Councilman McCullagh is correct in that all City Council members and Mayor represent the "community at large" and that is why I’m NOT voting for him or any of the other incumbents. 

When asked about a mistake he had made, Councilman McCullagh recently stated:

This desensitization to Scottsdale neighborhoods, and especially residents, with decisions that are largely based on information which justifies the sacrifices of some neighborhoods for the improvement or expansion of others seems to be applied by several of our current City Council representatives.

This may appear to be the most efficient and objective approach when making ongoing decisions as well as those decisions involving the re-development of the different areas throughout Scottsdale (referred to as grids) until you become aware of how non objective the information they may be basing their decisions on may actually be and where this information may be coming from.

Are our current elected City Council leaders who take the above approach representing the interests of Scottsdale residents or the developers? 

City Planning provides information and recommended direction to the City Council.

FACT:  There are several individuals who have retired/left the employment of the city (City Planning and City Management) and are currently working for major developers who have ongoing projects in Scottsdale.

Many may think that this is a conflict of interest, however, it is legal.  How could an individual currently working for the city in City Planning or other not be influenced by this scenario?  Relationships are the foundation for doing long-term business and will impact decisions being made.  In addition, "Life after the city" visions are right there in front of them.  Could they possibly be working for a developer in a lucrative situation such as those they see?  How can this sway the way business is done?

FACT: Incumbent Betty Drake objects to the update of the downtown plan because it was taken over by city planners.  She states "They got a lot of input from residents, and then the planners and consultants put the recommendations together".   "They’ve gone back to the old-style classic planning rather than taking the risk of having a citizen-driven process".

A citizen-driven process in determining the re-development of different areas in Scottsdale (grids) over the next 20 years has been put in place by the City but appears to be only a façade.   There are various grids.  This is not isolated to the downtown grid.

PLEASE NOTE:   Incumbent Betty Drake appears to be now supporting what she has publicly stated she objects to. (Another Flip-Flop)

She indicates that she will be voting to approve the downtown plan by stating that she’d like an ongoing citizens’ task force of about 30 people to make recommendations and fill in details of the plan.  At this point I’m not sure why the feedback of these 30 people would make any difference being that the die has already been cast should the downtown plan be approved.

Who is Betty really, as a practicing urban planner in private Scottsdale practice, representing if she votes to approve this plan which was put together by City Planning?

Those developers whom she has worked with, is working with, or those she may work with in the future? 

The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce plays an integral role in providing information that is used by the City.

FACT:  The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce has expressed the need for developers to build higher.  The Chamber is a private, non-profit, membership-driven organization representing nearly 1800 member businesses and individuals of which about 50% are not located in, and DO NOT pay any Scottsdale taxes.  The Chamber is funded through membership dues and corporate investments.

The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce does not represent the citizens/residents of Scottsdale.  Information they provide will be in the best interest in representing those who fund them, included are the big developers, but few small businesses.

FACT:  The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce has recently actively supported Mayor Manross, Betty Drake and Ron McCullagh with colorful mailers and TV spots.  How fortunate for these incumbents that this activity by the Chamber of Commerce just happens to coincide with the election on September 2nd.

It appears that the Chamber of Commerce, a non profit organization, is spending funding of up to a reported million dollars from membership dues and corporate investments on the promotion and election of these select individuals.  If this is the case, the developers have been helping to fund the additional exposure for these incumbents right before an election. Red flags anyone?

The current majority vote by our City Council is consistently pro-development with very little to no consideration given to residents and neighborhoods.  Decisions such as relocating an SRP substation adjacent to an existing Scottsdale neighborhood to make room for a developer who will make tens of millions if SRP moves the substation which can always be justified with dollars if that is all you’re looking at.

Take the residents and neighborhoods out of the equation and the decisions our City Council leaders make will become a lot easier and can easily be justified by costs and the potential influx of dollars into our community from these developments.

The decisions being made are benefiting the developers; however, are they the right decisions for the taxpayers who live here?  Your position on this will depend on if you’ve personally been impacted by any previous decisions that have been made as well as what is important to you.

Keep in mind, just because this decision making thought process hasn’t impacted you yet doesn’t mean it won’t.

It’s time to decide if we want to elect City Council representatives who view their positions as representing the "City at Large" and making their decisions based on their own ideas, wants and developer desires without public input, or those who view their positions as making decisions based solely on citizen input and open discussion which they believe to be best for the residents, citizens and taxpayers of Scottsdale and a united city.  There is a significant difference.  If you decide on the first, be very cautious.

What the council majority say and how they actually vote on issues may not match up.  Do your homework.

The Scottsdale Republic recently printed an editorial ("Littlefield could snag gold," August 22nd) claiming that the resolution I asked the City Council to approve opposing the move of a Salt River Project (SRP) substation to 68th Street and Indian School Road was a "sacrifice of good government."  

The hypocrisy of this claim is staggering. The sacrifice of good government here is the Mayor and her allies on the Council manipulating the process to avoid voting on this controversial issue until after the September 2nd City election.  What the Scottsdale Republic calls "due process" is really a dodge to spare their candidates on the Council who are running for reelection from having to squarely commit to the voters where they stand on this controversial issue until after the election has been decided.

The reason the neighbors are upset with my Council colleagues who voted against my resolution is they have rightly figured out that this relocation is a done deal, sealed behind closed doors, with no real opportunity for the neighbors to make their case.  The neighbors (who unanimously oppose this relocation) know full well that they will not, as the editorial claims, "have ample opportunity to make their case against the substation."

What will happen is that, as soon as the election is over, the Council majority will vote to put this substation at 68th Street and Indian School Road, bigger and uglier than ever.  That is the real "sacrifice of good government" here, not my resolution.

The editorial suggests that the decision about relocating the substation should be made based on the facts.  I couldn’t agree more, which is why I was disappointed that my Council colleagues who voted against my resolution ignored the fact that SRP has repeatedly stated it is not necessary for this substation to be relocated in order for SRP to provide ample power to Scottsdale businesses and residents.  

There is no benefit to the City of Scottsdale or to our residents in this relocation; it only benefits the developer.  This is the second time that the developer has tried to move the substation into a neighborhood, and both times the residents have overwhelmingly (and rightly) complained that they should not suffer a reduction in their quality of life just to enhance the developer’s profit. 

We on the Council are supposed to be representing the residents, not the developers.

From the very beginning the message from the Council to the developer should have been, "you are going to make all of the profit, which is fine, but it is only right and fair that you should also bear all of the costs."  That would be due process, good government and free enterprise all rolled into one.

This issue is a perfect example of why we need "regime change" in Scottsdale city government, which means electing Lane, Nesvig and Giller in the upcoming city election.

Vice Mayor Bob Littlefield
bob@boblittlefield.com

To help keep Scottsdale a self sustaining and planned growth green city, the citizens of Scottsdale need to vote on or by September 2nd .

For far too long developers have had an undue influence over politics and policy in our community, but in recent years it has become worse. The current mayor and council majority are all too concerned about the rights of developers and not the rights of citizens and neighborhoods.

This publicly demonstrated pro-developer attitude has plagued neighborhoods downtown, in the north, south and soon in the Airpark. Championed by the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce and Scottsdale Republic, the profits of a few appear to be valued more highly than the well-being and cherished lifestyle of the majority.

The disregard of our "West’s Most Western Town" heritage and push for unabashed urbanization is not what I hear citizens and neighborhoods saying that they want. It is what the developers, their lawyers and their patsies on city council majority want so as to pacify their friends in the development arena. 

