I must admit that the first I heard of the Scottsdale Activist was when you published an editorial last weekend and a friend sent the article to me. It contained flattering comments and I thank you for them.  I wasn't going to respond, but a friend urged me to write and attempt to minimize the apparent conflict among certain key parties. Today I opened the link to your website and saw a public forum where all sorts of ideas were discussed in today's style of throwing ideas out there electronically, a sometimes more combative style than traditional news media. But as I scrolled down the page I saw a letter by my friend Howard Myers in there, and figured that if it was good enough for tall and handsome Howard it was good enough for me.

Yes, I do want open and honest discussions about the Preserve. There have been many good people involved in the process. The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy folks put in tremendous numbers of volunteer hours. Carla has put much of the cumulative energy into the Preserve and should continue to be a voice in how it unfolds. She may even play a key role in State Land Reform and let's all wish her success because that would help us acquire more of the land targeted for the Preserve.

I probably have some disagreements on certain items with some of my colleagues. I would like more flexibility than some.  However, I hope the disagreements are about the 10% against a backdrop of 90% agreement. I don't want to "love the land to death." I do, however, hold very close and central to my beliefs two statements: the land belongs to the people and they have "rights" to use it; that use must be controlled in the interest of preservation but management is preferable to prohibition of uses. I feel we have multilevel missions in holding firm on preserving the precious desert forms while also allowing for the appropriate level of passive recreational uses.

I probably have been speaking more to the "user" side of things because the "preservation" side is so adequately represented. I would like to see reasoned flexibility in the discussions on how we continue to balance the preservation and user side of things, especially with so many of those beautiful trails going in and people getting out into the Preserve to enjoy the beauty. That enjoyment depends on spending monies and time on managing the people side of the Preserve and I don't want that mission shortchanged. We need trails to be completed and we need monies for trail heads and trail head facilities.

Thanks again, and let's all work to create the best Preserve we can afford for the Citizens and Visitors!

Sincerely,
Erik Filsinger, Ph.D.
Scottsdale

Well, well, well. The egotistical, know it all, do my way or the highway Jan Dolan along with her far less than experienced and not so savvy sidekick Roger Klingler have been outflanked and out hustled by a much wiser and much shrewder Craig Jackson. Mayor Manross hasn't the ability to figure out what happened yet nor will she ever and that's why she keeps her door closed and her spies out in force, or is that farce?.

Dolan has totally convinced herself she was the "Cat's Meow" and owned Scottsdale and everything that was to be, but abruptly found out she, along with her far inferior sidekick Klingler are nothing more than a mere whimper in a firestorm of controversy surrounding their dismal failure in retaining the Barrett-Jackson Collector's Car Auction at West World among other dismal failures and bad decisions.

All of a sudden, Dolan has to backtrack at full speed astern to try to get Jackson back to the table to save her face and her job.

Councilman Littlefield has hit the nail on the head: Let the City Council negotiate the contract, and we'll add here that the City Council needs to kick Dolan and Klingler to the curb, permanently!! Then, the City Council should hire a true professional to run West World or rehire Mr. Gessner. At least Gessner had it close to breaking even while Klingler really couldn't care less and most probably has no clue as to how to run the enterprise efficiently and effectively. We guess he thinks that as long as we have events there, the cost to the taxpayers doesn't matter to him or Dolan, even when it will cost the taxpayers ^$1.3 million to operate the venue next year!

Haven't we had enough of the egotistical, know it all, Gestapo style, closed door rule of City Manager Jan Dolan who has:

There are three (3) solid votes on the Council currently to fire Dolan for many good reasons. When will the fourth (4th) vote appear? Isn't the Barrett-Jackson fiasco along with the Hualapai Water Plant massive miscue enough to push Ecton, Drake, or McCullagh to vote her out of her coveted job effective immediately? Drake and McCullagh are coming up for election. Will one of them decide it is in theirs as well as the city’s best interest to help get rid of a costly cancer in city government?

Only time will tell and time is running very short for the Barrett-Jackson Auction decision as well as who will be re-elected to the council.

(Return to Top)

 

Do you ever get the feeling that Scottsdale, a city in grandioso flux, doesn’t have a clue as to whether it’s coming or going? Why do you suppose this is the case?

