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.

History is something to be celebrated, pondered, questioned, expanded, and learned from. History can be one person’s view or a collective view of how the world has evolved.

History can be so much and yet is often ignored, denied, abused and forgotten in the new Scottsdale of Mary Manross.

Shame on all of us for allowing any of the storytelling to disappear because of personal pride, overactive egos, or pure frustration. We need all perspectives to see the whole tale.

Arcadia Publishing has come out with a series of books nationwide called "Images of America," compiling local histories through the eyes of regular citizens. Here in Arizona, they have joined with the Arizona Historical Foundation, to publish several books about some of the people and the communities of Arizona.

Scottsdale has had two books come out, so far, and they are a wonderful tribute all of those who helped Scottsdale grow and create a quality of life today that we all prize.

Joan Fudala’s book, "Scottsdale," was published in 2007, as was, Dr. Jose Burruel’s book, "Mexicans In Scottsdale."

Both books combine pictures and dialogue that celebrate those who took a chance on this little spot in the desert.

Ms Fudala has spent many years promoting the community she came to call home through her books, columns and work with the Scottsdale Historical Society and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Land Trust.

Dr. Burruel, born in what was Scottsdale’s earliest "barrio" and returned here to live after retiring, has had years of service in the community from working on literacy programs in our schools from elementary school through university, to serving on the Civil Rights Committee for LULAC, to participating in Scottsdale’s Sister City program.

These books are a wonderful addition to any book shelf, written by two people who love the community and appreciate the contributions that so many make to creating community. They can be found, I know, at Borders, Books and Music at the Waterfront and Barnes and Noble at Tempe Market Place and Book Star at the Pavilion’s on Indian Bend Road.

Nancy Cantor
Chair, Scottsdale Coalition
nancyanncantor@cox.net

Editors Note: Coming next week, more on the dust control laws and other stuff about the totally unenforceable Dust ordinance.

"The process of evaluating, and responding to, the lawsuit filed by the developers of Hanover continues. Hanover tried to obstruct the petition process at the libraries and now it is trying to obstruct us in the courts. The allegations made by Hanover (a total of five) in the lawsuit are baseless--the Hanover legal case is an array of asserted technical violations that simply continues Hanover's campaign of harassment. In our
analysis, Hanover has alleged nothing more than some minor innocent mistakes by enthusiastic volunteers that does not establish a basis for not referring the City Council's action to the September ballot.

On another front, the successful referendum effort on the recently passed dust ordinance actually got the City Council to belatedly try and work with citizens, which is a step in the right direction. Maybe the next time the process will occur before the Council vote.

Had Eric Kenney of Hanover really tried to work with the downtown neighborhoods rather than hiring zoning attorney John Berry, and Susan Bitter-Smith of Technical Solutions to exert their control over the City Council and ignore public concerns, then hired Derrick Lee's petition company to intimidate citizens, a dialogue would have been possible; we certainly are having one now about future growth and development standards in our community and the way our government serves and respects the citizens of Scottsdale. This is a healthy process and shows what can be accomplished by concerted citizen effort.

We have a very important election upcoming on September 2. The issue of "Height and Density" WILL be on this ballot! Growth is inevitable and welcome if done on a moderate scale and if it contributes to the sense of place that has given us an identity that is world renowned. Citizens, neighborhoods and communities that work together with the public spirited support of the Scottsdale Activist are the hope for the future. Developers come and go; citizens stay."

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~ A Word About the Closing of Schools

We all understand financial problems and we all understand the current economic climate because we’re part and parcel to it personally. But, who put the school district in this pickle to begin with? It certainly wasn’t the local property owners, parents or taxpayers was it? It was the District administrators themselves who thought the golden goose was here to stay foregoing anything to do with paying attention to historic trends of fat and lean economies.

With that being said, we don’t think that Superintendent Baracy is looking past the end of his nose. Many homes within the areas where he is suggesting either closing schools or consolidating students are in areas where we have new homes, or where we have an aging population which is just about to retire and sell their family homes to young families who will be happy to buy a home near an existing school.

