Fellow drivers in Scottsdale:

Next week, our crack team of private on-location investigators will be starting a week long project which will involve filming all of the worse roads in Scottsdale. But we need your help.  Please email us with the locations that you suffer thru every day, so that we can include video of those locations.

After we have compiled the footage, we will deliver it to the City Manager and the City Council. (We don't need to deliver it to the Mayor, because she isn't interested in fixing transportation problems without hiring million dollar consultants to analyze what you and I can see with our own eyes).

Please send the nastiest driving locations you would like us to photograph and record to letters@scottsdaleactivist.com .

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~ Second "McOsterman" Update

We feel that the Scottsdale Activist has been more than fair with Councilman Ron McCullagh. It would appear though that Councilman  "McOsterman" really doesn't care what the public thinks about who is financing his trip to Marrakech, Morocco or he would have written us a letter containing an explanation.

It would appear that because he doesn't care to make a written statement concerning the way the trip is being funded available, the entire trip is apparently being paid by the taxpayers.

The offer still stands for the Councilman, but this story is not going away. As I have already stated, his explanation is always welcome as long as it is complete and verifiable.

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 ~ Council Treats Citizen Opinions Like Chump Change 

Why is it that with the exception of Councilmen Littlefield and Nelssen, the rest of the council always uses the words "In my opinion", or "I think", or "I want"?

We never hear, "The citizens want", or "In the opinion of the citizens from whom I've heard", or "In the citizens best interest" out of the mouths of the other council members. Why is that?

Just because they were elected doesn't mean that they no longer have to listen to us. Actually, that's when they really need to start listening much harder!

Just because someone is elected to office does not all of a sudden give them the all-knowing super intelligence to be any smarter than the citizens who elected them, especially those citizens who have lived in the city for decades.

Sadly, not one city council member or mayor was ever elected on their ability to know so very much more than the citizens. They were elected strictly on;

1. Name recognition,

2. Popularity, or

3. Amount of money spent on their election.

They have never been elected for the level of their intelligence, superior knowledge of the city operation, or rarely on the ability to detect the opinions of the electorate, no matter what they think about it.

Should they feel they were elected for all of those reasons, they are demented and more in "LA-LA" land then we ever imagined. There are a lot smarter and well informed citizens out there who don't run for office because they have families and personal lives which are much more important to their egos than being a "City Official". But these citizens do try to be involved to the limits of their ability but are regularly "blown off" by those elected who apparently feel they have been put on a pedestal for some reason or another and don't need to be accountable for their actions.

The same can be said for the boards, commissions and committees who are suppose to serve the citizens, not their own personal ideas and choices.

It's time we reminded these elected and appointed officials loudly and clearly that they represent citizens of Scottsdale, not themselves, nor their developer friends, nor the city manager and staff, nor the city attorney and her staff, nor their fellow council members.

The city taxpayers pay the wages for the council and the city management staff.  For that we need a lot more attention being paid to our cries of "Foul" and "Stop the nonsense", and "We need a complete General Plan with a complete Residential Overlay before any more increased height or density plans are allowed to be presented to the council for approval".

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 ~ 8,000 City  Realtors Say "No" to Light Rail

As noted in the Scottsdale Tribune, the Scottsdale Realtors have joined the throngs saying "NO" to the current administration on Light Rail adding to the loud cry from many individuals and citizen organizations who want to see HDR removed as the consultant to the city for our supposedly needed high volume rapid transit needs.

Those organizations fighting light rail of any kind of rail include but are not limited to, the Scottsdale Coalition,  Citizens for Responsible Redevelopment, COPP,  Scottsdale Citizens Transportation Study Committee, TOPS, and numerous citizens of DC Ranch, Troon, TerraVita, and the bulk of the citizens in the southern portion of the city.

We have all been asking who appointed Charlie Hales from Portland Oregon as the Consultant? We never get an answer to the question from anyone nor how much we are paying him.  Are they afraid to tell us for fear they will lose the next election? Most probably!!!

Through our investigations, and in our opinion, our high volume corridor consultant, Charlie Hales of HDR, is nothing more than a salesman for streetcars, nothing more and nothing less and his expertise doesn't even reach that of Randall O'Toole, a certified expert in the field. If you doubt it, "Google" Charlie Hales name and Portland Oregon, then do more research.

