Opinion

     The Opinion page contains selected comments sent to Sedona.biz. The comments are linked to the story. To contribute to the comments page please go to the story and use the comments box found at the end of the story.

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    https://sedona.biz//news-from-sedona/city-of-sedona/owner-occupied-housing-rehabilitation-program/

    Dear Ms Bouvier,
    Our roof is leaking and needs repairs. I am 81 years old and my wife is 76. She has stage 5 breast cancer is mostly bed-ridden and requires my constant attention. The doctors tell me she will be doing chemo for the foreseeable future.When I talked to a roofer a while back, he estimated the cost of repairs at $15,000. I believe we qualify for a grant as our household income is below $36,950.
    Regards,
    Ron Bacon

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    https://sedona.biz//news-from-sedona/youre-wrong-mr-wright/
    View all comments:  https://sedona.biz//news-from-sedona/youre-wrong-mr-wright/#comments

    You’re Wrong, Mr. Wright

    Sedona, AZ (December 16, 2011) – In a Letter to the Editor in the Red Rock News and circulated on the internet, Serge Wright  makes the case that Councilor Hamilton is pushing a  lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of Proposition 411, which was passed in the November 9, 2011 election.

    At the Sedona City Council meeting held November 10, 2011, the issue of the constitutionality of Proposition 411 was discussed. Note that citizen approval does not make a law constitutional, no matter what the margin might be. The final decision at the meeting, after discussion with city attorney Mike Goimarac and members of the city council, was that the new law is indeed unconstitutional. Challenging the law at this time would be unnecessary and, if a circumstance does arise in the future, then the law could be challenged. Any challenge to Proposition 411 would be initiated by the city clerk, not by the city council. MORE

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    “The FLREA is an extremely comprehensive and precise statutory scheme clearly delineating specific instances in which the public may be charged an amenity fee for use of the National Forests, and other public lands, and quite plainly prohibiting the agency from establishing any system which requires the public to pay for parking or simple access to trails or undeveloped camping sites.”
     
    While this smaller fee area is a welcome change, it does not address the problem of people being charged a fee for simple access to trails. A policy that is less illegal than the previous one is not the same as a legal policy. If you are merely parking and accessing a trail the law and the judge say you do not need to pay a fee.
    Typically, the Forest Service will avoid having to deal with this conundrum in court by not issuing Violation Notices, which can be disputed before a judge. Instead they generally issue Notices of Required Fee. A Notice of Required Fee is NOT A TICKET and can be safely ignored.

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    Totally agree with OWS! OWS has brought the inequality issue to the forefront finally. Hopefully the movement will get us actually “thinking” again. The 99% were made to suffer because greed got out of hand.
    I have watched this situation develop over the last 30 years – you know, when ‘beloved’ Reagan began to change the meaning of words in the English language! Greed became “good” – as did blaming government and blaming others – everyone except ourselves. Even religion, especially Christian fundamentalism in the US, got involved hypocritic behavior by OK’ing greed. This situation has been helped along by schools afraid to teach certain subjects (offend segments of our society?) and the rise of homeschooling and religious private schools where SOME prefer to brainwash their children. It has been disheartening to watch this rise of “stupid” us and mnaipulation bu others where we are today – visible everywhere, including Sedona.
    I agree with Elizabeth Warren that “None of us were successful all by ourselves”. Success in a democracy depends not only on us individually, but on the bedrock of stable government, good roads/transportation, public schools, decent health care, environmental protection, and government investment in the future (like satellites , infrastructure, etc) – all things for the common good which we cannot easily accomplish individually.
    I have a lot of respect for successful people who ‘got there’ for their brains, good ideas, hard work and entrepreneurial instincts. I do not have respect for those who further warped the system by behavior (whether environmental destruction, financial leadership, or government responsibilities) which should have been considered unethical and illegal by most any standard. Just because the behavior is not  clearly written in US law, does not mean we are free of responsibility from ethical behavior in all we do. That goes for politicians and public personalities who lie too……
    However, the biggest problem we have today is getting people to understand that a successful representative democracy requires an educated and involved public to actually examine issues. The fact that we as a society have abdicated that responsibility means we got what we deserved – the 50% or more who either have a financial ‘stake’ in the gamed system or don’t pay attention – are too lazy to actually think, and are easily swayed by repeated, loud and unreasoned rhetoric (especially words like TAXES – except for what they personally want, of course).
     In the process we also got a lot of bad government and selfish people running it, who do not feel the responsibility for the future of our democratic society, but simply want to keep their power and control the money for themselves. You know ­ things like public money for privatized schools (even that on-line learning thing), privatized school lunch at public schools, and privatized prisons – I won’t even go into local issues. In all cases no money is actually saved the taxpayer, but profits are made at the expense of society in general – workers get lower salaries and no benefits! It is a sad commentary on “us” today whether here in Sedona or at the state and national levels.
    Thank you, Jessica and others, who have been out demonstrating here in Sedona! Thank you OWS for finally rising to the threat and demanding change for the future.