We used to be a unique city of character and individuality. We knew who we were, and what we stood for:

But developers and consultants that the city leadership has brought in over the past five years are quietly trying to erase our heritage and reestablish our City in their own image and likeness. They come from New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, and many other overdeveloped cities with dropping incomes and escalating crime rates, slums, and taxes.

The current group of developers and consultants, by virtue of who they are, can’t actually take a look at a city and develop it based upon its original character. They can’t enhance its unique qualities because they have no clue as to what it is… so, they must change it into something with which they are familiar. It is their trademark, their legacy which their egos demand. Why does our City leadership want so badly to change our heritage? Aren’t they the ones who direct the consultants and developers? Approve the plans?

So we wonder…are we coming or going? Some might tell you that we are coming into a new age, new development, new heritage in Scottsdale while others will say we’re going backwards, losing our character, losing our individuality. Both are correct. When change occurs, you lose a little piece of yourself. But if you subscribe to the adage that change is good, then perhaps you can see past the genocide of your city’s heritage and look for what little amount of positive is provided in that change.

Here in Scottsdale, however we are investing in old technology, old infrastructure, temporary housing fixes, and hope. Hope that people will flock to our city and want to take advantage of our change. What our mindless leadership doesn’t understand, or conveniently forgets, is that Scottsdale, in its uniqueness, is the reason people flock here.

Take away the heritage and uniqueness and you take away a reason for people to actually come. You will not attract consistent travelers – you will, however, see weekenders, day trippers and more abbreviated visitations than ever before. Scottsdale is becoming a place where people just visit for a short time, not lay down what will eventually become permanent roots. What will happen when all the glamour wears off? How will we continue to reinvent ourselves when all the outdated technology and architecture we’re putting in place today is even more archaic? Who will we pay for the 60 year old infrastructure that they are not replacing as we go which means it's handling far more than it was ever engineered to handle?

It certainly won’t be the current group of city leaders, developers, or consultants who have already taken their money and run will it?

If you ask many of today's City leaders, they will tell you that it is the NOW that matters. Their plans rarely involve "tomorrow" or the current citizens in the mix. Instead, they are looking to make their monies now, before the economy takes another nose dive and we, the helpless taxpayers are left with a vast pool of costly mistakes to assimilate.

Tell us again…who is in possession of that crystal ball and who is going to pay for all the current mistakes and poor investments city government is currently making? …… you’re right, the tax paying citizens.

If you ask us, we’d say the majority of Scottsdale leadership and management is in total denial with regard to development. They are taking a chance – and one that so far, is NOT paying off. City leaders are not making changes for our citizens, but for what they perceive or have been sold as future profits as well as preening their own massive egos and what they see as their personal legacies which cannot be denied by the citizens.

The problem is that the consultants and developers have long been paid before we even see any types of results from these changes – their plans are not contingent upon their payment – it is a one-sided crap shoot which doesn’t favor our City. When a developer decides to make a change in an already approved project, they don’t even have to go back for council approval on the changes. The changes are made, public be damned, developers make even more profit from a reduced investment and reduced project quality.

Isn’t this the way the snake oil salesman made his money? Show and sell one thing, but then produce an inferior product and walk away with pockets full on your money?

What if these changes fail? What if they are temporary? What if we are stuck with a financial disaster?

Developers and consultants and zoning attorneys still get paid.

Citizens still suffer.

The Scottsdale we knew and loved dies a slow death......................

(Return to Top)

 

Scottsdale Transportation Commissioner Vice Chair, Kelley McCall, is right on target when she thinks that North Scottsdale is becoming inaccessible. Public transportation cannot get citizens to even doctor’s offices north of the CAP.

We know,  we tried and couldn’t get there from here, being Camelback and Scottsdale Roads.

It is truly amazing that we’ve had to wait so long for this discussion. We are mess, friends and neighbors and some of it is not our fault. Public transportation has been an afterthought for as long as we can remember and we were riding buses when they went no further than Scottsdale Road and then we had to walk from there to, in our case, 86^th Street.

Back in Cincinnati, Ohio, when I started kindergarten, my mom would take me on the city trolley bus that ran on electric lines running above the street (no, not horses and buggies). So, I have been used to riding public transportation modes my whole life and find it conducive to studying transportation reports and the City Budget.

Yes, I can drive, but find myself in personal debate over the cost of gasoline, car payments and insurance, and all of the environmental issues surrounding them.

That is for another column.