The Park Scottsdale and other areas of south Scottsdale are prime areas where an aging population is getting ready to retire and sell to the younger generation who will or already have children who will start school with in the next 2 to 4 years. The homes these retiring owners own are prime targets for the younger generation because they are less expensive than new homes, close to schools, shopping and the busiest and largest employment area in the valley.

In addition, those are the owners who have paid property taxes for decades, raised their children who attended some of the targeted schools, and are the property owners who will suffer the most with Baracy’s skewed plans because it will directly and very negatively affect their property values. For Baracy to feel "offended" by comments from board members or the public concerning his flawed plans tells us that he needs to take another look; no one appointed him God and he needs to step down off his holier than thou pedestal and totally reconsider where the district is going without closing schools.

We suggest Baracy pull in his horns and keep from getting his boxers in a wad over this temporary setback. He just needs to tighten the belt of the district by laying off dispensable highly paid administrators and middle management (and there are quite a few) then consolidating their positions, (just as corporate America does) and use the money saved to pay the teachers so we can maintain a lower student to teacher ratio and keep the schools operating properly.

It would also be very prudent to move the district office out of Phoenix and into Scottsdale where it should have been all along. The district has a number of locations in Scottsdale where that could be accomplished without closing any schools. The current district office could be sold for top dollar with that money used to fill the economic gap until the economy begins it's recovery which should begin within the next year or two.

And as far as closing Saguaro or Chaparral to keep Arcadia afloat, Very bad idea and you will have a serious city war should anyone even try and make such a ridiculous change. Just keep all the schools open by cutting the fat out of your budget as suggested above. It wouldn’t hurt any of you to do a little more work for a change, all of us are. Lord knows you’re paid well enough to take up some slack and take shorter lunches like we are.

Is that too much to ask for those who have paid taxes for decades, been loyal to the school district, and have been working toward retirement with their homes as the most important part of a sustained retirement plan?

We don’t think so.

It appears that Inspection Services Director Ralph Noriega has passed the buck on a huge pile of dirt spewing clouds of grit and dust at 73^rd and Butherus by the Scottsdale Airpark.

Noriega claims that everything is being done to contain the dust per county regulations and per county investigators.

As one who spends may hours daily  behind the wheel driving by scores of construction sites, private, commercial and governmental, I see people watering down smaller and larger piles of dirt as they are being layered truck by truck, dump by dump and that dirt is being sprayed down with water by an employee who does that anytime and during the entire time there is any dirt being dumped or moved on any job.

Overwhelming evidence shows that practice in NOT in place at 73^rd and Butherus which is under Ralph Noriega’s direct control. His lack of enforcing the rules and regulations on this problem are a great financial benefit for both the dirt haulers and the developers because the labor, equipment and containment costs are greatly reduced.

Our understanding is that any loose dirt, stacked, piled, or left untreated on the ground is a county and state EPA violation. Noriega claims the huge pile is treated. Well check it out for yourself, take a look at the picture of the huge dirt pile below (note the size on the car right next to it), then a close-up of that same pile showing where there are only a couple places where the is ANY evidence of the watering down, or the dust containment program required by law.

The rest of the entire pile is loose and blowing everywhere, just ask those who work in the area. Ask them how much grit and dust they find on their desks, paperwork, computer keyboards, etc. when they come in from a day off or even after a lunch break. Ask them how much dust and dirt has been collected by their vehicle in just a 4 hour period. Ask the building maintenance staffs how often they have to change the exchange and incoming air filters now that the huge pile of uncontrolled dirt is allowed to blow everywhere.

Can 100% of the dust and grit be contained, of course not, but to assert that you are doing everything possible at 73^rd and Butherus to contain the dust is absolute Bull Pucky and Noriega knows it full well based on just looking at the obvious lack of treatment.

Numerous accusations have come to the Activist which we have not been able to confirm, but we’ll ask some pertinent questions here with hope that Division Manager Frank Gray will open his eyes and ears to what is apparently going on right under his nose.

