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.

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~ Who Recused Themselves from Council Votes?

When we elect a person to the city council, we fully expect them to vote on every single issue brought to them for a vote with few exceptions.

When a council person, for whatever reason, recuses themselves from a vote, it makes the council an even number of votes which means that a tie vote is seen and treated as a "No" or "Nay" vote for whatever the issue was.

Below are the number of times council persons recused themselves from voting on city issues. A few are for issues where the council person is not involved but a family member might be. Most others are where the council member may be directly or indirectly involved or could cause their influence to change the vote one way or the other.

The ominous and dark side of recusing one’s self is that the recuser can direct the actual vote by simply recusing themselves where they know the vote will be a "No" or "Nay" which is what they wanted in the first place, but  didn't want anyone to know their position, or because the issue wouldn’t have passed because the number on the other side would have out numbered the recuser.

The one that really stands out is Councilwoman Betty (The Recuser) Drake who recused herself 3 times more than all other council persons combined. She owns and operates a planning and consulting business here in Scottsdale and does business or has done business or could do business with those who would or could benefit from a Drake vote one way or the other.

Betty "The Recuser" Drake has recused herself 22 times since she’s been on the council which means she didn’t vote on at least 22 separate issues concerning planning, development and like issues which were important to the taxpayers and the condition of the city.

Ron "Developers Money" McCullagh has not recused himself even once according to the record when he should have on more than one occasion because he is a direct customer of the Arizona American Water Company and there have been more than one vote in front of the council for actions concerning the Arizona American Water Company.

Tony Nelssen recused himself 3 times. Once because Art DeCabooter was the subject of discussion for a board or committee position and Tony once worked for him as an Adjunct Professor at Scottsdale Community College, once because he had worked on a committee concerning CC&R’s and equestrian trails which he helped design, and once because as a HPAC Member, he couldn’t vote on funding for the group.

Bob Littlefield recused himself 3 times. Once for political conflict reasons, once because a family member worked for the subject to be voted on by the council, and once because his wife worked for the entity with an issue subject to a council vote.

W. Jim Lane recused himself 1 time because he was an Adjunct Professor at Scottsdale Community College and the issue concerned Art DeCabooters appointment to a board or commission when DeCabooter was the president of the college and his boss at the time and the issue had nothing to do with any taxpayer issue.

Wayne Ecton recused himself 3 times. All three were because he owns a condo in the immediate area of the issues before the council.

Mary Manross There were none reported for Mayor Manross.

You cannot effectively represent the best interest of the taxpayers and voters when you must recuse yourself 22 times. We at the Scottsdale Activist feel strongly that someone who must recuse themselves 22 times from important or pivotal council votes concerning anything to do with development, planning, zoning or anything along that line affecting every citizen, should no longer be a council member, but instead should take care of their business 100% without any conflicts of interest with the City of Scottsdale.

George Knowlton, Editor

 ~ Activist Gadfly Wrong Again

Earlier this week the Scottsdale Republic printed a "My Turn" column from a supporter of the local establishment [Activist Liza Haskell] that smeared Nan Nesvig, Tom Giller, Tony Nelssen and me.  While no one likes to be trashed in print, I actually am happy to see this column appear.  Here’s why.

We know that the local establishment has been polling the last few weeks, asking questions about the upcoming city elections.  The fact that their publicity machine has started trashing Nesvig, Giller, Nelssen and me so vehemently tells me that the results of their polling were not to their liking! 

It suggests to me that their polling is telling them that the public is waking up to the special-interest bias of the current Council majority and that the voters are increasingly inclined to vote for candidates such as Nesvig and Giller who will reverse that trend.

The writer of the column starts out by claiming that I am personally responsible for "Scottsdale's sordid politics."  To believe this nonsense you would have to believe that in 2006 I deliberately jeopardized my own re-election by devising a plan that threw me into a bitter runoff election. 

The writer’s claim that I made this sacrifice in order to assure the election of Councilman Tony Nelssen is even more unbelievable given the fact that Nelssen finished first in that election (again at my expense, since he finished ahead of me).  Clearly, Nelssen is popular in his own right and needed no help from me to win election to the City Council.  It’s an unfounded smear on Nelssen (who finished just one place away from being elected in 2004) to claim that he could only be elected via "sordid politics."

The writer of the column sinks even further into the "sordid politics" that she supposedly hates by implying that Council candidates Nan Nesvig and Tom Giller (both of whom I do support) are my puppets.  To see firsthand how untrue this claim is I encourage you attend or watch on TV one of the many upcoming Council candidate forums and watch Nesvig and Giller debate the issues facing Scottsdale and present their fresh ideas, as opposed to the "more of the same" that you will hear from the other six candidates.  Judge for yourself.