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    WHAT DOES OCCUPY WALL STREET WANT?

    By Jessica Williamson

    Sedona, AZ (December 1, 2011) – You might have heard about the Occupy Wall Street movement. You might also know that the movement has spread across the country and the world. Residents in the Verde Valley have supported Occupy Wall Street by organizing protests in Sedona and Cottonwood. Many people are not sure what the movement is about or what those of us involved in the movement want. Two members of Occupy Sedona put together the following information that explains why we became involved.

    1. Corporate money flowing into politics is destroying our democracy. Because corporate money can now flow so freely to candidates, the amount of money needed to run for office is exorbitant. Candidates need millions – now billions – of dollars to compete. They can only get that amount of money from corporations, and the result is that they are “owned” by the corporations who got them into office, not by the people who they are supposed to represent. Corporations and government become indistinguishable and democracy threatens to become plutocracy.

    2. Corporations do not act in the public interest. Corporations exist to make money for their owners and stockholders. They should not be expected to act in the public interest. Government is supposed to act in the public interest to balance the corporations’ goals with our values as an American people. When corporate monies control the government, that balance is lost.

    3. The huge amount of corporate money in campaigns has distorted our democracy. Because candidates rely on corporate money, corporations “own” them and they don’t represent the people who elected them. We want our votes to count.

    4. The actions of Wall Street and the financial industry seriously damaged our economy and the economy of the world. The American people bailed them out, yet they continue to collect huge salaries and huge bonuses while the American people suffer high unemployment, stagnant wages, foreclosure, and uncertainty about the future.

    5. No one in Wall Street or the financial industry has been held accountable. They successfully lobbied to prevent regulation that would keep them from doing it again. We want them held accountable.

    6. The middle class is being eliminated. The top 1% of Americans control an ever bigger share of America’s wealth while the rest of us see our wealth stagnating or declining.

    7. The movement includes people of all ages, from all occupations, and from across the whole political spectrum. The goal is to correct a corrupt and unresponsive political process, not to further the goals of any one political party. We want to put the “We” back in We the People.

    8. Government regulations protect America from exploitation by corporations. Effective regulations ensure balance in a civil society. Regulations are not responsible for the unemployment in this country. Only 1,119 layoffs during the first half of this year were attributed to regulations; 144,746 were due to poor consumer demand.*

    9. Medicare, Social Security, and unemployment insurance must be preserved. The middle class, the poor, and the vulnerable should not be the only ones to sacrifice in this economy.

    10. The tax burden should be fair. The people who have the most – millionaires and billionaires – should pay their fair share to support a society that reflects American values. Tax loopholes must be closed.

    11. Corporate tax loopholes must also be closed. Those loopholes allow multinational oil companies to post billions of dollars in profits yet pay no taxes while outsourcing jobs.

    *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

    Occupy Sedona rallies every Wednesday at the corner of 89A and Coffee Pot Road starting at 3:00. Occupy Cottonwood rallies every Thursday at the corner of 89A and 260 starting at 3:00.

    Join the discussion. Visit Occupy Sedona on facebook or join the rallies. Direct comments or questions to occupysedona@gmail.com.

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    It’s taken awhile to reply. It has taken this long for some of us to recover from the initial shock and sadness of seeing our town being overrun with fear; fear generated by greed.
    Greed and Power-seeking few have generated a campaign of fear that caused ill-advised and mis-informed citizens to vote against their best interests, their better natures.
    Fear worked before on a national level in 2010. Fear created the most regressive Neanderthal Congress ever. Why not try it locally – they did – it worked.
    We citizens of Sedona now have no say in how much of our sky, skyline, roadway, crossings, and safety measures will be forever harmed by the spot-lights, road destructions, and other dangerous “improvements” imposed by ADOT.
    Those nefarious few who succeeded in fooling the many, knew history. =
    “No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers
    of acting and reasoning as fear.” — Edmund Burke

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    Sedona: An Idea

    by Paul Chevalier

    Our world has always been a place of uncertainty and outside factions affect our lives. In Sedona we are not immune to what happens in places such as Phoenix, Washington D. C., New York City, Greece, Italy or even China. We can’t do anything to fix problems created in such places. We can minimize their impact on Sedona.

