In the Sunday Scottsdale Tribune, Mark Scarp caught Mayor Manross yet again in an outright lie during a City Council meeting.

This is one of numerous times our incredulous Mayor Mary Manross has been caught by the lies she constantly tells. She has told so many lies to so many people so often that she can no longer remember to whom she told what or why, all to protect her supposed credibility.

SkySong was the most costly and was one of the first efforts into lying to the taxpayers of Scottsdale but no one would believe the residents when we suggested she was lying and had other things up her sleeve.

Now we know don’t we?

Mayor Mary is supposedly a counselor for her church yet continues hers lying ways driving her deeper and deeper away from the truth and deeper yet into unforgivable Sin.

Going to Confession doesn’t clear these bad and dishonest things which are constantly practiced by the mayor. You are supposed to learn from your mistakes.

Obviously the mayor feels that lying is not a mistake nor dishonest.

We have made numerous references to her chronic pattern of lies, double standards, mismanagement and misrepresentations over the last 4 years with her saying we misunderstood what she said or were totally wrong in our assessment of what she said.

Did the recorded audio/video record of the City Council meeting read and printed by Mark Scarp in his article misunderstand what she said?

We think not, and we are now fully vindicated and Mary Manross has been found guilty of lying through her teeth on numerous occasions which can be legally treated as malfeasance in office.

She’s been caught red-handed in her own trap and should be made to pay the price by being thrown out of office!!

The plans Mayor Manross and her developer buddies have for the downtown area which the residents are adamantly against, the proposed Epicenter at Bell Road and the SR-101 which the Northerners are adamantly against, and the WaterView/Solis Project including the moving of the SRP Distribution station which the Residents adamantly don’t want are all part of her plan which don’t include the taxpayers of the city of Scottsdale. SkySong was the same thing only no one knew what she, the council majority, Crow and Ellman were up to at the time.

Now that we ALL know she lies through her teeth at any opportunity which she determines needs to be lied about to get what she wants.

Imbedded within her little cadre of secret and undercover cronies including the council majority, are the DRB and the Planning Commission who are part and parcel to the giving away of what long time residents and winter visitors knew as Scottsdale Arizona.

We have seen too many examples of some members of the DRB and Planning Commission either being part and parcel or actual developers themselves of many projects in Scottsdale which is strictly against the Ethics Code of this city when you are serving on an city entity.

Well, we now have that proof: She has been proved publicly by Mark Scarp to be a LIAR right along with Ron "Craven Weasel" McCullagh with his mistreatment and lies to Ms. Frances Young.

We no longer need liars and cheats on the city council or on our Boards, Commissions, or Committees.

Coming back to Scottsdale for the winter this year is not something we have looked forward to with enthusiasm this year.

Having been involved in local government in my home state of Ohio, it never did bode well when office holders kept telling the people, "everything is great and we are doing an outstanding job."

On top of the troubled economic times in the country, there are the local issues and Scottsdale has plenty. From unplanned growth to employees in key positions leaving (or being fired) and those jobs not being filled.

It does the community no good for leadership and news outlets to gloss over or completely ignore these complex problems. None are fulfilling their responsibilities to the people, the community they depend upon for their employment and circulation.

Over the years we have enjoyed and supported the preservation of the Sonoran Desert and creation of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. It is a credit to the residents that they voted to take on that important task and every Mayor since Herb Drinkwater has whole heartedly stood by the voters’ wishes. No one Mayor can assume all the glory and no future Mayor should ever presume to go against the voters’ wishes.

Having been a supporter of the late Mayor Drinkwater, and welcomed him into our home and our South Scottsdale neighborhood to discuss problems and current issues, we know that he made every effort to be proactive in addressing the complex issues of our changing neighborhood and a city growing at a rapid rate.

That kind of vision is missing in Scottsdale today. Mayor Manross started off her first term as Mayor with a lot of promises, but somewhere along the way things got set aside and the business of governing all of Scottsdale and planning our future got lost.

Economic development planning is critical and having lost the outstanding services of Economic Vitality Director, David Roderique, was bad enough, but to not have filled that position since last winter is poor governance.

Interim positions are rampant within the City staff structure. This does not bode well for the function of every day business let alone the long range planning that we must undertake.

Of further concern are the legal expenses that increase in our City, yearly. We must be assured that our business practices are reviewed to get reasonable control of those costs.

Finally, the function of government relies upon good communication at all levels from the Mayor and Council through City staff and all departments, including appointed boards and commissions, and the citizens at large. Policies and procedures must be timely and clear and readily available to everyone. You should not have to hire an attorney to locate and decipher any document or program, policy or process established or created by any level of the City government.

Unfortunately, the current Mayor and administration have allowed many important elements of good communication to disappear.

Scottsdale’s future depends upon re-establishing good public administration, critical long range planning and sound economic development. We need a change. 8 years as mayor and 8 years of appointments and elected Council positions gives time enough to establish your legacy which has now begun to falter due to lack of awareness and sincere community understanding.

The arrogance of power can be debilitating and destructive.

Georgia E. "Dodie" Geist
Mason, OH and Scottsdale, AZ

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Thank you to all of my campaign supporters. Without you, my year long campaign would not have been possible for me – I am deeply indebted to you for your generosity.

Throughout my campaign, I have emphasized the need for our next wave of leadership to be committed to true public service: serving those who make up the backbone of this wonderful city. You are the citizens, the businesses, the neighborhood groups, the civic organizations, the activists, the advocates and those who are concerned with Scottsdale’s well-being as a whole. Your undying devotion to making Scottsdale a better place to live and work for years to come is honorable and necessary. And leadership should be, but is often times not, thankful for your involvement.