If we don’t speak up now, it may be too late. The character of Scottsdale and the rights of our citizens are in serious jeopardy. When we collected signatures for the Hanover Referendum we were illegally obstructed at the libraries and in the courts.

With the upcoming vote coinciding with first, the primary and then, the presidential election, the number of signatures required to refer legislation with which we don’t agree will likely double, or even triple. We must choose wisely who we select to represent us, our neighborhoods and our friends. 

I have come to truly appreciate our community even more during my process of running for City Council. We have great parks, libraries, senior centers and most of all great citizens.

These citizens want to think that those who they elect are looking out for them by embracing shared visions and respect for the views and opinions of everyone who lives here rather than flip-flopping after they have been elected.

We have the right to expect an open and transparent process when decisions are made that affect where we live and the taxes we pay. We all deserve better governance than that which we have today which has been conducted behind closed doors and with a smoke and mirrors attitude including some public information released on strictly a "need to know" basis. 

These are trying time for all, but it doesn’t help when our own city government is working against average citizens and taxpayers on a regular basis and spending tax money that could have been spent finishing the Preserve and Discovery Center.

High costs for commodities, energy efficiency and ecological stewardship of our resources have never been more important to us personally, our community and our country.

Many old friends and new acquaintances have helped me in my goal of restoring the public trust to city government.

We all need to get more involved and you can all do that by making sure everyone you know VOTES on September 2^nd .

Thank you for your support and humbly ask for your Vote September 2nd.

Tom Giller
Candidate for Scottsdale City Council.

www.tomgiller.com

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As we turn the corner on the final ten days before the September 2^nd primary election, many voters find themselves in a quandary as to which candidates will best serve our Scottsdale community.

When I began running for a city Council position, almost a year ago, there was a clear division of opinions as to how each candidate could make their mark on Scottsdale’s future. This, of course, is no longer the case. The reality of the situation is that now, every candidate’s ad, radio spot, TV commercial or mailer sounds like every other one: make our government more transparent, reinstate trust in our Council decisions, be fiscally responsible, and increase resident quality of life. The list goes on. No wonder our voters are in a quandary as to where they should direct their vote!

When I first ran for a Council seat three years ago (and suffered sabotage of my campaign at the hands of the well-known political insiders and choice incumbents), I ran on a platform of open government. Not surprising is the fact that my view of this aspect of our government has not changed. Nor has my view that our leaders, in Scottsdale, have been and continue to be fiscally irresponsible and unable to adequately manage our monies, slipping further and further into debt on a day to day basis.

Three years ago, transportation, special interest driven development, uncontrolled distribution of subsidies, lack of neighborhood outreach/involvement and taxing our ailing infrastructure were hot buttons and oddly, they still remain at issue. So it begs the question, what has our current Mayor and Council majority done for this city over the past three years? The big issues remain just that, BIG ISSUES. And they still need to be resolved.

At our first forum of the new campaign, I recall a number of candidates endorsing height and density and extensive development in our Downtown area. Today, those same candidates have backed down from their extreme views, adopted more conservative views of development, and in some cases are touting their support of neighborhoods over development.

Those same candidates accepted monies from developers and special interests who will have a serious financial interest in seeing our Downtown soar upwards in the future.

I am not now and never have been opposed to development in the Downtown area, but I do believe that we can not move forward until we fix our ailing infrastructure, and gain qualified input on projects from our citizens and surrounding neighborhoods.

Likewise, I object to enticing developers with plentiful subsidies and allowing increased density without resolving existent transportation congestion. Why complicate an already difficult situation? How does that make good financial sense? Yes we can develop Downtown; yes we can do it now; yes we can do it without adding extensive height and density or without allowing ad hoc upzonings. But, we must proceed with forethought as to outcome and benefit to our residents.

I marvel at the fact that besides me, Tom Giller is the ONLY new candidate in the race who has one iota of experience working with the citizens, businesses and neighborhoods in Scottsdale.

Many may brag about their business affiliations, their associations with the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, their friends, or club memberships in Scottsdale, but who among them really participates in workshops, groups, meetings, neighborhood drives, project planning or is actively involved with our citizens and neighborhoods?

None of them – not a single one!

Yet, when you read a flyer, an ad in the paper, watch their TV commercials or hear their radio spots, they speak to open government, fiscal responsibility, their business affiliations, their knowledge of what Scottsdale needs and yes, most importantly, furthering Scottsdale’s quality of life. They even talk about their level of "experience in Scottsdale". What do they really know of Scottsdale and its quality of life issues? Do they have the requisite experience to make those decisions on behalf of this great city? Do they even know how our government works?

My father always told me – if you want the true story about a political situation, follow the money and the endorsements. I’ve done that and the story is a phenomenal one.

The trail of election cash donations and association endorsements for each candidate is telling. If closely examined, it will determine, for the voter, where they can expect their choice of candidate to direct their focus in the future. And as far as I am concerned, that pretty much says it all.

Voters who are in a quandary about how to direct their vote need look no further for an answer. Do you want four more years of the same rhetoric, inability to focus on the important stuff, indebtedness to special interests, closed government, fiscal faux pas, promises-made-promises-broken shtick from your City Council/

Or, would you rather seat new Council members who have been part of your actual Scottsdale community, worked among the citizens and neighborhoods and are concerned, truly concerned (and not just saying so to be elected), about your well being?

That really is the question. And only you, as a voter, can answer that question by Voting on or before September 2^nd .

I thank you for your ongoing support and ask for your Vote on September 2nd.

Nan Nesvig
Candidate, Scottsdale City Council

www.nannesvig.com

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We at the Scottsdale Activist have been giving you all the necessary4 information you need to vote for the change all of you seem to want and are demanding for Scottsdale.

It doesn’t take rocket Science to see that Manross and Company (Manross, Drake, McCullagh and Klapp), funded mainly by the developers and the ^$1 million in corporate funds and reportedly illegal flyers from the Scottsdale Area Chamber are trying desperately to "BUY" the up coming election so they won’t lose their personal golden goose.

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We at the Scottsdale Activist have been closely watching all of the candidates over the last year to see who has been participating in neighborhood and citizen based civic activities, attending citizen organization meetings, participating in any of the city committees on Ethics, Transportation, etc. We have watched where their campaign contributions have come from (No Developer Money) and have come up with the only candidates who have done all of those things unselfishly and honorably.

We feel that, based upon the above criteria, and the amount these people have been personally active and attentive to the needs of the residents and neighborhoods, care deeply about the future of the city of Scottsdale, there are only two (2) candidates for City Council and one (1) mayoral candidate who can fill those shoes properly.

Our research shows that those Candidates are Nan Nesvig and Tom Giller for Council and Jim Lane for Mayor.

Some say, "But we need to vote for 3 council members".

You can vote for none, 1, 2 or all 3 council positions of your choice.

There is not one election  law which says you must vote for all three.

What the ballot says is that you may vote for "up to three".

Why vote for someone who doesn’t fit the above criteria?

We strongly suggest that you VOTE for ONLY THOSE who qualify under the above criteria, and none others.

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I’ve been watching and have been involved in many elections over many years.

I’ve found that it’s not how much money you spend on your campaign that allows you to win, it’s how you relate to the voters that counts and that makes you a viable and successful candidate.

It’s not the way you "Fluff" or even lie about your accomplishments or even how pretty you look, or how "powerful" you want to appear to look standing in front of something you have really done nothing about to advance its cause.