It's time Charlie was asked to leave the position of consultant and go home to Oregon. He sold Phoenix a bill of goods and Manross and Company are trying to have him do the same thing to Scottsdale. ...............  Not going to happen here!!!

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 ~ Stop All Height Approvals Over 60 feet

The following organization and residents are fully against the new height proposed for DMB and the increased density in the Scottsdale corridor and I know they won't be silenced. Those groups include  the Scottsdale Coalition,  Citizens for Responsible Redevelopment, COPP,  Scottsdale Citizens Transportation Study Committee, TOPS, and numerous citizens of DC Ranch, Troon, Terra Vita, and the bulk of the citizens in the southern portion of the city.

Why do we have to keep fighting these things time after time and after the fact? Why isn't the council, city manager, Planning Commission, and the Design and Review Board listening to those who know just as well or better as those entities what we want and where we want it?

Isn't it time the residents had some say at the beginning of a project instead of after the Planning Commission and DRB have spoken?

Isn't it time we made those entities understand that WE own the city, not them?

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~City Sneaking New Residential Overlay Earll to McKellips

The city, under cover of and hidden behind the DMB "One Scottsdale"  height controversy, has again tried to slip a new, high density corridor down Scottsdale Road from Earll to McKellips. This residential overlay would allow new residential building heights to rise to 60 feet which would increase the density by 6 to 10 times what is currently allowed in the Scottsdale Road Corridor which is totally unacceptable.

It is totally unconscionable the way this mayor, council, city manager, and city staff continually try to slip things through before we can catch them at it.

We're sure this was already planned by the mayor, city manager, and city attorney to be brought done during the holiday season so that the bulk of the citizenry would be out of town or unavailable to comment on this ridiculous turn of events.

Call, write, or email each council member INDIVIDUALLY (see list at the end of the website) to express your displeasure with their underhanded plans by our city executives and ask that all plans be stopped until the General Plan has been updated and completed with full public input from the beginning along with an acceptable and matching Residential Overlay.

This sneaky nonsense must come to a halt immediately!!!

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 ~ City Hall Needs to be Stopped!

As you are now aware, the city council has continued the height decision on DMB until a December meeting and scheduled a meeting on the change in zoning and use on the Earll Condo project as well as a presentation on a massive residential overlay from Earll to McKellips (see above article).

Why you ask?

Not for the reasons you may think!

This sneaky mayor and city manager have figured out that by scheduling these things during holiday seasons and just before the summer hiatus, they can be sure that the number of citizens needed to stop their efforts are out of town or otherwise unavailable which they think makes their underhanded, secret projects as well as approved; Think again!!!.

Enough said???

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 ~ McCullagh Against Money for Downtown Party....

.......but was that vote for the right reasons? Was he against the payout of taxpayers money or was he trying to look like he was as a way to change his image with his constituents by making a "safe" vote?

From the Scottsdale Republic comes a Quotable from “McOsterman” and now it’s rather clear where he stands and it’s not with the majority of Scottsdale Residents.

Nov. 18, 2006 12:00 AM 

"The precedent we should be protecting is that Scottsdale is the best place to live, work and play that we can make it. You can push precedent to the point that it is paralysis."

- Scottsdale City Councilman Ron McCullagh, countering one of the arguments against allowing greater height at One Scottsdale.
 

Being the way he has voted of late, I am highly suspicious of "McOsterman's" vote on the downtown party money. After all, he has voted with the liberal, spend-thrift majority for most of his career and especially since Osterman was booted from the council. He's going to have to do a lot more than this to prove that he is changing his "skin".

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 ~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

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~ Guest Editorial(s)

~ Councils Project by Project Approach All Wrong

World class. Innovating. Visionary. Bold.

All of those words might accurately describe the potential of the development, One Scottsdale, proposed by DMB.

That project is a piece of a very complex puzzle that the City of Scottsdale has neglected to address. Very slowly, at a pace making snails look like speed demons, City leadership is beginning to examine its planning language, process and policies.

