Volume 2, Number 37 UpDated 9pm Sat. September 16, 2006
The Scottsdale Activist will not publish unsubstantiated 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 named authors/artists and not necessarily the opinions of The Scottsdale Activist .
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Celebrate United States of America
Constitution Day,
Sunday, September 17th, 2006
Council Meeting Agenda of Tuesday Sept 19th
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We've added Prior Edition Availability Below !!
~ Special Announcements
~ Home of the Week (Click Here) (Picture)
- Mayor is Famous for Just Plain Ignoring the Law
- Citizen Rejects Tribune Editorial as "Out of Order"
- Let's Start Working on a Council Change Now
- Parks & Grounds Crews Working Hard for Citizens
- View Past City Council Meeting
- Laurie Roberts Says It As It Is!!
- Mayor Hogs the Dias, Talks But Says Nothing
~ Here & There
~ Just for Giggles
~ Shout and Spout (Your chance to Shout or Spout & we don't need your name)
~ Thought for the Week -- James Madison
~ Quote of the Week -- Patriot Post
~
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Other Stuff of Interest
~ Prior Editions NEW!!!
~Special Announcements
~CRITICAL MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
"DO YOU WANT A SLOW TRAIN
RUNNING UP & DOWN SCOTTSDALE ROAD?"
There will be a Very Important Public Meeting on
Saturday, October 7 from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M.
in the East Ballroom of Chaparral Suites Resort,
5001 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona.
The meeting is open to all Scottsdale citizens, business and property owners, office holders, transportation officials and employees, and the print and electronic media.
The goal is to help inform those who may be affected before any decision is made or action is taken by the Scottsdale City Council on the Transportation Master Plan.
Randal O’Toole is a national expert and scholar on transportation and urban land-use issues. He lives in Portland, Oregon and is intimately familiar with its transportation system. He will make a brief presentation and answer questions on the impact of rail transit on the City and its main artery, Scottsdale Road.
Printed material will be available.
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
THIS IMPORTANT MEETING !
AN INFORMED PUBLIC IS THE
FOUNDATION FOR A GREAT CITY!!
Scottsdale Citizens Transportation Study Committee
Contact: Becky Fenger (602) 955-1930
~Important Citizen Poll on Light Rail
As you are well aware the city has begun a Master Transportation Plan for the city that is overloaded with Light Rail supporters and has never included the input from local businesses along Scottsdale Road.
Today we are opening an online citizen’s petition asking for your support and signatures to ask the Scottsdale City Council to support placing an Advisory question on the ballot for Public Transportation as allowed by State Laws.
We are asking for your help to make the voters voice heard as it has been claimed by council members that "the citizens will decide this issue."
Talk is cheap in this city anymore and it is time to make your voices heard in how our tax dollars are spent and the options we decide on for our Transportation needs.
Please take a minute of your day and make your voice heard without leaving your chair by logging into our site and signing your name.
This petition will be presented to the City Council and the Mayor on October 17th at the Regular City Council Meeting.
More information on this issue is on the web page and soon we will open a web page link to take you to even more information about light rail costs and problems that have been documented nation wide by the Federal Government with rail transit.
Don't be fooled by the city lines we will soon hear supporting rail transit from the powerful entities wanting to break into the city’s piggy bank and your wallets for years to come.
We ask that you Please pass this on
to your e-mail lists
and everyone you know in Scottsdale.
MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD NOW
BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
~ City Transportation Master Plan Meetings
You are invited to attend an informal discussion meeting the week of September 18 about the Transportation Master Plan, focusing on the different high capacity transit alternatives for the Scottsdale Road corridor.
The purpose of these meetings is to share as much information as is currently available on the high capacity transit options with the business/property owners along or adjacent to Scottsdale Road and to have additional discussion and dialogue. The meetings are open, so anyone can attend, we are only limited by the size of the meeting rooms (most of which can accommodate 20-30 people). These meetings will not be the only opportunity to look at the draft information, in fact, other workshops will be held later in the year when there is more detailed information available, but I wanted to share the information as early as possible with those that have expressed an interest in the high capacity transit portion of the Transportation Master Plan.
In 2003, following a three-year study, the Scottsdale City Council approved Scottsdale Road as the corridor for Scottsdale's future high capacity transit. At that time, the type of transit was not selected, however Council indicated that bus rapid transit, modern streetcar, and light rail transit should be evaluated in future studies. As part of the Scottsdale Transportation Master Plan, the three high capacity transit types are being evaluated and a recommendation for the type or types to be used in the Scottsdale Road corridor will be made to the City Council next year following additional public meetings, workshops, and public hearings of the Transportation Commission.
The following meeting times are available for discussion and information sharing. The content of each meeting is the same, so there is no need to attend more than one meeting.
= Monday, September 18
Scottsdale Stadium team shop, 5
pm-6:30 pm; 6:30 pm-8:00 pm
Airport conference room, 9 am-10:30am
= Tuesday, September 19
Scottsdale Stadium press box, 8:30
am-10:00am; 10:00 am-11:30 am
Airport conference room, 1:30 pm-3:00
pm
= Wednesday, September
20
Scottsdale Stadium team shop, 5
pm-6:30 pm; 6:30pm-8:00 pm
Airport conference room, 10:30
am-12:00 noon
=Thursday, September 21
Scottsdale Stadium press box, 10:00
am-11:30 am
All the times are flexible, I have blocked off 90 minutes for each meeting but if more time is needed we will take it if possible. Please select a time that is convenient for you and let me know if you would like to attend. I can be reached to RSVP by replying to this email, or via telephone at 480-312-7829.
Teresa Huish
Principal Transportation Planner
Transportation Department
(480) 312-7829
thuish@ScottsdaleAZ.gov
The attached link provides additional information about the project: www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov select "Transportation Master Plan" under Hot Topics. You are receiving this invitation because you have expressed an interest in the Transportation Master Plan. If you would prefer that I not send you future emails, please let me know and I will remove you from the distribution list. (TH)
~Guest Editorial -- by Councilman Jim Lane
~ Obey the City Charter, or Shall We Just "Manross" It?
Scottsdale’s Charter defines our governing style as a "Council Manager" form of government. It delineates the role of Council in oversight of the workings and direction of government through policies and, the supervision, evaluation, compensation and the retaining of six Charter Officers. Six positions of very specific professional disciplines, who must report, respond and account to Scottsdale Citizens through their representatives at City Hall.
These separate Charter positions serve as very specific tools for the Council in the commission of their work. The loss of any of these Council appointed positions reduces the intended oversight and control of the government by the public The Council also loses an element of independent professional advice, analysis and prospective.
