RR Anderson, DIY Cultural Arts Specialist
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Sep. 25, 2009 at 9:40pm
LIVE BLOGGING: Demolition of Luzon FROM INSIDE!
Sometimes One Man Can Make a Difference
By the time the auto post feature makes this page live I will be making my way to the LUZON.
It is my intention to stop the destruction of this historical building by camping out inside
on the top floor in a secret hiding place. I will post updates in the comment thread using my iphone. I will camp out as long as it takes to melt the icicle heart of our city manager Eric Anderson. I am a master of hiding. DO NOT TRY AND FIND ME!
MY INVENTORY
- rope
- sleeping bag (black)
- 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwitches
- respirator
- black stocking cap
- pry bar
- canteen of water
- first aid kit
- flash light (with red lens)
- adult diapers
- duct tape
- small tent (for decoy)
- wireless internet connection
Hopefully I'll buy the preservation guys some time to change Mr. Anderson's mind.
comments [69] | posted under action, activisim, DIY, empowerment, preservationist, tacoma
Comments
 by NineInchNachos on 9/25/2009 @ 10:22pm | crap. 12 foot fence. see 2 rent-a-cops in car. shouldn't they be wearing hardhats? place lit up like fourth of july. gotta think |
by NineInchNachos on 9/25/2009 @ 10:29pm | typical n00b mistake. city forgot to weld manhole covers shut. see u in the basement. |
 by Erik on 9/25/2009 @ 10:43pm | Good luck. Signal us when you get in. We will send someone to throw food up to you. |
 by morgan on 9/25/2009 @ 10:55pm | RR: I wish I could join you but I have baby duty tonight! Girl's night out. I'll be with you in spirit though. |
 by Thorax O'Tool on 9/25/2009 @ 10:55pm | The News Tribune, Sunday September 27, 2009: THE planned destruction of the ill-fated and somewhat renown Luzon Building on the corner of South 13th street and Pacific Avenue went off yesterday with some issues despite the mustering of heavy equipment. While the seriously dilapidated building was one of two remaining buildings on the West Coast designed by the famed Burnham and Root, decades of neglect took their toll and the structure was in danger of collapse, according to the city. The demolition, scheduled to begin at 7 am, was delayed by nearly five hours due to the unexpected and brazen acts of a Tacoma man. The individual, identified by police as R.R. Anderson, 30 of Tacoma. Known to be a member of the quasi-legal CLAW association, Anderson was at the forefront as a criticizer of the City's decision to raze the building. Police reports state that Anderson was spotted scaling the walls of the doomed structure at approximately 5:30 am wearing nothing except for his underwear, a red fez and a makeshift red cape. A security guard called 9-1-1, reporting a suicidal lunatic on the condemned building. The police were quick to arrive, and found Anderson standing on the Pacific Avenue ledge of the roof. While the details are somewhat unclear, what is certain is that Anderson repeatedly pelted the police officers with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while yelling: "Man, Root and Burnham, Burnham and Root, man. Man, those guys, with their steel frame style, man. Don't ya dig it? Don't be all like a jive turkey, man. Root, man. Burnham! Dig it?" The police, confused as to what Anderson was saying in his shrill voice, notified the FBI of a possible terrorist action. At approximately 9 am, five hundred federal marshals along with an elite Stryker Brigade from Fort Lewis and a fleet of ten Chinook Helicopters surrounded the building by both land and air. Negotiations with Anderson went on until noon, when City Manager Eric Anderson told the federal authorities that it would "be like totally swell and save the city like this dumptruck full of cash" if they went ahead and shelled the building, including Anderson prancing on it's roof. Initially hesitant to needlessly wreak havoc and kill innocent civilians, the commanding officers held a teleconference with President Obama. Upon learning that Tacoma is a city very near