Many have suggested and we concur that it’s past time for the city to put Ralph Noriega under a high powered microscope to determine if he is actually following the city, county, and state rules and regulations in the way he determines who wins bids, and how he really does his job and runs his department, don’t you?

We have had a number of inquiries concerning signs, legal and illegal, throughout the city and I’ll address them here accordingly. Unfortunately, the sign code is a joke at best and is aimed at political signs which is unconstitutional.

BUT!!! Someone with big money will have to take it to court to fight it and no one has the deep pockets necessary to follow it to the US Supreme Court where it must go to be found in violation of the 1st Amendment which would probably take at least a decade and a million dollars.

Politicians wouldn't dare tackle it for obvious reasons, one being that incumbents probably don't need signs because of their supposed "bully pulpit" and secondly, the citizens who couldn't care less about the US Constitution and the 1st Amendment don't like any signs at all and would bury any candidate who even suggested that the signs should be allowed at only a few specific locations. There was a 9 page solution to the sign problem presented to the council and the council majority blew it off.

Realtors seem to be off the hook and able to squirm through the weasely loopholes created by the Manross Majority including "Super Weasel" Ron McCullagh to get their signs to still be posted. I think it’s very telling that Councilman Ron "Super Weasel" McCullagh just coincidentally is or was a licensed Arizona Real Estate broker and apparently still well connected to that industry and their friends, the developers according to his current campaign donor list.

Howard Myers and other wonderful northern volunteers are doing a commendable job trying to keep the illegal and "weekend" and church signs down. In addition, Raun Keagy has only so many employees and the city legal department seemingly will not support efforts to prosecute the violators as required in a timely manner, again by quoting supposed loopholes in the ordinances and state laws to slow the process to a crawl.
 
The Lund Cadillac 40 foot Trailer at Scottsdale Road near the 101 which is totally covered by a huge ad for Lund (see photo below) is a prime example of favoritism shown by the legal department and Jan Dolan. The trailer is not being used for the construction site, is placed outside the designated construction area, and the legal department has caused this violation to drag on for far too long even though Code Enforcement has tried to move expeditiously on the problem.

Another new but prevalent problem is vacant properties such as the one pictured below.

In talking with Keagy, I understand that he will ask his team to look to see if the property is standing vacant, then instead of issuing the normal notices which slow the process, they will immediately issue a 30 day (state required) notice that the city will clean up the property at the total cost to the owner as a lien and "cloud" on the title, no matter who or what it is.

I have found a number of illegal campaign signs for state and county offices posted in Scottsdale and Keagy has had them removed as soon as I call them in. I feel that Raun is trying to take care of business which is probably easier now that Dolan is gone, but solely in my opinion, the department still has to deal with our totally incompetent City Attorney Robberson and her department which is definitely not working in the best interest of the city or the property owners in the immediate neighborhoods.

~Referendum to Save PV?

On April 10, 2008 the Paradise Valley Town Council voted 7-0 to allow a massive 105 acre resort/custom home project to be built on the last remaining parcel of open space in Paradise Valley.  This piece of land, located at Scottsdale Road to the east, Indian Bend to the North, Mockingbird to the west and Lincoln to the south, owned by Five Star Development, is currently slated for a Ritz-Carlton resort, duplexes, quarter acre, half acre and acre home sites. Members of the PAC POP, (Preserve our Paradise), in Paradise Valley, have objected to the plans, as put forth by the developers, for more than a year. 

It should be no surprise to anyone why the developer has been non-responsive to the residents of Paradise Valley throughout this process.  The developer is represented by familiar Scottsdale snake oil salesman and zoning attorney, John Berry, and Susan Bitter-Smith of Technical Solutions, both are the "Hired Guns" who are attempting to bring height and density to Scottsdale and now Paradise Valley.  Oddly, Technical Solutions reported that the Town residents were overwhelmingly in favor of this project.  That little tidbit of info brought a hearty belly laugh to us at the Activist and to many Scottsdale residents!  That is SOOOOO Scottsdale!

