The "Goon Squads" are gone: Charges have been filed to stop any more such actions so you can safely come and sign petitions.

Take Back Your City!!

Whether you like the Hanover Project or hate it:

Sign a petition to protect your right to make your feelings known through a public vote.

Don’t allow secret meetings and a select few to make the decisions for you

Also at the Civic Center and Mustang Libraries

Tom Giller (480) 227-4150 or (480) 326-2475

for petitions and locations to sign or volunteer.

Above is the supposed contact list for the DRB and Planning Commission. If these links fail to work, blame the board members for participating in the super-secret government run my Manross and Dolan.

If you have any questions concerning any planned projects, don't hesitate to contact the ones above who make the decisions.

As you now consider the future of the City Manager/City Treasurer, I trust you will all have read this article in the Tribune today.

The quality of the financial management of the City Manager is unacceptable. The Tribune message is basically the same as the one that I have been giving you myself over the last two years which was of course: 

The writing has been on the wall for 2 or 3 years that changes needed to be made and that better guardianship of tax payer dollars should have been demanded by you earlier. So the cracks have been developing in the facade for several years, the downturn in the national economy has finally exposed it for all to see.

The bottom line – Scottsdale deserves a better quality of management. A new City Manager and a separate (charter officer) treasurer are what are now required. Getting awards for the quality of financial reports is totally irrelevant to the basic job of soundly managing our finances. 

Regards,

Graham Kettle
Scottsdale

The current controversy over City Manager Jan Dolan’s potential termination actually reveals more about the dysfunctional way that the Council majority has handled Charter Officer Performance evaluations than it does about Dolan’s fitness to hold her position.

In order to understand why this is so, a little history lesson is in order. 

The Council majority was so committed to secrecy that they voted to spend thousands of taxpayer dollars in a losing effort to keep even the benign Charter Officer self-evaluations from being made public!

This obsession with secrecy has produced these bad results:

Ironically, the Mayor’s policy of secrecy, which was designed to protect the job of her ally Dolan, may actually end up hastening Dolan’s departure.

In a well-organized private corporation the concerns that Councilmen Lane, Nelssen and I raised about performance issues such as employee morale, information flow, interactions with Council members and the public, and the handling of city finances would have been addressed and resolved early on.  Instead, these problems have been allowed to fester to the point where replacing the City Manager may be the only way to fix them.

Whether Jan Dolan resigns, is fired or hangs on to her job, it is clear that this policy of secret Charter Officer Performance evaluations has to end.  Both the public and the Charter Officers themselves deserve better.

Councilman Bob Littlefield
rlittlefield@scottsdaleaz.gov

Hanover and their smelly Goons are running an intimidation campaign to try to defeat referral effort; called the "Hanover Campaign."

As you know, the City Council, by a vote of 5-2 (Manross, Drake, Ecton, McCullagh and Lane voting in favor), approved the Hanover Project on February 19. Immediately thereafter, Tom Giller and Sam West initiated the process for referring the action to the fall ballot.

During the last week, the local citizens gathering signatures to refer the Hanover Project have encountered, at multiple sites, hired thugs who have scared aware citizens who wanted to sign the referral petitions and outright physically intimidated those carrying the petitions.

The Activist reported on this intimidation campaign last week. Since then, on one occasion, Tom Giller was approached by no fewer than SEVEN GOONS led by a hood named Derrick Lee, of Lee Petition Management who physically accosted him and prevented him from carrying on his activities. Multiple other incidents, documented in police reports, have occurred in the last few days.

As The Scottsdale Activist has reported, Scottsdale lawyer John Berry represents Hanover and, as he does on most of his projects, uses Technical Solutions for his "public affairs" activities. Technical Solutions is an all purpose political business run by former Councilmember Susan Bitter Smith who is, this year, running for Congress, and her husband Paul.

The Scottsdale Activist confirmed on Saturday, March 8, the existence of a "Hanover Campaign" on behalf of the Hanover Project, we presume run by Ms. Smith in her spare time when she is not campaigning for Congress. Because the Hanover Project has not yet been referred, the only reason for the Hanover Campaign, of course, is to conduct an intimidation campaign against the referral effort.

The Hanover Project was approved by Mayor Manross and by Council members Ecton, Drake, Lane and McCullagh. When John Washington, President of COGS, brought the Hanover intimidation campaign to the attention of the media and the City Council on Friday, Councilman McCullagh reported that he had, himself, heard about intimidation efforts (see McCullagh email below), which he disassociated himself from and condemned.

When he became aware of the problem on Friday, Scottsdale Attorney Jim Derouin also contacted the City Council and the media, demanding that those Council members who voted to approve the Hanover Project contact Hanover and its lawyer (John Berry) and public affairs agent (Susan Bitter Smith) and demand a stop to Hanover's intimidation campaign. As a result, the "Hanover Campaign" was discovered.