    Today in Sedona our greatest uncertainty is our economy. Tourism, at least for the immediate future, is our key business. Sedona is competing for this business with vacation destinations throughout the United States at a time when the amount of money tourists spend is shrinking.

    The tourists who come here for a couple of hours or less and then head off to the Grand Canyon will not sustain us. We need tourists who stick around for a while. So, the question is what more should Sedona do to attract a larger number or higher spending tourists to stay for at least a few days and, while enjoying themselves and doing business with our lodgings, restaurants and stores?

    Our local businesses and Chamber of Commerce efforts on this subject are critical. And yet, if this were supplemented by wise active involvement of our local government, business would increase more. So let’s ask our government to be more involved.

    The big question is how? What should our local government do to improve our economy? There could be long term involvements, such as building a conference center, but financially those are out of the question for now. Our government’s immediate focus needs to be low cost and short term. We need fast payback if some of our businesses are to survive.

    So here are just a few ideas that could be quickly implemented at low cost. Some are mine, others have been suggested by our neighbors.

    1. Our government and our city businesses needs to put out the welcome mat to our visitors in obvious ways. In particular, city government should do all it can to insure that our festivals are well promoted within our city (i.e. e. uptown banners for major festivals, lodgings and restaurants displaying appropriate festival signs or flyers, citywide festival perks etc).

    Governments of other communities doing these things reap the benefit of increased business, particularly by its lodgings and restaurants. In turn, higher tax revenues from the increased business can be used to fix things like city drainage problems faster.

    We need to have festivals in Sedona that people want to come back to. The ‘no festival parking’ signs that pop up are a negative that marks us an unfriendly city. Our government needs to find a way quickly to fix that problem.

    2. To help businesses and residents reduce their everyday expenses, our government needs to reexamine the various taxes and fees it charges. For example, the wastewater fee for restaurants is indeed strange. It is based on the number of chairs in the restaurant. That makes little sense and might be a temptation. Wouldn’t it be fairer and more logical to base the wastewater fee on the amount of water used by the restaurant? Our city government should be able to get this info from the restaurant’s water company. I believe it is looking into that now. If not, it should.

    3. And our city council should sponsor a community-wide competition for the best low cost short term ideas to increase tourists spending over the next twelve months. Even if just one great idea gets implemented, it would be worth the effort of the competition. We have very clever people in Sedona. Government should encourage them to help with this subject.

    I will stop here and encourage you to add your own low cost short term ideas in the comments below. Many members of our city council and city staff read SedonaBiz regularly. Your ideas could influence the actions of our government and also the candidates for council. What can you lose by suggesting them?

    We are a great community but we need to improve our economy. Let’s offer all the help we can.

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    Residents have not heard the last word on “raising property taxes” (which we do not pay to the City, but to the county) and/or “sales taxes.” If Sedona citizens will respond to the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation’s survey, you’ll see those recommendations given as ways for the city to raise funds to initiate any of the recreational “services” we suggest..
    The survey first asks questions regarding what kinds of improvements or expansion of services you want, including a question of whether the resident wants more outdoor entertainment, or an indoor community center. Then it asks the responder how the City should pay for the improvements suggested. Some of ways it “suggests” are initiating property tax and an increase of sales tax to pay for anything anyone notes as desirable. If my memory serves me correctly, the issue of the community center was roundly defeated something like nine years ago.
    Also included is a question concerning a park by the creek and a creek walk.that had already been determined to be unsafe for development by the council headed by Pud. Furthermore, this was another strategy proposed in lieu of Sedona paying back the $586,600 to AZ Department of Parks after failing to secure the grant the city received for the Cultural Park.

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    er strategy proposed in lieu of Sedona paying back the $586,600 to AZ Department of Parks after failing to secure the grant the city received for the Cultural Park.

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    Excuse Me Bobbie, but I saw and heard You, when You went up to the Council bench at intermission, and spoke to Councilman Rayner.  The camera and sound were still on.  Did You forget?

