…and Revelations about Juneau’s Capital Theme Park

[1]Rizal Park

This Museum is an art and culture mecca. A trust of the Government, is an educational, scientific and cultural institution that acquires, documents, preserves, exhibits, and fosters scholarly study and public appreciation of works of art, specimens, and cultural and historical artifacts representative of the unique cultural heritage of the Filipino people and the natural history of the Philippines.

Manila is the largest city in Philippines, and after giving the non-profit arts organization the bottom floor of the Assembly Building here, it wasn’t long before they wanted the whole thing.

The politicians then GAVE the historic building to them and moved elsewhere to try to get something done for Filipinos who elected them.

The neoclassical building was built in 1921 and originally served to house the various legislative bodies of the Philippine government. It was the home of the Bicameral Congress from 1926 to 1972, and the Philippine Senate from 1987 to 1997.

See my National Museum of the Philippines video of the artwork on the walls of the former Senate Chambers here!

[2]Postcard from Philippines 29

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This Alaska Art masterpiece is one of many on display at the Alaska Capitol.

[3]National Museum of Fine Arts (Manila)

This writer has enjoyed works of art in the Alaska Capital as staff to two different legislators and a resident of Juneau 20 years. Given the chance, an old teacher like me could spend days at the National Museum of Philippines. Fortunately I have been able to go there once so far and the online presence is also impressive.

Welcome to Juneau’s Capital Theme Park

I can assure with authority that members of the isolated community of Juneau believes the Alaska Capital belongs to them. A majority are also adamant that the rest of the state NOT have a highway to their capital.

[4]National Museum of the Philippines’ website!

It is their Capital Theme Park, and all summer long tour ships dump millions of tourists to discover where Alaska elected officials are sequestered from voters to attend the needs of Special Interests during session. The Park features traditional tourist trap venues near the docks; the Red Dog Saloon and plenty of t-shirt shops welcome all visitors, some of whom embark upon the hearty climb up the mountain. Soon, they discover a number of buildings related to Alaska State Government. In addition to the Capitol itself, this includes the former Capital School that has been repurposed to the Terry Miller Legislative Office Building directly behind the capitol. This building houses Legislative Affairs Agency. Next to the Capitol on 4th street is the former Scottish Right Hall turned into the Thomas B. Stewart Legislative Office Building.

The Terry Miller Office Building houses The Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA), the Legislature’s non-partisan support agency. The Agency’s eleven sections work collaboratively to ensure individual legislators, and the Legislature as a whole, have the necessary tools to efficiently conduct work. LAA carries out Legislative Council policy, Alaska Statute, and is responsible for providing legislative services including: accounting; information technology; personnel and payroll; legal; research; maintenance; printing and document distribution; supply and procurement; security; and the statewide teleconference network, including 22 Legislative Information Offices (LIOs) throughout Alaska.

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From the steps of the recently acquired Assembly Building, this image captures the core of the Capital Theme Park, with the Judge Thomas B. Stewart Legislative Office Building across 4th Street next to the Capitol, which is connected by an enclosed pedestrian overpass.

Acquisition of The Assembly Building was reportedly necessary to provide apartments for legislators. A House-Senate committee approved spending State funds to renovate the previous office building into 33 apartments.

Private enterprise has become so voracious in charges to session visitors for rentals in this closed market that the solons have decided this is another reasonable perk to grant themselves for having to do Alaska’s business 3-5 months per year in such a hell-hole.

News story:

Alaska Legislature votes $6.6 million for legislative housing near Juneau Capitol building

The Assembly Building, built in 1932, will be the Legislature’s new apartment building

The ***Assembly Building*** is seen on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, in downtown Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

According to reporting by Juneau-booster Journalist, James Brooks: During a Monday (12/19/23) vote on the proposal, lawmakers said the state-owned building will help alleviate a chronic shortage of housing in the capital city during the legislative session, adding,The cost of construction is also being subsidized by a Juneau-based foundation whose goal, at least partially, is to keep Juneau as the state capital.

This ISN’T just a Juneau subsidy. This is another way to capture elected officials from Alaska sent to Juneau to make decisions on behalf of Alaskans who mostly elected them from elsewhere in the state. I submit that the fog found in the Juneau Capital Theme Park is the same ideological fog found in Seattle or Portland—with devastating impact on gullible rubes who live in Alaska and elect politicians controlled by Special Interests to cavort in Juneau.

[5]Oh Give Me a Home where only lobbyists can roam…

As in Philippines, Juneau Arts Also Deserve a

Centralized Location with Multiple Venues

In December 2020 Smithsonian Magazine recognized Juneau’s quest to become the Northwest Coast arts capital of the world.

The ***Sealaska Heritage Arts Campus***, scheduled to open in downtown Juneau in 2021, will house indoor and outdoor space for artists to make monumental Northwest Coast art pieces, such as totem poles and canoes; classrooms for art programming and instruction in areas such as basketry and textile weaving and print making; and space for performances, art markets, and public gatherings. Rendering by MRV Architects, courtesy of Sealaska Heritage

[5]How Juneau Alaska, Is Becoming an Epicenter for Indigenous Art

Our hope is to make Juneau a destination for art lovers, says Rosita Worl, president of Sealaska Heritage. Art is everywhere in our community and it’s a reflection of our culture. We want to share our passion for [Northwest Coast art], this great and unique art form, on a wider scale.

This is fantastic news for Alaskans who would like to see Juneau prosper beyond serving as a milking stand for state revenues. Imagine what Alaskans might do with our state government if it wasn’t held hostage to North Seattle.

The politicians need to GIVE the historic Alaska Capital

Building to the State Council on the Arts and move

elsewhere to try to get something done for Alaskans

who elected them.

References:

[1] Rizal Park
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rizal_Park