Equally ridiculous is the writer’s claim that Councilwoman Betty Drake was the victim of a conspiracy to prevent her from getting enough signatures to qualify for the upcoming City Council elections.  The fact is that of the eight candidates who turned in petitions to qualify for the ballot Drake had the second highest total of signatures, hardly the sign of her being the victim of some plot.  This unfounded claim is clearly a weak attempt to generate sympathy for Drake.  Is her re-election campaign in so much trouble that she needs to resort to this kind of tactic?

While I am encouraged about the prospects for electing Nesvig in Giller I hold no illusions about how tough this task will be.  Our biggest challenge is still money.  At the risk of sounding like a broken record I must remind everyone that Nan and Tom [because they are normal working residents] need $$ to fund the mailers, flyers and cable TV spots required to compete with the well-heeled establishment candidates.  My wife and I have literally put our money where our mouths are – we have written both candidates the biggest checks we can afford and I am urging all of you to do the same for both of them.  To make contributions to their campaigns (maximum ^$390 for an individual, ^$780 for a couple, but even a small amount will help) go to their web sites at www.nannesvig.com and www.tomgiller.com.

This is a defining moment – the 2008 city elections are crucial to the future of Scottsdale, and that future will be decided by those citizens who make the effort to get involved. 

If you want Scottsdale to stay a special place in which to live that we all love you, need to actively support good candidates for Council.  If we let this opportunity to change city government slip through our fingers we may never get another chance.

Councilman Bob Littlefield
bob@boblittlefield.com

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We are in need of additional neighborhood connector trails, and we must make the City hold to it's commitment to implement the approved trails before, or at the same time the City treats our dirt roads with Soil Sement.

As some of you know, this treatment when cured and covered with loose grit from the indigenous de-composed granite from the desert can present a treacherous slippery surface for horse and rider. In the past, many of us have enjoyed the luxury of riding on low speed, low traffic volume dirt roads.

That time has come to an end. Much of our area has GLO patent easements that SHOULD provide a slim but adequate buffer from the roadway. The combination of GLO's and dedicated right of way, coupled with the approved off-set rural road profile can provide the DF area with trail system that will help sustain the equestrian lifestyle we enjoy. If we don't act now, in a few years the DF area may end up much like the Cactus Corridor.

The equestrian lifestyle, and our low density rural lifestyle, is all that is keeping this area from looking like the typical subdivisions we see anywhere else.

The Desert Foothills is the last sustainable area in Scottsdale where residents can enjoy this type of living.

I assure you, not all on the Council feel this way, some even suggest we need zoning changes to accommodate other uses than residential and the residential should be higher density.

I have asked that the City Council be given an update on the progress, or more accurately, the lack of, implementation of the DF trails plan. Many of you worked hard and long on the approved Trails Master Plan. We started this process in the ‘98-‘99 time frame and it was finally approved in 2004.

Well, time has come to voice your opinion IF we are ever going have a sustainable equestrian trail system actually implemented in the Desert Foothills area. The trails update is scheduled for Tuesday July 1st @ 5 pm.

It is the first item on the regular agenda. The staff will be presenting an over view of the entire Trails Plans as well. I have already received emails from equestrian users of Mescal Park who after many years of trail access (over a PUE) now face losing that access to the Park.  

Please show up or at least write the City Council at  CityCouncil@scottsdaleaz.gov and Acting City Manager John Little at jlittle@scottsdaleaz.gov and express your concerns.

The threat is very real, the time to act is now.

Welcome to Scottsdale.

Ever vigilant,
Councilman Tony Nelssen

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The website states:

From local citizens who also attended the Sustainability Town Hall meeting at SkySong, they said Baloney!  The mayor was introduced and did a simple "Welcome", nothing more! Let’s face it, we doubt she can spell sustainability, or even know what it means if you look at what she has promoted and allowed to be built in our city. We’d bet she doesn’t have a clue as to how many steps, phases, or criteria there are for "sustainability".

That is true. But because of the huge increases in assessed values, OUR TAXES HAVE RISEN AN AVERAGE OF 21% IN JUST THE LAST YEAR!!!

This means that she has steadily increased the amount of hard earned dollars she and the city spends and each property owner pays and there are no signs of it dropping any time soon while she’s in office.

So she is providing a Half –Truth by not telling the whole truth which is typical Manross.

I challenge the mayor and her campaign committee to give us a date, time and place for this request and a copy of the speech! Dollars to a donut there never was one and they cannot provide the copy of the speech or said request.

Does the mayor know the difference between commercial "Green" and residential "Green"? Is there a difference and what is it?

Could we get a transcript of that "Speech"? If it’s like the one represented in the website about the Sustainability Town Hall at SkyFlop, it was a nothing.

Word also has it that the Mayor has applied for most or all of the "awards" she has received over the years, not because of the work she has done, but simply because to get them, she was forced to apply and maybe even pay a fee with little to no criteria necessary?

I would happily correct this thought if the mayor can provide date, place, time and a written copy of the letter of recognition dated PRIOR to her being awarded or her applying for any award at all. The letter must clearly state the REASON for the "award" other than it just being applied for by the mayor and/or her staff.

