~Legislators Need to Stop Political Games

The election is over and all I can say is, "What an ordeal that ballot was!"

It makes you stop and ask, "Why do we elect people to the State Legislature?"

Nineteen propositions with many layers of impact, setting serious precedents that will affect every citizen regardless of ethnicity, culture, religion or political persuasion.

Voters are required to say yes or no without access to information that elected members of the Legislature have readily at hand to debate, amend or "strike all" if the political mood stirs them to do so.

Oh, yes, committee chairs can put bills in the desk drawer and never allow them to see the light of day or breath of debate. This political ploy usually winds up with propositions going to the voters.

The cost for getting an initiative on the ballot and promoting it is significant in time and dollars.

Heck! Printing the ballot is a significant cost when it is a lengthy as this last one.

We want people to participate in the voting process, but putting forth ballots as complicated as we had this election year helps to defeat participation. While I don’t believe that is an excuse any of us should validate, it is frequently given as a reason why some did not vote at all.

If Legislators want a raise they need to stop playing political games with issues. Put them on the table. Work them through the committee process with open hearings and public input. Then write the best legislation possible and vote.

That is what you are paid to do. When that is done let’s talk raise.

Nancy Cantor
Scottsdale

~All Future City Contracts

It is rather apparent that there are no teeth in the Capital Construction and other contracts that are being let by the city of Scottsdale. We have time and dollar overruns on almost every project. Where is the overrun money coming from? Who approves it? Who reviews and approves the contract process in the first place?

Isn't it time this city adopted a new policy which clearly states a start and end date for any and all construction and other contracts which include a huge daily monetary penalty for overruns in either cost or time?

From all appearances, this administration doesn't do anything about overruns. It seems like they couldn't care less about stopping these violations of contracts, and the city trusts that the projects will be completed on time barring any catastrophic natural problem or occurrence.

After all, it's only taxpayer money and this city is flush so why should they care?

Let's get this problem solved NOW! Rewrite all contracts to have a stiff monetary penalty clause for overruns on time and materials which will stop this thievery from the public's pocket.

(Return to Top)
 

 ~ "McOsterman" to Morocco

According to the Scottsdale Republic in the 11-10-06 edition, Councilman Ron McCullagh and his bride will be visiting the fabled city of Marrakech, Morocco as part of a Sister Cities program. Who's paying the bill for this little trip? The Taxpayers?

It would seem that the mayors newest "Water Boy" has been given a plum assignment along with a nice vacation with his bride which is all probably paid for by all of us citizens who can't even afford a 2 day vacation in Dewey, AZ.

Apparently, it does pay to kiss up to the mayor and her cronies. More and more it seems apropos that many of our writers had McCullagh correctly pegged as "McOsterman" early on.

Why weren't Littlefield, Lane or Nelssen chosen as the city representatives? You already know the obvious answer to that question, it's as visible as the blue lighted  FLW tower at Scottsdale Rd and FLW Blvd from 100 miles away.

(Return to Top)
 

 ~Volunteers Needed

There are many Boards, Commissions and Committees that desperately need caring citizens to serve so that more input from the citizens is available. One of those Commissions which needs more applicants is the Neighborhood Enhancement Commission. Currently, there seems to be too few members and applicants from the southern portion of the city where most of the activity takes place.

If you have some time to volunteer, Please contact Raun Keagy  rkeagy@scottsdaleaz.gov  for more information. You won't be sorry, It feels good to give your time for the good of your city.

(Return to Top)

~ City Council Still Rejecting Citizen Plea's

Manross and Company continue blindly along favoring the wishes of the developers such as DMB, CSA, and PDG America against the outrage expressed by scores of  citizens from all over the city of Scottsdale. Frankly, it would seem that the plans of the developers are held head and shoulders above the wants, desires, and funds availability of the citizens of Scottsdale.

• STOP the subsidies,

• STOP allowing height exceptions, and

• START listening to the citizens and other factions whom are trying to keep this city neat, clean and desirable.