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    Bobbie Surber says:
    Hi Bettye ­ I did not speak to Councilor Rayner, only McElroy and that was
    to share all 64 lights were dark sky compliant and that the light fixture
    the city of Sedona selected for Hwy 89A was IDA’s second choice out of the
    64 dark sky compliant lights offered by ADOT.
    International Dark Sky Association literally wrote the book on the
    protection of dark skies and we cannot trump their expertise on this
    topic.
    I also stated we cannot strive to become an International Dark Sky City
    while stating IDA research is not valid.
    Bettye ­ to state this as plainly as possible, I am not arguing the point
    of lights vs. no lights, everyone is entitled to their opinion on this
    topic and it is my goal to respect each person’s viewpoint. What is a fact
    is the lights selected by the city of Sedona and approved by IDA are dark
    sky compliant lighting and will protect our starry skies.
    Respectfully,
    Bobbie Surber
    Reply

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    The City has hired a “consultant” to draft a new Master Plan for our Parks. The survey  asks the survey taker for anything that any household members may deem desirable for that Department to include, or expand, AND how to finance that suggested thing. Some of its suggestions for financing include; initiating a property tax, raising sales tax, etc. I suggest all residents to respond to this, otherwise we will certainy be stuck with expenses we do not authorize the city to make.
    BTW, any questions dealing with creek walk I believe should have been eliminated entirely since a previous council headed by “Pud” deemed it to be a risk due to flash flooding.

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    Here again, Sedona has been lied to, sold a bill of goods, and the taxman will soon have his hands deeper into our pockets. We were told that this was for safety, when we were already safe as long as we were vigilant drivers. This is the nanny state at work. We look to uptown, a pitiful mess after millions of dollars of “improvements.” There was little improvement: the traffic still backs up into the canyon and behind the twin round-abouts, visitors still find the need to jaywalk, and people still stop in the middle of the street looking for parking spots. The round-abouts are a joke, especially the two were 179 dead ends into 89a – right at the “Confusion vortex” as if someone wanted to make a point of it. There was no compromise here. Sedona was blackmailed into accepting lights that were originally purchased for a defunct housing tract in Flagstaff. ADOT looked to Sedona to bail out the State, and we did, which makes me wonder who counted those votes. Things have not changed in the many years I have been here. This is a repeat of Rachel’s Knoll, the Cultural Park and 179. We have no voice at all.

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    I suppose the reason I find the final vote so disappointing, is that a very large percentage of the residents chose to ignore the Facts that were presented, to believe in the fear and contrived misinformation.  This was very obvious at last Wednesday’s City Council meeting, when during the discussion on ADOT lights, Councilor McIlroy suggested that We could ask for shorter poles, lower wattage bulbs and crosswalks.  He hadn’t been listening, and the answer was No, ADOT is finished with us.  Then during the same meeting, at break, I suppose that Bobbie Surber thought the camera and sound was off when She spoke to Councilor Rayner, and asked Him if we could ask ADOT for shorter light poles and lower wattage bulbs.  The answer is No, we voted, that’s it.
    Now even here under the ‘comments’, Paul Chevalier is saying that ‘our council members are anxious to work with ADOT to add daytime safety improvements’.  Perhaps McIlroy, Ninunzio and Adams feel that way, but to the four of them I say, You should have been listening, the answer is No, we voted, that’s it.
    So here it is, we get 108 additional lights on 35 foot high poles, no daytime safety, and an additional bill at the end of the month for the added electricity.  I can’t calculate at this time what the added cost of maintenance and electricity will be, but at the end of the year you can bet it will take a large chunk out of our budget.  Yes, money that could have been used for other things like promoting tourism, arts, infrastructure, etc..
    When you look at the big picture, what we’ve given up, and what we’re going to get, you have to say, What a Shame.  And, I personally, don’t want to hear your complaints later.

