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Thank you for posting the terrorism
videos! Very informative- Here are a
couple links that people may also be
interested in- More of a "stealth
jihad" on the American education
system and our young people-
(these speakers go to grade schools,
middle schools, high schools,
colleges and other places)
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Everyone needs to attend
July 5th 2011 Council Meeting
See the Table of Contents for Information
Volume 187-11 Bar District Issue July 4th 2011
The Scottsdale Activist will not publish allegations, libelous statements, profanity, or personal attacks without a verifiable basis. All letters, columns, pictures, or political cartoons submitted must include the authors or artists name, address, daytime phone number, and email. All personal information except the author, photographer or artists name will remain strictly confidential without being released, sold or distributed in any manner. We assume no responsibility for the contents of letters, columns, or cartoons and reserve the right to—at our discretion—edit or refuse to print any submissions or parts thereto without the need for justification. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of the authors/artists and not necessarily the opinions of The Scottsdale Activist .
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We may not be here every week or even every month, But we have our eyes and ears open for everything important to the City of Scottsdale residents!!
When it's something Important, we'll get it to you as soon as we can!!
We feel the coming July 5th Council Meeting is one of the most important in the history of the city, and that's why we came out of our cave to prepare this Special "Bars Run Amuck" Issue for you.
We'll call these Editions
"Bars Run Amuck"
for a number of reasons!
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Table of Contents Pick the Article in this Table of Contents that you wish to read, then Just Click ~Bars Run Amuck editor@scottsdaleactivist.com
~Other Stuff of Interest ~ Information You Can Use
~ Look up Prior Editions? Click on a date to open.
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We are putting out the Scottsdale Activist again by popular demand.
Obviously, the Citizen information need is NOT being fulfilled by a certain local media organization because they lean heavily toward the Chamber and power brokers, and away from the taxpaying citizen..
~Last Weeks Inside Attack from Candidates???
When we tried to put up this website last week, we found it had been shut down for “copyright” problems. After digging deep to find the problem, we found that it was due to a heartwarming story we had received through numerous emails and thought it was a good human nature story to run.
Well, the issue that it was posted in –are you sitting down- was December of 2007!!!
The story that was supposedly copyrighted was written differently from the original as was the title which should not have legally been a copyright infringement.
That aside, we have cleared the story from the archives to please the legal eagles who decided we needed to be shut down. The question arose among many of us as to who would have gone clear back to 2007 when that date and issue is no longer on the website nor publicly available?
The consensus was that it must be a Scottsdale politician or his/her promotion staff that is very afraid of what the Scottsdale Activist can do to them by putting the TRUTH in print which would embarrass them in front of the people they are trying to convince they are the right people for the job.
Let it be known here and now! Whom ever did this to the Scottsdale Activist will be ferreted out one way or the other. We will not be stopped and will continue to dig deeper than we ever have to expose the filth, corruption, misdeeds and misdoings of every candidate for City Council or any city position in the 2012 election.
You have greatly angered many people who believe in the whole truth coming forward which is seldom seen or heard in today's Scottsdale politics and city government.
You may be able to shut us down, but you won’t stop the truth from being shouted from the rooftops from this point forward if necessary!!!!
~Emergency Scottsdale Activist
It would appear that our once family oriented “All American City” is going to Hell in a hand-basket as my very savvy and educated school teacher Grandmother would say.
Because the Scottsdale Activist staff has been beaten about their heads and bodies by scores of citizens and voters who are extremely angry with the Mayor, city council, the city manager, and many other city management (?) people brought in by Dolan and Richert, we have decided to put out another Scottsdale Activist with the hope that more citizens and voters will get involved and start putting their actions from whence their strong words of extreme anger and disapproval of the city process are spewing.
We will only touch heavily on 5 very critical issues as well as some very interesting “Tid-Bits” in this emergency edition of the Scottsdale Activist in the following order which all need immediate public attention:
- The
dire need to fire City Manager David (Mr. Phoenix) Richert
immediately and replace him with a very qualified and highly
respected Brent Stockwell who knows and loves our fair city very
well.
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Where is the report from the City on the “City of
Scottsdale, AZ Employee Survey”? We hear that it is a very damning
report on Richert, the city council and city management.
- We
will discuss the possible conflict of interest, lack of action, and
misstatements by Scottsdale Police Lieutenant Mike Stauffer who
continues in his job as the Watch Commander of the Downtown
“Entertainment District” while openly and notoriously running for
Sheriff of Maricopa County to unseat Sheriff Joe Arpio.
- The
denigration of Downtown “Entertainment District” which has become a
filth hole and a place no respectable family or respectable tourist
would venture into after the sun sets with pictures to prove it.
- The Celebration of the City of Scottsdale at 60 years….. A Joke???
The Apparent Corruption in Scottsdale Governement HAS TO be STOPPED,
and the time is now !!!
~ Richert Cronyism = a Million Taxpayer Dollars!!!
In the last 6 months, City Manager David Richert has reportedly hired 6 new people for the Economic Vitality Division with salaries far above all other department heads. The lowest paid is estimated at $120,000 with others reaching salaries above $165,000 as follows, all with Mayor Lanes apparent approval but without council discussion OR approval:
- Paul Katsenes is
the new Executive Director of Community and Economic Development,
salary unknown but expected to be more than any other in this or any
other city department except for Richert’s at over $190,000.
- Jim Mullin as the
Department Director, takes home about $156,200 annually
- Cindy Eberhardt as
the Assistant Director takes home about $142,000 annually
- Robert (Bob) Tunis
as the Economic and Tourism Development Coordinator is estimated at
$130,000 annually
- Steve Geiogamah
as the Tourism Development Coordinator at about $130,000
annually
- Christine Sheehy
as the Special Projects for Economic Development estimated at $125,000
annually.
- That ads up to close to $1,000,000 (1 Million Dollars!!!) in added salaries that are unnecessary, far above other employees salaries whom are well qualified for their jobs and those employees who have had to take cuts so Richert can have what he wants which is total BS. As far as the public and the other employees are concerned, this should not be allowed to stand and Richert needs to be fired Immediately!!!!