DMB will still build that "Rodeo Drive of Scottsdale" even if they don't get what they want because they want to make money which every developer does or they wouldn't be in business. They might have you think it won't be as advertised because the subsidy and height weren't allowed but after being in the real estate industry for over 20 years, I can tell you they will build what is the best and highest use bringing in the most money possible for that piece of property. They will not do anything to reduce their bottom line.

I think it's very interesting that DMB is reportedly paying over ^$300 million for 3,200 acres of the GM proving grounds in the far east valley while still asking Scottsdale for a ^$50 million dollar subsidy. So, Is the city of Scottsdale going to have an interest in that ground if the council gives them the subsidy? NOT !!!

If DMB tries to undercut the city on anything, they can easily be stopped by the planning commission, the DRB, and by the council if they get some cajoñes and listen to the citizen for a change.

This is Scottsdale; A number One address to the world. We don't need to do as everyone else does, we need to do it best and more innovatively that any other city which in its self speaks Scottsdale.

Council Members: Stick with your original plan which you approved in 2002!

(Return to Top)

 ~ Letter Sent to Menlo Park, CA

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In Scottsdale Arizona, the citizens are revolting against a mass traffic calming program initiated and heavily pushed by former Menlo Park city manager Jan Dolan and perpetuated in kind by our Scottsdale Transportation director, Mary O’Connor.

As our City Manager, Jan Dolan has brought the same aggressive traffic calming agenda to Scottsdale that she apparently had in Menlo Park which is considerably smaller in both population and size than Scottsdale. Dolan’s plan is destroying our community with traffic circles, roundabouts, and "street furniture" on minor and semi major arterials rather than purely residential areas which we’re finding is inevitably congesting traffic far more than relieving it.

Their impetus is to get the residents out of their cars and into bicycles, walking, or mainly to mass transit (an oxymoron in itself) which may include exorbitantly costly light rail which Scottsdale citizens vigorously oppose.  Can't you see residents walking or biking with daytime temperatures in excess of 105 degrees with night time temperatures in the low to mid 90's five (5) months of the year?

Thank you for taking your precious time to respond!

Most Respectfully,

George Knowlton, Editor,
The Scottsdale Activist

 ~Responses From Menlo Park

 ~ Contact the ACLU

City managers do what the City Council tells them to do. City managers do not create policy, write the laws, or decide to force a town to install traffic circles.

Individual Menlo Park neighborhoods, such as the Willows, voted on whether to install traffic calming devices. The City Council gave neighborhoods the authority to make the choice, and then directed city staff to work with them to put the plan in place.

Here in California, municipal governments are run according to the principles of democracy. If Scottsdale has created a city government where the city manager acts as dictator, the good citizens may want to contact the ACLU for help, as (a concerned civics teacher) I'm pretty sure that's unconstitutional.

 ~ Sounds Like a Terrible Situation............

That sounds like a terrible situation you have in Scottsdale. We have a weak-mayor system where the position rotates among council members annually, and mayoral duties largely amount to chairing council meetings, signing documents on behalf of the council and attending the occasional parade or ribbon-cutting ceremony. There's no real power associated with the position.

I've been following Menlo Park politics for the past 10 years or so, and my recollection is that Jan Dolan was neither the impetus nor the primary cheerleader for traffic-calming measures. I believe the transportation manager and the city's transportation advisory committee, along with some very active residents, were the movers and shakers who wanted Menlo Park to adopt its own version of the "Portland protocol." 

I remember Jan as being very competent, with a slightly prickly personality, so I'm sure if she were directed to create a plan for traffic circles, she'd get it done promptly and with no apologies.

~ Traffic Control was not a Jan Issue?

I saw your post in the Menlo Park Almanac.  I know Jan Dolan somewhat, I was on the local planning commission for over 5 years, and am familiar with the traffic calming projects around town. Frankly I do not associate Jan with traffic calming.  The projects here are initiated by neighborhoods and approved by the council.

