Open Thread – Ruth Moulton Plaza at Town Square Park
I’m posting the open thread a little early tonight in the hopes of catching some of you before you plan your day. It is a very special day for me, and the many friends and admirers of Ruth Moulton. Ruth was an activist, but didn’t like to be called one. She liked to be called a citizen because she believed that carried certain responsibilities and obligations in itself, which involved engagement in civic affairs, efforts to improve community life, and stepping up to make things right when they weren’t.
Ruth had many battles. Some she won and some she lost, but the losses usually didn’t mean she gave up on the project. Usually it just meant approaching things from another angle. And so was the story with Anchorage’s Town Square Park. Most newcomers don’t know the story of how difficult it was to get the park. It involved a multitude of people whose Herculean efforts stayed focused on the ever-elusive dream of the park – until it became reality. More than a decade, three lawsuits, citizen petitions, endless meetings, and shoulders to the wheel… and finally the beautiful crown jewel of downtown was born. In the winter it is ablaze with tiny blue lights in the branches of carefully placed trees, and skaters enjoy the open area that is turned into an ice rink when the weather gets cold. In the summer, a blaze of flowers fills every planter, flower bed and pot, creating lovely walkways and photo ops for tourists and locals alike. It is a place to sit and think, a place to hear music, a place to eat lunch on the grass, and listen to the waterfall.
The recent redesign of Town Square created a plaza, which can be used for events, speakers, or musicians, and the sloped curb allows the corner of the park to expand into F Street for large events.
Ruth Moulton (although she would be the first to point out that Town Square Park was a large group effort) was the heart and soul behind the effort to make the park a reality. It was she who spearheaded the effort that involved three lawsuits, thousands of signatures, and endless hours to make Anchorage’s very first citizens’ initiative fulfill its promise to the city.
Ruth passed away on a November morning in 2006. She did not win the battle with cancer, but she gave it a run for its money. She was a dear friend, an inspiration, and a personal hero of mine. She was the first person to drag me out of my house to do something she’d call ‘being a citizen.’ Some day I’ll try to do the whole story justice. But for now, it’s come time for a celebration – of Ruth, of the great gift she and her compatriots left behind, and of activism… er… I mean ‘citizenry.’ The plaza in Town Square Park has been named for the woman without whom it would not have existed, and Saturday at 11am, a group will gather for the official dedication of the Ruth Moulton Plaza.
You are all invited to join in and celebrate what can happen when citizens are stubborn, and work hard. You’ll get a little history of Town Square, and a little about the redesign of the park, enjoy the beautiful plaza, and have a hot beverage and pastry.
Here is one of my favorite quotes of Ruth’s about the Park. It is part of the inscription on the bronze plaque that is mounted on a large boulder honoring her that will stand in the corner of the plaza.
“If the park is to serve any function to the exclusion of another, that function should be to symbolize that citizens can insist that governmental processes work.”
Hope to see you at 11 AM Saturday, October 23rd, at the Southeast Corner of Town Square, across the street from the whales.
Meanwhile, on the Gulf Coast:
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/10/massive_stretches_of_weathered.html
“Just three days after the U.S. Coast Guard admiral in charge of the BP oil spill cleanup declared little recoverable surface oil remained in the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana fishers Friday found miles-long strings of weathered oil floating toward fragile marshes on the Mississippi River delta.
The discovery, which comes as millions of birds begin moving toward the region in the fall migration, gave ammunition to groups that have insisted the government has overstated clean-up progress, and could force reclosure of key fishing areas only recently reopened.”
the nightmare continues…
Sigh.
heart-breaking, eh?
I feel powerless to “fix” this desecration, but hope that sharing the news will keep it from falling “out of sight, out of mind,” especially in light of Chevron’s plans announced this week.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/22/BU6N1G03MU.DTL
Corporate citizens like these really burn my biscuits.
Thanks for your understanding and empathy, Moose Pucky. It helps me feel “more better.”
Nice post by Andrew Halcro on his blog:
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/dear_joe_you_talkin_to_me
I can remember when the US Supreme Court told Nixon to turn over the Watergate tapes. “Tricky Dick’s” resignation followed quickly. Hoping for similar results here.
I’ll try…….
http://alaskadispatch.com/dispatches/politics/7252-judge-orders-miller-to-release-borough-records
AK Dispatch one comes right on through!
Will be interesting to see if Mr repeal-the-20th-century Miller does appeal to state supreme court…
Gonna be a busy few days while this sorts out.
As our state Constitution affirms the right to privacy explicitly there may be some fireworks here…
http://www.adn.com /2010/10/23/1515937 /judge-orders-miller-documents. html
YES!!!!!
MILLER LOSES FIGHT OVER RECORDS!!!!!!
Link no workee !!
run the characters together- I made some spaces there as spam filter here sometimes won’t let ADN links through…
Yeehaw!!