Won’t happen folks, she can’t provide that information. If she provides any at all, we will double check the validity of her comments.

~ "Under Manross's leadership Scottsdale is recognized for its environmental initiatives."
And
"Mayor Manross is recognized as a leader in the area of green building and sustainability and we wanted to learn how she has been so successful in Scottsdale."

Really?? Where, when and how? What buildings? It certainly isn’t SkyFlop or anything on the Waterfront. SkyFlop was supposed to be "Green" certifiable. According to the experts, the only thing "Green" at SkyFlop is the leaves on the trees and some of them are not totally drought resistant. The only thing close to being "Green" is the new Senior Center on Granite Reef and that was because of citizen intervention, without any help from the Mayor.

How could this happen? Because we have one small foreign company at SkyFlop with maybe 5 employees who will, do not now, but will reportedly deal in some sort of solar power? There isn’t and haven’t been any Manross mandated or even council/staff publicly discussed solar initiatives anywhere within Scottsdale City Limits!!

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Click on the link and watch the video captioned "Mayor censors public comment".  You will see the Mayor interrupting Council Candidate Nan Nesvig’s speech. Has Manross "Totally Lost It"?

Why then did she clearly discriminate against Nesvig? Only Manross knows for sure (but I doubt that too), but everyone thinks it’s because a well spoken and well versed and knowledgeable Nesvig could sweep, with very talented Giller, the city council positions costing Manross her council majority position including the power she currently enjoys but abuses terribly on a regular basis.

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It is very interesting to see the supposed "Key Endorsements" being touted by certain candidates for the mayoral and city council positions from the Scottsdale Area Chamber and certain political organizations and their member politicians.

Have they all forgotten that Scottsdale elections are supposed to be non-partisan as clearly outlined in the Scottsdale City Charter???

All Candidates endorsed by the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce were a done deal months ago and everyone knew it. Even the Scottsdale Activist suggested who the "anointed" few would be, it wasn’t anywhere near rocket science, just simple logic based on the past performance and "anointments" of the Chamber under Korte, then Kidder.

The Chamber "interviews" were a total sham and a premeditated set up if there ever was one. "Queen Mary" demanded that no one other than "her people" be allowed in the room during her interview which no other candidate requested. What is this paranoid woman afraid of other than her litany of failures during the last 8 years will be exposed for all to see?

It’s a shame that Suzanne Klapp, a very nice lady, is a party to and a member of that circus side show because it will probably cost her the election. The population is finally starting to wake up to what is really going on in Scottsdale city government, and they are tired of the lies, hollow promises, over spending, smoke, mirrors and chicanery, as well as the "bowing down" to the developers instead of the citizens and taxpayers who pay their wages, meager as they may be.

Our questions for the candidates are very simple:

We think the citizens and voters deserve far more and better than is currently being offered by all but 2 council candidates who both offer knowledgeable and complete answers to all questions asked, and offer to spend any time necessary with individual citizens or citizen groups to get their problems discussed in depth.

Why can’t the other candidates do the same?

Could it be that they couldn’t handle a REAL situation when faced with one?

Think long and hard before you cast you votes September 2^nd. You don’t need to vote for three (3) council candidates, you can vote for none (0), one (1) or two (2) if you so desire.

There is nothing that says you must vote for all open council positions or any number of candidates on the ballot (up to 3).

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 ~ Early Ballot Mail Out Date Changed

Expect to receive your early ballot in the mail sooner than the original August 7th mailing date. Remember that about 60% of the registered Scottsdale voters have requested absentee or early ballots so the election could be won or lost before the September 2^nd election date.

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Did you ever wonder why people are so upset after trying to speak at a City Council meeting? Did you wonder why people would really rather not speak at those meetings at all?

The following link will take you to several choices of incidents to show how citizens are treated, or more correctly badly mistreated at City Council meetings this year by the mayor.  It is unfortunate that not only the court system denies reasonable allowances for citizens' referendum efforts (UnJust Dust and Hanover), but the respect for citizen comments during Public Comment/City Council meetings is sorely lacking and fully emphasizes the total amount of distain the mayor has for the "common folk" and taxpayers of Scottsdale.  

Sadly, even if you can get through your presentation without being interrupted, the Mayor will either chastise or admonish you for bringing such an issue to the meeting or she'll comment ad nauseam and negatively concerning your thoughts and suggestions.

Trying to speak at a city council meeting is like going to a bad dentist to have a root canal procedure; it’s painful and demeaning in most instances due to the manners or lack thereof on the part of the mayor.

Yet, when she does show up at a neighborhood or local organization meeting, which is only during campaign season, she demands that she be given all the time she needs and pays absolutely no attention to the timer or the moderator of the program, and she NEVER answers the questions asked.

Manners? Mary Manross acts as if you are lower than a snakes belly unless you are a developer or one of her pet GoFers like Ron "Developers Money" McCullagh, Betty "The Recuser" Drake, or Kevin "The Loser" Osterman has apparently become.

