Volume 2, Number 48
Updated Sat. 7:30pm Dec
2, 2006
The Scottsdale Activist Is the Citizens Voice
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~ Guest Editorial(s)
- Manross Cuts Citizen Budget Input
- It's Totally Unbelievable
- COPP Has It Right
- The City is Coming Together as One
- Get Scottsdale Back on Track
- Input Needed for Proposed Sign Ordinance
- View Past City Council Meetings
~Christmas Decoration Photos (Click to see Pictures)
~ Home of the Week (Click Here) (Picture)
~ Information You Can Use
~ Shout and Spout (Your chance to Shout or Spout & we don't need your name)
~ Thought for the Week -- John Adams
~ Quote(s) of the Week -- Samuel Adams
~ Food for Thought --Thomas Jefferson
Other Stuff of Interest
~ Look up Prior Editions? Click a on date to open.
It was noted in this morning's Scottsdale Republic that Bob Vairo and COPP have taken out the paperwork necessary for a referendum should the council majority pass the plan changes in the DMB project at Scottsdale Road and the 101 Freeway.
According to sources, there are now 4 sets of referendum papers waiting for a number of issues to be improperly handled by our infamous mayor, council majority, and city management staff.
Isn't it nice to see a city come together to stop the stupidity which has permeated city hall of late?
~ The Continuing Deterioration of Code Enforcement
I think we've all noticed that our neighborhoods in some areas are not looking as good as they have in the past. Word has it that new employees may not be getting the training they need and are on "weed patrol" which is ridiculous and unproductive. Isn't the "Field" Manager's main job to check to make sure new employees are properly trained as far as the proper way to perform their jobs? How can that be completed when the "Field" Manager is reportedly is his office behind closed doors most of the day?
I was under the distinct impression and understanding that a "Field" person, be they a director, manager, or an inspector, worked in the "Field", outside, in the weather, in the sunshine, walking the neighborhoods training and working with their employees.
We're also hearing that Judy Register, the Department Director of Code Enforcement has determined that her
agents will no longer make personal contact with those citizens in violation of city ordinances but instead will just mail a citation or notice or place it on an offending vehicle without knowing the personal circumstances of the resident or the physical property problem at all.So much for the Pro-Active stance that Jan Dolan, Ed Gawf, and Code Enforcement management promised with great celebration by the residents a couple of years ago. It would appear that City Manager Dolan, her Asst. Ed Gawf and Department Director Judy Register have totally lost control of the Code Enforcement Department due to poor top drawer and field management and the total lack of direction of the department by Ms. Register herself. It would seem that Director Register no longer believes in proper direct and excellent customer service which is the hallmark of any public entity dealing successfully with the public, especially in Scottsdale. If a Department Director doesn't have the utmost respect and confidence of her employees, how do you expect the citizens to respect the department or the employees thereto?
In addition, reportedly, the numbers of "tasks" or situations handled on a daily basis by employees is totally skewed because Field Manager Malcolm Hankins (and supported by Ms. Register) reportedly now requires somewhere between 5 and 7 "tasks" be checked off for every property a Code Agent visits to make it look like everyone is doing a lot of tasks monthly. Therefore when you see a figure of 25,000 "tasks" handled during a month, the agents really only handled 3,600 homes between 15 agents which means only 240 homes per month or 8 homes per day per agent. As I remember, an agent was able to do 10 to 15 homes a day including personal contacts before all the apparent unnecessary paper busywork and other stuff was instituted by Mr. Hankins and fully supported by Ms. Register.
A word to the wise: You can fool some of the people some of the time but you'll never fool all of the people all of the time. The proof is in the pudding and the pudding t'ain't looking so good anymore.
In solid defense of the majority of those working in Code Enforcement, inside and outside of the office, they do their jobs to the best of their ability under the circumstances. They're also not working a second job on city time which apparently is being done by some department employees. Most employees are doing well and most usually far better than asked even though they may feel they are wasting a lot of time and expertise with little consideration under the misdirection or total lack of direction by the current Department Director Register and Field Manager Hankins.
What happened to the proactive "Area Sweeps" that used to happen approximately once a month? They all seem to be gone along with the most necessary personal contact with the public.
The problem is obviously systemic and starts with a complete failure to lead and to properly train and positively motivate potentially excellent employees which starts directly with City Manager Jan Dolan, her assistant Ed Gawf, and the Director of the Department, Judy Register, the need of which none of the three seem to be able to comprehend.
Is it possible that those "Old Hands" or those that have been with the department for quite a while just can't adjust to the new regime? Absolutely! But why can't they adjust? Again, because of a serious lack of city leadership to have a good understanding of the problems, which leads employees to have a total lack of confidence in their superiors.
Again, the problem is systemic. This situation points directly to the chain of command failure of Dolan, Gawf, and Register to work with the people involved to "invite" them to be members of the team by example and for those employees to understand the need to be a team player and to be trained accordingly by people who know what the heck they are doing which is apparently not happening currently in many cases.
It also seems that there are many double standards within the department which is totally unacceptable under any condition or situation. Why should one employee be allowed to do something that another cannot? Why are department standards compromised because someone has not been able to perform certain tasks or pass certain tests, or was hired with less than the requirements as outlined on the City Job Availability sheet only to have the qualifications reduced to fit the prospective employee to possibly fill a quota of some kind? Why are new employees given promotions over other qualified and tenured employees? If the new employee had the proper credential, it is acceptable, if not it is a total breach of trust for the tenured employees.
And everyone wonders why some city departments, namely Code Enforcement and Human Resources, have such serious morale problems?