I am familiar with our effort in Linfield Oaks.  It took years to accomplish, and city staff were very helpful in talking through issues; we worked with the council to get appropriations, and we have what I call a good model.  We have speed tables on several streets, which, if you obey the speed limit, are non-issues.  I have one in front of my house.  I was active in the group asking for them, and when the council agreed, I thought 'What have I done now?'. Well, it's been great, and we are happy to have them especially in the face of extreme development on residential and medical offices replacing quiet office parks in the nearby neighborhood underway. There were prior projects in the Willows area, which pre-dated me, but Paul Collachhi would know the history.

After Linfield, and somewhat at the time when Jan left, there was another project on Santa Cruz Avenue.  I am familiar with this since the genesis came from issues arising at the planning commission about noise heard by neighbors on Santa Cruz.  There was a lengthy process.  At some point, the city implemented islands down Santa Cruz, approved by a mixed residentialist/pro growth council.  This is what people asked for.

Upon starting installation, some neighbors then spoke up, and it became a council campaign issue 4 years ago. The current pro growth council (up for re-election next week), implemented a Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan that effectively makes it very difficult for a neighborhood to get enough signatures.  The only time the plan has been used, the council overrode the plan and approved the mitigations.

We are going through a lot of development (not a lot by Scottsdale standards).  If the Environmental Impact Report for a project indicates that the project would have undue traffic impacts, the developer is supposed to implement the mitigations.  It's not clear yet whether for upcoming projects this will work.

I am somewhat familiar with Scottsdale and like it very much.  I would be happy to speak with you if you come by.

Again, from my perspective, traffic control was not a Jan issue.

This woman (Jan Dolan) and a few of her friends made this wonderful city into a living hell! Besides costing the city thousands to put this nonsense in, within months it was all removed. Another great expense.

In my neighborhood, there has not been a single accident in 60 years, but my wife and I have to go over these GD speed bumps 24/7. There's not a time I have to go over these hurdles that I wish she was under them. How’s that for hatred!!!!!

 ~ Two Traffic Circles Removed?

In response to your question, the City of Menlo Park has currently one traffic circle and is in the process of getting a developer (to) install a "roundabout" in one of the City's local residential streets.  As far as I know, since this happened before my tenure with the City, there were two traffic circles that were removed over the years.  

Based on our experience, speed humps and speed tables appear to be the most efficient and yet economical to slow traffic on non-arterials. Main concerns with traffic circles and roundabouts are their impacts on emergency response times and on fire trucks.  Our Fire District appear to favor speed humps and speed tables over traffic circles and roundabouts because of the difficulty of maneuvering their non-articulated fire trucks around traffic circles and roundabouts. Our citizens favor speed humps and speed tables over traffic circles.  

In its inventory of traffic calming measures, the City has approximately 20 speed humps/tables and one traffic circle in its local and collector residential streets.

 ~ My Editorial Take on the Subject...............

Issues that stand out in the above responses:

• Did our City Council specifically instruct Dolan to install traffic circles and roundabouts?

• Why did the letter responses stop immediately after a respondent copied Ms. Dolan?

• Why would anyone suggest to contact the ACLU unless they saw dire legal problems?

• Why were 2 Menlo Park traffic circles removed after MS. Dolan left?

• Why didn't the Fire Department like traffic circles?

The most interesting thing was that as soon as one of the respondents copied Jan Dolan, all responses immediately stopped with none since. Why? Did Ms. Dolan "Drop a Dime" to stop the information flow? If so, how and why? Is she afraid of what might be said or documented about her plans, her style, or the problems she may have had or caused within the city of Menlo Park? Why did things apparently change radically after her departure? Maybe the most important question that should be asked is WHY did she leave?

Another interesting thing was the suggestion that we confer with the ACLU on inconsistencies obviously apparent in the way the Manross administration has been running the city and appointing charter officers. For someone to suggest a radical organization such as the ACLU to clean up the city, they must determine the city administration to be totally out of control and badly in need of being reined in legally.

Why has the local print media had to go to court a number of times to get what's deemed "Public Information" from the city? What is the Manross administration and our city attorney trying to hide or what are they afraid of? Who are they trying to protect and why?

Menlo Park citizens complain about the same things citizens of Scottsdale are complaining about when it comes to traffic calming. Hmmmm, same city manager involved? Hmmmmmmmmm

Another well educated Menlo Park citizen suggested that our current predicament "sounds like a terrible situation". Gee, haven't scores of our citizens been saying the same thing since before  Manross began her second term?