We have watched Scottsdale city elections where over ^$100,000 dollars was spent and the candidate lost, while another spent only ^$7,500 and won large because that candidate was honest and working with the citizens, not those with the "big bucks".

Just because a candidate has numerous flashy mailers, TV and radio ads, and signs everywhere doesn’t mean that they are the best candidate.

In actual fact, in many cases they are NOT the best candidate and are simply trying to "buy" their way into office to appease their monied supporters which is what has put Scottsdale in the bad position we are today:

Currently, we have an out of touch mayor and council majority that cares more about their personal agendas, personal goals and legacies than the needs and ideas of the citizens and residents who live in Scottsdale.

Do you homework, then VOTE for the Candidate who DOES care about you and your neighborhood, NOT the one’s who spend the "Big Money" to con you into voting for them so they can continue to pillage and ruin a once wonderful family oriented city.

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South Scottsdale Community Planning Area residents, neighborhoods and neighborhood associations, home owners associations, business owners, especially small business owners need to make themselves aware of the visioning processes that are taking place in their own area of Scottsdale, but also in the Scottsdale Airpark.

Having attended the August 21 meeting at the Granite Reef Senior Center, I came away with serious questions regarding all of the complaining that goes on about neighborhoods and shopping or lack thereof.

More importantly, I have questions about the Scottsdale Airpark planning meetings.

Roaming around out there is the ghost of light rail up Scottsdale Road. There are some who still want to resurrect that mess to benefit the Airpark.

Well, since the only route we of the Transportation Working Group were allowed to work on with the consultants, was Scottsdale Road, the discussion of light rail or high speed rapid transit, or anything regarding mass transit remains a beast to be dealt with for some time.

You can bet a sure thing with this Mayor and this Council majority, that no other route between the southern border and the Airpark area is open for consideration.

If you think transportation studies need to be done right and plans need to be comprehensive, think about who your want sitting on the City Council.

Do you wan council members with open minds, willing to make decisions based on comprehensive studies and open discussion? Or do you want decisions made behind closed doors with promises to reward special interests for their election support?

Scottsdale Airpark is mostly, businesses. South Scottsdale neighborhoods are largely residential.

Do you still wonder who is driving the wedge between residents and businesses and why?

It seems that campaign signs have again become a talking or yelling point during the current election cycle.

Citizens need to realize that free speech in one of our precious freedoms and has been guaranteed by 1^st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, The city of Scottsdale has a weak and highly unenforceable ordinance which specifically allows campaign signs on private property.

It is also reportedly a federal felony to remove or deface any campaign signs from any location without written or verbal permission of the property owner and the candidate.

If this Scottsdale city ordinance was challenged in any U.S. Court, the chance of the city winning is less than 20% and the city attorney is well aware of that fact and mentioned it when the new ordinance was being discussed.

Because of the failure of the mayor and council majority to accept a strictly controlled but fair sign ordinance (click here) which would have allowed political signs neatly placed in specific locations in city rights of way, you now have private property as the only place signs can be erected and it has become the "Incumbent Protection Ordinance"; Incumbents have the bully pulpit and the challengers have nothing unless they have lots of developer money to run the big ads and TV spots which smacks of buying influence for most developers.

How do you determine what is and what isn’t private property? Did you know that the S/W corner of Hayden and McDonald is privately owned property according to Code Enforcement? We didn’t either.

With that said, a candidate MUST get the private property owners permission to put signs on said property. In addition, just because 1 or 2 candidates are allowed to put their signs there doesn’t mean all candidates can put signs there; they must have permission from the owner.

Sadly, some people feel that the ordinance means no signs anywhere so they take it upon themselves to take them down which is dead wrong and a serious infringement on everyone’s 1^st Amendment rights as well as a felonious act under federal law.  The Scottsdale Police Department WILL prosecute for such actions.

A new city council needs to revisit the Sign Ordinance so the city doesn’t get sued in Federal Court for abridging any citizens 1^st Amendment rights which could totally eliminate any sign ordinance the city has.

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For years we’ve heard relatively new people to Scottsdale propose working yet another "deal" with the Tribes to allow us to build venues or other things on their land under a contract or agreement of some sort to help generate sales tax income for Scottsdale.

Those of us who have lived here for decades and worked with the Tribes on the SR-101 Freeway and the Pima Road alignment prior to that, fully understand the Tribes position: they don’t need the City of Scottsdale to survive and grow!

SUSD didn’t allow them to send their children to Scottsdale schools, the city and state tried to take land away from them for pennies on the dollar, the city tried to not allow them access to the freeway by building the freeway within the city limits, and the Tribes are supposed to work with the city of Scottsdale?

Realistically, it doesn’t make any sense to try to "use" the Tribes to our advantage yet again when they’ve been burned too many times. We should instead try to heal the old wounds by working with them on their ventures to help make them successful without cost to the city of Scottsdale or any strings attached.

They are building a new, very modern casino and large hotel on of Via de Ventura just east of the freeway. It will bring some business to Scottsdale but more probably, it will take business away from Scottsdale unless we come up with new tourist attractions at West World such as a new Rawhide type venue on the excess 80 acres which would offer adventures for all ages... and lots of sales tax and property tax revenue for really sick city coffers.

Should this type of venue come about, the traffic and parking problems would have to be taken into consideration PRIOR to any decisions so that the neighbors don’t feel the brunt of the traffic increases.

Underground parking structures could be used for both Park & Ride during the week and for the entertainment venues on the weekends.

Just something to think about……….

As a long time resident (48 years) of Scottsdale, it was easy to be a tourist in my own hometown. Granted in the summer back in the 60’s and early 70’s some of the businesses that graced our Old Town and Fifth Avenue closed and went to The Dells in Wisconsin, or Charlebois, Michigan or Denver, Colorado, but during the Fall and Winter months though April there was plenty to do and be a part of in Scottsdale.

Recently there have been stories in the newspaper about the economic problems that we are having with the newly developed Waterfront and other areas of the Downtown.

We heard, to our dismay, that Scottsdale didn’t even capitalize on the Super Bowl festivities (and they kept the Trolley Bridge closed to accommodate ESPN and other related events).

Still it came as somewhat of a surprise when a notice inviting me to a "Destination Scottsdale Visioning Project Focus Group" earlier this month.

The group I was included in was for regular citizens not involved in tourism. Not a bad idea, though I still can’t figure out how the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce is not involved in tourism.

As Chairman of The Scottsdale Coalition I put the questions to our membership. You will find their comments included here, but since our City is looking at the topic of tourism, I would suggest all those who wish to add their comments and suggestions to Kathy Carlisle O’Connor, Tourism Development Manager, (480) 312-7989 or Email: kcoconnor@ScottsdaleAZ.gov

Comments that were submitted from The Scottsdale Coalition include:

Recent news stories about the failure of Scottsdale’s retail and commercial venture’s, especially in the Waterfront area, not being able to capitalize on the Super Bowl festivities were greatly disappointing.

While some of us have questioned the wisdom behind the concentrated development on the canal banks at Scottsdale and Camelback Roads, no one wants to see sincere business efforts fail.

Scottsdale’s economic stability depends upon tourist dollars and tourists look for something unique to attract their attention and their money.

That being said, I was surprised to receive in the mail, a letter from Mayor Manross, inviting me to participate in a "one-time Focus Group as part of the City of Scottsdale’s "Destination Scottsdale Tourism Visioning Project." Facilitated by the Arizona Town Hall process "in conjunction with Scottsdale’s Economic Vitality Department," this meeting is to take place Friday, July 18, 2008.

