Wednesday, June 19, 2013

News
Voters To Choose Fate Of Downtown Parking Enforcement
Among the candidates and ballot measures, voters will have the opportunity to vote on Ballot Proposition 10, which would hand over downtown parking enforcement from the Anchorage Police to an arm of the municipality.
By Alexis Fernandez


The Anchorage Municipal Election is April 5. Among the candidates and ballot measures, voters will have the opportunity to vote on Ballot Proposition 10, which would hand over downtown parking enforcement from the Anchorage Police to an arm of the municipality.

For over a decade parking enforcement in downtown Anchorage has been handled by Anchorage Police and the Anchorage Community Development Authority, which is an independent arm of the municipality and enforced parking prior to police taking charge.
 
This year marks the third time over the last ten years that Anchorage voters head to the polls to vote on this issue.
 
 “I have a high degree of confidence that the agency that takes over, can take care of it better than the police officers, they are trained far better than they are to write tickets,” Yes on Prop 10 supporter Michael Hurst said.
 
Supporters of the proposition say handing over parking enforcement back to ACDA would allow police to focus on serious crimes.
 
“I think it's a waste of time for the police, they police have better things to do,” Suzi Perri, Owner of Suzi’s Woollies said.
 
Those opposed to the proposition including Susan Pacillo, who became known as one of the Anchorage parking fairies along with her sister Linny have fought the parking authority since 1992 and said it’s simply about money.
 
“It’s about revenue enhancement, if it’s not, why do they want it so bad, why do they keep trying to hold onto it, why do they keep trying to get it back.” Pacillo said.
 
Pacillo says the parking authority prior to Anchorage Police taking charge was overly aggressive and is advocating for enforcement to stay the same.
 
“Police officers are about compliance you know, and they can be fair and impartial. The parking authority never was and they never will be,” she said.