Realizing how much they have depended upon "master planned community developers," like DMB, to address the growth and development for such a large part of Scottsdale for over 20 years, has been a bitter pill to swallow. Recent statements by members of staff regarding the recent "Downtown Town Hall," state specifically that the area had not gone through a planning process for 20 years or so.

Drew Brown is troubled by the position of Council postponing a decision on the One Scottsdale project.

Well, move over Mr. Brown! Since 1996, residents of the infamous south Scottsdale neighborhoods have been asking for the City to address development/redevelopment issues that we are going to face. Those issues are building height, set backs that are consistent, buffering for higher density residential, residential over commercial, residential next to commercial, single family residential in proximity to high density residential, parking, 24/7 work, play, and live lifestyles, traffic density, transportation route,

economic incentives, long-range economic development and City promotion of the SkySong Center project and surrounding neighborhoods.

Many of those issues are facing the northern areas of Scottsdale and how Scottsdale handles it’s homework, it’s policies, it’s procedures, north or South, will set the thought process for the rest of the City.

When a member of the Planning Commission stated that he wished DMB could develop the rest of the City, it was not an endorsement as an explanation of frustration.

DMB’s planned community developments take a look at long range impacts within their development as well as the long range "fit" those developments have with the entire community. They incorporate commercial compatibility with residential areas and areas of differing housing density to one another.

These are standards that provide the rich quality of life that many have moved to Scottsdale to enjoy.

Why should the residents of the community in neighborhoods that are not organized by HOAs, or are non-master planned accept less expertise in redevelopment from the leadership of the City and the Planning Commission and staff?

We have gone before Council many times, especially since 2003, asking that these concerns be addressed. Our City leadership, elected and City manager, have chosen to take the "project by project" approach.

If we are going to do the job, development and redevelopment, the tools and process, the language and the communications, must be as innovative and progressive, respectful of existing neighborhoods and open spaces, and forward thinking to long range benefits of residents and the economy, as any master planned community would.

Until residents are assured that these issues are addressed with continuing vigilance involving and hearing the community, nothing will go easy.

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Well My friends, here is yet a perfect reason why we can no longer trust staff but also the lack in trust of the Council to get their act together and stop working behind the scenes to screw over residents in the South.

If you read the Tribune this morning (Saturday 18^th), which by the way is the only paper that South Scottsdale should read as they are the only ones who give us the real heads up in this city. (Please note if you read the Republic there was no mention of any of this in their paper.) you should have all noted the article regarding the new "RESIDENTIAL" zoning overlay that the City wants to pass for the Scottsdale Road Corridor which includes housing over retail or just housing period.

Here is the trickery being pulled on the residents most active in this part of the city regarding the city plans for us and I swear you had all better heed the words Littlefield has said before, and I quote, " The city has plans for your area, it is just that you are not part of them!"

Dolan and Manross want this Overlay speeded up and in quick approval of the Council before Betty Drake can do something we have all been screaming for in this city, a voice in what happens here and a plan first.

Neither of them wants us to have the Village Planning Committees in place before the city moves forward with this zoning overlay because they know that if we get the Committees first, there are going to be problems with getting this past the Planning Committees unless of course they stack  the committees against us.

If you note the article above the one regarding "city considers revitalizing plan for South" which we have never even been in discussions with the staff yet, you will note another little issue of "Condo project seeks zoning change" where someone now wants to place 128 condos on Earl, east of Scottsdale Road and they want the 5 stories to be placed on a measly 2.5 acres of land.

I mean really, in the North you are lucky to get a single house per acre, but here in the South we will get 128 on 2.5 and you may as well double that to 256 for couples and increase it again for a family to possibly 384 and tell me how screwed we will be in the South regarding Density issues, infrastructure issues, increased traffic issues and since they will also probably get 1.4 parking spaces per unit like ASU got, then lets look at major parking issues.

Could this be the continual guise for Light Rail?

Why would we be doing this when Scottsdale is noted as the lowest density in the region by MAG?

Why do we live here not to be packed in like sardines?

Look at the issue of already having to face possibly 400 rental units across from the ASU project and again increase that for a couple to possibly 800 and again with a family of 1 to the possibility of even higher density and lack of parking.