Thus, The Scottsdale Activist has again scooped the mainstream media in reporting the seamy way that politics in Scottsdale works. If the mainstream media cares, it is a well kept secret. The fact is that a majority of the City Council is influenced by developers who get whatever zoning changes and subsidies they ask for; and if common citizens make efforts to fight back using legal means such as the referral process, developers bring in teams of thugs, hooligans and goons to physically interfere in the process. I don't know about you, but The Scottsdale Activist feels as follows:

The Scottsdale Activist will keep you posted on whether Mayor Manross or Council members Drake, Ecton or Lane condemn Hanover's intimidation campaign. Attached below is a sampling of the email traffic on this issue over the last 24 hours before publication of this edition of The Scottsdale Activist.

In addition, The Activist strongly endorses John Washington's suggestion that Hanover be called before the City Council to explain its intimidation campaign; specifically we would like to see Chief Thug Derrick Lee, of Lee Petition Management appear before the Council and explain his conduct. If they fail to appear or their activities don’t cease midnight Sunday, 3-09-08, the council approval of the Hanover Project should be immediately rescinded by the city council and scheduled for a new hearing at a later date.

Its time to show the entire state how dirty and putrid the political process in Scottsdale really is.

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

On 3/8/08, Derouin, Jim <JDerouin@steptoe.com> wrote:

Mayor and Members of the City Council: I thought the message below had gone to each of you; unfortunately it did not. Please review the email string below and my request, to those of you who voted in favor of the Hanover Ordinance, for you to call Hanover or its lawyer and/or public affairs agents and demand a stop to the use thugs and goons to intimidate citizens who are gathering signatures to place the Hanover Ordinance on the ballot. Notwithstanding police intervention, the goons remain on the streets, harassing citizens as they enter and leave the City's public facilities.

Those of you who voted for Hanover have influence with it. My request is simple--use it.

________________________________

From: Derouin, Jim

Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2008 11:37 AM

To: 'reactionresearch@gmail.com'; 'McCullagh, Ron'; john@reactionresearch.com

Cc: bpowell@aztrib.com; lesley.wright@scottsdalerepublic.com; Rcproc8@cox.net; fixscottsdale@hotmail.com; 'Bob & Inga Vairo'; 'Jim Heather'; 'Linda Whitehead';'Sharon Oberritter';' Sonnie Kirtley'; Mark Scarp mscarp@aztrib.com); 'robert.leger@arizonarepublic.com'; Derouin, Jim

Subject: RE: Goons harassing petition signature gatherers

Mayor and members of the City Council: I am forwarding the email string below to you to highlight the thuggish activity (highlighted by John Washington yesterday) that is impairing the right of citizens to collect signatures to place the Hanover Ordinance on the ballot. I am interested in knowing whether others of you who voted in favor of the Hanover Ordinance (a) agree w/ Ron McCullagh that the use of goons to intimidate signature gathering is "inconsistent with individual rights, free and open government and activism" and (b) will contact Hanover, its lawyers and/or its public affairs agents to demand that Hanover pull its goons off the streets. Notwithstanding repeated complaints to the Police Department, the thugs have continued their actions today. Time is fleeting. Your individual decision should be unequivocal and public. You voted in favor of Hanover; you should repudiate the shameless and illegal conduct being carried out on its behalf firmly and quickly.

It seems to me that there is a simple fix to this situation and to those that arise in the future. In this case, it is clear that the only party with a motive to run an intimidation campaign against the gathering of referendum signatures is Hanover. The most effective way of aborting the campaign is for those Council members who voted in favor of the project to call Hanover and/or its agents/representatives and demand that it cease its campaign and call the thugs off. We are all known by the company we keep and those who voted for this project are the ones in the best position to cure, very effectively, this problem which Ron, himself, has confirmed exists.

If you do not move forcefully to seek an end to this unprofessional conduct, you are, in effect, associating yourself with it.

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

From: John Washington [mailto:reactionresearch@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2008 6:00 PM
To: Derouin, Jim
Cc: CityCouncil@scottsdaleaz.gov; john@reactionresearch.com;
lesley.wright@scottsdalerepublic.com; bpowell@aztrib.com;
mscarp@aztrib.com; robert.leger@arizonarepublic.com

Subject: Re: FW: goons harassing petition signature gatherers

My apologies for the delay in responding to the many emails on this issue. We have been on the road today and will be back tomorrow evening.

Ultimately the responsible party is the developer. I think a call for reconsideration is in order so that he can explain the actions of his employees.

Thank you Councilmen McCullagh, Lane, and Littlefield for your responses in this matter.