In reality, this entire mess points to serious systemic problems within the entire city government itself. We have gone from an open government with an open door policy, even to the mayors office, to a government of secrecy, usurped powers, back room deals, unethical conduct, and out of control spending by the mayor, city manager, the majority of the council and therefore followed by upper management due to the example set by the people in charge of the city.
It wouldn't surprise me at all if the city council was publicly "treated" to another "Slide Show" of deteriorating properties and neighborhoods in the near future all to be seen on the city-wide TV Channel 11 during a yet undated but upcoming council meeting.
If it takes public embarrassment of the council and senior management to make a point, it blatantly shows how out of touch the council and city management really is doesn't it?
It would appear that this department is going backward faster than a snowball melts on a Scottsdale sidewalk in mid August and there needs to be an immediate major change in upper management and in the direction of this and one other department.
Another word to the wise: It would also appear that the Human Resources Department is following the same path with the number of employees lost over the last year or so. We've had as many or more negative calls about the city HR Department; Stay tuned.....................
I make the above personal educated observations after 40 years of management experience handling up to 270 employees in 6 separate departments all at the same time.
~ Villa
Monterey Cleaning Up Nicely
Thanks to the Parks and Recreation Department, the
old Villa Monterey golf course has city and contractor employees working
many different operations feverishly covering the entire property from dredging
weeds from the ponds, to trimming the trees and cutting the grass. The
park is looking much better and it's exciting to watch the progress
Now, many of our readers are asking that the citizens be given a cross country running course within the boundaries of that new city park. How about it City Staff?
Usually, silence is golden. But not in the case of Councilman Ron "McOsterman" McCullagh. It has been learned that reportedly, the city historically has paid the travel expenses for trips such as the Sister City trip Mr. "McOsterman" took to Marrakech, Morocco.
A number of citizens now wonder why Mr. "McOsterman" has failed to this point to put his answer in writing if he really did pay for the trip, but most chuckle knowingly, then comment that he wouldn't say he paid in writing because the city most likely actually paid the bill.
I guess we'll have to assume the city did pay......... Unless, of course Mr. "McOsterman" sends something verifiable in writing stating otherwise.................
~ ASU, Crow & Manross Screwed Scottsdale Taxpayers?
Crow Strikes Again??
ASU slams together a multi story apartment deal in downtown Phoenix with 1,300 beds and Zero subsidies to be finished by the fall of 2008. All the while, SkyFlop is still floundering with nothing more than a pile of dirt being moved from one location to the other, to the other, to the other........ Yada, Yada, Yada............. Do you feel the "love" ASU has for the suckers of Scottsdale?
~ Photo Radar Money-Bucket Blinds Council
It would appear that the "color of money" is the sole motivator for the majority of the Scottsdale City Council, certainly not safety because accidents rates are continuing to drop even though the cameras are off. And here they said safety was the issue.........
By listening to the council majority mouthpiece, the Scottsdale Republic, the return of the freeway cameras is a "done deal" with the Scottsdale taxpayers again paying the bill.
It's too bad that they don't look at the preliminary facts that have already been presented, but then again what else do you expect from that money-grubbing group.
~ Manross/Dolan Stealing More Power from Citizens
They're stealing more power as well as tax money from us again!
This week our infamous spendthrift mayor decided that all members of the council, instead of a Citizen Budget Commission which always has included three (3) council persons and has now been abolished, should be in charge of the city budget. You talk about a foxes in the hen house?
We're going to have the entire extended family of money-hungry foxes in the hen house bleeding it dry on a regular basis which means higher and higher taxes to pay their outrageous bills for traffic circles, traffic calming, and God knows whatever else their whimsy decides they need! Notice I said THEY need, not WE need!
Where, you ask, does Dolan come in? She is both the City Manager AND the City Treasurer who just happens to report to the mayor and council which means she can ask herself for money from the general fund which will now be controlled by the council majority which means she will get anything she wants whether proper and prudent or not.
You say, that CFO Craig Clifford controls the City purse strings.
Oh yeah? Sure. Mr. Clifford's boss is conveniently the City Manager AND the City Treasurer. And sure, he's going to tell his bosses "No, you can't spend it that way, I won't allow that to happen".
If you believe that, I have miles and miles of prime Ocean Front property in the White Tank Mountains I can sell you.............. Cheap!!
Craig Clifford IS absolutely honest, above board, most highly respected, and most probably the most astute and well in-tune CFO this city has ever had, make no mistake about that, but he has to do as he's told as long as it's a direct order from his boss and legal as far as he knows.
Isn't that a pretty picture Manross and Dolan have again painted for us?
~ The Manross Vision for Scottsdale..... A New Logo
Monstrous Sky-High Rise
Buildings and All,
Does any more need to be said about
her plans?
~ Guest Editorial(s)
Congratulations to the Scottsdale City Council for creating another development referendum!
Bob Vairo and the Coalition of Pinnacle Peak organization have requested the paperwork to gather signatures on a referendum if the Scottsdale City Council votes to approve the increase in height requested by DMB for the One Scottsdale project.
Increased height leads to increases in density, population and transportation woes. After watching the Council and Staff create extensive density around downtown without ever thinking about how people would get there, COPP and the residents of north Scottsdale have every right to fight any similar trends there. We simply can’t trust the city leadership to make responsible decisions in critical situations like this one.
Revitalization and development of our city can occur without increasing height and density on a whim, if the planners possess adequate vision and make equitable decisions. There appears to be an inherent lack of requisite understanding that our problems require fixing not complication. To that end, our elected officials are failing us.
Numerous reputable groups from all over the city have stepped forward to voice concern with the continual barrage of increased density projects on the Council’s plate. They include north and south Scottsdale factions: TOPS, Citizens for Responsible Redevelopment, Scottsdale Citizens Transportation Study Committee, the Scottsdale Coalition, numerous citizens of Scottsdale Mountain development, DC Ranch, Terra Vita, and Troon Village, and the Scottsdale Board of Realtors. Without an eye toward livability, future values, and economic vitality, Scottsdale is a city doomed to developmental failure.