Dial-A-Ride and Cab Connection vouchers……are much needed services. Dial-A-Ride runs very poorly. Having had the need to transport my mother to various doctor appointments in her last months, I can tell you that it was Hell. She suffered with dementia on top of macular degeneration of the retina, and was unable to walk due to peripheral vascular disease. On more than one occasion we had an hour or longer wait after her doctor appointments to be taken home. She was exhausted almost to the point of passing out.

The drivers are mostly very kind, though some can be extremely abrupt. There just aren’t enough vehicles and drivers to handle the need, especially for those too sick to even think to navigate for themselves. Drivers keep an excruciating pace.

Buses and connector service are critical. Buses are flexible, not confined by infrastructure to a permanent route.

As a long time bus-rider sheltered bus stops are a necessity and they do not have to be "objects de art." Attractive? Yes. Providing shelter from the sun? Absolute necessity. A place to sit while waiting? A welcome, friendly gesture.

Finally, the need for Connector service and/or Neighborhood Circulator Service is a no-brainer. Residents and visitors are all enjoying the benefits of this service.

There is little to say but, Margaret Dunn, Margaret Dunn, Margaret Dunn and trolley service, trolley service, trolley service.

Margaret Dunn and her people, her office, and the awesome trolley drivers, have it down. Take heed all ye who enter Scottsdale.

Would that everything in Scottsdale was as well thought out and ran as smoothly as our trolleys.

So, HDR, better yet, Transportation Commission and Mayor and City Council members, come ride Route 72 bus from the Princess to Chandler Fashion Mall, or Route 50 from west Phoenix to Scottsdale Community College or Route 84 from Scottsdale Community College to Roosevelt Street.

This last route is a corker and will open anyone’s eyes to the problems.

A follow up to the discussion on the Water Booster Plant to serve the new high rise condos.

Dear Scottsdale Activist Editor,

I meet with Frank Gray today with a concept that should address any and all issues regarding the development of the Horseshoe Falls/Booster station site. The original intent of this parcel can be accomplished in harmony with booster station despite its awkward placement in the heart of retail.

It was suggested that the parking along the old Marshall Way be eliminated. At my meeting with Mr. Gray, it appeared to be accepted and I was provided a modified site plan showing the boosters moved to the east boundary.

This simple modification brings us back to the basic site plan presented last summer showing a small but usable site remaining for retail development. By including this small remainder with a new master plan on my property to the west a small outdoor cafe could be developed. I have the additional required parking credits that are needed to allow this type use.

This would bring needed life to this corner everyday, not just during special events. The public art project, Horseshoe Falls, has not been much of a success due to it’s isolation from the rest of the area and I believe this new plan is the cure.

Now is the time to tie this in design-wise rather than unnecessarily spending hundreds of thousands of tax dollars on decorative off sites that, if I heard right, could be demolished in the future for retail development. Sorry for repeating this but every last remainder parcel created by road projects has been put to use or in the hand of developers to date. This would be the smallest (around 2000 sq. ft.) site but probably one of the most important additions to the Marshall Way alignment.

In closing, I truly believe all missions can be accomplished. Most important is that the retail link would be complete to the benefit of the property owners, business owners, and the retail shoppers.

I trust the city will finally adopt this concept as soon as possible so we can move forward in a positive direction for a change.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Funke
Scottsdale

(Return to Top)

 ~ Wage Increases a Dolan Ploy

We have done some research and found that the new wage scale for city employees does put them at the top of the government scale in Arizona, good or bad for the employees and the taxpayers.

With a tight budget caused by Dolan overspending, why would she propose a massive wage increase unless it was to bribe employees into submission?

What's sad about this increase is that it is being used as a nasty little tool by City Manager Dolan to try to get the employees back on her side and increase the morale.

Sorry, that won't work because reportedly, the survey from those that did research on the health problems with city employees found that depression and back problems were caused by low morale and had nothing to do with wages, but did have to do with employees not trusting Dolan and her managers to follow city rules and regulations as well as worrying if they were going to have their jobs tomorrow.

Another Dolan ploy is using diversity as an excuse and tool to put unqualified people in positions they should have never been appointed to in the first place just to speed up her diversity plan. Want names and dates?

Enough said?

