Anchorage Assembly Sparks Firestorm with Override Vote on Resolution to Subpoena Already Available Documents

Anchorage, AK - Tonight, the Anchorage Assembly voted to override a mayor's veto of a resolution by the assembly to subpoena confidential documents they already have access to. The documents in question are bound by a 2017 confidential agreement from the Berkowitz administration. In dogged questioning of the municipal attorney, assembly members seemed to lack basic understanding of confidentiality. MEA and Chugach Electric are parties to the confidentiality. Municipal attorney Anne Helzer explained that these parties would have to waive confidentiality, a concept the assembly seemed unable to grasp.

Throughout the contentious debate, assembly members accused the municipal attorney of having baseless claims that assembly members have stated intentions to make the confidential documents public. However, in February, the assembly participated in a closed-door session when they called for the administration and utilities to make these documents public.

###​

Media Contact
Veronica Hoxie, Communications Director
Office of the Mayor
[email protected]
907-615-1568

​