As a dweller of the beyond-the-city area, I still spend a great deal of time in Anchorage proper every week, whether it's for church, occasional shopping, meeting up with friends, geocaching, eating out, or just in general hiking around. If we wanted to live in an actual city, we might have moved here instead of a couple dozen miles north, since we both worked in town for a couple of decades.
For one thing, my husband and I both Hate parking meters! It is a veritable nuisance to have to keep leaving stores or businesses to run out and either feed the meter or move the car every two hours and then feed the next meter. I was once on my way to feed the coin-gobbler when I ran into an old friend who had moved but was back in town visiting. It was so good to see her, and we talked for 15-20 minutes. When I got back outside two officers were lounging against a nearby building to watch me fume over my parking ticket. I was all of about five minutes late; they had to have been waiting for the flag to flip. I had planned to run into a couple more stores, but what was the point? I loaded up and left for a mall where I could get everything I needed, have plenty of free parking access, and no lurking, smirking parking officers. I can see why so many businesses and professional people have left the downtown area.
As far as the drivers, one reviewer had her own description of them. I suspect that the drivers she observed had just arrived from the same place that she did. I generally find drivers here to be much like drivers anywhere - mostly courteous, friendly, cautious, and helpful.
The fines and fees that the first reviewer outlined are inexcusable. A base starting fee of $130/day is outrageous! There are a lot of "small" fees such as that and they add up in a big hurry. It's as if the muni powers that be are more interested in big business people with deep-but-open pockets all aimed at muni offices. It makes no sense that an in-town homeowner cannot erect a plastic storage shed in his back yard without muni inspectors doubling and tripling the cost of his kit!
Crime in the big city is entirely out of control. SB91 has been nobody's friend, especially businesses. One local police officer who spoke at a university class I took explained that he was not allowed to engage an active thief in conversation or arrest! He watched one thief leave a store with a cart loaded with very high-price items; the thief smiled at him as he left and said only, "SB91." Shoplifting is a multi-million dollar business every year in Anchorage alone, raising prices for all the rest of us and forcing many small businesses to close. Homeowners throw up their hands and leave or else take their chances, armed or unarmed. One friend who lives in a very nice neighborhood told me of local thieves who steal flowers from other yards as soon as they are planted. APD has more important crimes to chase than flower-thiefs, but this adds up for the homeowners. Even auto theft is not regarded as a high-crime priority, it has become so common. Even if arrested, vehicle theft is not punished prohibitively. And drunk driving? A person can be convicted repeatedly and still continue to drive drunk, too often leaving grieving family members and friends behind. But this is a state problem that needs fixing, not just a muni one.
Anchorage has excellent medical care and many fine businesses, as well as many thousands of good people who enjoy loving here. Almost all businesses have adequate curb cuts and handicap access. You can shop for anything, eat out at amazing restaurants, find excellent churches, enjoy fine arts and museums, and still go fishing or be amazed by large game roaming the streets, all within minutes. The paved bike trails are well maintained, although it is good to always ride with a buddy or two, wear your helmet, and remain aware of your surroundings. Be responsible for your own safety!
As the old saying reminds us, anywhere you go, there you are. If you are a positive, upbeat, friendly, courteous person, that's mostly the type of person you'll meet no matter where you are. Anchorage is as full of them as any place. We have military installations here; if you're not a quiet-natured introvert, people in uniform appreciate being thanked for their service as you walk by them in a store or on the street. People are seen every day holding a door open for the next person coming through, smiling and saying hi to a stranger, and just in general enjoying life. No place is perfect and there are always governments or organizations to criticize, but Anchorage has a lot of positives in the balance: no general sales tax, no income tax, many store employees who carefully follow age restrictions on the sales of their products, and people who pick up after others and help cut down on litter. We have great muni parks and cultural and patriotic celebrations. The libraries are awesome! If you like big cities, Anchorage has a lot going for it! read more