We will be focusing on "perceptions, attitudes and opinions from a broad cross-section of the community regarding the tourism industry in Scottsdale."

As always, I turn to you all for input on important questions about the business of the people of Scottsdale.

Things we are to be considering include the importance and role of tourism in Scottsdale’s overall economy.

What is the importance of tourism to Scottsdale’s quality of life?

What are the important factors in increasing Scottsdale’s tourism?

What expectations do the residents have regarding the future role of tourism in Scottsdale?

What kind of partnerships could be built to increase tourism?

What kind of opportunities for synergies could be pursued?

Let me back up here because it important to know what "synergies" means in this instance. In this place we refer to "a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (as resources or efforts)." Thank you, Webster’s. This refers to businesses, events, venues, etc. that complement and promote one another as unique to Scottsdale.

PLEASE, take a few minutes and send me your thoughts on tourism and Scottsdale, your hometown.

When I moved here as a kid Old Town closed up pretty much during the summer and

every body went to Michigan until October. Now we have the comfort of our air conditioned caves. What is it that would draw you out of your cave in this day and age of rising gas prices? During the more mild winter months what would draw you to want to mix and mingle with the out of towners?

You can send me an email at

nancyanncantor@cox.net.

Nancy,

You know I have been traveling around the world for the past 10 plus years and I have to do some real soul searching to see why some cities appeal to me more than others. For many years when people asked where I came from, they always knew what I meant when I said, "Scottsdale". I don't know if that is the case now. The focus of things that drew people to Scottsdale before seems to have changed. Let me see if I can add anything to your questions.

1. Tourism brings $$$ to the community and the end result should be that this money is used to improve the quality of life for the residents.......That taxes should not need to be increased (or city fees every year). We are missing a good entertainment venue. Look at the crowds that Cricket, Celebrity, University of Phoenix bring to the community. They draw top name performers and those performers draw crowds. The crowds not only attend the performance, but spend money at restaurants, parking, etc.

We blew that one and are possibly going to lose Barrett Jackson......Next the Arabians?

2. Tourism should attract all age ranges. How many 50, 60, 70 year olds stay up all night drinking at the clubs? Those clubs may attract the younger crowd, but they also increase the cost of security, police, etc. to monitor the areas. How about the shootings, and yes, I saw the picture of the girl urinating in public. Is that how we want to be known? Where are the attractions for the older visitors who won't golf in 100+ temperatures or don't want to sit in the sun all day browning their skin? Where are the museums, the clubs with "old folks" music where the ladies are dressed like ladies? Last month I was in Brisbane and visited an art gallery which had a fantastic Picasso showing. The only one in the world done the way this was. We were there opening day and it was drawing thousands (both young - with parents - and old.) I don't even know where the Museum of Modern Art is located in Scottsdale. Are there ads for the locals? Also, where is the Scottsdale Sympathy these days?

3. The residents should expect tourism to increase, however the leadership of this City has driven out things that would make this possible......Yes, expensive hotels are nice, but why couldn't Los Arcos be a venue instead of a warehouse? What are the people who sit in an expensive hotel on Camelback going to do once they have shopped out everything at Fashion Square? Maybe I'm not interested in the art galleries or the tee shirt shops in old town. I did travel with an agent who mentioned that the Civic Center was quite pretty........But again, where are the movie theatres that use to draw a crowd? Where is our old quirky western town? We have become a second class Beverly Hills and, believe me, that city doesn't draw the average citizen., or maybe Scottsdale is only out to draw the people with lots of $$$$.

I'll tell you what draws crowds in many of the Australian cities.......Sydney has some wonderful weekend craft markets in the Rocks area. The areas are packed and people stay to shop, eat, drink and just enjoy the sights.

Melbourne has an area called the Queen Victoria Market. Again, it packed the 5 days a weeks it's open. The Market is made up of little shops (no, not like the swap mart on the west side) that sell, cheeses, meats, bakery, drinks (non alcoholic) along with crafts, fresh flowers, etc. Adelaide also has an area called the "Central Market", patterned after the Melbourne market. Packed, packed, packed.

Hobart has a weekend market called the Salamanca Markets. Again, packed all weekend. My clients ask to be in Hobart for market days and they spend money there.

The markets are all unique and I encourage all my clients to visit them. I have never had a complaint from any clients about any of them.

Nancy, I would refer you to the following website - as Melbourne is also entering the same type of strategies that Scottsdale plans. See how they have done it/are doing it.......

http://www.futuremelbourne.com.au/wiki/view/FMPlan/FutureScenarios.

Let me know what you think of this.

I fear that what you are asked to be part of is just another of the City’s exercises in futility. It feels like a ploy to have the citizens think their input is really important...Boy, is this negative, huh? That's because they have had a zillion (okay maybe not exactly that many, but close) citizen input meetings only to come back and let us know what they think is best for the community, often in conflict with a majority of the people who live here, or really know the history of the area.

The primary product of tourism is not something produced by the industry.

The product is often the heritage, wealth, and expected legacy of the community that serves as the tourist destination. The business activity of the tourism industry is to promote the "salable" or appealing aspects of the community, transport non-residents into the community, manage the hospitality for and guide the activities of these visitors, and provide them with goods and services to purchase during their stay. If these business activities degrade the community’s heritage and wealth, then the community suffers more directly than the consumer, who can return to his or her own community without responsibility for or awareness of the impacts of his tourist activities.

Here is a sample of what one Minnesota town has suggested as a partnership:

Example – Quilting Seminar: Work with local quilting shops (one is in Ray, MN) and develop a 1-2 day quilting seminar that includes 2 - 3 nights stay (MINIMUM two nights). In addition to the quilting seminar, each guest would receive a gift package from participating local retailers along with discount coupons; a special toiletries package in their room that is a step above the normal package (shampoos, lotions, etc. – special for this package!!). Each room (double occupancy) could receive a complimentary bottle of wine (perhaps in partnership with the Spot Supper Club and their special house wines); wine GLASSES in the room; nice, thick terry cloth robes in the room; slippers; overall, a higher level of amenities and service. With a three-night stay, include a Swedish massage and/or a round of golf – with a cart. Of course, you charge for all this, but the package is a one price, "write-one-check" deal. All included.

Okay, so maybe they don't come to Scottsdale to quilt, but who knows?

Hope I have planted a few seeds tonight.

Sharon

Just got off the phone with my daughter. I missed an age group - the kids. Julie mentioned going to the water park up North.....Yes, the one built with our money, but for the moneyed. It would be wonderful to have those facilities down here for the kids because we don't have anything like it......water slides, lazy river, play pool with interactive spray pad, you know, like McDowell Mountain Ranch Park.

Okay, that's it for tonight.

Sharon

Nancy:

Here is my read on tourism in Scottsdale:

The political climate here is such that to ask questions about the supposed benefits of tourism is "politically incorrect". The politicians and the hospitality special interest groups simply ignore such inquires. That tourism is "good" is political "dogma" and we are expected to automatically accept that as a fact.

I am not so sure. In my mind, the question has yet to be proved. WestWorld is my favorite example. Here is why:

I was a member of the Scottsdale Citizens Budget and Bond Review Committee

for the year 2000 bond referendum and the 2000 budget. The twelve of us put in many hours and worked very hard.

One of the bond items was a 9+ million dollar project to expand parking at WestWorld. It was interesting that we found this item buried in the "Parks" category. That made us suspicious. Checking at random times showed that no one was using WestWorld as a park. We also conducted informal surveys among our friends and neighbors. It became quite obvious that few supported spending more money on WestWorld. Our report to the Council recommended that the WestWorld item be separated from the Parks item and made to "stand alone" if they wanted the Parks item to be voted on positively by the taxpayers. The Council followed our recommendation and the WestWorld request became a stand-alone item. The voters rejected it by a two to one margin.