Few Council candidates can actually say that they know how to serve the public’s best interests. For one, they have had little to no involvement over the past five or more years with the citizens and businesses. Although some are members of organizations and businesses in Scottsdale, their involvement is limited to their own special interests.

Frankly, they have little time for much more. Additionally, they make few public appearances at meetings, local organizational gatherings, workshops, or other Scottsdale related citizen functions unless it serves their campaign interests. How can one know what’s really going on at the citizen level unless one is in the trenches helping, listening, volunteering, and working at it to make a difference?

I have been working with our citizens, businesses and neighborhoods for about six years now. From Downtown and Transportation workshops to referendums, open government discussions at the Kiva, large project neighborhood protection, and providing problem solving assistance to our citizenry, I have interjected myself into the mix. No cause, big or small, escapes my notice and I do my best to be a part of the movement to have our citizen’s voice’s heard. My work and my time, like many others in our community, are voluntary.

I am not without a regular job, a family, a house to keep and other volunteer obligations, yet, Scottsdale, and its citizens, are so very important to me, that I find a way to balance it all to make a difference in the lives of others. This is part of public service – what it means to honestly want to make a difference in how our city progresses in the future and what our Council persons should be doing for all citizens as part of their elected position.

Yet, as many of you know, elected office in Scottsdale is more of a status position than a service oriented job. Few Council persons will appear on a street corner on a Sunday afternoon to discuss striping issues with neighbors who live near a school zone, nor will they attend a small ladies meeting to listen to discussion about how weekend parking at one of the bars affects a local business. Likewise the weekly 600+ emails that hit their Council mailbox often go ignored and unanswered or are tended to by other city employees in a very untimely manner. These actions make a mockery of public service.

It has been years since we have elected individuals to Council who truly want what’s best for Scottsdale: positive planned progress, ethical transparent government, fiscal responsibility and a focus on improving our business community – all of it, not just that which is geared towards special interests.

Who are willing to put in the time necessary to effectuate change? Being a member of Council is not about how much money your campaign has raised or self-donated to your election, what "connections" you may have, or what political insiders are supporting your campaign. It’s about public service. It’s serving those who make up the backbone of our community in Scottsdale. It’s service that should have started years before the candidate even considered running for a Council seat and which should continue years after they are elected. Experience DOES count as does ongoing commitment, honesty and a selfless interest in one’s community.

I do not take public service or being a part of this beautiful city lightly. In fact, I have made it a very significant part of my life. I am proud to be a citizen, advocate, activist, participant, and candidate for City Council in Scottsdale. I am honored to be asked to take part in resolving issues that affect our communities: citizens and businesses alike.

If elected, I will continue my service to this community and commit to making Scottsdale a better place for all of us to live and work in the future.

Please join me in my quest to bring true public service back to our Scottsdale city government.

Vote for Nan Nesvig for a NEW City Council on November 4^th

Nan Nesvig
www.nannesvig.com

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 We have two weeks before Election Day. There are going to be many very important, very urgent issues that government at all levels will need to address. Your VOTE is more important than ever.

We have the distinct ability to curb or stop "special interests" from influencing elections and government decisions in which a few "special" constituents profit and we all are left holding the bag, which, inevitably we are.  

Many of the propositions and candidates are promoted by special interests. I use reverse intuition, that is to say, the more money spent trying to convince me how to vote the more suspicious I am. Therefore I have used annoying but less expensive "robo-calls" to try and get out my message of restoring open, neighborhood friendly, citizen governance for all of Scottsdale.  

Whoever your favorite candidates are, please make it known. Crank up the volume!

My sincere thanks for your support!

My sincere apologies for these annoying reminders of democracy! My best wishes to all! 

Tom Giller,
Candidate for Scottsdale City Council

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~ A Most Fitting Memorial Celebration

Dear Friends,

As most of you know, our Dad, Paul Reich, passed away on June 19, 2008. He loved the city of Scottsdale and one of his favorite things to do was walking with friends at his beloved Chaparral Park.

In honor of our Dad, and to support the City he loved, we have purchased several park benches to honor his memory.

Please join us for a short dedication ceremony Saturday, November 1st, at 10:00 am, at Scottsdale Chaparral Park at the covered gathering area near the lake and playground, followed by a casual reception at the home of Kirk and Geri Kroloff from 11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.

We would love to have you join us for a brief remembrance and a wonderful morning enjoying the park our Dad loved so much.  Please feel free to have any family or friends, for whom we may not have contact information for, join us as well.

Warmest regards,
 
Drew and David Reich 
 

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We have attended a number of candidate forums and meetings this year to find out all we could about the candidates. It is important that we are well informed about whom to vote into office, especially now. Scottsdale is going through some hard times and we both believe that some change in the government representatives is very necessary.

We went to a Veterans meeting last Thursday at the Legion Post location to hear the candidates speak. Maybe we’re just a little conservative, but we believe that a candidate should dress conservatively and professionally for these forums just as if they would be expected to be had they been elected. This tells us a lot about their professionalism. We also think that a candidate should speak honestly and be publicly approachable. We can not begin to tell you how flabbergasted we were to witness an abomination of both factors with council candidate Lisa Borowsky on last Thursday evening.

Not only did Lisa show up late to the forum, she was dressed as if she was going to a "20 Something" party lounge instead of an important public meeting. We were embarrassed, as was the couple we were seated with, to even see her there dressed like that.

