Sedona, AZ — For years Sedona residents have rightly expressed frustration that the Arizona Legislature has stripped local communities of the power to regulate and limit short term rentals. The result has been a dramatic change in the nature of our town.
So it’s surprising to hear that some of the same voices who have been advocating for local control over short term rentals are now willing to abdicate control of the dollars generated by tourism. They’re saying “No” to local control of what amounts to 70% of the City’s spendable money.
This is a huge disconnect.
If you disagree with how City funds are being spent, that’s an entirely different issue. Prop 400, Home Rule, doesn’t dictate how the money is to be spent, it merely allows the money to be spent.
If Home Rule fails, our money will be locked away in a bank account where it can’t be touched, to the detriment of the services we all need and enjoy. Does anyone really believe that locking away 70% of our spendable dollars will enhance the quality of life for residents?
Let’s be consistent.
Yes, we should have the authority to regulate short term rentals and Yes we should have the authority to spend our own dollars. Local control!
I hope my neighbors will vote YES on Proposition 400, Home Rule.
3 Comments
Short term rentals are a big problem everywhere that hasn’t regulated them. They are not really the reason there exists a tiny minority of wealthy Sedonan’s bent upon destroying Sedona’s independence over Home Rule and other municipal services and spending. What they’re upset about is the fact that they cannot corrupt the system and get awarded lucrative profit making projects that the city and all of its residents currently profit from. They want in on the profits despite having no right to any of them. They want a council of yes men and women who will do their bidding for them and turn an eye to their money grubbing for personal profit plans.
They dream of a corrupt city government they can grift off of, a police force that is loyal to them not the masses. They claim that by allowing the State to regulate our tiny town is somehow going to preserve “small town Sedona”. Nothing could be further from the truth nor more ridiculous! When confronted by these facts they scream “liar” and worse. Governor Ducey while AZ State Governor enacted the short term rental laws that have decimated Sedona’s property values and made affordable housing completely out of reach for the hundreds who work to serve us daily. And yet these buffoons want you to believe that the state government is the better government to run our tiny tourist destination town. They are of course all members of the “Alternative Facts” plague currently destroying our Federal Government and most are big money donors behind that destructive nonsense.
Another YES ON HOME RULE vote to spend all the money we collect.
Does ANYONE pay attention to council and staff as they not only spend every dime they collect, but how they are irresponsible in the spending? Just becasue you collect it, you don’t have to waste it.
WHY IS STAFF BEING TRAINED TO CREATE A CRISIS IN THE PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT on HOME RULE – YES, TRAINED, it is ON TAPE. That is ILLEGAL under Arizona Statute. But council does not care about the law.
So just so you are aware, you are being lied to and manipulated. As you are every 4 years as the council fears to have its spending power review by the public.
Reduce taxes, help those on fixed income, support businesses instead of competing with them, and take some responsibility for the tax dollars you DO collect.
Just becasue you have boat loads of money, does not mean you spend it irresponsibly, with massive and IRRESPONSIBLE cost overruns and bad ideas. Forest Road Extension, culverts that fix nothing, Uptown garage, HUGE cost overruns, double and 4X the allocated amount.
Home Rule allows irresponsible and reckless spending, expansion of local government, and if you REALLY want to get sick, look at the Boondoggle know as the Taj Ma Garage. Link below.
Any SANE person would not only kick the council out but get rid of half the staff. This city is out of control folks and you better wake up.
You want some hard facts? Or is your head in the sand. When you see this bus barn proposal, you may want to get a puke bucket.
It is all laid out for you to see. Will you take the time? Or, just vote for your buddies as the town sinks in to irresponsible debt and oblivion.
http://www.sedonareset.org Better pay attention before it is too late.
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