Why is it that so many important decisions in our town must be wrestled away from our city leadership (Los Arcos, cabarets, etc.) through referendum? Clearly, our current city leaders have neither a vision for the city nor any idea about what is important to the residents. Personal and political agendas seem to have replaced reasonableness. We simply can’t trust them to act in our best interest.
Nan Nesvig
Scottsdale
~ DMB & Manross; the Straw that Broke the Camel's Back
My, oh my! What lengths local developer Drew Brown goes, in the newly published Republic article of his consultant's, to show and tell us why he can skirt the central issue changing already increased height rules, once again, regarding his One Scottsdale Project.
This city has height limits for a reason-and it's not just to punish Mr. Brown, but rather, it is hoped, to finally cast into concrete the heretofore "erasable" lines in the sand that stipulate "MAXIMUM HEIGHT, BULK AND OCCUPANCY USES FOR NEW BUILDINGS, in this town".
Why, you ask?
Because this town-now city population-has had it! Council members too oft change horses in mid-stream, to accommodate one building project after another to satisfy developers greedy needs of "improving their share of high end retailer returns" at the expense of the greater community.
It has to stop and stop now.
Do I question the DRB's approval of this project-Yes indeed! Not because, as designed, it is unattractive because it actually is, nor because it's sloping parcel would allow the building exceeding, big time, established height "this time" without impeding neighboring homeowner views. But rather, because it continues the unspoken premise that any developer at darn near anytime can come back to our city council and again scam Scottsdale and it's citizenry with rules change only for them "this one time please" nonsense.
AT ISSUE HERE: Not even DMB's One Scottsdale project, nor his greed to reach for the classiest and most lucrative tenants to finance the pay down on it's investment (and it's implied if we get more so do city sales tax funds). NONSENSE, I say!
I would be willing to bet that a store's location (Scottsdale vs. Phoenix side of the road) is not going to change resident or visitor spending patterns one iota. Most of us shop a given store because of what they offer and at what price, not for the side of the street it’s located at.
No indeed, my fellow Scottsdale residents, simply put: Enough is Enough!!
Rules and statutes are not meant to be broken or adjusted "just this one more time" for anyone-anymore, period! Rules are the sanity guidelines that keep this city Scottsdale and not some other city want-to-be.
The Council's continued breaking of the rules precedents, every time, a developer seeks adjustments to building height, bulk or approved purpose, would drown the strongest Dutchman. trying to stem the dam breaking a flood-tide destruction, that leaves this city vulnerable to anyone with a bottle of snake oil and a "just this one last time" promise.
I believe it's time all of us to let City Council Members know, once and for all, that they are sitting in revolving chairs and that door of height changes or other building allowed adjustments, may just be their revolving exit from their chair "door", before we lose what is left of the charm and diversity, mountain views and open space preservation, that make Scottsdale what it is.
Respectfully,
Rita Saunders-Hawranek
Scottsdale Coalition, Vice Chairperson
SCOTTSDALE RECOGNIZED FOR "DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION"
Scottsdale recently received the "Distinguished Budget Presentation" award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).
The award represents the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. It reflects the city's commitment to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting; as well as satisfying nationally recognized guidelines for effectively presenting the city's financial policy, strategic and operational financial plans.
Hm-m-m……………….
I am always a bit surprised when organizations, particularly those of government, receive awards for paperwork that is a required part of their job, especially when it is from their colleagues in the business. What makes it worse, particularly government, they then proceed to do just the opposite of what they received commendation for!
The City of Scottsdale received an award from the Government Finance Officers Association for a "Distinguished Budget Presentation." That budget was arrived at by including citizens in the process. It is not a really comfortable or fun committee to sit on, but oh so necessary. The citizens of Scottsdale have always had a voice in expenditure of their tax dollars.
Well, scratch that award winning process. The Mayor has proposed excluding citizens from participating in the budget process, except through the hearing process. No citizens committee is wanted for prioritization for funding.
Open government does not mean every little decimal point is decided by a vote of the people. It does mean that leadership should be taking the pulse of the community via advisory committees that do in depth study on some important issues that the average citizen may not be able to do.
Yep, those awards remind me of when the Scottsdale Unified School District crowed about their financial reporting and displayed plaques at governing board meetings hailing those efforts. A year or so later the Attorney General and the Auditor General were charging SUSD with violations of procurement laws, open meeting law violations, and contract changes that were illegal.
The more some things change the more they stay the same.
