13 Replies to "Liberty sooner or Liberty later: The counter-insurgency"

• chas redmond July 28, 2007 (4:52 pm)

  Fascinating. Although I’m in favor of returning the statue now and working on the plaza later, this seems a bit odd to me. I suppose one could excuse it as Parks and Rec Department outreach, but aren’t city governments (well, all governments) restricted from lobbying? Does this strike anyone else (pro or con the new plaza) as being a bit of hardball being played by OUR Parks and Rec Department?

• Jan July 28, 2007 (5:16 pm)

  chas…the way I read it, it’s simply from the “counter” group, but they’re taking the “liberty” (pardon the pun) of using the Parks Dept. as a contact, because that’s where everything needs to be directed. I don’t think this is an official thing from the Parks Dept…..

• Jo July 28, 2007 (6:05 pm)

  Sorry for the confusion. The flyer is not an official thing from the Parks Dept. Our counter “New Fancy-Schmancy Plaza” group (some Alki/WS residents)is just trying to make sure that people call Parks and let them know what their position is on this project. We know for a fact that not everyone likes the ‘all-or-nothing’ (big new plaza or nothing) approach. Ultimately Parks makes final decision, based on community input.
  The new committee for the new plaza has had over three months to organize (and they’re VERY organized) and the rest of us just heard about this stuff 3 weeks ago. Our message is we’d prefer the statue back NOW on existing spiffied up base, but we’re willing to compromise.
  Does that clear it up abit.

• Jo July 28, 2007 (6:08 pm)

  And, Chas. If you’re in favor of returning the statue on the existing base NOW, then please, please call or email Pamela Kliment at Parks Dept. and state your position.
  Thanks

• chas redmond July 28, 2007 (7:01 pm)

  Jo,
  I probably was the very first person to notify Pamela – who sent me a thank you way back on July 12. My note to her went out on July 11. This is what my note said:

  Personally, I’m in favor of replacing the now existing bronze statue on the existing pedestal. I think this project has grown into outrageous proportions and definitely do not favor continued funds gathering, which seemed to slack off naturally once the statue was cast. This isn’t a mega project and yet these Alki folks seem to want to make it one. It’s just a 1950’s Boy Scout’s donation which has already grown into a “larger than life” issue. Just put the bronze statue back up on the existing pedestal and be done with it.

• Jo July 28, 2007 (7:38 pm)

  Thank you so much Chas. Very eloquently said.
  Our sentiments exactly.
  Jo

• Maruta July 28, 2007 (8:17 pm)

  I find it ironic and sad that the “counter-insurgency” chose the Alki Art fair as the venue to unveil their anti-(public)Art movement. As a home-owning WS resident I’d like to see the neighborhood and our water-front updated.

  I urge those in favor of updating the plaza to contact the parks department and ask for their support of a project that will update and beautify a section of one of the most visible beaches in our City. How sad if we were to replace our beautiful new Liberty on the same old tired pedestal.

• t July 28, 2007 (9:15 pm)

  Hear hear! I agree and have also e-mailed Parks Dept to say so. Am currently rounding up local friends to do so too.

  With the caveat that anybody who ponied up a hundred bucks for a brick deserves to have it laid (or refunded), preferably soon-ish.

• Texas July 28, 2007 (11:49 pm)

  I don’t think “counter-insurgency” is the right word, as it implies that the schmancy folks are the insurgency.

  I mentioned in an earlier post (that did not make it past the filter) that the “statue now” group really needs to indicate who they are on their flyer. I also thought the flyer came from the parks department, and they (the “statue now” people)should not give the wrong impression. It is possible this ambiguity might accomplish the opposite of their goals.

  Having said all that, I agree with them. Bring the statue back now. The plaza was not approved by the parks department, and the so-called public did not have a role in designing the plaza, as would normally take place with parks projects.

  Was there a project advisory team? I don’t think so. The NPA people brought two or three sketches to a meeting and had people vote on their preferred one. A project that went through the normal protocol would have far more public involvement.

  The cost of the project was NEVER advertised to the public as being $150,000. The last figure I heard from NPA was something like $50,000. I don’t think anyone can expect a project that increases in cost by $100,000 will be endorsed without a heck of a lot of scrutiny, especially if the previously-collected funds seem to be totally unaccounted for.

  Where is the previously-collected money? How much was there, and what happened to it? How much is left? Are there any consequences for misappropriating public funds? (if the money was indeed misappropriated) There are just too many unanswered questions.

• WSB July 28, 2007 (11:53 pm)

  Sorry, our spam filter thought you were spam and we hit the “delete” button when we meant to hit the “not spam” button. Counter-insurgency may have been a bit flip, we probably won’t use it again.

• Orchid July 29, 2007 (12:06 am)

  I am in favor of having the statue returned as quickly as possible. I am in favor of having it turned in the original position. In reference to the art fair, the “committee” took a physical position in front of the statue base with a sign that read something like, “Ask me about the statue”. I don’t have a problem with that. It seems clear from the flyer of the other side, they were just asking for opinions to recorded by the Park Department.
  There has already been a lot of money raised. Where is it and why can’t some of that be used?
  Does the new committee have their non profit status and how much is built in for admin costs? If there are funds missing from the old non profit, can they be held liable(heard that somewhere but am not sure of the veracity of the statement that money is actually missing). Is the committee willing to do it in steps as proposed by those who counter their position? Is this a platform for working with other statues across the country? I have no problem with that———-they are scattered far and wide.

• Jo July 29, 2007 (9:09 am)

  Sorry that our flyer came across as coming from the Parks Dept. Guess it was a matter of design. We will adjust that ASAP. Thanks for letting us know

• Bring Miss Liberty Home Now July 29, 2007 (3:02 pm)

  Anybody interested, “Bring Miss Liberty Home NOW” group has set up an email account in case you want to contact us off-blog. But keep your comments coming on WSBlog. Parks Dept. is monitoring.

  libertyhomenow@yahoo.com

Sorry, comment time is over.