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    Sedona, You’re Getting Lights

    Dear Mayor Adams:

    You have stated publicly that the City can work with ADOT as was done on Highway 179 where the City invested 378,880 for the cute pedestrian lights we love there and $62,500 to upgrade those lights to Visionaire.  West Sedona has many lodgings, restaurants, grocery stores and New Age shops frequented by tourists who pay the bulk of our City budget.  Enhancing the look and walkability of West Sedona is good for business and our tax revenue.
    While you are coordinating with ADOT, perhaps you can insist we get at least a couple of safe crosswalks to enhance daytime safety and some sidewalk amenities such as benches and attractive landscaping  to encourage a community feeling in West Sedona where most of us live.  The need for the latter will become glaringly evident after ADOT tears up 3 1/2 miles of their road right-of-way installing the continuous strip of lights.
    I expect to see you take leadership on this.
    Thank you for your prompt attention to this,
    Sandra Cosentino
    Sedona, AZ

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    Yes. Let the People Decide the Fate of SR 89A, not ADOT. Do people really want to put their City’s future in the hands of the State of AZ? The State of AZ is not economically sound. It’s monetary policy is not even mediocre. It raided the AZ Department of Parks funds and transferred them to the General Fund and Sedona citizens actually want to allow the State to manage our road? Remember, who shut down a majority of rest stops due to lack of funds? I do. It was ADOT.

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    Sedona, You’re Getting Lights

    Excellent coverage of this exceedingly disgraceful effort on the part of a few to control the many. It appears to be the case that fear alone can stop a person from educating themselves about anything, while awaiting inevitable entropy.

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    Sedona, You’re Getting Lights

    This is the time for neighbors who were on opposite sides of this important issue to bury the hatchet. I was at our City Council meeting on Wednesday November 9, the day after the balllots on 401 and 411 were counted, and I felt that all our council members have accepted the will of the majority with grace and are anxious to work with ADOT, as the economy improves, to add 89A daytiime safety improvements.
    All members of our community should adapt accordingly. To come together as a community the leaders or supporters of the winning side should not crow about the decision made by the voters and the leaders and supporters of the losing side should not complain about the majority decison of our community.
    It is in the best interest of everyone in Sedona to make 89A safer day and night. The message received from our Council members on November 9th was that they all motivated to do just that. Let’s support their approach and adopt their demeanor.
    Paul Chevalier

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    Sedona, You’re Getting Lights

    The article above states very clearly the results we can expect by turning down ownership of our Main Street. Please, citizens of Sedona don’t complain when the road right-of-ways are torn up in the months to come, and not a single safety crosswalk or pedestrian bench is installed, and our small town charm turns to urban USA look and feel along with 14% diminshment of our night skies.

    This No vote to owning our Main Street portrays a deep distrust of our City government. I wonder how many people actually went to the in depth presentations by the City Manager when he gave a financial analysis after months of research along with successful examples of how local ownership has benefited other cities. Clearly it was stated at the meetings, there would be no round-abouts installed and nor were continuous medians were planned. That in fact, citizens of Sedona would have input in the redesign of 89A.

    We turned down millions of dollars that would have funded our road for the next 15 years and allowed us to install site appropriate safety features and have use of the 33′ on either side of 89A to benefit our citizens and businesses.

    Perhaps with such distrust of City government, we should consider disbanding the City and reverting to County management of Sedona. We could sell the sewer system and school buildings to private enterprise to run; lease out our City offices to businesses. We would save a lot of overhead that way. It would be a lot easier with County management to raise the zoning densities and types so we could increase development in West Sedona.

    The only part of Sedona that requires planning, a Sedona look and feel and pedestrian safety is Uptown and the Gallery District. That has already been taken care of. So what do we need a new 10 year plan for? Do we even need to be a City?

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    Sedona, You’re Getting Lights

    This is a real tragedy for our city. That people would want to eradicate that which brings tourists to enjoy our clean air and dark skies indicates complete disregard for our natural environment as well as those who come here and need to cross 89A safely. Their votes essentially eliminate more tourism, Prior to this vote, half of the city’s sales tax revenue came from the businesses located along the West 89A corridor. Sedonans who did not educate themselves adequately ultimately may cause the city to implement a property tax (which we do not have and never had) in order to meet the city’s operating costs. How ridiculous is that?

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    Sir, you must be kidding with your statement suggesting politicians choosing not display signs in order to “help Sedona remain unique in its desire to protect its scenic beauty.”
    Why would this even be a consideration after Mayor Adams and Councilor DiNunzio publicly supported 108 35′ tall streetlights that will give off the equivalent of 30 acres of development, forever diminishing Sedona’s distinctiveness?

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    While I disagree on your viewpoint of the motives of our fellow residents I most heartedly agree about longing for a return to civility.
    All the best,
    Bobbie

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    Mr. Boch is quite the curmudgeon.  I miss the banter!  Bring back the website!

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    Stolen!

