What's Happening in Anchorage, AK…

Following objections to the plan from residents, Anchorage officials have decided not to make cuts to the city's flower and horticulture program, according to an article in the Anchorage Daily News.

John Weddleton, a city assemblyman, suggested dropping the whole horticultural budget, which amounts to $1.7m, and using the funds to address the problem of illegal camps set up by the homeless, and to move homeless people to emergency shelters.

However, after receiving over 400 emails objecting to the cuts, and expressing support for public greenhouses and downtown flowers, Weddleton dropped the proposal. He said people had made their feelings extremely clear, and did not want to get rid of something that brings happiness. He also described the flowers as ‘awesome’.

The horticulture supervisor for Anchorage, Sandy Potvin, said the cuts would “destroy the city's decades-old public greenhouses.” The greenhouses total 52,000 square feet in ten locations, and there are 179 landscape sites dealing with shrubs and trees. They contain 3,007 feet of hedge, 1,135 perennials, 39,525 shrubs, and 21,600 trees. They are open to the public, and the various plants are used to beautify the city.

Ethan Berkowitz, the mayor of Anchorage, says it will be able to find other ways to increase services for the homeless, leaving the horticultural budget intact. Officials discussing measures like this might use flyer printing to keep residents informed of important decisions.