percent decrease in violent crime and the murder rate dropped by a third.
Many of these urban planning concerns can be found in Anchorage. During the dark winter's, most areas of downtown are poorly lit. Public transit stops and sidewalks are poorly maintained, having huge implications on safety. Large swaths of surface parking throughout the city create secluded areas which become hotspots for criminal activity. Lax zoning, absent of long term neighborhood planning coupled with subpar developers has created built spaces that breed gender violence in Anchorage. A lack of affordable housing forces women and families to the substandard margins where they lack support networks and are increasingly vulnerable to violence—think the thankfully demolished Inlet Inn or the Big Timber Motel or the array of site condos in East Anchorage. Mixed use, higher-density development that is linked to an effective mass transit system and pedestrian friendly streets, can create more inclusive communities and increase social cohesion among Anchorageites.
The last important point to make is the need for increased leadership positions in civic matters for women in Anchorage. We have never had a woman mayor and only three of eleven assembly seats are held by women—and even fewer are held by women of color, which is shocking for a city that is 50 percent female and 41 percent non white. Furthermore, women need to be more included in non-elected leadership positions within the Division of Planning and Division of Transportation. When women are made to feel safe, the effects trickle down and impact the safety of other groups—those with disabilities, minorities, LGBT, and immigrants.
Anchorage can learn from the success of other cities. One of the best programs currently addressing gender violence on the municipal level is the Safe Cities Global Initiative. This partnership of municipal governments, local working to make urban environments safer for women and girls. In the United States, New York City recently signed an agreement to promote women’s safety. Every city is unique and requires a local response. This initiative has