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

From: McCullagh, Ron [mailto:RMcCullagh@ScottsdaleAZ.Gov]
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 6:39 PM
To: john@reactionresearch.com
Cc: bpowell@aztrib.com; lesley.wright@scottsdalerepublic.com;

Subject: RE: goons harassing petition signature gatherers

John:

I have heard confirmation of this activity, independent of your petitioners' accounts of incidents. It is inconsistent with individual rights, free and open government or activism.

How can I help?

Ron

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

From: John Washington [mailto:john@reactionresearch.com]

Sent: Fri 3/7/2008 5:59 PM

To: City Council

Cc: bpowell@aztrib.com; lesley.wright@scottsdalerepublic.com;

Subject: goons harassing petition signature gatherers

City Council and Mayor,

To follow up my email from last night regarding harassment of citizens exercising their legal right to petition:

Tom Giller just called me to report that upon his arrival at the library this afternoon he was met by four of the goons mentioned in my last email, waiting in ambush for his arrival. Apparently they were a little scared of Tom because they felt it necessary to call reinforcements.

Tom experienced a virtual MUGGING at the hands of SEVEN HIRED THUGS, including their handler who answered to the name of Eric. Police were called, innocent bystanders were harassed, library patrons were intimidated.

Welcome to our bright, new Scottsdale.

John Washington

 (Return to Top)

By signing the Hanover Referendum Petition, you are merely stating that you, the voters want the right to make the decision about whether the Hanover Project (or the Hanover Company's bad manners) is good or bad for the city in the voting booth, not the DRB or City Council; Nothing more and nothing less.

Why would any decent developer send out their "stinky goons" to intimidate you and therefore deny you the right to vote on this project?

Only one reason:

Huge Profits & GREED with no regard for the residents or taxpayers!!

(Return to Top)

~ Sign the Hanover Referendum Petition & Save Your City!!

This is your chance to raise your voice against unplanned height & density in

 Scottsdale...

a list of places/opportunities to sign are given below.

        ...Unplanned growth for Scottsdale...higher buildings in smaller spaces...more cars, traffic jams, infrastructure problems, emergency service concerns, poor air quality, leaving the Scottsdale citizens picking up the tab in higher taxes to fix these problems?

        ...The Scottsdale we chose to live in and cherish is disappearing into an unplanned community of big boxes and sky rises - obstructing views of Camelback and the McDowell’s.  Where and what is our city vision and planning?

        ...The City of Scottsdale is not listening to its voting citizens who helped to build this city through taxes, investing in their property, and pride of ownership.

        ...The citizens are taking the brunt of these problems in their established neighborhoods.

 City commissions (P&D, Transportation and others) not working effectively together to solve potential problems of development before a project is approved? Many of us non-professionals saw this coming...it was obvious...and we said so!

Look at the fight Villa Monterey waged on Chaparral....a fight with the city for 17 years complaining of uncontrollable traffic, 20K cars and illegal trucks per day (trucks 9% of total traffic) all going downtown; one of the highest accident rate streets in the city - our quality-of-life is disappearing in Villa Monterey due  to problems created by the city through lack of future planning of downtown development. Villa Monterey is still fighting this city-at-large safety problem on Chaparral to get it resolved by the city.

And more development is coming to the east side of the canal and Chaparral.  The neighborhoods of VM 1 and Scottsdale Terrace have been waging a battle with the city against height and density on the canal. It is still on-going.  120 new condos are going in on the canal at the old Ivy Hotel.  Where will the traffic go? 

Again, Chaparral is impacted without planning and solving the existing problem.  

Are you tired of....

Out-of-state developers coming to town with their wallets open, making their profit and then leaving us with the problems?  Remember the Galleria?   How many vacant condos and stores will be left when they leave or go bankrupt in this economy?  Will downtown be a glut of empty housing on the fringes of established neighborhoods?... suddenly with prices plummeting along with ours?  It's happening now.

North Scottsdale....heads up!  You are on the city's radar too for more development.         

now is the time to act by signing the Referendum Petition against height & density with the Hanover project as the focus this time.  Enough is enough!

With the required signatures, this will go to the GENERAL BALLOT IN THE FALL......giving you your chance to be heard by the City of Scottsdale.

    10 am-2 pm each day

    Signatures will be collected....add yours, and see the proposed site for yourself. 

    Saturday, March 8th    12 Noon

    Historic Preservation Meeting for Units 1,2,3,4

    Unit 1 Recreation Area  (corner of Rancho vista & 75th Way - west of Miller)

    Collectors will be going door-to-door to request signatures.

    Friday and Saturday, March 7 & 8    

Collectors will be going door-to-door to request signatures.

    Collectors will be going door-to-door to request signatures.

    Collectors will be going door-to-door to request signatures.

    Debria has packets for your signature.

Email tgiller@cox.net or call 480-994-1181 if you are unable to go to these meeting places or have not had anyone request your signature.  A volunteer will bring the referendum to you.  Every registered voters signature is important! 

