Letter to the Editor
Sharing the joy
Published Sunday, May 11, 2008
May 5, 2008
To the editor:
This afternoon, I received a phone call from someone at Festival Fairbanks asking for my husband’s brother. He doesn’t live with us, but she was pleasant and I decided there could be no harm in helping her out. Well, no good deed ever goes unpunished. I arrived at my brother-in-law’s house this evening to find out that she had used the unlisted number I provided her with to leave a message on their answering machine regarding the “All is Wheel” picture in today’s paper.
Apparently Festival Fairbanks is having a hard time with vandals. Well, I wasn’t aware that teenagers getting exercise was an act of vandalism. Given the central location of the plaza, you would think that if what they were doing was considered disruptive the proper authorities would have issued them a warning.
Now let’s say that there weren’t any police around to do so (very unlikely), you would think the photographer would surely not be interested in taking pictures of hoodlums causing a ruckus. As far as I can tell the picture was meant to be a celebration of the fact that summer is upon us. It’s not as if the young men were photographed spray painting the monument. They were having a good time which was obviously quite entertaining. So entertaining, in fact, that the photographer wanted to share the joy with the entire city.
What I would like to know is who funds this not-for-profit? From what I gathered from their very meager Web site, it’s City Council-funded. So essentially this means that the glorified party planners at Festival Fairbanks spent charitable money on tracking down teenagers in the phone book and making them feel terrible about spending their day out in the sunshine. Aren’t we trying to encourage today’s youth to leave their computer monitors and TV sets to do just that?
In closing I would like to say I am appalled that my kindness was taken advantage of and that these young men don’t just get to enjoy their brief fame. Shame on you Festival Fairbanks.
Community Discussion
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I was bewildered when I saw the photo of the young man on the statue. Firstly I was offended that he would disrespect the city that way, secondly that the newsminer would publish such a thing. After reading this letter I see the big picture, his family members consider it "getting excersize". Nevermind that there are signs posted and this person is clearly old enough to be able to read, it's obviously up to the police to chase kids all day out of places they aren't supposed to be when they are short staffed as it is. Give me a break. What's next? Spray painting under bridges and petty theft? Is that getting excersize also? I have no issue with kids having fun, I think it's great that they are out on their bikes having fun. There ARE proper places to do so, and it's up to parents to make sure their kids properly represent their family when out having fun, and respect their city also. Festival Fairbanks is obviously just following up to educate a family that doesn't know/doesn't care about the plaza rules. Do not try to pass your shame onto them.
So if they were climbing on the statue in the middle of the fountain you'd just consider that exercise too? How about repeling off the bridges...
You are mad because YOU gave out HIS unlisted number? Who is at fault for that? All they did was look up the last name in the phone book and call to talk with the person that they had a problem with and you volunteered information without getting all the facts prior. The only person that you should be upset with is yourself Ariella.
That kid is responsible for his own actions, if he did something wrong let him show some testicular fortitude and speak for himself.
That does sound like a sneaky little tactic employed by Festival Fairbanks. I will keep that in mind during the next of my (many) encounters with the organization.
I am expecting all parents in Fairbanks to provide their children with a list of every single place in town where they may not ride their bikes. Make sure the list is exhaustive. Don't forget one location. Ensure that it is in your child's pocket every time they leave the house on their bikes and call them on their cell phone periodically and remind them to refer to their list. That way, no one can accuse you of being a bad parent.
Or, you can provide your kid with the best judgment you can, hope that their irrational teenage brain can somehow make the best of it, and allow them to make a few mistakes so that they can learn right from wrong while they are young and under your guidance.
hmmm.... So when I saw the picture, I took it for what it looked like... Kids out enjoying the sun. I was born here, but I have never been downtown to the plaza because of the drunks you can come across, so I hadn't seen the signs. So, yeah the kids shouldn't have been biking there... But... They skateboard where they shouldn't, people have their dogs in parks where that is posted as prohibited, and I bet all of those people from Festival Fairbanks, and the letter writers, have broken the speed limit, or not worn their seat belt....especially when they were younger!
Those who live in glass houses.... How does that go?
... should not throw stones. I completely agree.
I dont think that anybody is looking for the kid to do prison time over this. Just to let him know that the park is not for bike riding. As opposed to the DNM allowing 15 minutes of fame to the young angel. Festival Fairbanks does a lot of work maintaining the park downtown, and in a couple of weeks there will be thousands of tourists meandering through the park. It's not that big of a deal now, but if the plaza becomes a hangout for BMX, then it could be.
I've had dealings with the 2 people working at Festival Fairbanks, and they are far from Gestapo guards. Unless you are terrified of people that clean up after the public and plant flowers.
And besides, dont the taxpayers pay for bike and skateboard parks?
Yes, we have paid for skate board parks, but maybe you need to go take a look at them. We have many talented young people in this community. If a few of you would take the time to watch them you would be amazed as I have been.
I went to Joel's Place where my daughters were enjoying their youth worship group. I got to watch some of the kids skate & they were amazing. The skatepark is very limited, but, yes it is there.
I actually went downtown and checked the area out, and I could not find any skuffs or graffiti on these precious placards. Only a couple of booze bottles & I honestly don't think they belong to these kids in the photo.
The way the community is handling this is just crazy, maybe if we put this kind of outrage into really harmful behaviors (like drinking and driving) our community may actually be a better place to live.
This is just ridiculous!
Sherry-
What a day! I agree with you!
Happy Mothers' Day.
Yeah, it's the war on kids. (And parents).
I wasn’t paying any attention to this post and then after reading sherry29 about the placards I would like to say a few words.
People paid to have their names engraved on them. My memory says $150.00 for each placard. If anyone knows the price to be different please feel free to correct me.
Once may not damage them but if this is used as a stake board park, then in no time the placards would be ruined. Some of those people are no longer living and I would consider those placards head stones to the dead. The placards are the history of people’s names who wanted to be remembered as part of the Fairbanks history.
One of my friends died last summer and he paid to have his name on one.
PS I’m trying to be more clear in my posts and not mess up my words as I did in some other posts and I'm all for given places for kids to use.
Well, I can't say I'm surprised by the responses to my letter.
Like I said on the editorial last week. If you want to get in touch with me to discuss trying to have a rec center put in (that isn't religiously affiliated) please get a hold of me here and we will chat.
For everyone else? Well it's the same tired argument I have been listening to for a week. Let's just agree to disagree.
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