Trista, if you drive down to that area you'll see tents pitched on sidewalks almost like rows of condos. Alcohol is openly consumed on the doorstep of closed businesses. Buildings that are vacant are being broken into and occupied by the homeless. The Ship Creek Trail, one of the newest and nicest in Anchorage is home to murder, rapes, and homeless camps. 
If the mayor and the assembly insisted on alcohol laws being enforced at the same level they insist for marijuana half the liquor stores in town would be shut down.
Commercial business in the area died during 80's recession and the plight that developed over time is responsible for some of this behavior. The muni has a projected 20 million deficit, the ASD has a projected 24 million deficit and the teachers want another pay increase on top of that, and property owners are taxed to the cap, there has been a 6% increase in property taxes under this mayor. What is your solution to the problem and where is the money going to come from?