Reportedly, none of these appointees are fully qualified to hold their new positions and in fact, they either come from Phoenix, the Scottsdale Chamber or other organizations friendly with the Chamber.
The MAJOR problem here is that while the city has been cutting positions and reducing compensation for our hard working city employees, fire and police departments by cutting the budget, Richert with Lanes apparent approval has been using those cuts to city employees to feather the bed of Richert’s appointments so that Richert has Carte Blanc to do whatever he wants with that money.
The end result of this end run around the Budget process, the council, the city employees and the taxpayers will be the mass exodus of what employees the city has left who know, love, and respect the city they work for and we will be left with has-beens, no-accounts, ignorant “yes” people, and bluffers/BS’ers to run what’s left of Scottsdale.
Councilman Littlefield and hopefully others will see the slippery slope this city manager has this city going down and will fire him without compensation, per his contract, at the August Council Meeting.
IF DAVID RICHERT IS NOT FIRED AT THE AUGUST COUNCIL MEETING OR EARLIER AS WELL AS ALL OF THOSE HE BROUGHT ON BOARD, THIS WEBSITE AND OTHERS WILL MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO OPENLY DENOUNCE AND WORK HARD TO DEFEAT THOSE COUNCIL PERSONS IN THE 2012 ELECTIONS WHO HAVE APPROVED RICHERT'S SHENANIGANS, AND THIS WILL BE A WELL FUNDED EXERCISE IN CLEANING RIFF-RAFF, AND PATSIES FROM OUR CITY GOVERNMENT!
~ Mayor Lane a Huge Disappointment
The Scottsdale Activist was a major media force in helping to bring Jim Lane the Mayors office with just 600 votes over Manross.
Sadly, it seems that he has totally forgotten what he promised and in fact has fallen in with those that will take Scottsdale to mediocrity which will make Scottsdale a "Vanilla" city like every other city run by people like Richert (Phoenix?).
We have openly and strongly warned Mayor Lane that:
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unless he changes his direction 180 degrees,
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leads instead of acquiescing to Richert and his ridiculous pipe dreams and heavy spending without council approval,
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takes control of the council as he has the legal obligation to do ,
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starts listening to the citizens instead of blowing them off in favor of the Chamber and their cronies,
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fires all but one of his highly paid "advisors",
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starts calling and meeting with city Activists on both sides of the fence at least 2 times a month,
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gets out and about so he can see what's really going on in Scottsdale. We'd bet Lane hasn't been in the "Bar District" on ANY Friday or Saturday night to see the messes left by the bar patrons.
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Needs to start reading the Blogs so he can really find out what's going on in the city......
The Scottsdale Activist will openly and strongly advocate and campaign against his re-election in 2012.
Mayor Lane has let down those who have voted for him in a most disgusting and very negative way possible. He needs to lead or get the Hell out of the way and let someone with some cajones take charge of the city!
~Laurie Roberts Proves City Government Blind & Deaf
Laurie Roberts has again proved her ability to get to the bottom of a problem and tell it like it really is with honesty and conviction.
The city government and the bar owners piled on Bill Crawford because he rightfully objects to the horrendous amount of noise, drunkenness, illegal parking, illegal drinking and many illegal action seemingly being overlooked by the Scottsdale Police Department.
For those who don't know and for the record, Bill Crawford has lived and has had a business in downtown Scottsdale for decades and has always supported the family ambiance which was Scottsdale when he moved here.
Could this all point back to the Scottsdale city council, our illustrious mayor, city manager David Richert, and the apparently blind, deaf and stupid city legal department for not seeing what has been happening here?
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/LaurieRoberts/132954
Read Laurie's column so you can really see what's REALLY going on in YOUR downtown area with the full approval of the mayor, city council and city manager. Is this really want we want our city to be know for?
Is this happening because the Scottsdale Police Department doesn't care? Absolutely NOT, they really do care, but when you are under funded and cannot hire anyone or add the necessary officers to solve a problem, this is what you as taxpayer see happening!! It's because the Mayor and City Council prodded and ramrodded by City Manger David Richert have chosen to reduce vitally needed monies for the Police Department but then giving it freely to entities who shouldn't have or don't need the money as badly as the Police Department.
Welcome to the Administration of Jim Lane.........................
Does it remind you of the Manross Administration, all talk and no walk and omni directional headings ????
~Lies, Half-Truths, and Cover Ups???
Isn’t it ironic that the Bar Owners all are showing they are making a lot of money, yet the city is footing the bill to clean up their messes?
If they aren't making tons of money, what are they spending so much to keep the opinions of the taxpayers quiet and sending out emails to pack the council meeting Tuesday to get what they want, taxpayers and voters be damned?
How about Councilman McCullagh clearly stating that the amount collected in sales and other taxes is a mere pittance compared to what the bar district is costing the taxpayers?
That the bar owners are “working” with the city? Really???
Isn’t it time the city charged the bars collectively for every city dollar and all city time spent cleaning up the messes made by the bar patrons?
Isn’t it time the rules were changed so that anyone caught drinking in public will be arrested and ticketed even if they have someone to take them home?
Maybe it time the city council conferred with the Police department for a change to see what’s REALLY needed to clean up the area by enforcing the laws?
Why are Hankins and Code Enforcement dragging their feet on the noise issue?
Could it be because Richert and Lane and their cronies are in cahoots with the bar owners?
There are a number of questions that have arisen since the inception of the Bar District, which by the way has NEVER been designated as the "Entertainment District".
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What is the average length of time it takes to process a liquor license application in Scottsdale? I know the process can take up to 105 days, but what is the average length of time for our city?
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When the city receives the copy from the State is there one section of staff specifically for review of the application for parking and site use? Is site use discussed and is the site inspected before the application is reviewed by the Police Department? Is the Fire Department required to review/inspect the site before approval for safety and room capacity?