Nancy Cantor
Scottsdale
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~Letters to the Editor ~
letters@scottsdaleactivist.com ~ Manross Cuts Citizen Budget Input Did anyone attend the Budget Study Session today at City Hall? I tried, but when I got there I found out the damn thing was at Noon today???? I mean what Rat #%&$#% thought up that devious little plan to make sure there was no public input into the matter at all? After venting my disdain for the city actions in this matter to one of my elected leaders, I found out how things ended up and I have to tell you all now that there is a Rat on the Dais who wants us no where near the process any longer since the city barely passed the spending cap vote. Maybe some council members did get it in their heads the public, is not as happy with our spending habits as they thought after that vote, and the Queen Mother is now conjuring up a way to change the process to her advantage with out having to look like she is voting against the process we have now. Why would we screw around with a process that has worked well for the city to turn it into a possible full council issue or discussion where the Mayor rules? The Mayor will not come out and state she wants to vote to do away with the present system we use as that would not look good for her in 2008, and just what is it she is afraid of saying publicly? Could it be that she may want to say "there is no way on Earth that I want Lane or Littlefield or both on that sub committee?" I understand there was a question of "if there was going to be the same amount of Public meetings?" and at first it was stated as "Yes", then it was stated as "No". So which is it, and are all 7 council members going to be there at all the meetings? The system we had worked and worked well enough for the Mayor to leave it alone and I am dismayed with Councilman Ecton who has chaired the committee at one time and I though he did a good job along with the others. Then we have that little Weasel "McOsterman" popping in about how he can support it, go figure who will tell him how to vote like the little lap dog he has become when the time comes. Hey Ron, here is a clue for ya, you can still ask your questions to the sub committee for a response and again to add your comments when it comes to the full council as well as you get all the info the sub committee gets from staff also, so what is your excuse for wanting to change the present system? There is an ulterior motive to this issue residents and it is that the Mayor does not want real reformers and fiscal restraint to be in any budget committee and you would think she learned better than to screw with the system after nearly losing the increase cap vote; or is that another reason she wants to change the process. Maybe there are some people up there who want less controversy over the budget with people like Lamar Whitmer, George Knowlton, John Washington, Myself and a list of others who are going to also be watching the budget again this year with all of us having our own points to prove about city spending? I think the Mayor should reconsider her actions and leave the sub committee intact since she refused to appoint a sub committee this year because she has to choose to put at least Lane or Littlefield on the Sub Committee to look sincere in holding city costs down and we all know how much she does not want that to happen. I am telling you taxpayers, you better wise up to this issue and what the Mayor is trying to do or just prepare yourself to keep seeing out of control spending from the General Fund. Regards, Michael Merrill It's totally unbelievable how your Scottsdale Mayor, Mary Manross, can continue so blindly along going about her business doing things that she is being continually attacked for doing which are not in the best interest of the city at large or the taxpayers in anyone's book! You would think that she would at least stop and assess or listen to what's being said about her so she wouldn't look like such a blathering idiot. I don't live here except in the winter during which time I spend a lot of money in Scottsdale because it's central to my activities. Unfortunately, it is so very obvious that she doesn't have a clue about what she's doing and that's really very sad for her and for this wonderful city. If she keeps doing what she and her staff are doing, this city will be in financial ruins within 4 years and I will no longer be able to visit Scottsdale because my office will have moved to Phoenix for cheaper quarters and my leased condo will be priced out of my affordability range. Being that I work professionally with world financial problems, it's a plain as the nose on your face that she doesn't know how to do anything but spend, spend, spend. What's more unbelievable is that some of your council members and the city manager are going along with her; so very sad for you residents. I truly hope the resident voters wake up to what's going on and make some serious changes at the next election as well as some kind of districting system using the Villages concept. If you don't, you will see your taxes explode right out of sight while losing most necessary city services. Remember Orange County California as a prime example of horrendous over spending??? We've been coming here for a number of years but only found the Scottsdale Activist last January. It's a good publication which, from everything I can find, tells it exactly as it is without any blabberation. I feel like I haven't left Scottsdale even when I'm home in Michigan during the summer season because of your informative and edgy publication. Thank you for your efforts and keep up the great work.
Anonymous by request To the Board and Members of the Coalition of Pinnacle Peak, It is sad to think that this is what it may come down to in this city and that the residents of this city will have to pay for another vote of the people and taxpayers to overturn yet another bad decision and action by our council. Since the article hit the paper this morning there have been some e-mail's that have passed my way saying that "if we are going to have to have another vote, that we at least make it further worth our efforts to send an even stronger message to the council that this entire city is fed up with actions in city hall" and I am sure you know what they are talking about. Personally I look forward to the thought of 2008 when we can all finally get rid of what is killing this city by voting them out of office and gaining a new Mayor but the real question is; can this city actually hold out for 2 more years? The problem we face now as a city is how this city is being run and the strong desire of this staff and council to inflict as much change to this city in a short period of time as they can get away with. Ever since the Waterfront was approved one of my worst nightmares have come true in the fact that there was a group of people who said this would set a new precedent that would take grip on the entire city and that our zoning requirements would mean nothing after this. Problem is, these folks were correct in seeing this issue stretch all the way across this city, and now with what DMB is trying to get away with, those words ring in my head every time the subject comes up and more recently again in the project of the Earl Condos. All of these new people we have brought in from other cities to work here in city hall seem to be hell bent on re-creating what was once really the "Jewel of the Desert" , into what other cities have blundered with by trying to create that ultimate new , hip, 24/7, live, work, play, concept. It started with Downtown and the Waterfront project and then mysteriously appeared in the words of Sky Song just like the residential appearance happened with words we never saw in the original concepts. I mean really, do you think that the residents around this site, or even in the South, had any ideal that this new technology center was supposed to be a part of the new 24/7 concept? Now the words are appearing in the DMB project and again we have to face the issues of yet another claim of a 24/7 lifestyle. A lifestyle that has yet to appear in this city anyway if you really think about it. I mean if you look at this 24/7 community they are talking about in downtown, then I must be missing something as the only people who are down there after the Arts District winds down is nothing more than a bunch of intoxicated kids and strangers from other cities in the metro area, and what is