Mayor of Anchorage – Alaska Politics and Elections

Anchorage Mayor provides clarity about the Municipality’s timeline to ease restrictions on businesses

Editor — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 20:14:08 +0000

Wednesday, April 22nd community briefing: Today, the Mayor will provide clarity about the Municipality’s timeline to ease restrictions on businesses. He will be joined by Natasha Pineda, Director of the Anchorage Health Department and Chris Schutte, Director of the Office of Community and Economic Development. The “Safe Anchorage: Roadmap to Reopening the Municipality of Anchorage” is available online at muni.org/COVID-19/roadmap For the latest information about the Municipality’s response to COVID-19, please visit muni.org/COVID-19
Posted by Mayor Ethan Berkowitz on Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a community briefing about the Municipality and Federal Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Wednesday, April 22nd community briefing:

Today, the Mayor will provide clarity about the Municipality’s timeline to ease restrictions on businesses.

He will be joined by Natasha Pineda, Director of the Anchorage Health Department and Chris Schutte, Director of the Office of Community and Economic Development.
The “Safe Anchorage: Roadmap to Reopening the Municipality of Anchorage” is available online at muni.org/COVID-19/roadmap For the latest information about the Municipality’s response to COVID-19, please visit muni.org/COVID-19

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Mayor Berkowitz will discuss a roadmap to re-open Anchorage

Editor — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 00:10:03 +0000

April 20, 2020: in today’s community briefing, Mayor Berkowitz will discuss a roadmap to re-open Anchorage. He will be joined by Natasha Pineda, Director, Anchorage Health Department; Dr. Bruce Chandler, Medical Officer, Anchorage Health Department; Chris Schutte, Director, Office of Community and Economic Development. Anchorage residents may participate in the briefing by submitting questions in the comments of the Facebook live.
Posted by Mayor Ethan Berkowitz on Monday, April 20, 2020

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a community briefing about the Municipality and Federal Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Monday, April 20, noon – 4:00 p.m., 2020

April 20, 2020: in today’s community briefing, Mayor Berkowitz will discuss a roadmap to re-open Anchorage. He will be joined by Natasha Pineda, Director, Anchorage Health Department; Dr. Bruce Chandler, Medical Officer, Anchorage Health Department; Chris Schutte, Director, Office of Community and Economic Development. Anchorage residents may participate in the briefing by submitting questions in the comments of the Facebook live.

Roadmap to Reopening Anchorage

The post Mayor Berkowitz will discuss a roadmap to re-open Anchorage appeared first on Alaska Politics and Elections.

Anchorage Mayor Berkowitz – COVID19 Press Briefing Property taxes have been extended one month well demands on Food Banks increase 75%

Editor — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 20:11:40 +0000

Mayor Berkowitz’s April 17, 2020 COVID-19 community update. Today’s guests include Julia Luey, Vice President of Treatment Services at VOA Alaska, and mental health therapist Tad Sumner of Psychology Resources, and a UAA Professor. Julia and Tad will share how families can focus on positive relationships, and how parents can give themselves and their children grace during this time. Ways to identify substance misuse and early intervention will also be discussed. Community members are invited to ask questions in the comments and we’ll do our best to have them answered. #HunkerDownAnchorTown
Posted by Mayor Ethan Berkowitz on Friday, April 17, 2020

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a community briefing about the Municipality and Federal Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Monday, April 17, noon – 1:00 p.m., 2020

Mayor Berkowitz’s April 17, 2020 COVID-19 community update. Today’s guests include Julia Luey, Vice President of Treatment Services at VOA Alaska, and mental health therapist Tad Sumner of Psychology Resources, and a UAA Professor. Julia and Tad will share how families can focus on positive relationships, and how parents can give themselves and their children grace during this time. Ways to identify substance misuse and early intervention will also be discussed.

Community members are invited to ask questions in the comments and we’ll do our best to have them answered.

Discussion included emphasis on directing funding for the safety of all Alaskans with deep concern regarding reports of higher levels of domestic violence, suicide and substance use and abuse within our communities during this time. Murkowski stated being very aware that shelter in place might not be a safe place for the most vulnerable among us. Local and State government discussion involved the Cares Act, the Postal Service and ensuring we have in place the funding for behavioral and mental health support within our Alaskan communities.