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What is the notification process for the Police Department review of the application? Is there a hearing process for submission of petitions and testimony? How many days does the Police review process usually take? Within the Downtown how are properties notified of the application request? Within the publicly defined "Downtown Entertainment Zone" (this designation was dropped from the Downtown Plan therefore no legal definition exists for an "entertainment district” what is the notification area?
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What is the notification process for an establishment if it is within 1000 feet of the boundary between the Downtown and the Southern Scottsdale Community Planning Area, for residential and commercial?
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For areas within the SSCAP, on the fringes of the Downtown Entertainment District what is the notification process, residential and commercial, for application in the Downtown?
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In addition to traffic and parking, note is taken of residential and commercial population density in close proximity. Why is this done, what particulars are noted and define close proximity?
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When taking note of the site, if it is an existing building what requirements are necessary for approval of a bar as per the specifics of the owner?
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Does the structure meet the necessary criteria for a drink establishment, restaurant if serving any food, for entertainment if any form of entertainment is to take place? Rather than just percentages of gross floor space does the City inspect for actual numbers and lay-out and does the Fire Department inspect materials and equipment?
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Pertaining to the traffic issues in the area how does the parking lot ingress and egress work with existing parking lots in the area?
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Is there a list of the types of businesses in close proximity to the application site? 100 feet? 500 feet? Are the number of businesses in the are "A" listed? Number of vacant sites? Number of residential sites?
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Are ordinances for use of the parking lots posted and easily visible including drinking in the parking lot and serving liquor out of the trunks of cars and coolers in the parking lot? Are fines posted?
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How long are the complete, reviewed documents available for public review before forwarding to the City Council?
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If a permanent addition or outdoor patio is to be added to a property, in addition to filling out an application for extension of premises, notification to surrounding businesses and residential should be required with a formal opportunity for input and/or questions. If these additions are to accommodate music or entertainment of any kind that should be listed as well as types of sound systems and decibel capabilities.
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If there is any change or addition to the use of the property a charge should be required when the application is submitted. $500 one time charge? Currently there is no charge for an extension of premises permit, Why? Even if this is an existing building and a new owner intends to extend the premises from the beginning, a charge needs to be applied.
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There needs to be one spot for storage of all of these reports and inspection documents. It should not be required that an interested party call Current Planning Services, Plan Review, Inspection and Land Survey Services, Permit services, Records, Citizen and Neighborhood Resources to glean information on an individual bar or liquor establishment.
It would again appear that the city government starting with the Mayor, the city council, the city manager, the legal department, nor planning's Connie Padian give a rat's patoot about the city, the citizens, and most of all they couldn't care less about the taxpayers who pay their salaries.
Maybe it's time for all of them to join Richert in leaving town on the first stage out.
~ City Manager Review Scheduled
On Tuesday, June 28th, in a special meeting starting at 4 PM, the City Council will review city manager David Richert’s performance.
Oh My, because of the heavy turnout by caring citizens who want David Richert fired immediately (over 300 signatures on a petition), Our apparently inept or possibly indebted Mayor and city council possibly prompted by the ever oppressive Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce (who seems to control everything in city government anymore) has rescheduled the review to a later date. Could it be he and his new Chamber Buddies hope the opposition will go away?
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN FOLKS!!!!
This review presents one of the few chances to express our impression of his actions, or lack thereof as city manager.
The item:
- City Manager Evaluation
Request: Discuss, consider, and take possible action regarding the employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, demotion, dismissal, compensation and benefits, disciplining and/or resignation of the City Manager.
To review:
1. He was the one who convinced the property owner at Scottsdale Road and Lone Mountain (and the city council) to bypass the General Plan and zoning by using a text amendment to change uses allowed on rural residential lots.
2. He was the one to convince the property owner at Pima and Dynamite to try the same thing, though it backfired.
3. He is the one who wants to break up the Desert Foothills character area by infusing commercial, office, and higher density residential uses in the Desert Foothills.
4. He has allowed voter approved and subdivision mandated plant, shrub and tree lists to be altered totally changing the intent of the original controls which can greatly and adversely affect the taxpayer purchased McDowell Sonoran Preserve with a proliferation of non-native species.
Some of the other reasons why he is the wrong person to be our city manager;
His complete failure to recognize:
- What makes Scottsdale better than other places.
- Scottsdale’s unique character & Character Area protections.
- His failure to preserve it and in fact he is destroying it.
- Scottsdale’s commitment to QUALITY development vs. quantity of it.
- Character controls voted by the voters are totally gone under Richert.
- Unique Scottsdale ordinances to control development, signs, noise, etc.
- That he encourages & helps developers bypass the controls.
- Scottsdale’s engaged citizens.
- With the city councils help, he is trying to disenfranchise citizens & mute their input.
- Scottsdale’s dependence on Tourism makes the city sustainable.
- That high end family values puts the city in a very favorable completive position to other cities in the valley and nation.
- We are losing our uniqueness that attracts tourists under Richert.
- Failure to bring the bar issue under control.
- His abject failure to provide the Council adequate UNBIASED information on all topics.
- His failure to adequately address the budget and issues with it.
- His failure to provide a General Plan update acceptable to residents.
- And ignored all the past visioning that defined Scottsdale’s future.
- That he totally fails to take responsibility for any action of his staff and managers
If you agree he is the wrong man, I would encourage you to write or email the city council and say so As Soon As you can.
Perhaps with enough public comment, some will listen. Meeting attendance isn’t necessary as it is a special meeting which may be in executive session anyway (public can’t attend) to hide the results or any discussion.
If David Richert remains our city manager, we will be besieged with the same problems as Phoenix all too soon, and your taxes will go up to help pay for the development he encouraged in Phoenix (like City North and a lot of other dismal financial failures).
You will also lose everything you moved to Scottsdale to enjoy as it is his intention to “develop” north Scottsdale and heavily overpopulate the southern portion of the city taking away the “family friendly” ambiance systematically directed and developed by Mayor Herb Drinkwater.