The city claim is we can only revitalize you if we build more housing for more people and then you may get more retail.

But where will the big retail we wanted to see get located when you pack us in like sardines and the large commercial areas will be gone.

What will we all have then folks?  Think about it for a minute, South Scottsdale is one of the most densely populated areas of the city and what is the great staff and Manross planning?  HIGHER DENSITY!

Remember the Tribune stating Manross already had multiple plans for our area after the Low income housing issue broke open but no one knows what they are including the rest of the council, or do they? I know we sure as hell don't have a clue what her and Dolan's wicked little plans are for us.

The planning Commissioners I have talked with have all said they want more input from the residents of the South before they have to approve things in our areas, but they will never get it until Village Planning Committees are in place and soon they will have to look at this new overlay before the committees are even formed, so how can they gauge what we want?

Instead they are going to just keep passing their own little dreams for us, project by project with no plans or visions and sure as heck no public input.

At the community council meeting I attended last Thursday with 4 council members, I can tell you that we have 2 of them who appear to continue to be clueless about this stuff and 2 who have a clue and are not shy to express it.

I have to tell all of you to pass this on and we need to make the council stop this zoning change until some other issues are settled regarding the South as zoning changes and overlays are damn big issues for how we move forward with "how the South will get redeveloped".

Look at what happened when they got the zoning change for Los Arcos as I can no longer stand to call it the ASU/Scottsdale site and deserves its old name back.

Without a plan, vision, or the planning committees, we can NOT allow a zoning overlay to happen before the rest is in place or we are screwed.

See Scottsdale Tribune Article below..............

Michael Merrill
Scottsdale

By LINDSAY BUTLER TRIBUNE

CONTACT WRITER:
(480) 970-2369 or lbutler@aztrib.com

   Scottsdale is considering a plan that could both increase the housing stock and revitalize the south part of the city.
   But the question is whether a tactic that worked downtown will work in other parts of the city.
   The idea is to create a "residential overlay," or new zoning, that would allow residential development along Scottsdale Road in the southern end roughly between Earll Drive and McKellips Road.
   Most of the property along the road is zoned for commercial development. The new designation would allow for mixed-use properties — like those with stores on the ground floor and apartments above them — and possibly some new apartment or condominium complexes, said assistant city manager Ed Gawf.
   He discussed the idea during this week’s city Housing Board meeting. Gawf said the city would start to work on the project in the spring, and he estimated it would take six to nine months to get zoning approved.
   The plan is similar to one approved by the city in 2003, which allowed for residential units to be built throughout downtown. The city hoped the zoning would promote reinvestment and encourage more housing.
   The idea could have the same effect in south Scottsdale, said Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce president Rick Kidder. New zoning probably would spark immediate reinvestment by some property holders and possibly an increase in property value, he said.
   But it also might solve another issue — the shortage of rental properties.
   "Adding to the housing mix would do a really good thing for the community," Kidder said.
   During the last two years, the number of apartments has decreased by nearly 35 percent, from 20,466 to 13,353 units. That change is mostly due to the number of condo conversions, which took off in 2004 and 2005.
   According to city records, two years ago there were 887 apartment units that had converted to condos, or about 4.3 percent of available multifamily housing.
   Now, converted units make up 61.4 percent.
   "The relative shortage is something that does hurt the business community," Kidder said.
   "Scottsdale imports about half its labor force, and a lot of people might have entered the rental market in Scottsdale only to discover a significant number of condo conversions."
   Kidder also pointed out that the 325 residential units planned for SkySong at Mc-Dowell and Scottsdale roads would eventually build out, and the area would need more housing options.
   The only foreseeable challenge might be homeowners who object to multifamily housing in the neighborhood, so the city has to be careful, Kidder said.
   "Good neighborhoods offer a mix of housing types and incomes," Gawf said. "We have to be smart about our new housing stock."

~ 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.

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

 ~ An Upgraded, Remodeled Beauty

Just ran across this lovely home a few days ago. This is another of the highly desirable Park Scottsdale homes that have withstood the test of time and style changes over the years. We are very lucky to have these homes available for the residents of our World Class city.

