Legislature(2007 - 2008)BARNES 124
05/11/2007 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB72 | |
| SB131 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 72 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 131 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 131-NAMING PACILLO PARKING GARAGE 8:45:07 AM CO-CHAIR FAIRCLOUGH announced that the final order of business would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 131(STA), "An Act naming the state parking garage being constructed in Anchorage north of the Robert B. Atwood Building as the Linny Pacillo Parking Garage." 8:45:21 AM SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS, Alaska State Legislature, explained that SB 131 proposed that the new state parking garage in Anchorage be named for Linny Pacillo, who was a positive force for change in Anchorage. Linny Pacillo, along with her sister, challenged the Anchorage Parking Authority by donning tutus and fairy wings and depositing coins into expired parking meters. The Twentieth Alaska State Legislature formally honored the parking fairies and stated the following: "The Pacillo sisters have reminded all of us that government must serve the people. They have also confirmed the strength of our democracy by showing that wrongs can be corrected, and that the will of the people can triumph." Senator Ellis described Ms. Pacillo's efforts through charities, her family business, and the sharing of her own resources as deliberate acts of kindness. Ms. Pacillo was also honored by the Anchorage Assembly, which supports this legislation. He acknowledged that there had been some concerns with regard to outstanding student loan obligations by Ms. Pacillo, but pointed out that all aspects of Ms. Pacillo's account have been cleared to the satisfaction of the state. In conclusion, Senator Ellis opined that naming the new parking garage on behalf of Ms. Pacillo would be a fitting tribute to an extraordinary citizen. He noted that he introduced SB 131 at the request of Ms. Pacillo's family and legion of friends. 8:49:51 AM CO-CHAIR FAIRCLOUGH mentioned that at a prior hearing the committee passed out the House companion to SB 131. 8:50:11 AM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX commented that this is great legislation as Ms. Pacillo seems to have been a neat individual. 8:50:24 AM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN asked if Ms. Pacillo deposited money in a parking meter for Senator Ellis. SENATOR ELLIS replied no. He acknowledged that some don't believe that depositing coins in meters for others wasn't legal under the law at the time. Still, the reaction to Ms. Pacillo's efforts was overwhelmingly positive and made a political statement. 8:51:18 AM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX asked if anyone knows how much Ms. Pacillo spent depositing coins in the parking meters or the fiscal impact to the Anchorage Parking Authority of her activities. 8:51:44 AM SUSAN PACILLO related that she and her sister deposited thousands of dollars in the parking meters. She then thanked everyone who has helped with this legislation, which highlights that government is for the people, of the people, and by the people. Ms. Pacillo, in response to Co-Chair Fairclough, confirmed that she, too, was a parking fairy. She then said that this legislation honors all of her sister Linny's efforts to help others whether it be purchasing a water pump for a village in Nicaragua or purchasing a meal for someone down on his/her luck. 8:55:25 AM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX asked if the Anchorage Parking Authority does things differently as a result of the efforts of the parking fairies. MS. PACILLO replied yes, adding that the downtown area is friendlier and the police presence is nice. In further response to Co-Chair LeDoux, Ms. Pacillo admitted that she still deposits quarters in expired parking meters when she's downtown. 8:56:40 AM ANDREE MCCLEOD provided the following testimony: Thank you for very much for hearing SB 131, naming the new state parking garage in downtown Anchorage after Linny Pacillo. It's being constructed just across the street from the Robert Atwood State Office Building. For those who don't know, Linny Pacillo was one of two sisters dubbed the "parking fairies." They went around putting quarters in expired parking meters as part of their campaign to bring attention to an enforcement agency run amuck. Linny passed away last year; she was for the little guy. The Robert Atwood Building is where many state departments and the governor's Anchorage office are housed. Robert Atwood is an icon and pillar in Alaska's history and was instrumental in shaping today's Alaska. He was a big guy. Alaska is unique in that residents who want to better their community can truly exercise their right of critical democracy. In our great state, individuals who muster enough courage and gumption can take a stand on issues, criticize their government, and actually end up making a difference. Most Alaskans seriously take their duty to keep leaders accountable as they follow the constitutional doctrine of government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Linny was such a person. She and Susan, the parking fairies, were a catalyst for an enormous paradigm shift relating to parking in Anchorage. With a public relations campaign any Madison Avenue advertising executive would envy, they single-handedly transferred the balance of power from an overzealous government bureaucracy back to the people where it rightfully belongs. The parking fairies had a vision to reign in the Anchorage Parking Authority's enforcement activities. They carried it out as a mission dressed up in tutus, tights, and fairy wings. Their courage was demonstrated in countless assembly and committee meetings as they criticized established policies that had gone awry. Linny's integrity was further displayed in the many philanthropic activities she took on to improve people's lot. And Linny persevered year after year as she survived the slings and arrows pointed at her from some bureaucrats, some elected officials, and others. Linny was relentless in her pursuit to make government accountable to the people. While Linny exercised her right of critical democracy, she showed others how to be good citizens. She was an example to anyone who wanted better government and leaders. Through it all she endeared herself not only in Anchorage, but on a national and international level. She became an unofficial ambassador of Anchorage as stories of the parking fairies' activities were published in the National Inquirer, National Examiner, and portrayed on the Letterman and the Mike and Mattie (ph) shows, among others. Her death made the media internationally as countries throughout the world reported on the passing of our beloved parking fairy. Mayor Begich, former [Anchorage] Assembly chair Dan Sullivan, and all Assembly members approved the resolution requesting the legislature to name the new parking garage as the Linny Pacillo Parking Garage. Clearly, this demonstrates that they point to Linny as a model citizen by fittingly honoring her actions. Anchorage feels good and proud in knowing that it produces citizens like Linny. Many people embraced what she embodied as she went on transforming everyone's parking experience for the better. The Linny Pacillo Parking Garage would remind us of our rights, responsibilities, and obligations to make sure government is answerable to us. It would sustain Anchorage's unique sense of community and spirit. It's most proper for the Linny Pacillo Parking Garage to be across the street of the Robert Atwood State Office Building because it proves that it doesn't matter what your position or standing in society might be in Alaska -- that in the long run, when it's all said and done, we're all in this together. 9:00:56 AM CO-CHAIR FAIRCLOUGH, upon determining no one else wished to testify, closed the public testimony. 9:01:18 AM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX moved to report CSSB 131(STA) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, it was so ordered.
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