~ Candidate Meet and Greet for Nan Nesvig & Jim Derouin

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 ~ COGS Corner -- November Meeting Info 

Our next COGS meeting is Thursday 8 November at the Granite Reef Senior Center from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Westcor has asked for a few minutes to give us a presentation on plans for redeveloping the Days Inn property to the north of Fashion Square. We will have an opportunity to ask them questions about specifics of the project.

In addition, we will have the latest information for you on WaterView, OrchidTree, and the 10 acre TriYar  downtown project (east of the "W" Hotel on the south side of Camelback).

We need you there! We are going to discuss direction and strategy for COGS, and we need everyone’s input. If you have anything you’d like to discuss at the meeting, please let me know ASAP and we will try to work it into the agenda.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

John Washington
480.229.1831
john@ReactionResearch.com

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It appears as though a top level city administrator (non-charter officer) has been using city paid travel and seminars to benefit his private consulting and development business.   People have overheard others mumble that they're getting frustrated with him submitting requests for city funded seminar/conference applications and city funded travel to attend conferences and seminars while he apparently does personal business on those same city funded trips (Unethical?).

Recently he was in another state for the opening of a housing project he was personally involved with and Scottsdale taxpayers apparently paid for this trip as well, and he didn't have to use any of his vacation time to do it.

He apparently also does lots of personal consulting on city time. We're told he has separate private email servers which allows him to respond to, and to deal with all kinds of private consulting while on city time but off the city records and hidden from public scrutiny.

He apparently attended a Retail Conference & Seminar recently in another state while on the city tab.  This was a great benefit to him since he co-owns a retail shopping center in another state. We'll try to get the conference and recent news articles about him in that specific city in the other state.

His ego and lack of City Manager Jan Dolan’s control over his actions may be goading him on according to what we’ve heard and seen. We’ve also been told that he made a special deal with the City Manager when he was hired that he would have Carte Blanche on what he wanted to do while in Scottsdale city government.

A very arrogant person who apparently thinks he’s untouchable. Just like Jan Dolan is now, and like a newly retired top administrator was by having someone close to him in city government renew all of his professional subscriptions and memberships before he retired. Saved him thousands but cost the taxpayers thousands....

As you all know, I don't ask questions or provide scenarios unless I strongly suspect something is going on that shouldn't be going on. More coming as I find out more and further verify the facts in more depth.

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Ok, Mr. Bachman, put away the Yellow Pages, the college catalogue and do not simply Google. Dude! Where have you been all of your life? Were you perhaps a Tory in Revolutionary War days?

Scoot yourself across the campus and chat with your fellows in the Social Studies Department before you send that primer to the publishers.

You state:

• You must be against something to be an "Activist". This is very important. You can be against more than one thing, but must never, ever, express support for anything.

Let's go back, first, to Voltaire, with the following quote attributed to him which used to be the standard of The Republic under Eugene Pulliam:

Now there are many activists who feel strongly about specific issues, but so far as I can tell, the vast majority of activists would welcome discussion of issues, both sides of the issues. There just does not seem to be a table to bring all parties to for that discussion.

Please, if you find said table, other than in the "3 minute" Kiva at City Hall, please tell the community where it is hidden.

You stated:

• You must personalize your attacks, never addressing the issue at hand, but instead attacking the person most closely associated with that issue.

Activists focus on issues, but those who are most strongly associated with an issue become identified with the issues, activist, developer, publicists, politicians, and/or volunteers. Passion, for whatever reason, drives both sides.

You continue:

• If the mayor does 50 good things and one not-so-good thing, focus on the negative, i.e., Pink Taco.

That Sir, is a just plain silly and thoughtless, albeit a reckless and ignorant reference.

Let's include the following at the top of those 50 things:

Makes the mayor’s Pink Taco negative public comments look like a publicity stunt doesn’t it Dave?.

• Pontificate long and loud. Never miss an opportunity to speak at City Council meetings, and then be sure to run over the three-minute limit, thereby forcing the mayor to look like she's the one being rude because she has to cut you off.

Refer back to that "phantom table" discussed above.

Since 2003 many residents, north and south, have been asking for a table to address the broad range of concerns and the many options open to the whole City to address respect and knowledge of past successes and failures, current solutions and problems, and future expectations and possibilities.

We all need serious, meaningful discussions, not diatribe with all at the table allowed to openly to participate.

Apparently there is no table or at least this leadership is having a hard time finding one (or hiding it very well). Therefore, the podium and a measly three minutes is all that is left to exercise participation in government, a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

• Long for the good old days, be pessimistic about the future, demonize developers and bash any project that seeks to bring a little modernity to the downtown area.

In reality, activists highly respect the history of our community and understanding what contributed to the quality of life, growth and development of Scottsdale which does NOT equate with longing for the good old days. That, apparently you do not get either.

Opposing projects or aspects of projects does not constitute bashing developers or projects. Most activists actually feel sorry for developers because our leadership has failed miserably to provide them with the policies, rules, and regulations to guide their projects according to expectations of the community as a whole. In addition, there is no known mechanism for the community voice to be heard, except when the developer publicly takes the initiative to provide said opportunity.