(Return to Top)

Notice recently went out from Scottsdale City Hall that an applicant is planning to subdivide an original historical site which deserves quite the opposite. According to the notice, the applicant is planning to subdivide the final remaining 5.73 acres of the Brusally Ranch. If this subdivision is permitted to proceed, what was once an oasis in the middle of the Sonoran desert will be forever hidden from public view. Even though the subdivision plan suggests that the home itself will be preserved, the City of Scottsdale will lose its last thread of exposure to an important part of its heritage. Plus, who is to say the next buyer of the home won’t tear it down.

The Brusally Ranch – or what remains of it – is located north of the northwest corner of 84^th Street and Cholla. At one time this was the ranch headquarters of a sprawling empire. In fact, history suggests that the ranch owners and their guests could literally ride their horses unimpeded all the way to the McDowell Mountains. According to a video which runs regularly on Scottsdale’s public service station, Channel 11, the Brusally Ranch was once home to one of Arizona founding stakeholders in the Arabian horse scene. In the early years of Arizona statehood, the Brusally Ranch would host a star-studded event at the conclusion of the Arabian Horse Show. According to the video, this was the party of all parties attended by captains of industry and celebrities alike. All the Great Cowboys have been on this property – Monte Montana, Gene Autry and many more.  In fact, Gene Autry was reportedly considering retiring his horse Champion on the property.

If you are not familiar with this magnificent property, I encourage you to drive by. You will not find a finer home in all of Scottsdale. The back yard, in particular, is the next best thing to Shangri-La. I guess that explains why Mrs. Brusally donated the home to the Mayo Clinic as a place for organ transplant recipients to recover in serenity. Much has been written about this property as of late regarding the many benefits it provides the transplant recipients and their families.

And yet, for unknown reasons (do they need the money?), the Mayo Clinic apparently decided to sell the property to a developer. Maybe it’s still under contract; I don’t know. But either way, this is not a Johnny-come-lately five acre horse property requesting a plat map. This is an irreplaceable part of the fabric of our community. We might as well tear down Taliesin West.

Scottsdale’s Historic Commission suggests this site deserves consideration for historic status. Let’s hope they receive enough time to evaluate this scenario and calmer heads prevail.

Larry Heath
Scottsdale

Are city employees hired under a merit system?

Do veterans and the disabled receive points under this system as outlined under A.R.S. 38.492, or is the City of Scottsdale exempt?

If the city claims an exemption, why do they do this?

Does this save money for us the taxpayers?

Thank you for any consideration you might have regarding this issue,

Tom Kehoe  Aco 1/35 Infantry 3rd Bde 4th Infantry Div 67/68
C troop 1/9th Cavalry  3rd Bde 1st Air Cavalry Division 68/69

(Return to Top)

~Living in the Land of Oz

Sorry but the Land of Oz will be a little short this week and it is not for lack of Oz like creatures who run this city. It is because I lost both my Air Conditioner and my Swamp Cooler in one day due to a problem with my duct work which disintegrated, came loose, and is cooling my attic instead of the house.

Never fear though as I have lived here for to long not to have a back up system and even though I am confined to one room, that mobile swamp cooler I bought last year is pumping nice cool air through my family room until they come to fix the duct work in the attic.

It appears that our illustrious and totally overpaid city manager is again back peddling after Craig Jackson canceled his long term deal with the city.

The Wizard of Oz (city manager Jan Dolan) says that he must have misunderstood what was said.

Yeah, sure he did Jan, just like the residents of this city must have also misunderstood the many other things you have said over the years.

As the Tribune reported on Friday, the Wizard of Oz is now claiming there is a way to make this work for both parties and I have to ask if there is a way now, what the hell happened to it in the past talks and why has one of Scottsdale biggest attractions been so stalled for so many years?

If I am not mistaken, which I usually am not, Craig Jackson offered to build his own building at one time on city land, saving the taxpayers the cost of having to pay for it and begs the question of why this was such a bad deal that the Wizard of Oz did not move forward with it? Me thinks EGO on the part of one over rated "Alpha personality" city manager.

Another question is, why is our council, you know, the ones who sing "follow the yellow brick road" as they trail behind the Wizard of Oz, not figured out yet that the Wizard is a fraud and is going to ruin this city?

Personally I do not blame Craig for quoting the same words some of us have used in the face of the Wizard and her crew.

"I am tired of fighting. I am not negotiating. I am moving down the road"

I hear ya Craig, but some of us have to stay and try to save Oz from the evil witch (Mayor Manross) and the Wizard (Jan Dolan), sorry to see you go and we hope the FBR Open is not next!