I worry though: who is going to benefit from this more? Lease-a or Scott?
“Earlier this week former President George W. Bush told the Chicago Tribune that his greatest failure during his eight years in office was not privatizing Social Security. Put aside for a moment that that doesn’t count as a failure. I can think of some bona fide Bush Administration failures. More than a few, actually. Here’s a dozen from the very long list I compiled while Bush was in office. And when you’ve finished this trip down memory lane, be sure to vote in our “W.’s biggest failure” home page poll. Or friend Failure on Facebook.”
1. Misled the country into a pre-emptive war of choice with Iraq, then provided shifting justifications for the invasion/occupation—weapons of mass destruction (no), link to Al Qaeda (no), democracy for Iraq (good luck with that).
2. Spent $7.4 million per HOUR on the Iraq invasion and occupation. (Think: skyrocketing national debt, shameless war profiteering, and how much health care $7.4 million per hour buys.)
3. Mission Accomplished! (And don’t forget Plan for Victory.)
4. Failed to respond to the Hurricane Katrina crisis; played golf and gave fundraising speeches in Arizona as Americans suffered and died on the Gulf Coast. “Many of the people … were underprivileged, anyway,” quipped Mrs. compassionate conservative Barbara Bush.
5. Publicly sanctioned the use of torture, which led to Abu Ghraib (and the Abu Ghraib photos).
6. Ignored the August 6, 2001 memo advising “bin Laden determined to strike in U.S.” Later: “I don’t know where he [Osama bin Laden] is. I just don’t spend that much time on him.” Also, disbanded the CIA’s bin Laden task force.
7. Turned a sympathetic world against the United States in the wake of 9/11.
8. Fought tooth-and-nail to prevent the establishment of the 9/11 Commission.
9. Wiretapped Americans without warrants.
10. Signed more than 750 “signing statements,” and asserted he could ignore part or all of any law being passed.
11. Refused to even contemplate any kind of energy policy that might lower gas prices and reduce America’s dependency on foreign oil. (And remember how high gas prices were during Bush’s second term?)
12. Sold himself as a “uniter,” turned out to be the ultimate divider.
http://failuremag.com/index.php/failure_analysis/article/bush_says_biggest_failure_not_privatizing_social_security/
That man was the worst joke ever. Remember his “looking” for WMD at a speech. That was beyond sick.
Economic meltdown.
Hearing about news organizations’ suit brought to bring Joe Miller’s borough records to public started at 2pm AKDT…
Watch for breaking news stories- lots of motions before the judge
Miller and attorneys want depositions from Halcro, Whitaker, and others
AK Dispatch, ADN, AP, and Newsminer are all part of suit for disclosure…
I may have posted this before…but I love the arts, paticularly dance and photography.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com//2010/10/09/incredible-urban-dancing-_n_756961.html
What a nice tribute. She apparently had a profound effect on you. And in turn, you on us. Thank you.
AKM, great article on Ruth Moulton. I have always thought that the town square is such a great place to relax and reflect in the heart of what can seem like a rushed city center. Thanks to her and others efforts we can now enjoy that today. God bless her!
Regarding Scott McAdams, I like how Scott can take his ‘presence’ in good humor (as indicated by his given native name). It shows that he can accept who he is and doesn’t feel the need to hide his true self. What you see is what you get. Contrast this with Joe M who seems to bristle at even the slightest criticism of his actions, appearance or past. I think it is a true aspect of Joe’s personality that makes him unsuitable for the job of being our Senator (among many, many other things).
I hope my plane is alright!
Let crowoman and legaleagle fly you!
I can’t believe that I will meet AKM later this week.
Kudos to Ruth Moulton. May her spirit shine on.
Howdy again!
I’ve posted a new story at Daily Kos on the infamous “We Are Not A F**king Museum” sign that used to be in front of William Fulton’s DropZone store. I’ve posted a picture of the sign, and it’s an amazing example of ‘creative writing.’
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/10/23/912910/-Infamous-DropZone-Sign-Revealed!
Cheers again to your great community!
Bonsai
http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2010/10/apd-on-how-much-hopfingers-kidnapping.html
Check out the shelves behind the guy reporting on L. Miller’s signs being defaced. (?!)
International event to restore sanity
“Promoting the Tel Aviv sister rally in The Jerusalem Post, an op-ed laments: “Here, too, sometimes it seems like only those shouting loudest are the ones being heard. … There’s only one problem. How does one restore sanity to a part of the world where it never existed? I therefore propose calling the gathering in Israel the Rally to Introduce Sanity.””
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-Issues/2010/1022/Jon-Stewart-s-Rally-to-Restore-Sanity-goes-global-sparking-events-all-the-way-to-Mt.-Everest
If you can’t catch it in DC, catch it in Tel Aviv or Everest.
