Sedona, AZ — I have been amazed at the amount of ink the Red Rock News has given to the subject of the Sedona Chamber Tourism Bureau contract. It seems that the RRN has a vendetta against the new Mayor and City Council for asking actual probing questions of the Sedona Chamber Tourism Bureau and expecting reports on how these public funds are being utilized. Instead, the Chamber Tourism Bureau probably decided that they could do a better job for their members by working independently.
I think it is fair that the City Council questioned the membership of the Chamber, who they should represent through the Tourism Bureau, and what value the City is getting from their operation as the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the City. On numerous occasions the Chamber refused to provide answers and instead skirted the questions.
I remember the former Chamber Director Candice Strauss who presented before the City Council and projected an image of Pinocchio, suggesting that residents asking questions concerning the operation of the Chamber Tourism Bureau was spreading misinformation. I think it was appropriate that the Chamber answer these questions about spending of public funds so that the contract could be managed transparently.
I believe that the Mayor and City Council should be applauded for their responsible evaluation of the Chamber contract and working quickly to develop a DMO that operates under City direction. If you want more information about the issue of the Chamber Tourism Bureau and the DMO, please check out SedonaResidentsUnite.com for answers to your Frequently Asked Questions.
By Mark TenBroek
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1 Comment
Mark,
I agree that the Mayor and City Council deserve some kudos on their decision to eliminate the unnecessary and apparently corrupted Chamber.
I also support and applaud the City Council’s efforts to regulate ATV/OHV usage on public roadways and their efforts to jointly (with the National Forest Service/BLM/County Governments of Yavapai and Coconino) reduce the harmful impact these vehicles have and continue to create upon our big money maker-our natural environment, wildlife and scenery!
Hopefully they are also successful in their legal pursuit(s) against the Posse Comitatus nut jobs who filed illegal liens on property belonging to the current and former mayor and their staff members because their candidates lost the election just like their Grand Puba did in the National election.
Good leaders listen to their subordinates or in this case electorate. They may not always go with what is presented to them but they at least listen to suggestions, evaluate outcomes and go with the best choices available to them. The alternative is a government that does not hold town hall meetings, referendums or millages but rather makes hasty uniformed decisions usually based off of what leadership wants and not what the people wish for within the rule of law.
There are always dissenters and muck rakers who only want rules regulations and laws that benefit them personally. If it is something for the greater good and not personally beneficial these people cause whatever problems they can in an effort to subvert our Democracy and install a dictatorship over a duly elected government. They claim to be pro law enforcement and pro military but have ruthlessly attacked decorated leadership of both entities who have been on the front lines of our war on terror and the Cold War prior to that. They do revere war criminals and criminal Sheriffs and police officers though! They love their hatred and racism! They love Making America Racist Again!