Volume
'07-25
Published
Late Saturdays
June 23, 2007
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Table of Contents Pick the Article in this Table of Contents that you wish to read, then Just Click on the title, there is no need to scroll the site to find what interests you. ~ Weekly Editorial -- Staff ~ COGS Corner ~ Living in the Land of Oz by Mike Merrill ~ Shout and Spout, Light Rail??? MAG??? Orchid Tree?? ~ Thought for the Week -- Multiple ~ Quote of the Week -- Multiple ~ Food for Thought - Take It or Leave It ~Other Stuff of Interest ~ Information You Can Use
~ Look up Prior Editions? Click a on date to open. |
~… and Silly You Thought Light Rail was Dead?
As reported in the Arizona Republic on Friday, Scottsdale City Manager Jan Dolan has been appointed Chair of MAG (Maricopa Association of Governments). Manross has seen to it that the city of Scottsdale has a representative on MAG should Manross lose the next election.
"MAG is responsible for making many big decisions on how best to spend federal, state and local funds," said Dolan, who served as vice chair of the management committee last year and has held several other MAG positions. God know she has spent our Scottsdale tax dollars faster then it can be generated!
The Management Committee analyzes information about major challenges facing the region before making recommendations to the MAG's Regional Council, its main governing body. MAG, with representatives of more than 20 city, town and tribal governments, serves as a clearinghouse of information on regional issues such as air pollution, water, transportation, the environment and services to the homeless and other vulnerable populations.
Dolan's term lasts for one year, although chairs often serve for two years in a row, said Kelly Taft, a MAG spokesman.
You don't suppose that because Dolan has molded the city into what she personally wants, she just might take a shot at running for mayor in a few years do you?
If you can’t see the foxes in the hen house by now, you are either blind or have no idea what the mayor, city attorney, and city manager have been secretly cooking up since Dolan came on the scene.
The city of Scottsdale has poured a lot of money into MAG thanks to Manross and her secret plans for her legacy. She really couldn’t care less about what the citizen’s want, but only sees what she selfishly wants for herself and her monstrous and still growing mega-ego.
The following appeared in USA Today® and points out just where the mayor and her cronies are trying to secretly steer the city without voter approval. It’s also sad to note that this information never appeared in any Scottsdale newspaper to our knowledge.
• Scottsdale, Ariz.,
a "boomburb" outside Phoenix that is known for its golf resorts and art galleries. It had an enclosed mall in its 1-square-mile downtown and set out to revitalize it by creating a more urban atmosphere. The city lifted zoning restrictions to allow residential units above stores and art galleries. The downtown section of the Arizona Canal, which runs through Maricopa County, is a few minutes away from shopping. It has been spiffed up with bike trails, paths and an equestrian trail."We set out to make the community more walkable and attractive without having rail," says Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross. "Whether light rail will play a part, we don't have an answer. … That still could happen."
In less than two years, the first 20-mile segment of a light-rail system will run from downtown Phoenix to Tempe, another city on the outskirts.
Is there any doubt in your mind what the mayor and the other members of her "Terrible Trio" are up to after reading the above?
~ Mayor & Friends Slip it to Us Again
The Mayor slipped a last minute item into the agenda as an “Executive Session” (that means secret) item which apparently had to do with an employee ethics claim issue and apparently the mayor, the city manager, and the city attorney determined that the city council should address the issue instead of strictly following the procedures as outlined in AR-320.
If in fact the meeting was about an ethics charge of any sort, it was not done according to the procedures specifically spelled out according to AR-320. Absolutely nowhere in AR-320 does the city council get involved in such an issue. To do so makes any ethics issue a purely political football which is exactly what the new Ethics Code set out to eliminate.
Our contention is that the mayor, city manager, and city attorney are doing everything in their power to circumvent and dilute the new Ethics Code eventually making it moot and impotent because, as it is written, it really cramps their style and ability to do to the city as they wish which the citizens abhor.
None of the three ever wanted the Ethics Code in the beginning and are making sure it doesn’t interfere by simply not paying any attention to it, or worse, by setting new precedents every time an ethics issue comes up which weakens it.
According to AR-320:
Disclosure Procedure
Any employee who is or may be called upon to participate in a decision-making process, in which the employee’s participation would constitute a conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest, or impropriety, must immediately notify his or her supervisor. If a conflict of interest exists, the law requires that the affected employee remove himself or herself from the decision-making process and not participate in the decision, or attempt to influence it in any way. The City Attorney’s Office should be called upon, as necessary, to assist in determining whether the specific facts constitute a conflict of interest.
Complaint Procedure
An employee or contract worker who has experienced, observed or has knowledge of a violation of this Administrative Regulation must report it to the Human Resources General Manager, or designee. If the violation is by any member of Human Resources department it should be reported to the office of the City Attorney. Information relating to the violation must be formally reported in writing on an Ethics Complaint Form that is available on the City’s intranet site (Forms/Human Resources), and at Human Resources and the City Attorney’s Office. Following investigation of a formal complaint, corrective action or discipline, as appropriate, will be taken. An employee receiving discipline for a violation of this AR will be afforded such rights of appeal as are provided by the City Code, which may include an appeal to the City of Scottsdale Personnel Board. Information acquired in the course of an ethics investigation will be accorded the highest degree of confidentiality permitted by the circumstances and by law.