Another neighborhood assemblage project is coming to a corner near you; the Northwestern corner of Osborn Road and Miller Road, 3500 North Miller Road…..to the East of the San Francisco Giants training facility home of….we give you Toscano, to be developed with the assistance of Land Development Services, LLC.

This development company’s principal partners include former Planning Commission Chairman, David Gulino. Gulino served two terms on the Planning Commission ending his service in February of 2005.

IT IS THE PROJECT NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THEM TOGETHER, BUT THIS IS ANOTHER PROBLEM FOCUSING ON THE APPOINTMENT OF DEVELOPERS, ARCHITECTS AND CONTRACTORS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

WE NEED RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THESE AREAS SITTING ON THAT COMMISSION NOT JUST PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PUTTING TOGETHER A LONG RANGE PLANNING PROCESS THAT WOULD ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.

Back to Toscano, this is another project that is being rushed through to greatness. Whatever……..

There are so many problems with those existing properties that one does not know whether to scream or laugh themselves silly. We may have already done that. Those properties have been allowed to deteriorate. Minimal attention has been done to maintain the property exteriors just a stone’s throw from City Hall.

Inside, well Code Enforcement cannot enter those properties to even inspect plumbing or electrical for health reasons. If a tenant invites Code Enforcement in that tenant invites an eviction notice. Oh, the property owner and/or their management company will have to fix problems, but the tenant gets punished for seeking help to fix problems that they have been asking to have fixed and been totally ignored.

A perfect example of that convoluted thinking existed with the properties assembled for the WaterView Project is happening with the Tuscano project which is currently managed by Bobbie Morgenstern, who just coincidentally was the manager of the WaterView project as it was allowed by the "assembler" to deteriorate into blighted oblivion by design with little to no city intervention.

Councilman McCullagh even said he was aware of the problems over there when some we dreaded "activist" types started pressuring Code Enforcement and Councilman to do something to make sure the living conditions were safe and secure. It was on his walking route, but he did not think it was necessary to do anything about the conditions because the buildings were going to be torn down. Plus, he claimed, that those people who lived there "could not help their station in life because that was all they could afford."

Another small apartment complex in the far southern end of Scottsdale was recently brought to the attention of some in Human Services after the tenants had lived in the apartments for months without electricity.

Yep, neighborhood assemblage takes away blighted property, for a while. Until Scottsdale’s Code Enforcement Program becomes more comprehensive and deals with property management companies and corporate and out of state property owners more effectively then be prepared. The old will be torn down. The new will be built. The new will then begin to evolve. Who knows what is at the end of the evolution.

First we were worried about the condo conversion problems that saw the loss of 3,000 rental properties, including work force housing. None of the affordable/work force/young professional housing has been replaced. This will be presenting an increasingly sticky situation for funding of programs for housing rehab assistance, Community Development Block Grant funds, and HOME funds. All of those programs help Scottsdale residents with emergency housing issues.

Let us not forget that with the loss of the 3,000 rental units, we lost in the neighborhood of 9 million dollars in sales tax.

Our General Plan states a vague housing vision that is very easily being ignored and could cost Scottsdale taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments back to the Federal Government for not meeting the HUD requirements under which federal money was provided.

We are certainly getting our share of petitions and petition issues in Scottsdale this year. Generally, that is what happens when government is not running smoothly, and is not responding to the people and the issues that impact them.

There are many community groups forming to fill the communication and community education void that we are feeling. The Scottsdale Activist was brought into existence for this very reason. It is interesting to know that most of these groups are exploring answers to local questions by going outside of the City of Scottsdale to see what other of our neighboring communities are doing and listening to how the problems that they have had and how they got to a point of possibly solving some of them.

Some of these groups have opted for referendum petitions, some petitions to force an issue to be heard by Council and others just seeking support for better government.

You have already read of serious problems with petition circulators in previous issues of the Scottsdale Activist that included letters to the City Clerk and the City Clerks response.

This issue includes a copy of a letter from Secretary of State Jan Brewer’s office written by Joseph Kanefield, State Election Director. I thank them for taking the time to investigate my concerns and getting back to me so promptly.

Every year we seem to have more and more initiatives and referenda that make it to the ballot. That is not bad, but it often is obviously very indicative of a government that is not dealing with the issues that are impacting the people daily.

The Secretary of States Office and the State Election Department are promoting legislation that would make deceptive tactics and practices knowingly used by petition circulators a crime.

This bill is moving through the Legislature right now.

Maybe we have taken our vote and our voting process for granted for a long time, but we really need to take a cold hard look at the dangers threatening that very precious right of all citizens and make sure that the right is secure.

Many of us really want to believe that good government is possible here in Scottsdale, but not today. It just is not here whether school district or city.

Last month I read a nice article about a fund raiser that was being held by Arcadia parents with the help of Dan Harkins and his theatres. Then I dug a little deeper and whammy! They need the funds for classroom technology.