Here is how you get in contact with them:
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Mayor W.J. "Jim" Lane |
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Councilwoman Lisa M. Borowsky |
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Councilwoman Suzanne Klapp |
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Vice Mayor Robert Littlefield |
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Councilman Ron McCullagh |
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Councilwoman Linda Milhaven |
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Councilman Dennis Robbins |
Or citycouncil@scottsdaleaz.gov
Thank you all for showing the mayor and city council we will not watch Scottsdale go quietly into the night! We have gathered (thank you Howard!) over 300 signatures, it will be included in the Mayor and Council members’ agenda packet for Tuesday.
Now for the more serious part....
Sometime in August, the City Manager, David Richert, will be evaluated by the city council.
The agenda reads:
Request: Discuss, consider, and take possible action regarding the employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, demotion, dismissal, compensation and benefits, disciplining and/or resignation of the City Manager.
WE ARE asking any and all citizens of Scottsdale sympathetic to the cause of keeping our city out of the hands of big developers, who are using the current economic downturn to systematically change the face of Scottsdale from wide open spaces and the western laid back lifestyle that has been the hallmark of our city, into an urban jungle, with density and height, not just in downtown, but throughout the city, led by the former Phoenix City Manager David Richert, now the leader in transforming Scottsdale into a huge cash cow with the City Council Kow-Towing to his every whim and wish,
We are asking for the termination of Richert's contract or his resignation immediately. Between his $190,000 salary from Scottsdale and his "retirement package" from Phoenix, this guy is reportedly knocking down close to a MILLION dollars a year. That's what we call serious Double Dipping!!!
For more info, contact guyrphillips@gmail.com
Editors Note: Richert's contract allows for only 90 days pay if he is terminated which is one Hell of a lot cheaper that what he's currently costing this city on a monthly basis as well how he is single handedly destroying the city with the help of an out of touch and apparently Chamber or Bar Owner controlled Mayor and City Council !!
~ Now about Mr. David (Mr. Phoenix) Richert….
Happy Birthday!!!! The Downtown Infill Incentive District is one year old on July 7 under city manager (?) David Richert. It is the worst thing to happen to the Southern Scottsdale Community Planning Area, but staff refuses to discuss it as does Richert. Could it be because that’s the way Phoenix did it?
Now let's see, who could have pushed for the IID to be created? What Planning Department administrator rushed it through just barely involving the community, like they do everything else since Dolan and Richert? Could that have been Connie Padian helped by City Manager David Richert, or does Richert just give carte blanc approval without knowing what’s going on?
What Planning Department administrator hates interacting with the public and takes everything personally? Why does the Planning Department only respond to the Planning Department and DRB and no other boards and commissions?
Why did developers know long before the residents that an infill incentive district ordinance was being created?
Isn’t it the responsibility of the City Manager to know everything that’s going on in the city and make sure the public is fully informed?
Do ANY department heads or managers report to Richert with problems or does he just blow them off telling them to do what they think is best and sit back enjoying his double-dip salaries to the tune of reportedly almost $1,000,000 per year of which $190,000+ comes from Scottsdale taxpayers as he apparently did with all city decisions of late? A side note would be that Richert is paid more money than ANY city employee.
Under what rock or in whose pocket has the city council been all this time?
Why has the whole chapter on Character and Design in the Downtown Plan been removed? When you read through the Downtown Plan and the Southern Scottsdale Community Area Plan, the references to buffering and transitioning call for such to be "within" the character area, not between character areas, what’s with that?
Why would we want to allow David (Mr. Phoenix) Richert to continue to double dip salaries and not take responsibility for his non-actions at our expense?
It’s time the Council got come cajones and some backbone and threw Richert and all his cronies out replacing him with Brent Stockwell who knows the city well and really cares about us.
~Lt. Stauffer: Conflict of Interest??
It would appear from all appearances, websites, his own website, and other political and city, county and State information available, that Lieutenant Mike Stauffer of the Scottsdale City Police Department, who is one of the Commanders of the Downtown “Entertainment District”, is very conflicted.
Why has Lt. Stauffer refused to step down or take a leave from his duties with the Scottsdale PD when he is openly and notoriously running as a candidate for Maricopa County Sheriff to unseat Sheriff Joe Arpio?
Why has the Scottsdale Police Department allowed Lt. Stauffer to stay active in this situation when ALL OTHER candidates for office statewide either have to resign their positions or take leaves of absence until they are either elected or the campaign is over? Wouldn’t that be the proper, politically correct, and ethical thing for Lt. Stauffer to do?
Why has Stauffer filed Class 5 Felony charges against long time downtown resident and business owner Bill Crawford when all information released by Crawford is public record, correct (no more injurious has Stauffer’s own websites), and is in fact provable (All internet files are kept and stored forever and made legally available under court order from the provider)?
Is Lt. Stauffer trying to bury his foibles and ignorance by trying for even more media attention through apparent untruths, innuendo, and misstatements? He’ll certainly get it here at the Scottsdale Activist but will he see what he wants to see in print here?
Why would Stauffer get so irritated over his home address being made public when he made it public himself on Google and other websites with the election information website and party for Ben Quayle held at Stauffer’s home? It would appear that Lt. Stauffer only wants thing his way when it’s to his benefit so wouldn’t you say that’s true by all evidence provided?
Public information is PUBLIC INFORMATION no matter who you are. If your lack of understanding of “public information” and ignorance or laziness causes you problems, isn’t that YOUR problem that you created yourself?
If Stauffer is so intelligent about law enforcement and other issues, why hasn’t he redacted all of his personal information from all applicable information sites? Most all in Law Enforcement have done so and the help necessary to achieve said redactions are freely offered by all law enforcement agencies, county, and city legal departments. In searching, we found a number of sites with all of his personal information because it is deemed PUBLIC INFORMATION!!
Why has Stauffer allowed such a nasty mess to happen in the Downtown area if he, in fact, is in charge of the “Entertainment District” district which the citizens and voters call the Bar district?
How can Stauffer be quoted as saying “there is no noise problem in the area” when it is very apparent to all residents and business owners in the area that there is a serious problem?