Two years later the WestWorld project was built anyway. The Council simply justified this over-ride of the voter's intentions by finding another pot of money to fund the project without issuing a bond for it. It reminded me of the Phoenix council that met at midnight to approve a "Baseball Stadium" after the voters had voted against investing in a "General Purpose Stadium". I guess it all boils down to what the meaning of "is" is.

Then, rubbing even more salt in the wounds of the taxpayer, in recent years more taxpayer's money was "invested" in this failed commercial enterprise. Millions have since been spent on the "American Flag" structure and the replacement of the flag with another covering. Millions have been spent on more parking lots and, as I write this, the taxpayers are still sitting on a multi-million dollar piece of land.

I mentioned that WestWorld was a "commercial" enterprise. It was and it failed to make a profit and it was closed. But our fair city council, always on the outlook for a place to "invest" the public's money, purchased the failed enterprise. And, to the best of my knowledge, it has yet to make a profit despite the fact that the police department's budget absorbs the cost of policing the "signature events". I also heard in confidence that West World's telephone expenses were also hidden in the police department's budget. I cannot verify that but it came from what I think is a reliable source.

Raw Hide, as you know, was a commercial enterprise that closed up shop and moved. One of the reasons was that WestWorld, not having to make a profit or pay for its capital improvements, under bid Raw Hide and took away one of its big customers.

During our committee's review we asked for a justification of the taxpayer's "investment" in WestWorld. We were told that the events held there attracted many tourist dollars to local hotel and restaurants. We asked how much of this was "incremental", that is, how many of these tourist dollars would have been spent in Scottsdale anyway. Most certainly local residents have a limited amount of money to spend on entertainment. Any dollar that a local spends at WestWorld is a dollar that will not be spent at Harkins Theater or dining out. We were unable to get an answer other than the proverbial mantra that it was "good" for the Scottsdale tourism industry.

That was hard to accept, knowing that most of the hotels and restaurants are national chains that take their profits out of state. Also, most of the hospitality workers do not live in or spend their wages in Scottsdale because they cannot afford to live here. (That was the justification for the proposed 2000 plan to pay a $500 per month rent subsidy for any resident making less than $42,500 per year in the year 2000. The bond question for funds "to educate" the public on "Affordable Housing" was also soundly defeated by the voters.)

So we asked for a Return on Investment analysis for the investment in

WestWorld. We asked that, assuming that the city received some tax money from tourists that came here specifically to attend a WestWorld event, how much would it make sense to invest in WestWorld? 100 million dollars? 200 million dollars? 300 million dollars? 400 million dollars? A half a billion dollars? We said a half a billion jokingly assuming that no one in their right financial mind would invest 500 million dollars in a failed commercial venture of this type. Of course we never received an ROI analysis and, believe me, we never will. I have given up trying. But this has not stopped the council from continuing to "invest" in WestWorld. My gut feel is that we are probably coming close to that 500 million dollar number if all investments and operating losses are properly considered.

And so, Nancy, I am not convinced that "tourists dollars" are really "good" for us as the council and the special hospitality interests would have us believe.

Here is a proof of the pudding test for you to offer. If projects such as WestWorld and other tourist-attracting endeavors are good for business then let's see the hospitality industry and the other businesses chip in and fund the Scottsdale Chamber (of Commerce) to fund these efforts. Don't hold your breath waiting for the members of the Chamber to act.

That is my read. Show me an ROI analysis of the taxpayer's "investment" in WestWorld that disproves my point and I will change my tune.

Good luck in the lion's den. Have your armor on if you dare to raise these questions.

Jack

Nancy,

It is important that there are misters everywhere. We went to the movies at Tempe Marketplace & it was jammed throughout the areas by the theater & also the restaurants were crowdedeven on a weekday. Preserve Old Town for its uniqueness & make it teenage & young family friendly as they need a place to hang out & will spend money if it's available. (Coldstone Creamery, moderate restaurants, Starbucks, teen lounges, teen friendly pool hall, places to lounge by the canal with tons of misters, even the water foot fountains for kids).

Hope that helps. Barbara

____________________________________________________________________

Oreganos Pizza...  El Numero Uno specifically Best pizza I've ever eaten..... and being from Chicago originally.... I know that of which I speak.

Next... The Outback in downtown Scottsdale.    Best food for the least cost..... but they really need a dance floor in there.

Next....  the Olive Garden and Red Lobster on Scottsdale and Osborne.... staples of the dining collection.

Having said all that.... let me say I look forward, eagerly, to see what restaurants Skysong attracts.

I would love to see a Luby's where Basha's used to be.

Hhhmmmm.....  I've made myself hungry.

Later.

Nancy--I am pleased to have the opportunity to give you my thoughts regarding the city’s direction in tourism. First let me preface my remarks by saying I am extremely tired of the words "upscale". "high end" and "luxury." There are a great many tourists who take vacations who probably aren't interested or cannot afford luxury accommodations. They are still desirable visitors and there are probably more of them than the wealthy.

They still like the climate, outdoor activities and are not necessarily uncultivated and uninterested in cultural events. Also, what do vacationing families do to amuse their children in Scottsdale?

Besides the Stillman Railroad Park name me one attraction of interest to children other than the motel pool. Once there was Rawhide but no more. So I guess my advice is to get off the luxury high horse and appeal to the common family. God must love them for he made so many of them. Scottsdale would love them a little too.

Before I go I would just like to comment and congratulate you on your writing skills. I have followed your progress and am much impress at how you've grown with experience in this area. Keep it up.

Regards, Bruce

Hi Nancy -  I think many tourists are attracted to the Indian Bend Wash and other paths and trails. . Many people and especially international visitors like to have some physical activity.  And in a sea of pavement and tall buildings, little shade, just looking at an open space makes the City far more attractive.  Some past surveys of visitors shows they do appreciate and use the open space.

We need to stop treating south end open space as something that’s just available for construction city buildings or fencing (and ugly fences) off large chunks for commercial groups.  

Take care, Amy

Nancy

My cut at this issue is pretty simple. Tourism is CRITICAL to Scottsdale’s sustainability so it is important to look at why people come here and at least make sure we don’t kill that in the name of progress. My take is that they come here to experience the following.

The thing is that many of these things also are what makes our quality of life far better than most other places and therefore why corporations want to locate here. They therefore are the corner stones to our sustainability as both a high class resort destination and a desirable area to live, work, and play. They are critical to maintaining a high quality of life.

The important thing is that we recognize what makes Scottsdale desirable to both residents and visitors and insure we don’t destroy any of those attractions. All of the attractions listed above, plus our high quality low density (and therefore low stress) development will sustain both our tourism and high quality of life. Continued growth is not sustainable and further destroys those things that make Scottsdale desirable. Perhaps that is why there was such a negative reaction to light rail, high building heights, high density development, and all the other things continued development demands.

Anyway, that is my take on Tourism. It is crucial to our existence and how we continue to develop is crucial to maintaining those characteristics of Scottsdale that keep people coming here. Recent development has already had an impact on both Tourism and our quality of life. We have to be really careful from here on. The question isn’t just what do we have to do to maintain our position but what do we need to preserve so we don’t loose it. We need to do both, but be really careful not to destroy what is good as we strive for new attractions. I think those merchants, resort owners, and other who depend on tourism understand a lot of this, but there are those who just want to profit from Scottsdale’s current desirability without regard to what it may do to the city in the process.

