So what's wrong with Fantasies?

On Tuesday ten members of the Anchorage Assembly approved AR 2008-1 and a conditional use permit for Fantasies on 5th Ave. The resolution allowes the Cathy and Carol Hartman to sell alcoholic beverages in an expanded 83 seat bar which will feature "adult" entertainment. Before the Assembly voted on the new license, no member was permitted by the Chair to ask the city attorney or the Chief of Police about the resolution or criminal activiy in the area. The Assembly 'leadership" simply forced an immediate vote on the mater without debate. The vote looked like it had already been taken in advance, just like the way the Alaska Legislature conducted its own business in Juneau behind closed doors and over the telephone.

Fantasies is located on Alaska’s busiest highway across from Merril Field. At downtown's doorstep, Fantasies is within easy walking distance of another bar, an adult toy store, a teen age strip club, two restaurants that serve beer and wine, and a even a busy motel. Thousands of visitors who see Anchorage for the first time as they drive into town on 5th Ave, will see that the "Big Wild Life" starts at Fantasies. The only adults who won't be served at Fantasies are military personnel at Elmendorf and Ft. Richardson whose base commanders have declared the Club "off limits" in order to protect their personal safety. While Mayor Begich built a new museum and a convention center downtown; the Anchorage Assembly voted itself a new red light district.

Anchorage police were called 198 times to the Hartmans' clubs in 2006 to deal with drugs, disturbances, assaults and other offences. In 2007, police calls increased to 218. Had Chief Heun been allowed to discuss the relationship between those calls and the volume of alcohol sold in the area, he would have told Assembly members it was is a "no brainier": Add a fourth liquor license in the area and you’ll have more trouble and more police calls to pay for. Fantasies remains "off limits" to military personnel. Rushing to approve the license and adjourn, Assembly members refused to ask whether more alcohol in that area might be somehow be related to Alaska’s high rate of sexual assault or contribute to human trafficking. present in Anchorage.

Our leaders reallly let us all down by rushing to approve this license. Mayor Mark Begich has until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 18th to veto this action. If want to speak up, send him an email at BegichMP@ci.anchorage.ak.us

To e-mail Assembly members, go to: WWMAS@ci.anchorage.ak.us

For mailing addresses and telephone numbers for all assembly members click:
mailto:WWMAS@ci.anchorage.ak.usHttp://www.muni.org/iceimages/Assembly2/2007assemblycontactlist.pdf