Further, modernity is more than architectural design. Modernity requires attention to the standards of the Growing Smarter Plus Act to include, adherence to all facets of sustainability, energy conservation, green building and accessible communities and amenities.

You Blew it!

Sorry, Mr. Bachman, you blew this one because you are not defining the vast majority of the "activists" in Scottsdale, but you are doing an excellent job of describing yourself and those who love to sit back and poorly "Monday morning quarterback" to flip anything positive said by the activist’s to a negative no matter what they say or do to try and improve the city.

Activists do not go along to get along, and they do not think that just because someone is elected or appointed to office, they magically have answers to all of the community's problems (even if some of our current administration think they do), after all, this is a participatory democracy being heavy on the participatory part.

Nancy Cantor, one the senior and a very credible city Activist, has served on the Neighborhood Enhancement Commission, Neighborhood Beautification Awards Committee, Mayor's Youth Gang Task Force, Joint City of Scottsdale and Scottsdale Unified School District Committee, Transportation Study Group, Superintendent's Parent Advisory Board, SkySong Education Initiative Community Committee, and is currently serving on the City Housing Board.

Most of the other "visible or verbal" activists have served on one or more boards, commissions, or committees and have unselfishly done it voluntarily to improve the community in which they live to the tune of thousands of volunteer hours.

Many activists know far more about current city policies, zoning, rules, and regulations than many of the elected council majority including the mayor, as well as the new staff members who haven’t had any guidance concerning the historical aspects of the city from those who should have been instructing them.

Oh, I forgot, it seems that the current administration has removed (fired) most of those who could have properly trained those new staffers.

It seems Mr. Bachman, that you Sir are yourself one of the uninformed "activists" you are continually complaining about.

Have you ever thought about sitting down face to face with "Dreaded Activists" Nancy Cantor, Mike Merrill, Bob Vairo, George Knowlton, John Washington, Patty Badenoch, Linda Whitehead, Darlene Peterson, or any of the scores of other activists you seem to despise in your rambling in the local newspapers? To have a frank, open discussion with them about how Scottsdale can be improved through mediation and compromise might be a huge eye opener for you? Ready? I didn’t think so.

You just might try volunteering for one of the many currently open positions on the numerous boards, commissions, and committees crying for volunteers if you REALLY want to get involved and make a difference.

In a few words Mr. Dave Bachman, Put Up or Shut Up!!

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The term "infill" is a misnomer.  What Scottsdale is experiencing is "overfill".

The city's council members have no clue what they are doing to the future of Scottsdale being a resort-residential Mecca. We know they are killing the Golden Goose, feather by feather.

As for this resident of 30 years, we have decided to sell our home in 2009 and move our residency to another state. We may winter somewhere in AZ as the winter climate is the best in the country.

In 2007 we have seen our gas bill double, our real estate taxes increase by 49%, our water bill go through the roof (Arizona Water Co. monthly base charges are $50 before we draw a drop of water), Blue Cross just increased $800. per year, APS continually increases between 5-10% annually. Local governments are taxing citizens at a rate out stripping personal income.

Maricopa county is a real estate (growth) based economy. The sub prime problem is flooding the market with supply which will surely slow down new home construction. Just look at all those overpriced condos for sale in Scottsdale.  The supply of homes being added by the sub prime mess will increase in 2008 thereby further slowing the principal economic engine in Maricopa County (growth).

As all local governments keep increasing taxes (mainly for subsidizing special interests), basic and mandatory living expenses for water, gas, electric, fuel continue increasing at unprecedented rates, this is becoming an undesirable county for residency. Citizens are being subjected to having to pay for outrageous waste by government (Hualapai, rebuilding of sewer infrastructure due to density increases beyond existing capacity, school expenses to pay for the growth of families moving to Scottsdale, etc.  Living here has become a runaway train of uncontrollable expenses. Most of which after we have paid them give us almost little to no benefit. Like....does anyone even know where the Maricopa Library is located?  Well, just look on your real property tax bill and you will find that Scottsdale residents are paying for it even after we have paid for the Scottsdale Library. 

How about those line item taxes to expand Scottsdale Community College? Strange that for nearly three decades this educational facility served the needs of our community just fine. But growth has mandated that all of us living here now must pay for all the newcomers who want to use it. Another case of letting things get out of balance and socking residents with another cost of living that some on fixed incomes simply cannot afford and those fortunate enough to have growing annual incomes find their discretionary dollars dwindling.

How about all the flood control projects that have been suddenly required? Just as an example, the city is being dug up on McDonald, Indian Bend and Scottsdale Rd between Sweetwater and T-Bird for flood control projects. What is the problem?  For the past 30 years I have never seen even an iota of a flooding problem. Yet when I see the line item on my real property tax bill for another increase in "Maricopa County Flood Control", I see it as just another whack at my checkbook for "make work" projects that line the profits of special interests.

