Mess see TV. Showdown at the Loussac Corral

The battle between the Bronson Administration and the Anchorage Assembly over control of the Chambers is heating up and next Friday's special meeting is almost certain to make for must-see television (or live-streaming).

During the October 28 Assembly meeting, Chair Suzanne LaFrance and Vice-Chair Christopher Constant laid a proposed ordinance on the table Thursday that would confirm that the Chair of the Assembly has management authority over Assembly premises, such as Assembly meeting spaces and areas that support meetings both in the Loussac Library and at City Hall; the Assembly and Clerk’s office spaces located in City Hall; and other space customarily used by the legislative branch departments.

The memorandum states:

"To ensure that the Assembly may effectively conduct its business safely, efficiently, and without unreasonable interruption or delay, the ordinance also provides that “[n]o person shall act to frustrate, or unreasonably deny to the presiding officer municipal resources needed to exercise the presiding officer’s management authority over assembly premises.” The provision ensures that security, IT, audio/visual, heating and cooling, utilities, and other resources needed to conduct an Assembly meeting will be made available to the Assembly."

On October 27, the Assembly wrote in a press release that COVID mitigation strategies, such as mask wearing, would be enforced in the Assembly Chambers — and as you can imagine, that went over great with the pro-COVID Bronson Administration and two ultra-conservative members of the Assembly.

Anchorage Municipal Manager Amy Demboski has argued that anyone who claims they are unable to wear a mask due to an "exemption" should be permitted in the Assembly Chambers without a face covering. Assembly member Meg Zaletel has said that an "exemption is not carte blanche."

The special meeting on November 9 where the proposed ordinance will be debated and likely voted on, is certain to be lively. You can read the memorandum and the proposed ordinance below.