    Dear Bobbie Surber,
    While that fact that the only remaining signs, as far as my neighborhood is concerned, are the three or four in front of Serge Wright’s may not be dispositive, it does make one wonder. And it’s good that your years have taught you things. Mine have, as well. In the context of this issue, it is that if there is a short cut to winning an argument through fear and intimidation, some people are bound to take it.
    I remain hopeful the the people of Sedona will recognize the benefits in retaining control over our main street and I look forward to a return to civility in our community, whatever the outcome.

    Cynthia Paster

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    Stolen!

    I have been reading with interest the responses to this email about disappearing signs and finger pointing. Some of the comments have been vulgar and accusatory. Sad. I appreciate the fact that Bobbie has been above this type of comment. Thank you. I would, however, like to say a couple of things in my defense, and why I took umbrage to the type of activities going on in my home town:
    1. I know for a fact that owners of business properties on 89A have been coerced to take down “yes” signs and have them replaced by “no” signs. I would be glad to give detailed information to anyone who is interested. It seems that the NO vote has decided that 89A in West Sedona is “their” domain, and please, do not let anyone else try and rock the boat…
    2. I was very angry and upset by the goings on at the library last week, as were others who had signs stolen from their cars and had their car doors muddied where signs once were. It would have been the good if everyone had decried this type of behavior.

    It is sad that folks have to descend to slogans such as “socialist” (I bet the person does not even know what that means), when all I am trying to do is make a point about the low levels this campaign has reached. That person’s reaction is a wonderful example of this.
    I try and do a lot for this community and do not expect any thanks, I do what I think is right, whether it be litter lifting or registering voters (yes ALL voters) or being a docent or working for causes I believe in. I recognize those qualities in others. We all I hope would work for such things as our Community Plan, and devote time to developing it. That is the kind of activity that matters.
    I do believe a yes vote on 410 is the right action – please do not denigrate me or my reasons for supporting this!

    Angela

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    Hi Cynthia – You might want to ask the property owners why the signs are no longer on their property. I think you might find the same answer as was stated by John Miller in the RRN that signs were repeatedly placed on his property without his permission.
    Also have learned when signs on side-street are placed between properties and in the city right- away homeowners do not know this is not their property and remove signs.
    I know the above reasons are not as dramatic as a massive conspiracy to steal signs but are some of the lessons I have learned over the years. Also know what it is like to replace sign after sign, very frustrating indeed!
    Thankfully this will be behind us next week as we all find out what the residents of Sedona want in regards to ownership of the road.
    Respectfully,
    Bobbie

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    James Bishop Jr. Book Launch at The Well Red Coyote

    Congratulations on the publication of your book!  I can’t wait to get the book, I know it will be a great read.
    Enjoy your success!
    Juliette Colangelo

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    OPEN LETTER TO ROBERT LARSON, PUBLISHER RED ROCK NEWS

    Dear Sanford Bach:

    How nice of you to chime in on this. Tell us, how much money did you make last year from your investments in the U.S. Military Industrial complex? Why would someone as rich as you are even bother to care about the lights on 89A?

    Surely, we are insignificant to you. But there is such a thing as justice in this world even if you tip the scales at will.

    We shall see about this referendum. Yes, I am naive believing eventually good triumphs over evil. The people of Sedona will vote for the 89A takeover just like they swept your friends out of office.

    And how dare you lecture me on living in a reality-based existance? You are a dynasoar Bach, too steeped in the past to realize your are sinking into a morass of your own ignorance.

    You think that with a well-wielded pen you can bully the gramatically challenged in this community but I can out-write you any day of the week, wise guy.

    Our fight begins when sedonaelection.com comes to life. Lunch? Name the day, hour and minute and I’ll be there!

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    OPEN LETTER TO ROBERT LARSON, PUBLISHER RED ROCK NEWS

    Bobbie is right. More people should listen to her. Signs come and go but the Surbers have been oversized pillars of this community in more ways than those that are most obvious? Some of you newcomers can learn a thing or two from them.

    Bobbie is right. Angela is a socialist and her accusations should be discounted. Where is your proof Angela? Dirty politics indeed by you making accusations with no basis. Even if no other group or individual has any motive to steal these signs…prove it! Car magnets can easily fly off in breezy conditions and should be outlawed as hazards. What kind of losers deface their expensive automobile with vile slogans and bumblebee colors. How childish.

    Signs don’t matter. The herd of citizens don’t vote because of a bright sign. They vote because the Surber’s tell them how to vote.