We think Laurie Roberts column based on an on-site visit to the "Bar District" really cut his statement to ribbons as well as those of the Bar District owners and the City Council. Click the link below:
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/LaurieRoberts/132954
Could it be that someone has Lt. Stauffer in their pocket so to speak? It has happened in other departments don’t you know?
Why haven’t the obvious drunks found sleeping or passed out on public property, with in plain sight of the public, or in vehicles, been arrested for numerous reasons?
Go to Lt. Stauffer’s PUBLIC election website and other sites for more on this “Public Servant”:
http://www.votestauffer.com/Stauffer2012/Home.html
http://www.whitepages.com/name/Michael-J-Stauffer/Cave-Creek-AZ/4b0ybm7?site_id=10583
You can go to Google and a slew of PUBLIC information on Lt. Mike Stauffer is readily available without charge.
What do you suppose you could get if you paid a private investigator to do some research???
Editors Note: If Lt. Stauffer wants to sit down with the Editorial staff of the Scottsdale Activist to make his case on the record, all he has to do is contact us at editor@scottsdaleactivist.com .
~Demand Termination of Richert's Contract
We, Scottsdale residents, voters, and business owners, having witnessed numerous General Plan guideline infractions, and recognizing Mr. Richert's complete lack of understanding or willful disregard of Scottsdale's high development standards and his demonstrated indifference to the well-being of Scottsdale residents, find him unsuitable to continue as the Scottsdale City Manager.
Mr. Richert’s pursuit of greater height and density development throughout Scottsdale directed toward more population, commercialization and urban growth is the antithesis to Scottsdale's values and is a danger to Scottsdale maintaining its premier international marquee.
Since he has promoted such unconscionable development projects and purposely directed staff to abandon the development standards that created Scottsdale’s uniqueness, and refuses to take responsibility for the actions of his subordinates,
We Do Hereby demand the Scottsdale City Council terminate Mr. Richerts employment contract and pursue a nationwide search for a city manager whose ideals are in tune with the established high values of Scottsdale residents and taxpayers.
The basis for his immediate termination includes:
His promotion and enactment of the Infill Incentive District, which since its implementation has resulted in the wholesale abandoning of the city zoning code and the General Plan, coupled with allowing lot splits to subjugate the rights and legal protests of adjoining property owners;
applications for height and density rezoning which is not compatible with Scottsdale's General Plan and is in conflict with our laid back easy going western atmosphere that makes it a tourist destination;
Manipulating the process and the staff to pervert the 2012 General Plan to accommodate unsuitable development and reduce restrictions for rezoning height and density throughout Scottsdale;
Fronting for special interest groups in promoting policies for urban height, density, light rail, and subsidized housing;
Ignoring and avoiding citizen involvement, the cornerstone of Scottsdale, by not engaging in citizen meetings but rather directing staff to speak on his behalf,
Exponentially increasing the bars and nightlife on the outskirts of downtown Scottsdale, despite the overwhelming response by local neighborhoods to curtail the noise, litter, and behavior of its patrons.
So say We the undersigned:
Name Address Zip Code Date
This Petition can be signed by simply printing your name etc. without a signature and sent to the city council at citycouncil@scottsdaleaz.gov as soon as possible.
We just got wind from one of our many inside sources that the city management (?) ran or is running a survey of employee satisfaction with the city management and working conditions but are apparently refusing to release it because of the very damning and unfriendly results derived from said survey.
www.n-r-c.com/survey/scottsdalenes.htm
When you bring up the survey, click through the many pages (don’t answer any questions) and you will note that there are absolutely NO questions about the competence, organizational abilities, leadership abilities, or acceptable professional relationships with their employees.
It should be stated here that the instructions, in our estimation, are very clear and apparently very discriminatory in nature to wit:
“This survey is to be completed by the City of Scottsdale employee who received an invitation. Your responses will be kept anonymous and reported in group form only.”
· What would you make of such a statement and the city’s reluctance to release the results of such a revealing survey?
· How many employees were surveyed and what were the criteria for being included in the survey?
· How can it be said that it is an anonymous survey when it is clearly calculated by Group as stated in the instructions?
· Were ALL city employees included or was it just those whom management felt would respond favorably?
· Why weren’t there specific questions about each management person included in the survey?
· Wouldn’t the survey been much more revealing as to the ability of each management team member to properly manage a department and communicate with their charges? Corporate America always asks such questions in their surveys, that’s how they keep their management team on their toes.
· Do you feel that the city will ever publicly release all the information including but not limited to the number of employees surveyed, the time frame, who administered the survey, and how were the employees protected and allowed to remain anonymous?
Could it be that the city council needs to clean house by replacing every single management person brought on board by Jan Dolan and David “Mr. Phoenix” Richert, starting with Mr. Richert, unless ALL of their subordinates and employees fully approve of their management style and demeanor through the results of an independent, secret evaluation?
Isn’t it time the City Council woke up and smelled the roses instead of ignorantly, blissfully, and blindly going along with everything that these management (?) people suggest?
Could it be that many are not even qualified to hold the positions they hold and it can be proved if necessary, especially those brought on board or promoted by Jan Dolan and David Richert?
Wake up City Council and Mayor and do the job we elected you to do!!
Sometimes you have to wonder: Is it all politics? And when it starts disrupting the way you do business what do you do and to whom do you complain? A prudent and knowledgeable person would have to wonder wouldn’t they when the City Council and Lt. Stauffer are apparently blind and deaf?
Did we hear Entertainment District Watch Commander Lt. Mike Stauffer of the Scottsdale Police Department, say there was no noise problem in Downtown Scottsdale? Somebody rush that man to an audiologist he needs his ears checked. How can he say that when he works the day shift only 4 days a week? It would appear that Laurie Roberts proved him wrong wouldn't it??
OK, I looked at his FaceBook site and I am now getting scared. Maybe because Lt. Mike Stauffer started out in policing in New York, he doesn't think Scottsdale has a noise problem. If that’s a fact, why did the City Council think there was cause to draft and approve a noise ordinance?
Mr. Stauffer, Are you saying that Councilman McCullagh is a liar because he can hear the music from the bars where he lives a couple of miles north of the Downtown Entertainment District?
