Snowzilla Say it ain’t so . . .

Yes, the bizarre story lines keep spilling from our 49th and largest state.

When I first reported on this Alaska happening in December 2005 I said:

“He’s been in all the papers and on TV all last week.

From Florida, to Europe, in web blogs all over the internet, and brought up on weather forecast’s on television he’s becoming a star.

He’s the cool dude here in Anchorage that has the neighborhood buzzing and people from all over stopping by.

Snowzilla, the 16 foot tall snowman built when there was not a lot of snow on the ground. The kids in the neighborhood brought sleds full of snow from their own yards to help bring this character to life.”

Last year Snowzilla grew in both size and popularity again bringing some protests from the neighbors. Funny thing that seems to happen is the spread of his story and again the world took notice.

This year the MOA (Municipality of Anchorage) decided that enough was enough. Municipal code enforcers declared the giant snowman a public nuisance and safety hazard a few weeks ago, even before this winter's version was constructed. Specifically, officials banned the Powers family from "the building, enlargement or any other action ascribed with the construction of the extraordinarily large snowman".

Say it ain’t so . . .

Snowzilla has been virtually the exclusive topic of discussion on the December 22 and 23rd program of KFQD conservative shock jock Dan Fagan. Yesterday, Fagan was a firm cheerleader for Billy Ray Powers, owner and builder of the now famous snowman.

In Fagan’s blog yesterday he goes off with great style about the government’s involvement in ruining people’s Holiday good cheer by saying:

“I don’t know about you, but I can rest easier now knowing my government is at work, using tax dollars to make our streets safe. For far too long Snowzilla, the giant snowman, has wreaked havoc and terror on the streets of Anchorage.

Now this despot of society has been neutralized and will no longer be able to hurt anyone. Anchorage code enforcement officers, the city bureaucrats who are the real heroes of our city, have put an end to Snowzilla.

For several years now the 16-foot-tall Snowzilla has stood tall in Airport Heights, striking fear in the hearts of men and children alike. But the end of Snowzilla is a perfect illustration of why we pay taxes. So city bureaucrats can justify their positions by destroying snowmen.

Some cranky, scrooge-like neighbors have complained about the extra traffic brought into their neighborhood after families all over Southcentral traveled to show their kids Snowzilla during the holidays. Our city bureaucrats with the full force of government behind them got behind the cranky neighbors and made sure no more Snowzilla for the kids--a trip that has become a family tradition for some. City code enforcement officials declared Snowzilla a public nuisance and safety hazard.

Snowzilla is big and if he were to lose his temper, there is no telling what could happen. Maybe he would kidnap Fay Raye, climb to the top of the Atwood building and fight off small airplanes.

Yes, it is a good thing the city issued a cease and desist order to the family that built Snowzilla. We are all the safer for it.”

Today more of the back story comes out about the owner of the property who over the last 13 years has ran the neighborhood’s “Sanford & Son” junk yard in the neighborhood. The city has fought with him for years about cleaning up his yard to remove the massive amounts of junk, metals, vehicles and other stuff overfilling his property. The MOA even went so far as doing a massive cleanup last summer charging him for the removal. So far Billy Ray Powers has refused to pay bringing about this latest battle over Snowzilla.

The now even-more-famous "Snowzilla" giant snowman was resurrected sometime during the night of December 22-23. When asked about Snowzilla's resurrection, property owner Billy Ray Powers was deliberately cryptic, saying only that the snowman's return was the result of "Christmas magic". Powers declined to discuss who rebuilt the snowman, how many people may have helped, or whether his own family was involved.

Seven front-yards' worth of snow, beer bottles for eyes, and arms that were attached with a power drill. (Insert Tim Allen-style man-grunt here.) That's the only way to build a snowman.

The comedy continued today as Fagan is hedging his bets upon learning more of the story. He condemns Powers for his sloppy yard, but defends his snowman. Most people calling in to the show support Powers.

How could something like this happen two days before Christmas? All of the children deprived of seeing ‘Frosty’ proudly standing in the neighborhood. Clearly they were concerned about the off-hand chances that there could be some magic in that old silk hat they planned to put on his head. I mean come on: at more than 16 feet tall, the resulting thumpety-thump-thump could have leveled the entire city. Furthermore, a snowman that large arguably wouldn't even pause a moment if a policeman were to holler "stop".

The Municipality of Anchorage reacted cautiously and diplomatically to the re-appearance of Snowzilla. They intend to defer further enforcement action until after the holidays.

This is a smart reaction by Mayor Begich, and it shows why even those who ideologically oppose Mark Begich respect his political talents. Mayor Begich is attempting to deflate and defang widespread criticism by unofficially allowing the snowman to remain over the holiday period.

So with a fresh new dump of snowfall today the winds have blown away most of the ill feelings and we can now celebrate with “Goodwill Towards Men” Anchorage is famous for during this Holiday Season.

The children can sleep soundly at night once again knowing that Snowzilla stands ready to promote another year of great cheer.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Ice