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 ~ City Government Secrecy

With the onslaught of misinformation or lack of information being propagated by the mayor and council majority otherwise referred to as the "Establishment" by many, we at the Scottsdale Activist decided that it was necessary to reveal some of the information the public seldom sees or hears about.

These might be big eye-openers with the election just around the corner for those who thought we had an open city government al la Manross and Company.

With that in mind, we will release all requested information gleaned from the city as we receive it. Should we not receive the information or are given a "Song and Dance" about why it isn’t available, we’ll also give you that information.

It’s very important for our readers to understand that all requests for information are sent to the Scottsdale City Clerk for distribution. However, the lack of information coming back to the Scottsdale Activist IS NOT because of the failure of the City Clerk’s office to perform, but the failure or refusal of those in charge who actually have and are responsible for collecting said information.

~Other Requested Information

23 June 2008

Scottsdale City Clerk
Carolyn Jagger

Ms. Jagger,

I would like to formally request all information available from the Public Records and other records available concerning how many EEOC Complaints are currently pending against the city and city employees and how many have been settled in the last four (4) years.
 
Please include which departments were charged and how many complaints were filed against each department.

I would also ask how many were filed in the two (2) years pre-Jan Dolan compared to that period during Dolan's employ.

Thank you for your help. I sincerely apologize for asking for so much information but it is an extremely important issue during this election period.

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

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

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

28 June, 2008

Scottsdale City Clerk
Scottsdale AZ

Ms. Jagger,

I would request a complete schedule and itinerary list for Mayor Manross for the last four (4) years including date, time, location, duration, cost to city, any other persons attending with the mayor (official or unofficial), and reason for the scheduled event or meeting. 
 
Thank you for your continued service to the City of Scottsdale,

George Knowlton

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

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For those of you who don’t know, Megapolitan: Arizona's Sun Corridor is a disturbing paper describing the possible future of Arizona. To read the paper, click the link below.

The driving force behind taking a beautiful state like AZ and destroying that beauty by turning it into a "megalopolis" is that lots of greedy people will make lots of money in the process at the expense of the local taxpayers who will then pick up the costs after the greedy developers have long ago departed for now greener pastures.

The key question of course is: From where will the water, power and fuel for heating, power generation and automobiles and trucks come?

This is, of course, exactly how California has been systematically destroyed until it is unrecognizable to those who used to live there and were driven out by the "megalopolis" process. California is already trying to build power plants in Arizona to fulfill their insatiable appetite for power and water. How long do we allow this nonsense to continue?

I guess the trick is to find out where the developers who are behind all of this are moving to, because they will certainly not let their homesteads be turned into a "megalopolis" as they are planning to do to Arizona…. And that’s where we must go if they succeed in destroying what we now have in Arizona.

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Wednesday 16 July 2:00 p.m. 1st Arizona Republic Mayoral Forum. -- City Cable 11 studios on the second floor of the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. This one-hour forum would focus on the key issues facing Scottsdale. The program would start airing soon after the taping on City Cable 11 and there would be coverage in the Scottsdale Republic, The Arizona Republic and on the Republic Web sites. No guests will be allowed in the studio.

Mike Ryan moderates. mike.ryan@pni.com (602) 444-5810.

Thursday 17 July 7:00 p.m. COPP Forum for all Mayoral and Council candidates. The forum will be at the Legend Trail Community Center, 34575 North Legend Trail Parkway, Scottsdale, AZ 85262, Pima Rd, N of Lone Mountain. Coalition of Pinnacle Peak, www.coppeak.org.

Directions to the Legend Trails Community Center will be repeated in future Scottsdale Activist editions if you miss it here.  North on Pima Road beyond Lone Mountain (a couple miles north of Pinnacle Peak Road).  Turn east at the traffic light at Legend Trails.  Proceed around the curve---the community center is on your right.  There will be COPP signs to assist you to the front door and meeting room.  Come early---it is expected to be a full house.

Tuesday 22 July 6:00 p.m. Scottsdale Tribune’s Mayoral Candidates Forum. Broadcast live on City Cable Channel 11 from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, from the Kiva of Scottsdale City Hall. Mark Scarp will moderate, accompanied by a fellow Tribune editor to be determined. It is to be rebroadcast on Channel 11 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on these dates:

(The City Council candidate forums will be broadcast live from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 22 and replayed on the above three dates at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.)

Conversational style with no set time limits, although, time permitting, you will each be asked to give a one-minute closing statement at the end of the forum. Questions will provide candidates to give their views on a range of city issues. We will also ask about candidate qualifications as well as similarities and differences in candidates’ approaches. Some questions will be for all candidates while others will be directed at particular candidates. Many will be compiled from Tribune staff; however, during the next four weeks we hope to also gather questions from among our readers.
 You may direct questions during that period to city editor Bill Bertolino at bbertolino@evtrib.com or by calling (480) 970-2352. We’re looking forward to a detailed and lively discussion.

