Thread by @KendraAKTX

Our @ArciniegaStreet crew just left Centennial Park after giving our houseless neighbors sandwiches and snack bags. These are human beings that Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson has left for dead, out of sight in bear country & victim to the elements.

Here is what we witnessed. 🧵

We witnessed children outside barefoot + in sandals w/only soaked sweaters as a source of warmth. The area is flooded. No umbrellas. Hardly any tarps. Everyone soaking wet & shivering, standing in line for food, frantically searching for coffee as a means to stay warm. #Anchorage

We witnessed a group of adults huddled by a fire, some rocking back and forth. Two of them were holding their jackets over an open fire with large sticks in an attempt to dry off their clothes. One of the volunteers said everyone’s clothes + blankets are sopping wet. #Anchorage

We witnessed several houseless community members at the camp with dogs and puppies - also soaking wet - and they were sharing their own food with them. Centennial Park has hundreds of souls here - adults, children, veterans, elders, pets. #Anchorage

One gentleman told us that he woke up in the middle of the night to some guy he didn’t know going inside his tent & laying next to him just to sleep. The rain is incessant. Campers are so desperate for dry shelter that they’re willing to breach other people’s tents. #Anchorage

An adult female camper died of an overdose the other day and there were no resources and no adequate staffing or anyone to administer narcan. Continued trauma to both campers and Parks & Rec employees on site. The mayor’s office doesn’t want people talking about that. #Anchorage

Centennial Park is completely unnavigable for people with disabilities. Almost all the walking space is flooded. If not giant puddles, then piles of mushy mud everywhere. There aren’t enough tents or tarps. Most people don’t have adequate footwear. It’s inhumane. #Anchorage

Four bears have been killed so far because wildlife keeps coming around and posing threats to the houseless community who are living there. Instead of providing adequate shelter at The Golden Lion as planned, Mayor Bronson decided that bear country was better. #Anchorage

The situation at Centennial Park is a humanitarian crisis. Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson failed these adults, elders, teens, children & veterans in the gravest terms.

Character is how you treat people who can do nothing for you.

This is a portrait of Mayor Bronson’s character.

**shelter at the old Alaska Club and supplemental shelter and treatment at The Golden Lion. I misspoke, but you get what I mean.