Retaliation against any person who reports and/or participates in the investigation of a violation of this Administrative Regulation is prohibited. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, unlawful discrimination, refusing to recommend an employee for an opportunity for which he or she qualifies, spreading rumors about the employee, encouraging hostility from co-workers, or any other negative, tangible employment action done intentionally. An employee engaging in retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
False or misleading complaints
If after reviewing the ethics complaint and investigation it is determined that the complaint has been filed in bad faith, or the purpose of harassment, or that false or malicious information has intentionally been provided, the complaining party will be subject to disciplinary action. A person who engages in such conduct may also be subject to civil liability for, among other possible causes of action, defamation. An employee or contract worker who seeks to take civil action regarding any such complaint shall do so at his or her expense.
If you can find the words where the “City Council” is included in anything in reference to these instructions and procedures anywhere in those instructions, please point them out to us because we feel that the mayor and council acted totally inappropriately in this matter and should be held accountable for their gross error in judgment. (what's new???)
Again, we have the “Terrible Trio” doing as they wish with little or no regard for the laws, rules, and ordinances that were put in force by the people to eliminate these types of problems.
~ More Detrimental Dolan Power Grabs
Following is a letter as forwarded to us by both the City Clerks office and Judy Register which was sent to employees from Judy Register concerning City Manager Jan Dolan's disapproval and supposed "clarification" of the way the press portrayed the 21% raise for Raun Keagy.
Notice that they mention the title change, but do you see any procedural or job delineations or additions mentioned anywhere?
No, and you won't!!
...in Ms. Registers own words:
It was an email that I sent to staff following Jan's Leadership Team meeting on June 19. It follows:
Subject: L-Team meeting highlights 6/19
The City Manager asked that the following information be shared with staff due to the comments and rumors she has been made aware of:
The promotion of Raun Keagy to the new position of Assistant General Manager was based on Raun's contributions to the organization and the manner in which he has proven himself with the growth of the code enforcement unit. The audit of the administrative hearing process was not an indictment of Raun or the work he has done, but was constructive criticism - as are all internal audits. The City Manager feels that the press has blown the promotion out of proportion and misrepresented it. She feels that Raun is highly qualified and the attack by the press was unfair. Additionally, similar positions will be created in Financial Services, Transportation and Planning as a part of the succssion planning efforts that the City Manager is putting into place.
In the '90's it was the goal of management to flatten the organization to encourage communication. Unfortunately that has left spots where there is no one being groomed for advancement. The Police and Fire departments are able to accommodate this with their ranks of sworn officers and firefighters.
There is no succession plan for the Assistant City Managers (specifically Ed) at this time. The City Manager is weighing her alternatives and has made no final decision on what direction she will take now with Ed retiring and both Roger and Neal eligible for retirement.
As to the car allowance - both Raun and Malcolm will be expected to use their personal vehicles at all times when going into neighborhoods. This is not a part of their compensation. If they find they are not using their personal vehicles, the car allowance will be discontinued.
Ed joined Jan in these remarks. Ed told the group that he began several months ago to look at grooming staff to take over the General Manager positions in the departments that report to him. He even took time when he attended the APA conference to look at people who he might recruit to come to Scottsdale. He was the one who made the recommendation for Raun's promotion to the new position.
Judy Register
General Manager
City of Scottsdale, Neighborhood Resources
480-312-2454
If, in fact this was the case, why wasn't Judy Register relieved of her position allowing Keagy to assume said position instead of adding still another expensive position, including increased benefits, to the City Organizational Chart?
If, as stated, the plan in the 90's was to encourage communication, what happened? Dolan happened, that's what happened and now lack of communication, secrecy, and spying on employees is the word of the day. Communication between department and employees went out the window when Dolan flew in.
As we see it, Jan Dolan wants the absolute power of the city manager and city treasurer also vested in the other departments so she will not fill those other positions as they are vacated, but instead, give all the orders herself being chief cook and bottle washer all wrapped into one to those who will cower under her Gestapo style of management.
Jan Dolan has ZERO Planning, Legal, Financial, Zoning, Human Resources, or any other degrees or certificates of competency that we can find on those critical issues, yet she controls all of them with an iron fist costing the taxpayers of Scottsdale millions upon millions of tax dollars.
You don't suppose Frank Gray will now take over still more departments being that he jumps to her every whim and whimper as Keagy does do you?
~ Council Majority are Conniving Wimps!!
The way we see it, the Mayor and Council Majority jump to the tune of the City Manager and claim publicly that there is nothing they can do about it.
EXCUSE US!!!
The council has obviously, and on purpose, forgotten that the City Manager is supposed to jump to the tune of the people and the Council, not the opposite. The City Manager SERVES AT THE PLEASURE of the City Council and the voters according to the Scottsdale City Charter which is never followed by Robberson, Dolan, Manross, or this Council majority anyway.
OMG!! Does this mean they can fire her or any appointed Charter Officer at will?
They most certainly can but the Council Majority wimps won't do it because of something political and very detrimental which the "Terrible Trio" has apparently hanging over their heads. That means to us that they are happy with the way she usurps power from the voters and the staff managers so that she, Manross, and the legal but incompetent mouth piece City Attorney (the Terrible Trio) can do the bidding for the developers, builders and power brokers who still control this city. These wimps are crying all the way to the bank folks!
It also means that they agree with the way the City Charter, laws, ordinances, and regulations of the city are twisted, bent, broken, and manipulated to suit what ever their political bedfellows, developers, zoning attorneys, and builders want. (Charter Officer City Attorney legal residence for instance)
It also means that even though the voters and residents are against something, the council majority will allow Dolan to continue her "project by project" planning fiascos.
If anyone thinks for one New York second that Chaparral Road will stay as it is, they better take off their rose colored glasses. Any council can overturn that weak statement made by this council any time they decide to go forward which may come after the reportedly very slanted and pro light rail Transportation Report becomes public later this year.
