2/21/23: The Anchorage Assembly voted unanimously to approve AO 2022-17, As Amended, to add Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples' Day as paid municipal holidays.
This year, Juneteenth will be recongnized on June 19, 2023 and Indigenous Peoples' Day will be recognized on October 9, 2023.
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Next week at the February 21 Regular Assembly Meeting, the Anchorage Assembly will hear public testimony on AO 2022-17, an ordinance to change the Municipality of Anchorage Paid Holiday calendar in 2023.
Sponsored by Assembly Members Austin Quinn-Davidson, Felix Rivera and Meg Zaletel, the ordinance adds Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples’ Day to the Municipality of Anchorage paid holiday calendar, effective April 1, 2023.
“The month of February is an important time to collectively celebrate the contributions, achievements and history of Black people in our community, whose impact has been historically overlooked and undervalued,” said Member Quinn-Davidson. “In the spirit of celebrations happening across town this month, we are pleased to introduce a proposal to formalize cultural celebrations as paid Municipal holidays throughout the year.”
The ordinance also proposes removing Seward’s Day from the calendar beginning in 2024. The proposed ordinance and associated materials are available to view online:
“Recognizing these holidays mirrors actions being taken nationally and at the State,” said Member Zaletel. “But for Anchorage, this is an opportunity to affirm the people of color working at the Municipality, honor the histories that contributed to where we are today and raise awareness among the entire workforce in celebration.”
If approved, the holiday calendar established by AO 2023-17 would automatically apply to executive and non-represented positions in the Municipality effective April 1, 2023. The proposal also calls upon the Administration to confer with bargaining units for represented employees to implement the same recognized holidays as soon as possible.
“Throughout the Municipality, we are working towards regular and meaningful recognition of the impact of Indigenous peoples—particularly Alaska Native people—in our community,” said Member Rivera. “Observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a paid municipal holiday is fitting. This proposal would give municipal employees a well-deserved extra day off in 2023, but only if the Administration is willing to take the path forward and confer with bargaining units for represented employees to implement the change to holiday calendars this year."
AO 2023-17 is expected to be scheduled for public hearing at the next Regular Assembly Meeting on February 21, 2023. Here are options to testify: