~ Guest Editorial by  Nancy Cantor

When I was President of the Hohokam Elementary School PTA a learning experience that was to last for many, many years began. Not only was it the beginning of my many years as a dreaded Community Activist, it provided me many unique opportunities to see how community partnerships can work for the good of residents of all ages.

That education included the old Lamp Post Inn turning into a topless bar overnight and the negative impacts from the middle school bus stop being right in front of the building to finding out the zoning codes, use permits and building codes weren't in order and, of course the presence of drug abuse on that site.

From that point on kids and substance abuse became a focus for many of us "activist" parents in the Scottsdale Unified School District. We created the parent contracts that middle school parents and students were asked to sign to eliminate underage drinking. We worked with the local restaurants and hotels to curtail the use of kids holding parties on prom night and graduation night, partnering to make sure that credit cards were not improperly used and making sure responsible parties were identified. Out of that effort came Project Graduation that all of our high schools participate in today, to provide a fun, safe all night party honoring our senior graduating students.

Some very dedicated parents worked hard to bring these programs into existence because they cared about our kids and they cared that these kids had a future.

This Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 7 p.m. on Cox 7 (Cox Communications) a very important program will be broadcast in the hopes of educating parents, families and the community on the dangers of " Methamphetamines."

My Voice. My Choice. Just Once: The Danger of Methamphetamine

This program is being brought to us by a community-based partnership: Cox 7 (Cox Communications), Connect with Kids/CWK Network, Scottsdale Unified School District, Northeast Valley Coalition Against Methamphetamines, and Partnership for a Drug Free America and SCF Arizona.

For years, while my kids were still in school, we here in Scottsdale, knew that kids as young as 10 were accessing drugs of various kinds. The threat is more real today as unscrupulous people find more ways to entice our young people to use drugs, especially "Crystal Methamphetamines."

Recently an article was forwarded to me by a friend out of state and I am happy to say that after checking with the Scottsdale Police Department we haven't seen was is called "Strawberry Quik," (yep, spelled the same as the drink flavoring, but it can also be grape, chocolate and even peanut butter) here in Arizona.

I am including the link to Snopes so that you can go there and take a look at the facts surrounding this particular type of drug this is important information:

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/drugs/candymeth.asp

If you can't click on the link then please cut and paste.

If you miss the Wednesday, November 28 presentation it will be rebroadcast on December 1 at 5:30 p.m.,Tuesday, December 4 at 7 p.m., Saturday December 8 at 8:30 p.m. and Friday December 14 at p.m.

For more information on the program to be presented you can go to the following web site:

www.connectwithkids.com/JustOnce

Again if you can't click on the link, please cut and paste.

If you have any questions or suspicions do not hesitate to contact the Scottsdale Police Department for information. That phone number is 480-312-5000 the non-emergency number for the department.

Things are no different today than they were in 1987 when I started working in the schools and attended my first program to get information on substance abuse and youth violence.

The most important factors are parent education, community education, community awareness and willingness to get involved.

Though some disagree, in this instance it does "take a village to raise children."

This is important to residents all over Scottsdale, not just one neighborhood.

Nancy Cantor
Concerned mother & grandmother
Co-Chair Scottsdale Coalition

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"It is not a secret that city employees have some morale issues due to some pure management issues". 

"It appears you would have fit right in with current problems of higher management."

And……

"To make my point, several accurate comments have been made about city morale……"

The purpose of the AACE Certification Program is to provide nationally recognized examinations and credentials by which individuals can voluntarily demonstrate their knowledge of various regulatory codes, standards, and practices pertaining to housing and zoning code enforcement. Certification will verify to governmental jurisdictions that the technical code knowledge underlying the practice of housing and zoning code enforcement and code enforcement administration has been mastered at a competent level, as determined by national experts.

Current examinations can certify an individual as a "Certified Property Maintenance and Housing Inspector" or a "Certified Zoning Enforcement Officer." Candidates successfully completing both of these examinations may earn a designation as a "Certified Code Enforcement Officer" by making application to AACE and paying an additional fee.

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Respondent: Yes, I agree. 

My husband is done with the City and has started with another company.  It will be interesting to see if the City maintains their **VPP status.  My bet is with the current director of Risk Management, they will not since she is not interested in filling his vacated position, or she will be filling it with a female within the department who is not anywhere near qualified.  His boss told other department employees that she was planning to monitor his email because she was not sure what he really did, duh, and she is the department manager?? Everyone knows he is not there so why would anyone send him an email? 

The City is one (1) of only two (2) municipalities in the Nation to hold this most prestigious honor yet no one, including Dolan, seems to get it or care. Recertification should be a priority and yet it seems not to be important to the Dolan lead group. Why???

Respondent: His direct boss was Pauline Hecker, who previously worked at Circle K handling loss prevention and was selected over my husband for the director position.  We are not even sure that she has a college degree and know she does not have any safety experience. Apparently she handled workman compensation claims at Circle K.  Interestingly she was hired before my husband was interviewed for the director position and he knew that because he handled new employee safety orientation and received a report of new employees. The Monday after his Friday afternoon interview, she was on the new employee list.  This is also a very common practice within the City.  Pauline reports to Craig Clifford who definitely is in Dolan’s back pocket. When they lose their star status I am sure Dolan will not be happy at all or maybe they just don't get it... Who knows?

A Reply to last week’s letter "A Sad Commentary":

It is not a secret that city employees have some morale issues due to some pure management issues.  But, in response to "A Sad Commentary" from a former city employee, I offer this commentary.

A person who has to brag about what degree she holds and then cites specific employee names should answer any questions why she was not promoted.

First, just because you have a degree means nothing if your demeanor is such that your (sic) are NOT leadership material.

Second, to defame the names of highly respected employee names shows a total lack of professionalism.

Third, you won't even say who you are.

To make my point, several accurate comments have been made about city morale but, in this case, this is probably a person who needed to leave.  Deal with the big picture of city management, not your own ego about how you think you should have been promoted.  It appears you would have fit right in with current problems of higher management.

Your comments make it quite clear why you needed to leave.  If you are that smart, you would have dealt with any harassing issues from the City.  WHAAA!

I am also a former city employee.  Move on.

Respondent: Yes, Mr. ----- is the neighbor to the person that I spoke about and doesn’t have a clue what went on in the department that I worked for and yes, he was one of the people who promoted Anita Chavez and lives next door to Kathy Mutschler.  He had his own issues with the City and yes, I did deal with the harassment issues and only because my husband was an employee of Risk Management did I not pursue legal action against the City and Ms. Mutschler for her harassment.  Mr. ------ himself had a history of harassing his employees and because of the direct and close contact he had with Kathy I feel that is where she learned her management skills. 

I am a very successful and highly respected leader within the community in which I work.  I believe telling or bringing out the truth is not an act of defaming anyone.  He left partially because he retired but also because his department was in chaos. He also was one who worked his way through the ranks however I will give him credit where credit is due; at least he earned his credentials unlike many of the employees who are currently in top positions. 

Perhaps my confidence and sense of self security are why I speak out.  The current management in many city departments is loaded with individuals who are "complacent" city/government employees who, through self admittance, cannot even qualify for interviews of the same or similar level jobs outside the City of Scottsdale, and that in itself is a sad commentary.  When the only reason some of the people are staying is because they are making top dollar and can’t meet the minimum requirements of the same level position outside the City. That sure doesn’t say much for the City of Scottsdale, its HR department and their hiring practices does it?

I can now say I am glad to be a part of a system that recognizes professionalism and to be working in a sea of professionals that get hired because of not only who they are personally, what they bring to the table and for what they have accomplished in their lives even though I am not paid well for that.  Higher and continuous education is the key to success in life and with that comes ambition, skills, and the ability to perform at a higher level. 

No, a degree is not the answer to everything and does not make someone qualified on that alone.  Having finished my degrees later allows me to bring much experience that a young college graduate does not.  Jobs and promotions should be earned and not given or expected in life.  You shouldn’t be given a promotion simply because you are the "oldest" person in the office or because they won’t stand up and do the right thing which is what real ethics is all about.  The city water department as well as many others has had a long standing history of advancing people or when employees reach the top of their pay scale they simply change their title (like Keagy in Code Enforcement).  That is where much frustration comes from in the front line employees

Mr. -----, you have no idea what kind of a boss your neighbor is or what went on and to make comments without knowing what went on is part of the problem.  I did take (the problem) to management and all the way to the City Manager and nothing was done. The only reason I did not file a lawsuit was because my spouse also worked for the City and if I had it to do over again I would have and I am positive I would have won.

Some of your former employees are my friends too who report similar things about your management style.  Coincidence?

Until now, I did not know who wrote this ... a healthy thing to do is move on like many others have.

Female responder: Fortunately I have moved on but not without long lasting negative effects that still haunt me today and probably more so for the fact that I allowed myself to put up with the nonsense and thought I could make a difference at the City.  It is unfortunate that any employee who works anywhere has to put up with such managers.

Fortunately I know it was not me because after I moved on, others fell victim to the same treatment.  Believe me, if the statute of limitations was not up I would file a lawsuit because until someone does, the uncivil (illegal) treatment will not stop. 

Last week, I appeared in front of the Transportation Commission to request changes to the draft transportation policy and procedures as it related to traffic calming. This matter is of great importance, as it will be placed on the City Council’s agenda for final vote in the near future. While many people may not believe that traffic calming is a "hot": issue in the big scheme of our overall transportation plan, the language, as drafted in the policy, will have long term significant impacts, both constructively and economically, for Scottsdale residents. This little piece of the puzzle is actually a big red flag in the overall plan.

Specifically, my concern was on page 9 of the draft, items vi. and vii, which stated:

There are many ways in which traffic calming can be a justified for placement on our city streets by the Transportation Department. Speed is one of the more influential factors in support of calming. According to the policy language, if a certain percentage of cars in a neighborhood travel on paved roads at more than 30 MPH, and if the street meets one of many other parameters as set forth by the policy, then that street will be subjected to traffic calming. Obviously, if the posted speed limit is 35 MPH, the majority of the vehicles will be traveling at more than 30 MPH and doing it lawfully. I asked myself, how is this language a fair and reasonable representation of the parameters for traffic calming? Does this language make sense and why, if it doesn’t make sense, was it placed in the policy?

At the meeting, I suggested that the Transportation Commission review the language in the draft and set a parameter of 5 MPH over any posted speed limit as a marker for neighborhoods where the City is considering implementation of traffic calming. Not surprising, the Transportation Commission voted to approve the original language in the policy, without consideration of my proposed changes. How could something so important as clarity in policy language escape their review?

This loosely written language is designed to allow our City Staff and the Transportation Department to place a variety of traffic calming additions on almost any neighborhood street or thoroughfare of their choice in Scottsdale. Clearly, the necessity factor for traffic calming in certain areas is not the real issue here. Traffic calming measures are expensive and monies are allocated from our City’s traffic budget for their implementation. If placed where they are not necessary, these measures impede traffic flow, forcing residents onto other city streets, creating secondary transportation dilemmas. Our City’s Transportation Department clearly knows these facts, yet ignores their importance.

The transportation budget monies that will be allocated to implement traffic calming could otherwise be utilized to add trolley routes or improve our existent transportation services, providing some relief for our city’s traffic related woes. Recently, City Manager Jan Dolan stated that she was unable to expand the trolley system routes because of lack of budgetary funds. So, it begs the question, if there isn’t money for trolley services, is there money for traffic calming? After all, they both come out of the same transportation budget. Is allocating budget monies to construct unnecessary traffic calming instead of expand trolley routes the highest and best use of our taxpayers’ dollars and does it promote neighborhood functionality? Further, what is Ms. Dolan’s intent here? Thwart traffic flow with calming or effectively move it with improvements to our existent transportation system?

I am not opposed to traffic calming if it serves a legitimate purpose in our community. I have a street in my own neighborhood with blind corners and curves, where the vehicles race well beyond the 25 MPH posted speed limit creating quality of life and safety issues. This street qualifies for traffic calming. The draft language in the policy provides extreme latitude to the City Staff and Transportation Department to dictate where calming can be placed, even if the streets do not have qualifying issues.

Why then does the Transportation Department see fit to place traffic calming on streets where there are no issues and overlook my neighborhood? The answer is simple – my neighborhood street is not a "feeder" street. Cars cannot utilize it to travel through the city in avoidance of the main thoroughfare gridlock on the arterial roads. Think in terms of Granite Reef, Miller, Jackrabbit, 96^th Street, Cactus, 68^th Street, parts of Osborn Road, and a slew of other roads that are utilized by drivers who seek to get from point A to B without the headaches of gridlock. These streets are no doubt slated for (or already designed with) traffic calming even though, at this juncture, they provide effective alternatives to the main arterial traffic in our city.

My understanding of the purpose of calming is to protect neighborhoods, and promote quality of life by efficiently channeling traffic in those areas. Shouldn’t our transportation solutions in Scottsdale focus on traffic flow? Surely calming measures, by definition, will slow or choke traffic, not increase its flow. By forcing citizens out of traffic calmed areas and onto main city streets, thus creating more intense gridlock, is the Transportation Department then "justifying" their intent for mass transit options in our city? Right now, there is no plausible justification for these options, so is the Transportation Department devising ways to fabricate them? By codifying the broad-based vague language of the policy, it enhances the City administration’s ability to implement its own vision for Scottsdale without citizen input. There is something inherently wrong with this approach to government.

The long-term ramifications of these one-sided allowances can negatively affect our transportation focus and force our city into alternate traffic resolutions that we otherwise do not need or desire. When the matter of this plan language comes before the Council for final vote, I encourage you to stand up, as citizens, question the Transportation Department’s intent, and request reasonable, clear language that sets fair and qualified parameters for traffic calming in Scottsdale.

You have the right to decide how and where your tax dollars are spent. Be a proactive part of the transportation "solution".

Nan Nesvig
Candidate for Scottsdale City Council

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 ~ Open Letter to Neal Shearer, Director, Human Resources

Mr. Shearer, we have heard many claims of many city officials not having the claimed Diplomas or the Official Certifications claimed and required to hold certain positions within the ranks of those employed by the city .

With that in mind, and to clear the record for all to see, we hereby formally request through the Federal Freedom of Information Act, photo copies of the actual certificates or diplomas of the following persons:

• C.B.O. (Certified Building Official) certificate for Michael Clack from the ICC as required for his current position,
   

• C.C.E.A. Certificate for Raun Keagy from the AACE Certification Agency,
   

• A.A.C.E. and/or C.C.E.A.Certificate for Malcolm Hankins, Field Manager for Code Enforcement, from the AACE Certification Agency,
   

• A.A.C.E. Certification as required by city rules and regulations for ALL city Code Inspectors who have been in the employ of the city in the position of Code Inspector for more than one year from the date of their hire to that position,
   

• Any and all Professional Certifications, Certificates of Completion, Diplomas, etc. currently held by City Manager Jan Dolan,
   

• Graduation diplomas, including dates and institutions, or other Certificates of Completion for Mayor Mary Manross.

·         Written and notarized Certification from Planning General Manager Frank Gray that he is not, and has never done personal planning business or other non-city business on city time using a city computer or on his personal computer using any city internet access point restricted to employee use for city business only.

We all know that these stories are running rampant through out the city circles and feel that all parties would be better served if the questions were cleared once and for all by the offering certified copies of these items for public inspection.

The failure to comply to this request would be tantamount to a flat out denial that any and all Certifications requested and required for employment by the city by the named persons ever existed and do not exist at this point in time which would mean those employees are in direct conflict and violation of the requirements of the City of Scottsdale.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this formal request for information.

George Knowlton, Editor
Scottsdale Activist
 www.scottsdaleactivist.com

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 ~ Stop the Insane Stupidity!!

The Scottsdale Tribune article on Saturday (11-24-07) finally brings out the truth about Michele deLaFreniere; She uses the ladies room when she needs to relive herself. That should be the end of the story AND any city decisions on the subject!!

The citizens of the city could eventually be asked to come up with millions of dollars to retrofit rest rooms in all city facilities to stroke the ego of this egomaniac if the proposed new code for the transgendered is passed!

Why should private businesses have to make special facilities for these people when probably 1 person a month might use it?

If she can sit down to take a whiz, then the other transgendered people who dress like men can also sit down to whiz and no one would be the wiser, so why are we being set up as deep pocket flunkies just to satisfy someone's stupid and ill-conceived notion that they need special treatment?

If these people would just shut up and act like the gender they tend or intend to be instead of acting like insane exhibitionists, there wouldn't be a problem from the get-go.

Next thing you know, short people will be asking for urinals 12 inches off the ground while extra tall people will be asking for the urinal to be 4 feet of the ground. Women from other cultures will be demanding bidets with warm running water at just the right pressure and temperature for that wonderful "cleansing" sensation, and God knows what will come next.

We feel that enough is enough. There is no need for any special rules for the transgendered because they claim to be either man or woman, use the proper rest room, and cool your jets or whatever you might call it.

Question: Why is a city employee allowed to lobby for something trivial and unjustified which would be for their personal benefit while employees who are sincerely trying to get the city back on track are terminated? In our mind what Michele has been allowed to do is far worse that anything loyal employees have done to try to help the city. Could it be that this is just another Jan Dolan plan to make Scottsdale a lot more like San Francisco in a certain way?

Note to City Council: Don't pass something for which you have no idea what the eventual cost just might be.

 ~ Covenant Not to Compete

It seems that Lisa Haskell and a few others are asleep, acting ignorant, or just aren't listening or reading the facts. South Scottsdale was sold down the proverbial river by none other than Mary Manross, Dave Roderique and the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce when they allowed businesses at Fashion Square to extend their No Compete Clause to include the former 42 acre commercial area known as Los Arcos.

All of this ignorant nonsense claiming that Councilman Littlefield hasn't done anything for the south and that the "Dreaded Activists" have killed everything retail headed for the south is just that, ignorant nonsense! Littlefield has been telling everyone who would actually listen that businesses can't come into south Scottsdale unless they don't compete with Fashion Square and that neither the city nor the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce is doing anything to find businesses that can successfully come into the area.

Activists have been trying to get businesses into the south too, only to be stopped by the same Manross/Roderique/Dolan conspired "no compete clause". Manross and Ecton sold us out when they chucked the retail Ellman suggested rather than negotiate with him by secretly teaming up with Michael Crow of ASU to take 42 taxable commercial acres off the tax rolls (16%) for 198 years for what she called the "innovative" Sky Song which has turned into nothing more than an ugly Big Box office park sporting nothing more than office space for ASU and Ticket Master. You can find the lost businesses at Mesa Riverview or Tempe Marketplace. SkyFlop is becoming known among locals as The Manross Folly and most rightfully so!!!

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 ~ WaterView Loses Again

Thankfully, the guru's at city hall have finally figured it out; bigger isn't better more times than not. We were all very happy to hear that Mac Cummins and the city staff had again refused the overtures of the owners to keep the height and density next to a historically single family residential area.

If the city keeps up with the denials until the design is acceptable to residents and the owner capitulates to do what's REALLY best for the city, not his pocketbook, the Activists will gladly put any referendums on the back burner.

 ~ Email Abuser or Whistleblower?

The Scottsdale Tribune and Brian Powell are breaking story after story on the incompetence of the current administration.  Anyone who has half a brain knows full well that the entire charade by the city is just flat stupidity and really tells you what Dolan, Gray, Shearer and a few others are up to, or more likely afraid of.

They all finally got caught with their "pants down around their ankles" so to speak and hated being caught, hence the charges against Fisher which are bogus as was the reason for dumping Doug Flack who had a long time to go on a contract with the city.

Both were top flight, well spoken and highly respected and rated employees. What does that say about the goals of the city? Could it be that they are so angry about the "leaks" to the Scottsdale Activist as well as the Scottsdale Tribune that they will do anything to plug the leaks? Didn't work. They upset the employees to the point that we are receiving 3 to 4 time more information since that fiasco than before it went down and we have a LOT of investigating to do as you can tell by the editorials "Bad Morale, A Serious Dolan Caused Dilemma" and "Open Letter to Neal Shearer, Director, Human Resources".

Gray and Shearer won't tell you or even admit that they took Doug Flack off city premises to a public restaurants to interrogate him 3 times without even a mention of what they were going to do or allow him to have any representation or witnesses at all during their "sessions". Gee, that sounds illegal to me, how about you?

Jeff Fisher knew what was going on and tried to find someone, anyone to help him stop the stupidity and illegal things that were going on "inside" but no one in the administration wanted to listen, hence the termination.

Folks, this is just the tip of the iceberg..........................

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 ~ More Routes, Fewer Trips?

Again the Scottsdale Tribune and Brian Powell grab the snake by the throat and make it spit it out.

We think it to be very self serving for Dolan to move over ^$3.2 million dollars designated for a parking structure in Downtown to reportedly the Giants Training Facility without any notice or approval of the City Council OR the citizens.

If she, as the City Treasurer, can move money that direction, why can't she take money away from the inane street furniture installations and other nonsensical street garbage and move it where it is desperately needed, to fund the trolley system?

Well folks, the answer is relatively simple. Dolan, Manross, and the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce are in full 100% agreement that they will have light rail in some fashion up Scottsdale Road come Hell or high water. Even if they go the Express Bus idea, that proposition takes 1 to 2 lanes away from the center of Scottsdale the way they have it planned.

By installing "street furniture" on streets that don't need it, they force more congestion onto other main streets making them more congested which is supposed to make people want light rail, etc.

Wake up Folks!!! We DON'T NEED roundabouts, traffic tables and other "traffic Calming" devices where they are putting them. Do we need some, sure, with the citizen input from the entire neighborhood, not just the few who they have already canvassed who will say yes to anything.

We need to UNCONGEST the streets and roadways of Scottsdale by fully funding the Scottsdale Trolley System which everyone loves and which has done an excellent job of solving the congestion problem where it's allowed to become the alternative to light rail, express bussing, etc.

Leave it to this administration to screw up still another working operation that saves time, money and aggravation.

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~Letters to the Editor  

This week Mayor Manross sent out an email with a list of her accomplishments while in office.  She "forgot" to mention the following "accomplishments" or fiascos:

Judy Lane
Scottsdale Native

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 ~ Scottsdale the Safest? NOT!!!

Our illustrious mayor told us in one of her meandering and meaningless speeches we had the safest city in the state or some sort of similar poppycock, then we find out in the Scottsdale Tribune that we're worse than many cities in the valley no less.