It also means they can show favoritism by giving condemned parcels to certain people who apparently haven't followed the rules while blackballing others who have followed the city's rules to the letter.
It means they can put a stupid and unsightly water booster pumping plant where the city plan said private retail was to go instead of on the many other sites which would have been much less expensive and obtrusive as well as much more practical.
Gee!! This Pumping Booster Station could have even been paid for and installed on the land where the condos that are going to use it stand; amazing thought don't you think?
We have documentation on this particular subject that, when fully revealed to the public, is going to greatly embarrass some very high level city people, both currently in power and some now out of power who received condemned parcels under what we determine to be other than above board and in broad daylight circumstances.
That's for another week.............
~Letters to the Editor ~
letters@scottsdaleactivist.com
~ Thanks for All You Do
Thanks for all you do for the city of Scottsdale. We know it seems to be a thankless job but without your publication, no one would ever know what the snakes-in-the-grass politicians are up to with the properties near our winter home.
Keep up the great work.
John Stott
25 year Winter visitor
Bellingham WA
~ A Gutting of the North Foothills Overlay
I am confused, not to say a bit TICKED OFF at the silence of the lambs as it relates to the Coalition of Greater Scottsdale that took some of us a good bit of time to develop.
I had worked for over a year to mend the ties of the Northern powerhouse, the Coalition of Pinnacle Peak, and Citizens for Responsible Redevelopment and I think in the mix behind my back there was also the influence of the Scottsdale Coalition all working to unite the city voices on issues that had to do with how we develop, redevelop, and protect the assets of the city from a city government gone loco.
That’s when I found it shocking to hear from a planning commissioner that there was a gutting or the North foothills overlay by the council in response to an e-mail in which I said that the commissioners were out of touch with the residents.
Since our group has been one of the most active groups in the South over the years I had to apologize to my friend and tell him that I have my hands full with what the city is trying to slip shot through for the south and reminded him of his and his colleagues votes that are making things harder, I had to stop and think about why no-one in COGS was informed of this issue of the Northern Overlay action.
I also thought that since we were mending fences with the North, why it is I had never heard from the Coalition of Pinnacle Peak about this issue?
While the formation of the present COGS board was being discussed there was a problem with in me to be allowed to accept a position on this board knowing that I am not the nicest person to have to deal with, but I already have obligations to our groups members and downtown merchants that we have formed bonds with.
In reflection I think this may have been a bad move on my part not to accept such a role in the group.
Our group formed a network that keeps its eyes on what the city is doing and planning and we stay in contact as issues arise in Downtown and the South. We continually scan the proposed projects brought forth for the area and discuss the issues in the wonderful world of E-mail and we have our contacts that give us the feed on what is going on at city hall.
There are many issues coming up in which all sections of the city are going to have problems with the present decisions of the city and they reach into the billons of dollars that the taxpayers are going to have to pay for and problems range from development screw ups in the South and Downtown to the apparent destruction of the North’s rural character and I get tired of reminding everyone that we are all one city with different characters and that we need to support each other on issues that effect where you live.
The need for communication on issues is great and the networking has to include everyone and all their contacts or the present form of government in this city will continue to destroy this city one section at a time.
With all of the groups involved with COGS there was no reason to miss the issue that a planning commissioner brought up to me and if COGS cannot utilize its capabilities to make that happen than maybe we should start looking at reforming the network before it is to late.
Michael Merrill
Chairman, Citizens for Responsible Redevelopment
Member of COGS
Resident of Scottsdale since 1964
Mike,
I very much appreciate you relaying this information. Unfortunately, it appears we let one slip by us.
Item 7 on Consent Agenda was for Arroyo Bonita Final Plat. The only clue in the Agenda item description is the phrase “amended development standards.”
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/council/Agendas/2007/Jun/061907/Item07.pdf
I was so focused on the Condos@Hayden debate Tuesday night, I didn’t see it.
It is unfortunate that your source (a planning commissioner?) didn’t bring this to our attention earlier, and that he didn’t vote against it when he had the chance (the PC vote was 6-0 according to the council packet).
The Council packet also noted opposition from adjoining property owners. It isn’t clear to me from the packet what the objections are (a typical shortcoming of staff in preparing these packets). However, this also points out another shortcoming of our COGS organization due to our youth: Inadequate outreach to the citizens so that they know they can come to us for assistance when their concerns fall on deaf ears at City Hall.
I believe the issues of contention probably stem from amending the development standards for smaller lot sizes…overall about 25%. The applicant has offered in exchange an increase in natural open space of about 37%. However, it would appear that this is of no cost to the applicant because most of the open space is in the wash and therefore cannot be developed anyway.
I agree that this is something that we should have caught. Unfortunately, it was timed to coincide with the natural lull in political interest that comes with the summer temperatures. Also, with COGS still in its infancy, we don’t have someone dedicated to keeping an eye on this sort of thing. As we are all well aware, the developers, their consultants, and their attorneys get paid big bucks to advance these projects through the system with the assistance of staff. It does nothing but COST the activists to fight them. Costs include time away from family, work, recreation, and sleep.
I have asked other members of our group more familiar with the ESLO to investigate. This will DEFINITELY be an item for discussion within the group.
I’m not an expert on the ESLO. However, at the very least I will say there’s not much point in having the ESLO if we can amend it for no good reason. Kind of like all the other development standards we disregard in the City.
John
Washington
480.229.1831
john@ReactionResearch.com
Editors Note: We're not too sure that even the council knew what was going on here. Under orders from Dolan, staff has a way of slipping things through with little or no information unless the synopsis is questioned by the members of the council. In our opinion, this again is the way Dolan and the "Terrible Trio" do business to keep the developers/lawyers/builders happy while screwing the taxpayer.
Thank you for your wonderful Fathers Day edition. There are far too many commercials portraying fathers a dupes and dopes (especially the Toyota commercials). Gee, at least these kids do have fathers but do they have to act so stupid?
You Fathers Day edition will hopefully change some who think that way.
sincerely,
E. Slocomb
Scottsdale by winter
Your guest editorial by Michelle Aubert was right on the money.
Why isn't the Council seeing through all of this nonsense. Oh I forgot. They ARE the problem.
Good for Ed Gawf. He got out before the Dolan's crumbling walls came down on him... or did he?
A former City Employee
Scottsdale
~ COGS Corner
~ Sensing a Change in Direction
As the calendar turns and the temps rise, many of us are taking vacations or migrating to cooler climes.
Meanwhile back in our beloved Scottsdale, developers, attorneys, consultants, are huddled over site plans in their air-conditioned board rooms trying to figure out how to make ridiculous amounts of money instead of just making a lot of money. They are working feverishly to put their plans in motion because they sense a serious change of direction in the wind.
A wave of high density projects were approved, starting a couple of years ago. As the first of are completed, we are starting to see how they erode the visual appeal of our fair City. In another year or so as those high density projects begin to be occupied, we will see how they further degrade our traffic, infrastructure, and existing neighborhoods.
We need to ask ourselves: What makes Scottsdale special? I’m not talking about the obvious, easy answers like the pleasant climate (most of the year), the great restaurants, the fabulous library, nightlife, and proximity to the unspoiled desert. There are other places that can claim the same features. So, what separates us from those other places?
One of the most fundamental characteristics unique to Scottsdale is our low density, in conjunction with all those other aspects. What other major city has that combination of urban benefits in a low density suburban and/or rural setting?
So, even as you vacation in San Diego, Payson, Prescott, Flagstaff, or if you continue to toil in the heat of the Valley taking refuge when you can in your air conditioned cars, homes or offices, please continue to contemplate what makes us great.
The Coalition of Greater Scottsdale will continue to refine that message and help you communicate it to our government representatives and civil servants, so that we can protect our greatest asset.
It isn’t too early to start thinking about our elections next fall (2008). On the contrary, this will be the most important election ever in regards to the future character of our community. It will be a few months yet before the candidates start coming forward and declaring themselves. However, the debate is being framed right now about whether we want Scottsdale to remain Scottsdale, or if we are content to be East Phoenix or North Tempe.
Three City Council seats will be contested in 2008, as will be the Mayor’s seat. To fill those seats we need people who represent US and our neighbors. Examine the voting records of the incumbent candidates and pay attention to how they respond to your concerns. "Protecting neighborhoods" shouldn’t just be a campaign promise.
John Washington
480.229.1831
john@ReactionResearch.com
~ Living in the Land of Oz
by Michael Merrill
Give me a second here while we ask for a response from the Editor of the Activist.
Dear Mr. Editor, when I submit my column to you every week I post the title of the column as "Living in the Land of Oz" and you post it under "Items from the Land of Oz" and I have to say I am afraid you may get sucked up the funnel cloud of Oz and comeback as the Scottsdale Republic Editors if this continues.
I call it "living" because I want all of those 40,000 plus hits you get from the web to remind your readers that they are also "living" in the same nightmare. Calling it "items" really does not have the same impact to the readers to remind them they are also living in Oz and paying for the Yellow Brick Road that the million dollar transportation plan has masked from view to the activist and residents of the Oz.
It reminds me of that map my friend Harry Potter has where you have to say a spell to get it to appear.
Likely response from the Editor would be "Sorry Mr. Merrill but after reading your articles before posting I really refuse to subject the readers to understanding they also live here, hell it is bad enough you have to remind me every week."
Editors Note: Merrill’s right, but maybe the election of ’08 will change things for the better, it can’t get much worse…… or can it?
~Round-About found in Public Outreach
Here in the Land of Oz it is easily noted that even the yellow brick road seems to go in circles at times.
Thursday I had the unfortunate pleasure of having to be at the Palace (the Kiva) to explain yet again the issue of the 87th Street and McDowell "entry island" issue to the Oz transportation commissioners.
Ozite readers of past posts will remember the pictures and the count of how many times it had been hit in one month.
It was also hit yet again the day of the meeting of the transportation gurus.
The original letters that were posted here by the Editor showed clearly in the first letter that we requested a public meeting of the community at the senior center to discuss the removal of the island, where the city could present the issue and we would present the problems that some residents may not have known about and let the Ozites get a clear understanding on the issue.
The city instead (transportation department of Oz) decided that they would conduct their own public outreach by getting neighborhood services of Oz to have a guy walk around the area and knock on doors to get a response. The problem came about with an email from a resident who said the city never told her of the problems with the island and that all she was asked was if she liked the island and wanted it to stay.
Since the commissioners already had that e-mail, no-one could deny the issue of the Wizard and her General trying to pull another fast one.
I pointed out that the commission of Oz also directed the staff to get back with the community and discuss this with the residents before this item came before them again. I informed the commissioners that the staff had made no contact with us in those 30 days and it seemed to roll off of their shoulders.
Now here is where the round about appeared from the Palace floor and had the commission of Oz running around in circles with what to do, all the while looking deep into the yellow brick road that lined the round about chanting, follow the yellow brick road, follow the yellow brick road, follow, follow, follow.
One of the Wizards (Jan Dolan) Generals of the flying monkey brigade (Mary O’Conner) interjected that she would like to hold a community meeting on the issue of a redesign of the island as the Government of Oz was obligated to talk to them about it instead of just changing the design of the Island.
Now this is coming from the same flying monkeys of the Generals fleet who did not want to talk to us when the commission directed them to do so, the same group of winged losers who did not want to have a community meeting on the subject when we asked for one from the beginning, and the same group of the wizards troops who brought in another department that is notorious for providing an outcome based on misinformation and underhanded tactics.
Hey, so what can you do when you cannot debate the comments of the government of Oz during one of these meetings in the Palace of the Wicked Witch (Mary Manross) as the Generals and Monkeys get all the air time to cover their tracks and a commission that sits there and takes it in like yellow brick road beers?
Yep, I walked onto the yellow brick round about and walked around it until I reached where?
Right back where we started from, that’s where!
Wait, we are not done yet as we have decided to get back with residents and ask them not to go to the meeting or a Strike of Oz if you prefer and we will go to the leaders (supposed) of Oz and ask them for round about relief.
Pray for us!
You got it if it you guessed the issue of the "NEXT" Bar conditional use permit was back on the floor of the palace (Kiva) and being fast tracked ILLEGALLY.
For those of you who joined in on the fight with 4 out of the 5 downtown merchants associations in expressing to the Council of Oz to deny the permit for another series 12 liquor license to flip to a series 6 full blown bar it appears the Wizards and her Generals are back for round 2.
"NEXT" has resubmitted the application that was denied less than a year ago and the flying monkeys of the Wizards (Jan Dolan) staff along with the Wicked Witch (Mary Manross) who collects campaign funds from the downtown bars have decided that the application that is not supposed to be allowed to return for a minimum of a year, can go before the city again.
Here is the kicker to the issue and how things work in the Land of Oz.
Once the owner of "Next" was denied his Conditional Use Permit by the council of Oz, he decided to sue the city for not allowing it and if you can hear the same bells that rang during the council decision regarding SonRise, than your hearing is working all to well.
The Wizard and her General of Law (Deborah Robberson) have decided to bring this back before the Council of Oz under the same exact application number and packet information that was denied less than a year ago and the only reason this could be happening is because there is a very quiet settlement going on behind the backs of neighbors and I am sure as I live in Oz that the council has already been instructed to say nothing and pass the permit.
If the permit is passed the owner of "NEXT" will drop his suit against the city and this is the same tactics and style used to ignore the residents of the Northern section of Oz in their fight against SonRise.
Lets take a quick review of why residents and merchants did not want the establishment to exist in that location with a BAR license and still do not want it.
Over $6,000.00 worth of damage to local merchant
property and more in tax payer money to repair damage from the
patrons of "NEXT" under their "restaurant license" annually. Sound
like a fun place to eat with the family huh?
The sidewalk and walls have been cited by Code
Enforcement for the filth and gum all over the place but have never
been sufficiently cleaned up.
The Scottsdale police officer who was served
enough liquor for him to drive to his precinct parking lot, puke his
guts out and then pass out in his vehicle, later to be found by
fellow officers who arrested him.
An actual shoot-out that left bullet holes in
buildings and multiple parked cars damaged when the 2 groups of
shooters took to their cars and the street. In turn this took the
time of 11 officers and higher ranking police to respond to for
hours which left the communities short of officers for residents of
Oz issues and protection.
A young lady being slipped a date rape drug and
removed from the establishment and sexually assaulted, resulting in
the arrest warrants of two individuals.
Fights above average for most peoples liking as reported in the police report when he applied for the application, even though the police say this is an acceptable threshold of violence for a liquor establishment in Downtown.
Now in the Land of Oz you do not have to be an attorney to understand a thing called common sense and how it can be applied in law.
Here we have an applicant that sued Scottsdale for denying his bar license and has applied for his license again under all the old packet information including the original permit number dating back to 2004 and in less than one year from his denial when we must have had a real council of Oz with power.
He is not made to go back through the entire process even though his permit was denied the first time and he is re-applying in less than one year. Note to Ozites, the planning commission has the power to deny the application by Oz Law if brought forward in less than one year and I am taking bets that it passes 7-0; any takers?
His required legal posting does not follow the required Oz codes and is hidden under an overhang and attached to the wall instead of the past posting of in the public right of way with a big red sign on two pole so merchants are now not aware of the action. Oz laws require the sign be posted that the words Zoning
The comments in the Tribune of Oz that stated this from Robin Meinhart an Oz government spokesperson should tell you what is going on, "the city’s lawyers (28 of them) have advised that a defeated motion to approve isn’t the same as the council actually voting to deny."
Wrapping up this sorry state of affairs is the common sense of deduction from this Ozite.
The Wizard, the Wicked Witch, and the General of Oz Law, have no fear of placing this back before the council of Oz, under all of the exact same circumstances from the denial of the use permit while being in the middle of a lawsuit for the denial, and hidden from most peoples views so the council of Oz can approve it and the person suing the city will then drop all charges, and life resumes for those folks and the crap continues for the rest of Ozite merchants and residents.
Remember this Ozites, the papers reported that the downtown area of Scottsdale is the place you are more likely to be assaulted out of all of the downtown areas in the metro area and that should make you all feel safe to know we are going to cow down like we did on SonRise.
The Conditional Use Permit for Bars that was adopted by the council of Oz will mean nothing after this action unless the council denies it yet again. It is the same thing they did when they backed down from SonRise which will have ramifications far and wide in the future when it comes to protecting what little we have left in the rural areas.
So the odds that the Planning commissioners will deny the application on the one year rule and the odds that the council will deny it so they can try to save a process that will now have no meaning and every bar owner will know it, is running at 100 to 1 and we are taking all bets.
The worst thing about both SonRise and this much smaller issue is what we have asked the council to do and stand for in this city in regards to codes, laws, and development.
Plans were designed and policies adopted, processes were voted on and adopted to the law books of Oz, and in return we have elected spineless wimps to stand for the residents and what the Land of Oz is. We placed them against the evil empire of the Wicked Witch, the Wizard, and all of her high paid Generals and flying monkeys.
The result is the usual vote of the wimpy and the further unraveling of the people of Oz’s time and sweat, setting all of these plans and rules in place and to see it pissed away because some have no spine to stand up.
Michael Merrill
F8713@aol.com
"Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence."
--- Justice Joseph Story
“Posterity – you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.”
--- John Quincy Adams
"Beware legislative behemoths. Beware ‘comprehensive immigration reform.’ Any bill that is 380 pages long is bound to have nooks and crannies reflecting private deals, quiet paybacks and ad hoc arrangements that you often don’t learn about until it’s too late."
( Gee, Sounds like Scottsdale Government)—Charles Krauthammer
"How many of the 12-20 million illegal aliens will decide it’s better to keep the status quo than go through the hassles of getting a Z Visa? It will likely be millions."
—Bobby Eberle
"[P]references vividly demonstrate liberalism’s core conviction that government’s duty is not to allow social change but to drive change in the direction the government chooses. Conservatism argues that the essence of constitutional government involves constraining the state in order to allow society ample scope to spontaneously take unplanned paths."
—George Will
"It’s like the American people are waiting for [the GOP]. They’re waiting for us to remember why we’re doing what we’re doing, about the ideas that inspired us, to remember who the leaders were that inspired us."
—Fred Thompson
~Shout and Spout ~
~There is much more at stake than the value of the land at the Hualapai Water Plant plus the initial ten year lease. Upon the expiration of the lease, the City has no alternative, but to seek an extension of the lease. After all, it has built part of its water system on land it doesn't own. Ultimately, the City has to condemn the land; it can't be in a position to pay a million dollars (increased by an inflator) in perpetuity. However, the City is at risk, right now, for tens of millions of dollars as a result of how it totally mishandled this matter. More than enough reason here to fire both the City Manager and City Attorney. I don't know what the Mayor thought she was doing; and, by refusing to let herself be deposed, we'll never know--unless a Judge intervenes and orders her to talk. Such is the culture of secrecy in the Kiva perpetrated upon the citizens of Scottsdale by those currently in power including the council majority.
~ We're now hearing that the Foothills Overlay has been gutted by the city council. When was this done and under whose authority? Where was it on the council agenda? Where was COPP and COGS? This city government is getting crookeder by the week.
~ Leon Spiro is absolutely correct on his contention that the GLO easements should be protected and not given away. The citizens of Scottsdale, not the dumb politicians will have to pay a heavy price for what they have done, but then, they don't care one tinkers damn because they'll have absconded with their loot.
~ Ed Gawf's letter of resignation was a joke at best. He had to write it that way that so Dolan wouldn't take away everything he ever earned here in Scottsdale. She knows that he knows she is totally wrong in what she's doing to Scottsdale and don't be surprised if he gets involved somehow in fixing the multitude of problems Dolan has created.
~ I was just evicted from OrchidTree. Where is someone like Herb Drinkwater when we really need them? This band of thieves we call a city government, the snake oil sales people who lied to us about the new condo project, and the developers who are greedy bastards at best, are turning this city into a hell hole run by incompetent fools who care nothing about the citizens or the history of the city, just the damned dollars they can skin us out of.
~ OMG!!! Dolan is now the Chair of MAG according to the Repugnant. More of our tax dollars out the window and one more of her ugly tentacles around the control of the city money tree.
~ Well, they finally cleaned up those monstrous weeds by the McDonald/Hayden water plant. How was it ever allowed to get that far out of hand? Who was watching the store? it sure as heck wasn't the guy who just got the huge raise in the code department was it? He was probably too busy trying to explain why he got such a huge raise without kissing somebody's something.
~ Re Larry Manross in drag. He might look better in drag than he does currently, but at least he doesn't dye his hair coal black.
~ The new dog park at Chaparral is absolutely beautiful but that God awful color on that building with all the rusty stuff is terrible. In the east we try to cover up rust with pleasant colors of paint to match the surrounding areas. Who was the idiot who decided rusty pipes and that dirty brown color matched anything other than what you would pick up after you dog does his "daily duty" in the grass?
~ Manross and Company remind me of the three stooges, except the three stooges could at least get things right and were very kind to their neighbors.
~ Thank you for the wonderful salute to fathers on Fathers Day. Fathers are so maligned anymore that it's a real shame. Thanks to the women "I'll never marry" libbers who have since married or died, society will never be the same or as kind as it once was.
~ I can lend you a D9 Cat bulldozer to level all of those stupid things that are now appearing like gopher mounds in your residential streets. It's hell getting a moving truck around them isn't it? Just drop a line to the Activist and I'll pick them up in a couple of weeks when I'm back in the state.
~ Be glad you can still buy gas for your car. I remember in the early 70's when the government got involved and we could only get gas on certain days and then only 5 gallons at a time. You can thank the environmentalists for all of this trouble. They are the ones who forced the government to stop refineries from being built. Just wait, using ethanol will raise the cost of cereal and many other things made of corn by 4 times.
~ Loved your Fathers Day stuff. If the women of organizations such as NOW had not pressed so hard, they would still have the respect of the men around them. Stop bitching when a man doesn't open the door or pull out a chair at the dinner table for you. Your "sisters" of NOW and the ERA movement took all of that away. This from a woman who still loves being a woman and appreciates a man who appreciates a real woman.
~ Mike Merrill is a prince! He tells it like it is and let's the crap fall where it belongs, looks like some of it landed on the mayors head based on her current hair color.
~ Between Dolan and Manross, most of the Drinkwater loyalist are gone from city positions, and now they are working on dumping those of Dolan's who have seen how she's messing over the city and have dared to go against both of them. God help us all as well as our city with these broom riders in charge.
~ With the election looming in the now near future, I pray we get some candidates who are not tied to the Chamber or other "crony" organizations who will continue on the path of destruction forced on us by Mother Mary and Dopey Dolan.
An Alaska resident sends this gentle polemic to start your week. The Amnesty Bill is on the verge of being discarded or distorted if you believe the media reports.
Dear Senator,
What, for God’s sake are you doing? This Amnesty Bill is an unmitigated disaster! You are making America into a transnational welfare state. You guys have been telling us that Social Security and Medicare and all the other welfare programs are out of control and going broke and now you have the audacity with the stroke of Bush’s pin to add 20 million illiterate illegal’s to the rolls, in 20 years 100 million, Senator who the hell is going to pay for this? I will tell you who, me and every other middle class hard working American, that’s who.
Men fought and died for this country on battlefields like Trenton and Lexington, Shiloh and Gettysburg, Verdun and The Shone, Anzio and Normandy and Iwo Jima, Inchon Reservoir, Ka Shan and Hue, and Iraq for our right to enjoy citizenship in this great country and you conspire with a drunken lush from Massachusetts to sell it for a paltry $5000? The same lush that in 1986 claimed that the then amnesty bill would stop the invasion, then promptly refused to enforce the law!
You hide in your smoke filled rooms, behind closed doors and get on bended knee to big business and La Raza, the word means "race" in Spanish, they are a racist hate filled group worse than the KKK, the ACLU and all the other hate America crowd while the average America waits for you to throw open the door, hand him the bill for all this with a post script that states "Gringo you don’t need no stinking Social Security or Medicare"!
This is our country, our money, our American culture and you have the unmitigated gall to spit in our face and give it to people who have broken the law, who bring drugs and gangs and crime and disease and poverty to our doorsteps who demand education for their children while selling drugs to ours and then brazenly fly our flag upside-down while demanding more!
Come on Senator, try and feed us those platitudes about "they're just hard working and want a job" and they "will be really good citizens." Is that so! The L.A.Times just reported, 85% of illegal’s are on some kind of welfare most using false paperwork, in case you have not noticed using a false identity to receive government largess is a felony! One third of prison inmates in California are illegal’s, 40% of all workers in L.A. County are working for cash and not paying taxes, this bill exempts them from paying back taxes, 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are illegal aliens, 2/3rds of all births in Los Angels County are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal, 300,000 illegal aliens in L.A. County are living in garages, 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal, over 70% of the United States annual population growth ( and over 90% of California, Florida, and New York) results from immigration. The cost of immigration to the American taxpayer in 1997 was, (after subtracting taxes immigrates pay) a net $70 Billion/year. 3300 hundred American women in 2005 were raped by one or more illegals.
Last June young Jordin Paulder, of Fulton County Georgia, 9 years old was killed by an axe that was driven into his face by a Honduran illegal, and you and your staff have the audacity to tell me that this bill is not about "Criminality"! "Well it will just take some time to integrate into American life", how is that going to happen Senator when they do not speak, read or write the English language and do not ever want too!
The L.A. Times reports that in L.A. County 5.1 million people speak English and 3.9 million speak Spanish. Last I looked the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of this country, the Federalist Papers and all those other historical documents that define our history and traditions are written in English.
May God have mercy on you for what you have attempted to do to this country because this American and many others like us will not! We only have contempt for you and consider your actions traitorous!
I keep running through my mind the woeful strains of the music from "Evita.
"I cry for you Argentina" only it is not Argentina but America!
Mike Sweeley
Eagle River, Alaska
By Craig J. Cantoni
June 19, 2007
Readers who don’t know me might think this is tongue in cheek. It is not.
Or they might think that it’s only meant to be provocative. Not true.
The purpose of this article is to make the case that the current government of the United States is a rogue government, especially Congress. The government has lied, cheated and stolen. Worse, it has broken the supreme law of the land for decades and continues to do so with impunity.
It’s time that we made a citizen’s arrest. No more impunity for Congress and the rest of the government. And no amnesty.
You’ll see the indictment in a moment, but, first, ask yourself who has hurt the nation more: an illegal alien who saw "Help Wanted" signs at the US border (figuratively speaking) and snuck across to work his ass off and make life better for his family; or a member of Congress who has lied, cheated, stolen, and broken the law to gain and maintain political power, thereby violating a sacred trust and making Americans cynical about their government.
Whatever your opinion of illegal immigration, do you need more than a nanosecond to answer? Do you have any doubt that granting amnesty to scofflaws in Congress is more harmful to the nation than granting amnesty to the illegal alien?
You might be wondering how our government has lied, cheated, stolen, and broken the law. The list could fill a book, so let me give some examples.
One example is the immigration law that was passed in 1986. Congress has essentially ignored its own law. The result is 12 million more illegal aliens since then.