If traffic circles were installed in Menlo Park by Dolan, why were they removed after her departure? According to one respondent, it was because the fire department didn't like them and preferred other, milder, less dangerous forms of traffic calming. In addition, Apparently they only wanted them on non-arterial residential streets so the flow of traffic wasn't constricted. The city council of Menlo Park  now requires the developer to foot the cost and provide the land to build these traffic circles if needed.

Did our city council even hear about the huge traffic circles that are now being built on minor arterials? Did they approve funds in advance for these things which are running about a million dollars each? Was the council told that they were being installed to constrict and reduce traffic flow where we are in dire need of freeing up the flow of traffic? Has anyone ever advised the council on these issues and what the projected annual maintenance costs on these things consist of? I think not from what I have heard.

Apparently, Menlo Park citizens are given the choice as what they want in their neighborhoods through public hearings and an actual neighborhood vote. Here in Scottsdale, we don't know anything until construction starts at which time we are told that it's too bad, it's already been contracted. What's wrong with that picture?

Let's face it. We have some serious problems in this city and they are all piling up at the feet of Manross, Dolan, and the council majority who have seen fit to blow off any and all citizen complaints on issues where there are large financial outlays and apparently "favored" developers and contractors involved.

Obviously, neither Manross or Dolan, and many others in the Manross administration feel they are not doing anything wrong; Neither did President Bush and the Congressional Majority who went about their merry spending ways without considering the cries from the citizens to get back to the conservative mantra of the Reagan and Kennedy administrations.

Scottsdale elections are coming in 2008 and things WILL change then, if not sooner.

(Return to Top)

 ~Continuing Light Rail Information

The Scottsdale Citizens Transportation Study Committee invites you to view their website for more questions and answers at  www.norailforscottsdale.com .

Simply click on the links below to get all the information you'll ever need concerning Light Rail.

     Goldwater Institute Report

     American Dream Coalition

    The Public Purpose

(Return to Top)

~ Home of the Week

 ~ Questions?

Many readers have asked why we don't expose those nasty, ugly rundown trashy properties we wish City Code Enforcement would cite and force to cleanup. We feel that it is much better to show the examples of homes that show pride of ownership rather than those trash piles and filth holes we all know about. If you have one of those "nasty" homes in your neighbor hood, email  rkeagy@scottsdalaz.gov  giving him all of the pertinent information including address, and you don't need to leave your name, unless you want to be contacted.

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

 ~Guess?? North? Central? South? Fooled You?

This is another home that many citizens will not be able to place. Many think it's in the far north, some think it's in the Cactus/Shea Corridor, but surprise!!  It's located in the farthest most southwestern section of our city. It's been meticulously maintained using the xeriscape landscaping which features many native plants and cacti. This jewel is hidden in the Sherwood Heights area which contains many more lovely homes.

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. How does your home compare?

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.

(Return to Top)

On November 14 the City Council will hear DMB's request for taller buildings for its One Scottsdale project on Scottsdale Road north of 101 - from 60 to 89 feet. In 2002 the council agreed to rezone the property from residential to commercial and to raise the height limit from 36 feet to 60 feet. 

There is no redeeming value for the city in taller buildings. Since DMB is not asking for higher density, and retail/restaurant/recreational stores will not occupy more than the first two stories of a building, only offices and residential use with superior views will be more marketable as a result. Thus, the only beneficiary will be DMB (greater profit) not the City, nor its taxpayers. 

At the same time, taller buildings will not only create a new skyline for north Scottsdale and block views to the east, but also establish policy and set a political precedent for future owners of unsold state land to the east and other areas of the city. How will the Council deny similar treatment to future owners? Won’t this lead to a complete urbanization of the immediate area north of 101? And where does it end?

DMB is also asking for a $50 million subsidy from the city, but this request will be heard separately on 12/12 even though it is an integral part of the new proposal. This is an incredulous request from a premier developer and for a parcel of land that is surely the crown jewel of the Valley and the state. The One Scottsdale parcel is not in a distressed area. DMB is not doing the city a favor to build there. Why should taxpayer dollars be given to DMB or anyone else to develop such a prime location?