Apparently, her chosen wardrobe did not seem to bother her in the least. Her outfit looked as though it was best suited for Friday night clubbing, not a candidate forum. She wore a short and tight mini skirt and her top was skin tight. It left nothing to the imagination and was far too young for her age especially being a Mom of a young child. Her shoes were platform with stiletto heels – they were very nightclubish. We wonder – does she think that voters really want a party girl on our City Council?

Another disconcerting thing was that when she speaks, it seems so condescending. She was seemingly slurring her words and we again wondered where she had been prior to the forum? Maybe that explains the outfit.

Surely a judge would not permit such an outfit in court where she practices law. How serious a candidate is she if she toddled over to the forum after a few cocktails at a local cocktail hour or two in that outfit?

Although we don’t feel as though Lisa knows as much as say Tom Giller or Nan Nesvig and surely is not anywhere near as involved in the communities like the two of these candidates are, she was our third choice for Council.

Not any more.

Her mode of dress and her attitude of win at all cost by infusing tens of thousands of her own (?) money into her campaign, have really soured on our opinion of her. Could she be trying to buy her position on the council?

She does not seem to really care about the people of Scottsdale – her candidate info is all strong talk but we haven’t seen any of the walk during or before the campaign started.

We want people who are intelligent, professional and dress like decent citizens. We want people who talk the talk, then walk the walk like Nesvig and Giller. We do not think this nightclub image is what accurately reflects Scottsdale as a city nor is it conducive to portraying a serious candidate or council person on the serious issues Scottsdale faces.

For someone who once stated that her brother’s business was just his and that she had nothing to do with it, she is trying awfully hard to be part of it based upon her wardrobe and attitude Thursday evening.

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 ~ Attend or the City Will Take Control

BELOW IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT MEETING (10-29-08) FOR ALL OF US WHO CARE ABOUT SOUTH SCOTTSDALE NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR HOMES.
 
WITH THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT ADVANCED PLANNING DIRECTOR JOHN LUSARDI HAS BEEN REMOVED IT LEAVES THE PLANNING PROCESS IN DIRE STRAIGHTS AND OUR THE FUTURE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS EQUALLY SO.
 
LUSARDI UNDERSTOOD THAT GOOD THINGS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED FOR DOWNTOWN AND ALL OF SOUTH SCOTTSDALE, THEY ARE PUZZLE PIECES THAT MUST FIT TOGETHER; AND THAT DEVELOPMENT CANNOT BE HAPHAZARD AS IT NOW IS WITH NO SOLID PLANNING.
 
IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE MEETING LISTED BELOW, PLEASE SEND IN YOUR THOUGHTS TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS LISTED OR SEND THEM TO ME.
 
Nancy Cantor
480-516-4666

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~ Ballot Measure Suggestions Repeated by popular request

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 ~ Scottsdale Republic Wrong Again

Well it is obvious that the editors of the Scottsdale Republic must be blind, deaf and dumb to many city issues as they again supported Ron "Blatant Liar & Craven Weasel" McCullagh for another four year term as a city council representative and in their usual grand glowing review.

Since this is the papers "opinion" of choice, it is one that not only me, but many others reject based on Mr. McCullagh’s less than glowing performance and tactics while holding office and in his attempt to get re-elected by blatantly lying.

Consider the fact that he was brought up on a legal complaint for violating campaign finance laws which he was eventually cleared by the city of, but only because he resubmitted his forms to finally show that he was being almost totally bankrolled by the developers of this city and also many developers from out of state.

It was even noted in the sternly written letter from the city to Mr. McCullagh that they were still not satisfied with his response to the issue because Mr. McCullagh’s response admitted that he had hidden occupations of donors at their request knowing full well that it was illegal do such a thing.

My recent conversation with City Matriarch Frances Young of the prestigious Frances Young Community Heroes Award, Frances pointed out that she fully believed the conversation she had with Mr. McCullagh when he personally met with her and asked for her endorsement. She told him she required that he fully support work force housing among other issues before she would endorse him fir re-election and was personally guaranteed by McCullagh that he has and would totally supported work force housing in Scottsdale.

Now we read he does not support workforce housing as evidenced by his published reply to the Chamber of Commerce’s report on where candidates stand on issues, hence he blatantly lied to Frances Young solely to fraudulently gain her needed support.

It was also Mr. McCullagh who ignored and even admitted to helping developers attempts to get their way by allowing an area of the city to become blighted in the same manner as Steve Ellman did with Los Arcos, by never bringing the problem to the proper city authorities attention for action while he was a council member and traversed the canal bank adjoining the project almost daily during this same period.

It has become very evident that the Scottsdale Republic has little confidence in itself and its ability to be a true "balanced news" source in the eyes of a majority of the Scottsdale residents and is therefore losing subscribers en-mass.

Why else would the Scottsdale Republic offer former subscribers Sunday only paper deliveries for a mere dollar per week, then throw in free deliveries a couple of other days a week as a bonus?

Consensus has it that the Scottsdale Republic has what some consider a decent classified ad and sports section and Laurie Roberts; that’s about the long and short of it.

As far as "fair & balanced" editorials and good investigative reporting is concerned, the Scottsdale Republic editorials are about as far left, non representative, non-balanced, lacking real facts as well and as misguided as you can get.

What happened to insight and fairness?

What happened to true investigative reporting?

What happened to getting both sides of the story before going off on an ill-conceived and totally bogus tangent full of what many see as lies and innuendo?

What happened was very simple: Who owes whom and how much do they owe politically.

The investigative reporting goes about as far as sitting in front of a computer in a Lazy-Boy recliner and watching the city council meetings on the web, at least when Lesley Wright was their crack reporter. There was rarely any solid content about how the residents felt, unless of course they were a part of the mayors dwindling supporters.