Seattle, the president became worried, stating that "We cannot risk something like this possibly tarnishing the gleaming reputation of precious, precious Seattle. Bomb the son-of-a-bitch". Ordered to shell the Luzon building, the Strykers suffered from poor aiming and leveled the nearby Hotel Murano instead. Laughing and giddy, Anderson jumped from the building, landing in front of a Stryker, breaking both legs. Immediately surrounded, Anderson surrendered, claiming that "the bitter, frozen north will rise again." While no previous evidence exists, the FBI is linking Anderson to the Alaska Secessionist Party, and will be sent to Guantanamo Bay, pending his trial scheduled for July 19th, 2112. In apologies for missing the Luzon, the US Airforce directed a C-130 to drop a Daisy Cutter bomb on the building as a "freebie". |
by morgan on 9/25/2009 @ 11:04pm | Wow. |
 by Mofo from the Hood on 9/25/2009 @ 11:07pm | "It's just a bunch of miscolored bricks."---Andrew from Tacoma. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/25/2009 @ 11:17pm | nice vaulted ceilings down here. glasses fogging up. hella nervous. spotty internet connection... almost to basement. shoes wet. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 9/25/2009 @ 11:31pm | Stay away from the Boiler Room! He's waiting there! |
by NineInchNachos on 9/25/2009 @ 11:32pm | quite the spectacle going on outside. half way up. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/25/2009 @ 11:34pm | elevator shaft is quite handsome. it is a shame this is all going to be demolished |
by NineInchNachos on 9/25/2009 @ 11:41pm | hear shouting.. gotta lay low. respirator filling up with sweat dripping on keypad. kinda reminds you of Orson Wells war of the worlds No? |
by NineInchNachos on 9/25/2009 @ 11:48pm | dust thick in hallway. faint glow under door. electricity? |
 by Crenshaw Sepulveda on 9/25/2009 @ 11:51pm | Dear lord, you may have come upon the lair of the Tully's wino. Some say he lives in Fireman's park but I've never seen him there in the wee small hours of the morning. If you see empty Tully's cups you may be hot on the trail. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/25/2009 @ 11:52pm | glow coming from gas lamp. room looks in excellent shape. examining old phonograph.. |
 by fredo on 9/25/2009 @ 11:56pm | I snuck into an "abandoned" building once when I was a teenager. Well, it was abandoned except the owner had left a couple of german shepherds in there. If you're really in there RR a tip of the hat to you. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/25/2009 @ 11:56pm | spring on phonograph appears to be freshly wound. don't hear rent-a-cops.. dare I play the wax cylinder? |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 12:02am | this isn't right. building supposed to be abandoned. why room look so lived in? !!!!!! clock on mantle just !!!!! chimed!!!! |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 12:06am | can't breath with this respirator!! bad seal on bridge of nose fogging glasses. freaked otu. leaving room. |
by morgan on 9/26/2009 @ 12:08am | Stop it! You're freaking me out! |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 12:17am | a semi-transparent elevator attendant just asked me WHICH FLOOR? 13th. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 12:24am | semi-transparent elevator attendant just said if I had no business in the LUZON, I would have to leave. He's tired of yokel THRILL SEEKERS |
by Thorax O'Tool on 9/26/2009 @ 12:26am | I was just down there, RR... there's more than Rent-a-cops down there. At least 3x bike (real) cops, 2 patrol cars parked out there and I saw at least 4 cop cars cruise by... the city is paranoid. There is something more than meets the eye. This ain't a normal demolition. What kind of interest must be involved to require at least 4 rent-a-cops and 9 real cops? This is creeping me out, man. Watch out for searchlights. No joke one of the cars was flashing it on the Commerce side... looking for something. But what? |
by Erik on 9/26/2009 @ 12:27am | Ok RR. The building is unsafe.