If you agree that tall buildings (7 to 8 stories high) will negatively change the character of the north, please ask friends and neighbors to attend the Council meeting on November 14 and to email or fax their comments to the City Council at citycouncil@scottsdaleaz.gov, fax 480-312-2738. 

Bob Vairo, President
Coalition of Pinnacle Peak, Inc.

  ~ A New Stench Brewing

There is a new stench brewing in this city and it is not located Downtown this time.

It also is not at Sky Song or The Motor Mile.

It is coming from the North of this city this time and it is coming from a piece of prime land owned by DMB.

I have yet to hear one good excuse from anyone including DMB as to why we need to raise an already approved height that exceeded a previous height limit.

I have yet to hear one reason period of why we need to create this so called $50 Million community improvement district which I believe is nothing more than an abuse of the infill incentive laws of this State.

City mayors not very long ago beat back the State legislators from taking the reins away from cities for abusing taxpayer’s subsidies for projects like this and it was never the intent of the language of infill incentives to mean properties and locations such as this project.

With that said I will tell the Mayor now that if the council passes this type of action again, I will indeed scream bloody murder with the State Legislators to again take action to remove these powers from cities that so blatantly piss away taxpayers dollars and don't think that it will disappear so easily this time.

Anymore I believe Knowlton was right in asking for a CAP to be set regarding how much taxpayer money can be used for things like this before the city has to put it to a vote of those taxpayers and maybe that should be the next initiative that gets started in this city as a warning to developers looking for handouts with councils they may be able to get it from.

I see some other groups from the South have also made their feelings known on this issue and like them I also will express our support with them and the Coalition of Pinnacle Peak to make sure the council understands that there is city wide support to deny both the Height Change and the Subsidy Request for Taxpayers Dollars.

I believe you will also have to consider very strongly the issue of both sides of the city are getting fed up with this stuff no matter what subsidy records and Bond Ratings people keep spitting out when trying to justify these types of actions and if both sides of the city are fed up with it, I think you know it will not be something forgotten by us in a few short years.

Michael Merrill
Chairman, Citizens for Responsible Redevelopment

 ~ Dolan and Manross Out of Touch

Mr. Littlefield:

I want to take the time to commend you on your stance regarding this issue (Subsidy and height for "One Scottsdale").  It makes me very happy that I took the time to listen to some pretty involved people in the matters of the City of Scottsdale and acted on their suggestion to support you in the last Council election.

I do want to bring to your attention that this is the same DMB that has a very active role in the development of the Scottsdale Airport and has used its influence on matters pertaining to the expansion of the airport beyond what its present and future capacity calls for.

They are a development company that has only its own interests at heart.  They care not one iota about how what they do impacts the rest of the residents of Scottsdale....only how it impacts their bottom line, or if it might have some impact on where they personally live.

I simply want to point out to you that overall they use the same tactics regardless of what the issue is or where it is located. 

I appreciate your standing up for what is right here for the overall best interests of the citizens of Scottsdale.

The same holds true for this "supposed" tunnel under the runway at Scottsdale Airport.  It was a bad idea from the beginning and it continues to be just as bad now. 

Jan Dolan needs to get her priorities straight (along with Manross) and work on some common sense approaches to the basic needs of this City.

Thanks for your stance.  We appreciate it.

Bob Popow
Scottsdale, AZ

Why are we changing the trolley logo in the first place? I just saw the new trolley logo on the city website that was generated by a consultant who was probably paid mucho dollars and doesn't even live in the city.

As some one who has lived in this city for quite a while, and have family in the advertising art business, I have never seen such a piece of generic, bland garbage in my entire life. Scottsdale is a World Class city with a historic reputation for top notch everything which is well known worldwide. That reputation and respect includes the Scottsdale logos of the the Jack Knife Bronc Rider or the Red Stetson. What's the thing in the middle of the new logo? It looks more like an old fashioned kerosene lantern than a trolley.