We asked nicely. We asked frequently. We asked,

Recall please that this was the Bond that was proposed by former Superintendent Erwin, and the one the Governing Board pushed hard, lead by the Arcadia Complex parents with, obviously, much misinformation, circulated by the Parent Council.

Why was it necessary for Arcadia parents to hold a movie premier fund raiser at Harkins theatres to raise funds for classroom technology? Is Harkins going to do the same thing for all of the other high schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District so that equal classroom technology can be available for all students in SUSD?

Dear parents of Coronado, Saguaro, Chaparral and Desert Mountain High Schools:

Now let us look at the City of Scottsdale. Roll your eyes Heaven-wards. Sigh. Cry. Tear your hair.

The only way to make sure light rail on Scottsdale Road is dead is to literally drive a stake through "it’s" heart. But, since it is an "it" and not really alive, though it sure seems like it, even that will not kill "it."

Scottsdale paid HDR Consulting ^$1.2 million dollars to bring in recommendations for the Transportation Master Plan.

HDR did their job and delivered their report late in fall of 2007, with input from the community and recommendations from a committee of about 22 residents who reviewed, discussed and picked apart all options.

We thought that light rail down Scottsdale Road had been buried at last.

Reminisce with me for a minute……in December of 2006, HDR went to Council with a preliminary report. Two City Councilmen, the Dastardly Duo of Littlefield and Nelson, wanted Council to vote to broaden HDR’s scope to include major north south roads, not just focus on Scottsdale Road. The Council majority, including the Mayor, would not allow that to happen.

Following that Council meeting two of the members of the Transportation Working Group, met with Councilman McCullagh, Mayor Manross, Transportation Director O’Connor and former Assistant City Manager Ed Gawf to discuss the need to broaden the scope of the study. No dice.

We all, Transportation Working Group members and other community groups, thought that with the delivery of HDR’s report that light rail on Scottsdale Road was a dead issue. HDR did go with bus rapid transit and discussed expanding the trolley routes, no light rail on Scottsdale Road.

Well, Item 9 on the City Council Consent Agenda for Tuesday, March 4, 2007, called for Scottsdale to pay ^$66,670 to join METRO, the regional planning agency for high capacity transit/fixed guide way planning.

Since the only road that was allowed to be studied by the mayor and council majority was Scottsdale Road, do you see a problem with the current thought process and honesty of the current administration, or lack there of?

We have an election next fall. Is there anybody out there who understands the need for good government?

Nancy Cantor
Scottsdale

NEXT MEETING: Mark your calendar for Thursday, March 13th, 6:30 PM at the Granite Reef Senior Center at the NW corner of McDowell Rd and Granite Reef Rd.

(Return to Top)

Dear Colleagues: 

Jan, our city manager, is celebrating her mother's birthday and enjoying some scheduled vacation time in the area today through sometime next week.  She sincerely appreciates and cares for everyone here and is in close contact with her administrative team, assistant city managers, general managers and others regarding matters of importance. 

I have been asked to inform everyone that our Council adopted normal line-of-succession plan is in effect until further notice (Resolution 7407, adopted 11/6/07).  This means you can reach me as acting city manager at 480-312-4510.  The plan further states that Roger Klingler, then Neal Shearer, shall serve as acting city manager if Jan and I are both unavailable. 

On behalf of Jan, the Leadership Team and supervisors, thanks so much again for your unwavering service and commitment to our residents, customers and each other. 

David L. Ellison
Assistant City Manager
City of Scottsdale
7447 E Indian School Rd #300
phone:  480-312-4510
email:  dellison@scottsdaleaz.gov

(Return to Top)

The Arizona Court of Appeals threw out a lower court verdict on the condemnation in the case of 50 acres the city seized from development firm CGP-Aberdeen.

The ruling means the city could end up paying significantly more for the land on Rio Verde Drive.

This also sets the stage for a true taxpayer disaster any appeal on the Toll Brothers suit. That appeal would be a very bad idea which could cost the city far more than the court originally dictated last month.

Word to the wise to the City Council; leave this one alone, pay the bill you caused and move on.

According to the latest ramblings of ASU President Michael Crow in the Scottsdale Republic, he would have you believe SkySong is the success he predicted.

The most significant understated and totally misleading Q & A was simply:

Q – "How long do people have to wait before they can really make a fair judgment on SkySong?"

A – "They can compare it with what it was before, which was an abandoned shopping mall. We’re already dramatically improved beyond that fate. We think that already we offer more than a hockey rink. How long do they need to wait? They waited a long time to see something happen. Now something positive is happening, and it can be measured on its own merits".

In the Scottsdale Tribune, he says "It’s a place where people get together and see what happens. So, we’re waiting to see what happens."

