Sedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde ValleySedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley
    Sedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley Sedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley
    • Home
    • Sedona News
    • Business Profiles
    • Opinion
    • Mind & Body
    • Arts
    • Elections
    • Gift Shop
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    Sedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde ValleySedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley
    Home » City Talk: Councilor Barbara Litrell
    Sedona City Council

    City Talk: Councilor Barbara Litrell

    December 3, 20121 Comment
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Reddit WhatsApp
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Reddit WhatsApp

    City of Sedona ArizonaSedona AZ (December 3, 2012) – As City Council members, we also serve as liaisons to city appointed commissions and various community organizations. I’m pleased to serve as liaison to the Verde Valley Homeless Coalition chaired by Marilyn Williams of Catholic Charities and which meets quarterly in Cottonwood. The Coalition is made up of representatives of area social service agencies, independent groups and individuals who share the mission of providing assistance to the homeless as well as working toward long term solutions to homelessness in the Verde Valley.

    Barbara LitrellThe Arizona Department of Housing count in June, 2012, counted 186 homeless people in Yavapai County and 127 in Coconino. Of course, we know that many of the homeless don’t make themselves available for the count, but we do know there are at least that many people trying to eke out an existence right here in our own Sedona and the Verde Valley.

    As we attempt to put faces on the homeless in our midst, we know that some are individuals of various ages, yet some are entire families. Sadly, too, some are veterans who have served our nation. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that on a single night in January 2011, 67,495 homeless veterans spent the night on the streets of America, and we know some of those nameless numbers included homeless veterans right here in Sedona and the Verde Valley.

    As we approach 2013, we can’t really be immune to the homeless situation in Sedona. Just ask the folks at the Sedona Community Food Bank where Mitzvah Day volunteers recently delivered tote bags for the Food Bank to fill with personal items for the homeless during this season when the weather is turning colder. Ask the volunteers at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church who provide free home cooked meals – no questions asked – for anyone who arrives at the St. Andrew’s door on Mondays at 5 p.m. Talk to members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. John Vianney Church who provide food and other assistance to those in need. Ask the spiritual leaders of faith communities and they will tell you – and perhaps even admit to you – that they have acted on their own to take someone in for the night, and provide food and maybe even a place to shower and wash clothes. Yet Sedona, as of this time, has no comprehensive services. It’s a meal here, a meal there, some food, some clothing, but nothing of more continuous and comprehensive care.

    Cottonwood has a few more services including The Loft at Catholic Charities, open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1-5 p.m., where homeless folks can do laundry, cook, use a phone or computer, or simply take a shower and have an address to get mail. But The Loft is not a shelter, so sleeping elsewhere is required. There is also a dinner every Friday evening at Riverfront Park, provided by a rotating list of Cottonwood churches.

    Sedona Gift Shop

    The idea for this column was stimulated by an email I received from a Mitzvah Day volunteer when she saw the call for volunteers to pack backpacks for homeless vets. Her message hit home, “We do for dogs and cats what we don’t do for our fellow human beings.” Another quote sprang to mind which I have since learned is from Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937, “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”

    Maybe the solution is regional. But it certainly seems that what we have now is not enough. As a city with the most creative and talented people in Arizona, I hope that together we can find better ways to address homelessness for those struggling right here in our midst.

    Now is an especially good time to think about this, as we enter this season of caring and giving. If you have ideas or want to help, email me at blitrell@SedonaAZ.gov.

    Note: The above are my own observations; they do not necessarily reflect those of City Council or staff.

    Healing Paws

    This is an advertisement

    Verde Valley Homeless Coalition

    1 Comment

    1. nancy robb dunst on December 11, 2012 7:31 am

      Dear Barbara: As an artist, one of my concerns has always been about housing. I presently have an art
      installation up bout housing at the Hillside Sedona Gallery space, on the second floor, titled: THE AMERICAN DREAM……..downsized.. If your organization would like to use this installation in some way, please be my guest. I also have another large art piece titled: THE AMERICAN DREAM……..recycled. It is a house made our ot books.
      Please also feel free to use this as part of you campaign for housing. This response came out of your article
      in Sedona.biz. Warmly, Nancy


    Analyzing City’s Legal Right to
    Ban OHVs on Public Roads

    By Tommy Acosta
    Mea Culpa! Mea Culpa! Mea Maxima Culpa! I screwed up. Blew it. Totally made a fool of myself. Missed the boat. I am talking about my editorial on the OHV fight, No Legal Traction on OHVs. I assumed that it was ADOT that would make a decision on whether the city could legally ban off road vehicles from our public roads like S.R. 89A and S.R. 179. Man was I off. ADOT has nothing to do with allowing or disallowing the city to do so. ADOT’s response to me when I asked them to clarify their position, was curt and to the point. “ADOT designs, builds and maintains the state highway system,” I was told. “It is not our place to offer an opinion on how state law might apply in this matter.” It was a totally “duh” moment for me when I realized that that the decision or judgement on the OHV ordinance, would involve the state and not ADOT. Chagrinned I stand. The crux of the matter then is whether the city can effectively use a number of standing state laws that can be interpreted to determine whether the city can legally ban the vehicles or not. Read more→
    Recent Comments
    • JB on Mayor & Council Deserve Kudos For Chamber Oversight
    • Richard Kepple on Analyzing City’s Legal Right to Ban OHVs on Public Roads
    • Mary on Analyzing City’s Legal Right to Ban OHVs on Public Roads
    • JB on DORR Hosts Talk on Gun Violence Prevention
    • Sheila Jackman on Remembering Sedona Sculptor John Soderberg: A Tribute to a Creative Genius
    Categories
    © 2023 All rights reserved. Sedona.biz.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.