Oh yeah, how about those line items for water supply on our tax bills.  How come residents never had that expense in the 1980's and 1990's? Why now are residents being required to subsidize the water needs of new development, sic: growth?  And then we hear the endless whining from Mayor Mary Whimpy who keeps telling residents to "conserve water". Why Mary? You want us to stop using as much water to brush our teeth in the morning so you can have that water available for people who want to move here to live on the 12^th story in some over priced, overly dense, and overly tall building?

The woman is just plain daffy.

The U.S. and certainly Maricopa County's economy relies heavily on consumer spending to keep it growing. As more and more money is being extracted from consumers through exploitive local government taxation, grossly increasing utility costs, tax money waste (subsidies to developers, auto auction promoters, and anyone with the wherewithal to hire slick lawyers (Berry, Legarde) to lobby our naive city council for taxpayer's money (subsidy), all that is being accomplished by this incompetency is a slow but sure economic meltdown.

Oh yeah, and while all this splashing of our money is evident everywhere, the street light poles on 86th street are rusting, peeling and have not been maintained in 25 years. Yet the street light poles at and near McDowell Mountain Ranch are a modern green and in tip top shape.

Thank you Madam Mary for looking after our long time residential neighborhoods so well. And it was YOU madam mayor, who in 1992 that ran on a platform for election to the city council as a "neighborhood advocate".......how quickly one forgets!

I guess honesty, integrity, and ethics have been long forgotten too haven't they madam mayor?

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I have spent several hours researching parking for Downtown, Fifth Avenue, the Waterfront, the so called "Entertainment District" and Fashion Square.

I have also consumed blood pressure meds, a tranquilizer, and an anti-anxiety pill, and finally a double shot of premium high octane scotch whiskey.

What a #&*~!!! >*^~* mess!

Dear innocent winter visitors, along with having no reasonably priced apartments to rent anywhere close to our Downtown, Fifth Avenue, Waterfront, "Entertainment District" and Fashion Square, we don’t come close to having nearly enough parking.

At the Waterfront, valet parking for Fashion Week has taken over almost half of the available parking for those who are paying to wine, dine and gawk at the trendy fashions and those who wear them.

If you want to shop, and God Forbid you want to just go to Borders, Books and Music......good luck. DO NOT GO INTO THE PARKING GARAGE SOUTH OF NORDSTROM. SECURITY GUARDS WILL NAIL YOU IF YOU TRY TO PARK IN THE NEARLY EMPTY VALET PARKING SPACE.

If you do venture in, good luck getting out with any semblance of sanity. Traffic Saturday was backed up out into Goldwater Boulevard with folks trying to figure out what the heck was going on. Once they saw the "Valet Parking" signs, and they did not want "Valet Parking" they tried to get out of the area and Bada-Boom! Bumper thumpers and stressed out potential patrons who will never return a second time.

Some of those folks had sought to park over at Fashion Square. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!

Not this time, because the parking garage on the east end of Fashion Square is a pile of rubble, construction material is piled in the south side parking lot and not even the trolley can get into that mall yet.

While we are at it, the Trolley can't cross the trolley bridge on the Waterfront, either, because the Fashion Week "cat walk," has closed off access. Why did we build that bridge?

There isn't even an area for convenient handicapped access to the Waterfront. If you stop, you back traffic up to Camelback Road for 5-10 minutes.

Then my friends while you are trying to figure out how to navigate the chaos, you can "enjoy" the breath taking odors (puke) emanating from our Waterfront sewer system due to the "inadequate grease traps" approved by the City for all of the restaurants in that area.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is Mayor Mary’s sustainable, walkable, live, work, play, cutting edge road rage, as Mayor Mary put our tax dollars to work (?).

When the Mayor's Breakfast invited Rachel Sacco, from the Convention and Visitors Bureau, to tell us all how to be 'tourists in our own hometown,' little did I expect an ulterior motive.

Now I see what the motive is. In order to go to Downtown, Fifth Avenue, Waterfront and Fashion Square, you have to go away......you can't get there from here ‘cause there is nowhere to park!!

It’s a damned shame you have to reserve a room overnight at one of our local hotels just to be able to visit your own Downtown.

Like Rodney Dangerfield, the residents and taxpayers of Scottsdale "don't get no respect" from Mayor Mary, City Manager Jan Dolan, and the City Council Majority.

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 ~ Code Enforcement Gone Wild, Part 2

~ Guest Editorial by Mayoral Candidate Jim Derouin

What one person sees as "development" is often seen by others as a change of character of in an area such as downtown. This is a 50-year old battle in Scottsdale and the current, frequent disputes both consume community time and embitter community feelings.

This is why I have advocated the development of a new community consensus on issues relating to height, density, transportation and planning. In the days of Herb Drinkwater, this was actually possible; in the days of Mary Manross and her Council majority, the system is broken and zoning has become meaningless. Here is how I see these four issues relating to each other.

Can anyone be happy trying to get around either downtown or the Airpark? Both are attractive locations and highly energized—if you could just get to them easily. Scottsdale Health Care has done an exemplary job of arranging for new ways to get to its newest hospital facility located at Gray Hawk.