Thanks for taking this on and I appreciate you keeping us informed.

Howard

______________________________________________________________

Hi, Nancy,

I used to serve on the DSP years ago. They couldn't align either.

Here's my perspective:

Rather than worry about tourism, which will be hurt the next 5 years with the economic ills, I say focus on being a model city. As a model city, there is a natural curiosity about "what are they doing over there?"

Trying to turn the waterfront into an entertainment center is a mistake. It's a water feature. Without barges and gondola rides, there's no reason to gaze at the debris in the canal! (I've reported the mess before.)

Next area is the types of vendors still inhabiting downtown. People don't visit here for Christmas shops. We can embellish the night life like San Diego's Gas Lamp District, But we can't be all things to all people. That's where the model city comes in:

And, I could go on.

We need branding that goes beyond a slick logo. It's easier to brand a model city for all its kudos that cater to a tourist destination. That's secondary. People will come more for the first reason.

Let me know what you think. I wrote to Mayor Manross to ask to participate on the panel. No word.

Regards,

Michelle

Hi Nancy -

I have a service that for over 20 years, has assisted Authors and Celebrities when they are on a book tour or making appearances in Arizona.

The authors are often ones of international fame - who are sent to cities around the world on business and can vacation where ever they chose. Plus I maintain the associations with many of the Celebrities that I came to know when I had my company Celebrity Promotions for 15 years, producing Celebrity Events to raise money for charities. Many of the authors come here yearly on book tour - some every two to three years and those are the ones that seem more shocked at what they find.

Five years ago I used to be asked to help arrange return visits for social reasons for a client's family or Friends on an average of about 12 to 15 a year. And normally a couple in addition to business reasons they felt would be enhanced by meeting in Scottsdale.

In the last three years - I have had TWO. And as recently as last month with 4 different authors, this is what I hear almost 90% of the time for the last three years. Please note that while I had to paraphrase (or delete foul words) understand that NONE, absolutely none - of these 'quotes' are one time comments but the ones that get repeated over and over to me:

I am sure you will see how this applies directly to tourism.

Thanks - Pierre
Arizona Host to Authors & Celebrities

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~Letters to the Editor  

What is happening in Scottsdale?  There are so many questions with respect to the relationships between some of our elected city representation, money-flush developers, Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce and the Scottsdale Republic.  Possibly even more that just hasn't been identified yet.

We have individuals who have retired/left the city (City Planning/city management) and are now working with developers who are actively developing in Scottsdale.  This is a conflict of interest in more ways than one.

We have a sitting council member and candidate for re-election (Betty Drake) that IS an active planner in the valley. Could she possibly be doing planning for developers in Scottsdale too as I write this?

We have a Chamber of Commerce that has spent up to a reported ^$1 million in TV spots and mailers for Mary Manross, Betty Drake, Ron McCullagh and Suzanne Klapp during this election period.

We have developers being the major contributors to some candidates campaign funds.

We have a representative of the Scottsdale Republic who states "to be fair to all candidates, I'm not using any ‘My Turns’ for or against anyone in the last two weeks of election" but continues to actively support specific candidates in direct comments made in the "Our View" section while pulling the rug from under others with direct and indirect comments.

What a sick rats nest!  

It’s almost like an old time Chicago fixed election. We even had the goons on the streets for one of the referendum tries. 

What's happening to our beloved Scottsdale? 

Name withheld by request
Scottsdale

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To The Editor:

Latecomers to the neighborhood advocacy arena are choosing to criticize those who have been active in the community long before the current crop on Council.

Latecomers yell about check cashing stores, the old arena plan and the big box subsidy for Wal-Mart "the wealthiest company in the world." 75% of all Scottsdale voters turned that subsidy down and McCullagh, Osterman and Manross signed the referendum petition.

Where were you when Ms. Peterson and other activists were working on creating the Code Enforcement Program?

Where were you ladies when Scottsdale Realtors and property management companies opposed the Slumlord Ordinance?

Where were you when former Assistant City Manager Ed Gawf was working on organizing South Scottsdale Neighborhoods to deal with blight issues?

Where were you when the Los Arcos Town Center process was created in 1999, and Manross and Company did not even promote the use of any of the plan with any of the development projects that came to the City?

Where was your voice when those dreaded activists stood before Council and asked, repeatedly, that Manross and Council bring the same focus and funding to the southern neighborhoods to deal with revitalization, blight, and create a long term vision?

None of the incumbents have done a thing for South Scottsdale.

Susan Unmacht
Scottsdale

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Leger has lost it..... Totally!!

He chastises Littlefield for doing what the residents want him to do and as he was elected to do, putting his personal feelings and agenda aside. Leger doesn't even live in Scottsdale but tries to con readers into thinking he's the guru of All that's Scottsdale which is totally hypocritical if anything ever was.

How many citizen meetings do YOU attend Mr. Leger? We did notice at the council meeting Monday evening that you were laughing and cavorting with the developer rep's, Kidder, Korte, Chamber cronies and others representing height and density while totally ignoring the rest of the assembled standing room only audience from many citizen groups and many different city neighborhoods, North, Central and South.

Littlefield and Nelssen attend all, and Lane attends most of the citizen meetings while the rest of the council is on bended knee blindly bowing to the needs, wants and wanton desires of the developers.

Yari Brothers (TriYar) are the exception: they came to the citizen committees BEFORE they went to the city and now have a project the citizens want and have tentatively approved in the downtown area. The interesting thing is that they plan to make a huge bundle of money while working WITHIN THE CURRENT GENERAL PLAN and bringing the city the sales tax revenue so sorely needed!

This is a great downtown project where John Berry, Susan Bitter Smith and Technical Solutions WERE NOT involved. Doesn’t that tell you something? Do you think that maybe the involvement of Berry, Bitter Smith and Technical Solutions is a death knell for local projects that reach beyond and ignore the current downtown General Plan?

Many that were wearing the pink tags at the meeting Monday evening were found NOT to be Scottsdale city residents or voters, but instead height & density sympathetic Realtors^®, private planners, architects or developers living and paying taxes in other cities but doing business in Scottsdale; Otherwise known as freeloading "carpetbaggers".

We even saw Paul Smith of Technical Solutions wearing one of those pink tags. Gee wonder where he and Technical Solutions stand; probably at the cash register waiting to get paid?

Mr. Leger needs to get humble, back to ground level, and get intimately acquainted with the many very knowledgeable and concerned citizens and citizen groups in Scottsdale.

Leger seems to be a nice guy but needs to quit being such a know-it-all snob who actually knows NOTHING about the REAL Scottsdale, and who is solely and obviously OWNED by the Scottsdale Area Chamber and the Manross group.

"Pioneer"
Scottsdale

  Living in the Land of Oz

 ~Will Oz Voters wake up from their Comas?

Well Ozites it has come down to the few remaining days before Oz’s most important election in the city’s history which the residents of Oz will decide whether we face another four years (8 in reality) of blinding stupidity and destruction of everyone’s quality of life, or if we will begin working on fixing all the things that are wrong with the personal agendas and visions of the Wicked Witch and her 3 henchmen.

Yes that is right, the personal agendas of a minority few (as they call us Activists) because all you ever hear from them is I did this or I did that and I envision this or I envision that and the most disgraceful thing is it is always me, me, me or I, I, I from the council majority and the mayor!

Whatever happened to the words "us" or "we" like in "we the people"? In Oz, those words no longer exist just like the words "we the people" mean nothing.