The six individual Charter Officers who report directly to the Council are:
So important is the connection between each of these six positions to the voters, that each comparable position at Federal, State and County levels are either voted directly by the public or appointed by an elected executive representative.
The situation that has existed for a few years now combines two Charter Officer positions, the City Manager and the City Treasurer. The Treasurer’s position and function has been delegated by the City Manager to her Finance Director. This arrangement creates a number of problems for Council. One is that the current finance/treasurer position does not and cannot legally report to or be directed by the Council without the City Manager’s permission. This is ridiculous position for the Council to have placed themselves.
This arrangement was made for the convenience of others and has denigrated the political process and function of our form of governing in the following ways:
Our legal constitution, the City Charter is the City’s law as to how it is to operate. Changes to it must go to a citizens’ vote. The combining of charter officer positions is allowed within the Charter subject to "compatibility" of functions. These two positions are not compatible for the five reasons noted above. The exception condition of combining any compatible positions was meant for an earlier time when the size of Scottsdale might not have called for six full time positions. The attorneys can undoubtedly interpret these provisions in a number of ways, but the plain meaning of the Charter is clear. The structure and function of the treasurer is not only justified but needed.
Some have difficulty with the Charter’s requirement that Charter Officers reside in Scottsdale. Recently a legal opinion exempted the City Attorney’s position from that requirement. Other than a desire to consolidate financial control under the City Manager, the residency requirement is a problem because the unofficially designated Treasurer does not reside in Scottsdale.
Perhaps, as was suggested to me, we should have a Charter amendment that eliminates this residency requirement placed on the ballot for public vote. Though I am not necessarily advocating that change, it would be much preferred to the present debasement of the intent of the Charter without so much as a consultation with the Public. The Council will be considering the city treasurer issue as soon as I can get it put on the city council agenda.
W.J. "Jim" Lane, Vice-mayor
Scottsdale City Council
~ Weekly Editorial By George Knowlton
~ Vote on Prop 401 Speaks Loud & Clear
This election, in reality, turned into a referendum on the ever increasing secret Executive Sessions and oppressive actions with supposed "Non-Decisions" by the heavy-handed Manross Administration and the money foolishly spent to achieve them The vote WAS NOT at all about the controlling of the strip clubs.
Many who voted "NO" on Prop 401 want the strip clubs controlled but NOT by heavily controlled secret meetings and apparent underhanded politics without adequate public and business input.
The Manross administration including her controlling majority of the city council, with the help of City Attorney Deborah Robberson and City Manager Jan Dolan, is slowly but surely usurping the public and city employees ability to have any input into the city process.
The strong voter rejection of this Manross secretly written and supported Prop 401 is just the first step in stopping the runaway Manross/Dolan/Robberson train of gaining total control of the taxpayers money and thereby the way the city is operated.
The mayor has publicly stated that the voters were confused and didn't know if NO meant YES or visa versa. Give me a break madam mayor, you are SO out of touch there is no way you could honestly believe your own words because everyone else knows better!!
"You know what? We were exposed to those (effects) for 30 years, and nobody cared," said Lisa Haskell, a neighborhood activist who voted against the measure. "They were OK down here for 30 years, but now they want to high-end the city up. This was a way of getting that land."
"You don't have to be a libertarian to be
concerned about government intrusion into people's lives,"
Councilman Jim Lane said.
"It wasn't a pro-strip club vote," said Scottsdale City
Councilman Bob Littlefield, who said he regrets voting for the new
rules last year. "It was an anti-council vote. We overreached. We
were wrong."
Scottsdale City Councilman Wayne Ecton in
Thursday morning's (9-14-06) Arizona Republic Valley Section said
that the opposition for proposition 401 registered "young new
voters". "The people spoke," he said. "I don't know if the
right people spoke."
So is Councilman Ecton now saying he would like to regulate
who is allowed to vote on certain issues and that young voters
shouldn't be encouraged to vote? Maybe in future editions of the
Scottsdale Activist, we should tell you about how he allegedly
treated natives in Africa while working for ALCOA?
Do I detect a conflict of the separation of Church and State Doctrine here by the mayor's actions during the campaign, and some apparently serious voter prejudice on the part of Councilman Ecton in his quote in the Republic?
~ More Manross Nonsense to Come?
From what we hear on the local radio and TV news, the
mayor, city manager and city attorney are feverishly bound and determined to cook up a
way to make the ill-conceived Prop 401 come back to life as written.
Now, that wouldn't be by hook or crook as one "Shout & Spouter" suggests would it?
As long as it is NOT as written, and they does it legally and with full
public input without any secret Executive Sessions, without any right
wing extremist attorneys, without any provisions that will not pass a
First Amendment Court Challenge, and where the will of the people trumps
the demands and wants of the mayor, city council, city manager, and city
attorney, we'll be happy to at least look at it.
~
Infamous Trio Usurping Your Power?
The infamous trio of Manross, Dolan, and Robberson seem to be very cleverly and slowly taking full charge of the City of Scottsdale, its Legal Department, and it's Treasury by some seemingly very shrewd and benign moves without the public’s knowledge or approval.
Let's look at the emerging treacherous and ominous signs:
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The citizens voted on two separate occasions to bring the Coyotes and their arena to the Los Arcos 42 acres. It would have been up and operating in less than 2 years with retail sales tax revenue and all the things required of a good city investment with a $36 million dollar investment which would be returned with interest. The Manross administration sat on their hands and the Coyotes were lost to Glendale. After the mayor and councilman Wayne Ecton, apparently under cover of secrecy during this same period of negotiations with the Coyotes, met with Steve Ellman and Dr. Michael Crow of ASU and worked up a $130 million taxpayer dollar deal to allow ASU/ASUF to lease 37 of the 42 acres for 99 years with another 99 year extension with zero lease payments once monies paid to the city of Scottsdale equaled $81 million dollars. That leaves the city “holding the bag” for about $50 million taxpayers dollars which the city will never see. The original deal called for World Class High Tech Research Center. It has ended up being nothing more than a run of the mill office complex with up to 805 apartments which will now most probably be housing predominately college students, if any of it even gets built. ASU/ASUF has 2 research centers in the valley that are less than 40% occupied. The 805 apartments and 50% of any profit from the retail portion of the project will bring little to offset the $50 million dollar loss to the city and the massive costs for infrastructure and roadway repair and replacement over the period of the 198 year lease.