it that you would be able to do downtown in the wee morning hours as everything is closed? This whole concept of the "24/7 work, live, play" concept does not work for cities like Scottsdale and I doubt that the city can prove that to be different as the only real concepts that have worked are from large cities and unlike Jim Lanes comments to Mike Ryan on channel 11 the other night, we are not a large city. This concept these folks have bought into will require that this city be gutted of what made it the city it was for those of us who "live" here, not those of us who "visit" here. Another perfect example of this issue is the announcement of the new "zoning overlay" that will be brought forward to the council which will allow higher density, higher buildings, more traffic congestion, larger demands on old infrastructure, no open spaces, and in time, the demise of this city as we know it. No one is saying that we need to turn back the hands of time or that we are not open to some changes, but not the changes that are going to be detrimental to the city by trying to create a burned out concept for cities like Scottsdale. With that said, I will offer all the help I can, along with those of us in the South who are already trying to deal with this problem and are fed up with city hall and what has been going on to defeat any council action that approves the current DMB requests, and this goes for any subsidy the city thinks they should give another developer. If you want to build here, then feel free, but don't ask for zoning changes anymore and don't even think of asking us the taxpayers to help you build your project with our money. The concept is you build it, you pay for it, and we will take our share of the taxes and revenues, not the other way around. Regards, Michael Merrill ~ The City is Coming Together as One Michael and I do not always agree on things. But, that being said may I add my own AMEN! to making any more changes, excuses and or "accommodations to height, bulk, usages, rotting sewer smells, outrageous claims on creating "expedited transit corridors "and now city hall being its own budget watchdog. SAY WHAT? And most of all, once again I have my card table, chairs and water bottles at hand, ready and waiting for Bob Vairo and COPP to supply the referendum petitions so that the rest of us can assist city wide to stop this mysterious line in the sand from ever creeping again. Rita Saunders-Hawranek,
Couldn't agree with Rita and Mike more. There is a way to handle growth, development, redevelopment, and Scottsdale needs to get on track. I have vacation time owed me and if we need to take this to a vote of the people to get common sense back into play, I am ready to roll. Nancy Cantor
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Input Needed for
Proposed Sign Ordinance
To ensure broad community participation on this issue, the city is contacting community representatives who have recently filed political action committee information with the Scottsdale City Clerk's Office. Below is an invitation to participate in this community dialogue:
Seeking Community Input
on a proposed revision to
the City of Scottsdale sign ordinance
In response to City Council
direction, staff is preparing draft
amendments to the sign code that would:
a) prohibit temporary
signs (including political signs) from being placed on
public property and
in public rights-of-way; and
b) restrict the
location and size of temporary signs placed on private
property.
As part of the broad city-wide
outreach on this issue, stakeholders are invited to attend
the following community open houses:
** Wednesday,
December 6 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the City's
Water Campus, 8787 E. Haulapai Drive and
** Thursday, December 7
from 4:30 to 7 p.m. in Room 8 of the Granite Reef Senior
Center, 1700 N. Granite Reed Road.
City representatives will be
available to provide information and respond to questions.
The tentative public
hearing timeline for this issue includes Planning Commission
review in January and City Council review in March.
Staff contact: Kira Wauwie,
kwauwie@ScottsdaleAZ.gov
~ 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. |
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~ 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.
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~ Where in North Scottsdale is this Beauty?
I just ran across this lovely home a few days ago. This is another of the highly desirable Sherwood Heights homes in the far Southwest corner of our city that has withstood the test of time and style changes over the years. We are very lucky to have these quality 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?
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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.
"It is the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the SUPREME BEING, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping GOD in the manner most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship."
-- John Adams (Thoughts on Government, 1776)
"[I]t is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God... that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feeling of their hearts and consecrate themselves to [His] service... acknowledging with gratitude their obligations to Him for benefits received..." —Samuel Adams
"This was the object of the Declaration of Independence. Not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before; but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independent stand we are compelled to take. Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion."
-- Thomas Jefferson (letter to Henry Lee, 8 May 1825)
A judge in a semi-small city was hearing a drunk-driving case and the defendant, who had both a record and a reputation for driving under the influence, demanded a jury trial. It was nearly 4 p.m. and getting a jury would take time, so the judge called a recess and went out in the hall looking to impanel anyone available for jury duty. He found a dozen lawyers in the main lobby and told them that they were a jury.
The lawyers thought this would be a novel experience and so followed the judge back to the courtroom. The trial was over in about 10 minutes and it was very clear that the defendant was guilty. The jury went into the jury-room, the judge started getting ready to go home, and everyone waited.
After nearly three hours, the judge was totally out of patience and sent the bailiff into the jury-room to see what was holding up the verdict.
When the bailiff returned, the judge asked, "Well, have they got a verdict yet?"
The bailiff shook his head and said, "Verdict, Hell? They're still doing nominating speeches for the foreman's position!"
~ .......They Walk Among Us!!!
Some guy bought a new fridge for his house. To get rid of his old
fridge, he put it in his front yard and hung a sign on it saying: "Free
to good home. You want it, you take it." For three days the fridge sat
there without even one person looking twice at it. He eventually decided
that people were too un-trusting of this deal. It looked too good to be
true, so he changed the sign to read: "Fridge for sale $50." The next
day someone stole it.
Caution... They Walk Among Us!
~~~~~~~~~
One day I was walking down the beach with some friends when someone
shouted...."Look at that dead bird!" Someone looked up at the sky and
said... "where???"
They Walk Among Us!!
~~~~~~~~
While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which
direction was north because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking
him up every morning. She asked, "Does the sun rise in the north?" When
my brother explained that the sun rises in the east, and has for
sometime, she shook her head and said, "Oh, I don't keep up with that
stuff."
They Walk Among Us!!
~~~~~~~
I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call center. One day I
got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call center was
open. I told him, "The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week." He responded, "Is that Eastern or Pacific time?" Wanting to end
the call quickly, I said, "Uh, Pacific".
They Walk Among Us!!!
~~~~~~~~
My colleague and I were eating our lunch in our cafeteria, when we
overheard one of the administrative assistants talking about the sunburn
she got on her weekend drive to the shore. She drove down in a
convertible, but, "didn't think she'd get sunburned because the car was
moving."
