Letter to the Editor: Sedona Neighborhood held Hostage

By Donna Joy Varney, Sedona Resident
(January 28, 2014)

Dear Mayor Rob Adams and City Councilors,

I just found out the chamber has moved the Sedona Marathon into the Kachina Subdivision, zoned residential.

Kachina Subdivision has ONE access in and out.
Kachina Subdivision is zoned residential. With very narrow roads, blind spots, two cars are unable to pass in many locations.
Kachina Subdivision has No transitional zoning nor is it commercially zoned.
The City of Sedona, according to Tim Ernster (city Manager) has approved the blocking of the entire subdivision, putting the entire subdivision at risk along with taking our civil rights.
This plan has been worked on for months without the knowledge of the residents in Kachina. In fact they have hidden it. The City has never sent out any notices, apparently the Chamber sent out one on January 7th but not everyone was included.
Our neighbors further down on Dry Creek put their foot down and told the Marathon no more. This is the reason for diverting the runners into Kachina.
The Chamber HID this, never disclosing this to those that were living in Kachina.
The City of Sedona approved this knowing this is a residential neighborhood with ONE ACCESS.
No notices where ever sent nor were we notified. I found out by reading the Red Rock News.
Public events are never to be held in a residential Neighborhoods. It should have NEVER been approved.
They expect 500-1,000 runners to invade our properties. I have seen the marathon on Dry Creek they were there ALL day long. The bulk of runners are now diverted into Kachina. It is beyond intrusive.
Are you holding everyone HOSTAGE in their homes preventing us from leaving?
If we are able to leave how you can have the runners in the roadway? What about their safety?
How will emergency vehicles get though?

This is insane! If I wanted to live in a commercial or transitional zone area I would have purchase a home there. This is why we feel you disrespect and do not represent the citizens of Sedona. This is NOT even close to warm in treating you citizens nice. This is why there is a movement to UNINCORPORATE the City of Sedona. We the citizens voted you in to make sure we were represented.

Hiding, controlling, manipulating in order to get through special agendas for special interest groups. Why do we even have zoning? Why would you the city not notified or try to work with the property owners, residents of Kachina? The reason why is we would have said NO. It feels like Nazi Germany……. SLAMMED, I was told it is to late.

Now I can say, this is by far the most disrespectful harmful thing you could do. It tells us all no one matters; you do not want anyone but those that agree with your agenda. This kind of treatment breeds HATRED.

Look around it gets uglier here every day. Stand up, Speak up, Do the right thing STOP the insanity. This is why you were voted in. STOP the abuse.

Donna Joy Varney
Resident, Registered Voter Sedona, AZ

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Adam Gifford on January 28, 2014 8:01 pm

Before firing off a rambling missive to the mayor and city council perhaps you should get your facts correct:
1. Blocking your sub-division doesn’t put you at any risk. In fact, you will be at far less risk than ever since there will be police, fire and other emergency services stationed at the entrance of the sub-division.
2. Nothing was hidden. Notices were sent out and a map of the new course was published on the marathon website. All of your neighbors who are running this race know the course.
3. Public events are held in neighborhoods all of the time including the Sedona Turkey Trot 5k and every parade that takes place uptown.
4. The runners will not be in Kachina all day long…they will be there from about 9:15 until about 10:15 with the bulk of them coming through between 9:20 and 9:40.
5. Emergency vehicles and other cars will get through just like that always should; with a little bit of courtesy and patience.

You dilute your message and lose allies when you use terms like “Nazi”, “hostage”, “hatred” and “abuse”. I am sure that a bit of civil discourse and fact checking would have helped your argument immensely. I am not a city or chamber employee, but I own 2 businesses here in town and am heavily involved with the marathon and the local running community. I take a great deal of pride in our marathon and understand that not everyone feels the same way. I would like to offer you 3 things:
1. A free set of cowbells so that you can noisily cheer on the runners and walkers coming past your home. Cowbells being rung by spectators is an American tradition that sees its roots in the earliest foot races through Europe.
2. A paid entry for you and a friend so you can join the experience and then decide if it is an event that you would describe using the terms “Nazi”, “hostage”, “hatred” and “abuse”.
3. If you choose not to participate in the event as a runner/walker or cheering supporter then I will be happy to pay for a night in a local hotel so that you can be away from the entire event until it is finished.