Can you understand "OUT OF TOUCH"? That's a perfect description of where our off beat, off base mayor is most of the time anymore. She doesn't have a clue and it's getting very embarrassing when citizens of other cities say "What's with your mayor, doesn't she even know what's going on in her own city?" I just tell them there is an election coming and she'll be going away, hopefully far away.

E Slocomb
Scottsdale

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Several articles appeared in the My Turn column of the Scottsdale Republic that warmed my heart. Yes, activists do have hearts and minds and, really very full lives.

Cindy Adams (11/20/2007), Wendy Taylor (11/15/2007) and a letter to the editor from Madison Reale (11/20/2007), brought other voices to the battle that some of us have been waging for years. These ladies all pointed out the lack of comprehension and planning for redevelopment of the mature neighborhoods of southern Scottsdale by our leadership, Mayor Manross, the City Council majority and the City Manager.

Yes, affordable housing needs to be more available all over Scottsdale, not just in the Southern neighborhoods. People who serve the needs of Scottsdale residents who live on Scottsdale's northern borders in the resorts, hotels, retail businesses, schools, medical facilities and, yes, the policemen and firemen certainly have not been welcomed in those areas as residents.

In 1996 several of us who live in south Scottsdale went before the City Council to bring that issue to the attention of our leaders. Mayor Campana made quite an effort to deal with the education part of bringing community attention to the subject. I well remember her bringing Mayor Reilly of Charleston, South Carolina, to speak to the planning staff and community about the success of the quality infill mixed income housing created in that historical community..

Charleston is world renowned for their approach to housing, as well as redevelopment of retail areas with mixed use development. Oh, yeah, and they did a great job of creating parking facilities that do not look like parking garages, while being safe.

Probably the biggest disappointment for some of us is that we have a Mayor who has served our community in that position for 8 years, and before that on the City Council and the Planning Commission, and in all of that time she has failed to focus on the needs of South Scottsdale.

High rise luxury condos, entertainment districts, luxury shopping, and boutique bars do not serve the everyday needs of residents of the larger part of south Scottsdale, or any part of Scottsdale for that matter.

Nancy Ann Cantor
Scottsdale

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Well last week I made reference to the city making General Plan changes illegally and today I have to admit (after speaking with some attorneys) again the city comes out clean, barely.

The issue revolved around a new element called targeted growth and designated McDowell Road and Thomas Roads and their respective surrounding areas as the new targeted growth areas. They also encompassed Downtown.

The adoptions were done over a two day period which by state law on major amendments is illegal and requires them to be done in one session. However our Wicked Witch took a rather un-ethical approach and in her usual fashion of skirting the laws added in a few minor words that by certain attorney opinion made it all appear as a one night deal. With only two more amendments to go and only being 9:30 the Mayor moved to adjourn the meeting until the following night.

So much for trying to throw a road block in the city’s continual path of screwing the quality of life for folks in the South and even funnier is this was adopted in a time (2001) when the growth was all occurring up North.

So, why is it that with all the growth going on up north did the general plan not include targeted growth corridors in the map for the northern section of the city?

Knowing how the public outreach process works I am still amazed that not only myself, but no one I can find in either of the corridors had any clue about this targeted growth map, nor can they recall the city giving them notice about what they were going to designate their community as. Even in the meeting minutes of the council packet the city staff pointed out the following in the community involvement element that we seemed to have approved. "Not Required by State Statute, but reflective of the city’s long time commitment to community involvement" and if that ain’t a load of crappola but a well used excuse by the city.

While I will not say the city did not hold some public meetings and will bet that they never held meetings with the residents of those corridors to explain to them specifically what the city was re-designating their communities and instead was washed under the table to many.

The problem with no specific outreach is the fact the meetings pertained to an overall general plan update based on the City Shape 2020 vision of 1996 and no one from any of the communities had any clue about what the city had planned for their areas.

It is just as Littlefield keeps saying, the city has a plan, it’s just it does not involve you.

Come this general plan election, the South will have many people pouring over the plan and I think we should do two things or work to vote it down.

I mean really, they are already targeting the air park for new growth and with no plans, the same as they are doing to the south and downtown, so why not continue it farther north and get everyone involved in the current path of the elected leaders and city management?

Let’s allow Henry Becker drop a 72 foot hotel on his property and see if we can surround the hotel with some night life like downtown has.

As a city, would it not make more sense to put some of these great hotels closer to the Preserve and the TPC Golf Course where tourists can walk out onto their 6^th floor balcony and have their morning coffee and breakfast, or an intimate dinner for two overlooking the Preserve?

Why do all the hotels and high rises have to go into downtown and the south far from what the city is touting as a tourist draw and is it not closer to all those luxurious golf courses and spas?