Mark J. Scarp moderator, mscarp@scottsdaletribune.com (480) 970-2351, Columnist/editorial writer, East Valley & Scottsdale Tribune Thursday 7 August 7:00 p.m. Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors Forum At the Kiva, 6 pm for Council candidates 7 pm for

Mayoral candidates, www.saaronline.com Bill Gray moderator.
Contact John Packham, john@saaronline.com, 480.945.2651, SAAR Government Affairs Director.

Wednesday 13 August 8:00 a.m. Heart of Scottsdale Realtor's Tour Group (Heart of Scottsdale covers from Cactus Rd. & Thomas/112th to Scottsdale Rd). Realtors, Finance people, Inspectors, and Title people (about 50 of us) will hear why you think you're the best candidate for the Council and what you most want to see happening in our great city of Scottsdale!!! at the McCormick Ranch Golf Club---networking at 8:00....speakers at 8:30

https://www.saaronline.com/marketing/residential.php?id=1   or

http://heartofscottsdalehometours.com/tours.htm

Contact Sue Murray, smurray@russlyon.com, 480-560-7706, Director.

Monday 18 August 2:30 p.m. Second Arizona Republic Mayoral Forum
City Cable 11 studios. This half-hour forum would likely be one of the last times to discuss the issues with voters leading up to election day. This program will start airing soon after the taping on City Cable 11 and there will be coverage in the Scottsdale Republic, The Arizona Republic and on the Republic Web sites. No guests will be allowed in the studio.
Mike Ryan moderates. mike.ryan@pni.com (602) 444-5810.

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~Letters to the Editor  

TO: Mayor Manross and each member of the Scottsdale City Council:

When the Emergency Clause was invoked approving the two condo towers on the north waterfront, the character that Scottsdale had became history.

Downtown Scottsdale is now marching onto the reservation east of Pima Road and you made it easy for them. Those of you who voted for it (you know who you are) ditched your city, us, the voters.

You knew we would have reversed your vote with a referendum, yet you made a high-handed play and declared an emergency in defiance of your voters. There was no emergency and we have not forgotten.

And now you would compound the crime with 12 story buildings? And again you are denying the voters a voice in the Downtown Plan. What price greed? Does John Berry dictate to you all of Scottsdale's land use policies at his whim?

There's an election coming up and if you vote yes for twelve story buildings we will turn you out of office.

Charles Poston
Scottsdale
chazz21@qwest.net

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Councilman Littlefield:

Yours was an excellent, measured, response to the column (by Activist Lisa Haskell) that questioned your motives and veracity.

It is amazing, and amusing, that the self same people, including our incompetent, clueless, Mayor, and Council members Drake, McCullagh, Ecton, apply their perverse methods toward ending discussion and reason when confronted with the possibly illegal measures they have, and continue to foster on Taxpayers. 

The Hualapai Lease, Toll Brothers debacle etc. are only two instances of complete mismanagement and/or self serving actions.  The 'blackouts' on news from City Hall is more than disturbing, as was the recent disdain the Mayor and others showed toward the issue of Charter Officers living in Scottsdale (City Attorney Deborah Robberson was allowed to live in Paradise Valley by Manross and Dolan which is against the City Charter).

I will advise, Councilman, that I have begun sounding out my neighbors in 85262 to see how I can best use our considerable resources in getting this toxic Mayor out of City Hall.  I will do the same for select Council members who have, for years, wasted money on studies, consultants, and many measures, example Proposition 401, that now threaten our budget.

During prior periods of economic distress, as you well know, Scottsdale governance was capable of reworking priorities. Now we continue to spend and approve inappropriate wage increases and other entitlements. It is clear that we are burdened with a number of inept managers, beyond the Mayor and above Council Members.

The Scottsdale Police Department needs a new Chief. Each week we are advised of new scandals in that department that is 'overseen' by an obvious incompetent.

Things must change, and quickly.

Sincerely,
Steve Rivero-Lowen

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  Living in the Land of Oz

~ New Downtown Plan? Na, let’s just vote the fools out!

Now Ozites, this is not going to be anything new for me to say, but after watching the 06-17-08 discussion regarding the petition to place the Downtown Plan Update on the ballot.

Let’s start with our "Legal Eagle" of Oz who never ceases to amaze me! She was answering questions about whether they could amend the petition to state an earlier vote date rather than running it concurrent with the General Plan vote.

Let’s also remember back to the petition we presented about light rail down Oz Lane (aka Scottsdale Road). Did anyone "not see" Bob Vairo and me at the dais having a discussion about amending our petition that had many more signatures than what was presented on this current issue?

Was it not incumbent Councilwoman Betty Drake who recommended the changes to the petition?

Comment to the "Legal Eagle" of Oz: How is it that issues change in "your opinion" with such a quick slap of the head?

Here is another clue to our twit attorney: A citizen’s petition is not a legal petition and therefore not a legal matter for how the council decides to shape or reshape the petition as long as the petitioner is in agreement, much in the same fashion the council did with our light rail petition!

