~ Food for Thought - Take It or Leave It 

• This is an Eye Opener!  Think About It!

The Pony Express Riders, AKA The Hashknife Gang, have covered a route of over 200 miles of rough and mild country for decades, starting in Holbrook in northern Arizona where it is very cold this time of year to recreate the ride of the famed Pony Express. The weather for the ride this year included snow (12 inches in one spot), sleet, rain, and finally a warm 60 degrees with bright sun here in Scottsdale. The mounts are mostly working ranch horses, so this is probably a bit of a vacation for them from the winter conditions up North!

To learn more about the Hashknife Gang, click on the link below:

In actuality, the Pony Express program which contracted to the U.S. Mail service lasted less than 2 years from April 3, 1860 through October 1861 and was a huge financial failure, but it is one of the many traditions that continue to describe and glorify the "Old West".

To learn more about the Pony Express Click on the link below…….

NOTICE: If you are a business owner, it is important for you to take just a moment to consider:  Would your business be closed or hurt by a lengthy construction project on Scottsdale Road? If you live, work, commute, or shop on or in proximity to Scottsdale Road, how will such a project affect your access? 

If you think you might be harmed, try your best to attend the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 6, starting at 5 p.m. The Agenda item concerning you is Item #15 on the schedule. The Council will consider whether they will allow you to have a vote on building light rail or modern streetcar on YOUR Scottsdale Road, or whether they are just going to do what they want to do regardless of your preferences. Please sign up to state your opinion at the podium or in writing. 

The City Hall Kiva is located at 3939 North Drinkwater Blvd, just south of Indian School Road. Don't be sorry later that you didn't make every effort Tuesday night to protect your signature street.

The Scottsdale Citizens Transportation Study Committee (SCTSC) has launched a new, public information website devoted to honest discussion about the fixed rail lines planned for Scottsdale Road. Information posted on the website includes important facts about light rail, modern streetcar, and bus rapid transit; upcoming public events and other opportunities for discussion; and contact information by which you can express your opinions to government officials.

For more information and updates on the light rail issue, click on…..

Please RSVP on our website at www.NoRailForScottsdale.com  or call 480-994-1181 and leave your name and contact info.

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~ Manross Causes Accident with Injuries, Then Hides

Our illustrious Mayor is at it again. She reminds us of "911 Sam" in some ways.

Probably either on her cell phone or looking at something other than the road, Manross drove her car into and totaled a car or two but made sure that the accident wasn’t released to the press or the public which is exactly opposite of the way other politicians and celebrities are generally treated when they have accidents or are caught in a less than honorable or tenable situation.

Over two months after the accident, one of the occupants in the car Manross clobbered is still recovering from her severe injuries.

Isn’t it sad that our glorious mayor sees fit, even in a situation of a serious injury to another person, to quickly invoke her ever-present cloak of secrecy to protect herself from still more ever-earned bad publicity and ridicule by those who see through her failure to be able to manage her administration in an above board and honest, non-secret manner.

Obviously, Manross has "lost it" and can’t bring herself to apologize to the citizens of Scottsdale for such a common, but grievous accident which she kept secret, nor publicly and specifically apologize to the lady who was badly injured.

Makes it even clearer what Manross is really made of and who’s she for doesn’t it?

If we go by the logic expressed by Scottsdale Unified School District Counsel, Kim Clark, then all elected officials should cease writing articles for newspapers and periodicals and making appearances on news programs. Good-bye Meet the Press, and Senator Kyle’s columns in the newspapers.

When an appointed or elected official expresses their ideas or positions as being their personal position and not the position of the body, that should be a clear declaration within the guidelines of the open meeting laws and responsibilities of the office held.

Over the last eight years SUSD has narrowed the opportunities for the community at large, aka tax payers, to participate in discussion of issues, problem solving, fact-finding and planning.

If you aren't an involved parent or you don't have access to a computer, your odds of understanding what is taking place in SUSD are seriously limited.

A very good example of this deals with the school districts technology program. The last funding to assist with technology took place in 1997. By 1999 we were not even close to being up to existing standards. It took over a year to put a bare-bones technology plan together that needed additional funding.

We saw news stories about laptop computers donated to schools in the Arcadia Complex thanks to well-connected parents. Those laptops are not available to the other schools in the district.

The election in November saw a bond issue on the ballot that would have provided baby steps on the road that would give all Scottsdale students skills to be competitive upon graduation in technology, whether in the workplace or higher education, or both.

That bond issue failed. When asked most people refer to the laptop stories as frills. 90% of the voters haven't a clue how far behind SUSD is and will continue to be.

