchorage’s downtown into “a ghost town.” How will you revitalize downtown Anchorage?

As mayor I will continue to fund and support initiatives and organizations that promote downtown, and continue to seek all avenues to capture federal funding for our economy. I will work with industry, government, Enterprise corporations and the non-profit community to market and promote downtown Anchorage. I also believe that downtown needs innovative development solutions that increase the number of new residences in the downtown area. I believe that downtown needs to attract more residents, which will support and grow everyday business, the arts, culture, and will encourage and support business development.

Do you support a minimum wage of $15 for municipal workers? Why or why not?

I support a $15 minimum wage. I do not believe a reasonable quality of life is within reach for many making $13.50 an hour. I also don’t believe that young workers going to school or living with their parents make up the bulk of low wage workers. I believe this is a poor excuse for not raising the minimum wage. However, I think the primary reason people have to take low wage jobs is the lack of social supports, mental health and addiction services, adequate investments in education and vocational skills. Anchorage must move out of a mentality that demands all the benefits from government, but runs away from the responsibilities. We must find new revenue soon, one way or the other, and take the burdens off of business and property owners, so that a $15 minimum wage becomes a drop in the bucket for our community, government and private sector health.

What ideas do you have to ensure that the make-up of the municipal workforce reflects the diversity of the Anchorage community?

I believe everyone must have an equal opportunity and access to employment. I would consider programs that would teach young people how to perform occupations that the municipal workforce needs to fill. I think that by reaching out to the community, we can educate and train all peoples for success in their careers and help develop those careers in ways that benefit the Municipality. Also, all federal, state and municipal laws prohibiting discrimination of any protected class will be closely adhered to. Human right apply to us all, regardless of who and how we love, worship, support politically or what we identify as. Human rights apply to all humans.

With steep declines in revenue sharing from the state of Alaska, how will you support essential city services? Will this level of support be enough to attract future investment?

I feel Anchorage takes on a disproportional share of infrastructure support that benefits all Alaskans. Our port, airport, railroad terminals, roads and utilities enrich the lives of most Alaskans. Items shipped through Anchorage should have some sort of small duty. Every day property owners in Anchorage shouldn’t have to be the subsidizing backbone for everyone else”s benefit, to our detriment. Also, online sales are disrupting modern commerce, and Anchorage must realize that it’s strangling local business. Once again, the online businesses are getting a free ride and eliminating the competition with this paradigm while using the infrastructure Anchorage’s businesses and citizens pay for dearly.

Do you have a commitment to incorporate and utilize renewable energy sources?

Of course. Modern technologies are integral to healthy communities. They are also economic drivers as new applications and potential for production arise. However, I also feel that a rush to penetration into renewables often yields results no better than the non renewables they are replacing. What good does it do to invest in an electric car whose production pollution creates more carbon and greenhouse gases than it saves compared to refurbishing an existing vehicle? Sudden large electric fleets on the grid has to use more non renewables to prevent rolling black outs. We need comprehensive thoughtful, calculated and incremental strategies. So the answer is yes, and I’m also a believer in not putting the cart before the horse.

Anchorage has a shortage of housing at multiple income levels. What can you do to mitigate the problem and how will you influence housing development toward what the city needs?

I think the planning and zoning rules need to be more pliable. I also believe that a quasi-judicial panel should be formed to give legal opinions on complaints against decision by the platting and zoning department and the Board of Zoning Commissioners. I feel that the current construct is literally preventing and discouraging development in Anchorage. However, Anchorage has to face the fact that drawing industry to Anchorage and Alaska, and identifying new revenue sources is a primary goal to development. Economic growth will diversify the housing markets, but only if we understand that all the parties involved have a responsibility to contribute, rather than walk away with the public trust.

The homeless crisis in Anchorage is persistent, disturbing and humanly tragic. How do you plan to help the municipality solve this crisis?

Addictions services, mental health services, community policing, supportive housing and maximum penetration in federal funding streams while partnering with Anchorage’s non profit community are all strategies to address this problem. I also believes public works programs to employ those who will work may be an option. It’s going to take innovative thinking and unconventional strategies to address this issue. We are only as good as we treat the most vulnerable among us, and we have a lot of work to do.

Anchorage is a university town with two institutions, one public and one private. What opportunities does this represent to the municipality?

Anchorage has an opportunity to partner with the universities to identify careers of the future for Anchorage and Alaska. By partnering with business and industry, Native Corporations, nonprofits, government and hospitals. We can identify instructional and degree programs that most benefit all of the partners, and and partner with the federal government to fund initiative that dovetail with large scale project for industry and development.

Can the mayor influence the tone of community dialogue? How?

The mayor is the chief executive of the municipality of Anchorage. The mayor has a responsibility to stand for all of the citizens of Anchorage, and not just those that agree or give the campaign contributions. The mayor must conduct her, his or there self in a way that inspires others to become more than just themselves, by giving back. The mayor shows citizens that they matter and they make a difference and are worthy of dignity and respect .The mayor does these things through his conduct. If you treat someone with dignity and respect, you are very likely to get it in return.

Local builders continually complain about delays in the municipal permitting process, and that Title 21 requirements make homes expensive. The complaints are old. Will you make changes?

I already answered this one … I think the planning and zoning rules need to be more pliable. I also believe that a quasi judicial panel should be formed to give legal opinions on complaints against decision by the platting and zoning department and the Board of Zoning Commissioners. I feel that the current construct is literally preventing and discouraging development in Anchorage. However, Anchorage has to face the fact that drawing industry to Anchorage and Alaska and identifying new revenue sources is a primary goal to development. Economic growth will diversify the housing markets, but only if we understand that all the parties involved have a responsibility to contribute, rather than walk away with the public trust.
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