We’ll give "newbie" Lynh Bui a chance but so far it seems to be the "same old – same old". Of course what can we expect with Mike Ryan and Robert Leger telling her what she can and can’t write about and how to present it to show Manross and her council majority as the "perfect" team to take the city into the future.

Manross and the incumbents Drake and McCullagh wouldn’t know or see the future of Scottsdale if it was a 6 foot long 4 X 4 smacking them solidly in the face at least twice a day from a full-swing baseball home plate stance!

Sadly, we will be losing the Scottsdale Tribune in January which means there will no longer be a home town newspaper. Can we expect the Scottsdale Republic to fill the gap? Not on your life!

The Scottsdale Republic will be around for a while yet because it’s losses will be covered from the other publications the Republic owns until the last dog is hung, or until Manross and her cronies are thrown out of office.

There are plenty of on-line and other print media from which to get the information you want or need.

Some we recommend and visit ourselves are:

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 ~ Letters to the Editor  

~Manross' Wrong Choice

From the Thursday, Oct 23^rd Scottsdale Tribune "Letters".

As a Republican state senator who witnessed Mayor Mary Manross sell out Scottsdale in the 20-year transportation tax, I cannot stay silent.

When the conservative Republicans insisted on the transportation funding from the renewal of the tax be evenly distributed, Manross balked in closed-door meetings. At the request of and out of respect to state Senator Carolyn Alien, R-Scottsdale, we allowed Manross to be the only mayor to interject during terse discussions in the Senate president's office. Manross insisted that $2.3 billion be spent out of the 20-year tax for light rail in other cities.

When the Republicans made the point that she was saddling Scottsdale as a donor city to the tax, she made the same analogy as she does about City Councilman Jim Lane, "the difference between looking backward or looking forward." Manross said she did not want to "look backwards," so she supported a plan that sent sales tax to other cities and ensured that Scottsdale's transportation needs were not met.

Manross' inability to put Scottsdale's residents before her desire to look progressive should not be rewarded. I support Lane and fiscal conservatives in Scottsdale should as well.

Sen. Jack Harper
Surprise

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

VOTE for a New, Improved, Honest, Ethical and
Open Scottsdale city government November 4th,
Vote Lane, Nesvig and Giller !!

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~ Planning & Zoning Department Adrift

Isn't it interesting and really sad that you have waited for over four months for a response from Planning on your sign questions.

Let me try to explain something. Connie Padian does not know a thing about the Scottsdale sign ordinance. She was placed into the GM position right after Frank Gray left and has always seems to have been at the right place at the right time.

She once was assigned to rewrite the zoning ordinance, but failed miserably there, then she was shipped up to the new water campus but failed there, her buddy Kroy Ekblaw, rewrote the Chief Development Officer job description for her but then Gawf hired Clack so he had to scramble to get her another Chiefs position. There was only supposed to be two then Clack was hired so Kroy made three.... Anyway, Connie has the interpersonal relationships skills of a hermit, is very unliked and not trusted by the city employees.

The Scottsdale sign ordinance used to be one of the best things about Scottsdale. Our sign regulations while often criticized for being tough, distinguished sign usage in Scottsdale from the other cities. Now they simply DO NOT enforce the ordinances at all.

Connie even had records clerks reviewing and issuing permits, or the youngest and newest associate planner recruit to do sign reviews, no consistency, many mistakes, like Saddle Ranch Chop House that the City paid for, etc.

As for your inspection request: Building inspectors do not inspect signs, they DO NOT inspect footings or electrical UNLESS it is attached to an existing building permit.

Code Enforcement DOES NOT inspect signs as they KNOW NOTHING about the sign ordinance.

You see, one hand does not know what the other is doing. The Bible thumping Malcolm Hankins doesn't know how to train his staff on sign ordinance issues, and Keagy has ignored this for many years. Just take a look at all the neon "Open" signs and other illegal banners and signs through out our city.

This is just another reason why Scottsdale continues to slide into gross mediocrity and according to Connie, your website is just a nuisance that NO ONE reads so she doesn't feel compelled to write you back. 

An insider,

Anonymous by request
Scottsdale

The City's and Padian's answer to our 5 month old request:

Mr. Knowlton, staff has researched the signs per your previous e-mail and found no irregularities associated with health/safety.  Please be assured we are following the permit and inspection processes in regards to aesthetics and building codes requirements. 
 
Connie Padian
Interim General Manager
Planning and Development Services
480-312-2664

If you buy her answer, I have Ocean Front Property in Flagstaff for sale!!

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~Mayor Took Wrong Road

From the Saturday, Oct 25^th Scottsdale Tribune "Letters".

Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross' lack of business understanding is quite clear. In a recent mayoral candidate interview, she used the phrase, "the demise of the American car industry."

Can you just imagine if you we're the shareholders of General Motors or Ford, and heard that your industry is in ruin and the end is near?

What "chicken little" mentality and utter absurdity for her to equate demise with automobile sales downturn.

If it helps at all, she needs to get it straight and go to the General Motors Web site that addresses common myths and misunderstandings.

Further, Marc Cannon, senior vice president of AutoNation for the metro Phoenix market indicated "our dealerships are very much in the black and doing quite well in comparison to the market."

Scottsdale voters, you have a clear choice — proven business experience and leadership in Jim Lane or a career politician without any real job experience.