Beck’s couldn’t have gone global. There aren’t enough white bread rill Umurikuns in Nepal or the Middle East. They must have been run out by those commie lovin’ brown, towel headed, Muslim, Sikh (same thing), Hindu (same thing again), Buddhist (I think it’s the same thing), Chinese supportin’ Vietnamese (same thing) terriers or terrorists (same thing) that have taken over most of the world because Europe became a Christian hatin’ socialist (same thing) Marxist (worse), fascist, Obama lovin’ (same thing) white face, black face, (same thing) commune that speaks lots of languages that aren’t English, which is a rill Umurukun product, licensed for sale by the local PAC, which England steeled. Eneywon who don’t speak Umurukun (Ehglishes rill name) is obviously WINO (White in Name Only) and illegible to vote in rill Umuruka. 🙂
As this is open thread, here’s the latest from Arizona. There’s a photo of SP in Phoenix yesterday morning, standing next to our resident Arch-Fiend Joe Arpiao at a Tea-Bagger rally. She has one hand over her heart and baby Trig on her hip. He is quite a big boy now, and no, he was not wearing glasses or a hearing aid.
Apparently Joe gave her a present of pink underwear!
Trig was dragged out for another photo op. What mother would take a small child like that out for political purposes?
And really, what “god-fearing”, “Christian” wife and mother accepts a gift of underwear from a man not her husband? We are not amused.
Yep. It gets down to the basics.
The woman is not presidential material. She is using her sexuality and “motherhood” to garner votes.
AKM delete this if it is inappropriate…….but in my humble opinion, the woman is a whore.
Nothing wrong with the “wh” word. You could’ve kept it in the local vernacular and called her “an aul’ hoor” and I would’ve loved it!
Right, she is an aul hoor! 🙂
I am trying to be PC.
Mag the Mick…..I love your comments. 🙂
She thought it was a flag! 😛
I just signed a petition at the Sierra Club addressed to Sec. of State Clinton, asking her NOT to allow the Keystone-XL pipeline that would bring filthy, disgusting, tar sands oil from Canada to the US.
There are a lot of great actions to take at Sierra Club right now:
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TakeActionAll&s_src=610GSCAC01
Please do what you can. Health and peace.
Say your lunch ain’t so, Joe!
http://alaskadispatch.com/blogs/political-animal/7241-more-on-millers-admission-of-politicking-on-borough-time
“When CNN host John King asked Miller on Monday if it was fair for the public “to look at your history as a taxpayer-paid attorney, anything and everything you did, while you were on a public payroll as a public servant,” Miller responded: “Well, the event in question is something that happened on my time off. So it was during the lunch hour. So, frankly, there is not a direct correlation to that.”
But Miller didn’t have a lunch hour.
Miller’s routine at the Fairbanks North Star Borough, where he worked as a part-time attorney, was to work the afternoon shift, from about 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., said Sallie Stuvek, the borough’s human resources director.”
Yet another lie. What a shock!
Attention, NY Mudpuppies and Hushpuppies: We have only till the 29th to submit our comments on the proposal to allow hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) for gas drilling in our effin’ State Forests. Time is all too short, and the DEC lost its head when the Governor fired him this week (I believe the reason was budgetary). Take action here:
http://bit.ly/CWNDD-NYforests
Please edit the sample letter. Btw, one doesn’t have to be a NY resident to take action, and it would be helpful for those of you who *don’t* live here, but in a state where this has already happened, to add your comments as well. I found the sample letter quite weak in its wording, and edited accordingly.
Thanks for your help.
There is a cartoon in the comments section of the following article @ TeaPartyPatriot wrote on Saturday, Oct 23 at 07:46 AM:
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner:
http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_story/9998723/article-Whitaker–Fairbanks-borough-was-concerned-Miller-broke-state-law-in-2008
I enjoyed that!
Another great article from Sarah Jones.
http://www.politicususa.com/en/misunderestimating-sarah-palin
I’m totally sick of Payme, but Sarah Jones is always well worth reading, and I enjoyed her article immensely.
There are some great and not-so-great comments up, but the best one contained the new coinage, “vile-agra.”
“The myth of Sarah was powerful before the American people got to know her. But now that she has shown her mean side, now that they’ve heard her empty attacks and seen the ever-present sneer on her face, Americans are less enamored of the Sarah myth. Many of them, in fact, can’t stand her. Palin’s approval ratings are currently lower than BP’s. Familiarity breeds contempt with people like Palin.”
Lower approval ratings than BP?! Ouch! That should sting some!
*slap* upside her head with Irishgirl’s halibut 🙂
Ruth, even though I never heard your name before, you were exactly the kind of person needed in our country, strike that, in our WORLD.
Happy weekend, mudpuppies and hushpuppies. Health and peace.
