This week’s snowstorm exposed problems in Anchorage’s plowing operations, including resource shortages that elected leaders were only made aware of in late November — just weeks before much of the city received 1 to 2 feet of snow over three days.
snow event that would have posed a challenge to clean up in any year. However, several are also pointing to larger problems that only recently came to light and are exacerbating the weather event: what they described as poor preparation by the Bronson administration ahead of the winter plowing season, and a lack of attention to significant job vacancies, busted equipment and rising costs squeezing municipal budgets for essential services.
“We’re having a hard time putting people in seats,” VanLandingham told the Assembly, warning that with winter bearing down, there was only so much that additional funding could do to remedy likely delays digging the city out after a major snowfall. “Because we are struggling with manpower issues right now, I don’t know how much more work we’re going to be able to complete.”
She rejected the assertion by Assembly members that flat-funding the snow plow budget amid aggressive inflation amounted to a service cut. In response to specific questions on plowing issues, a spokesman for the Bronson administration emailed a statement Friday afternoon with the most up-to-date figures on citywide progress.“As with any large employer, the Municipality of Anchorage has faced challenges in hiring holders and equipment operators. We have been working with the unions, HR, community partners and more to bring people on board.
Those issues might not have come so glaringly to light if the city had not been hit by what is, by local standards, an exceptionally heavy snowfall for early winter.
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