Ray Torres
Scottsdale

Editors Note: If Manross hadn't killed both the Coyotes Arena and the WalMart deals in favor of the ASU SkySong fiasco, we would still have the traffic flow and retail sales to keep the car dealers and the city healthy. Due to the inability of Manross Administration, Jan Dolan, and the Council Majority to understand and implement the proper economics necessary to run a city, we lost all of these opportunities as well as Rawhide; All key producers of the required sales tax revenue to run this city.

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~ Saddened by Loss

 The Scottsdale Tribune

You made this old lady use her painfully arthritic hands to again respond to one of your articles. That’s OK, I have nothing else to do and all day to do it anyway.

As a long time reader of the Scottsdale Tribune and the Scottsdale Progress preceding it, I am very sad to see it go away. I understand the economic reasons but it still hits me, a shut in, as a hard blow.

Some suggest that I subscribe to the Scottsdale Republic but it repulses me with its socialist attitude and very left slanting editorials, so I won’t even have it in the apartment. Some say just get it for the ads; the ads I use come in the mail every week.

I can use the internet but it can become a chore on those bad days when my hands and fingers don’t want to work as they used to because of the pain it can generate when I get aggravated about an issue such as the redistribution of wealth and the upcoming elections. My dead husband and I worked too damned hard during our working years to start giving it away to lazy louts now.

 The City Election:

Now you have me on a roll.

With the above said, it’s time to put away all the pomp and circumstance, the guessing and regressing, and get down to the nitty-gritty of the city election. I have read about all of the candidates for both the mayor’s race and the council seats.

In my humble opinion, Jim Lane is already our new mayor based on the General Election and will win again November 4^th, but then again Mary Manross is too stubborn, out of touch with reality, sly and self-centered to allow herself to be beaten by anyone come hook or crook. It’s really too bad she turned out to be such an unethical, angry and secretive person when she had such a great start when I originally voted for her. In the old days, they would say Mary is "crooked".

From my review of all the information available including the Campaign Financial Reports, mailers, fliers and newspaper ads, I find that Nan Nesvig and Tom Giller are the only council candidates who are not tied to developers or to special interests within or outside the city as all of the others seem to be. Maybe Betty Drake could be an exception although she does have a planning business here in town which could be helped enormously by her re-election.

My thoughts are fully supported by Nesvig and Giller’s relatively small campaign chests consisting of a large number of small individual donations in comparison to those of McCullagh (95% developer money which he didn’t want to divulge), Lisa Borowsky with a lot of her own money (close to ^$40,000 I hear) and money possibly from her brothers club patrons and family members, Suzanne Klapp with a lot of her own money and from the Chamber and their supporters, with Betty Drake who seems to have lost the ability to grab big supporters except from small donors which might be a good thing for a change.

The serious questions I have are very simple:

Why would any candidate spend as much as they have spent of their own money (up to ^$40,000+) to garner a part time city council seat which pays a measly ^$18,000 a year?
 

What do they know that we don’t?
 

What is in it for them monetarily or otherwise?
 

Why have they been supported by the Scottsdale Republic and the Chamber?
 

Who have they connected with or taken campaign donations from that expect them to vote a certain way on projects that come before the council?

These are very serious questions that every voter should ponder very carefully.

I have pondered the questions and have come to the realization that the only correct and reasonable answer can be that they expect some outside business or some other type of gratuity to which they are not entitled as public servants!

With that said. I have decided that Jim Lane deserves to be our new mayor for the second time.

Nan Nesvig and Tom Giller deserve to be the next council members based upon their knowledge and how they care about the city and DON’T have outside connections.

On top of everything, honesty, ethics, reduced spending and openness have been publicly pledged by only those 3 candidates since the beginning of their campaigns.

Many others have picked up the thought but do they mean it? I seriously doubt it.

I have voted by Absentee Ballot for Jim Lane for mayor, Nan Nesvig and Tom Giller for the city council positions. Won't you take my lead and do the same?

E. Slocomb
Scottsdale

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 ~ COGS Corner

The Coalition of Greater Scottsdale, a citizen and small business owner’s advocacy organization particularly concerned with "consistent land use policy and protecting our unique quality of Scottsdale life" provide the following information. More information is available on their website at http://cogsAZ.org

 ~The Waterview/Solis Project Update: [NE corner of Camelback Rd and Scottsdale Road and south of the canal]: 

Last night the Planning Commissioners voted 7-0 to send their approval of the Waterview/Solis hotel-restaurant-specialty retail project to the City Council. It was approved as presented by the applicants without the city staff requested stipulations. 

Those stipulations included requiring the developer to follow current city step-back code on its eastern boundary with the new Best Western SunDial project.  The abandonment of the alley at the proposed new site for the SRP substation was part of the "project package" under consideration. 

Residents spoke both for approval (Villa Monterey I Board and a couple of nearby business owners) and opposed (East Arcadia, Scottsdale Village, Villa d'Este, Villa Adrian, Scottsdale Terrace, COGS and TOPS speakers and others).   

The questions from the Commissioners to SRP, John Berry, and the staff were on-target---information vital to the final decision.  The upper area of city hall was filled with yellow-shirted opponents to the relocation of the SRP substation to 68th Street and Indian School Road. The project supporters wore pink neck signs and sat in the chairs below. 

To be informed, please go to the City's website and watch the public discussion segment of the meeting video on your computer.  It should be ready for viewing later today.

The next step:  The City Council presentation and vote is to be agendized for Nov 11th or 18th....stay tuned.

 ~ Important Meetings Coming:  Southern Scottsdale Area Focus Groups...

Wednesday, 29 October from 11:30 am to 1:30 at the Kerr Cultural Center and Wednesday, 12 November from 6 to 8 pm at the Granite Reef Senior Center.   Call 480 312 7990 to register. 