Unfortunately, this type of foresight and willingness to "step up to the table" has been sadly lacking in congested areas of the City—to the detriment of the City as a whole. Transportation needs to be made a part of every development scheme; and, perhaps, we need to "over plan" for both vehicle and pedestrian movement so that we are not constantly ripping up the "relatively new" to make way for the "really new." Ease of movement, of ingress and egress, has been a lost element in City planning. We need to put transportation at the top of the planning agenda or we will build ourselves into a lower quality of life in Scottsdale.

These are related, yet distinctly different issues. Area plans should mean something. Certainly proponents of particular projects should be encouraged and incentivized to be novel and produce attractive, high quality projects. However, far too many projects in recent years have resulted in "spot zoning" that has eviscerated the rules that are suppose to be guiding and governing development—thus turning the Council and community into battle zones. Why have rules if they are not applied? Why bother complying with the rules if you can get them changed on demand? Disputes over the Waterfront, the apartments at Los Arcos that were never part of the original project, Optima and the Earll Street Condominiums, and the "4333" building are all cases in point. This "hodge podge" approach to zoning is lousy for both developers, who are subjected to fierce criticism, and neighbors who expect the rules to be followed.

Density and height are important; they have always been important in Scottsdale. It is clear that the downtown plan needs to be modified and updated because literally every major project seeks, and is granted, changes to it. Further, ignoring the impacts on infrastructure and transportation needs by changing the rules to increase density is plain bad planning. In addition, allowing increases in height on demand and allowing those increases on the edges of planning areas are bound to impact adjacent neighborhoods and create opposition and controversy.

I am not against density and height in the right places and accomplished through the proper processes; I am against laissez faire, lackadaisical, on-demand changes to existing area plans and zoning ordinances. There is a new desire, understandably, to increase heights and density in the Airpark; to accomplish that objective, zoning will need to be changed. As part of that process, adequate provision needs to be made for improving transportation to and from the Airpark as well as impacts on adjacent neighborhoods and City infrastructure. Many people, including professionals, have moved into the Airpark because of its attractive location; bad planning and over-populating that area without proper allowance for infrastructure and transportation needs would be highly counterproductive.

Scottsdale deserves more than "seat-of-the-pants" planning. The current policy of "no building is too tall, no density is too great, and no subsidy is too big" is not working. We have zoning ordinances and area plans that are not applied; exceptions are the rule. Those currently running the City have become very cavalier about quality of life issues; and treat anyone who raises his or her voice against the most recent amendment to a zoning requirement as being either a chronic complainer or a nostalgic reactionary trying to prevent growth, change and progress.

I am in favor of applying the rules and, short term, comprehensively updating area plans and zoning, in a consensus fashion, so that developers can proceed expeditiously under the rules and common citizens know what to expect across the street from them or in the areas where they work. It would also help the attractiveness of the community as a whole if planners encouraged new structures to reflect our Sonoran Desert environment by creatively adopting indigenous and energy conserving design elements.

A World Class City like Scottsdale deserves professional, creative, dependable planning; that’s something it does not have today.

Jim Derouin
October 30, 2007
Scottsdale, Arizona

~Letters to the Editor  

With all the rhetoric circulating about the pitfalls of being an activist in Scottsdale, I felt it necessary to bring to light the reasons that we have so many activists within our city. We’ve all heard the adage, it isn’t if you win or lose but how you play the game. With our current city government, it’s all about winning, regardless of how that occurs. Oh sure, on the surface, it appears that they are playing the game, but in reality, the outcome of that game is pre-determined in their favor. Likewise, the administration does not arrive at that outcome ethically or fairly. Enter Scottsdale’s activists.

Our activists keep Scottsdale government honest. Of course, it is those regime-loving patrons and coattail grabbers who despise the activists’ existence, and for good reason. The activists cramp their style. I, for one, am thankful for the activists.

Who else would undertake a corrupt organization such as Scottsdale’s government without so much as batting an eyelash? Who else would face the administration in spite of the adversity they create? Who else would have an undying devotion for their city, going to bat for the big as well as the little citizens, without a penny of compensation and against all odds?

You won’t find a single zoning attorney, political advocate, political public relation guru or even a compensated city staff member (with scant few exceptions) who care about our city or its citizens the way our activists do. Their love and respect for both the old and new Scottsdale is unmatched. Not only do they pull for the home team, they are their biggest cheerleaders. Watchdogs in their own right, the activists maintain their finger on the pulse of our city north to south, east to west and they do it without regard for their own self-serving interests. This is far more than we can say for the current city government and leadership.

Activists are not opposed to progress or building in Scottsdale. They believe in planned progress through justifiable maintenance of character and integrity of our city. They don’t "hate" every new idea that the government puts forth, but they can identify a personal, self-serving interest by the administration ten miles away and will call them on it.

Contrary to popular belief, they don’t want horses and buggies to return as transportation solutions in Scottsdale but they do want sensible, cost effective resolutions to the traffic mess our current administration has set before its citizens. They believe in neighborhood preservation, but are challenged by the weak and easily pliable historic preservation policies in our city, which rarely benefit the districts that they serve. They don’t believe in putting the cart before the horse, they want improvements to our city’s infrastructure and want the citizens to participate in the planning of the city where they live and pay taxes. All things considered, they want what we all want – a fair, open, honest and ethical approach to city government.