Gee, he’s waiting while our debt and other costs of owning the property continue to escalate, and that’s the success he thinks exists???

This prime piece of commercial 42 acre property at the southern gateway to Scottsdale could have been pulling in millions of dollars of tax revenue to support upgrades to our infrastructure, parks, and other things of basic necessities a growing city like Scottsdale desperately needs if the mayor and her cohorts in distortion had any kind of vision for the future at all.

Instead, thanks to Mayor Manross, City Manager Jan Dolan, the council majority and "Snake Oil Salesman" Michael Crow, we have nothing but an ugly big box that is costing the taxpayers of Scottsdale ^$130 million taxpayer dollars with that amount escalating on a daily basis with zero income to offset the costs while giving ASU and ASUF a totally free ride with zero obligation to perform. They tell us we will recoup ^$81 million of our investment. That still leaves us holding the bag for over ^$49 million dollars and climbing.

In addition, we own and are responsible for the infrastructure in and around SkySong they will use for the next 198 years.

If these are the "Merits" Crow is taking about, why isn’t the city seeing tax revenue from this albatross?

Very simple: you cannot collect taxes from a non-profit organization or on a city owned property.

If this is what Crow and Manross call success, Scottsdale as well as Manross are in deep, deep trouble.

(Return to Top)

 ~ Council Candidate Forum

We attended a candidate forum today which was very interesting. For a dry run to get their feet wet, it was a good exercise, but showed weaknesses needing improvement very quickly.

There will be more forums where they won't be among friends and allies and will have to be much more concise, more explicit and direct with their answers. In addition, they'll  need to hone their ability to control their use of time. No one wants to hear a candidate ramble on when the subject could have been covered in less than 25% of the time used.

All in all, it was a good exercise and I'm sure the candidates got a real taste of what they will be up against and what they must do to compete with those who already have their feet well planted on the ground and have their platforms well designed and streamlined for expeditious coverage of the subjects they will be dealing with during future forums and if they should be elected to the council.

To run an effective campaign, candidates will need to have all information on the tip of their tongues to compete with the incumbents who have a slight advantage anyway.

(Return to Top)

 ~Letters to the Editor  

City Council and Mayor, 

I wish to share with you a very disturbing series of incidents, one of which I witnessed a couple of months ago, one I heard about last week, and one that apparently just happened this evening. I must stress I was not party to the last two incidents, therefore you should independently verify my descriptions of them. 

In each of these incidents community activists who were attending meetings advertised by the City as public outreach meetings about development projects in the approval process have been openly harassed by members of the Technical Solutions team including Susan Bitter-Smith herself. These widely-respected activists were speaking to other residents of Scottsdale who were attending these meetings and who shared their concerns about the projects in question.  

The activists were at the time of the incidents compiling contact information for the concerned residents in order to continue the free flow of project information. In the case of this evening’s incident the activist was probably offering concerned citizens the opportunity to voice their concerns directly to the voters by virtue of the referendum petition that is being circulated.  

I believe Ms Bitter-Smith’s myriad of tactics include holding these public outreach meetings (required by City planning and zoning policy) local churches. I believe this is done so partially to muzzle the residents from expressing full strength of their frustration about these projects.  

Additionally, however, Ms Bitter-Smith said in at least one of these incidents that the meeting was "private." That assertion was contradicted by City personnel in attendance. Ms Bitter-Smith then tried to make it more of a case of asserting control because the meeting was taking place on private property. She did this by citing concerns by the minister, who mysteriously could not be found for confirmation.  

Aside from making a mockery of the public outreach process, Ms. Bitter-Smith’s harassment should be viewed through the lens of federal campaign law. Not only do the citizens have every right to converse among themselves about concerns, the referendum process is a lawful mechanism for the voters to put the issue on the ballot. 

I am outraged by Ms. Bitter-Smith’s behavior. Her contempt for public process and the taxpaying citizens of Scottsdale is deplorable. I demand that the practice of holding REQUIRED public outreach meetings on private property be halted immediately.  

John Washington
480.229.1831
john@ReactionResearch.com

(Return to Top)

We find it rather ironic that the City feels it can boast, the following as found on the Human Resources home page :

Phone: (480) 312-2491
Fax: (480) 312-7960
Email: hr@scottsdaleaz.gov

Neal Shearer, Assistant City Manager
Phone: (480) 312-2491
Email: nshearer@ScottsdaleAZ.gov

Current Job Recruitments:

Human Resources (HR) hires, develops and retains a competent, committed and diverse workforce to provide high quality and cost-effective services to Scottsdale citizens. We accomplish our mission by partnering with the people and organization we are privileged to serve and by honoring the following guiding principles:

My husband and I both worked for the City of Scottsdale, I for 4 years and my husband for 21+, who recently took a higher paying job at a local organization where he is technically in a lower level position, has less responsibility (because they are adequately staffed for the number of employees served and their needs), and receives the support and respect that someone with his expertise and qualifications deserves.