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Jan Dolan "assumed" the position of City Treasurer with the mayor and councils blessing to "save the city money" making her both the city manager AND the city treasurer. What? Save $120,000 when the city has a budget of billions? This means that there is no treasurer to report to the city council independent of the city manager which then allows the city manager the possible option to move the money where she wants it subject to a few rules and regulations which appear to be stretched from time to time without questions from either Manross, the council majority, or Robberson. By more than one account, there is approximately 450 million dollars floating around within the city books which no one seems to want to address its use, origin, or why it's even there. The city coffers are now full and overflowing but Dolan holds on to the position of City Treasurer even though we have enough money to pay a real City Treasurer and the question has been raised more than once about appointing an independent, qualified person who lives in Scottsdale and is not associated in any way with the city council. Use your own logic to figure out why she, along with the mayor, is refusing to allow that position of City Treasurer to be relinquished to a qualified person. Could it be that the infamous trio are heavily involved in actions the city taxpayers would be highly upset to find out about?
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The old Smitty’s Big Town store was purchased by the city under the guise of it becoming a Senior Citizens Center with affordable housing and other amenities for seniors all in one place according to Ed Gawf. It has become a very expensive up-scale retirement center with rent and lease prices that those who thought they would be able to live there have been totally priced out of the market. This is just one more of the “wonderful” things the Infamous Trio has brought to you, the citizens and voters of south Scottsdale.
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Assistant City Attorney Deborah Robberson is allowed to be appointed to the Charter Position of City Attorney because one of her subordinates, Jay Osborn, by the mayor or Asst. City Attorney's apparent orders, gave an apparently favorable legal opinion in a secret Executive Session of the city council suggesting that the residence requirement of the City Charter was possibly vague and therefore the Charter didn't expressly call her position a Charter Officer so it was ruled that she didn't need to move to Scottsdale from her 2 million dollar Paradise Valley home; Yet, her contract, a public document, which she and the mayor signed, clearly describes her as a "Charter Officer". When requested by this Editor, the esteemed Phoenix law firm of Miller, LaSota, Peters, opined that based on AZ Supreme Court cases, the Scottsdale City Charter established that the position of City Attorney was, in fact, a Charter Office by the definition of the job in the City Charter. When it was suggested that an independent panel of three retired Judges from other areas of the valley be allowed to come up with a decision, the mayor's majority on the council protected the mayor’s decision by refusing to consider the third party overview or a decision. The records will show that city attorney Robberson has, on many occasions, not been able to come up with answers for questions which she should know in her sleep. One obvious and embarrassing faux pau was when she literally asked the losing ambulance service to the city contract about something concerning the contract; everyone in attendance was dumbfounded when she didn't have a clue as to the answer even after it was given to her in simple terms ... twice.
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When citizen, attorney and city resident James Derouin presented a Citizens Petition asking for a citizens panel to research the need for, and bring back to the council an Ethics Code befitting a world class city such as Scottsdale. Under the mayor's apparent orders, the council totally departed from the established citizen appointment procedure and instead had each council member appoint a person of their personal choice to the panel with the mayor picking the chairperson. This was completed without any public input into the selection scheme or the choosing of a chairperson. Being that the mayor “owned” the majority on the city council, the panel was thought by most to be a "seeded" panel that would bring back what the mayor wanted: a simple or no ethics code at all. To the mayor’s complete surprise, hidden anger, and chagrin, the panel came back with their unanimous approval and recommendation of a new, strong, and comprehensive Ethics Code which she didn’t expect or apparently want, but which many other cities are now asking about adopting for their cities. We're now hearing from many board, committee, and commission members that they are not getting the training they expected to get from the city legal department. Furthermore, they claim they have asked the city legal department for special meetings for their groups to ask questions specific to their board, etc. and they were told they would have to attend the group meetings scheduled because the legal department didn't have time or the staff to train the individual groups. This city has the largest legal staff per capita of any city in the State of Arizona; give me a break!
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The infamous trio decided they had better hurry and develop a city transportation plan to quietly install Light Rail up Scottsdale Road to the “One Scottsdale” location at the 101 freeway and Scottsdale Road and have it in process before the citizens could force a panel to be properly chosen by the approved and accepted process. With speed and a dire emergency, in their apparent opinions, they secretly chose the panel with the help and approval of the Transportation Department Director, Mary O’Connor. The public at large again was not invited to participate as volunteer panel members, and had zero input into the process. The public only found out about the panel after it was well established and the local press got word of its existence and made it known publicly. Even more ominous and foreboding is the choice of a company called HDR, who apparently sells and advises on light rail, as the panel’s sole consultant for the Transportation Master Plan which is suppose to include many different modes of public transportation with no emphasis on any particular system. It's also very interesting that the developers of the "4020 Building" on Scottsdale Road were apparently told they had to allow a 7 foot easement for light rail on Scottsdale Road in their initial plans per the mayor.
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I haven't even mentioned the dangerous "traffic circles", vanishing Police/Fire helicopters we approved in 2000, the mayor's favorite lunch spot "The Pink Taco", $7 million worth of Photo Radar on the 101 which is in the State of Arizona jurisdiction and against the AZ Supreme Court case rule, Giants Baseball fiasco, the Cattle Track Tanks issue which screwed
Scottsdale residents to provide water by private
company, Arizona American Water Company, to Paradise
Valley residents, the ugly brown rust bucket with brown bat wings otherwise known as the
McDonald Water Treatment plant, the proposed Pima Road expansion, 60,000
Condo conversions... I could go on and on.........................
and so can most citizens whom are even half awake. Hopefully, you
have been awakened enough to see what's being done to you and your
tax dollars.
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For those citizens who don't know it, there is a closely held, unwritten list containing the rank of the developers who work well with the city and get subsidy after subsidy, down to those who make the city tow the line as far as legality and ethics are concerned. If you are suspect of the above statement, look at who gets contracts and who doesn't. Also look at which developer uses which zoning attorney and public relations firm to get the job done. It's as plain as the nose on your face when you look at it.
This, fellow citizens, is what we have seen up to now and we suspect the infamous trio have and have had much more going on than we could ever know or have known about. This legacy driven mayor has less than 2 years to get everything done she wants done and, in my opinion, she will do anything and everything she can, in my opinion, to get what she wants and demands, bar nothing, even using husband Larry to get it. Even if it's only to call dumb stuff into the "Vent" and "Sounding Off".
I think its past time for every citizen to thoroughly and publicly question every tax dollar spent by this infamous trio including the exact reason it’s being spent and where it's coming from.
For all of the above reasons, we really need to force our city leaders to follow the city charter and have a city treasurer appointed with that person being extremely qualified, independent from any on the council or in charter positions, and permanently living in Scottsdale as prescribed by the city charter.
~Scottsdale Times, Sonoran News Are Great Newspapers
I just picked up my latest copy and I now have included the Scottsdale Times as a link for citizens to go to for more city information. I find the Newspaper very interesting and informative and a great publication for the city. It has a lot to offer as does the Sonoran News and I highly recommend both newspapers to the readers of the Scottsdale Activist.