Mel Kowal, President of POP, and a very large group of Paradise Valley supporters, decided to refer the Town Council's vote.  Highly organized and well-funded, Town residents jumped into action.  They requested the assistance of Tom Giller and Nan Nesvig to put their referendum in play.  Tom and Nan spoke to a standing room only crowd in PV on April 8th, explaining the referendum processes and highlighting Scottsdale's efforts to get the Hanover matter on the ballot.  They later returned on April 15th and 16th and spoke to prospective volunteer petition gatherers about the signature gathering process.  The Paradise Valley referendum is underway - the first of its kind in Paradise Valley history.

Paradise Valley requires a mere 314 certified signatures to put this matter to the vote of the Town residents.  The residents do not object to the Ritz-Carlton resort, which will only take up 28% of the available acreage at the site.  Their primary objections are to the higher-than-allowable duplexes which will be crammed onto a very small footprint of land, and the numerous homes per acre build-outs which the developer states he MUST have in order to MAKE A PROFIT on this project.  Haven't the citizens of Scottsdale heard that dog and pony show line before???  WaterView, Hanover, Sky Song, Centrovida (aka Los Arcos Crossing)...and there are many many more where this tactic has been used and abused by developers in our City. 

In Paradise Valley, it is a case where the developer paid too much for the land and now, wants the residents of Paradise Valley to compensate him for his stupidity.  Unfortunately, Scottsdale has yet to climb out of the "stupid box" - our City Council still insists on bailing the developers out and handing them hefty subsidies to boot in the form of amenities and other "little" bits of help such as complete infrastructure installations, etc. 

Our Sister City has strict zoning ordinances concerning preservation of land, open space, and height for development. They are not afraid to put their foot down and tell their Town Council that an obvious mistake has been made with this project. Montelucia, located at the corner of Lincoln and Tatum, set an unhealthy precedent for development and the residents loathe that project - in fact, the complaints that we've heard concerning its high, density, and condo like appearance are numerous.  When you drive by that development, you can't help but say - what was the Town Council thinking?  Apparently the plans were not reflective of the final project! 

We are proud to support the Town of Paradise Valley and POP's efforts to refer the Ritz-Carlton project to a vote of the people.  It is especially important that we, the citizens of Scottsdale, help our Sister Cities curb these types of projects, especially when they border our own city and will add to our road and street congestion as well as pollution levels. 

Thank you to Tom and Nan for not only assisting PV in their fight, but for looking out for Scottsdale's interests as well concerning the Hanover issue, and others which the council majority and favored developers will try to slip through.

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The Scottsdale Tribune headline said what we’ve been questioning about for two years!!

We have the answer. In a word or two: Manross & Dolan. If these two had bothered to practice open meetings, public input sessions and hadn’t had put such ridiculously high values upon their meager and unsound abilities, we would have never had the problems.

It’s the same old thing: secrecy, smoke and mirrors, executive sessions, and emergency votes to stop the public from stopping their stupidity. The stupidity and ignorance which will cost taxpayers and their heirs hundreds of millions when it’s all said and done.

Is there a solution?

Sure. Throw everyone out of office who voted for the foolishness perpetrated on the public by these two airheads. Plain and simple.

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Robert Leger of the Scottsdale Republic again went off on a tangent when he stated that Councilman Bob Littlefield said that height and density wouldn’t bring in sale tax dollars.

Anyone who knows Littlefield knows full well that Littlefield has always stated that the proportional amount of sales or any other tax generated by height and density will never be enough to pay for the repair and replacement of the infrastructure needed to serve those same height and density monstrosities.

It seems that Mr. Leger would rather deal with hyperbole than the truth. I’d love to see him go back and be the way he was when he was in Springfield Missouri, a concerned conservative with his finger on the pulse of the community.

We think his new mantra must simply be "If it Bleeds, it Reads".