This is not some kind of joke. They are going to start demolishing the building in 6 and a half hours. Better get out of there now. You have made your point. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 12:28am | I AM FROM THE FUTURE, A SSHOLE! |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 12:31am | I need 2 get 2 roof. Time dilation be damned |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 12:33am | Looking out window now. Don't see any cops. DON'T SEE ANY RUSSELL BUILDING! NO PARKING GARAGE!!!! |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 12:41am | door to the roof is locked. need a skeleton key, do they make those anymore? |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 12:46am | Ok that was scary. the locked door to the roof just opened by itself. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 9/26/2009 @ 12:53am | don't go in! It's a trap! |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 12:53am | 5 minutes till Saturday. According to this map, the secret passage way should be right around this corner. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 1:03am | I am standing atop the LUZON looking down at pacific. I see a street car going past.. like the one in old spaghetti factry. empty. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 9/26/2009 @ 1:06am | See the swamps of the port lit up by only the headlights of coal-powered trains? |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 1:10am | to my left I see a turbine vent. there is an envelope stuck 2 side. curious. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 1:12am | in the distance I hear a steam whistle. faint. like mist. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 1:14am | funny. It is starting to snow? |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 1:17am | setting up sleeping bag under corrugated tin panel. GOOD NIGHT TACOMA WHEREVER YOU ARE. |
 by StacyEmerson on 9/26/2009 @ 1:27am | Genius, I'd say. |
 by Dave_L on 9/26/2009 @ 2:03am | spring on phonograph appears to be freshly wound...dare I play the wax cylinder? Point the horn out the window and play all the cylinders. All night. www.archive.org/download/HerbertGoddardE... www.archive.org/download/CarusoSacchilyr... www.archive.org/download/JosephOMara/Jos... www.archive.org/download/PaulReimers/Pau... www.archive.org/download/singme1904/sing... |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 7:15am | LIVE from the rooftop of the LUZON, IT'S SATURDAY MORN! |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 7:55am | Some of my supporters spotted this morning! thanks guys..
twitpic.com/j7coj |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 7:58am | hopefully the restraining order sticks:
www.thenewstribune.com/topstory/story/89... |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 8:33am | the lord will protect me twitpic.com/j7e97 |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 8:40am | GIANT ROBOT TRYING TO KILL ME!! bit.ly/17hxaX |
by morgan on 9/26/2009 @ 8:49am | A people with no history have no future. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 8:51am | I will not be moved from my hiding spot on top of LUZON. I have exhausted my supply of adult diapers. |
by morgan on 9/26/2009 @ 8:53am | "I think (Anderson's) made up his mind and he feels he's doing the right thing and that's what he's paid to do, " Baarsma said. "If I were to make the call, I'd wait. I'd get some more information to see if in fact there was a way to stabilize the building. But I understand how (the city manager) system (of government) works and where he's coming from." www.thenewstribune.com/topstory/story/89... Is it time to change Tacoma's form of government? Why is the city manager deciding the city's destiny? Isn't that supposed to be the job of our elected leaders? |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 8:53am | Erik Anderson is calling to me from pacific plaza with bullhorn. SEE YOU IN HELL RR! says he. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 9:01am | my lawyers are calling in a rescue helicopter. If you see me floating do not be alarmed. It is an invisible helicopter. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 9:04am | Lord almighty... THE ROBOT CLAW ARM has found me! I forgot to hide the heat signature of my PBJ sandwich cache!!! |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 9:07am | I have jammed the steel jaws open with a discarded femur bone. Perhaps I can reach the toggle switch for the overhead fire door.. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 9:08am | this historical LUZON bld isn't going to save itself. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 9:13am | have one shot at this, fashioned crude pair of stilts from shattered plaster lath. Time to deploy protest banner. World will now my story |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 9:18am | ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS EXCEPT EUROPA. ATTEMPT NO LANDINGS THERE. damn. wrong protest drop banner! |
 by amsierra on 9/26/2009 @ 9:21am | Inside the building your humor is brilliant and tragic. Outside the building it's just tragic. A former city leader just told me that he wishes that someone had been inside to help save the building. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 9:25am | Erik Anderson is laughing at me from pacific plaza. You know what? Screw the LUZON. I'm going home. |
 by KevinFreitas on 9/26/2009 @ 9:39am | Pics of the massacre at f.33d.me/neR01n |
by Thorax O'Tool on 9/26/2009 @ 11:02am | It'd be easy to say that we need to vote for better candidates, ones who aren't content to let deadbeats let their buildings rot until it's too late.