Are you also saying that all of the business folks who aren't in the bar or restaurant business are telling untruths when they say that their business is disrupted and being hurt financially by the noise emanating from their neighbors who are in the bar business because visitors are afraid to come downtown now?
Are you saying that it’s the citizen and voter/taxpayers who should pick up the tab for the filth, graffiti, trash and rudeness that meets the average Scottsdale citizen when they try to venture downtown after 6 or 7 at night? What responsibilities do the bars owners shoulder if any, being that they reap the huge incomes? Maybe they should be billed by the city collectively for all the clean up necessary?
It seems that we saw that the PR folks who promote the bars, restaurants, and special events are supporting the Mike Stauffer campaign for Maricopa County Sheriff? Even Mayor Lanes website had that promo on it didn’t it?
Lt. Stauffer, Scottsdale is not New York. Doesn't want to be New York, and will not be New York!! Scottsdale doesn't want the problems of noise and criminal activity you left in New York but seem to be condoning on a grand scale in downtown Scottsdale.
Do you citizens and voters think that Lt. Mike Stauffer should make up his mind which job is most important? Being Watch Commander for the Downtown Entertainment District? Or running for Maricopa County Sheriff in 2012? He cannot effectively nor reasonably do both.
Or maybe the other alternative is for Lt. Mike Stauffer to resign and move back to New York where they put up with this kind of bull crap?
Editors Note: Again, If Lt. Stauffer wants to sit down with the Editorial staff of the Scottsdale Activist to make his case on the record, all he has to do is contact us at editor@scottsdaleactivist.com .
~ The Continuing Denigration of Downtown......
Here it is in blatant picture form from should you have no doubts:
There is no doubt that there are problems in the Downtown.
Unfortunately, without an entertainment district definition or vision those wonderful folks in the Current Planning Department have given us bars and restaurants and bars and restaurants and more bars and restaurants.
151 bars in the area along with restaurants that within two years come, serve and they disappear.
We were promised that so many innovative and creative projects would be developed with the advent of the Waterfront towers and then the W Hotel. Future development would take shape to revitalize the Downtown, well, it would be amazing! That promise came over seven years ago.
It’s amazing alright. Truly. Multi-storied apartments are not innovative or creative no matter what corner they are on or what they construct on the canal bank.
The Mint? That dazzler is just another bar/eatery with loud music and customers that party hearty and feel they should be exempt from the laws that make this community such a great place to play in.
One would think that the only way to raise revenue is through the tax dollars from liquor. Oh, it raises revenue, but not the kind this city needs to fill the coffers to help retain its “world class image.”
It’s just a suggestion, but the next time you visit Downtown Scottsdale watch where you park. Bar patrons regularly use the public parking facilities to continue their imbibing, and often use it for their own bathroom needs, too, along with more personal forms of social interaction.
We’re thinking that someone should set up a first aid stand near some of these parking places, too. Young ladies in 4 inch high heels and tight skirts have such a hard time squatting to pee in the bushes that many wind up with scratches and bruises. We all know how unsightly that can be, even on their old wazoos.
While we are giving you a heads up be careful when you drive down those streets at night, too, especially on the weekends. Bar patrons finish drinking inside then they take their libations out the door and into the parking lot. When they have drained what they have purchased inside, they pop that trunk and party down from the cooler stored inside. They have “good” hearts (don’t know about their minds) because they are willing to share with their buddies.
It is a major disappointment that the development community can’t come up with anything more creative and innovative than bars, restaurants and multi-storied housing.
It is a major disappointment, too, that the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau abets the current problems in our Downtown Scottsdale; and that owners and property managers have dragged their feet about cleaning up their acts.
What’s worse? It is a huge disappointment that some are willing to overlook this bad behavior and poor business policies, and complain that old fuddie-duddies have nothing better to do than complain.
You came to live in Scottsdale for a reason one would assume. And one would, therefore, assume that you would like to see to see the quality of life remain at the high levels of family life and family orientation that you were attracted to as directed by our then Mayor Herb Drinkwater.
I don’t want to hear that times have changed because the only thing that has changed has been the attitudes of the power brokers and the politicians now plying their trade in Scottsdale which is purely for profit.
Well it isn’t going to happen if things are allowed to continue out of control in the Downtown.
Prepare to open up your pocketbooks for increases in costs for community safety, street cleaning and code enforcement, to name three.
Want to ignore the mounting problems in the city? Hey! Have another drink and you won’t remember anything. OOPS! You did have another drink. Somebody?? Anybody??
We think we got another one that has passed out. What did you say? Oh…….. You want us to just drag him into the shade of the bushes by the parking garage? Can’t. There is somebody pooping there right now... and some girl just raised her miniskirt, lifted her thong out of the way so she can urinate on the sidewalk. …….
Welcome to the NEW Downtown Scottsdale Bar District where anything goes and residents and taxpayers be damned!!
~HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
While long time residents celebrate and appreciate the city we have called home, some of us for 40, 50, 60 years, we just don’t feel welcome at the “w” hotel’s “free celebration.”
If you have to flaunt being a cowboy, well you just don’t get what being a cowboy really is.
Since opening a couple of years back, the management of the hotel has treated local residents with much disdain and arrogance.
Our neighborhoods have been bombarded with loud music and the misbehavior of inebriated patrons of the hotel and its bars. Patrons have trespassed and littered our neighborhoods with leftovers from their visits to the “W” Hotel and its neighbors.
Cleaning up after them rules our weekends and costs us money as taxpayers as the city is left to clean up the messes.
Everything about the “W” Hotel is geared to attract tourists and big money spenders. Residents are expected to swallow it all and shut up.
That is not what our Scottsdale has been all about.
In fact money was not flashy and attitudes were not impolite or disrespectful. That is not the way of the west.
60 years is not so
long on the history books, as cities go. Hopefully, maturity will bring
back the fact
that, “Everybody is welcome and we are glad to be your neighbor.”