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The City of Scottsdale Advance Planning Team is hosting workshops on May 7^th and May 8^th for the Southern Scottsdale Community Area Plan. The purpose of the interactive workshops is to allow the community to hear the results from the Vision Week workshops that occurred March 26^th – 29^th.

Residents and stakeholders will have an opportunity to weigh-in on the vision themes and priorities that are most important for Southern Scottsdale. These themes and priorities will build the foundation of the policy document for the area.

The Southern Scottsdale Community Area Plan will include long-range goals for the area, plus policies to help achieve those goals.  Some of the topics that will be addressed are land use, sustainability, economic vitality and regional connectivity.   Every opinion counts. If you live south of Indian Bend Road, now is the time to get involved in this vital planning process.

There are two opportunities to be involved. Both workshops are scheduled from 7-9 PM:

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 ~Letters to the Editor  

 ~ Scottsdale? Never Again!!

I have been a winter visitor to Scottsdale from Chicago for 20 years, plus or minus, always staying in an apartment on Camelback Road, near Hayden Road.

Not this year, and probably not ever again.

When we tried to rent where we have been the last ten years, we were told that the complex had been sold and would be torn down to make way for luxury condominiums.

We tried calling several more places we were familiar with from previous visits and they were either full or their rates had gone up considerably. Inquiring why we were told that since the Super Bowl was being played in the Valley this year they had been instructed by their corporate owners to raise the rents. Even for winter visitors coming back for over ten years specifically to Scottsdale? Yes. No exceptions.

Well, we finally found a nice place to rent in Chandler. Not only was it nice and reasonably priced they said they would give all returning winter visitors a discount the following year! We will be returning to that place.

Still, we have friends in Scottsdale and wanted to see how things were progressing as your community tries to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up.

Right now it seems to be in the "snotty adolescent" stage of growth. Many of the businesses at Scottsdale Fashion Square and on the Waterfront, except for your Borders Books and Records shop there, just did not seem to have time to answer questions about merchandise or to be courteous. And the new restaurants along the Waterfront and some in your "entertainment district," could not have hurried us through our meals any faster.

Out of seven unfortunate visits to restaurants only one manager apologized for the service. And one told us we could always go to "Coco’s!" We often do dine there with positive experiences.

We did visit the Kierland shopping area, too. We know that it is not in Scottsdale, but whenever Scottsdale is discussed shopping-wise it is part of the conversation. There was no real difference there in service, just a different variety of merchandise.

The Chandler Fashion Mall provided us with a fun, complete shopping experience and aware personnel that were interested in doing a good job. They had many of the same restaurants that Scottsdale boasts of having. Overall they seemed glad to be of service and wanted us to come back again.

That is the way it used to feel in Scottsdale.

I am writing this because we (listened to) your Mayor Manross’s State of the City Speech sitting at the Waterfront where she spoke. That was three days before we flew home to Chicago.

Since coming home we have followed the City’s webcasts and the Arizona Republic Scottsdale Section’s blogs and are saddened that your community can’t see the forest for the glitz.

Your Mayor and her supporters seem to think everyone of us who visits are idiots, too, and that we will keep coming back to be ignored, insulted or even turned away, again and again.

Well, no, we won’t, because we don’t like the disdain.

You have an election year and election years do not bring out the best in people or communities, and often turn the voters off. We hope it does not happen this year for Scottsdale.

Scottsdale needs new, knowledgeable, aware, open government and community rebuilding. You used to have a strong sense of community in Scottsdale, but it is gone.

There were others of us in the apartment complex in Chandler who used to come to Scottsdale for the winter, but we have found a whole new Valley of the Sun. Friendlier and welcoming, offering the amenities that Scottsdale has in the past.

I am not even going to try to send this to the Scottsdale section of the Arizona Republic. In the past, they’ve told me my letters are too long. If you choose to send this to the Scottsdale Activist that is fine. Please do not include my address or email.

We don’t know how some of you keep hanging in there to fight for the little of what used to be, especially in the older areas of Downtown.

