Save Snowzilla!

Avatard · 12-24-2008, 07:37 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081224/.../odd_snowzilla

Giant snowman rises again in Alaska — mysteriously
By MARY PEMBERTON, Associated Press Writer Mary Pemberton, Associated Press Writer 1 hr 38 mins ago

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A giant snowman named Snowzilla has mysteriously appeared again this year — despite the city's cease-and-desist order.

Someone again built the giant snowman in Billy Powers' front yard in an east Anchorage neighborhood. Snowzilla reappeared before dawn Tuesday.

Powers is not taking credit. When questioned Tuesday afternoon, he insisted Snowzilla just somehow happened, again.

For the last three years, Snowzilla — to the delight of some and the chagrin of others — has been a very large feature in Powers' yard. In 2005, Snowzilla rose 16 feet. He had a corncob pipe and a carrot nose and two eyes made out of beer bottles.

This year, Snowzilla is estimated to be 25 feet tall. He's wearing a black stovepipe hat and scarf.

"Have you seen him?" Powers asked when reached by telephone at his home, the sound of excited children in the background. "He's handsome."

Snowzilla has consistently risen outside Powers' modest home. His children — he is the father of seven — collected snow from neighbors' yards to make the snowman big enough. Each year, Snowzilla got a bit bigger.

Not everybody in the neighborhood liked all the cars and visitors who came to see him.

City officials this year deemed Snowzilla a public nuisance and safety hazard. A cease-and-desist order was issued. The city tacked a public notice on Powers' door.

City officials said the structure increased traffic to the point of endangerment and that the snowman itself was unsafe.

The mayor's office on Tuesday issued a statement defending its move against Snowzilla.

"This property owner has repeatedly ignored city attempts to find ways to accommodate his desire to build a giant snowman without affecting the quiet, residential quality of the neighborhood," said the statement from Mayor Mark Begich's office. "This is a neighborhood of small homes on small lots connected by small streets. It can't support the volume of traffic and revelers that are interested in Snowzilla."

The mayor's office says Powers appears to run a large junk and salvage operation from his home. He has violated land use codes for 13 years, the city said. He owes the city more than $100,000 in fines and other assessments.

Powers said it is the city that has been difficult, not him.

"I have tried to jump through every goofy hoop they have sent to me. I have never been confrontational and it goes on and on and on and it is so goofy," he said. "Some of it is unfounded, some is just outrageous."

The city said it did not expect to take any further action until after Christmas.

tommymac · 12-24-2008, 07:41 AM

I guess Sarah pallin can get right on this and adress the problem now

Tom

LittleTaz · 12-24-2008, 07:56 AM

Holy Crap! That is one massive freakin' snowman!

Particle Man · 12-24-2008, 07:58 AM

I hope it stays up just to piss people who bitched about it off. I hate whiners.

Racerboy · 12-24-2008, 08:42 AM

Waait...A Snow Man? And they are threatening him? That sucks.

And what if he had place 100,000 Christmas Lights up to celebrate and the traffic came by to see on a daily basis, this would be an issue, too?

Fucking stupid town folk....A bunch of Bah-Humbug-Bitches!

bmblebee · 12-24-2008, 09:05 AM

these are the type of things that happen when government, at any level, gets too full of itself and arrogantly abuses its citizens

Gas Man · 12-24-2008, 09:58 AM

I read this on my cell phone news the other day... fuckin stupid. If I was them, I would have did it anyway!

shmike · 12-24-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racerboy

Waait...A Snow Man? And they are threatening him? That sucks.

And what if he had place 100,000 Christmas Lights up to celebrate and the traffic came by to see on a daily basis, this would be an issue, too?

Fucking stupid town folk....A bunch of Bah-Humbug-Bitches!

That was my first thought too.

Not too many lights or you'll affect traffic.

Ri-fucking-diculous.

xx CURVE xx · 12-24-2008, 10:28 AM

thats cool

OneSickPsycho · 12-26-2008, 11:31 PM

I wonder how long it took to construct... I would start building them randomly around town in the dead of night... Starting in front of the loudest bitchiest neighbor... then the mayor... Then see what the city said...