Residents, parents and non-parents, are unable to watch Governing Board meetings on cable television because the previous Superintendent, Dr. Erwin, sold all of the equipment off. Many parents are unable to attend Governing Board meetings due to their early start times. The same can be said for the Scottsdale Parent Council that holds meetings in the midmornings. The community newsletters that all residents received, up until the mid-nineties, are also gone.

Scottsdale Unified School Districts communication opportunities are seriously limited and this move to muzzle Governing Board members does nothing to instill the necessary trust and partnership with all of the community that recognizes how important education is to the quality of life we appreciate in Scottsdale.

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It seems that the City Council has once more decided to ignore our traffic problems in Scottsdale and approve another extremely wasteful Jan Dolan project which will restrict traffic and increase congestion as well as pollution. 

I did not attend the Council meeting on 1/30, but it seems that the Cactus Road project was approved. So all of this rhetoric about fixing our transportation problems is just political campaigning with a more than ample amount of horse manure mixed in for flavor. 

Cactus Road was always meant to be a major arterial, and an alternative to Shea Blvd.  By choking the traffic on Cactus with roundabouts and medians, the City Manager and the administration has once more managed to ignore impending gridlock in our City. 

So, the Manross Administration and council majority continue to act like Ostriches, burying their proverbial heads in the sand. Reminds me of the three monkeys………

Susan Wood
Scottsdale

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It has been an interesting week here in Scottsdale if you have kept up with the papers and the little things that have happened over the week.

James Torgeson, a former candidate for the State Legislator last year, intentionally provoked a police officer into giving him a ticket for holding up a sign on Frank Lloyd Wright and the 101 promoting Pinnacle Nissan.

Now first of all, Pinnacle Nissan should move to South Scottsdale on Motor Mile so we can support their advertising a little better as we will give you money to advertise your business in the South, but if you are up North, not only will the city "not" give you money, they will make sure that you do "not" have advertisement.

Mr. Torgeson may have the upper hand though as he claims the section his advertising people were on is State Property and that the city does not have jurisdiction to cite him.

Well, this issue brings up two other issues with the city and the Freeway as Mr. Torgeson, if found correct, would have finally informed our City Council they need to keep their mind on fixing the problems they have on the property they "do" own or have "jurisdiction" in.

Which of course leads me to one of my contentions of why the Photo Radar tickets the city has been handing out are worthless because under multiple State Laws, the city has no jurisdiction on the State Freeway system.

But let’s look at what is going on with our sign ordinance now regarding the next action of the city to ban political signs from the city.

The planning commission got an earful from people who could "accept" what the city wanted to do in the right of way, but they were threatened with legislative relief from the city for their actions on private property.

Some of us there were opposed to both "text amendments" and one of us ended up in an argument with some of our commissioners.

Problem is, the majority of the council would not move on the motion brought forward by "up-for Re-Election" McCullagh because his presentation was a blatant attack against political signs only and the Staff presented the citizens and the Planning Commissioners exactly what the majority of the council said they would not support which was an attack on just political signs.

Now since the issue of what has happened has leaked out, the Staff is now holding "open houses" on the issues of "realtor open-house" signs in the right of way to do nothing more than say now that the issue is really about all signs in the right of way.

The planning commission had to have a work-study session, as they were now aware that under the staff presentation they just saw, it "was" all based on political signs.

Makes you wonder about the words uttered by a councilman who calls it the "Incumbent Protection Act ?"

Yesterday I saw the Tribune headline of "cities bypass property rights" and it is tied to Prop 207, which I am not sure how I feel about this new law anymore.

While it would have worked well for Nan Nesvig and her neighbors to sue the city for devaluing their property values when they re-zoned the area across from her so a Arizona American Water Company could install 30 foot water storage tanks outside of their windows, and under an issue like that, a person should be able to sue the ones who allowed it to damage the values of their assets.

Problem Is, I have found it is also a two-edge sword as the city could be facing another problem regarding zoning change request from developers, and "bar owners" as there is now an issue of a downtown bar owners request to rezone his property to expand.

While the city has better legal footing in this issue under the plan and the past history of this establishment wanting to change, they could also face a lawsuit now because someone could claim they have devalued their property by not allowing them to expand.

It also is going to wreak havoc on cities trying to work out zoning issues as it relates to the older sections of this city and the desires of residents to keep the homes from shooting to the skies and expanding to the far reaches of set backs.

I thought this was supposed to be about protecting us from the government being able to steal our property?

Finally, we reach the climax of the week as "Sky – Booger" was capped with a beam that ties it all together before the outer skin goes on and the beam should have smacked both Michael Crow and Mayor Mary Manross in the head and knocked both of them out.