No wonder the current government administration constantly takes pot shots at our activists. The Mayor and her cronies have no interest in conducting business in an honest, ethical manner.

Personally, I support the efforts of our activists. Without them, you could kiss your voice, as a citizen, goodbye.

In the end, the activists might be behind in the score, but the way that they play the game certainly speaks volumes as to their integrity, positive attitude, and skill level. Up until now, Manross and her administration have just been lucky.

Unfortunate for them, their luck is about to run out. Soon the score will read Activists 10, Manross and Cronies 0.

Paul Rawley
Scottsdale

I believe Mr. Merrill is correct about the Downtown stench as I opened my newspaper this morning to see the picture of fashion in downtown, the picture showed a model in a dress wearing non other than a mask over her face which I am sure was made in a quick manner for all the models so they did not have to gag on the stench of the Manross/Dolan nightmare they have created by piss poor planning and development standards.

Having lived in the city since the 60's and now living up North I can attest to the fact that if the Mayors claim of bringing the downtown back to the 60's with this fashion show is correct, than I would have guessed that we would have had horse droppings to smell and not the sewers of the rich and stupid.

Love Oz, so keep it up.

Cactus Cruncher
Scottsdale

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Dear Activist readers:

I am trying to find a good receipt for scones......preferably good receipts that have fruit, raspberries, cranberry-orange, etc. in them.

I have a very good one for cheese scones, but alas my cohort on BBC Scotland can't find his wife's favorite and best receipt for scones with fruit.

So lay it on me if you have one.

Nancy Cantor
Scottsdale
nancyanncantor@cox.net

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Your Scottsdale City's Attorney's office spent your taxpayer dollars this past Tuesday arguing in court that Mayor Manross should not be subject to a deposition by Hualapai LLC in the continuing legal dispute/fiasco involving the Hualapai Water Campus; and the 10 year lease thereon  which Manross signed to the State Land Department.

City legal department Attorney Bruce Washburn argued basically that the Mayor was too busy to be deposed, and needed to spend her time on other City issues.

I would think explaining to Scottsdale taxpayers exactly why she illegally signed a Lease with the State Land Department that will ultimately cost us upwards of 10 million dollars in damages comes WITHOUT the required City Council approval under the heading of MOST important City issues, not to mention her Mayoral responsibility to be honest and up front with the electorate.  This refusal to be deposed raises more troubling questions, such as what are Manross/Dolan/Roberson REALLY trying to hide from the taxpayers??

As usual, the Arizona Repugnant did not report on Tuesday's court hearing.  This is the same paper which in a recent Saturday editorial attempted to sanitize this fiasco by, among other things:

--referring to the Lease as "boilerplate" in an obvious attempt to downplay the major and serious legal significance of the Lease; and

--failing to mention that the City fully publicized its maximum authorized bid PRIOR to the auction date, ensuring that Hualapai LLC would outbid the city for the parcel at auction.

Kudos to Brian Powell and the Scottsdale Tribune for staying on top of this very important issue.

Michelle Aubert
Scottsdale

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There should be no hesitation on the part of our current City Council to turn the old Civic Center Senior Center into an adult day care facility. It is desperately needed by families through out our community.

Human Services Director Connie James knows the pulse of the City and she has the intellect and heart to know the right thing to do.

Having had elder members of my family who could no longer function independently, safely during the day while family was at work, I know the peace of mind such a facility can provide families. It is also important for fragile and disabled individuals to have a place to get away from family. Having outside activities and friends is good for everyone.

Laurie Roberts has done an excellent job of reporting the needs and possibilities available to our City to provide for adult day care.

The City, the Area Chamber of Commerce and the business community in general must see the benefits to working families and all care givers. They need to actively support a quality program for adult day care.

Lord knows those needing care now have more than paid their fair share to earn it.

Nancy Cantor
Co-Chair, The Scottsdale Coalition

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Over a period of time now I can honestly say that it has come to a point that I hate writing this article as it really is more depressing to me than it is fun anymore as I have to continue to think about what is happening to this city under the current regime and mantra or our current elected leaders (still supposed leaders).

On occasions though, I get an e-mail from one of many old friends of the city who throws me a zinger that accomplishes two issues and still makes me laugh.

Below is an e-mail from my friend regarding the monthly web publication of our own self righteous do gooder Mother Mayor Mary. In yet another brilliant load of umpa lumpa poopa she proclaims to us how Oz won yet another award and this time for water conservation and replenishing of our aquifers while we add yet thousands more people and demands under the current planning policy of the city regarding density and height and under the guise of "redevelopment".

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To my friend who sent me this thanks for the laugh and sorry to hear about your issue with "eternity with our Mayor". But rest assured we do pay for this as we have to pay the Mayor a salary and some of our money must go into paying for her website even though it is not illegal.

However, like I have said before, the Mayor has access to the city e-mail and I can guarantee you that Larry monitors her mails to find new e-mail addresses he can add to his re-election campaign list and that my friend is where it becomes illegal but to hard to prove.