What is wrong with you people? Have you all lost your minds? Generate the logo around the Bronc Rider or secondly, the Red Stetson. I think you'll find that the vast majority of the citizen will agree with me. If you used Jack Knife the Bronc Rider on the Downtown Trolleys and the Red Stetson for the Neighborhood Connection Trolleys, they would be easily identifiable while keeping the original logos intact.

If you had made a real effort at a public plea for local artists to come up with a design, I know that many citizens would have been happy to participate, but no, you all have to follow the Manross doctrine of secrecy and stealth to come up with a piece of utter, nondescript junk with an old fashioned lantern in the middle!

E Slocomb
Scottsdale

Editors Note: I was just informed that the new logo is not what the city website shows. In fact you have to click on the line that says "new logo" to see it (shown here). I don't think it's representative of Scottsdale either. It's just as generic as the other one. Could it be that the Trolley owner has other locations in other states where the Trolleys are located and is using Scottsdale dollars to develop a logo which can be used anywhere? I think the letter above is dead on when they basically say we need to go back to our roots which is either the Jack Knife Bronc Rider and/or the Red Stetson. I think that maybe the city needs to clarify the website when they introduce something new also.

(Return to Top)


~ Why are Scottsdale Schools Open?

Sadly, I found that the Scottsdale School District does not celebrate Veteran's Day while most other school districts do and as a Veteran of two actions, I am greatly and totally offended!.

What is it with Scottsdale? Can't anything be done in this city which makes any sense? What, are our Veteran's, nothing more than month old chopped snake liver?

Come on Scottsdale, get your collective heads out of that dark place where you put them and start paying attention to the real world! I thought Manross and Dolan were the only super problems. I guess we now have to add the Scottsdale School District to the list.

Shame on all of you!!

Name withheld by request
Scottsdale

(Return to Top)

Hey man WhaszUp? Perhaps I may become a Rap Star since I'm too old for a reasonable job. I've even passed the "Walking Dead" phase to be a greeter at a store (maybe a basket collector).

Anyway I feel that I could whip up an outfit fitting the guise of a rapper. First white underwear (to show as my baggy oversize pants drift down over my rear area.) That's cool. Now a shirt really doesn't matter as an undershirt is also cool as long as it's the shoulder strap type.

Now a large chain with an oversize Cross, a pair of super dark sunglasses, a large baseball cap, optional, with two brims so I can wear it backward, side ways or ?

Hair style doesn't matter, the balder the better. Don't worry about shoes as no one can see them due to the baggy pants covering your toes.

Next is style, you must wear a "mike" so your right hand can be waving in the air with suggestive signs as the left hand is holding your crotch.

OK, now we're ready.

Now the definition of Rap or according to some of the lyrics should be changed to C-RAP.  It would certainly fit better and leave out any doubt at all. Most of the rappers need to remember how their mothers used to wash out their mouths with soap for the use of the same words they utter now.

You're ready for Rap!

R. Graham
Scottsdale

(Return to Top)
 

~ 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=3

If you have any problems, check your firewall and other safety features which could block access to the city site.

(Return to Top)

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.

 "What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."  

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray.  Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse.  I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."  

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap -- alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. 

The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught.  In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. 

The snake bit the farmer's wife. 

The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. 

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.

To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.  

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.

So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.  

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness. 

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.  We are all involved in this journey called life.

We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

One of the best things to hold onto in this world is a friend.

Amen

Remember: Each of us is a vital thread in another person's tapestry; our lives are woven together for a reason. 

(Return to Top)

~ Just for Giggles
 

(Return to Top)

~ Here & There

~Are Red-Light Cameras Fair to Drivers?

These modern-day robocops make ticketing easier and can be huge moneymakers for local governments. But critics question their accuracy and fret over privacy issues.