12-24-2008, 07:37 AM	#1
Avatard Crotch Rocket Curmudgeon Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Here to integrity Moto: Li'l red baby Ninja Posts: 7,482	Save Snowzilla! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081224/.../odd_snowzilla Giant snowman rises again in Alaska — mysteriously By MARY PEMBERTON, Associated Press Writer Mary Pemberton, Associated Press Writer 1 hr 38 mins ago ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A giant snowman named Snowzilla has mysteriously appeared again this year — despite the city's cease-and-desist order. Someone again built the giant snowman in Billy Powers' front yard in an east Anchorage neighborhood. Snowzilla reappeared before dawn Tuesday. Powers is not taking credit. When questioned Tuesday afternoon, he insisted Snowzilla just somehow happened, again. For the last three years, Snowzilla — to the delight of some and the chagrin of others — has been a very large feature in Powers' yard. In 2005, Snowzilla rose 16 feet. He had a corncob pipe and a carrot nose and two eyes made out of beer bottles. This year, Snowzilla is estimated to be 25 feet tall. He's wearing a black stovepipe hat and scarf. "Have you seen him?" Powers asked when reached by telephone at his home, the sound of excited children in the background. "He's handsome." Snowzilla has consistently risen outside Powers' modest home. His children — he is the father of seven — collected snow from neighbors' yards to make the snowman big enough. Each year, Snowzilla got a bit bigger. Not everybody in the neighborhood liked all the cars and visitors who came to see him. City officials this year deemed Snowzilla a public nuisance and safety hazard. A cease-and-desist order was issued. The city tacked a public notice on Powers' door. City officials said the structure increased traffic to the point of endangerment and that the snowman itself was unsafe. The mayor's office on Tuesday issued a statement defending its move against Snowzilla. "This property owner has repeatedly ignored city attempts to find ways to accommodate his desire to build a giant snowman without affecting the quiet, residential quality of the neighborhood," said the statement from Mayor Mark Begich's office. "This is a neighborhood of small homes on small lots connected by small streets. It can't support the volume of traffic and revelers that are interested in Snowzilla." The mayor's office says Powers appears to run a large junk and salvage operation from his home. He has violated land use codes for 13 years, the city said. He owes the city more than $100,000 in fines and other assessments. Powers said it is the city that has been difficult, not him. "I have tried to jump through every goofy hoop they have sent to me. I have never been confrontational and it goes on and on and on and it is so goofy," he said. "Some of it is unfounded, some is just outrageous." The city said it did not expect to take any further action until after Christmas. __________________ Insert free thought here.

12-24-2008, 07:58 AM	#4
Particle Man Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central NY Moto: 2003 SV650S Posts: 14,959	I hope it stays up just to piss people who bitched about it off. I hate whiners. __________________ I'm not "fat." I'm "Enlarged to show texture." Handle every stressful situation like a DOG: If you can't eat it or hump it, pi$$ on it & walk away.

12-24-2008, 08:42 AM	#5
Racerboy The Other White Meat Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Moto: 1997 Cadillac Seville SLS Posts: 608	Waait...A Snow Man? And they are threatening him? That sucks. And what if he had place 100,000 Christmas Lights up to celebrate and the traffic came by to see on a daily basis, this would be an issue, too? Fucking stupid town folk....A bunch of Bah-Humbug-Bitches! __________________ Have you ever wondered if the earth was a mental asylum for people rejected from a planet more sophisticated than ours... www.CheckeredFlagOils.com 954-975-BIKE (2453) 623-850-1OIL (1645)

12-24-2008, 09:05 AM	#6
bmblebee Community Curmudgeon Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tallahassee Moto: '04 F4i Posts: 373	these are the type of things that happen when government, at any level, gets too full of itself and arrogantly abuses its citizens __________________ Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store and not a government agency If You Don't Know What Your Rights are...You Won't Have Any

12-24-2008, 09:58 AM	#7
Gas Man Trip's Assistant Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Imported from Detroit Moto: 2009 HD Street Classic Posts: 12,149	I read this on my cell phone news the other day... fuckin stupid. If I was them, I would have did it anyway! __________________ -Chris "Why pay somebody else to fuck up your bike?" Run Amsoil Product

12-24-2008, 07:41 AM	#2
tommymac Moto GP Star Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11,022	I guess Sarah pallin can get right on this and adress the problem now Tom

12-24-2008, 10:28 AM	#9
xx CURVE xx SMELL MY LEVER Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Texas Moto: Tards Posts: 1,034	thats cool

12-26-2008, 11:31 PM	#10
OneSickPsycho Ride Like an Asshole Join Date: Feb 2008 Moto: nothing... Posts: 11,254	I wonder how long it took to construct... I would start building them randomly around town in the dead of night... Starting in front of the loudest bitchiest neighbor... then the mayor... Then see what the city said...