Another example is the Social Security Trust Fund. It doesn’t exist. Congress takes your Social Security "contributions" and spends them instead of putting them in the Trust Fund. Enron executives were saints next to Congress.
The Supreme Court is a partner in the fraud. It ruled that Congress can take all of your Social Security contributions and not give a penny back to you. If you look behind the marble facade of the Supreme Court building and under the solemn robes of the justices, you’ll find ugly, naked crooks. Other than their vocabulary and clothes, they are no different than the criminal who drives the getaway car for bank robbers.
Possibly the worst lawbreaking of the last 20 years is the egregious violation of the Constitution by John McCain and Russ Feingold. Not only have the two miscreants absconded with the First Amendment and avoided arrest, but one of them even has the audacity to run for president.
Oh, sure, the Supreme Crooks have ruled that what McCain and Feingold did is legal. However, there was a small problem with the ruling: It was illegal in itself, just like court rulings during the Third Reich that countermanded the constitution of the Weimar Republic.
It’s true that advances in science and technology necessitate updated interpretations of the Constitution. For example, when the Framers wrote the Science and Arts clause of Article 1, Section 8, they couldn’t imagine that DVDs and the Internet would someday exist and require clarification of copyright and patent laws. But political speech is still political speech, whatever medium is used by the speaker. Whether political speech is communicated by a quill pen or television, and whether it is communicated 60 days or 365 days before an election, the government does not have the constitutional authority to limit it. Any justice who says otherwise is in cahoots with robbers of liberty in the legislative branch.
Speaking of robbery, the biggest heist of all is the unlawful redistribution of income that the legislative, executive and judicial branches have aided and abetted for over a half century. Under the guise of social justice and fairness, the government takes money from citizens, launders it, and redistributes it in the form of subsidies, handouts, entitlements, and earmarks. Stated differently, it robs Peter to pay Paul, in clear violation of the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
As a result, half of Americans are now moochers. They pay little or no federal income taxes and are thus getting a free ride at the expense of the other half for such essential government services as national defense. Yet many of these same moochers are foaming at the mouth about moochers from Mexico, stirred into a nativistic and nationalistic frenzy by the likes of Sean Hannity, the most pedantic and simpleminded man in America.
Personally, I’d rather be robbed by an illegal alien than by a fellow American, just as I’d rather be robbed by a stranger than by a family member.
Actually, the Mexican who recently climbed my 40-ft. palm trees to trim and skin them is more of an American in terms of work ethic than the citizens who sit on their hippo-sized butts, feigning a disability, collecting SSI and other loot, watching Judge Judy, and gorging themselves on chicken wings. I paid the Mexican $225 for two hours of dirty, dangerous work, or about 60 times the daily wage in Mexico. He doesn’t have a hippo-butt. Nor does he have an entitlement mentality. But if he stays in this country long enough, it’s likely that he’ll end up with both.
Do we have a rogue government? Yes, as it is no longer a constitutional republic. Instead of protecting citizens from harm and robbery as the Framers intended, it is a government that harms and robs. It is even hatching an unconstitutional plan to force Americans to pay for the medical care of their neighbors, because government policies for the last 65 years have made health insurance increasingly unaffordable and unavailable. Under the plan, Americans who exercise and have healthy diets will pay for the triple-bypasses of fat asses like movie director Michael Moore. From each according to his willpower, and to each according to his gluttony.
What can we do to stop the rogue government? The answer can be found in the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. Note: It says nothing about amnesty.
An author and columnist, Mr. Cantoni can be reached at ccan2@aol.com.
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.
~ 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,
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
This website tell you what REALLY happened:
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/what-really-happened
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Prop13Arizona
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Executive Guidance Committee Sen. Ron Gould Sen. Jack Harper Rep. Russell Pearce Hon. David Smith Jeff Greenspan, Chairman Lynne Weaver, Vice Chairman
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 1, 2007, 12:00 PM MST |
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Prop 13 Style Property Tax Reform Coming To Arizona Prop 13 Arizona, a coalition of elected officials and citizen activists, has organized to bring California Prop 13 style reform to Arizona. Prop 13 Arizona brings together elected state officials, citizen activists, taxpayer, industry and other political interest groups to form the definitive statewide property tax reform coalition in Arizona. Over the next year, representatives of various stakeholder groups will be working together with elected officials and citizen activists to create comprehensive, transformational property tax reform bills and initiatives to include: · Eliminating classes of property · Resetting the property tax rate back to no more than 1%, the maximum allowed in the Arizona Constitution · Setting a 2% annual limit to valuation increases after a property is purchased · Rolling back current valuations to 2001 “Prop 13 Arizona: …comprehensive, transformational property tax reform... “ Prop 13 Arizona will: · Provide comprehensive reform for driving future economic growth and prosperity · Enable businesses and individuals to plan and budget their tax requirements · Attract new business to the state The work has already begun. New stakeholders join Prop 13 Arizona each week. Bills and initiatives are being drafted. The first initiative, C-01-2008, a portion of the reform language, has been filed with additional filings to follow. Stakeholders from around the state are providing their input in order that the bills and initiatives appeal to the widest segment of the population, amenable to business owners, industry and individuals. Look for more from Prop 13 Arizona in the coming weeks and months. |
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~ 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.
~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.
~
For Continuing Information
on Photo Radar,
Click on the Logo below.
~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
~ 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.
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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Scottsdale Development Update
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Important City Meetings
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~City Public Document Search ~ ~ Website Contacts ~ ~ Shout & Spout ~ ~ Editor ~
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The Scottsdale Activist is published, and edited in Scottsdale AZ ~ 480-326-2475