Wouldn't it be a shame if those in power would railroad the residents into accepting the higher densities which will eventually eliminate these beautiful 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.

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It was with great astonishment that I opened the Saturday, November 18th issue of the Tribune to discover an article about a major impending zoning change to South Scottsdale;  namely a "residential overlay" on Scottsdale Road from Earll Drive in the north to McKellips Road in the South.  This residential overlay will greatly increase density, among other negative impacts;  is most likely an attempt to close the adult cabaret businesses and thus get around the recent NO vote on prop 401 by offering the property owners a more profitable use;  and will probably be utilized as a justification for the boondoggle known as light rail on Scottsdale Road.

Recently, I opened the Tribune to discover, also to my astonishment, that 8-10 rental properties along Bellview Rd were to be purchased and converted to low-income subsidized housing through a new and unprecedented use of Federal Community Development Block Grant funds.  Coincidentally, these properties sit directly to the south of SkyFlop.

The above two issues come directly on the heels of the Council's approval of rental apartments at SkyFlop, long after South Scottsdale residents were assured (and the Lease in fact prohibited) NO RESIDENTIAL at SkyFlop.

My question to the Council, Mayor, City Manager, and City Staff is:  why do I have to diligently read the Tribune each day to learn of vital information which directly affects the aesthetics of my neighborhood and the value of my property?  Why do I not receive this vital information in advance from City Staff?  Why am I and other city activists and residents not directly involved in the process which results in such major proposals?

Were I a resident of North Scottsdale, I guarantee you that numerous community outreach meetings would have been held prior to initiating any substantial zoning change or other neighborhood changes such as the addition of low-income subsidized housing.

I am frustrated and extremely tired, as a South Scottsdale resident, of being relegated to second class status.  Bob Littlefield was absolutely right when he stated this past Thursday to a South Scottsdale forum that the City had plans for South Scottsdale, and South Scottsdale residents were not part of the plan.

I am also announcing at this time my plans to file a formal complaint with the Phoenix office of the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development regarding the purchase and  conversion to low-income housing of properties on Belleview Street by a not for profit corporation..  My research indicates the public meeting and notice requirements of Federal Law were flagrantly violated by both the City of Scottsdale, and the non for profit corporation.

Michelle Aubert
Scottsdale

In response to Scottsdale City Council member Bob Littlefield's recent guest column regarding Scottsdale Based DMB Associates Inc's plans for it's One Scottsdale Project ("Giving in to developer on subsidy and height would be a D(u)MB idea")from Tuesday's My Turn Column.

I would like to voice my opinion over what I believe is going to be a strong chorus of protest regarding DMB's request for yet another second-bite-of the apple, being height adjustment, over the existing limit and a $50Million in subsidy that should make Managing Director, President and C.E.O. Drew Brown blush with shame.

The give away merry-go-round has become a font of greed and avarice granted, Heaven only knows why, for way too many projects in this city, that should be paid for by the developers and business people and NOT with Taxpayer Dollars!

Does it make sense to give the largest real estate developer in the state an absurd OK, to create a copy - and likely a second rate one at best, of Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California? 

What has happened to Scottsdale's drive to protect and maintain views, vistas and sense of open space, that have helped make this city the tourist destination and wonderful place to raise a family in and finally to retire in?

Since when do we have to succumb to being a copycat, rather than being an original city?  All of us lose when millionaires reap profits they haven't sown, while the rest of us try to believe in a system that is only "fair" to the few.

Rita Saunders-Hawranek
Scottsdale

It took along time for the parents of students in the southern part of Scottsdale to gain the attention of the powers that be in the Scottsdale Unified School District, regarding "equity of facilities and funding" for programs.

"Inequities" were being dealt with fairly well up until the recent decision by the SUSD Governing Board to allow extravagant donations by parent groups to individual schools, rather than to the district as a whole.

There used to be policies at the district level and the state level that made it impossible for any district to abdicate its responsibility to students.

A $200,000 gift made by Chaparral High Schools parent group to build a field house takes SUSD a giant step backward and smacks of the elitism that many parents through out the district fought to be rid of.