The Coalition of Greater Scottsdale meeting is Thursday, November 13th, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Granite Reef Senior Center. We are awaiting final confirmation from our guest speakers.

 ~ Campaign Mailer: 

The Coalition of Greater Scottsdale Political Committee sent a campaign mailer to registered voters for mayoral candidate Jim Lane and City Council candidates Nan Nesvig and Tom Giller.  They will also have a coming weekend newspaper advertisement. 

Reminder; the COGS Political Committee provides these endorsements as an independent expenditure---not in coordination with any candidate or our non-profit COGS AZ organization.  The Political Committee Chairperson is Sharon Oberritter— email sw1170@cox.net  Do not  send your campaign donations to our COGS AZ mailbox.

Check our website www.cogsAZ.org   (or .net)

For the COGS Board of Directors
Sonnie Kirtley, Chairperson
cellular: 602. 717. 3886 anytime

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~Shout and Spout ~

shoutandspout@scottsdaleactivist.com  

~ As pointed out in last weeks Scottsdale Activist, the Dial building is an absolute  disgrace. When viewed from the east side it looks even worse. No wonder that Brad Caspar, the Dial CEO, endorsed Manross for allowing him to build this abomination. As a Northerner, there is NO WAY on God’s green earth that anyone should be voting for Mary Manross or any incumbent. If you think the Dial building is hideous, just wait and see what else she and her developer friends have secretly planned for us should she win. Now we understand why South Scottsdale is screaming "Foul". If Manross is elected, we’re next and we’re screwed!!!

~ So the Planning Commission approved Waterview-Solis project totally disregarding the suggestions and recommendations of the city staff. If that doesn’t tell you whose pocket the Planning Commission and the DRB are in you are blinder than a bat and just as stupid if you vote for Manross and the incumbents McCullagh and Drake!!

~ This city is going to hell in an expensive light rail club car if Manross, Drake and McCullagh are re-elected. Read the news almost any day in Tempe, Mesa and Phoenix concerning Scottsdale and light rail. They all point to the inclusion of Scottsdale in their system. Are you really going to allow that to happen? And moreover, are you willing to pay that price which is now almost ^$100 MILLION per mile for almost 26 miles of track and ancillaries, plus annual upkeep and replacement of trains, parts and track? Vote Lane, Nesvig and Giller to STOP LIGHT RAIL in Scottsdale.

~OMG!!! If ANYONE saw the way council candidate Lisa Borowsky was dressed at the veterans Thursday night Candidate Forum, they would think she wasn’t serious about being elected to the City Council. We couldn’t believe that she would come to such a sensitive political affair dressed in a mini-skirt and a skin tight top. Is this a proper way for any candidate to dress? How will she dress if elected?? Fellow voters, very frankly I don’t want to know, therefore we WILL NOT be voting for Lisa Borowsky for city council. Tom Giller and Nan Nesvig seem to be the only candidates who are honest and really care about the city. We were going to include Borowsky, but no way in hell now. We don’t need a possible partier on the city council even if she is an attorney.

~Ron McCullagh Lied to Frances Young’s face about Workforce housing in Scottsdale!! He is such a big "ME centered" blow-hard!! We need to dump him from the council. He is TOTALLY OWNED by the developers and does as his mommy Mary tells him. He doesn’t have a mind of his own and is only interested in what they, the developers, can do for him. DO NOT vote for Ron McCullagh. GREED and stupidity defines McCullagh to a "T"!!

~ Geez, can it get any worse in Planning & Zoning? I mean you waited for over five months for an answer to perfectly good observations and questions regarding the installation of these signs. If they collect a fee why don't they inspect them? Isn’t that a serious safety issue for the citizens? Looks like typical Connie Padian ostrich management again, stick your head in the sand and if she can't see it than neither can you...Scottsdale Planning & Zoning is a joke compared to other cities for which I have done work. Another point I’d like to make; John Lusardi is and has always been a fine gentleman, he was always willing to respond and try to work with and within the system, While he was a friend and former employee of Frank Grays in another city and brought to Scottsdale by Frank, he would often comment on how bad the political and City manager offices were in Scottsdale. Just another outspoken employee trying to do right by the citizens who is forced to resign because of a political hack job of a mayor. How many is that now?   

~It’s past time to throw out Manross, Drake and McCullagh. We have good, qualified candidates in Lane, Nesvig and Giller and they don’t owe anyone anything. Time to change the DRB and Planning Commission too after the blanket approval of the Solis Project without adding in the changes asked for by the city staff. Who the hell do these commissioners think they are? They are supposed to represent the citizens, but do they??? To whom do they owe what??? It sure as hell isn’t to the taxpayers is it.

~ Manross and company must be running scared. They’re on the street hoofing it trying to get people to vote for them. We threw them off our property and told them never to return and to leave town with their tails between their legs when "Queen Mary" is defeated. We plan to vote for Lane for Mayor, and Giller and Nesvig for council. We want the rats nest cleaned out and all city hall doors, including the mayors office doors, permanently nailed open.

~ Ron "The Craven Weasel" McCullagh is such a Chicken S--- B-----d that he ran out of town with Rick Kidder to China so that he wouldn’t have to face the music about lying to Frances Young’s face or answer questions about his campaign donations or the Chambers 4 page flier before the election. Ron "McOsterman" McCullagh is really a loser and needs to lose badly November 4^th. Let’s help retire him from the city council once and for all.

