Sedona AZ (October 31, 2011) – The following is a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor:
Hi Angela –
When you publicly announced your run for City Council seat I was excited to have a new voice in our city government but today I find myself so very disappointed that you would participate in accusations without proof.
Stating someone or some group (referring to Vote No on 410 and LTPVON89A) 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 allegations as you did about members of the local Democratic Party?
(A.L. said...)…“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.”
“However, here in Sedona, on a very, very local issue, some on the other side are actually throwing mud and physically damaging our property.”
Please be an advocate for fact based allegations of such a very serious nature as breaking the law. If you have first hand knowledge that proves a person has broken the law please call the police and let them do their job.
I for one have had a half dozen or better signs stolen yet I have no proof that Voice of Choice or anyone else has stolen my sign so why would I publicly accuse them of breaking the law?
Sincerely, Bobbie Surber Sedona AZ
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It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if the missing signs didn’t amount to anything other than a contrived set-up. Voice of Choice 89A wants so badly to financially strap Sedona residents with ownership of a State Highway I doubt they would stop at anything to make it happen. Who’s to know if it wasn’t their own people who took the signs just in order to further sidetrack from the ongoing misinformation they continue to hand out?
Dear Bobbie,
In every local campaign is seems a few political signs go missing. However, in this campaign, a number closer to 50 of the Yes on 410 signs have been removed. In some locations, such as Thunder Mountain Rd (both within the “Ranch” as well as outside of it), every sign on the street was taken once or more–including from the yards of people not only on our side but also on our committee. Signs on Dry Creek Rd. were removed repeatedly.
When the campaign is over and we count the signs we pick up, then we’ll know how many were removed — it could be 100!
Wednesday (Oct. 26), a magnetic sign was removed from Linda S.’s car at the library and mud was put on her car where the sign had been.
Thursday night (Oct. 27), about 10 more magnetic vehicle signs were taken. At about $11 each, that’s over $100. Friday night, more magnetic signs were taken and a suspect was observed running to his car. Our large banner was damaged–the bottom of it shredded. That alone cost close to $100.
So it does seem systematic, and it doesn’t seem like behaviors that would be conducted by the Yes on 410 people. That leaves the No on 410 and undecided people. What do you think, Bobbie?
Police dispatch gave me a best-guess that about 20 police reports have been filed.
In addition, artist’s renderings used in our campaign were taken by leaders in LTPV, then used in violation of Federal Copyright Law. While your organization’s attorney argued making derivative works of them was “fair use,” we know different. How? Because Serge Wright said regarding our River of Lights postcard, “It doesn’t have a ‘c’ on it.” That does NOT make reappropriating it “fair use.” It’s theft!
What is so damning about the LTPV campaign is not only will 108 more street lights – at about 150-160 feet apart – not improve safe crossings or safe turns day or night, but that the disinformation and nasty politics (Liz Smith, for example) are available to anyone in the world who Googles Sedona.
We’ve talked to and heard from, during this campaign, scores of tourists who ask what 410 is about. When we say, “It’s about the City taking 4.8 miles of 89A in West Sedona, and $15 and a half million dollars from the state to manage the road, put in some crosswalks and things, or letting the state keep the road and put in 108 streetlights in a two-mile stretch,” every single person says “Take the road, not the lights! You’ll ruin Sedona.”
Lights are forever. Fortunately, character can be changed.
And may I ask and receive an answer, Lin Ennis, to this question:
Will the “scores of tourists” be paying the tab on improvements and maintaining that STATE HIGHWAY after Sedona owns it?
Will they be on call to fix the problem during the frequent malfunctions of the traffic light at Coffee Pot Road?
Will they be available to respond to the mishaps at the double roundabouts at Brewer Road and the “Y”?
When it snows or rocks slide onto the STATE HIGHWAY, will those tourists be of assistent?
Of course not.
As it is now, all of these folks help foot the bill for maintaining that STATE HIGHWAY via Federal and State Taxes. And, who are you to maintain that “$15 and a half million dollars” is still available? Was that deal not cancelled without absolute reassurance of reinstatement after the election?
VOTE NO ON PROP. 410
this is from the uptown area homeowner that keeps quiet unless provoked – screw you west sedona businesses & chamber a**bites that continue to say LIGHTS are good. live in this hell hole of uptown and you will change tunes.
main street sedona ruined my quality of life & any sense of night beautiful sedona. that’s the KISS truth dan surber shoved down our throats (wouldn’t hire him as an architect for an outhouse or her to stay in the school system)…… every city has rotten apples that spoil the pie for all & sad that chamber coopted keeber that used to be a man of good opinion and others.
if it wasn’t for film festival nobody would come to town for much. sedona musem on jordan rd is a plus plus. have you been there? like your news. not a fan of rrn. don’t like it when people in town complain about pink jeeps on road. they keep a lot of good revenue in town. we should be grateful. PS: meant to say don’t know that lady that bobbie surber referred to. what’d she say anyway that stirred up the bees nest?
