OPINION: Anchorage needs new leadership to regain youthfulness

Anchorage is a place of old-fashioned thinking, run and owned by older people. Ironically, Anchorage is very young as a city. We found ourselves in a state of stagnation. Our leaders are unable to solve core problems because they have old ideas about old problems. Our city needs to keep young people and young ideas, but which comes first?

Ultimately, there are two main issues facing Anchorage. A culture that does not provide the vibrancy that retains and attracts young, motivated, and curious people. and economic and political structures that do not support new businesses, core workers, and local production and manufacturing. Unfortunately, these two issues are inextricably linked to each other, and Anchorage’s issues are inextricably tied to the entire state, with nearly half the state’s population, economic base, and common access points.

I am a lifelong Alaskan who grew up in Anchorage and Kenai. I attended Rogers Park Elementary School, Central Middle School, and West High School. Although I attended school in Anchorage, my family’s roots as a homesteader and commercial fisherman in Kenai and Cook Inlet kept me in Alaska. It was the sense of culture and deep connection to land and sea that kept me from pursuing the vibrancy of other regions.

I have watched many friends and classmates leave Anchorage and Alaska for good, including many of the brightest students, greatest business minds, and greatest thinkers I know. I did. why? To get better and more vibrant opportunities elsewhere.

Why stay in Anchorage if you don’t have deep family or cultural connections? What has Anchorage done to make it a great place to live, work, and play? Sure. There are wonderful views and nature. As my dad says, “The best thing about Anchorage is that it’s 15 minutes from Alaska.”

I’ve been comparing trips to major cities in Europe and the United States and wondering what Anchorage is missing. How do we deal with the irony that these are old cities with young people, young ideas, and young businesses?

Anchorage needs the boldness to change and invest and break away from the sense of entitlement created by past financial aid. From individuals to politicians, we have become a society of rights. It’s a society whose formative years were fueled by oil and gas taxes, massive federal investment, free land, dividends, and access to resources with little competition. Times have changed, but culture, politics, and ideology have not.

Today, our mayors and governors think they can pave the way for progress, that failure or non-existence of public services is tolerated, and that the lack of long-term vision, planning, and fiscal policy is political. I think it is convenient. I say this as an entrepreneur and businessman, not as a pro-tax socialist. Businesses are looking for reliability, predictability, and a cultural change that supports Alaska-owned businesses.

We Alaskans are responsible not only for who we choose, but also for how we spend our money and the culture we create. The status quo requires us to invest in Alaska, buy Alaska products, mentor Alaskans, and transfer capital and assets to Alaskans. Otherwise, we will continue to wonder where the people and vibrancy have gone. Retaining youth and talent requires fostering a vibrant community and embracing a mindset of continuous innovation.

Anchorage should learn from other northern cities around the world and become a four-season hub with public spaces that promote walkability. Zoning needs to be liberalized to empower business, and it is important for local governments to be pro-business. Aging buildings and undeveloped properties need to transition to new owners, injecting new vision and energy into our city. Essentially, we need a shift in the guard that encourages older generations to invest in younger entrepreneurs.

A conversation with Bill Popp revealed his youthful mindset and connection to our broader community. Most inspiring is his vision for our cities, one that understands that government alone is not the answer and that the changes we need require collective action from individuals, organizations and businesses. .

Mr. Popp understands that for Anchorage to thrive, reinvestment from those in power, established businesses, landowners and capitalists is essential.

It’s time for Alaskans to reinvest in Alaska, or there is no future north. So I vote for Pop.

Taylor Evenson He is a third-generation Alaskan entrepreneur, investor, and 34-year-old Choose Anchorage advocate.

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