The Municipality of Anchorage is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month, with a schedule of events intended to highlight community spirit and civic pride.
While Anchorage’s roots stretch back more than a century, the incorporation of the municipality came in 1975, combining the city and borough into a unified government. To mark the milestone, city officials plan events beginning Friday with a “night market” at Town Square Park from 5 to 8:30 pm. The celebration continues through November with music, art, and community parties.
But for many residents, the timing of the festivities underscores a sharp irony. Anchorage in 2025 is not the Anchorage of 1975. Today, the city’s streets and parks bear the visible signs of social decay — homeless encampments scattered across downtown, drug use in full view, and petty thefts that have become routine in local businesses. Visitors to Town Square Park, where Friday’s event will be staged, have long complained about disorder and safety concerns in the very heart of the city…