They Walk Among Us!!!!
~~~~~~~
My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car it's designed to cut through
a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk...
OMG!!
They Walk Among Us!!!!!
~~~~~~~~
My friends and I were shopping for Pepsi and noticed that the cases were
discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The cashier
multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount....
(maybe I should have bought 10 cases)
They Walk Among Us!!!!!!
~~~~~~~
I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area. So I went to the
lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed
up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained
professional and I was in good hands. "Now," she asked me, "has your
plane arrived yet?"...
They Walk Among Us!!!!!!!!
~~~~~~
While working at a pizza parlor I observed a man ordering a small pizza
to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like
it cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some time before
responding. "Just cut it into 4 pieces; I don't think I'm hungry enough
to eat 6 pieces."
Yep, they walk among us AND they
reproduce!!!!
~ Information You Can Use
~Continuing Light Rail Information
The Scottsdale Citizens
Transportation Study Committee invites you to view their website for
more questions and answers at
www.norailforscottsdale.com .
================================================================
Simply click on the links below to get all the information you'll ever need concerning Light Rail.
If you have any questions about light rail, send them to editor@scottsdaleactivist.com and we'll get the answers to you as soon as we can.
~ Additional Light Rail NOT in New Atlanta Plans
Atlanta is facing the long-term prospect of traffic gridlock, although it has light rail. A summary of the Reason Foundation's solution is pasted below. Note that their new plan does not include more light rail.
Report Calls for Major Toll Road and Tunnel Projects To Reduce Atlanta's Congestion Tunnels and a network of toll lanes connecting all major freeways at the center of plan.
Atlanta (November 15, 2006) A new report calls for a major "rethinking" and "rewriting" of Atlanta's long-range transportation plan and proposes four major toll road projects to significantly reduce the region's current and projected traffic congestion.
Everyone agrees Atlanta's traffic is bad and will only get worse. The Atlanta Regional Commission says that by 2030 a rush-hour trip will take 67 percent longer than it should. In a report released in August, the Reason Foundation put that number at 85 percent meaning what is supposed to be a 30-minute trip would take you over 55 minutes. That's worse than the infamous traffic in today's Los Angeles.
To reduce Atlanta's existing gridlock and accommodate future growth, the new study published by the Reason Foundation and Georgia Public Policy Foundation recommends four essential projects that would be paid for in large part by the private sector or toll revenues and not tax dollars.
1. A network of variably-priced toll lanes added to the entire freeway system, instead of the currently planned (but only partially funded) set of high-occupancy vehicle lanes. These express toll lanes could be utilized free of charge by buses and vanpools, providing a congestion-free alternative that would speed up service and significantly upgrade the region's mass transit system. They would also guarantee drivers always have the option of lanes moving at the maximum speed limit when they are late for work, have to catch a plane, or get to their child's soccer game. This plan would convert the existing carpool lanes into toll lanes and build another 1,132 lane miles to form a seamless network of connecting toll lanes using advanced, hassle-free toll collection technology. The project could be completed in four phases for a total of $9.14 billion (in 2003 dollars). Projected toll revenues suggest that toll revenue bonds could be issued to pay for it without tax dollars.
2. A double-decked tunnel linking the southern terminus of Georgia 400 with I-20 and later with the northern terminus of I-675. The tunnel would provide major relief to the Downtown Connector (I-75/85), the most congested portion of the freeway system. This tunnel is based on a similar project currently being constructed beneath Versailles, France. A tunnel is recommended because the high land values in the downtown area make above-ground expansion too costly. The study finds the full set of tunnels could be built at a cost of $4.8 billion (in 2005 dollars). Toll revenues would support nearly 40 percent of the project, the remaining construction expenses would need to come from surplus revenues from the express toll network or from conventional highway funds.
3. A new east-west link to relieve I-20, made up of the existing Lakewood freeway, extended to the east by a new toll tunnel and to the west by upgrading portions of Campbellton Road and Camp Creek Parkway. On this route, just 28.2 of the 111.2 lanes miles would be toll lanes.
4. A separate toll truckway system, permitting heavy trucks to bypass Atlanta's congestion in exchange for paying a toll. A portion of this system would be tunneled below downtown.
These four projects would cost $25 billion and commuting times would be significantly shorter than they are today.
"Adding significant new roadway capacity is an integral part of reducing congestion in Atlanta," says study author Robert Poole, who has advised the last four presidential administrations and is director of transportation studies at the Reason Foundation. "But capacity expansion needs to be coupled with better system management (such as ramp metering), faster clearance of incidents, and better traffic signal synchronization." The 76-page report addresses all of these issues.
"Congestion costs this region economically, and it has become a huge quality-of-life issue," says Benita Dodd, vice president of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. "Instead of penalizing Atlantans for their chosen lifestyle by neglecting the dire need for added capacity, we should make them consider the value of their trip. Toll lanes provide that option."
The State Road and Tollway Authority issued this statement:
"This report by Bob Poole and the Reason Foundation offers intriguing perspectives in the ongoing dialogue about how to address the metro Atlanta area’s traffic congestion concerns. It should be read and considered by all who are faced with making critical decisions regarding Atlanta's transportation future. SRTA is particularly encouraged by the Reason Foundation's endorsement of tolling and user-fee financing as an important component of any effort to provide mobility and funding options to the Atlanta region and the State of Georgia."
The Reason-GPPF study says by using toll lanes Atlanta can get the private sector to pay for large portions of the construction costs and will need fewer new lane miles over the long haul because priced, managed lanes can maintain their higher rush-hour capacity. Citing experience in California, the study explains how two priced lanes on the 91 Freeway in Orange County handle 49 percent of rush-hour traffic despite representing just 33 percent of the physical lane capacity.