Unfortunately, the link to the Scottsdale Times doesn't give the reader the "Sound Off" section, which can be hilarious, at this point in time but we hope they will add that section at a latter date due to the solid quality of the newspaper. The Sonoran News gives you the full spectrum of their fine publication on line.
It's very interesting that there are some well known people saying some pretty funny things about this Editor in their remarks to the "Sound Off" column in the Scottsdale Times of late and we all know who they are... JLM and Company .... because they follow the same speaking pattern as they use in the Tribune "Vent" and are not backed up by any fact as my editorials are in the Scottsdale Activist. I consider their submarine shots great compliments for the work I'm trying to do and the positive changes I'm trying to bring to the city and I thank them for what I see as a solid vote of confidence.
It's funny that they think I am on the losing side of everything when in fact, I with others have been instrumental in getting more Code Enforcement personnel hired and getting the city cleaned up, develop a new RV Ordinance, was a part of the group forcing the City Council to appoint an Ethics Panel, getting the city to finally start trimming the trees on our city highways and byways, and that's just a few of the successes not to mention the huge loss on Prop 401 just handed to our illustrious mayor and her council majority in a "Pink Taco" to-go sack.
It's amusing that they thought I was "groveling" to the cabarets when in fact I have never talked to anyone involved with the cabarets. Prop 401 wasn't about the cabarets, it was about Manross and her secret government. It's also interesting that things I have put into the Scottsdale Activist have come back to haunt the likes of the Manross and her majority on the city council with much more to come..................
Sadly, the secret callers to "Sound Off" in the Scottsdale Times, don't have the cajoñes to put their names to anything they do or say for fear someone might catch on to them repeating their messages over and over again all over the city; or cause their spouses a problem, except of course in the "Shouts and Spouts" of the Scottsdale Activist where they don't have the cajoñes nor intelligence to tread.
I have no hair to pull out nor do I even begin to lose sleep over ne'r-do-well's and has-beens who are so cowardly as to make their cheap shots without identifying themselves which makes them as insignificant, ignorant, and impotent as the lowly piss ant, but I consider all of their nonsense a great compliment. At least in the Scottsdale Activist, we print people's signed comments whether we agree with them or not. I openly opine in every edition much to some peoples anger and chagrin.
~New Scottsdale GLBT Website Funded by Tax Dollars
I found out today that the newly instituted GLBT (Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual-Transvestite) website linked to the city of Scottsdale website is being funded by tax dollars; bed tax dollars to be exact, which the visitors to our community kindly "donate".
Click here to see the new Scottsdale website and what businesses are listed so far, click on this link: www.GLBTScottsdale.com
If the website was fully funded strictly by those businesses who are benefiting from the website as they are said to be, I would have no problem. If the tax money was being evenly distributed between ethnic, alternative lifestyle, commercial travel, and religious groups to develop website additions to the Scottsdale City site I wouldn't have a problem. But for this city to use tax dollars derived from unknowing visitors whose religions or moral convictions are in direct disagreement with the life style of the GLBT without said visitors having a direct say in the use of said dollars, is not in the best interest of the city in the majority of citizens eyes.
When was this discussed with the public being that these are public dollars? Was this approved by the mayor? ...city manager? ...or the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau without any consultation with either of the aforementioned? Where any of the churches or religious leaders informed or included in this decision? How about the major industries and corporations who have located within our city? Or, Is this just another of the mayor's or city manager's secret deals that has been found out too soon?
How many conventions are we going to lose because of where this tax money is going? How many religious organizations will cancel conventions and trips to our city when they are made aware of this situation? Reality sucks doesn't it?
Diversity is a wonderful thing, unless it offends your religious beliefs which is not such a good thing. As I taught my children and grandchildren, be tolerant of all peoples and understand where they are coming from but don't jeopardize your religion or your lively hood based on someone's idea of what "diversity" really is. Each to his own with respect for all people which doesn't mean supporting of all world ideologies in deference to your own. We live in a free country where I can work and practice my religion and diversity without interference from government, and we want to keep it that way.
Let the participating businesses share the entire cost of this website with that fully noted on the site and documented in the city cost schedule, if it won't work that way, then drop the idea and the website entirely and allow a private entity to run and support the site.
We have plenty of other places where that bed tax can be used.
~ It's Way Past Time for a Change
ATTENTION CITY COUNCIL:
After reading and listening to a plethora of city employees who have had it with the current way this city is being run, the only conclusion one can come to is that it's time for a major shake-up in the city government appointed positions.
Many of the employees contacting the Scottsdale Activist are long time employees who love this city but have come to strongly dislike (mild sentiment) the way the city is being run and the way the taxpayers monies are being spent.
Those people the employees would like to resign, in the order of the number of requests;
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City Manager Jan Dolan
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CNR General Manager Judy Register
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City Attorney Deborah Robberson
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Assistant City Manager Ed Gawf
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Transportation Director Mary O'Connor
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Chief Planner Randy Grant
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Code Enforcement Field Manager Malcolm Hankins
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Assistant City Manager Roger Klingler
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Planning General Manager Frank Gray
Elected officials the employees wish would resign;
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Mayor Manross
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Councilman Wayne Ecton
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Councilman Ron McCullagh
It's quite obvious, especially after the drubbing of Prop 401, that there need to be some major changes made in the top levels of our city government. Being that the Scottsdale Activist gives the employees a place to vent their feelings without fear of being identified, we identify those comments that are genuine and that provide a solution to the problem instead of just "bitching" about a situation.
Councilman Ecton's comments almost tied him with Manross in citizen opinions with the following quote from the Scottsdale Republic:
Scottsdale City Councilman Wayne Ecton in Thursday morning's (9-14-06) Arizona Republic Valley Section said that the opposition for proposition 401 registered "young new voters". "The people spoke," he said. "I don't know if the right people spoke."
The increase in complaints has escalated profusely over the last year and the council needs to take notice of the complaints.
It's very possible that some of the people listed on the lower end of the appointed persons above could be caused by orders being given by City Manager Jan Dolan which the lower level managers feel they must obey, right or wrong, or lose their jobs and the perks that go with them.
Most employees feel that they cannot talk to the listed people because nothing is ever done when they do talk to them and in some cases, they feel that they are now under a microscope while those in the same department who don't produce are not bothered about anything because they shut up, hide out in the shadows, and do only what they have to to get by, or kiss someone's butt to stay out of the light of day.
Those employees calling or emailing are saying that Scottsdale is no longer a fun or constructive place to work because of the poor and overbearing city management.
As you can see, the morale of the city employees is in the preverbal toilet and something needs to be done immediately to rectify this sad situation. We don't need to have any more good employees leave because of poor management personnel and poor management decisions. We've lost way too many good employees already, especially in planning and those types of services which cannot get away from the offices where the management people hang out.