From an economic viewpoint as the city is using for vitality and revitalization, would those hotels not bring in even larger amounts of money if they were placed closer to the scenic desert instead of the blighted south and downtown?

Maybe we should start planning the city’s future a little better with a nice even mix of uses for all of the city and where it makes the most economical sense to place some types of economic generators like hotels and high rise living?

Now that is funny.

Okay southern Ozites it is time to get something straight that the Three Ring Circus of supposed leaders is not going to utter from their lips. For that matter, you can also include the General of Land Disasters and the General of Economic Recovery as not going to say a word about retail in the south.

Hear is the truth on this issue once and for all and I would doubt that this makes any sense to that "Whacko of the West" Lisa Haskell, but I would hope it would help some of you who read this web page understand and pass on the truth that hurts.

Truth is there is no where for large commercial retail to move into the south. Good Lord people wake up and smell the lilies; no wait, the lilies make you sleep in Oz, smell the waterfront air; no wait I think that is what Haskell breathed in and got brain rot. Okay, just be careful what you breathe in Oz but breathe in something like reality this time.

Even if commercial assemblage took place along any of the corridors in the South, the fact is lot sizes are not adequate for the size of the buildings retail is building. If you could fit the buildings on them a few things would be a problem and that of course would be parking; and do you really see a developer for a retail outlet area paying to underground the parking?

Another problem would be that even if they could cram their buildings on the lot, they would have to buy all the houses to the first street in just to make their setback requirements and again, what developer do you know that is ever going to do that?

The next problem would be the pissed off neighbors who live on the other side of the street where the developer just bought up their buffer?

Listen folks of the South, these corridors were designed many, many years ago and they do not have the lot sizes to house the retail I keep hearing people say they want. Hell, as Thomas road is one of the "targeted growth" areas in the map I would have to ask how they plan that when Thomas road is nothing but homes all the way to Scottsdale road. How do you expect to obtain larger lots along McDowell when everything along McDowell abuts residential communities?

For that matter we have the Flaming PaToot (Ron McCullagh) already telling folks we need to widen Thomas and Indian School roads to make our east/west routes flow better. Excuse me, but those roads abut residential in most sections if not having residential on the streets or facing the street; and why in the hell do we need to increase east/west corridors in the South where drivers basically use them as a pass-through to phoenix or cut across to the 202 ramp on Scottsdale Road and heaven forbid the routes they choose when there is an accident along the 101 in those areas.

It all comes down to the fact that the city does not have a plan on how to "redevelop" in these areas as there is no clue in the "how to market the area" department. The city does not even have a plan regarding" targeted types of businesses", all we do is approve more people to live in these areas that are already of the densest settings and increase their heights so we can cram them all in there on tiny lots.

The south could be redeveloped into something great but the problem is we do not have an ideal of what we want the area to be as far as targeted businesses, targeted architecture, character or theme areas, but I digress.

Bottom line Ozites of the south is we have no land available for large retail and if you want to go to places like that then you need to plop your butts in your cars and drive to one, and Tempe Market Place is only about five minutes away from most of us, Mesa Riverview isn’t much farther, and Fashion Square is down the street 10 minutes tops, and there are hundreds of great places to eat in the south and downtown so just do it!

Don’t fall for that stupid city excuse that the economics do not pan out and that in order to have retail we have to increase our heights and densities because that is just their way to get light rail and mass transit in places that do not use them and the lie is that even after you move all these people in, you still do not have enough land for the retail we should have planned for 10 years ago.

Okay I have heard the rumble about the new restaurant called Temporary that is going to be to the west of the "W" hotel and the plans to wrap it in with art panels of some sort and illuminated from behind and if you have not heard about it here is a link to the plans.

http://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/planning/projectsummary/applicant_submittals/ProjInfo_74_DR_2007.pdf

Personally I think it looks pretty cool and should be something to see at night, I just hope that the DRB checks into the sidewalk encroachment as we are not doing well at planning for pedestrians and we tend to be encroaching on sidewalks in this new walkable pedestrian oriented downtown. Did I forget to mention we are also creating an outdoor patio that appears to cut into the sidewalk depth? Again I would also have to ask if they will be holding the "art" to some type of standard and even though the applicant says the panels will change seasonally I would prefer the city get that in writing as that is the concept that is being sold to the city.

I have to say that this is something new for the area and at first appearance looks like something Oz is noted for and should be an interesting experiment in art and appears to be a rather interesting ideal worth giving a chance I just hope the food is edible.

~Leon Spiro hits a home run

Over the last couple of weeks I have been entertained by an e-mail exchange of Leon Spiro and the city regarding the set backs of a house that is to my understanding ready to move into.