He did not want to leave the City, nor did I but found that the city and Jan Dolan’s commitment to integrity, fairness, respect, employee values was worse than lacking. While the city boasts that Employees are the City's most important resource, they do nothing to try and retain quality, highly regarded employees.  In fact, our experience was that the harder and more competent  the employee was, the more resentment they receive(d) from the management and administration that they worked for while the complacent, uneducated, and "meek" employees were rewarded handsomely for their average to below average performance on the job. 

Put quite simply, we encountered several employees in management and higher level positions that did not even meet the minimum job requirements and through their own admittance they felt they could not leave the City of Scottsdale because they did not qualify for the same level position they held outside the City and could not get interviews or even come close to making the kind of wages that the City was paying them.

While we support promotion in the workplace, we do not support promoting someone just because they have been with the organization for a long period of time, which happens continuously in Scottsdale.  You may attempt to hire the best and the brightest, and often you succeed, but you don't attempt to retain these "highly qualified" employees, in fact it appears to be just the opposite, you handsomely reward complacent, unqualified employees, who do not strive to be the best and brightest but are comfortable doing the minimum and management supports this as long as the employee does what they are told and doesn't make any "waves".

My husband left and took a position doing exactly what he was doing at the City, less headache, and responsibility, and is making $$,$$$ more per year, a raise he sought for the past 5 years at the City, and his management team felt it unnecessary.  I believe partially due the fact they did not expect him to leave.  Employee turnover costs the City hundreds of thousands of dollars per year that could be better utilized to retain "highly qualified" employees who have extensive experience, a track record, and have the credentials to back them up.  Within the past year Ms. Dolan, Mr. Shearer, and several other City officials, City Auditor, and the City Clerk, received significant raises, they have car allowances (400+) per month, where is/was this justification?

Please don't misunderstand what I am saying, I am not bitter, nor is he.  I quite simply live in Scottsdale and have for the past 16 years and care about "my" City government and the employees who work for "me", the citizen.  During the four years I worked for the City I saw numbers of employees leave and since my departure, the rate has increased significantly.  My husband and I are both quite happy in our new jobs but would have loved to stay and continue to provide the high level of service we not only strived for but achieved for the Citizens of Scottsdale, the community that we live in.

I am in a profession now where every person I work with has a bachelors degree and more than half have a masters plus, have minimum requirements that need to be met including being "highly qualified" in order to hold our positions and make 1/6th the salary that Ms. Dolan and some of her associates make. I manage 120+ people, and find my job extremely challenging and rewarding and still strive to be the best that I can be at what I do, continually seeking opportunities to learn and grow whenever I can, and do what I need do to be the best at my job I can be.

I believe if the City still had Mr. Bowers leading it, you would not be experiencing the morale and employee turnover issues that exist now.  He respected the employees who worked for the City and showed it.

Sincerely,

Concerned Scottsdale Residents and former employees.
We CARE!

(Return to Top)

Don't know if you ever received a response regarding what a "good fit" for Scottsdale is suppose to be now (but we have little doubt that you didn't) Third Reich or the Allies.  All indications in the trenches is the Hitler Youth must be the new desired "fit" for the city and the long term employees of the old guard are like the SA after Hitler was done with them.  Many of us feel like the "Night of the Long Knives" is in the near future for us?? 

We hate to continue to use the WWII metaphor (as it seems an extreme analogy), but in a less fatal sense, it tactically is truly not all that dissimilar.  Just like when Hitler knew defeat was absolute, he ordered all of the army and people to fight to the last individual.

Partly to inflict as much damage as possible to the side of freedom and true democratic society, but also to punish the surviving soldiers for not succeeding in adequately accomplishing his diabolical plans.  Similarly, as the writing is on the wall for the next election and the subsequent régime change, the apparent paradigm is to continue to hire SS type individuals and purge as many of the existing veterans as possible.

The name the public should familiarize themselves with, is the latest addition to the Scottsdale Purchasing Department (SS Division), Jim Flanagan,

The Purchasing Manager of 20 years recently retired and they hired his replacement 4 months ago, from the private sector (aka Jim Flanagan), and he is the perfect example of exactly what you often talk about on your web site and what those anonymous letters were so accurately describing.  David Copperfield himself couldn't time-travel to 1943 and perform a better trick of procurement illusion.  Flanagan seems to easily fool the "rocket-scientist" management of Scottsdale into thinking he's "a full meal deal and a bag of chips" for 99 cents.  As the saying goes, you get what you pay for but sometimes, you pay top-dollar for the old bait & switch and sometimes you pay thru the nose for the treatment that’s suppose to cure you only to find out too late, that it's actually what poisoned you and the world in which you work.