One of those highly desirable Hallcraft Tri-level homes that is nestled among other 45+ year old, well kept homes. These owners have kept the picture perfect greenery for purposes of cooling and appearance. You will never find a weed or untrimmed shrub or tree on this property!
They keep the entire landscape and home neat, painted, well trimmed and just plain lovely to look at and appreciate!
There are many wonderful and beautiful neighborhoods within the city of Scottsdale. Do yourself a favor and take the long way home sometime and see what other home owners are doing to improve their neighborhoods.
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If you know of an outstanding home which you feel should to be honored by having the picture displayed in the Scottsdale Activist, send the address to editor@scottsdaleactivist.com .
We have been asked why we don't include homes in HOA controlled subdivisions. We are looking for exceptional homes in areas where the homeowner has to be the driving force behind the beautiful home, not the HOA rules and regulations. We would definitely look at any home in a HOA controlled area that is exceptional and owner maintained rather than by a lawn or landscape service, but so far, we haven't been advised of any that meet that criteria.
~Letters
to the Editor
~
letters@scottsdaleactivist.com
~Mayor is Famous for Just Plain Ignoring the Law
Scottsdale expects its citizens to obey the laws, yet the law makers in Scottsdale (the Mayor and council) don't think that they have to obey the laws of Scottsdale. The City Charter is the law of the city. The Mayor is famous for bending, breaking and just plain ignoring the law. Whether it be Roberts Rules of Order, which she follows when convenient and ignores when profitable, or the City Charter, which calls for a treasurer, the Mayor is inconsistent as to which laws to obey and when to do it. This time it will take more than black hair dye, botox and spite to cover up the issue.
The question as to whether or not Scottsdale should have a treasurer should be voted on by the citizens of Scottsdale just like any other amendment to the charter. The Mayor has declared that she and the council are empowered to make the call. So why would anyone not want a treasurer? People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing. So what's to hide and what would be revealed with an independent treasurer? Could it be that there are discrepancies in some of the expenditures? Maybe a treasurer would find tricky language on specific bonds such as/or for other purposes" which allows the city manager to use excess bound funds for discretionary expenditures to be contrary to the best interest of the tax payers.
Maybe a treasurer would find exception to some of the special subsidies that go to partisan friendly development companies. Those funds are then used to finance the architecture of local, state and federal campaigns. Maybe a treasurer who did not report directly to the City Manager would be a better fiduciary to the taxpayers.
The bottom line is that the law of the charter requires Scottsdale to have a treasurer. The Mayor is bending the law by taking advantage of a fifty year old loophole designed to de- stress the city's payroll when we had a small population and an even smaller budget. Now we have 220,000 people and a billion-dollar a year budget. The city manager isn't acting as a treasurer anyway. She employees a full time CFO with all of the duties and staff of a treasurer without the independence of a charter office. Bend, break and ignore.
Wm. Crawford
Scottsdale
~ Citizen Rejects Tribune Editorial as "Out of Order"
Re: Scottsdale Tribune Editorials
The City Council of Scottsdale is the ultimate authority charged by the city's charter to see that the City's affairs are managed to THEIR SATISFACTION, NOT YOURS. They have last say over all decisions of the city's boards and commissions.
The Development Review Board has for a long, long time shown a singular lack of conscience and taste especially in the downtown area of Scottsdale and the buildings proposed for the ASU/Los Arcos project. Their decisions suggest they rubber-stamp whatever is put before them. Council has asserted THEIR LEGITIMATE authority to intervene.
You are OUT OF ORDER in your accusation of micromanaging. YOU are the one who is attempting to micromanage. Let it alone. It is not your business.
Your editorial of Friday September 8 is presumptuous in the extreme. You TELL council how they should decide. That is their prerogative, not yours. You are not the representative of the people. Council is.
Charles Poston
Scottsdale AZ
~ 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.
~Let's Start Working on a Mayor/Council Change Now!
I agree with the Activist that Scottsdale needs a major political change of direction with an open and clean government. The vote on 401 proved it can be done.
We need to keep Councilman Lane as a councilman, dump Drake and McCullagh like we did 401 this week, and find a new highly ethical and educated citizen(s) to run Manross out of the mayors office. I don't mean Jim Burke who's name has been bounced around if he didn't make the Legislature. He's a nice guy, but he agrees with "Eminent Domain" and already lost an election and could well be tagged as a l2 time loser.
We all need to start thinking about who would make a good city council man or woman.
I hope and pray that Nan Nesvig who was set up to fail in the last election by the competition runs again. She's extremely ethical, sharp, intelligent, very good with the city processes, and knows her way around. She has an excellent background which we need very badly.
Let's start making a list of who we might want to elect besides Nesvig. I'm sure the Activist would be happy to print your suggestions as they do those of many others.
A. Arnold
Scottsdale
~Parks & Grounds Crews Working Hard for Citizens
Editor,
Here's the latest rundown on how the Parks and Ground crews are doing.
Scottsdale Parks & Grounds are budgeted for tree work in the current 2006-07 budget and have started some work now and will have more work planned this month and into the fall.
This will include:
Frank Lloyd Wright -Scottsdale Road to Shea. This
will take few weeks.
Pima Wall has been planned for October on east
side along Pima
Scottsdale Road from Indian Bend to Gold Dust to
begin to work these new trees and get them off the tree stakes.
Shea we have few trees to touch up but most are within median and clear and will be monitored.
The trees along Doubletree/Eastwood are the Gainey Ranch HOA responsibility. They have been contacted. They informed us they have plans in the city to upgrade their existing medians and are in review now. Once they get those back they will be able to address these trees as well as the general landscape in the area along Doubletree and Eastwood.
The trees along Hayden north and south of the bridge crossing of the golf course again fall to the adjacent property owners and will be shaped up.
The fallen cactus at Hayden south of Indian Bend Road was damaged by the recent flooding along Hayden and has been cleaned up.
Below is listed the spreadsheet of tree work we have completed since our first discussion over year ago. The recent monsoon did keep us busy last few weeks, but we have areas planned for work over next 3-4 weeks and beyond. We will continue with our tree program throughout the year.
If I can be of further help please don't hesitate to call.
Bill Murphy
Scottsdale Parks & Grounds Management Director
480-312-7954
bmurphy@scottsdaleaz.gov
A big THANK YOU to Bill and his crews who are doing a good job of getting our city tree system under control.
~ Laurie Roberts Tells It As It Is!!
I hope you all had the opportunity to read Laurie Roberts column this morning in the Scottsdale Republic. It was direct and as usual, directly to the point.
This lady really knows her profession and executes it daily as a real professional and there aren’t many of them around these days.