All that is new and glitters does not necessarily bring substance. Let’s hope that someone in leadership realizes that all people are important to the well being of Scottsdale.

R. Moss-Kuhlman
Chicago, IL

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Well, I guess I will let Ozites decide if Councilman Wayne Ecton is the recipient of subsidized housing from the taxpayers as it was noted last week that the Main Street Plaza project is dead.

The reason I claim Councilman Ecton is receiving subsidized housing is because the city has an investment of public dollars to the tune of 4.7 million taxpayers dollars in a parking garage and Plaza, along with alley improvements. This is where Mr. Ecton has made his new residence to promote the downtown living experience like he dreams of when he lived in Pittsburgh.

Now, while you decide whether Mr. Ecton is living on the backs of taxpayers lets look at the issue itself.

I saw this coming over a year ago, and again more recently, when the city confirmed the then City Manager, Jan "I’m the Big Boss" Dolan, had the authority to extend the deadline.

More recently, departed Economic Development Director, David Roderique, claimed the developer would close with the city for phase 2 by the end of January.

Of the supposed 250 expected condos the developer actually built 33 of them and the horror stories of the project that I have heard from contractors back in 2004 confirmed my thoughts that this project was never going to come to completion and that we were going to be on the hook.

The entire plan was dead from the start for me back in 2002, when I started following the project, its location, its design, and the developer’s track record. I knew damn well, back then that it was never going too make it and if I am not mistaken, it still has not sold all the units.

Now the developer claims that funding for his project is hard to find in the current market and the reality is the developer had not been able to get funding for the next phase of the project long before the market collapsed around his head; however I was holding out the hope that I was going to be wrong.

Like I have said before, and will say it again, the city has its head so far up its butt with this thought that they can revive Downtown by quickly passing all of these Downtown developments with piss poor planning and no "future vision." None of this is going to take off and we are just seeing the start of the rest of the failures.

I have seen this same type of failure time after time in other cities that try to copy-cat attempts to revive their downtowns without really looking at who they really are and what their needs are.

Scottsdale thought they would not have the pitfalls and did not try to figure out where many of these other cities went wrong; well, I guess we can see how that worked out now can’t we?

I made it clear along time ago that people are not going to move Downtown based on what Mary and Jan, as well as other council members, allowed to happen in Downtown regarding the bars that they allowed to overwhelm the area.

I made it clear that other cities who tried this same concept of creating the 24/7 work, live, play concept based on a bar district was never going to make it here. Just like other cities that have tried to create this model based on longer established downtowns where housing was there first and afterwards came controlled growth of the entertainment district, it stagnates quickly.

Let’s forget about the issue of Downtown not being a desirable place to live, based upon the bar district issue for a moment, and consider some other failing factors.

Now, besides the noise from the bars closing at 2 A.M., and even the noise from the bars themselves that are situated against housing developments like the Main Street Project, where do you have to go to buy groceries? Where is there a pharmacy? Where is their a reputable dry cleaners?

Actually, where are any of the residential services that are required for people who are supposed to live there and how does it reflect on the 24-7 live, work, play concept that is supposed to keep us out of our vehicles and put us on the sidewalks?

Lets face it Ozites, most of you were led down the "yellow brick road" that was lined with "umpa lumpa turds," and you believed a in a dream that could never become reality based on how and what we started this adventure, and based on what was existing in Downtown.

Anyone who has a clue about planning and future vision knew damn well this was a crap shoot where the taxpayers were the crap part, and now we are in debt again, with bonds to fix a failing infrastructure to the tune of nearly a billion dollars, just to keep the Manross dream alive!!!!

Even if you cannot believe this story and prefer to crawl back in your shell and say Merrill has no clue what he is talking about, remember this paragraph from the Oz Tribune. "Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross who has long touted the project as a sign of Downtowns resurgence and the only current member of the council who voted on the agreement, declined to comment on the matter."

Just remember that other projects have now stalled, one is being referred to the voters, others have already gone under just not officially yet, and the towers of the Waterfront still remain empty as investors cannot flip them because buyers are not that stupid.