This project seems to have more "crowning achievements" than any of us in the city seem to know about and we still have no one named for any retail, a second building they claim to be getting ready to start, the approach of the first phase of residential housing that was originally denied in the lease, but then allowed by the Council, and with plans for many more units in the future or even the fact that it had to be sent back for redesign once and the newest design sucked the wind out of the big diapers they plan to hang over this and hide it.

But wait!

Today in the Tribune I read the words "Sky – Song goes International" with the mayor claiming "it took a bold step but we moved forward with this, even though opponents tried to put obstacles in our path."

Hey Mary, the thing is a sham, even the past supporters have realized this now and I think the beam hit you in the head along time ago and you have yet to recover your senses.

Did you read who the new tenants are?

Out of the 157,000 square-foot building the German company only leased 5,000 square feet of space and the past announcement of tenants includes an "international" company that is moving from their office in Phoenix to Sky Booger with the a staff of a whole 3 people.

Let’s make sure we remember these things when we go to the polls next time.

Michael Merrill
Scottsdale

Merrill can be reached at F8713@aol.com

On Tuesday, January 30th, the Republic published a "My Turn" article entitled Dangerous Development Density a Problem PV must Confront. It was written by Linda Peterson Warren, a member of the Paradise Valley Citizens Forum. She is concerned that density is creeping into PV, which could potentially result in over development of pristine spacious areas and pose a threat to the city’s unique character.

As a Scottsdale resident who has literally seen our city transformed into Anywhere USA under the reign of the Dolan and Manross regime, I have but few words for Ms Warren: Wake up and Smell the coffee! The cruel truth is that developers are running out of space to put their multitudes of condos, multi-acre new home neighborhoods and towering multi-use commercial-residential monstrosities in Scottsdale. Their next logical locale for development IS Paradise Valley!

History has a nasty way if repeating itself in someone else’s backyard. Ms. Warren need only look at Scottsdale of old, some seven years ago, when open space was abundant and Camelback Mountain was readily seen from all parts of our city. Some say there was a plan in place for development – at some point, that plan went awry and in its place we were left with a closed and secret governmental system where personal and political greed took hold, and citizens were left in the dust. To put it mildly, all hell broke loose and no one could stop it.

I feel somewhat sorry for Ms. Warren who is just now questioning some zoning tactics and city code concerning development. It got that way in the first place because no one questioned it way back when it was established. Developers are vermin who feed on a city’s shortcomings, lack of knowledge and their ability to cut deals on the inside track. Why would their relationship with the City of Paradise Valley be any different that that of Scottsdale? Cleary PV will be exposed to the same developmental disaster that Scottsdale is currently undertaking. It is just a matter of time.

Ms. Warren seems to believe that Paradise Valley is immune from like Scottsdale development because of whom they are – guess again. Once, a very long time ago, Scottsdale citizens believed in preservation pf our city’s character, uniqueness, and wide open spaces. Look where that got us. We elected leaders who obviously do not have our best interests in mind and the aftermath is irreversible.

My advice to her and the residents of PV is be community watchdogs, question everything, and trust no one in a political decision making position. Greed does very nasty things to reasonable people, and ethics (?) well, you can bet they’ll be thrown out with the ads in the Sunday paper when the right time comes.

E Slocomb
Scottsdale

 ~This is an Eye Opener!  Think About It!

 Made in the USA:  Spoiled brats

The other day I was reading "Newsweek" magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The same magazine that employs Michael (Qurans in the toilets at Gitmo) Isikoff.

Here I promised myself this week I would be nice and I start off in this way.

The "Newsweek" poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just isn't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I starting thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes; an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.  This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents; Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord that we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, many more than once, and in many cases have died for your freedom.  There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So, why then the flat out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit
corporations. They offer what sells. Just ask why they were going to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book and do a TV special about how he didn't kill his wife but if he did ... insane!

Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media.  Shut off the TV, burn "Newsweek", and use the "New York Times" for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:

''What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States, 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down
unsullied to our children and theirs.''

I suggest we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. 

If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.'' A far cry from our parents and grand parents, the proud Americans of the ''greatest generation''.

Author Unknown
 

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~ Information You Can Use

~ UPDATE!! A "Must See" for All Americans

Every American should check out all of these websites to learn more about what the American population is about to have to deal with.

This is NOT for Children.

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

 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.

The website below is of great interest as seen from a Lebanese point of view:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8fa9yKQeTY

The website below gives some history of Terrorist attacks:

http://patriotfiles.org/civilizationcalls.htm

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~ View Past City Council Meetings

We can now access the city council meetings by clicking on the following link:

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

~Continuing Light Rail Information

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

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

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

     Goldwater Institute Report

     American Dream Coalition

    The Public Purpose

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.

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~ For Continuing Information on Photo Radar,
Click on the Logo below.

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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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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.