The post Anchorage Mayor Berkowitz – COVID19 Press Briefing Property taxes have been extended one month well demands on Food Banks increase 75% appeared first on Alaska Politics and Elections.

Anchorage Press Briefing – Mayor Updates and Extends Emergency Orders

Editor — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 22:31:38 +0000

Today’s community briefing with Mayor Berkowitz features the Chief Medical Officers from the Alaska Native Medical Center, Providence Health & Services Alaska, and Alaska Regional Hospital. We encourage the public to ask questions in the comments and we’ll do our best to have them answered.
Posted by Mayor Ethan Berkowitz on Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a community briefing about the Municipality and Federal Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Wednesday, April 15, noon – 1:00 p.m., 2020

The briefings will be live streamed on the Mayor’s Facebook page. Residents may participate in the briefing by submitting questions in the comments of the Facebook live.

Mayor Updates and Extends Emergency Orders

4/14/2020

Mayor’s Corner

ANCHORAGE — Today Mayor Berkowitz issued Emergency Order EO-06, which updates and extends previous emergency orders. Emergency Order EO-06 includes an updated version of the Hunker Down Order (EO-03), and extends the order to 11:59 p.m. on May 5. Emergency Order EO-02, which preserved personal protective equipment (PPE) and prohibited certain non-urgent medical procedures, is extended until 11:59 p.m. on April 19, at which time it will be updated with a new order that allows for many elective medical procedures to resume. Emergency Order EO-04, which waived bag fees, is extended until 11:59 p.m. on June 5, and now also allows businesses to temporarily provide customers with plastic bags.

Public health experts advise that COVID-19 continues to pose a significant risk to the health and safety of Anchorage residents. The virus still spreads easily from person to person, and causes significant health complications and even death among a relatively high number of patients. Immediately removing physical distancing restrictions would likely result in a surge of COVID-19 cases that overwhelms Anchorage’s expanded health care capacity.

The Municipality and health care providers have made progress in preparing for and slowing the spread of COVID-19. The Municipality has increased its contact tracing capacity, collected PPE, and worked with the State and hospitals to increase hospital bed availability. Evidence suggests that by staying at home as much as possible, Anchorage residents are flattening the curve.

Recognizing the progress that has been made, the new order begins the process of easing restrictions. The temporary moratorium on elective procedures successfully increased the supply of PPE available to health care workers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the Municipality is working in coordination with the State to allow for many elective medical procedures to resume.

Further loosening of restrictions will require Anchorage to have robust capacity to test residents, conduct contact tracing, and treat patients. The Municipality is working with public health experts to develop and implement a strategy to loosen restrictions in a manner that is safe and timely.

“Anchorage has done a great job responding to this crisis” said Mayor Berkowitz. “We hunkered down and are saving lives. Our work is not done; the virus is still out there. But we know that if we stay disciplined and maintain physical distancing and good hygiene, we will be able to keep easing restrictions and continue reopening the economy.”

The Hunker Down order includes updated guidance for businesses and individuals. The order:

Prohibits businesses from knowingly permitting symptomatic employees or others likely to be contagious with COVID-19 from working outside the home.
Mandates that businesses must allow and shall strongly encourage employees to wear cloth face-coverings or masks when around the public or in close proximity to other employees. The order strongly encourages individuals to wear a cloth face-covering or mask whenever in public.
Allows up to two people to be inside a non-critical business that is closed to the public for the purposes of essential upkeep, site maintenance, performing payroll, or facilitating remote business operations or online order fulfillment through email or physical mail, assuming proper physical distancing measures can be accomplished. Non critical businesses may not operate via curbside or delivery service model at this time.
Clarifies that farmer’s markets, food trucks, and landscapers are critical businesses.
Allows sewing, quilting, and fabric stores to open for curbside pick-up and delivery.
Updates the order to apply to everyone in Anchorage by mandating that everyone stay home as much as possible, and that home may include a residence, a temporary residence, or a shelter.

Emergency Order EO-04 allows businesses to temporarily provide customers with plastic bags because the pandemic has limited the supply of paper bags available to some critical businesses.