Lastly, to our "Legal Eagle": The fact that this is not a legal petition, the options that you gave the Council on how to precede is questionable. So, maybe you could explain how your thought process works?

As a matter of fact, maybe you would be kind enough to tell or show us any state law on how a citizen’s petition can be handled? Or maybe even answer the question as to whether the process falls under Roberts Rules of Order?

The fact is, the "council", if they had the nuggets, could have amended the petition to read "to the liking of the petitioner and the council" and then agendized that for a legal vote.

Now, I have to say I am beginning to like Michael Kelly more and more. Talking about the General Plan he brought up the point about the many elements of the general plan that our illustrious leaders seem to forget about, the other 11 elements other than the land use element.

Our leaders tell us that they will fold this plan in with the General Plan that is not as flexible as the "updated Downtown Plan." You have to ask yourself just what the hell Frank "the Miserable" Gray meant by this as we have been bastardizing the present General Plan since Dolan an he got here.

I mean good Lord Ozites! Have any of these people read and understand what the General Plan is and how it is applied TO ALL AREAS? (The members of the boards and commissions are beginning to ask what the heck has been going on, as these projects have been approved.)

Okay, maybe we should ask these questions when the Downtown Plan is unveiled:

Don’t forget Ozites that the city intends to "fold" this plan in with the General Plan, yet they have not addressed many of the 11 other elements of the General Plan which are required to be addressed with new each plan submitted and approved.

They want us to vote in a General Plan in 2012, implement it now, and go back and amend things later before the General Plan vote!

I would have to ask just how legal, or even ethical, it is for the city to adopt a plan like this, amend it later, and then fold it into the General Plan when they have never applied all 12 elements of the General Plan to this Downtown Plan Update?

Do you see what I have been talking about when I refer to our planning process as being out of whack with reality and just a bag of boloney?

John Washington also brought up a perfect point when he scolded the "Craven Weasel," McCullagh, for not realizing that once passed, there are entitlements to properties now and you cannot just go back and amend them later without consequences like lawsuits! You moron, this is just what we need considering the legal expertise we have in this city.

Once the council passes this load of crap that is the end of it and there is nothing we can do about it.

One of the few smart comments made that night from the "three ring circus" came from none other than Beanie Boy when he said "that we should put this on the ballot and get the issue of what direction the city should be heading approved of by residents." Let them vote on it and see where the cards fall.

Of course the "Craven Weasel" McCullagh thinks that they should make the final decision on such a huge issue as they were voted into office to make these decisions on behalf of the public.

NEWSFLASH Ron "Developer Lover" McCullagh, I never voted for you and you do not speak for me and you do not speak for the thousands of other residents that did not vote you into office! The same as I never voted for Buckaroo Betty or Beanie boy and I prefer that I cast my own vote in the matter of the Downtown Plan Update. So do thousands of others who also did not vote for any of you. It is the only way we residents can finally end up with a real vote rather than the 4 to 3 set up rape, pillage and burn we always get stuck with.

I would like to thank John Washington for bringing this petition forward as it provides more information regarding how this majority of the council really does not give hoot about whether you like what they approved.

I say lets just cut to the chase and vote everyone other than Jim out of office and then let the plan be presented to a new council with a 4 vote majority that is more in tune with residents who can appreciate better planning concepts than what we are getting now.

In closing on this issue I would not like to forget a shout out to my friend Mr. Ecton and his comment of how he has been to the meetings and noted that not that many citizens showed up for them. Here is a clue Col. Jr., we are tired of going to these forums because whatever we do say is interpreted incorrectly or plain ignored, mainly the latter.

Should we give you some great examples of that type of problem as you sit on the dais with your "smart" remarks because you have all day to dream up stupid comments like that while we go to work? It makes me glad to know that such arrogant jokers like you can only hold two terms in office and thank heaven that this is your final term.

Okay taxpayers, don’t say I had not warned you about Ron "Developer Toady" McCullagh and his stupidity and in lean times of taxpayer money this supposed "fiscal conservative" has gotten this on the agenda:

15. Contract for Legal Services in Anticipation of Litigation Related to Possible Acquisition of Arizona American Water Company Paradise Valley Division Assets.

Request: Adopt Resolution No. 7665 authorizing the Mayor to execute Contract for Legal Services No. 2008-128-COS between the City and the law firm of Sacks Tierney P.A. for legal services in anticipation of litigation related to the possible acquisition or condemnation of the assets of Arizona American Water Company, Paradise Valley Water District.

Staff Contact(s): Deborah Robberson, City Attorney, (480) 312-2405,

drobberson@scottsdaleaz.gov

Now let’s take a brief look at this situation we have been led into by the "Craven Weasel of the West."

Arizona American Water Service had a TCE issue, the same type of issue that Scottsdale itself was fined for not that long ago as reported so nicely by the Tribune of Oz, and let’s not forget that Oz poisoned its own residents in the same manner.