    We should applaud the Surbers for being leaders and we should support them and their candidates for City Council in 2012. Who are we to question their moral or ethical character? When the Surbers, Pud, Scagnelli and Frey come around again in 2012 we should embrace them and their candidates and follow our leaders without question. That is how we will wrestle this City back from “these people.”

    Sanford Boch

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    Vote Yes on Prop 410: It’s a Win-Win for Sedona

    Thank You Tommy, for bringing Your perspective to the table. It’s wise and warranted.

    Bettye

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    Vote Yes on Prop 410: It’s a Win-Win for Sedona

    In addition to the paper version of the Red Rock News, I also receive the electronic version. When it sent out the editiorial against Prop 410, I sent in several comments. 1. Since most accidents occur during the daytime, how do these lights help to prevent them? 2. Wouldn’t conveniently located, pedestrian controlled crosswalks serve pedestrians both during the day and night? 3. Why would the Red Rock News call those who would disagree with their position ‘insane,” because that seems at least a bit strange.
    My comments were never published but one that was supportive of their position was along with one that as basically neutral. Mark Twain said to never argue with people who by ink by the barrel. It is unfortunate that the Red Rock News lacks objectivity and tries to stifle dissent. Additionally, it appears that they cannot accept any criticism no matter how polite, objective or valid it is. It reflects poorly on both the publisher and editor. Running a newspaper doesn’t make one a journalist or objective; it just provides the opportunity to do so.

    Don Gay

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    Stolen!

    I/We walk our dog down Soldiers Pass every day. There were signs for both sides for a week, then the ‘Yes” signs started to disappear. My husband and I stood up a ‘Yes’ sign at St. John Vianny driveway, but it was thrown in the bushes overnight. Meanwhile, the other sign for ‘No’ remains, as well as the ‘No’ sign in front of our Vista Montana driveway. That one is on Serge Wright’s property and, although I am confronted with it every time I drive in or out, it would not occur to me to remove or deface it.
    When people argue the case for fear, they act in fearful, childish ways themselves. I think this sign stealing is so emblematic of the LTPV position; fear based, falsely motivated and selfish.

    Cynthia Paster

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    Stolen!

    The problem with the deniers of the concerted campaign to remove signs is that they know without video of the actual thefts, there is no proof. However, overnight disappearance of many signs all at once seems like a concerted effort to me. Maybe the $400 reward will help find the perpetrators and tell us who directed the effort. The law states that taking campaign signs from the city right of way is a felony. It is polite to ask the homeowner.

    West Sedona Resident

     

                                                                                                                ####
    October 31, 2011
    Hi Angela –
    I have looked forward to your run for City Council seat but am so very disappointed that you would participate in accusations without proof. Stating someone or some group has broken the law is such a serious allegation and not one to be made lightly. City leadership requires a calm evaluation based on facts not third party rumors and gossip.
    How would you or I feel if someone made the same quote as you did about members of the local Democratic Party?
    “but it seems that this trend of threats and law breaking seems to be endemic in the other side. Folks have been threatened who display Voice of Choice for 89A signs. And many, many signs have been taken down and stolen.”
    Please be an advocate for fact based allegations of such a very serious nature as breaking the law.
    Thanks,
    Bobbie

    ####

    October 31, 2011

    I have repeatedly replaced the same signs over and over again in support of a No Vote for 410. I have not once accused anyone of theft as I have NO proof that anyone broke the law and I am not in the habit of pointing fingers at people without proof.

    Many other people have reported their signs missing as well. Again, I do not know of anyone making unfounded accusations against their fellow residents.

    I have been involved with more elections than I can count. From the very first election that used yard signs they have come up missing from both sides. Often the result is storms, someone placing a sign near a property owners home then property owner removes and in a few very rare cases (only one that I know of) it was proven that someone actually unlawfully removed a sign.

    Let’s take a deep breath and stick to the issue; regardless of what side you are on the issue is will you vote and how will you vote?

    ####

    https://sedona.biz//news-from-sedona/will-sedona-be-the-winner-%e2%80%93-or-the-loser/

    Very well said. Thank you for being the voice of kindness and honor in our community.