~Our beloved Tony must have drank from the wrong punch bowl

The Land of Oz seems to have lost one of our nights in armor during the budget session and I hate to do it to you Sir Tony but you have won the flying monkeys of Oz award this week.

What in the world was Tony thinking by voting to approve a 6% across the board pay raise for city employees and merit increases and other little special gifts that wound up to be almost 11% in raises? I am still waiting for the true cost numbers from the Wizards financial affairs minister Mr. Clifford.

I think Sir Tony must have drank the Manross cool aide by mistake as if he pulls another stunt like that again I am going to cream him.

Now I do not think that the employees of the city should not get a raise, but the raise he just voted to give them out paces the private sector, and as a government employee myself, I can clearly say that they just gave the city employees a raise that amounts to what I have gotten in a total of about 7 years.

I cannot understand how it is that Sir Tony never caught on to the fact he just helped calm, maybe, the distrust and resentment that was mounting against the Wizard and stifled an outright revolt.

Yeah, pay me more money and I will put up with the Wizard echoed through the halls of the city after Sir Tony’s first blunder of his term.

Don’t do it again Tony!

~Help save our fellow Ozites!

If you read the Tribune on Friday you would have noted that the Wizard of Oz and her followers are going to allow the residents of Orchidtree Apartments to be evicted because of an Air Conditioning problem and that the real reason for the evictions is because the city is allowing the owner to demolish this complex to build what else? Another batch of freaking condos!

Folks, developers tried this not that long ago with the Wagon Wheel trailer park and there are rules and laws that these people must abide by when evictions are taking place because of developer greed!

Please! If you have a shred of compassion for our fellow Ozites you will e-mail the Land of Oz and ask them to apply the laws and help these fellow residents from their abusive situation! All of the e-mail addresses you need are posted at the bottom of this page under contacts.

Please send your sentiments of disdain to our Wizard also at

Jdolan@scottsdaleaz.gov

You cannot evict tenants because the landlord does not want to spend the money to fix the A/C and there are laws that require such actions be compensated to the tenants in the means of helping them find new housing and also paying the cost for the move.

Let’s at least stick it to the developers this time around and get a few licks in for our fellow Ozites as we must all stand together during this reign of the evil Wizard!

Oh, by the way, a majority of the council has already approved the latest request as noted in the paper, pretty sad to hear that one huh.

Living in the Land of Oz shows you what kind of rat bastards we have elected as our leaders huh?

Personally , as a resident of Oz since 1964, I would prefer to take that majority out to the park and tar and feather them, this majority is what is destroying our yellow brick road and none of them should be re-elected.

Disappointment has set in again and I bid you farewell until next week.

Michael Merrill
Scottsdale
F8713@aol.com

Below are ten questions you won’t hear at the presidential debates. At the end of the questions, you’ll find my conjecture of how the current candidates would answer the questions if they were asked the questions.

1. Which of the following comes closest to your fundamental political philosophy?

2. What is the primary role of the government?

3. Who owns the fruits of one’s labor?

4. What is a fair tax system?

5. Who is responsible for helping people who can’t help themselves?

6. Should the government have control over information disseminated to adults via newspapers, television and the Internet?

7. A related question: Should the government have control over information disseminated to children in K-12 schools?

8. Should the government abide by the same accounting rules it sets for the private sector?

9. A related question: Is it unethical and fraudulent for the government to lie about the existence of the Social Security Trust Fund and to not include the unfunded liabilities for Social Security and Medicare in the reported federal deficit?

10. Should the government favor one race over another, one business over another, or one special interest over another by means of set-asides, subsidies, handouts, grants, or tax breaks?

Only one candidate could truthfully answer "A" to all ten questions: Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX). The rest of the candidates are statists and collectivists.

An author and columnist, Mr. Cantoni can be reached at ccan2@aol.com.

(Return to Top)

(Return to Top)

~ Information You Can Use

Just click on the logos below to go to these websites.

Send our Brave Troops "Something from Home", Click on  Links below.

Gathering of  Eagles Website was launched 2/9/07. Click on the Logo above for more information on how they are protecting America's Memorials.

 ~ Prop 13 Arizona

(Return to Top)

~ 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

(Return to Top)

~ 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.

(Return to Top)

 

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

(Return to Top)

 ~Are Red-Light Cameras Fair to Drivers?

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

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

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

(Return to Top)

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.