Since the recent incident, Arizona American Water Company took the pump in question off line permanently from the water supply source which in essence has ended the issue of it happening again.

Yet the "Craven Weasel" McCullagh still does not understand the fact that he took 10 million dollars from our budget that could have been earmarked for other things to do nothing more than threaten a private business with City takeover.

The city staff itself made it clear that it would take more than a year to asses the holdings and how it may go about taking over the private water firm and they also stated that they would still have to assess the private company’s infrastructure problems and what it would cost us to repair those problems.

Now in order to gain a few hundred votes from those other Oz residents who are on the private company’s water lines for his re-election he is spear heading a possible ^$300K dollar contract to "anticipate" legal action showing those who may vote for him that he is doing things for them and that he deserves their vote.

In essence the "Craven Weasel" McCullagh is making the end run around campaign finance laws by using taxpayer’s money to gain votes for his re-election.

Since the "Craven Weasel" McCullagh has stated that he is one of those customers and may benefit from any actions to take over the company, can you honestly say that you could support him for office when he will be in violation of the ethics codes if he does not recues himself from voting or taking about the issue during the council meeting?

Can you really support a candidate for office that is using taxpayer money in a rather un-ethical way to gain more votes by pretending he is going to do something for those other residents who want the city to take over the private company?

Can you really support a candidate for office that wants to go straight to litigation, or even anticipated litigation, to take over a private company with having no knowledge of what any of this will cost us to even try to take over the private company? And, if successful in court, which I would not hold my breath on, we could spend millions more, before even knowing what their infrastructure is like and what it would cost us to repair?

Note to North Scottsdale Voters: Is this the person you want in office because the South sure as heck is not voting for this weasel and your pockets are deeper than ours even though we are all going to pay for this stupidity?

Note to Airport Bob: If you side with him on this issue of expenditure and continue on this path of crappola you sided with last time, I will be at the next council meeting to give you three minutes of hell for being as stupid as McCullagh is and again it is not going to be a pretty three minutes.

So voters, the reason that you will hear from the fab-4 when they vote to spend this money from the 10 million that McCullagh got earmarked for the takeover is going to be "this is part of the process we approved to investigate what it will cost and if we can take over the private company." And we are now ^$300K involved in it and let’s hope if you own a business that you never cross paths with the Manross bred Craven Weasel.

Well, again the establishment media decides to tell the truth. The same truth we have been telling you about for some period of time in these pages.

On the front page of the Oz Tribune was the headline "Foreclosures Hit Luxury Condos," and it chose none other than a project we have been talking about for some time called the 3^rd Avenue Lofts. It is now noted that lenders have foreclosed on 33 of the 84 units and they forgot to mention that of the 84 units in total, just how many of them are empty besides the 33 that have been foreclosed on.

I found it funny that they did not report on the other Luxury Condo Units that have been built Downtown and in the vicinity that sit empty.

There are the X Lofts that are giving large discounts and short sales just to buy one of their units. We did not discuss the Main Street project which was one of the first of Mother Mary’s "redevelopment plans" for the city. The City and the developer are trying to work out a new deal because the first phase failed to provide the outcome the developer was hyped into believing by city staff and council members.

In a recent meeting with some Downtown merchants we chatted about the other projects which have died or are facing the same problems as 3^rd avenue was reported to be having. Like the Waterfront Towers which everyone is finally figuring out that no one really lives in for any length of time.

Have you ever drive by the building at night and noted that there are but a few lights on in units?

Have you noted as you go by the project that there is never any activity on patios or at the roof top pools that are visible from below at certain vantage points?

Yep, the majority of them may be "owned," but they are not lived in as they were "investments" by many, and bought for homes by a few others and now we hear that 33% of them may even actually already be bank owned units.

Let’s not forget the issues like the Toll Brothers project Downtown that has put phase two of one of their downtown projects on the shelf and is not seeing anyone buying the remaining units from their first phase.

The Valley Ho project stated some time back that their condo units were also not selling very well and the reality is none of these grand projects, of "height increases" and huge density increases, is doing well.

Like fools in the planning world, we keep approving such projects which have already damaged the things that made people come to this city since the late 1800’s in the historical core of the Downtown.

So, what does all of this mean to the taxpayers of the city? Well, let’s look at the grand water and sewer master plan which the council adopted for half a billion dollars. Much of the money is pegged to upgrade the Downtown infrastructure, water supply, sewers, utilities and such. The new water pump station in Downtown has cost us a few more million so the water pressure would be sufficient for those new tall condo buildings which the developers should have paid for.

Let’s also look at the ^$7 million it cost for a new fire station and the projected ^$6 million for relocation of another station.

Like I have said before folks, development does not pay for itself and it is the taxpayers left on the hook to pay for the ignorance of our elected leaders as developers still walk away with all their obscene profits.

The new Downtown Plan Update will reek of more of this stupidity and unless the city voters get a clue before the election and vote out "Fairly Mary" Manross, "Developer Toady" McCullagh, and "I recuse myself" Drake you can expect to see more and more of this stupidity.