I look forward to a response.

Thank you,
Adam Gifford
Owner
Sedona Running Company
Bennali Outdoor Gear

2 Comments

Adam Gifford on January 28, 2014 8:01 pm

Before firing off a rambling missive to the mayor and city council perhaps you should get your facts correct:
1. Blocking your sub-division doesn’t put you at any risk. In fact, you will be at far less risk than ever since there will be police, fire and other emergency services stationed at the entrance of the sub-division.
2. Nothing was hidden. Notices were sent out and a map of the new course was published on the marathon website. All of your neighbors who are running this race know the course.
3. Public events are held in neighborhoods all of the time including the Sedona Turkey Trot 5k and every parade that takes place uptown.
4. The runners will not be in Kachina all day long…they will be there from about 9:15 until about 10:15 with the bulk of them coming through between 9:20 and 9:40.
5. Emergency vehicles and other cars will get through just like that always should; with a little bit of courtesy and patience.

You dilute your message and lose allies when you use terms like “Nazi”, “hostage”, “hatred” and “abuse”. I am sure that a bit of civil discourse and fact checking would have helped your argument immensely. I am not a city or chamber employee, but I own 2 businesses here in town and am heavily involved with the marathon and the local running community. I take a great deal of pride in our marathon and understand that not everyone feels the same way. I would like to offer you 3 things:
1. A free set of cowbells so that you can noisily cheer on the runners and walkers coming past your home. Cowbells being rung by spectators is an American tradition that sees its roots in the earliest foot races through Europe.
2. A paid entry for you and a friend so you can join the experience and then decide if it is an event that you would describe using the terms “Nazi”, “hostage”, “hatred” and “abuse”.
3. If you choose not to participate in the event as a runner/walker or cheering supporter then I will be happy to pay for a night in a local hotel so that you can be away from the entire event until it is finished.

I look forward to a response.

Thank you,
Adam Gifford
Owner
Sedona Running Company
Bennali Outdoor Gear
Donna Joy Varney on January 29, 2014 4:00 pm

Thank you Adam. I do understand that it good for your business as you have Sedona Running Company. I have been a customer. I will try and make this to the point.

No one like surprises, I along with some other neighbors we never were given notice. (still haven’t) The City admitted this, they did not send out any notice. They stated it was not their event, Closing a road does make it their event. Shutting down a subdivision does make it City business. Simply it is their responsibility, to make sure the residents are informed.

Instead of trying to explain more I will post an email, public record. I will post the entire email below my comment so that you can read it for yourself.

Today there is a big sign in front of Kachina that states the subdivision is closed for two hours. one hour went to two.

This is not about a Marathon but about treatment of the residents of Kachina.

Hope this helps you understand. Please read the first paragraph.

Councilor Williamson response.

Donna Joy
The City Council did not approve the route of the Marathon. You know that I live in Kachina as well. I think the Chamber erred in not notifying the neighborhood earlier and in not meeting with the neighborhood residents to discuss the route and to work with us to ameliorate any inconvenience.
That said, the Marathon occurs one morning a year and I, for one, don’t have an objection to seeing how routing the marathon through my neighborhood works out. Thousands of people running in front of my house one morning doesn’t bother me. I usually go to Dry Creek Road and watch the race; I am always inspired by the athletes and by the wide range of people who run, jog, walk or stroll whatever distance suits their abilities. I join the other watchers and cheer them all on.
Certainly, the Marathon causes some inconvenience, but it’s very positive for Sedona and for that reason I support it.
Take care.
Jessica