So on September 2^nd Ozites have the chance to restore the words of "we" and "us" and even the phrase "we the people" and not "we the Chamber" or "We the developer" which has encroached the minds of our supposedly elected leaders to the point that "we the people" has been erased from their minds.

The only way that this is going to work is for Ozites to come out of their comas where they believe everything is just so rosy that they do not have to worry about anything while the people running this city continue to operate for another four years in secrecy.

Planning and plotting on how to spend even countless more millions of taxpayers money to follow the developers and Chambers dream without finishing the Preserve, until the lands of Oz are raped to the point that no one will ever know what Oz was and our children’s grandchildren’s children will be paying for all of these costly blunders to legacy seeking people such as the wicked witch, buckaroo betty and the ever dreaded craven weasel.

A good friend of mine named Graham Kettle recently sent me an e-mail that stated that between himself and I, we are probably the only people who have enough knowledge of how broke this city is becoming and how our present finances are going to run critically short in a very short period of time.

The recent debate regarding the funding for the Preserve completion made it very clear that we do not and will not have the money to complete the Preserve under the current funding and since the recent yet again proposal to have land reform to help us failing to make it to the ballot, we are still back at square one of having no real plan to figure out how to purchase the remaining land.

What this discussion did make clear is that we are going to have to yet again tax ourselves to complete the Preserve but the thing that was mentioned that no-one seems to have heard is the remark from my friend Mr. Clifford that the city has "other real issues that need to be funded" also such as city services if we plan to keep them at this level or increase them.

Planning and development in this city that was once a resort community has expanded into the ever increasing height and density issues and we have pin heads like Buckaroo Betty spewing the stupidity that we must stop the "sprawl" and learn to grow up and not out.

Well here is a counter suggestion to that moronic and conservation attitude that I would love to hear them discount. We have no sprawl because we are at build out and we cannot grow outward to meet the definition of sprawl and the sprawl issue is not a valid comment to use for the promotion of heights and density under the same thought process. Not everyone can live here and our leaders should not be trying to let everyone live here at the expense of our quality of life and taxpayers money.

Here is another suggestion that should tick some people off, however if these supposed conservation people had been paying attention they would know that some of this has already been being discussed. I suggest that if the city is in such dire need to grow upwards and since we cannot get these fools running this city to understand that they are bleeding the taxpayers dry, that we encourage that height and density to be located along the Scottsdale Corridor and the Pima corridor in the next general plan adoption.

Like I have said "turn about is fair play" since we have this grand new downtown plan that promotes buildings to 12 and 15 stories to revitalize our downtown and strain our resources and infrastructure problems, as well as the other city services that will have to increase to sustain this half baked development plan.

If the Preserve is the key to Oz being such a great place and a promotion to our tourism industry, than let’s start building high rises up to 20 floors along the corridors so people can come and stay in them and look out over the preserve, as well as the communities that have been built around them. Let’s say we start promoting electrical substations to support this tourism generator at the gateways to communities and along their boundaries so that we have the infrastructure they need to support hotels and resorts all along the corridor.

Let’s build larger and wider roads all up and down the North so that they do not have the same traffic nightmares we got from the great planning and development of the last 8 years of present rulers. I suggest a stacked freeway system that runs up Pima road and Scottsdale Road so that traffic can flow freely.

Finally, I say lets run light rail straight up the 101 with exits to the airpark and a scenic trail that runs up to the Desert Discovery center and have it progress straight through the preserve like an old locomotive tourism route like the one at the Grand Canyon.

What? Do you think that I am kidding and you believe that the Wicked Witch is right that light rail is a dead issue? Funny thing is that recently during some meetings we have a Lawyer with a business in the airpark, a former council member and now a recently appointed commissioner to a city board, and a past president of the Oz Chamber of Commerce all presenting the same thing at local meetings of the south and the airpark plan meetings.

If you are not on board with the position I have presented, then hopefully you will get out of your coma induced ignorance of what is going on in this city and find your mail in ballot or make your presence known at a polling station because one thing is for sure.

If the South has to endure this stupidity because our residents who live in this or another part of the city like what is going on because it is not in their back yard, than you will be surprised as all get out when the south starts showing up at council meetings promoting the developers who want to do this up north and making it clear to our elected leaders that we will support the developers to make sure the playing field of misery remains in a constant and equal balance.

If the three morons who have started this fight remain in office after the elections, the one thing the North and others can expect to see right off the bat is the total support of every southern resident for the passage of the new Epicenter plans for a couple of 5 story hotels in the north and we will even promote and agree with a plan for an even taller and denser plan to be presented so we can get the full use of the property on the tax rolls and every retail dollar we can get from those projects.

COPP already knows that I am always good to my word and this has not changed and I will indeed rally the south to support every developer’s dream of building higher and denser along the scenic corridors of the city and along the preserve.

As Carla said during the discussion of funding for the Preserve "keep the faith"!

Michael Merrill
"The Brutal Critic"
F8713@AOL.com

~ Miscellaneous but Important City Information

Do you own a Southern Scottsdale Business ? (that would be anything south of Indian Bend Road)  Please check out this website and sign up for one of the repeating forums Sept 11th at various locations--hosted by the city.

www.scottsdaleaz.gov/planning/areaplans

Can you host candidates in your home? Candidates need the opportunity to speak with you and your neighbors. Door-to-door isn't the best answer in 110F heat. Would you gather 5 to 15 people and invite a candidate?....or invite 2 or 3 and stagger their arrival and departure times?  We recommend that your priority be "new faces" rather than incumbents. Council meeting history already informs you on the incumbents.  Give the 5 new faces a chance to share their positions on issues in your informal setting.  Thanks! email cogsaz@cox.net if you need any contact phone numbers.

New Issue Brewing?  The City of Scottsdale has no formal noise ordinance. As new residential projects are approved in the downtown core, as existing neighborhoods nearby are impacted, and as new liquor and nightclub licenses are approved----abusive noise levels are an increasing problem for local residents.  We have one COGS member who reports that a nearby club plays live music until 2 AM with their doors open.  The level of noise is unlivable---and unsleepable in their home. They have received no enforcement from the police department. 

Thursday August nights ==DOGS AND JAZZ... From 7 to 9 PM on 7111 5th Avenue bring your dog and hear good jazz music. There will be dog fashions, gift items, ladies' jewelry and an "animal rescue" raffle. For more information call 480.970.1894 or www.classy-jazzy.com.  ...and finally....Free Fridays at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art 10 am to 5 PM

CITY BUSINESS.........

The Museum of the West public hearing schedule.....September 9th City Council decision. Further information

http://www.scotsdaleaz.gov/projects/projectsinnews/SMW.asp and

http://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/cases/casesheet.aspx?caseid=35143   

Camelback and Indian School Road construction continues....82nd Street will close briefly at Indian School Rd...Camelback Rd east of Scottsdale Road will reduce to one lane in each direction from now to October for a new water and sewer line. 

Southern Area Business Focus Groups...If you own a business south of Indian Bend Road, please attend one of these 6 to 8 PM events: September 11th at Kerr Cultural Center.  Call 480 .312 .7990 or www.scottsdaleaz.gov/planning/areaplans

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 ~ Candidate Endorsement Announcements

 Check the Candidate section for the latest endorsements for Council and Mayoral candidates. You might be surprised who has endorsed who and who hasn't been endorsed.

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 ~ Council and Mayoral Candidates Information

Information is added to the candidates list as the candidates send it to us. We do not solicit such information, but will will include it if offered by any and all candidates for Scottsdale elected offices at no charge.