 ~Back to those "Awards"

Lets get back to this issue of some of these "awards" the Mayor always touts and even the one she just touted that my friend cannot get rid of as she forgets to mention a lot of that work was brought into play with the help of past council member Susan Bitter-Smith and it is still the Mayor’s nature to take credit for past work of other council members and mayors as well as activist of this city.

It is the same umpa lumpa poopa we hear about all the awards for green building when that is all a made up award based on a policy but not implementation. I mean think about it Ozites and quit being so damned blind.

Other than some green building that goes on residentially up north, where is it really applied and happening in this city for us to win such awards other than by a policy and not implementation of that policy?

Was the "4333" building green or even LEED certified? But the council fell all over themselves to approve it and called it the new modern architecture.

How green do you think any of these projects REALLY were?

The whole award system we keep receiving awards for is based on a government policy that has no implementation. What, do you think any of the new libraries carry a LEED’s label?

Do you think that any of these new fire stations and police stations we are building with tax payer money is going green or be LEED certified and what the hell kind of example is it we are setting? The fact is you are getting smoke blown so far up your mules’ patoot it should be coming out your ears by now.

Instead, what is it I just told you the city wanted to create other than this energy conservation department which was an expansion of city government and a waste of your tax dollars with the Mayor agreeing whole hardily we should do this and create more of that sexy buzzwords she calls a "progressive future" which is nothing more than another "overblown bureaucracy".

The Mayor calls this new award a "major milestone for Scottsdale" and to think that we received this major award by the Federal government; but wait, this is not a federal recognition.

Okay, we won this award from the Environmental Protection Agency and, wait a minute; they don’t give this out either?

Okay I got it; we got this award from the National Water Conservancy, no, no wait still wrong. So, who the hell does give out this coveted award that says we’ve accomplished enough to receive yet another Major Milestone for the taxpayers’ money and the Mayor’s glory ride?

Well, the truth is the Crescordia award is handed out by none other than a group called Valley Forward and has a whole onslaught of awards in various far ranging categories and presidents picks.

I mean really Ozites, get your heads out of your mule patoots and think about this stuff when you go to the polls because the mayor is full of umpa lumpa poopa about all these awards she promotes as her supposed accomplishments as Mayor.

Like she said in her article, the award is based on several factors, but she can only name two and they were both policy issues, not actual city implementation.

The only thing green in this city is the developer’s wallets and that should really get no award.

 ~A new innovation company for Sky Crap

Yep, you know I could not help but jump on this one and we have a new tenant for Sky Shambles next building that is going to bring in the high tech crowd now.

Prepare to see those "market rate" apartments start requiring a waiting list to be formed as non other than guess who is moving in?

Hold your breath as this is going to also invigorate the retail portion to flock to the site.

Yep, Ticket Master is now a tenant of a building yet to be built and they swallowed up a whole 38,000 square feet of building 2. Hot damn, the technology industry is just flocking to this high tech business park and they consist of such great names like Canon who gets retail space on the bottom floor but yet they are not going to perform any retail and they also have a major contract with ASU for imaging issues.

And then we have other names like Qwest who will have an office there so you can pay your bills and since they have a vault built underneath the site we may even get a couple of people from Qwest that are employed there full time working in that vault.

Okay, so who did we miss? Oh yeah, we also have ASU taking up the majority of the first building so we forgot to name all those three and four employee companies that have moved there from mostly Phoenix and other sections of Scottsdale.

Yep, every time I see a headline claiming another tenant I shudder to read what brainiac company with future design and innovation is moving in and I still wait to see the headline telling us what retail is moving there.

Yep, another Manross milestone for the city.

You had to love to watch the last special three ring circus meeting where it rang clear as a bell as to why Airport Bob still held his seat and why he is liked by the regular residents of this city.

At the last meeting of the mindless, the issue of the General Plan for West World was up for a vote and like I have said about some of our northern brethren, these folks don’t have a clue unless it is in their back yard and that is exactly what this is about. The residents of DC Ranch are not enthused about that 8o acre parcel of land the city wants to make into a parking lot.

But the better part of the meeting was when Airport Bob drove a wooden stake through the heart of Beanie Boy Jim Lane and his apparent lack of understanding. As Bob pointed out so clearly in this issue, the 80 acres we bought was a fall back plan in case we lost the 70 acres to the south to which we did not lose the bid. The city made it clear that there was no way we could AFFORD to keep both parcels and the balloon payment is going to have to be made by someone and we know who the hell that is.

Instead the city did get the 70 acres to the South and also we got the 80 acres to the West, but instead of following through on their words to sell the 80 acre parcel we sat around like a bunch of morons to the point we now have other venues telling us we need to retain that property so they have adequate parking and again we stood around with our fingers you know where and watched the bottom fall out of land values to point we cannot sell the property at this time and probably not for the next few years until the housing market tries to recover, fact is we may never recover our costs to purchase this land since we did not get it off of our hands before the market took a dive (Mary calls that Vision). In case you did not realize a 400 acre parcel in northern Phoenix did not even get a bid, no one showed up to the table and the auction was canceled for now.

