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We Build Alaska

Municipality of Anchorage ends contract with Bean’s Cafe to operate Sullivan Arena shelter

In a letter obtained by the Landmine, the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) informed Lisa Sauder, CEO of Bean’s Cafe, that their contract to run the Sullivan Arena shelter will end on September 15, 2021. Bean’s Cafe, a non-profit, has been operating the Sullivan Arena mass shelter since March 2020 when it was opened as an emergency shelter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the people staying at the Brother Francis Shelter and Bean’s Cafe on Third Avenue relocated to the Sullivan.

The MOA put out a request (RFP) for proposal on August 16 to “Provide Congregate Emergency Shelter Services for People Experiencing Homelessness.” The RFP does not mention the Sullivan Arena shelter. Instead, it says a “specific shelter site has not been identified.”

After taking office in July, Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson proposed constructing a new mass shelter and navigation center on Tudor and Elmore. The Assembly has yet to take up the proposal. Many Assembly members favor smaller shelters spread out around the city. In late July, the Assembly approved a facilitator to assist in negotiations with the Bronson administration. A working group recently narrowed down a shelter to seven sites around the city, but no clear plan has been agreed to.

Sources inform us the winner of the RFP is 99 Plus 1, Inc. However, the MOA would not confirm, instead saying, “The winner will be announced when negotiations are done.” RFP responses were due on August 30. According to State of Alaska business records, 99 Plus 1 Inc. was setup on September 14, 2020 and is owned by Theresa Pisa. The RFP states anyone submitting a proposal must have three years of experience delivering services in the listed in the scope.

Update: Here is the layoff notice sent to Bean’s Cafe employees at the Sullivan Arena. The letter says 77 people are being laid off as a result of the contract loss.

This is a developing story.

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turbodigits
3 years ago

Glad you’re keeping your eye on this, Jeff. Thanks.

PJ Olson
3 years ago

“The Municipality of Anchorage (hereinafter “Anchorage”) has provided shelter for over 600 persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) since March of 2020 using both congregate and non-congregate shelter sites.” ‘’When did the taxpayers of Anchorage become responsible for the room and board and other costs of these people? ’When did the government become the default caretaker for people? ’Government charity isn’t charity at all…it’s socialism or maybe straight communism. ‘’The government takes from those who have worked for what they have to give to those who have not earned it. ‘’The American expression of the Marxist slogan “From each according to his… Read more »

Upgreydd
3 years ago
Reply to  PJ Olson

You’re missing a key point here…. which is Bronson’s continued rewarding of friends with zero experience with contracts and jobs. If he’s got some other solution to homelessness, great. I haven’t seen it.

PJ Olson
3 years ago
Reply to  Upgreydd

You’ve missed the point entirely…it isn’t a governmental role to provide someone with a better life by taking from some who have to give to some who have not. That’s straight communism masquerading as government charity. ‘The Constitution doesn’t support stealing property from some people to give to others via government. In fact a core responsibility of government is to stop people, and that includes government, from taking our property against our will. ‘Americans have accepted the false idea that government has a right to tax us and use the proceeds to provide housing, food, free internet, and so on… Read more »

Mark
3 years ago
Reply to  PJ Olson

Right on with your view. The left needs to give up all their income for the poor if they feel that way and quit using everybody else money got their causes.

liz
3 years ago

The more research I do, the fishier it gets. Keep an eye out on this.

liz
3 years ago
Reply to  liz

Wait, is Theresa Pisa a real estate agent?

David Zaochney
2 years ago
Reply to  liz

Should know that their has been a lot of messed up stuff going on here. Like 99+1 making a deal with Cops that are possibly DEA. Their here at the Sullivan Arena homeless shelter working with CI’s selling drugs to the homeless people which is wrong in many ways.

Upgreydd
3 years ago

Jeff, thanks for reporting on this and keeping up on it. The more we learn about this and the more I research it, the more this stinks like a handout to Bronson’s friends, like everything else he does. This is what happens when we elect someone with zero public OR private sector experience running….. ANYTHING.