By Tommy Acosta
Sedona, AZ–The will of the people prevailed. Nearly twice as many citizens voted against the Sedona City Council’s plan to create a safe parking environment at the Sedona Cultural Park for the working Sedona homeless living in their cars, with the final vote count at 2,490 to 1,377.
Regardless of one’s stance on the referendum—whether one supported a perceived safe area for Sedona’s unhoused workers or favored using the site to establish a new cultural center—the vote demonstrated that American democracy is alive and well in Sedona.
Some might point out that only 3,867 out of 9,000 potential voters participated, but it makes no difference if it was ten thousand or ten who voted; the system worked.
Those opposed to using the park for safe parking for the homeless argued that it would create an unsafe environment, attracting homeless individuals from other parts of the city who do not work in Sedona.
Furthermore, opponents expressed a preference for using the site for the arts or permanent housing. While proponents may have had good intentions, the plan was not thought through thoroughly. The primary deal-breaker for some was that users would not be allowed to run their cars to heat them in winter or cool them in summer.
Additionally, children would not be allowed to play outside or interact with other children. People would not be allowed to congregate, too draconian for those used to freedom. Even if they have to live in their cars, this level of control was unacceptable.
It might have been better—and perhaps even cheaper—if the city paid some of the more reasonably priced hotels in the city to house them during the winter months.
But we can be sure that compassionate city employees and council members will try to find a way to accommodate the unhoused working in Sedona.
Sedonans are people who care and recognize the humanity of others. By putting our collective minds together, we will find a way.
7 Comments
So let me get this straight? Democracy Prevails this election but it didnt in 2020? Or does it prevail when you win the electoral vote and lose the popular most votes?
See what happens when one doesn’t concede from an election. You just create more problems were they never existed!
Was happy to see one party do the right thing, to bad the other needs to grow up!
Yep! No state Capital takeovers, No armed threatening protests at the polls, No assault on the Capitol and electoral process. No assaulting of Capitol and DC Police doing their jobs, No gallows erected, No armed hate groups ready to assail lawmakers, No Jews will not replace us tiki torch hate marches etc.
Only NOTsee’s can do such things with impunity and still get get elected just as Hitler did after his failed insurrection upon the German government.
It’s time everyone else drag the flag from our catalytic converterless pick ‘em up, donn ridiculous costumes, strap on a bunch of firearms and talk hateful threatening nonsense non stop. Those are our rights as well, they are not exclusive to the morons of society.
It’s going to be 4 years of more lies, disinformation, propaganda and promises made but never kept.
I like your article on still looking forward to helping people that want to work and have jobs that need housing. Thank you Tommy
The winners on proposition 483 were the citizens of Sedona. The city council tried to shove this poorly thought out and very unpopular plan down the throats of Sedona residents. The city council did not listen to the citizens who spoke up at council meetings. Instead, they went ahead and approved a very bad program. It was obvious from the beginning that this plan was a very unpopular idea. The good citizens of Sedona exercised their right to have the matter put to a vote. even after a city employee tried to stop the democratic process. The election results speak for themselves as the councils action was voted down by a two to one margin. Democracy does work. It is the city council who wasn’t paying attention. My advice to the city council is don’t think you can bully residents into accepting bad planning.
Blah Blah Blah, democracy did work in this case. But now let’s see all those who voted against the temporary resolution because they claimed lamely that a brick and mortar facility with full amenities including free day care was the only answer jump on getting that done now! Let’s hear about your better, safer, smarter solution, people are waiting out in the sticks for your to put forth your “better” ideal. Clock is ticking! It’s getting very cold at night!
Or is this the part where you all finally admit that the real reason you voted against the Safe Park is because you despise the homeless, even those who work in Sedona’s customer service industry. You don’t want to see them anywhere for any reason. You don’t want to help them in any way shape or form except to help remove them from your narrow view.
One solution for homeless city workers could be motel vouchers
The city could pay part or even all of the bill as long as the bread winner is actively working in Sedona.
The city has plenty of money for tunnels, Cultural Park, parking garage, new road to the tune of millions………………………………….why not throw a $100,000 towards deserving folks in terms of vouchers?
Grand idea but nobody will go for it. Most are anti homeless and especially anti assistance to the homeless even if they work full time in Sedona.