You can catch her column at:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/columns/articles/0914sr-roberts0914Z8.html
Paul Reich
Scottsdale
~ Mayor Hogs the Dias, Talks But Says Nothing
It's unbelievable to me how this mayor thinks everyone is stupid and doesn't hear and see her stupid moves and total lies she spews all over town. How about how she hogs the Dias during council meetings? Man can that woman talk and say absolutely nothing in the process! She must think she's Gods gift to the city. Sorry madam, no way in (heck).
Yes Scottsdale Activist, it's definitely time for a change; in more positions and more ways than one.
EA Slocomb
Scottsdale
"Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks, no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea, if there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men. So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them."
-- James Madison (speech at the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 20 June 1788)
"The United States of America is the last best hope of Western civilization, and we fight because we know our way of life is worth defending to the last man. As we reflect back upon the events of September 11, 2001, let us humbly remind ourselves why it is that we fight. Let us remember that no great civilization is defeated from without until it is first defeated from within.
-- Patriot Post, 8 September 2006
~ Rome Fell...........
"Rome fell September 4, 476AD. It was overrun with illegal immigrants: Visigoths, Franks, Anglos, Saxons, Ostrogoths, Burgundians, Lombards, Jutes and Vandals, who at first assimilated and worked as servants, but then came so fast they did not learn the Latin Language or the Roman form of government. Highly trained Roman Legions moving rapidly on their advanced road system, were strained fighting conflicts worldwide. Rome had a trade deficit, having outsourced most of its grain production to North Africa, and when Vandals captured that area, Rome did not have the resources to retaliate. Attila the Hun was committing terrorist attacks. The city of Rome was on welfare with citizens being given free bread. One Roman commented: ‘Those who live at the expense of the public funds are more numerous than those who provide them.’ Tax collectors were ‘more terrible than the enemy.’ Gladiators provided violent entertainment in the Coliseum. There was injustice in courts, exposure of unwanted infants, infidelity, immorality and perverted bathhouses. 5th-Century historian Salvian wrote: ‘O Roman people be ashamed... Let nobody think otherwise, the vices of our bad lives have alone conquered us’."
—William Federer
~Remind you of a Manross/Dolan Bait & Switch?
Two politicians walk into a restaurant. They, put their briefcases on the floor, their "Blackberrys" on the table and order two coffees. They get their coffee and pull out lunches from their briefcases.
"Sorry," the waitress says, "You can't eat your own food here."
The politicians look at one another, shrug their shoulders and swap sandwiches.
~ Reality Bites; Scottsdale Style
While walking down the street one day an elected Scottsdale official is tragically hit by a truck and dies. This soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance. "Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, we just tried to screw the cabarets, just let me in," says the elected official.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven, then you can choose where to spend eternity."
"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the elected official.
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules". And with that, St. Peter escorts the official to the elevator and the official goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and the official is standing in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all the officials friends and other politicians who had worked with the official. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet the official, shake their hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the devil, a former political advisor, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before the official realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives the official a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for the dead elected official. "Now it's time to visit heaven." So, 24 hours pass with the elected official joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before the official realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another
in heaven. Now choose your eternity."
The elected official reflects for a minute, then answers: "Well, I would
never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I
think I would be better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts the elected official to the
elevator and it goes
down, down, down to hell.
Now the doors of the elevator open and the dead elected official is in the middle of a
hot, sweltery, barren
land covered with waste and garbage. There are all the friends,
dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as
more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to and puts
his arm around the elected official's shoulder. "I don't understand," stammers the
elected official. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and
clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced
and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and
my friends look miserable. What happened?"
The devil looks at him, smiles and says,
"Yesterday we were campaigning ...... Today you voted."
A Spanish Teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.
"House", for instance, is feminine: "la casa."
"Pencil," however, is masculine: "el lapiz."
A student asked, "What gender is 'computer'?"
Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether "computer" should be a masculine or a feminine noun.
Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.
The men's group decided that "computer" should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la computadora"), because:
No one but their creator understands their
internal logic;
The native language they use to communicate with
other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;
Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long
term memory for possible later retrieval; and
As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.
(THIS GETS BETTER!)
The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ("el computador"), because:
In order to do anything with them, you
have to turn them on;
They have a lot of data but still can't
think for themselves;
They are supposed to help you solve
problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.
The women won.
~ Here & There
~
Stop
Breast Cancer! M & M's With A Purpose
Send this to everyone you know and get the word out there. There are
many women out there who have Breast Cancer. Let's do all we can to
support the fight to end this disease. The makers of M&M's candies have
teamed up with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to raise
funds through the sale of their new pink & white M&M's candies. Special
bags of M&M's will be on sale in September, October and November, 2006.
(The bags are clearly marked).
For each 8-ounce bag of the special candies sold, the makers of M&M's (Masterfoods)
will donate 50 cents to the foundation. If you pass this e-mail around
you will get no money, just the satisfaction of trying to save a life.
Please, pass this to every female (and every male) you know! The next
time you want a treat, please pick up a bag now sold in stores
nationwide. You will be donating to a great cause and satisfying your
sweet tooth. Please pass on to all your family and friends for who knows
— the life you save one day may be your own, or that of a family member
or friend.
Check it out:
http://www.m-ms.com/us/news/promotions/komen/index.jsp
Verified as accurate on www.snopes.com
~TRAFFIC
RESTRICTIONS IN SCOTTSDALE
Sept. 14, 2006
The following is a partial list of road construction projects and
traffic restrictions taking place in Scottsdale Sept. 15-24. For more
information, contact mphillips@ScottsdaleAz.gov
GAS LINE PROJECT ON SCOTTSDALE ROAD:
These road sections will be closed during the following time periods
through Oct. 15 to permit installation of a gas line:
** Northbound curb lane on Scottsdale Road from McDonald Drive to Indian
Bend Road from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
** Two northbound lanes on Scottsdale Road from McDonald Drive to Indian
Bend from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly.
** The westbound curb and left-turn only lane on McDonald Drive from 9
p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly.
** No right turns for westbound traffic and no left turns for eastbound
traffic from Rose Lane on to Scottsdale Road from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
nightly.
** Lane closures in both directions at times on Lincoln Drive at
Scottsdale Road from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly.
---
OTHER SCOTTSDALE ROAD RESTRICTIONS
** The southbound center lane on Scottsdale Road at Highland Drive will
be closed
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Tuesday, Sept. 19, to permit road
work.
** Lane closures will take place at times in both directions of
Scottsdale Road at Rancho Vista Drive from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly
through Tuesday, Sept. 19, for work on utility lines.
** The northbound center lane on Scottsdale Road from Jenan Drive to
Cactus Road will be closed from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, to
permit utility line work.