Editors Note: Word has it that you, the taxpayer paid for all the food and all the "W" did was supply the room and took all the credit. Why weren't the Chaparral Suites or Valley Ho offered the party????
Gee, could it have been who is in whose pocket yet again???
~ Random Questions Requiring Answers
~What happened to the beautiful plans Sean Yari and TriYar had for the downtown area? It had a wonderful southwestern décor that was presented to Tony Nelssen and some citizens with beautiful setbacks and overreaches underground parking and all the things Scottsdale has been asking for over the years. Herb Drinkwater would be smiling down upon us instead of weeping at the lost city of political deceit and bad behavior we have become.
~What has happened to Jim Lane? He campaigned as Mr. Fix-it and the guy who would fix all of the messes from the Manross Administration. OOP’s that never happened and things are getting still worse with the Scottsdale Chamber now running the council and city hall……………… “No” to Jim Lane in 2012 unless he really cleans up his act.
~Is Linda Milhaven somehow tied to the Yari Brothers and TriYar Investments through her banking work?
~Isn’t it rather disconcerting and unprofessional to see a city councilwoman in a miniskirt and a topless low “V” neck top bouncing around and drinking in a bar when she should be more professional in appearance and actions? Does she epitomize the generation who will take over the reins of the government for those of us 40+? God Help us ALL!!!
~My wife and I took our children out for an evening of learning and Gallery browsing and were shocked by the attitude of the patrons in the lounges who were stumbling along the sidewalks. We will never come back to Scottsdale again, what has happened here? Have your city Fathers lost their minds? This used to be a wonderful place for families when I was younger but it’s been ruined apparently for those looking for a fast buck instead of quality. Goodbye Scottsdale, we’ll move on to a more family orients city for our vacations. And Oh yes, we used to spend Summer Holidays in Scottsdale and usually spent more then a few thousand dollars US here; no more.
~ Do Lane or the city council even know how to formulate a plan for the future of the city like Drinkwater used to do or are they out there in La La land like it always appears anymore, unless of course the Chamber give it’s specific orders and then they jump to the Chambers tunes. What a sad state of affairs for a once great city.
~Why are all the plans, ordinances and laws the voters approved over the decades now being circumvented and changed without public input and discussion using “Text Amendments” and other devious methods of slight of hand?
~Why is the 60th Birthday Celebration for the city being held at a new and obnoxious “W” Hotel when the Valley Ho and Chaparral Suites have been the heart and soul of the tourist industry in Scottsdale for decades and should have been asked to have the celebration with one or both of them? Stupid!!!
~We need to throw out all council people up for re-election except Bob Littlefield who participates with all citizen groups and always has. The rest only show up at election time and then never step south of Thomas Road. In addition, the city manager is a joke as are most brought in by Dolan and Richert and they all need to go so Scottsdale can get back to some semblance of order and respect.
~ What has happened to Scottsdale? I have visited here every year from Canada and I see a very negative change in the downtown where we used to take friends. The galleries are going away and the bars are everywhere. We don’t dare go downtown after sunset anymore because of the rowdies and rude youngsters, and we’re only in our mid 40’s.
~It seem like all we ever hear about anymore is how the Chamber wants the city to do this and that and they get their way! How many on the city council are affiliated with the Chamber in some manner or another? Too many me thinks, Time to clean house?
~Is Dennis Robbins nothing but a “Yes” man or what? We have never seen such a wishy-washy councilman for Scottsdale since Kevin Osterman and the first time Robbins held office; OMG what is this city coming to.
~What good are the boards and commissions if the neither the staff nor the mayor or the council bothers to listen to them?
~Code Enforcement is a big joke anymore. They used to be proactive, now they just wander around aimlessly until someone complains. I’ve seen signs on the streets that are illegal and they have stayed up for up to a month without being removed. What’s that all about? We’re seeing cars parked in front yards again as well as boats and trailers on the streets for months on end with no enforcement. Lot of good code enforcement is anymore. When was the last time the Code Enforcement ordinances were reviewed and updated?
~What’s the point of the weird looking horses in the Indian Bend Wash? What eyesores they are! OMG, what’s next from an out of touch Cultural Council and what’s with the Solari Bridge right next to another bridge when it could have been far more useful if properly placed.
~When is Lane going to get some balls and take control of the council? He lets the council, staffs and developer attorneys roll right over the top of him. It’s totally pathetic to watch him run a meeting. What happened to “Point of Order” and other tools he could use? He only seems to come down on citizens who wish to speak but not council, attorneys or staff members. Where is the decisiveness needed to run this council and staff? It appears Lane has no clue how to handle any of it.
~I cannot believe the filth, drunkenness, and Gang Bangers now populating the downtown area at night anymore. Where are the cops? Where are the necessary controls? No wonder businesses are closing one after another. Control the bars and the businesses and tourists will come back. While you’re at it, make the bars pay for the cleanup every morning after and for security for the rest of the time they’re open. Isn’t enough just about enough already?
~Happy Birthday!!!! The Downtown Infill Incentive District is one year old on July 7. It is the worst thing to happen to the Southern Scottsdale Community Planning Area, but staff won't discuss it.
~Now let's see, who could have pushed for the IID to be created? What Planning Department administrator rushed it through just barely involving the community, again? What Planning Department administrator hates interacting with the public and takes everything personally? Why does the Planning Department only respond to the Planning Department and DRB and no other boards and commissions? Why did developers know long before the residents that an infill incentive district ordinance was being created?
~Aren’t code enforcement agents allowed to tag and remove illegally parked vehicles of any kind? If Not, Why not? I see too many vehicle clogging city streets for longer than the 72 hour limit and junk cars in driveways. What’s with that?
~ It seems that Scottsdale under Manross, and now Lane, Richert, Padian, Hankins, Hadder, the inept and Chamber driven council as well as others has become "Vanilla Town USA". What a crying shame.
~What are you city government fools going to do when the bar scene disappears to the next "Hot" or "Hip" area of the valley? Bars have an average life span of 5 years max, then they have to reinvent themselves if they even can which most cannot!!!. Taxpayers are getting damned tired of the fads driven by developer money coming to town, taking the profits and leaving it in shambles for us to clean up. Maybe it's time Lane plus those connected to the council and the others listed above, to abandon the ship called "Scottsdale" before it pulls them down with their stupid , and costly bogus city killing decisions.