So, how and who will you vote for in the next election for Mayor?

 ~Let the Forums begin!

First, I would like to extend a big THANK YOU to the Scottsdale Community Council and the recent forum they held at the Granite Reef Senior Center this week which featured Betty Drake, Suzanne Klapp, and none other than Ron the "Flip Flopping Weasel" McCullagh.

The evening started out with my friend the weasel Ron having five minutes to give the people in attendance his background and why we should elect him back to the council, and we got to see him in a smiling pleasant rap about how smart he is and what he has done for the city in his 4 year term. I still cannot figure out how he managed to go over the 5 minute opening though with the little he has done for anyone other than his developer friends who he passed votes on for their projects?

The Weasels first question was for him to explain to the people in attendance why we should vote for him considering his campaign contributions violations and how he wanted to hide all of the developers, bankers, land brokers, and Oz Healthcare officials, as well as members of the Area Chamber of Commerce.

Of course we also mentioned that even the City Clerk’s office made the comment to him that they were not sure if he actually complied with the laws on a good faith effort.

Well, of course the "Super Weasel" decided to try to use some type of jargon that would get people lost as to what he was talking about, but I was assured the next day by e-mails that none of them were buying it and requested copies of the letters so they could pass them along to others and of course now everyone has copies of the letters.

Betty Drake of course was her usual self in understanding the problems brought forward by residents and had some pretty good responses, but the problem is that I had heard these before and I have yet to see any action from her that is credible, most notably the continuing issue of village planning committees for Scottsdale. Or how she plans on fixing the way staff twists what residents say during these outreach meetings for planning in their communities. The downtown plan will prove my point when it comes out; you better be sitting down when you read it.

While I already know Suzanne, I got a clue to some degree as to where she stands on some issues that are of great concern for residents of the south. I found her best comment when confronted with the Chamber of Commerce issue question in which she replied (not verbatim) "while she is part of the chamber committee she has not been endorsed by the chamber yet and may not be endorsed by them but would hope that they do endorse her."

I have yet to have the chance to meet with Suzanne one on one for any length of time to really discuss issues. I have made it clear that I will be giving her a jingle to set up a couple of meetings to further go over her comments and other issues.

 ~You were a professor of what?

I know this will not shock most of you who know me, but again this year as in the past, I sat and watched the Council Budget Review when I saw, again, Ron the "Flip Flopping Weasel" McCullagh ask that the City Budget include a taxpayer amount, which would have been in the MIILIONS of dollars, for the possibility of taking over the American Water Company.

If I had been there I would have stood up and screamed at the top of my lungs, "WHAT ARE YOU RON, TOTALLY STUPID????" We have not even started to get the information from his last asinine request to further look at condemning this company and taking over the costs and burdens of this company and adding it to the city problems we have now! We just approved over A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS to upgrade the infrastructure of Downtown and other areas up for development and redevelopment!

I mean, honestly, folks! If you cannot see how big of a Flip-Flopping air headed patoot this guy is, consider the fact that American Water has already told the city that they are not for sale!!! Then again consider the fact we have not even moved one inch forward with this mindless, stupid idea of wasting city resources to figure out if we even want to buy this company or what it would cost the taxpayers to take on such an action.

Let’s also consider that we should not be throwing stupid, unrealistic numbers out in the open that may end up getting some recognition as to what the taxpayers are willing to shell out to buy that company.

I mean really Ozites, this guy is the largest mental midget we have had on a council for as long as I can remember and we cannot allow him to be voted back into office. I would rather vote for Joel B to be elected than this moron.

Thank heaven that most of the other council members pretty much made it clear that such a stupid thought will never make it to the city budget for this next year other than Airport Bob.

Here is a message to Bob after hearing his comments, "Dear Bob, I am not sure what you are doing anymore and your current comments on some issues during the council meetings about things you would have usually opposed or chastised, I would expect you to get your head screwed on very quickly, because if Becker files on you, and your past comments on issues stick in my head, you will not get re-elected from my end of town.