It will keep happening and more and more of your tax dollars will go down the tube to have to fix an infrastructure that is not fit to handle the development that they seek for their legacies.

Don’t forget Ozites, we already are stuck with having to pay all of this money out whether these developments fail or not because we have to provide a certain level of services to projects they have crammed into lots of a few acres in size with a few hundred people on those small parcels.

So, when you go to vote think about whether you want the same old, same old rudderless ship we have now or whether you are seeking people who will control the height and density to proper planning and development standards to make our city sustainable again.

Remember Ozites, these projects are pumping absolutely no money into the General Fund as you have been told before. We better decide whether we are going to be more of an event driven tourism economy with retail sales and folks coming here form all over like we did in the past, or are we going to become the next Mesa, Arizona?

Silly Ozites, we have been warning you all about this problem and now it is here and costing you millions, so how will YOU vote come Election Day?

Michael Merrill
Brutal Critic
F8713@aol.com

 ~ Council and Mayoral Candidates Information

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When I was quite young, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived  an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time.

I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. "Information, please" I said into the mouthpiece just above my head. A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.

"I hurt my finger..." I wailed into the phone,  the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.

"No," I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."   

She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly,  "Paul , always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please."
   Information," said in the now familiar voice. "How do I spell fix?" I asked.

All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston . I missed my friend very much. "Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me. 

Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the  serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little  boy.

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in  Seattle . I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please."

Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.  "Information."

There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, " I guess your finger must have healed by now." 

I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. " I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?"

Three months later I was back in Seattle . A different voice answered, Information." I asked for Sally.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," she said. "Sally had been working part-time the last few years because she was sick. She died  five weeks ago." 

"Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you."

The note said, "Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean."

I just did.... Lifting you on eagle's wings.  

I hope you enjoy it and get a blessing from it just as I did.

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 ~Why We are Paying So Much for Gasoline!

Thanks to the environmentalist lobby and its influence on Democratic and Liberal Republican legislators in Congress, the U.S. has, for decades, been prohibited from drilling for oil in places that we know contain billions of barrels of proven reserves.

Check out this map:

All of the "NO" zones are places where the U.S. , thanks to the Democratic Party, the liberal Republicans, and the environmentalists, is prohibited from drilling for oil or natural gas.





But wait, it gets better.

*** China, Cuba , Canada and others continue to drill off our shores where US companies are not allowed to drill because of Democratic and Liberal Republican policies!

Yes, that's right. China and Cuba are actively exploring oil fields 50 miles from Key West , Florida while U.S. companies are barred from working in this area because of U.S. policy . So, instead of allowing the most environmentally responsible companies to operate there and increase our domestic supply, China , who has a dismal environmental record, is preparing to suck our close, lucrative oil reserves dry.

Unbelievable!

Note the sudden increase in price at the pump under the "new" congress (We're now at about ^$4.25 a gallon).

This isn't to say the Bush Administration did everything right, but weren't we promised by the "new" congress that things would get better?

Investor's Business Daily recently explained just how irresponsible the Democrats have been on the energy crisis. They lay into what they consider to be the worst Congress ever for...

~ Failing to allow drilling in ANWR. We have, as President Bush noted, estimated capacity of a million barrels of oil a day from this source alone -- enough for 27 million gallons of gas and diesel. But Congress won't touch it, fearful of the clout of the environmental lobby. As a result, you pay through the nose at the pump so your representative can raise campaign cash.

~ Refusing to build new refineries. The U.S. hasn't built one since 1976, yet the EPA requires at least 15 unique 'boutique' fuel blends that can be sold in different areas around the nation. This means that U.S. refinery capacity is stretched so tight that even the slightest problem at a refinery causes enormous supply problems and price spikes. Congress has done nothing about this.

~ Turning its back on nuclear power. It's safe and, with advances in nuclear reprocessing technology, waste problems have been minimized. Still, we have just 104 nuclear plants -- the same as a decade ago -- producing just 19% of our total energy. (Many European nations produce 40% or more of their power with nuclear.) Granted, nuclear power plants are expensive -- about $3 billion each. But they produce energy at $1.72/kilowatt-hour vs. $2.37 for coal and $6.35 for natural gas.

~ Raising taxes on energy producers. This is where a basic understanding of economics would help: Higher taxes and needless regulation lead to less production of a commodity. So by proposing 'windfall' and other taxes on energy companies plus tough new rules, Congress only makes our energy situation worse.

These are just a few of Congress' sins of omission -- all while India , China , Eastern Europe and the Middle East are adding more than a million barrels of new demand each and every year. New Energy Department forecasts see world oil demand growing 40% by 2030, including a 28% increase in the U.S.

Americans who are worried about the direction of their country, including runaway energy and food prices, should keep in mind the upcoming election isn't just about choosing a new president.

We'll also pick a new Congress.

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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.