Because there was no clear promotion of the districts override on the ballot November 7, the community voted it down. The vote was surely influenced by such news articles as the laptop computer stories telling how parents Hopi and Ingleside Schools in the Arcadia Complex "knew someone at Intel" and got those laptops donated to just those schools.

This is not sour grapes. There are strict guidelines in Arizona State Statutes that direct where money can and cannot be spent and when. Had there been a presentation telling residents how much, where and when money can be spent, the override would have stood a better chance of passing. No parent group, Yes to Children or others, bothered to promote the need, the process or what would happen should the override fail.

We are beginning to see what can happen when the job of achieving and maintaining equity is callously abandoned.

SUSD has bordered on violations of federal law in the past regarding attention to equity of facilities and programs. Parents from all complexes stood united, forcing the district to address those shortcomings.

Now we see the Governing Board once again "enabling" inequity and discrimination, based upon the ability of some parents who can afford to "donate" where others are not so fortunate financially.

That is a sad commentary on the state of education in Scottsdale. We need to remember that we are only as strong as our weakest link and the type of strength we exhibit can be more detrimental if we abandon perspective.

Nancy Ann Cantor
Scottsdale

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Give me a break!

The 101 is "terrifying" during high volume periods according to Dick Stern of Paradise Valley (Republic, 11-22-06).

How can that be when the 101 never gets over 45 MPH maximum between 7am and 9am or from 3pm to 7pm daily. I don’t take the 101 during those times unless I have to because it’s a concrete parking lot galloping along at a rip roaring 25-35 MPH either direction. If you want "terrifying", get on the 202. You can go "Screaming" along at 70+ in the center lane and get run over all day long.

Did you know that, according to the city of Scottsdale records, less than 2/10ths of one percent of the drivers get "snapped" on the Scottsdale stretch of the 101 and of those only 20% get ticketed?   Fact!!

I certainly don’t read or hear about any of these camera proponents from Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, Carefree, Tempe, or Phoenix offering to pay the bill to support the cameras, do you?

Oh, I’m sorry, how could I be so silly as to forget that Scottsdale is the "Sugar Daddy" for all of those complainers. Scottsdale residents also footed the bill for those beautiful freeway decorations you drive by every day from 90th Street North to the city border too, in case you have all conveniently forgotten.

Wouldn't it make far more sense for Governor Napolitano and the Legislature to provide the funds necessary to hire more sworn DPS officers and give them the tools to patrol our freeways to make them safer than to allow all kinds of other far more dangerous illegal acts to just go slipping by the inert cameras on an hourly basis?

I think so, don't you?

Bonnie Knowlton
Scottsdale

~ 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.

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Hope you find this as informative as I did. In contrast to the ideals, opinions and feelings of today's "HollyWonks", the real actors of yester-year loved the United States.

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~ Just for Giggles
 

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.

John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder. John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer.

For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.

Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said, "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."

John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued, "May I ask what the turkey did?"

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~ Here & There

This is NOT for Children.

I don't normally allow anything but Scottsdale information in the Scottsdale Activist but after receiving many emails about this and viewing it, I think that it's imperative that every adult at least look at what's offered here if for  nothing more than their own education and to have everyone stop and think about the future of our country. Click on the link below,

 www.obsessionthemovie.com

If you don't have Adobe Flash, install it from the bottom of the page that comes up after you click on the link above. You should be able to view all available links within the main page.

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~Are Red-Light Cameras Fair to Drivers?

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

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

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

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~TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS IN SCOTTSDALE

Nov. 23, 2006

The following is a partial list of road construction projects and traffic restrictions taking place in Scottsdale Nov. 24 through Dec. 3. For more information, contact mphillips@ScottsdaleAz.gov

STREET REPAVING PROJECTS:

These road sections will experience restrictions to permit repaving:
** Shea Boulevard, between 96th Street and Via Linda, will be restricted to one eastbound lane between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 27 - 29.  Westbound Shea will not be restricted.
** Arabian Trail will be restricted to one lane in each direction between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, Tuesday through Friday, Nov. 28 through Dec. 1.