** Northbound lane closures will take place on Scottsdale Road north of
Pinnacle Peak Road from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily starting Monday, Sept.
18, through Sept. 25 to permit manhole construction.
** Northbound lane closures will take place on Scottsdale Road north of
Pinnacle Peak Road from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily starting Monday, Sept.
18, through Sept. 25 to permit manhole construction.
** Lane restrictions will take place at times in both directions of
Scottsdale Road at Dale Lane from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily starting
Tuesday, Sept. 26, through Oct. 7 to permit utility line work.
---
86th STREET AT McDONALD DRIVE
Lane restrictions will be in place at times on 86th Street at McDonald
Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily through Sept. 22 to permit work
on utility lines.
---
GRANITE REEF ROAD AT CHAPARRAL ROAD
Lane restrictions will be in place at times on Granite Reef Road at
Chaparral Road from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily through Sept. 22 to
permit work on utility lines.
---
74TH PLACE, SOUTH OF ROYAL PALM ROAD
Flaggers will be directing traffic in both directions of 74th Place
south of Royal Palm Road from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily through
Wednesday, Sept. 20, for work on utility lines.
---
GOLD DUST AVENUE AT NORTH LANE
Eastbound lane closures will take place on Gold Dust Avenue at North
Lane from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Sept. 22 to permit trenching
work.
---
OSBORN ROAD, FROM BISHOP LANE TO SCOTTSDALE ROAD
Osborn Road will be completely closed from Bishop Lane to Scottsdale
Road through Sept. 22 to permit work on utility lines. The recommended
alternative route is Goldwater Boulevard. During those same dates, 71st
Street will be completely closed at Osborn.
---
MILLER ROAD/McDONALD DRIVE AREA
These lane closures will take place in the Miller Road/McDonald Drive
area to accommodate a water line project:
** Flaggers will direct traffic on Miller Road north of McDonald through
Oct. 6.
** Traffic will be reduced at times in both directions on McDonald Drive
at Miller Road through Oct. 6.
---
HIGHLAND DRIVE AT SCOTTSDALE ROAD
All westbound lanes are closed on Highland Drive at Scottsdale Road
through Sept. 22. Eastbound traffic on Highland at Scottsdale Road is
reduced to one open lane during this time.
The restrictions are necessary to permit installation of water and sewer
lines.
---
GOLDWATER BOULEVARD, NORTH OF CAMELBACK ROAD
Northbound traffic on Goldwater Boulevard north of Camelback Road is
reduced to one open lane through Sept. 22 to permit installation of
water and sewer lines.
---
PRINCESS DRIVE, HAYDEN TO 82ND STREET
The westbound curb lane of Princess Drive, between Hayden Road and 82nd
Street, will be closed through Friday, Sept. 15, to permit road and
driveway work.
---
PINNACLE PEAK ROAD, 81ST TO 83RD STREETS
Traffic restrictions, including lane closures, will take place at times
on Pinnacle Peak Road between 81st to 83rd streets through October to
permit work on a sewer line project.
---
CHAPARRAL ROAD, WEST OF PIMA ROAD
Westbound Chaparral Road will be reduced to one lane west of Pima Road
from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily starting Monday, Sept. 18, through
Sept. 30 for work on utility lines.
---
PIMA ROAD RESTRICTIONS:
** Lanes will be narrowed in both directions of Pima Road north of
Indian Bend Road from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily through Saturday, Sept.
16, to permit installation of light poles.
** Northbound Pima from Thompson Peak Parkway to north of Haulapai Drive
will be reduced to one lane from 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily through
October to permit road widening.
All work is scheduled for completion in November. For more information
on the project visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/capitalprojects/proj_report.asp?proj=S2104&status=S2104
---
CACTUS ROAD RESTRICTIONS
** Cactus Road will be reduced to one lane in each direction at times
from 100th to 108th streets from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily through
Sept. 22 to permit work on a gas line.
** Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction on Cactus Road
at Hayden Road through September to permit road widening and other
improvements. Restrictions are part of the Hayden Road widening project.
For more information on the project, visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/capitalprojects/proj_report.asp?proj=S2103&status=S2103
---
HAYDEN ROAD RESTRICTIONS:
** Hayden Road, from Starlight to Lincoln drives, will be reduced to one
lane in each direction from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept.
16-17, to permit paving work.
During those same dates and hours, McDonald Drive from 82nd to 78th
streets will be reduced to one lane in each direction and no left turns
will be permitted on to Hayden to permit paving work.
** The Hayden Road/Cactus Road intersection is reduced to one lane in
all directions through September to permit road improvement work.
Redfield at Hayden will be restricted to one lane in each direction
through September. For more information on the Cactus Road widening
project, visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/capitalprojects/proj_report.asp?proj=S2103&status=S2103
** The Hayden Road/McDonald Drive intersection will be restricted
through September. North-south traffic will be reduced to two lanes in
each direction; east-west traffic will be reduced to one lane in each
direction. Left turns are now permitted in all directions.
The restrictions are necessary to permit road improvements.
~ Scottsdale Legal Defense Fund
The Scottsdale Activist is very pleased to announce an effort on the behalf of the residents and taxpayers of the city of Scottsdale to promote open, honest and accountable city government. The Scottsdale Legal Defense Fund (SLDF) has been created to take legal action to hold the City accountable when its actions are contrary to state law, the City Charter, City ordinances or the public interest.
The most necessary ingredient to make the SLDF work will be confidential contributions from concerned Scottsdale citizens who are willing to help their community. By contributing, we can change the way City Hall does business and insure that our tax dollars will be spent wisely.
No funds from the SLDF
will or can be used for any political purpose.Contributions shall be kept confidential as
permissible by law and can be made in any Washington Mutual Bank
to account number 3114165786 for the Scottsdale Legal Defense
Fund. Branch locations are listed below. Contributions are not tax
deductible.
The SLDF has retained the law firm of Miller LaSota & Peters, PLC, in
connection with the patently illegal action taken by the Mayor and
Council appointing the most recent Scottsdale City Attorney, while
ignoring the residency requirement of the Scottsdale City Charter even
though the new City Attorney’s contract (according to Scottsdale
Republic reporter Laurie Roberts) requires that she reside in
Scottsdale. The City Council action was based on a legal opinion
which was reportedly rendered during a closed door Executive Session of
the City Council by a subordinate to the then acting City Attorney, who
was subsequently appointed to the City Attorney position by a vote
during a public City Council meeting. The opinion has been requested as
a public document under state law, but the City has not yet provided it.
The SLDF will take other appropriate legal actions based on the conduct
of the Mayor and Council.