Now it is well noted that residents of DC Ranch do not want a parking lot or an expansion of West World in there back yard, the same as we do not want 5 story buildings and light rail through downtown, but I digress.

Beanie Boy showed just how bass ackwwards he is as I have said before when it comes to community, development and now we can actually add bean counting. When Airport Bob made it clear that we never intended to keep this property, we did not have the money to pay for both properties, and the residents wanted the property sold and not made into a parking lot or a park like parking lot, Beanie Boy must have had a brain fart that was escaping through his ears. Airport Bob made the most sense when he exclaimed that after all of this factual evidence there was no reason to keep this option open as it is indeed a back door the city loves to use and that they should vote against the General Plan Amendment as presented until the 80 acres was taken out of the picture. Beanie Boy even made the same comments to some degree about the financing issue and what they were supposed to do with the land if they got the other 70 acres they originally wanted and the rat bastard still voted to keep the 80 acres as an option against fiscal responsibility, neighborhood protection, and screw you the tax payer.

Problem is Beanie Boy is thinking with his political "willy" and not his head as that was a big mistake which shows that he is nothing more than just another bullshit politician who has no clue what the hell he is really doing when it comes to running a city as its supreme leader and it would be a bigger mistake not to see the 3 faces of Beanie Boy if he ever did get to be Mayor of Oz. Same Umpa Lumpa Turds, different 4 years of going nowhere.

Okay, someone needs to tell me what it is that over the last 8 years of the Manross regime she has touched or taken control of that has not turned this city into a shining path of umpa lumpa turds?

The next top of the list issue is none other than losing the Barrett-Jackson Auction. Craig, I have to say I feel for you but I already knew the auction was toast when the illustrious mayor of the Emerald city proclaimed she was personally taking over the negotiations. Here we are again after how many years of mismanagement by this mayor to royally "screw the pooch" so to speak and make it look so easy.

Lets take a look at this issue of Craig’s plight with the city as we can concede to give ASU a lease for 198 years for a "world class technology center or incubator" as she calls it, yet you could not get a measly 20 year deal and don’t forget that even though Sky Swindle will never return the city a penny I cannot believe that you would think we would give a long term contract and proper site when you bring in a measly 100 mill per auction.

Lets not forget that the "Doors" and the other "wonderful" architecture we have invested in for downtown and all the new hip and urban bull crap never does really bring the tourist to this city like your event, The Giants for spring training, and the FBR open, yet we cannot give you a parking area that you will not sink to your ankles in.

I don’t know what you were thinking Craig to see that all the people of class and money only go to the new hip downtown or the even hipper shopping of the Northern area and would avoid your high class digs of a tent and mud on their Prada shoes and snakeskin boots.

Hell Craig, what makes you think the city would consider selling you the land and letting you build your own site for the auction and not ask the taxpayers to pay for it when we will not even sell that other 80 acres we have to figure out what we are going to do with and the taxpayers are footing the bill for it until they make up their minds.

Hell, we can’t even pay to upgrade our own arts buildings that the city owns to stay competitive with the surrounding communities and you want what?

Hell Craig, you’re a hometown boy and you must not have been paying attention to who you were dealing with over the last 8 years and most people think I have a magical power to "predict" when it is just case history and repetitive stupidity by our leadership and management of this city.

Let’s see, when the Mayor first ran her platform was to bring Downtown back from the death bed that she voted to place it in with a redevelopment designation when she was a councilmember. How do you really see that one as going Craig, even since we posted the financial picture over the last five years that came from the city themselves which shows no growth in retail revenues and shops are still hurting from bad to no planning?

I think in her second run she proclaimed she was going to revitalize the southern section of the city and mend the rift in North/South issues and where has that gotten us Craig?

Well we got Sky Sham with a huge taxpayer subsidy and we got developers assembling land and letting it go to blight conditions or kicking out residents along with still more developers looking for handouts that the council will surely approve. And the North/South divide is trying to be bridged by local community leaders who also have no faith in the leadership of this city any longer and realize we cannot wait for the illustrious Queen Bee to come up with the sound logic that the city has to treat all sections of the city equally when it comes to issues and we all know how well that is going as you can see all the high rises around the McDowell Mountains.

I am sure you are seeing, like us, all the density increases up North with spot rezoning that now allows you to place 260 people on an acre or two of land near Pinnacle Peak or Troon.

I mean really Craig, you should have seen this as the end result and I am glad you decided to move some of it to Vegas as I love Vegas and now it just gives me the reason to head there and make a vacation out of it in another state as opposed to where I live. That is what we call "The Manross Mentality" in case anyone was wondering.

Here is a parting laugh for you Craig, and if the big wigs who sway elections around here take note, the mayor has already made her priority for her next campaign to be increasing tourism in the city and God help us all if we re elect this woman and any sitting member up for re-election.

See ya in Vegas buddy and save me a seat up front.

Michael Merrill
F8713@aol.com

It is with great sadness and regret that we announce the passing of an American icon and legend.