The report also recommends several other ways to reduce the region's traffic delays. Large-scale freeway ramp metering could save Atlanta's drivers 5.75 million hours each year that are currently wasted sitting in traffic. Lowering incident response times and improved signal timing (already part of the Governor’s Fast Forward program) could also substantially ease traffic.
The Reason-GPPF study also credits the Governor's Congestion Mitigation Task Force with making congestion-reduction its top focus. However, the study points out that unless the Atlanta Regional Commission's long-range plan is drastically changed, it will not achieve the Task Force's congestion-reduction goal. The current long-range plan would spend only $8 billion on more roadway capacity, while devoting $10 billion to transit projects. Despite spending $10 billion on transit, ARC projects just a 1.7 percentage point increase in transit ridership (to 8.4 percent of all commuters) by 2030. Likewise, the commission has $5 billion slated for additional carpool lanes even though it expects the percentage of carpool users to actually decrease.
"Atlanta is going to continue to grow and so are the traffic jams," Poole says. "In this case spending most of the available funding on transit and carpool lanes will mean more congestion. With limited resources available, we have to spend money where it will most effectively reduce congestion. For the foreseeable future, toll lanes are Atlanta's best answer."
Full Study Online
The full report, Reducing Congestion in Atlanta: A Bold New Approach to Increasing Mobility, can be found online at www.reason.org/ps351.pdf. Reason's previous report forecasting the future congestion levels in Atlanta is here: www.reason.org/ps346/ga.shtml. Reason Foundation's transportation research and commentary is here: www.reason.org/transportation/index.shtml.
About the Author
Robert Poole is director of transportation studies at Reason Foundation, a free market think tank he founded. The New York Times says Poole is the "chief theorist for private solutions to gridlock. His ideas are now embraced by officials from Sacramento to Washington."
Poole, an MIT-trained engineer, has advised the last four presidential administrations on transportation and policy issues. In the field of surface transportation, Poole has also counseled the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the White House Office of Policy Development, National Economic Council, Government Accountability Office, and state DOTs in numerous states.
Reason's Galvin Mobility Project
This study is part of the Reason Foundation Galvin Mobility Project, which is detailing our transportation crisis and developing practical, cost-effective solutions to traffic congestion. For more information, please visit: www.reason.org/mobility/index.shtml.
About Reason
Reason Foundation is a nonprofit think tank dedicated to advancing free minds and free markets. Reason produces respected public policy research on a variety of issues and publishes the critically acclaimed monthly magazine, Reason. For more information, please visit www.reason.org.
About Georgia Public Policy Foundation
The Georgia Public Policy Foundation is an independent think tank that proposes practical, market-oriented approaches to public policy to improve the lives of Georgians. For more information, please visit: www.gppf.org.
Contacts
Robert Poole, Director of Transportation Studies,
Reason Foundation, (310) 292-2386
Benita Dodd, Vice President, Georgia Public Policy Foundation, (404)
256-4050
Chris Mitchell, Director of Media Relations, Reason Foundation (310)
367-6109
Page printed From:
http://reason.org/news/mobility_atlanta_transportation_plan_111506.shtml
Copyright © 2005 Reason Foundation
~
For Continuing Information
on Photo Radar,
Click on the Logo below.
~ "Obsession" A "Must See" for All Americans
This is NOT for Children.
I don't normally allow anything but Scottsdale information in the Scottsdale Activist but after receiving many emails about this and viewing it, I think that it's imperative that every adult at least look at what's offered here if for nothing more than their own education and to have everyone stop and think about the future of our country. Click on the link below,
If you don't have Adobe Flash, install it from the bottom of the page that comes up after you click on the link above. You should be able to view all available links within the main page.
~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
~TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS IN SCOTTSDALE
Nov. 30, 2006
The following is a partial list of road construction projects and
traffic restrictions taking place in Scottsdale Dec. 1-10. For more
information, contact
mphillips@ScottsdaleAz.gov
FIESTA BOWL HALF MARATHON RESTRICTIONS
Lane restrictions will be in place on the following road sections from 6
to 10:30 a.m. Sunday, 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
---
McDONALD DRIVE/SCOTTSDALE ROAD INTERSECTION
These restrictions will be in place at the intersection of McDonald
Drive and Scottsdale Road through Sunday, Dec. 3, to permit gas line
installation:
** Northbound curb lane on Scottsdale Road closed
** McDonald Drive restricted to one lane in each direction
---
OTHER SCOTTSDALE ROAD RESTRICTIONS
** The intersection of Scottsdale and McDowell roads will be reduced to
one lane in all directions from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, Sunday
through Thursdays, through Dec. 8 to permit work on water lines.
** The northbound left-turn only lane on Scottsdale Road at Lincoln
Drive will be closed from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. through Dec. 8 to
permit utility line work. During those same dates and hours, the
westbound curb lane of Lincoln will be closed at Scottsdale Road.
** The southbound median lane of Scottsdale Road at Drinkwater Boulevard
will be closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, for utility work.
---
CAMELBACK ROAD RESTRICTIONS
** Camelback Road will be reduced to one open lane in each direction
from Scottsdale Road to 75th Street from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily
starting Monday, Dec. 4, through Dec. 8 for utility line work.
** Camelback Road will be reduced to one open lane in each direction
from Scottsdale Road to Buckboard Trail from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily Dec.
20-30 for storm drain installation. During this project, no turns will
be permitted at Brown Avenue.
** Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction on Camelback
Road from 64th to 68th streets through mid December to permit street
improvements.
More information on this project is available at:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/capitalprojects/proj_report.asp?proj=S0301&status=S0301
---
McDOWELL ROAD RESTRICTIONS:
** 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 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..
---
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.