Washington Mutual Bank Locations at which contributions to the SLDF can be made are:
72nd & Shea 7337 E. Shea Blvd #120 480-609-8524
Hayden & Chaparral 7908 E. Chaparral # C-113 480-949-0069
Horizon 14854 N Frank Lloyd Wright
480-614-6660
Scottsdale Ranch
10155 E. Via Linda Blvd #131 480-767-2060
Kierland Village 6501 E. Greenway Pkwy #133 480-315-2905
There are many other branches throughout the Valley.
~Property Tax Reform In Arizona
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, August 7, 2006, 2:00 PM MST
In the last year, of the several groups and initiatives claiming to bring California "Prop 13" style property tax reform to Arizona, not one of them addressed all of Prop 13, nor anything beyond residential property tax.
Arizona Tax Reform brings together elected state officials, citizen activists, taxpayer interest groups, industry interest groups and other political interest groups to form the definitive statewide property tax reform coalition in Arizona.
Over the next year, representatives of the various stakeholder groups will be working together with elected officials and citizen activists to create comprehensive, transformational property tax reform bills and initiatives under Arizona Tax Reform’s "Project Prop 13".
"Project Prop 13" …comprehensive, transformational property tax reform...
Arizona Tax Reform’s "Project Prop 13" addresses how the Arizona Constitution and Revised Statutes affect residential, commercial and vacant land property taxes. The goal is comprehensive reform driving future economic growth and prosperity, protecting citizens and business from excessive and unnecessary taxation, and encouraging fiscal responsibility.
… for residential, commercial property and vacant land…
The work has already begun……
Since the formation of the board, work has begun on drafting the bills
and initiative language that the group plans on passing. Stakeholders
from around the state are providing their input in order that the bills
and initiatives appeal to the widest segment of the population, amenable
to business owners, industry and individuals.
Landmark reform in the making……
Look for more from Arizona Tax Reform in the coming weeks and months.
Arizona Tax Reform
4340 E. Indian School Road
#21-217
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Phone: (602) 283-4858
Provided by Arizona Tax Reform
shoutandspout@scottsdaleactivist.com
~ OMG! The Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce just bought the whole farm and it was fallow without water!! Could have been a big winner, instead ended up a impotent eunuch who lost the respect of many business people by not standing up for small business.
~ Mary, Mary, Quite contrary, how does your office work? By hook and crook or by the book, that we'll never know. She lies and spies, talks and babbles until the meeting's over.... finally, but what did she say while she was going on, and on, and on...............? Nobody really knows; but she smiled at herself in the mirror when she got home, to make sure the hair color was good, and that everything else was still in place. What a life!!!
~ Church preachers; stay to your own business, we wouldn't want to hear charges of conflict of interest or a blurring of the lines between church and state; Same for you Mayor Manross.
~ Scottsdale Chamber of what? After prop 401 went down, not much I'll bet. Bad, Bad choice Rick, really bad.
~ The Churches wanted to strictly control the cabarets but when it come to controlling the Churches, Boy Howdy!! Watch out or you'll see fire and brimstone oozing from every orifice available.
~ Thank you, Thank You for adding the Sonoran News link to the Activist. Could you add the Scottsdale Times also?
~ If we could just get 4 votes on the council, we could fire Dolan and that would solve the treasurer problem directly wouldn't it?
~Thank God the people woke up to what the mayor and company were REALLY up to with Prop 401. It certainly didn't have anything to do with the cabarets.
~Why doesn't the city just pay the guy a fair price for the Villa Monterey Golf course and turn it into a cross country jogging course with the hills and dales being already built in. Just add a few boulders off to the side to make it more like a mountain trail in some places and be done with it. Something for the common citizens to enjoy for a change.
~ The new owners of the Diamondbacks really suck! No more season tickets for this extended family! Thank You "Gonzo" for all you are and all you've done for your fans and the valley.
~ I just read that the city is popping for a Gay website? They better not be using city tax money or there will be (heck) to pay.
~ Rosati really screwed up when she went to a negative campaign against Allen. We were going to vote for her but she got too radical, negative, and overbearing with her campaign so we voted for Allen.
~ Come on boys and girls, let's get the "One Scottsdale" approved without the subsidy; Drew Brown and Company have made more than enough money off the city of Scottsdale and their subsidies, they don't need another. Just let'em build the complex sans subsidy.
~ What's with these people who park their junky looking cars on the streets, flat tires and all. Where's the PD on these things? Isn't there a 72 hour rule in Scottsdale? This junk needs to be towed.
~ Why hasn't the city cut the Palo Verde tree overhanging the sidewalk on the bridge over the overflow canal on Hayden? It really cuts you if it catches you as you bicycle by.
~ Why doesn't Dolan want to give up the treasurers job to a qualified appointee? Seems to me she would be losing that control she really craves.
~ Can't we get these camp trailers and other RV's off the streets, especially when they have flat tires and haven't moved in months?
~ Jim Peterson is a real joke. He must really want the job to spend as much of his own money as he will have to spend while spinning lie after lie, then talking about pork. NOT!!
~ When is "One Scottsdale" coming up for a council vote? We need that up here.
~ Can the Manross favorite Puppet Osterman run for city council again? His picture in the paper yesterday was very telling - Osterman is STILL a very active part of our political scene - why would Ecton and Drake both be with him looking at 401 results? Hasn't he moved on or is Kevin STILL playing kissy face with Mother Mary and her toadies Drake and Ecton? Can't we ever get rid of this newly bearded goldbricker who's trying to "fit in"? This reeks of backdoor political positioning of the worst kind.
~ Mary O'Connor needs to go. Bad ideas, bad decisions and bad designs. We don't need Tempe or California in Scottsdale. She's always throwing up obstacles somewhere or keeps people driving in circles.
~ Hey Churches, do you want your tax money going to a gay website through the city website? They're using bed tax money paid by your out of town guests using Scottsdale hotels, motels, and B&B's.
~ We all need to encourage Laurie Roberts of the Republic to continue to expose the secret government style of Queen Mother Mary and her group of "gofers” that serve her and not the citizens.
~ The city trash crews do a super job. I lived in Phoenix and in Mesa and Scottsdale has the best. Thank you guys!!
~John McCain's political party is RINO.
~ We're hearing that the company (AAWC) who screwed over the residents on Cattle track with the help of John Berry and the City Council by building those 24 foot tall tanks, is trying to sell the company. Do our citizens know that most of that water goes to Paradise Valley, not Scottsdale?
~ Was the gay website a Dolan idea?
~ Are we going to get the alleys cleaned up again? Hello Code Enforcement??
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.
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The Scottsdale Activist is published, owned, and edited by George Knowlton, Scottsdale AZ ~ 480-326-2475