Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan KTUU.com announced a new anti- ANCHORAGE, Alaska panhandling initiative Wednesday. The “Change for Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan the Better” campaign, which announced a new anti- combines public information panhandling initiative and police enforcement Wednesday. The “Change for measures, is meant to counter the Better” campaign, which what Sullivan calls a growing combines public information trend of panhandling in the and police enforcement city. measures, is meant to counter “The simple fact is this: what Sullivan calls a growing panhandlers are growing in trend of panhandling in the numbers for many reasons, not city. the least of which is the ease with which they can get “The simple fact is this: money here in Anchorage,” panhandlers are growing in Sullivan said. “We are a numbers for many reasons, not generous city, and we are the least of which is the filled with generous ease with which they can get individuals.” money here in Anchorage,” The initiative is intended to Sullivan said. “We are a redirect funds currently generous city, and we are given to panhandlers to local filled with generous charities and other groups individuals.” that provide food, clothing and shelter to those in need. The initiative is intended to A variety of means will be redirect funds currently used to get the message out, given to panhandlers to local including bus signs, flyers charities and other groups in city utility bills, public that provide food, clothing service announcements, social and shelter to those in need. media and a website. A variety of means will be “People enjoy the instant used to get the message out, gratification of giving a including bus signs, flyers dollar or two to a panhandler, in city utility bills, public ” Sullivan said. “But that service announcements, social money would be better spent media and a website. at the various social service programs across the city.” “People enjoy the instant Another goal of the campaign gratification of giving a is to remind people that it’s dollar or two to a panhandler, illegal in Anchorage for ” Sullivan said. “But that people in vehicles to give money would be better spent money to people soliciting at the various social service money, rides or favors in a programs across the city.” way that distracts drivers. Sullivan says the Anchorage Another goal of the campaign Police Department will be is to remind people that it’s making an effort to enforce illegal in Anchorage for the law for an unspecified people in vehicles to give amount of time. money to people soliciting In recent years Anchorage has money, rides or favors in a seen a persistent trend of way that distracts drivers. homelessness and the problems Sullivan says the Anchorage which accompany it, including Police Department will be a waveofoutdoordeaths on city making an effort to enforce streets. The city has the law for an unspecified established a Homeless Task amount of time. Force to address the problem, and in February a variety of In recent years Anchorage has social agencies were seen a persistent trend of represented at a homelessness homelessness and the problems forum held at Bean’s Café by which accompany it, including Channel 2. ktuu-sullivan-new- a wave of outdoordeaths on anti-panhandling-campaign- city streets. The city has 050411 established a Homeless Task Sullivan Announces New Anti- Force to address the problem, Panhandling Campaign and in February a variety of Anchorage, Dan Sullivan, social agencies were panhandling, campaign, represented at a homelessness homelessness forum held at Bean’s Café by By Chris Klint Channel 2.
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