MOBILE MANHOLE CHECKS

The following street sections will experience spot lane restrictions during the dates and times listed to permit manhole access:
** Westbound Shea Boulevard, between Scottsdale Road and the Loop 101, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly starting Monday, Nov. 27, through Dec. 1.
** Northbound Granite Reef Road, between McDonald Drive and Jackrabbit Road, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily starting Monday, Nov. 27, through Dec. 1.

McDONALD DRIVE/SCOTTSDALE ROAD INTERSECTION

These restrictions will be in place at the intersection of McDonald Drive and Scottsdale Road starting Sunday, Nov. 26, through Dec. 3 to permit gas line installation:
** Northbound curb lane on Scottsdale Road closed
** McDonald Drive restricted to one lane in each direction

SCOTTSDALE ROAD RESTRICTIONS

** The southbound median lane of Scottsdale Road at Drinkwater Boulevard will be closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily starting Monday, Nov. 27, through Dec. 1 for utility work.
** The southbound curb lane of Scottsdale Road north of Thomas Road will be closed Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 27-28, for sewer line work.

CHAPARRAL ROAD AT PIMA ROAD

The westbound curb lane on Chaparral Road at Pima Road will be closed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily starting Monday, Nov. 27, through Dec. 1 for utility work.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT BOULEVARD, SHEA TO THE LOOP 101 FREEWAY

Sections of Frank Lloyd Wright  Boulevard will experience lane restrictions in both directions at times between Shea Boulevard and the Loop 101 Freeway from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily starting Monday, Nov. 27, through Dec. 1 to permit tree trimming in the center median.

124TH STREET, NORTH OF SHEA BOULEVARD

Lane restrictions in both directions of 124th Street, north of Shea Boulevard, will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily starting Monday, Nov. 27, through Dec. 1 to permit utility line work.

SHOEMAN LANE RESTRICTIONS:

** Shoeman Lane will be completely closed from Brown Avenue to Buckboard Trail from 10 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, through 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 27, to permit concrete work.
** Westbound Shoeman Lane, from Buckboard Trail to Wells Fargo Avenue, will be completely closed from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. nightly starting Monday, Nov. 27, through Dec. 11 to permit storm drain installation.

HAYDEN ROAD AT McCORMICK PARKWAY

The northbound curb lane on Hayden Road at McCormick Parkway will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily through Nov. 30 to permit curb repair work.

PINNACLE PEAK ROAD, WEST OF PIMA ROAD

The eastbound curb lane on Pinnacle Peak Road, west of Pima Road, will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays through Friday, Nov. 24, to permit construction of a right-turn bay.

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 Friday, Nov. 24, for work on manholes.

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 Monday, 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 Tuesday, Nov. 28, to permit water line work.
**  The eastbound curb lane on McDowell Road, from 87th Street to west of Pima Road, will be closed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily starting Monday, Nov. 27, through Dec. 8 for median and turn-lane construction..
**  The median lanes in both directions of McDowell Road at Pima Road will be closed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily Dec. 18-29 for median and turn-lane construction..

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.

74TH STREET, McDOWELL TO BELLEVIEW ROADS

74th Street will be completely closed between McDowell Road and Belleview Road through Dec. 8 for utility work related to the SkySong project.

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

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 Road 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

FIESTA BOWL HALF MARATHON RESTRICTIONS

Lane restrictions will be in place on the following road sections from 6 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 3 to accommodate runners participating in the Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon:
** 75th Street from Second Street to north of Indian School.
** Camelback, east to Scottsdale Road
** Scottsdale Road north to Doubletree Ranch Road
** Doubletree Ranch Road, east to Hayden
** Hayden, south to Osborn Road
** Osborn, west to Miller Road
** Miller Road, north to Second Street
** Second Street, west to 75th Street
For more information on the half marathon and the race route, visit:
http://www.getsetaz.com/Evtdtl.php?EvtID=2257

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There are many other branches throughout the Valley.

 ~ Everyone should check out the link www.obsessionthemovie.com . it may not be what you want to see but this country needs to wake up to what's coming if we aren't alert to the danger. Editors Note: I received 23 requests for this to be presented to the Scottsdale residents and after previewing the piece, I have put the website instructions in the "Here & There" section of the Activist for anyone interested.