What good does “voting more carefully” do when T-Town is run under a city manager system? The manager is unelected, appointed by and accountable only to city council. Why even have a mayor? The office is only symbolic anyway. @Morgan... drop me an email at: thoraxotool at gmail dot com |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 12:51pm | a television reporter explains the historical significance of the LUZON
www.king5.com/video/index.html?nvid=4023... you can see me fighting with the robot arm in the background. |
 by marumaruyopparai on 9/26/2009 @ 1:20pm | Well done sir, well done. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 9/26/2009 @ 1:34pm | Drove by.... sad, sad, sad. |
by morgan on 9/26/2009 @ 2:08pm | RR: Your actions have not gone unnoticed. Thank you for risking your life in order to save Tacoma. |
by NineInchNachos on 9/26/2009 @ 10:09pm | today was tacoma's very own historical 9/11 I recommend we adopt these emergency HISTORICAL PATRIOT ACT(S): 1. declare war on all derelict building owners 2. start domestic spying program on all associates and business links to derelict building owners. complete data awareness! 3. preemptive 'eminent domain' property seizures in addition to preemptive historical register designations with or without owner's consent 4. torture and detain indefinitely all derelict building owners within the INTERNATIONAL WAR ON APATHY DISTRICT downtown. and when I say 'torture' I don't mean wimpy CIA bush memo torture. I mean no accountability 3rd party rummy/blackwater torture. 5. carte blanch for historical society funding. 6. state secrets rubber stamping of potential public records requests reflecting poorly on Historical society. |
by Thorax O'Tool on 9/26/2009 @ 10:24pm | 7. create a government-organized credentials system (similar to TWIC) that elected (and appointed) public officials are required to get to qualify for duty. Requirements to qualify for this "Civic Leaders Accountability and Workability" credential include remedial study of urban planning and economics. |
 by ixia on 9/27/2009 @ 7:50am | 8. Consider a 5 dollar historic conservation tax levy on propery tax. 5 bucks a year won't hurt anyone, even frredo must admit. |
by fredo on 9/27/2009 @ 8:05am | Let me interrupt your proposed legislation for just a moment so that I may pay tribute to our new Tacoma hero.
"Through the dust and the smoke of that man made hell, Walked a giant of a man that the bloggers knew well, Grabbed a sagging timber and a logging workers spar, And like a giant oak tree just stood there alone...RR" (lyrics altered from Johnny Cash's marvelous Big Bad John) R.I.P. RR 2009 |
by fredo on 9/27/2009 @ 8:16am | Ixia@ I'll endorse your $5 conservation tax levy if you'll endorse a moratorium on minimum wage / prevailing wage legislation which is making the cost of preservation so abhorrently high that demolition is the only option. |
by ixia on 9/27/2009 @ 8:20am | That would make demolition WAY more affordable. |
by fredo on 9/27/2009 @ 8:59am | Ixia@ A handful of laborers brought down the Luzon in one shift. I doubt if altering their wage rate would make any significant difference in the cost of demolition. OTOH, construction labor costs are so exorbitant in the US that marginal projects (like the Luzon) just will not pencil out. The proof is on page 1 News Tribune. |
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RR Anderson is one of the most curious characters in the UFO lore and the history of underground cartooning. He fought bizarre underground beings in the caves of Alaska, was wounded by a laser before it was invented, and had a background with the clandestine branch of the Tacoma Cartoonists Society.
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