Anchorage COVID-19 Response UPDATE April 14

CORRECTION TO PREVIOUS PRESS RELEASE: Five Alaska communities were impacted by positive test results during this reporting period.

Eight new cases of COVID-19 announced in five Alaska communities; one new death

April 14, 2020 ANCHORAGE — The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) today announced one new death and eight new cases of COVID-19 in five Alaska communities – Anchorage (4), Girdwood (1), Wasilla (1), Juneau (1) and Craig (1). This brings the total case count in Alaska on April 13 to 285.

These new cases were reported from 12:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on April 13 and reflect data posted at noon today on coronavirus-response-alaska-dhss.hub.arcgis.com.

This person who died was a 33-year-old female from Wasilla who had preexisting conditions. The person was reported as a new case on April 8. She died in an Anchorage hospital on April 12 and her death was reported a day later to DHSS. This brings the total deaths in Alaska related to COVID-19 to nine.

“Our thoughts today are with this individual, her friends and family and also with the health care providers who cared for her,” said Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink. “This is a reminder that sometimes young people also have underlying health issues that puts them at higher risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19. We know it’s getting harder for Alaskans to continue to stay home and keep maintaining distance from others but this is critically important to prevent the loss of life, to protect our health care infrastructure and to help us recover faster once we are able to lift our current health restrictions.”

Of the new cases, four are male and four are female. Four are aged 20-29; three are aged 30-39; and one is aged 40-49. There have been 32 total hospitalizations and nine deaths.

The post Anchorage Press Briefing – Mayor Updates and Extends Emergency Orders appeared first on Alaska Politics and Elections.

Mayor to give COVID-19 community update with Senator Murkowski

Editor — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 20:09:38 +0000

Today’s community briefing with Mayor Berkowitz includes Senator Lisa Murkowski, with a CARES Act update.
Posted by Mayor Ethan Berkowitz on Monday, April 13, 2020

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a community briefing about the Municipality and Federal Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Monday, April 13, noon – 1:00 p.m., 2020

The briefings will be live streamed on the Mayor’s Facebook page. Residents may participate in the briefing by submitting questions in the comments of the Facebook live.

The post Mayor to give COVID-19 community update with Senator Murkowski appeared first on Alaska Politics and Elections.

Anchorage Mayor discusses economic resources for local businesses during COVID19 lockdown

Editor — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 20:11:15 +0000

Community update with Mayor Berkowitz, Jon Bittner (Alaska Small Business Development Center), and Jasmin Smith (The Business Boutique)
Posted by Mayor Ethan Berkowitz on Friday, April 10, 2020

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a public briefing on COVID-19 and discusses economic resources available for local businesses

April 10, 2020

Mayor Berkowitz’s Economic Resiliency Task Force

The Economic Resiliency Task Force is a coalition convened by Mayor Berkowitz of business, non-profit, and community leaders with the top economic expertise and representing nearly all sectors of the business and non-profit communities. It’s a resource for Anchorage and the local economy as we navigate the impacts of COVID-19.

Frontline Business Safety Initiative

Please note this program is designed for business owners for independent contractors who work directly with the public on a daily basis or prepare food for the public

The post Anchorage Mayor discusses economic resources for local businesses during COVID19 lockdown appeared first on Alaska Politics and Elections.

Mayor Berkowitz is joined by Anchorage Health Department Director Natasha Pineda

Editor — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 20:13:22 +0000

In today’s community briefing about COVID-19, Mayor Berkowitz is joined by Anchorage Health Department Director Natasha Pineda. The community is encouraged to ask questions in the comments and we’ll do our best to get them answered. #HunkerDownAnchorTown
Posted by Mayor Ethan Berkowitz on Monday, April 6, 2020

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a public briefing on COVID-19

In today’s community briefing about COVID-19, Mayor Berkowitz is joined by Anchorage Health Department Director Natasha Pineda. The community is encouraged to ask questions in the comments and we’ll do our best to get them answered. #HunkerDownAnchorTown

April 6, 2020

The post Mayor Berkowitz is joined by Anchorage Health Department Director Natasha Pineda appeared first on Alaska Politics and Elections.