Thank heaven for people like Ruth and the others who gave us our wonderful cross country ski trails–the Mizes, Burkholders, Richters, Strutzs Mahaffeys, and too many others whose names should be on plaques and the history books of Anchorage. But sadly the job is not done when a trail or park is created because there is always someone or ‘progress’ to take away what makes this town good. Yet who among the younger generation even knows enough to speak up. Who will teach the youngsters the art of protest, research, appeals, and yes, lawsuits when needed. Apathy and ignorance seems to reign. We are all too busy–until the dozers are in our yard.
Enjoy what we have in our northern city and always be alert for those who think they can make it better by removing or altering something.
Agreed! I know all those people and are so grateful for their efforts every winter (and summer too!). And, as the rest of Anchorage drives out to one of the major areas built by these citizen-activists efforts, they will see my big McAdams sign.
Thank you, Ruth. I know your Spirit will be there today. You have taught us all a valuable lesson, and I thank you.
thank you to Ruth and all the Citizens of this world that try to make it a better place for all of us
Thank you for this. Ruth’s commitment to our society, to Alaska, and to human-rights, was a fierce light in the dark.
Many years ago, when members of the Alaska Action Center blockaded a jet-fuel pipeline being built in the mudflats near the coastal trail, Ruth came down and joined our protest as did many.
Yet Ruth was different, she didn’t fit into the media’s image of what an activist was.
The gathered press, eager to speak with a perceived “regular” citizen about her opinion on the protest surprised them, as she eloquently spoke with measured determination about the need for people to stand up for their beliefs, to non-violently oppose such projects whose goals put profits above the safety of people and our environment.
I have always admired Ruth, and sincerely thank you, AKM, for this dedication to a truly heroic woman.
You have captured what I’d intended to say about Ruth.
She most certainly was eloquent and always urged that people stand up for their beliefs.
If you haven’t already, check the Alaska Dispatch (when it comes back). You will chuckle, or groan…whatever response Joe Militia elicits in you when you hear of one more bogus thing he’s trying to pull. I’m chuckling!
The website is not available at the moment – it gives a message that the Website Has Moved.
Joe – There’s no such thing as a free lunch. And while we are talking about lunch, exactly why were you snooping on borough computers on a lunchtime break you did not have with your part time schedule? Your emails have been captured, idiot. And your schedule, idiot. You lied on national news – I’m so horrified! And by the way, either you lied to your dad about having a lunch, or he lied for you. Either way, it’s not pretty. Chuckle.
I’m pretty proud of my Alaskan press for a change. The Alaska Dispatch, the Daily News Miner, the Juneau Empire, and now FINALLY the ADN are all actually doing some reporting. They are actually acting like press – being obnoxious and asking a whole bunch of questions. I wasn’t sure if anything was going to shock them back to life, but if I have anything to thank Joe Militia for, this is it!
Thanks Joe Militia for giving Alaska’s press a good defib. I feel a small pulse.
“official dedication of the Ruth Moulton Plaza”
What a wonderful legacy Ruth has left you all! I helped to build the playground at the park across the street from my home, so I have a sense of how much heart and work goes into the effort. But we had the neighborhood and Seattle Parks Dept working WITH us. What a tremendous amount of effort Ruth must have put forth to make this happen!!!
I hope your dedication goes nice and the weather is beautiful. Please do let us know, will you?
Remember some time back, when AKM and Shannyn had to swap a blouse to appear on Olbermann and Rachel Maddow? We all laughed and they looked great, nobody had noticed it was the same blouse. The magic of TV.
Last night Rachel Maddow gave an excellent segment on the Alaska Race, giving kudos to McAdams about his race, then having an interview with Nate Silver about how McAdams could conceivably win. OMG, tonight in the ‘web only’ segment tonight Rachel was telling about the fiasco with Nate Silver’s truly ugly tie. Screamingly funny, he looked so serious and red eared in that interview:
“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/#39802897”
Lastnight’s segment link below. Yikes looking at Nate’s shirt, I can see why she said ‘get it off, get that tie off’. I had to watch it all over again, we can use the giggle these days.
“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/#39789085 “
Thanks for posting that link. I got a great giggle from it too. 🙂
I’ve lived in the Valley for so long now, but you have brought back some vivid memories of the park area from when I lived in Anchorage in the late 70’s. Wouldn’t mind seeing some pictures of that part of town from way back when, if anyone has some to share.
Thank you Ruth and AKM! Although i don’t get to enjoy the park (living in Southeast), I will salute Ruth’s citizen duty by walking for Scott Adams campaign tomorrow and doing volunteer work for our local hospice….
Thank you for your dedication Ruth and family — it shows all of us what one person can do with determination and honesty.
And thank you for your dedication to our small community, in so many ways!
Enjoy tomorrow, AKM– I’m a little too far south to join the celebration, but I’ll be the first to toast Ruth and all activists like her. *clink*