Get this one as this is the response from none other than the General of Land Disaster at the request of the Wizard (Dolan).

Subject: RE: RE: Re: Home , Parcel #212-22-041
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:44:20 -0700
From: FGray@ScottsdaleAz.Gov
To: leonspiro@hotmail.com; jdolan@scottsdaleaz.gov
CC: CityCouncil@scottsdaleaz.gov; drobberson@scottsdaleaz.gov; cjagger@scottsdaleaz.gov

Mr. Spiro,

Ms. Dolan asked that I share with you the results of the field survey on Parcel 212-22-041.  The plans as submitted to the city indicate the house properly setback from the Jomax frontage property line.  The house as built encroaches approximately 18' into this yard area.  We have notified the property owner and are working with them to correct this situation.

Frank Gray

First of all I would love to know just how the hell the city plans to fix the issue since the house is already built and from my understanding is a monster house.

Secondly I would love to know why building inspections never pointed out this problem after the slab was footed in?

Clearly if there was the required inspection by the city before the slab was poured and the footings were approved, someone should have caught that the house was an entire 18 feet out of whack with the plans approved by none other than the city.

And people wonder why their homes flood up north with all the quality inspections we do. It is even my understanding that inspections are more rigorous to install a new block fence in the south than it is to build a house in the north and that has been pointed out numerous times over the last 10 years.

Makes you wonder about the city management and those that lead them and give direction and should make you think about the issue of voting for a change this election because we need to get a grip on a lot of things like this in the city and under the current regime we see no changes in the future to fix them, not address them, but FIX them.

I am sure Leon will keep me up to date on how the city plans to fix this problem and I will be happy to let everyone know how this one turns out as it should be a humdinger.

In case no one has noticed there is a shadow group working in the city to try to give activist a black eye before the elections and none other than the Oz Repugnant is helping to promote it.

My belief of who is behind this does not really matter even though I think it is the work of the Chamber and its board as well as certain other people like Lisa Haskell who is the mouth piece for this shadow group.

Just like the Nesvig fiasco in the last election there are forces moving to try to make the entire activist in the city look as though they are against everything.

The plan of course is to try to sway the opinions of Ozites who do not pay attention that the activists are holding the city progression ransom and to ignore them come election time.

Now think a second and consider who all may be involved in this like the Mayor’s husband, developers, political consultants to developers, the Area Chamber, big wigs in say maybe the health industry, all the people you should suspect are probably involved in this action to deceive the voters.

Think I am kidding about who may be involved than take a look at the comments of the downtown plan update.

It is funny to note that all those who participated in the discussions that were business owners of the area and residents made comments such as;

I guess those regular residents and business owners who participated must also be activists that need to get a black eye as they also have spoken up that they do not like the route the city is heading and have done so above the old guards chagrin.

Should be interesting to see how the three ring circus proceeds when people are revolting to the present plan the city has incorporated as the new plan of Mary and her cronies seeking some type of legacy at the city’s expense, all except the Preserve that is.

Michael Merrill
F8713@aol.com

 ~ Does God Exist?

The university professor challenged his students with this question:

"Did God create everything that exists?"

A student bravely replied "Yes, he did!"

"God created everything?" the professor asked.

"Yes sir," the student replied.

The professor answered, "If God created everything, then God created evil since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

The professor was quite pleased with himself and boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.

Another student raised his hand and said, "Can I ask you a question professor?"

"Of course," replied the professor.

The student stood up and asked, "Professor does cold exist?"

The professor replied "Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?"

The students snickered at the young man's question.

The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to
the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body, or matter, have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (- 460 degrees F) is the total absence of heat. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat.

The student continued. "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The professor responded, "Of course it does."

The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir. Darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light, we can study, but not darkness. In fact we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wave lengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain
space is?

You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor. "Sir, does evil exist?"

Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, as I have already said. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

The young man's name --- Albert Einstein

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Dear Friends with Brains:

The Fall issue of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons has an article that is the best yet in debunking the scientific theory, er, mass propaganda, about global warming being caused by humans.   Each of the article's many graphs is a jaw-dropper.  By the time I finished the article, my jaw was on the floor.  Of particular interest were stats that you won't find in the establishment press or classrooms, such as the negligible amount of human-generated C0₂ relative to total C0₂.  The amount is almost as negligible as the amount of countervailing facts on global warming known by the average indoctrinated American.

Editors Note: Mr. Cantoni is a regular contributor to Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons. For other articles:       http://www.jpands.org/jpands1203.htm

An author and columnist, Mr. Cantoni can be reached at ccan2@aol.com.

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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.