---
CACTUS ROAD RESTRICTIONS
** The westbound curb lane of Cactus Road at 90th Street will be closed
from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly from Monday, Dec. 4, through Dec. 8 for
paving work.
** The westbound curb lane of Cactus Road at 100th Street will be closed
from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily through Dec. 15 for work on utility
lines.
** 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 mid December.
For more information on the Cactus Road widening project, visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/capitalprojects/proj_report.asp?proj=S2103&status=S2103
---
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 through Friday, Dec. 1,
for utility work.
---
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT BOULEVARD RESTRICTIONS
** Eastbound Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard will be reduced to one open
lane at Hayden Road from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly through Dec. 7 to
permit road work.
** 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 through Friday, Dec.
1, to permit tree trimming in the center median.
---
SHOEMAN LANE RESTRICTIONS:
** Westbound Shoeman Lane, from Buckboard Trail to Wells Fargo Avenue,
will be completely closed from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. nightly through Dec. 11
to permit storm drain installation.
** Shoeman Lane will be completely closed between Brown Avenue and
Buckboard Trail from 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, through 6 a.m. Monday, Dec.
4, to permit concrete work. During those same dates and hours, Brown
Avenue between Camelback and Shoeman lane will be closed.
** Shoeman Lane, from Brown Avenue to Buckboard Trail, will be
completely closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, Monday through
Thursday, starting Wednesday, Dec. 6, through Dec. 12 for road work.
---
BROWN AVENUE, CAMELBACK ROAD TO SHOEMAN LANE
Brown Avenue will be completely closed from Camelback Road to Shoeman
Lane
from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, Monday through Thursday, Dec. 13-19 for
road work.
---
INDIAN SCHOL ROAD AT 75TH STREET
The westbound curb lane of Indian School Road at 75th Street will be
closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 4, to permit utility line
work.
---
OSBORN ROAD AT SCOTTSALE ROAD
Westbound Osborn Road will be reduced to one open lane at Scottsdale
Road from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, to permit concrete work.
During those same dates and hours, Bishop Lane will be completely closed
between Osborn and Marshall Way.
---
VIDE De VENTURA, WEST OF PIMA ROAD
The westbound curb lane of Via de Ventura, west of Pima Road, will be
closed from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, for road work.
---
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 through Friday, Dec. 1.
** Northbound Granite Reef Road, between McDonald Drive and Jackrabbit
Road, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Friday, Dec. 1.
---
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 through
Friday, Dec. 1, to permit utility line work.
---
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
~ 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.
~Although it says in the Bible "Give and ye shall receive," there is no such loophole in the City Charter. Of course, the majority of the City Council and the City Attorney ignore the City Charter anyway. Oh Geez! Equating this city administration with the Bible has got to be blasphemy...................... I'm so Sorry!!
~Indian School Road around Miller is a total disaster. Jan Dolan promised it was in the works for repair and repaving almost 3 years ago. If this is indicative of the city manager in action, we’re in deep trouble and have been for 3 years. Time for a change???
~ Michael Crow of ASU will bury the University, the State of Arizona, the city of Scottsdale, and the ASU students in unbelievable debt. Mark my words, this guy is a bigger spender than Queen Mary and his biggest goal is building his personal bank account and especially his over inflated ego, to (Heck) with everyone and everything else!
~ I remember seeing a sign proposal in the Scottsdale Activist. Can you rerun it for me please? Here it is, just click on this link: Sign Proposal
~Ms. Robberson was hired as another lackey, rubber stamp for the mayor just like everyone else at City Hall. Mother. Mary doesn't want thinkers, she just wants those that will do her bidding without question and will make special residence rules just so she can have them do her bidding.
~ Thank you Mr. Editor for telling it like it is, but you are scaring the (heck) out of me! Editors Note: Better now than later my friend. By learning what's going on now, you'll know that you need to vote in the next election to stop the fiscal mayhem we're currently experiencing.
~Now the stupid Scottsdale Repugnant is trying to make it seem as though a sign ordinance was entirely their idea. See today’s paper. Leger belongs in the same mucky hole with Ryan and Manross... birds of a feather always stick together. Leger needs to go back where he came from. He’s not needed here, we already have enough nuts.
~There’s so much talk about the city paying for "McOsterman’s" trip to Morocco, but how about finding out who chose him over all the other council members?
~ Hey DMB, No extra height, no subsidy! Got it! Build it like it was approved by the council in 2002 or move on!
~Unfortunately, with this council majority, the zoning ordinances and heights seem to be the "lines drawn in the sand". We all know what happens to the sand lines on the beaches!
~ Wal*Mart haters who claim that everything sold there is from China better start looking at all the same stuff available at Target, Kohl’s, Kmart/Sears, and other major retailers. Surprise!!! If you weren't so bullheaded and blatantly biased, you'd find that Wal*Mart pays more than most all national drug store chains and other chain stores as well as offering equal or more benefits including retirement and 401K plans.
~Why do you not just do a request of public records for travel spending account for Councilman McCullagh for the trip in question? Editors Note: A public records request is an obvious and easy option, but experience shows that many times, the funds are moved around to suit the city which means that those funds are possibly hidden from the public. i.e., the city could, and reportedly has, transferred funds from the general fund to other funds and thereby have most possibly hidden where the funds have been spent by inflating costs on something else billed to the same project.
~ Did Manross and her husband ever repay Maricopa County for past due taxes on their rental homes after they were found out registering one of the rental homes as a "Owner Occupied" instead of the rental it really was and still is? Didn't they owe for over 7 years?
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, and edited in Scottsdale AZ ~ 480-326-2475