 ~ Found a Manross flier full of lies and half truths on my door when I got home from work today. A hundred dollar bill says her Highness Queen Mary didn't hand out even one of these lying pieces of crap, her hair might fade in the sun and it might make her delicate feet hurt. Oh geez, think of THAT picture.

 ~ Hopefully, within the next 2 weeks we will have a new council majority so we can get to work saving the city we love so much. By electing Jim Lane, Nan Nesvig and Tom Giller, we can take back our city and grow it properly within the budget allocated and in a timely manner.

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  Living in the Land of Oz

It appears that the Tribune is leaving the Land of Oz and in its "going out in glory style" Brain Powell wrote what is to be considered one of his best articles ever this week describing in a balanced manner the lies that have been perpetrated on the public by our own "Mary the Fairy" Manross.

I am going to miss not getting this paper that I have gotten for the last decade or so, as it has consistently been the real paper of the city reporting about what is really going on.

Brian Powell pointed out three outright lies by "Mary the Fairy" Manross and all three are HUGE in nature.

I did not consider the payday loan issue (even at a whopping 391% annual interest rate) to be that big of a deal even though Mary was caught lying once again. She stated that Mayor Lane "opposed" restrictions on predatory lenders but it was proven that not only did he vote in agreement, but he did so twice.

Once to restrict the use in a development case in South Oz, but also to agree to look at a zoning ordinance to limit the amount of space they can incorporate.

This was just another typical Mary and Larry ploy to try to win votes in the South and if you really look at it you can see it.

If the Mayor has to vote on this after the election it will be for very minimal impacts and since there is not really a problem with the whole 10 stores, or less, in the entire city she tries to make herself look good as being aggressive to a none issue to gain votes by people who listen to the likes of Lisa Haskell.

The Mayor also knows that if people were smart enough and angry enough about these types of businesses they would simply vote no on Prop 200, instead of yes because the new proposition really has no changes in how they operate, the laws will "sunset" in 2010 (be wiped from the books and disallowed) and they cannot operate anymore.

This is the same route 13 other states have taken by the way, and the team of Mary and Larry are blowing smoke up your dumb patoot if you fall for it.

Manross claims that Mayor Lane voted against new jobs in South Oz which, again, is an outright lie by the "(w)itch in sheep’s clothing."

Mayor Lane voted against the "plan" that was being used to try to bring those jobs to the McDowell Corridor. In retrospect of my earlier support of this project, as it was originally described to the public, I commend Mayor Lane for his votes of opposition to the plan. And those jobs have yet to materialize.

"Mary the Fairy" actually says that Mayor Lane voted against her vision of a "renaissance for Downtown and South Oz," when in fact the records show two things: One is that Jim Lane has voted yes to all of the big projects Downtown since his term on council; and Two, he is still a big idiot in regard to development and planning, but he seems to be seeing the issue a little better lately.

Now, the "Wicked Witch" uses scare tactics in this one when she states that Mayor Lane voted against funding for public safety which is absurd and points directly to the Larry- Mary approach of targeting our most vulnerable and most uniformed voters.

The fact is Mayor Jim Lane voted against the multi-million dollar taxpayer expense of the whole budget with increases in wages that were disproportionate to any other city or state in the entire country. Remember dumb asses, Oz employees more people in city government in the Metro area other than Phoenix, thanks to Mary Manross and Jan Dolan.

Now, on Thursday there was a letter to the editor in the Tribune that even backed up another truth that Mayor Lane has been trying to get across the minds of our reluctant voting public. Your current leader is a liar and a cheating little (w)itch who should be hung upside down by her tender parts on a pole in the courtyard of city hall just like with the Salem Witch Trials.

Senator Jack Harper wrote a letter to the paper, which has only been printed in the Tribune so far, but a couple of his comments are succinct and precise like this one and I quote:

She trips over everything whether she looks backward or forward, as far as we can see.

We already know how big a liar Ron McCullagh, the Manross bred Craven Weasel, is and if he gets elected again you can expect to see that teachers pet display how much he has learned about how to screw you over quietly. That man is a pure bred politician with all the lying abilities to make it look just like a Manross deal. Further to the point of this lecherous little twit is he is a smooth talker and actually does parade around like a wolf in sheep’s skin.

Wow! We have some good rumors floating around this week and I was shocked beyond belief at one of them. Brazen if it proves to be true.

Recently I heard of the e-mail stating that none other than one of our own sitting planning commissioners is bringing forward the thought of a 13 story building on 68^th Street and Camelback Road.

There is a rumor going around that our "Interim Manager of Planning and Development, who just let the Advanced Planning Director go (the only one we have had since 1997 and he only came to us in 2006), is doing everything that she can to make sure her department does not lose the 10% cut the council is looking to make and I heard that she was actually spending like a drunken pirate (see Shouts & Spouts in this edition).

This rumor actually asked for someone to ask for a line item spending report and immediate action from the Auditing Department. Now if you think about the Audit Department anymore and the thought of getting a line item report when you can not even figure out what our repair costs are for all of these road obstacles that get hit, then you should be laughing pretty hard about now, huh? But then you should know, too, that there are interim positions in the Audit Department.

Again we hear the rumor of employees hating their new leader in Planning and Development, in this instance, and with no proof, I will support this rumor as our Interim Planning and Development General Manager is a complete nit wit when it comes to planning and development, and the department has produced some seriously stupid responses to residents requests for information.

Well, that is it for me this week Ozites. I feel the need for a pitcher of Mojitos and need a Harry Potter book and see if we can get to know our new neighbor on the shelf.

Mike Merrill
"The Brutal Critic"
F8713@aol.com

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Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program.