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a public briefing on COVID-19

Editor — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:24:58 +0000

In today’s community briefing about COVID-19, the Mayor is joined by Superintendent Dr. Deena Bishop, who will provide an update about the school district, and Public Transportation Director Jamie Acton, who will give an update about People Mover services. Residents may participate in the briefing by submitting questions in the comments of the Facebook live.
Posted by Mayor Ethan Berkowitz on Friday, April 3, 2020

Friday, April 3,

In today’s community briefing about COVID-19, the Mayor is joined by Superintendent Dr. Deena Bishop, who will provide an update about the school district, and Public Transportation Director Jamie Acton, who will give an update about People Mover services. Residents may participate in the briefing by submitting questions in the comments of the Facebook live.

COVID-19 Multi-Lingual Resources

The post Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a public briefing on COVID-19 appeared first on Alaska Politics and Elections.

Monday, March 30, 2020 – COVID-19 Community Update from Mayor Ethan Berkowitz.

Editor — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 19:15:24 +0000

Monday, March 30, 2020 - COVID-19 Community Update from Mayor Ethan Berkowitz.
Posted by Mayor Ethan Berkowitz on Monday, March 30, 2020

Monday, March 30, 2020 – COVID-19 Community Update from Mayor Ethan Berkowitz.

Business fines of $1,000 for violating the ‘Hunker Down’ orders. COVID19 task force monitoring community.

Municipality of Anchorage establishes alternate care site in the Alaska Airlines Center as Precautionary Measure

On-site preparations began last week in anticipation of potential hospitalization needs. The Alaska Airline Center ACS has the capacity to support at least 150 patients.

“When our local hospitals experience an overwhelming surge of patients as a result of COVID-19, we need decompression plans like an alternate care site at the ready,” said Anchorage Health Department Director Natasha Pineda.

March 30, 2020

The post Monday, March 30, 2020 – COVID-19 Community Update from Mayor Ethan Berkowitz. appeared first on Alaska Politics and Elections.

Mayor of Anchorage – Alaska Politics and Elections

Anchorage Mayor provides clarity about the Municipality’s timeline to ease restrictions on businesses

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a community briefing about the Municipality and Federal Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

How many confirmed cases of COVID-19 are there in Alaska?

Latest data on COVID-19 in Alaska

Alaska Borough/Community Websites

Mayor Berkowitz will discuss a roadmap to re-open Anchorage

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a community briefing about the Municipality and Federal Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

How many confirmed cases of COVID-19 are there in Alaska?

Latest data on COVID-19 in Alaska

Alaska Borough/Community Websites

Anchorage Mayor Berkowitz – COVID19 Press Briefing Property taxes have been extended one month well demands on Food Banks increase 75%

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a community briefing about the Municipality and Federal Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

How many confirmed cases of COVID-19 are there in Alaska?

Latest data on COVID-19 in Alaska

Alaska Borough/Community Websites

Anchorage Press Briefing – Mayor Updates and Extends Emergency Orders

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a community briefing about the Municipality and Federal Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Mayor Updates and Extends Emergency Orders

How many confirmed cases of COVID-19 are there in Alaska?

Latest data on COVID-19 in Alaska

Alaska Borough/Community Websites

Mayor to give COVID-19 community update with Senator Murkowski

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a community briefing about the Municipality and Federal Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

How many confirmed cases of COVID-19 are there in Alaska?

Latest data on COVID-19 in Alaska

Alaska Borough/Community Websites

Anchorage Mayor discusses economic resources for local businesses during COVID19 lockdown

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a public briefing on COVID-19 and discusses economic resources available for local businesses

Mayor Berkowitz’s Economic Resiliency Task Force

Frontline Business Safety Initiative

How many confirmed cases of COVID-19 are there in Alaska?

Latest data on COVID-19 in Alaska

Mayor Berkowitz is joined by Anchorage Health Department Director Natasha Pineda

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a public briefing on COVID-19

How many confirmed cases of COVID-19 are there in Alaska?

Latest data on COVID-19 in Alaska

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz gives a public briefing on COVID-19

Monday, March 30, 2020 – COVID-19 Community Update from Mayor Ethan Berkowitz.

Monday, March 30, 2020 – COVID-19 Community Update from Mayor Ethan Berkowitz.

Municipality of Anchorage establishes alternate care site in the Alaska Airlines Center as Precautionary Measure