Almanac: At the Capitol

Not since the bridge collapsed have we seen such unity from two men who may be seeking the same job.  Mayor Rybak and Gov. Pawlenty provided this joint news release:

GOVERNOR PAWLENTY AND MAYOR RYBAK ANNOUNCE         

I-35W BRIDGE “REMEMBRANCE GARDEN”

~ Memorial to remember those lost, affected by bridge collapse ~

Minneapolis – Governor Tim Pawlenty and Mayor R.T. Rybak today announced details of a “Remembrance Garden” which will serve as a memorial to the victims, survivors, family members and others whose lives were affected by the tragic collapse of the I-35W Bridge on August 1, 2007.

The memorial will be located in Minneapolis’ Gold Medal Park, just west of the I-35W Bridge.  The park was a gathering place for many Minnesotans in the hours and days following the bridge collapse. 

The Remembrance Garden will include 13 upright metal I-beams surrounded by an 81-foot rock square. Within the square will be a 65-foot wide circle plaza surrounding a 13-foot wide black granite round table fountain. Thirteen stainless steel bands will emanate from the center of the fountain, each ending at the base of an individual I-beam.

The features of the Remembrance Garden are symbolic of the lives affected by the bridge collapse. The names of the 13 people who died will be engraved on opaque glass faces on the inside of the 13 I-beams.  The 81-foot dimension of the rock square references August 1, the date of the bridge collapse. The 65-foot diameter of the circular plaza references the time of the collapse – 6:05 p.m.

The concept and location of a suitable memorial came about after months of meetings between the families of those who died in the collapse and survivors of the tragedy. The design of the Remembrance Garden was developed when the families and survivors began working with Dr. William McGuire, whose foundation manages Gold Medal Park, and Tom Oslund, the landscape architect who designed Gold Medal Park.

“As we open the new bridge, it is important to keep the victims and the families directly impacted by this tragedy first in our thoughts and prayers,” Governor Pawlenty said.  “This memorial will provide a lasting way to always remember loved ones who were lost on that tragic day.”

“Locating this peaceful remembrance garden within Gold Medal Park, near the river, is important,” Mayor Rybak said. “Victims’ families and collapse survivors felt we needed to remember the lives lost and changed that day with a quiet green space, where so many people gathered to draw on communal strength and support in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy.”

“Through the entire visioning and design process, it was essential that we listened hardest to those who were most affected by this tragedy,” said Oslund. “In the end, we created a place that honors those who died, and also recognizes that an entire community was changed.”

The Remembrance Garden designers hope that those who visit the memorial will also use this place to remember those who were on the bridge when it fell but survived the disaster – many who still struggle daily with both physical and emotional injuries as the result of the bridge collapse.

With the design and location of the memorial now determined, funding is required to make the Remembrance Garden a reality. Governor Pawlenty and Mayor Rybak announced the launching of a fundraising effort to raise at least $1 million to construct and maintain the Remembrance Garden, for which the Minneapolis Foundation will serve as the fiscal agent. Financial support will be solicited from individuals, foundations, businesses, and others whose generosity will contribute to building the memorial.

“We are very grateful to the many people who have already stepped forward to contribute to this important effort,” Mayor Rybak said. “Significant support has already been offered by Dr. William and Nadine McGuire, Oslund and Associates, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Capella University, Minneapolis Building and Constructions Trade Council, and Flatiron Construction. Additionally, the City of Minneapolis has already collected thousands of dollars from individuals who previously contributed to the creation of a bridge memorial. We are thankful for this support and hope it will serve as a clear example of what we need to build this memorial.”