Click on the link below , then scroll down to read the article:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/AreRedLightCamerasFairToDrivers.aspx

(Return to Top)

~TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS IN SCOTTSDALE

Nov. 9, 2006

The following is a partial list of road construction projects and traffic restrictions taking place in Scottsdale Nov. 10-19. For more information, contact mphillips@ScottsdaleAz.gov

PIMA ROAD, LOOP 101 TO HUALAPAI DRIVE
Pima Road will be closed from the Loop 101 Freeway exit north to Hualapai Drive on two consecutive weekends, starting at 8 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 10.
The closures are necessary to connect the new section of Pima Road to the existing freeway interchange and roadway.
The first closure will take place from 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, to 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13.  The second closure will take place the following weekend from 8 p.m. Nov. 17 to 5 a.m. on Nov. 20.

The freeway exit will be open and allow access to and from Princess Drive south of the freeway, but motorists will not be able to get on or off of the freeway via Pima Road north of the Loop 101.  
Detour routes are Hayden Road and the newly opened Thompson Peak Parkway.  Local access will be provided to residents who live along Pima Road south of Thompson Peak Parkway in Ironwood Village, Pima Acres, DC Ranch and Grayhawk.  Access to homes will be provided from the north via the Pima Road and Thompson Peak Parkway intersection.

The closures are one of the last steps in the city's project to widen Pima Road north of the Loop 101.  After Nov. 20, two lanes will be open in each direction at all times and all major work will be complete.  Intermittent closures of the third lane of traffic will take place through mid-January to allow work on landscaping and roadwork at major intersections.

PINNACLE PEAK ROAD, 84TH STREET TO PIMA ROAD
Pinnacle Peak Road between 84th Street and Pima Road will be restricted to one lane in each direction between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14, to permit repaving work. Traffic officers will maintain left turn availability for eastbound Pinnacle Peak at Pima Road during this project.

PIMA ROAD, VIA De VENTURA TO INTER CIRCLE DRIVE
Southbound Pima Road is reduced to one lane, from Via de Ventura to Inner Circle Drive, through November to permit road work.

THOMPSON PEAK PARKWAY, NORTH OF UNION HILLS DRIVE
The northbound curb lane on Thompson Peak Parkway, north of Union Hills Drive, will be closed through Nov. 24 for work on manholes.

94TH STREET, NORTH OF WESTWORLD DRIVE
94th Street will be completely closed north of WestWorld Drive on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 13-14, to permit work on water lines. The same closure will take place on Nov. 20.

OSBORN ROAD AT WELLS FARGO AVENUE
The westbound curb lane on Osborn Road at Wells Fargo Avenue will be closed through Nov. 17 to permit work on water lines.

TOM DARLINGTON DRIVE AT BOULDER PASS
Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions on Tom Darlington Drive at  Boulder Pass from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily through Nov. 27 to permit utility line work.

McDOWELL ROAD RESTRICTIONS:
** Lane closures will take place at times in both directions of McDowell Road at Pima Road from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily through Nov. 28 to permit water line work.
** The westbound cub lane on McDowell at Hayden Road will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Nov. 17, to permit construction of a turn bay.
**Eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane on McDowell Road at 74th Street from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Nov. 19 to permit water line work.

SIXTH STREET, MARSHALL WAY TO OSBORN ROAD
Sixth Street will be completely closed east of Marshall Way to north of Osborn Road
from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily on Nov. 16 to permit road work.

OSBORN ROAD, SCOTTSDALE ROAD TO 70TH STREET
Westbound traffic will be reduced to one lane on Osborn Road, from Scottsdale Road to 70th Street, from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 16 to permit road work.

MILLER ROAD, BELLEVIEW TO MORELAND STREETS
Bike lanes will be closed in both directions on Miller Road from Belleview to Moreland streets from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through November to permit water line installation. During those same dates and hours, northbound traffic on Miller Road will be shifted to the center lane.

124TH SREET AND SHEA BOULEVARD
Through Nov. 17, the southbound curb lane on Shea and the westbound curb lane on 124th Street will be closed form 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily for road work.

74TH STREET RESTRICTIONS
** 74th Street will be completely closed between McDowell Road and Belleview Road through Dec. 8 for utility work related to the SkySong project.
** Lane closures in both directions will take place at times on 74th Street at Shea Boulevard from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily through Nov. 17 to permit utility line work.