He promised: 

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are  now receiving a Social Security check every month -- and then finding that we are now getting taxed on 85% of the money we paid to the Federal government to 'put away' -- you may be interested in the following: 

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Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the independent 'Trust Fund' and put it into the general fund so that Congress could spend it? 

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the Democratically controlled House and Senate. 

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Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding? 

A: The Democratic Party. 

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Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security annuities? 

A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the 'tie-breaking' deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the  US  

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Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants? 

AND MY FAVORITE: 

A: That's right! Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party. Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65, began to receive Social Security payments! The Democratic Party gave these payments to them, even though they never paid a dime into it! 

Then, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away! 

And the worst part about it is uninformed citizens believe it!

If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe changes will  evolve. Maybe not, some Democrats are awfully sure of what isn't so. 

But it's worth a try. How many people can YOU send this to? 

Actions speak louder than bumper stickers.

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Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read "Vote Obama, I need the money."   I laughed.

Once in the restaurant my server had on an "Obama 08" tie, again I laughed--just imagine the coincidence.

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept.  He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need: the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy ^$5 and told him to thank the server inside as I decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient thought he deserved money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

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 ~ Cantoni Confab

The Oct. 22, 2008, edition of the Wall Street Journal carried a story about foreclosures in a small California town 80 miles from Silicon Valley. As is almost always the case in human-interest stories about the housing collapse, the foreclosed borrowers described in the article had gorged on credit like hogs gorging on slop.

It’s very difficult to feel sorry for the hogs but very easy to be angry at them, given that their gorging has caused the rest of us to disgorge a lot of our money as the economy collapses and our political nincompoops in Washington force us to bail out nincompoops.

One of the borrowers is named Larry. Here’s my letter to him:

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

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I’m ignorant of a lot of stuff, including how to perform surgery. That’s why I can’t get a license to practice surgery on my fellow citizens.

Unfortunately, my fellow citizens practice economics on me, although most are ignorant in economics. In fact, they have a license from the government to go to the polls and cause great harm to me, to others, and to themselves, by voting for politicians who are illiterate in economics and who endorse economic folly.

Are you pummeled every day, as I am, by a barrage of economics ignorance from politicians, reporters, pundits, and people from all walks of life across the fruited plain? If so, I share your pain.

Speaking of pain, a true-blue union guy from New Jersey recently kicked me in the groin with a long email in which he ranted against big corporations and the rich, and gave his childlike views of what is wrong with the economy and how to fix it. The ignorance took my breath away.

He lives in a state where K-12 per-pupil spending is over $12,000 per annum. He should go to the returns counter at the New Jersey Dept. of Education, hand over his brain, and say, "This is defective. I’d like another."

Among other defects, his brain believes that foreign trade is bad for Americans and that foreign products should be boycotted, along with the American companies that sell the products. I tried to teach the defective brain about comparative advantage, using as an example trade between New Jersey and my home state of Arizona. I asked, "How would it benefit you and me if Arizona were to ban the importation of pharmaceuticals from New Jersey, and if New Jersey were to ban the importation of copper from Arizona?"

The brain with the union label wrote back with a string of expletives and a proctology diagnosis of what is lodged in my colon. Finally, I ended the exchange with a surefire way of ending exchanges with such big thinkers, guaranteeing that they are never heard from again. "I’m just curious," I wrote. "What economics courses have you taken, what economics books have you read, and who are your favorite economists?"

Another pummeling took place at the hands of Mike Huckabee, who recently punched me in the face with brass knuckles of economics ignorance. (In the event that you have better sense than to watch TV, Mike Huckabee is a commentator on Fox News and the former Republican governor of Arkansas.) Huckabee burped on TV that NAFTA was a big cause of the current housing crisis and economic meltdown. Yeah, right, Huckleberry, er, Huckabee, the economic mess was due to the Mexican-sponsored mortgage enterprises of Juanita Mae and Jose Mac, and to all those homes that were built in Mexico and shipped to California, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida.

Throughout the presidential race, McCain and Obama have ganged up on me and pummeled me with tire irons of economics ignorance. McCain can still deliver a wallop, but the young, sinewy Obama can swing a tire iron harder than Manny Ramirez can swing a bat.

It would take a two-volume reference set to detail Obama’s economic ignorance, but one of my favorite examples is his proposal to give tax credits to companies that hire new employees. Whap! Only a person who has never worked as a business manager can believe that adding headcount is an ipso facto good thing.

It is a not a good thing to add headcount in a declining business. Nor is it a good thing to reward inefficient companies at the expense of efficient ones. And it certainly isn’t a good thing use the tax code to encourage companies to add fat instead of becoming more productive. If these were good things, then it would be a good thing for President Obama to demand that construction companies replace machinery with human power. Goodbye, Caterpillar, Inc. Hello, nineteenth century India.

Let’s make a deal, President Obama: I won’t practice surgery if you don’t practice economics.

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

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~ Miscellaneous but Important City Information

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.  We haven't received a timetable on this discussion yet.

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 ~October Southern Scottsdale Community Area Planning Meetings:  

Subject: Southern Scottsdale Community Area Plan Participation Revised 

Community Member, 

Unfortunately we have had to revise our Cafe Discussion Series for the Southern Scottsdale Community Area Plan Process.  We now have only one event left to attend (10-29-08).  Please see the attached flyer for more information.  And we encourage you to sign up and help shape the future of Southern Scottsdale! 

Thank you! 

Ryan Stee
Associate Planner
7506 E. Indian School Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
O - 480.312.7089
F - 480.312.7314

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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.

~ 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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