Those interested in learning more about the I-35W Bridge Remembrance Garden, viewing images of the design, or making a contribution can go to www.35WRemembranceGarden.org

Many politicians talk about living green, but it's fun to catch them actually walking the talk — or in this case, biking the talk. I was downtown Minneapolis on my way to interview a high-profile former CEO for another story and I ran into Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Minneapolis) getting on her bike. I know I used to run into her a lot in road races back in the day when we were both faster distance runners. But to see a lawmaker biking downtown to do a little shopping is unusual. Kahn tends towards the unusual, but she says she recently had company downtown Minneapolis when Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller biked to their same meeting downtown. And yes, that's a Talbot's bag she's about to strap to the bike. She didn't walk out of Sak's with a sack :) 

A sad day for sure. Politicians are seizing the opportunity to comment. Here's a round up of what is in my email box this morning.

Statement of Senator Norm Coleman on the Anniversary of the I-35W Bridge Collapse

For Minnesotans, August 1st represents a hole in the calendar where we confront the pain of our past. One year ago, the I-35W Bridge collapsed, ending the lives of 13, injuring hundreds and disrupting the lives of untold thousands. It has been said that adversity doesn’t create character, it reveals it. In the days following the collapse we witnessed amazing acts of heroism, and they continue to this day. We also saw an unprecedented unity of effort, among all the branches and levels of government, without regard to party or position. Our single goal has been to raise a new bridge over our old river that we can be proud of, that we can trust, and that honors the memory of those who perished.

Franken Statement on Anniversary of 35W Bridge Tragedy
Saint Paul [08/01/08] - U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken released the following statement regarding today's one-year anniversary of the tragic collapse of the 35W bridge in Minneapolis. Franken will not be campaigning today, and the campaign will air no advertisements.

This anniversary is more than a sad reminder of the lives lost and irrevocably altered one year ago, it's also a reminder of how strong our community really is. We will never forget the stories of Minnesotans rushing towards the danger - into the water to save their neighbors. In the days following the tragedy, we made a firm commitment to rebuild. And forming over the Mississippi River every day, we see the results of that commitment. For Franni and me, this day will always be marked with solemn remembrance of what we have lost, and also a deep appreciation for what we retain and what we can build together.

Mn/DOT Web page provides I-35W bridge collapse one-year timeline, information

WHAT:
The Minnesota Department of Transportation's Web page, "One Year Later: The I-35W Bridge Collapse," provides a timeline of the bridge collapse and recovery events, as well as information about bridge inspections, repairs and replacement, the investigation into the collapse and the future of Minnesota bridges. The page also contains a message from Commissioner Tom Sorel and what Mn/DOT has been doing to improve the safety of Minnesota's bridges.

WHERE:
www.dot.state.mn.us/minnesotabridges

ST. PAUL – U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse:

Today, Michelle and I join the people of Minnesota, and all Americans, to remember those who lost their lives in the tragic collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones. As we remember and honor those we lost, we must also ensure that every possible step is taken to prevent future tragedies. That is why I will continue fighting to rebuild our crumbling roads and bridges, strengthen our national infrastructure, and make the safety of Americans a top priority.

The federal government's hiring and then firing of fired MnDOT employee Sonia Pitt created quite a reaction in the political world. Lawmakers are stunned. Regular people seem stunned. The blogs are stunned.

Jan Radder writes:

If there were any justice in this world, Sonia Pitt would be flipping burgers at some fast food chain, asking customers, "you want fries with that," while bragging to any and all who would listen that she "used to be somebody."

Book of the Black Dog says:

Crap, crap, crap. Where the hell are we going and why are we in this hand basket?

MinnPost writes:

Where in the world is Sonia Morphew Pitt, the MnDOT disaster coordinator who went AWOL during the 35W bridge collapse? Working for the feds at Homeland Security, the Strib's Paul McEnroe and Tony Kennedy report. She's a "transportation security specialist." Somewhere, FEMA ex-boss Michael Brown is smiling.

The story is a big "get" for the Strib reporters who have been tenacious on the follow up of the bridge collapse. The timing couldn't be worse for the Bush and Pawlenty administrations, the day before the bridge anniversary.  The governor's spokesperson said "As you'll recal, our administration fired Sonia Pitt and we can't explain why or how she was hired by the federal government.  It seems like a strange decision."