The backbone of American business, she enjoyed monumental success in a plethora of industries. She was a valiant leader and provider of all things altruistic and ethical. Cooperative, friendly, compassionate, engaging, and courteous are just of the few of the adjectives that were used to describe her.

In failing health for the better part of the past 10 years, she chose to remain reclusive and detached from the general public, and instead chose to surround herself by both family-owned businesses and uncontaminated fledgling enterprises in an obscure, undisclosed location.

Although there was an occasional sighting at a mall or bank, she rarely departed from the sanctity of her retreat.

She will be replaced in her assignment by Greed and Indifference, who, regrettably, were not available for comment.

A memorial service that was scheduled for Saturday to honor and celebrate her life has been canceled due to a lack of participants. The family asks that contributions can be made in her name to the Benevolent Order of Adroit, Conciliatory, and Efficacious.

For those of you who have not identified the distinguished individual from this commemoration, perhaps you are familiar with her name — Custom R. Service.

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~ Information You Can Use

Just click on the logos below to go to these websites.

Send our Brave Troops "Something from Home", Click on  Links below.

Gathering of  Eagles Website was launched 2/9/07. Click on the Logo above for more information on how they are protecting America's Memorials.

~ UPDATE!! A "Must See" for All Americans

Every American should check out all of these websites to learn more about what the American population is about to have to deal with.

This is NOT for Children.

I don't normally allow anything but Scottsdale information in the Scottsdale Activist but after receiving many emails about this and viewing it, I think that it's imperative that every adult at least look at what's offered here if for  nothing more than their own education and to have everyone stop and think about the future of our country. Click on the link below,

 www.obsessionthemovie.com

If you don't have Adobe Flash, install it from the bottom of the page that comes up after you click on the link above. You should be able to view all available links within the main page.

The website below is of great interest as seen from a Lebanese point of view:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8fa9yKQeTY

The website below gives some history of Terrorist attacks:

http://patriotfiles.org/civilizationcalls.htm

This website tell you what REALLY happened:

http://www.terrorismawareness.org/what-really-happened

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~ Arizona Tax Revolt

~ Prop 13 Arizona

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~ View Past City Council Meetings

We can now access the city council meetings by clicking on the following link:

If you have any problems, check your firewall and other safety features which could block access to the city site.

~Continuing Light Rail Information

The Scottsdale Citizens Transportation Study Committee invites you to view their website for more questions and answers at  www.norailforscottsdale.com .

================================================================

Simply click on the links below to get all the information you'll ever need concerning Light Rail.

     Goldwater Institute Report

     American Dream Coalition

    The Public Purpose

If you have any questions about light rail, send them to editor@scottsdaleactivist.com and we'll get the answers to you as soon as we can.

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~ For Continuing Information on Photo Radar,
Click on the Logo below.

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 ~Are Red-Light Cameras Fair to Drivers?

These modern-day robocops make ticketing easier and can be huge moneymakers for local governments. But critics question their accuracy and fret over privacy issues.

Click on the link below , then scroll down to read the article:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/AreRedLightCamerasFairToDrivers.aspx

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The Scottsdale Activist is very pleased to announce an effort on the behalf of the residents and taxpayers of the city of Scottsdale to promote open, honest and accountable city government. The Scottsdale Legal Defense Fund (SLDF) has been created to take legal action to hold the City accountable when its actions are contrary to state law, the City Charter, City ordinances or the public interest.

The most necessary ingredient to make the SLDF work will be confidential contributions from concerned Scottsdale citizens who are willing to help their community.  By contributing, we can change the way City Hall does business and insure that our tax dollars will be spent wisely.

No funds from the SLDF will or can be used for any political purpose.

Contributions shall be kept confidential as permissible by law and can be made in any Washington Mutual Bank to account number 3114165786 for the Scottsdale Legal Defense Fund. Branch locations are listed below. Contributions are not tax deductible.

The SLDF has retained the law firm of Miller LaSota & Peters, PLC, in connection with the patently illegal action taken by the Mayor and Council appointing the most recent Scottsdale City Attorney, while ignoring the residency requirement of the Scottsdale City Charter even though the new City Attorney’s contract (according to Scottsdale Republic reporter Laurie Roberts) requires that she reside in Scottsdale.  The City Council action was based on a legal opinion which was reportedly rendered during a closed door Executive Session of the City Council by a subordinate to the then acting City Attorney, who was subsequently appointed to the City Attorney position by a vote during a public City Council meeting. The opinion has been requested as a public document under state law, but the City has not yet provided it. The SLDF will take other appropriate legal actions based on the conduct of the Mayor and Council.

Washington Mutual Bank Locations at which contributions to the SLDF can be made are:

72^nd & Shea                    7337 E. Shea Blvd #120                480-609-8524
Hayden & Chaparral     7908 E. Chaparral # C-113            480-949-0069
Horizon                            14854 N Frank Lloyd Wright         480-614-6660
Scottsdale Ranch          10155 E. Via Linda Blvd #131       480-767-2060
Kierland Village              6501 E. Greenway Pkwy #133     480-315-2905

There are many other branches throughout the Valley.