Since the Purchasing Director is going to retire in July, he wants to ignore this bad situation and basically throw all of his staff under the bus and say "Yee-Ha" as he rides off into the sunset in a different direction!  His primary defense or logic for this is that his boss is worse than Jim and he's why he's retiring now and we should feel lucky because he's not as bad as his boss. 

That seems like a good defense in a murder case. This defense could be okay in some twisted, bizarre world of seriously altered mental calculations (I only killed 5 people, but I could have killed 10.  So support my compassionate benevolence in not taking 5 more).

Maybe this should go to HR but then again Dolan puppet Shearer is HR so probably nothing will ever happen there either.

The only constant in this entire scenario is that the vast majority of employees are constantly praying for the immediate dismissal or resignation of Jan Dolan.

Scottsdale Inmates
Names withheld by request

(Return to Top)

Although we don’t often agree with Councilman Ecton, We think he was totally correct and on target when he asked for the security devices to be reinstalled in city hall and we publicly applaud him for his position. For one reason, we own them to the tune of apparently over 1 million dollars and they’re sitting in storage deteriorating. 

After discussing the situation with a state level law enforcement expert, the far bigger and far more serious reasons to reinstall the security systems are: 

(Return to Top)

I have to tell you Ozites, if there is anything that should piss some of you off, it is when you’re Constitutional Right to protest your elected leader’s decisions by referendum are taken away by special interest groups.

You see, if you have been paying attention to the articles in this web page you should already know that it is not the residents of the city who are the "special interest groups" that the media and the "old guard" claim we are, it is the new breed of Manross and even Campana style government.

• Don’t believe me? Call 911 and ask for directions. It is the new breed of people running the Chamber of Commerce, and some of the old ones too.

• Don’t believe me? Who else goes on TV to rally for light rail down the middle of your signature street other than the mouth piece of the Chamber of Commerce, Rick Kidder?

Who else pulled this same stunt once before? It is the new breed of developers and their political consultants. Don’t believe me? Who is running a campaign, against "residents" and "volunteers," of intimidation while they collect signatures to reverse a bad Council decision by referendum?

Well, some say it is a certain well known company that may have written a letter to this website composed by none other than Tom Irvine, a well known friend of a certain someone who is considering running for Harry Mitchell’s position in the Federal scheme of things that are usually all so corrupt.

I would find it funny if there were ever proof brought forward that this were true as I think it would be interesting to see how the public would react to the issue of a candidate who is supposed to represent them as an elected leader in the Federal Government, actually being responsible for trying to suppress the citizens right to sign a petition without being accosted by paid thugs.

Let’s face it, people dressed like bikers and dressed in leather are not really the kind of people you would see rallying for a government issue unless it was to legalize Mary-Jane. These are not the people who residents would care to be confronted by just for exercising their constitutional rights so instead they shy away.

Don’t worry about that though because I intend on going to a couple of these places where they are harassing people, my camera is coming along with an audio recorder and I plan on posting those pictures here in the activist for some of you to see. I think it would be great for residents to see exactly what is being done to your constitutional rights by the new breed of special interest running this city.

I find it funny that there have been postings on this web site that claim that none other than Susan Bitter-Smith, working in part with Technical Solutions, on behalf of the Hanover developer, has twice now tried to have residents collecting signatures removed from "PUBLIC MEETINGS".

You want to know who the special interests are in this city, and trust me it is not the residents that are trying to save their City?

Ask our friend Ron McCullagh who has contributions from nothing but developers, both in state and out, real-estate companies, brokers, bankers, and of all people in the mix, Scottsdale Healthcare and a member of the Chamber by the name of Virginia Korte. Kind of hard not to figure out who is running this city under its present course is it not?

Do yourself a favor, stop by one of the public libraries or go to this weekends rally as posted somewhere in this web page, and sign a Referendum Petition. It takes all of 60 seconds to write down your name and address and if you got out of your arm chair for a little bit, you may even see what is left of Scottsdale and help save some of it while still upholding your Constitutional right to refer a question to the voting public by ballot.

Remember, this puts the question on the ballot and does not mean you agree with it, it just means that the voters should decide, and since you are still a voter and have the right to vote your own opinion, you will have lost your right to even place the question to yourself and the rest of the voting public if you let a paid thug who does not even live here scare you off.

Think about it and get back to me, I already signed and I even have some space for you to sign one.

Okay folks from Peaceful Valley and John Washington of COGS, you are now officially next in the sledge hammer actions of the developers in this City and the Council, as well as some others.

If you are not aware yet, one of your own former Planning Commission Chairman his term ended in 2005, is in the process of dropping 97 condo units, reaching three stories in height, with all that lovely stucco and crap architecture right there on Miller and Osborn on the northwest corner along the new baseball practice area.

Mind you they are calling for these 97 units on none other than 3.5 acres and is just shy of the acreage our illustrious City Council just let have