    ####

    Letter to the Editor October 28, 2011


    Dear Friends and Neighbors,

    Tonight, while conducting a free informative session on Prop 410 issues at the Sedona Public Library, all of our Voice of Choice magnetic car signs and most of the road signs along the Dry Creek Road were removed.  Not only is this dirty political gamesmanship, but it’s also a felony.  But this is simply par for the course with Let the People Vote.  After all, even their name is a lie.  They don’t want you to vote.  Their entire purpose in running the referendum was to thwart your voices from being heard.  How democratic is that?  Consistently LTPV have resorted to name-calling and outright lies.  Why?  Because they think that you are nothing more than “cash poor dirt busters” and “fixed income retirees in trailers.”  See an actual comment taken verbatim from Sedona Eye below for proof.

    So how can we stop this ugliness, this plainly anti-democratic behavior?  1)  VOTE loudly and proudly.  Of course I’d love your vote to be YES on 410 and NO on 411, but either way, don’t let LTPV silence you!; 2) No matter which way you vote, refuse to allow LTPV to commit felonies.  IF you see someone stealing anyone’s sign, please call and report it to the non-emergency number at the Sedona police department.  982-282-3100.  This sort of thing simply cannot be tolerated.  3)  Refuse to listen to anyone who sinks to name-calling.  They consistently seem to think that you are not clever enough to figure out what’s right for yourselves without being bullied into a position.  But that’s just not true, is it?  You’re all smart, educated adults.  You don’t need to listen to people who are sinking to such lows and resorting to thuggery.

    We cannot, and should not be bullied or silenced in our own town.  Please stand up and be counted!

    All best wishes,

    Dr. Samantha Ruckman
    In support of the Voice of Choice (YES on 410.  NO on 411)
    (If you are interested in more information, please get in touch.)

    “Mike says:
    September 29, 2011 at 3:31 pm do people from podunk ohio think the city of sedona survives on hikers, bikers & retirees??? go home!

    sedona is a tourist town & needs people in our businesses 24/7

    why pander to cash poor dirt busters climbing our rocks for free, fixed income retirees in trailers & renting bedrooms from out of state wealthy property owners, hikers that never change underwear or a $10 bill (bag of granola & a bottle of water purchases don’t pay sedona rents!)

    ambush? how about getting your head out of the bush & seeing stores and restaurants and outlets and thriving commercial districts need lights & lots and lots of car traffic

    give me a break on the eco, dark sky crap – president obama couldn’t make it fly with solyndra & millions and millions of dollars

    sierra club & benefactors & other old hippies without real jobs better wiseup and fall in with real world economy

    ####

    Jeremiah
    Nice to see you have come out of your liberal cave after a summer hibernation to chime in on this issue
    Unfortunately, you have not evolved since the last election.
    Littrel and Hamilton, as intelligent as they seem, are simply political hacks who only care about getting re-elected.  They don’t represent me or my friends on the Chamber Board.  We will not be bullied by elected representatives regardless of whether they were duely elected by wide margins.  The minority of us in this town still control the City.  Jeremiah your naive nature is endearing.  But you are still in your utopian cloud.  Try a reality based existence.
    Lights will go up.  The YES people are so enthralled with themselves they can’t see the forest.  Money still rules and power is still with my friends Scagnelli, Surber, Pud and Frey.  They run the show like puppeteers for the Sedona Chamber, School district and Main Street.  Can’t you see the strings hanging from DiNunzios head at City Council or from Bobbie Surbers fat ($&@9/? at the school board meetings.
    Wake up and smell the coffee.  Here come the lights and a beautiful industrial type roadway like Grand Ave.  Let ADOT do their job and Sedona residents should be happy we don’t have to pay anything ever.  Who cares what it looks like.  People look at the rocks not the road.
    What do say we get that guy to put up that sedonaelection.com website for the next election.  It’s just around the corner.  Let’s do lunch.
    Sanford Boch

    ####

    Will Sedona Be the Winner – Or The Loser?

    Sedona SCENE – Sedona SOUL

    A Sharing With Barbara Mayer

    BarbaraMayer1Sedona, AZ (October 30, 2011) – The word “Politics” has become associated with all sorts of sleaziness, underhanded dealing, ego-driven lies and fear-mongering, illegal antics and various kinds of “dirty tricks”. And here I state with some kind of civic pride that I’m originally from Chicago, even though it still carries the reputation of being a city where, on election day, people vote “early and often”. In fact, as editor of my high school newspaper, I once had the honor of a personal interview with Chicago’s original “Hizzoner”, the first Mayor Richard J. Daley himself.

    Those were the days. But this is Sedona.