 ~The Western Museum of Downtown

Well, let’s see if we can educate the editor of this site and his last posting regarding the plans for the new Museum of the West.

As some may have seem my e-mail a while back stating my support for the museum as it is designed now, I think our editor must have gotten lost when I mentioned how it meshes with the "new west and the old west."

The plans, as seen by many, are plans that are of a contemporary design on the outside and which in fact would compliment the failed project we spoke about at the beginning of this edition of Oz. Now, can you imagine how out of whack it would look to build a museum made of horse and buggy parts in the area of the Main Street Plaza?

Not a pretty picture for you to have to think about, now is it?

The issue of the meshing of the past with the new is that the new is the outside, and I kind of like the design and how it would look at night, and the old history that is portrayed in the inside exhibits. Like most people I really like the interior design of the project. As you stand in the museum of the present and contemporary, you get to reflect on the past and the exhibits that take you back to those times only to be brought back to the present day.

To the editor: I would have to say that you need to expand your mind a bit here and vision it, but not like Mary the Fairy visions things.

I think the plans are very good and the architecture works with its surroundings, while the exhibits that will be on a rotating basis with other museums, will continue to allow some of us to go back in time while keeping our feet planted in the present.

On that note I whole heartedly disagree with the comments of the editor in his last edition about the design and architecture of the building, and I expect the rest of you to help set our editor straight in this issue. I think he may have been spending too much time arguing with the city about how most of what they have approved looks like crap on a shingle.

Editors Note: You know I love and respect you Mike, but that design doesn't work for me. I love the interior, but "contemporary" like what's proposed for the exterior doesn't cut it: It turns me off stone cold and reminds me of other mish-mash messes just thrown up and called "art" which never lasts for more than a couple years. Sorry.

Michael Merrill
The Brutal Critic
F8713@aol.com

What do you call a government that is planning to send a bill of $800,000 to each American under the voting age of 18? Answer: a criminal enterprise.

That staggering sum is what the unfunded liabilities for entitlements and public pensions come to if they are bequeathed to the 75 million children who can’t vote to defend themselves. There is no indication that our overlords in Congress and the White House have the wisdom and will to stop this travesty of justice.

What do you call politicians who won’t stop this travesty? Answer: criminals.

What do you call voters who let the criminals get by with this because they share in the plunder? Answer: partners in crime.

What do you call presidential candidates who are not only silent about this but actually advocate policies that will make the crime worse? Answer: candidates for tar and feathers.

What do you call a government that lies about the existence of a Social Security Trust Fund, that keeps crooked books, and that engages in Ponzi schemes? Answer: a lying, cheating government.

What do you call a government that taxes my 17-year-old son at my tax rate because I had the foresight to establish a college fund in his name when he was born? Answer: a robber of children.

What do you call a government that bemoans the rising cost of college tuition, most of which has been caused by the government, and then taxes the college fund of a high school student? Answer: stupid and greedy.

What do you call a presidential candidate who advocates suspending the gas tax, which will result in higher demand for imported oil and in the further devaluation of the dollar--which in turn will make imported oil more expensive? Answer: an evil populist.

What do you call a government that debases the dollar and punishes savers with inflation in order to cover its profligate spending? Answer: a government that should be overthrown.

What do you call a government that causes inflation and then taxes savers on the inflated value of their investment income instead of their real earnings? Answer: same answer as above.

What do you call a nation in which over half of voters either work for the government, work in the private sector in jobs that depend on the regulatory state, or receive government handouts, subsidies or entitlements? Answer: a doomed nation.

What do you call K-12 schools that don’t teach any of this? Answer: public schools.

What do you call universities that don’t teach any of this? Answer: leftist.

What do you call reporters, editors and pundits who don’t inform the public about any of this? Answer: government lapdogs.

What do you call people who are offended by this kind of talk? Answer: fools.

What do you call people who agree with this kind of talk? Answer: patriots.

Are you a fool or a patriot? Answer: _________.

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

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

~ 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