90TH STREET AT HELM DRIVE
Lane closures in both directions will take place at times on 90th Street at Helm Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily through Nov. 16 to permit utility line work.

SCOTTSDALE ROAD, McDONALD DRIVE TO LINCOLN ROAD
Northbound lane closures will take place on Scottsdale Road from McDonald Drive to Lincoln Road through Nov. 22 to permit utility line work. During the hours of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. one northbound lane will be closed. During the hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. two northbound lanes will be closed.

HIGHLAND AVENUE AT SCOTTSDALE ROAD
Westbound traffic will be reduced to on lane on Highland Avenue at Scottsdale Road from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Nov. 22 for road work.

CACTUS ROAD AT 100TH STREET
The westbound curb lane on Cactus Road at 100th Street will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily through Tuesday, Nov. 14, to permit utility line work.

HAYDEN/CACTUS ROADS INTERSECTION
The Hayden Road/Cactus Road intersection is reduced to one lane in all directions through mid December to permit road improvement work. As part of this project, Redfield Road from 79th Street to Hayden Road is restricted to one lane in each direction through November.
For more information on the Cactus Road widening project, visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/capitalprojects/proj_report.asp?proj=S2103&status=S2103

HAYDEN ROAD AT McDOWELL ROAD
The southbound curb lane on Hayden Road at McDowell Road will be closed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Nov. 17 to permit construction of a turn bay.

CAMELBACK ROAD, 64TH TO 68TH STREETS
Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction on Camelback Road from 64th to 68th streets through November to permit street improvements.
More information on this project is available at:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/capitalprojects/proj_report.asp?proj=S0301&status=S0301

DOWNING OLSEN DRIVE, EAST OF PIMA ROAD TO 89TH PLACE
Downing Olsen Drive will be completely closed to traffic from east of Pima to west of 89th Place through early December for work on water lines. The recommended alternative route is 94th Street south to Bell Road.
More information on this project is available at:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/capitalprojects/proj_report.asp?proj=S2104&status=S2104

(Return to Top)

 

The Scottsdale Activist is very pleased to announce an effort on the behalf of the residents and taxpayers of the city of Scottsdale to promote open, honest and accountable city government. The Scottsdale Legal Defense Fund (SLDF) has been created to take legal action to hold the City accountable when its actions are contrary to state law, the City Charter, City ordinances or the public interest.

The most necessary ingredient to make the SLDF work will be confidential contributions from concerned Scottsdale citizens who are willing to help their community.  By contributing, we can change the way City Hall does business and insure that our tax dollars will be spent wisely.

No funds from the SLDF will or can be used for any political purpose.

Contributions shall be kept confidential as permissible by law and can be made in any Washington Mutual Bank to account number 3114165786 for the Scottsdale Legal Defense Fund. Branch locations are listed below. Contributions are not tax deductible.

The SLDF has retained the law firm of Miller LaSota & Peters, PLC, in connection with the patently illegal action taken by the Mayor and Council appointing the most recent Scottsdale City Attorney, while ignoring the residency requirement of the Scottsdale City Charter even though the new City Attorney’s contract (according to Scottsdale Republic reporter Laurie Roberts) requires that she reside in Scottsdale.  The City Council action was based on a legal opinion which was reportedly rendered during a closed door Executive Session of the City Council by a subordinate to the then acting City Attorney, who was subsequently appointed to the City Attorney position by a vote during a public City Council meeting. The opinion has been requested as a public document under state law, but the City has not yet provided it. The SLDF will take other appropriate legal actions based on the conduct of the Mayor and Council.

Washington Mutual Bank Locations at which contributions to the SLDF can be made are:

72^nd & Shea                    7337 E. Shea Blvd #120                480-609-8524
Hayden & Chaparral     7908 E. Chaparral # C-113            480-949-0069
Horizon                            14854 N Frank Lloyd Wright         480-614-6660
Scottsdale Ranch          10155 E. Via Linda Blvd #131       480-767-2060
Kierland Village              6501 E. Greenway Pkwy #133     480-315-2905

There are many other branches throughout the Valley.

shoutandspout@scottsdaleactivist.com