~ Congressional Candidate Information

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~ What an Eye Opener!!

I promise you that you are going to be surprised... amazed at these facts! Considering what the media has been reporting since the beginning of the Iraq war.  This is not so much about politics as it is about how the Media can spin something for propaganda purposes.
 
These are very interesting facts!

Military Losses, 1980 thru 2007 whatever your politics, however you lean, however you feel about the current administration, this report should open some eyes.
 
Military losses, 1980 through 2007.  As tragic as the loss of any member of the US Armed Forces is, consider the following statistics:
 
The annual fatalities of military members while actively serving in the armed forces from 1980 through 2007:
 
1980 ...........2,392 (Carter Year)
1981 .......... 2,380 (Reagan Year)
1984 .......... 1,999 (Reagan Year)
1988 .......... 1,819 (Reagan Year)
1989 .......... 1,636 (George H W Year)
1990 .......... 1,508 (George H W Year)
1991 .......... 1,787 (George H W Year)
1992 .......... 1,293 (George H W Year)
1993 .......... 1,213 (Clinton Year)
1994 .......... 1,075 ( Clinton Year)
1995 .......... 2,465 ( Clinton Year)
1996 .......... 2,318 ( Clinton  Year)
1997 ............  817 ( Clinton Year)
1998 .......... 2,252 ( Clinton  Year)
1999 ......... 1,984 ( Clinton Year)
2000 ..........1,983 ( Clinton  Year)
2001 ............ 890 (George W Year)
2002 ......... 1,007 (George W Year)
2003 ......... 1,410 (George W Year)
2004 ..........1,887 (George W Year)
2005 ............. 919 (George W Year)
2006.............. 920 (George W Year)
2007...............899 (George W Year)
 
Clinton  years (1993-2000): 14,000 deaths;
George W years (2001-2007): 7,932 deaths
 
If you are surprised when you look at these figures, so was I. These figures mean that the loss from the two latest conflicts in the Middle East are LESS than the loss of military personnel during Bill Clinton's presidency; when America wasn't even involved in a war!
And, I was even more shocked when I read that in 1980, during the reign of President (Nobel Peace Prize winner) Jimmy  Carter, there were 2,392  US military fatalities! I think that these figures indicate that many members of our Media and our Politicians will pick and choose the information on which they report. Of course we all know that they present only those 'facts which support their agenda-driven reporting. But why do so many of them march in lock-step to twist the truth? Where do so many of them get their marching-orders for their agenda?
 
Do you want further proof? Consider the latest census, of Americans. It shows the following FACTS about the distribution of American citizens, by Race:
 
European descent 69.12%
Hispanic..............  12.5%
Black ..................  12.3%
Asian....................  3.7%
Native American ... 1.0%
Other....................  2.6%
 
Now... here are the fatalities by Race; over the past three years in Iraqi Freedom:
 
European descent (white) 74.31%
Hispanic .........................  10.74%
Black ...............................    9.67%
Asian........... ....................  1.81%
Native American..............  1.09%
Other ...............................    0.33%
 
I was surprised again... until it became clear to me that the point here is that our mainstream media continues to spin these figures (for political gain). Nothing more!!!
 
It's all about politics and some politicians are now famous for turning American against American for a vote. Consider Hillary Clinton's stump speech after her Super Tuesday 'victory' stating that the current administration does not listen' to anyone and continues the war costing precious American lives. Yes I might even agree with her, but she should be made to acknowledge her own husband's administration, without having an actual war, sent more soldiers to death during his presidency, and is on record of forcing the military to release Osama when we actually had him detained at the time.

I am not suggesting that any particular political party is necessarily right, there is a lot wrong.  But, I hope that during the time between now and November, that intelligent Americans can decipher the facts from the spin and the spinners from the leaders; those who seek even more power from those that seek justice, the dividers from the uniters.
 
Over the next months let's be good listeners and see and hear who really tries to divide our nation; and who wants to unite our nation. Who wants to control how our money is spent and who wants our money spent the way we would spend it. Who seeks power and who seeks justice?  Who spins the facts and who is genuine. (Very few are on both sides)
 
The above statistics are published by Congressional Research Service, and they may be confirmed by anyone at: 
 
 http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf

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By Craig J. Cantoni
August 22, 2008

An old adage says that if you find yourself in a hole, quit digging. So, my question for you, my fellow Americans, is why do you continue digging and, worse, why are you thinking of electing another steam shovel to the presidency?

What are you digging? You’re digging not only the nation’s financial grave but also your own. That’s not hyperbole. Historians are already chiseling a tombstone with this epitaph: Buried Here Is a Nation that Spent Itself to Death.

If you don’t think the nation is spending itself to death, then you don’t know the facts. That’s understandable, given that it’s not in the interest of K-12 schools, colleges, politicians, the financial industry, and the media to give you the facts.

Let me give you some of the facts (all data is in inflation-adjusted dollars):

- Federal spending has increased more than 300 percent in the last 40 years, during a period in which population has increased 56 percent, and median income, 35 percent. (Source: American Institute for Economic Research)

- In the last 50 years, household debt per person has gone from $7,000 to $45,000, a more than six-fold increase. Fifty years ago, Americans saved about 7.5 percent of their disposable income. Today, they save less than zero percent of their disposable income. In other words, they are spending more than their disposable income, going into debt to make up the difference. (Source: Federal Reserve)

- Unfunded obligations for entitlements total $99.9 trillion. Every family of four would have to fork over $1.3 million, or 25 times the average family’s income, to fund the obligations through taxes. To fund them through spending cuts, 97 percent of federal discretionary spending would have to be eliminated, including defense spending. (Source: Richard W. Fisher, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas)

The foregoing is a fancy way of saying that the nation is bankrupt and will soon be unable to climb out of the fiscal hole it has dug for the last 50 years. Yet Americans keep digging. AARP wants free medicine, farmers want crop subsidies, sub-prime borrowers and lenders want a bailout, teachers and parents want a teacher-pupil ratio of 1:1, single parents want free child care, parents want free lunches for their chubby kids, the military-industrial complex wants 700 bases around the word, neo-conservatives want to democratize the world at America’s expense, Poland wants to stick missiles in the eye of the Russian bear at our expense, Europeans want our protection so they can spend more on their welfare state, South Koreans want our troops to go home but we keep them there, Americans want free healthcare so they don’t have to give up their Starbucks and big-screen TVs, and over 60 percent of American voters either work for the government, work in private-sector jobs that depend on government regulations, or receive government handouts, subsidies, or entitlements.

Many of you diggers think of yourselves as patriots. You stand up at sporting events, shovel in hand, and sing the National Anthem. But the words, which have changed, are Greek to you:

The digging would continue with either McCain or Obama in the White House, albeit not as furiously with McCain. As the hole gets deeper, the next president will have no choice but to take the savings of thrifty and industrious Americans, either by confiscatory taxes or through inflation. Some of them will see it coming and take actions to protect themselves.

My wife and I are among them. One of the defensive actions we have taken is to cut our income by two-thirds, so that we can be in a lower tax bracket and not be pillaged as much. We don’t know how it helps the economy and society for us to work a third as hard as we used to, but maybe the economics genius Obama can explain it to you.

When nothing is left to confiscate, the hole will be filled with dirt and the tombstone will be put in place. Those who were smart enough to get themselves and their money to another country might visit the grave someday.

In memory of the diggers, maybe they’ll spit on it.

~ 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

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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.