~School Political Donations Paid Off
After the summer of 2010, some parents in the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) were astonished to learn that the district was rolling out another tax burden, a construction bond that would cost taxpayers $118,000,000. Within that year, Scottsdale taxpayers have already voted for an override and a one cent tax increase. It was inconceivable that the district would consider overburdening them with more taxes.
In June of 2010 when most families were leaving for the summer, Yes to Children, the Political Action Committee (PAC), was conducting a Push Poll, a poll that tends to skew results toward the support of an issue, for the bond. After hearing about the Push Poll from Yes to Children, the board voted to put the bond on the ballot.
Some Scottsdale parents and voters felt the timing was not right. The economy was still extracting its toll. Class size increased even after they voted in support of the override tax that was supposed to lower class size. The district threatened to lay off teachers and cut programs due to looming budget cuts. Student fees were increased and parents were asked to donate more to schools. They would have supported the bond if the district would have waited until the economy was improving. If there was a need to maintain or fix some schools, a smaller bond would have been more mindful to the overburdened taxpayers.
These parents were also suspicious and puzzled why the PAC and the district were campaigning so aggressively and relentlessly. Why would the district risk the ire of the voters with another bond so soon after two tax increases? Instead of working on challenges facing their students, Dr. Catalani, SUSD Superintendent, spent hours traveling around the district, staging bond meetings and trying to sell the bond to parents. At one bond meeting, Dr. Catalani and some members of Yes to Children even cited that “tearing down schools and rebuilding them is good for the community and in turn stimulates our economy.”
The district even looked the other way when Yes to Children skirted the law and campaigned for the bonds at parent orientation nights, school rallies, and bond meetings. Yes to Children spared no expense. This PAC devoted a sizeable amount of resources to the bond campaign by paying for robocalls, election postcards and professionally filmed commercials.
When it was reported that ten construction firms donated $9,500 each, for a total of $95,000, to Yes to Children to promote the $118,000,000 construction bond, it became clearer that the bond was floated to benefit these construction firms. Why would SUSD build more schools when it can’t afford to maintain the current ones? Why would the district build new schools in South Scottsdale where it was losing population and before it could complete a demographic study? Why would the district build a super deluxe school with a 6000 sq ft music room when there was no money to retain music teachers or programs? (The music room was in the construction plan on the SUSD Website).
Recently we, Parents For Super Schools, uncovered that these companies also donated about $50,000 to SUSD Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises money for Scottsdale Unified School District. Interestingly, some members of Yes to Children belong to SUSD Foundation. If you visit both of their websites, you will discover that both organizations are headed by the same members.
The investment that these firms made to Yes to Children and SUSD Foundation paid off. Seven firms on the Yes to Children and SUSD Foundation donor lists were awarded contracts from the district. Listed below on the first line are the contractors that donated to Yes to Children and SUSD Foundation. On the second line, the same contractors were recently hired by the district for the bond projects. The project and cost are notated next to each contractor.
D.L. Withers, Phoenix
D.L. Withers for Cocopah Middle School, $22.3 million
(This company was recently hired by the Cave Creek Unified School District)McCarthy Building, Tempe
McCarthy for Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center, $16.5 millionCORE Construction Services of AZ, Inc., Phoenix
CORE Construction Services of AZ, Inc. for Ingleside Middle school, $16.3 millionChasse Building Team, Tempe
Chasse Building Team for Mohave Middle School, $25 millionConcord General Contracting, Phoenix
Concord General Contracting for various campus mechanical renovations, $17 millionRytan LLC Construction, Scottsdale
Rytan LLC Construction for Mountainside Middle School Renovations and Desert Mountain High School campus waterproofing, $4 millionJokake Construction, Phoenix
Jokake Construction for District wide lightning and parking lot renovations, $4.125 million
In addition, McCarthy Construction was awarded two contracts with the district. The first contract was from the 2004 bond to build Chaparral High School for $55 million and the second one is for the current Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center project for $16.5 million. The other three firms also on the donor lists are: Progressive Roofing, Climatec Building Technology Company and Adolfson & Peterson Construction. We will check back later with the district and see if these contractors will also get million dollar contracts from the district.
It was also revealed that these contracts were awarded based on recommendations made from a committee of a contractor, an architect and three district personnel. After studying the committee’s proposals, SUSD Board Members voted to give $105,225,000 in contracts to the construction firms that coincidentally donated to Yes to Children and SUSD Foundation. These contracts were not bid out based on pricing like most other government contracts.
Why should we be concerned with SUSD’s contract bidding practices?
Perhaps because SUSD has had a troublesome history with bond finances in the past. According to the East Valley Tribune in 1998, “the attorney general's office filed a pair of lawsuits alleging $11.7 million in misuse of public funds and three dozen violations of the Open Meetings Law” against Scottsdale school district. The Scottsdale School Board settled the lawsuits, paid $300,000 in penalties for illegal bidding practices, admitted to wrongdoings and promised to obey the law.
Did the District use school resources to help a lobbying group obtain million dollar construction contracts for its donors? Why did SUSD shift much needed resources to benefit construction firms instead of children? Is the district in the business of education or construction? SUSD is planning to launch another $200,000,000 bond election next year. Stay tuned and see which company will fund the campaign for this upcoming bond and which company will receive the contracts for the bond projects.
~ 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,
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
~ View Past City Council Meetings
We can now access the city council meetings by clicking on the following link:
http://scottsdale.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3If 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.
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.
~ Find Great Gas Prices
Hello All,
This seems to work well. Click on the link below to Check it out. Helpful hint! Just plug in your zip code and it tells you which gas stations have the cheapest prices (and the highest) on gas in your zip code area. It's updated every evening.
Be a good neighbor and pass this along.
The Scottsdale Activist is published, and edited in Scottsdale AZ ~ 480-326-2475