Hi Lin,
I’m sure LTPVON89A is at the same count of lost signs and for sure last election we lost more than 50 signs. Again the difference is without proof I did not make unfounded allegations against my fellow residents.
We also had magnets removed from our cars and much more. Again, as we could not prove it was our opponent we did not make public allegations against them without a shred of evidence.
Lin, it is your turn, you can choose to take the high road or you can continue to accuse community members with such a serious charge as breaking the law.
I choose to not point my finger at Voice of Choice just because my signs are repeatedly removed. I am leaving the door open to a host of other reasons the signs have been removed.
Regarding the lights, I do not agree with your statement that lights are forever. Lights can be taken down but owning Hwy 89A is forever.
Fortunately this will soon end and we will all know what the residents prefer as stated by the majority yes or no vote on 410.
Bobbie Surber
Uptown Bill you bite. Now get a life other than Uptown Sedona. Take a pink jeep to Kansas with Toto. LMAO.
Leonard, I have not claimed the $15 and a half million dollars is still available. That’s where the line was drawn in the sand, however, so it bears mentioning.
YES, the tourists will be paying the tab if Sedona owns the street, and easily so as West Sedona “grows up” and becomes integrated in beauty, safety and appeal with Uptown and the 179 gallery district. Sales tax income (not percentage) will increase.
Sedona Police and Public Works respond to local problems. Call them if you have a complaint or suggestion.
Lin Ennis, I’m doing my best here to contain my fit of laughter and remain respectful of your comments.
However, taking into consideration the recent recommendation of certain Sedona City Council members to impose special improvement districts, or a city wide taxing district at the tune of $5,000 a pop, seems to be a concept you people are unable to grasp.
Your suggestion that tourists will pay enough taxes to Sedona City coffers to improve and maintain a State Highway without assisted funding from State or Federal sources is ludicrous.
Maybe it’s time for you to gather your troops and assemble, wearing your yellow uniforms, at Bell Rock for another Harmonic Convergence, being certain to clearly designate smoking and non/smoking seating when boarding the UFO for take-off.
With all due respect to our Sedona Police and Public Works Departments, do you seriously believe they have the expertise to correct malfunctioning traffic lights and other far more intricate difficulties posed with maintaining the operation of a State Highway versus Sedona’s city roads which were inherited from two counties after incorporation?
Wow! The list of reasons to vote NO on Prop. 410 is growing longer day by day.
I’m sick of hearing We can’t afford to protect our citizens and guests (except the ones who jaywalk in the dark).
Protecting the citizenry is a basic responsibility. We have to find a way to do it. It’s the right thing to do.
so lin ennis are you for or against 410? the points are fuzzy
Din Din Din, west Sedona, you are so right on. Read on for more fuzzy points.
On 10/14 N. Baer posted comments under a submission by Scott Jablow as she vehemently attacked a statement made by someone indicating 89A is and will remain a State Highway and not become a lazy little Sedona Main Street, as some of our visionaries would like us to believe.
N. Baer indicated the traffic in West Sedona was locally generated and not the result of a functioning State Highway originating from where I don’t really know, but factually it meanders at least from Prescott through Jerome, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, and Flagstaff, and wherever else takes it to conclusion, which definitely isn’t Sedona. I quote from her comments as follows:
“Be aware that West Sedona is home to almost 70% of Sedona’s population, do we not drive somewhere every day at least once?”
Insinuating that the traffic originating from Prescott and other points along the way using the State Highway via Sedona to points north is insignificant. Really?
And now I’m reading comments from Lin Ennis trying to convince the voters that it will be tourists footing the bill for Sedona’s ownership of this State Route:
“YES, the tourists will be paying the tab if Sedona owns the street, and easily so as West Sedona “grows up” and becomes integrated in beauty, safety and appeal with Uptown and the 179 gallery district.”
Hey girls and boys, you can’t have it both ways. Which is it? Forked tongue or double speak?
In Response to Lin Ennis post:
I am totally outraged at your comment of being sick of hearing we can’t afford to protect our citizens and guests…..”except the ones who jaywalk in the dark”
…..are you suggesting they are secondary citizens??? And then I simply must applaud you for finally getting the reality of the situation and resulting deaths and the reason why.
……they walked across a state highway, in the dark, and because there were no street lights to allow the oncoming drivers to see these innocent people – they were killed.
Never would have thought you would have admitted it Lin, “the ones who jawalk in the dark”.
Finally, Lin, you have spoken the truth.
Sheri, I didn’t read Lin’s statement like that at all. Since there has been so much talk about protecting jay-walkers at night, I understood Her to say that we should be able to also protect our citizens and guests. I mean, what price do we stop at to protect everyone’s life.
Settle down Sheri, stop twisting people’s statements, You still don’t have a nail to hang your hat on.
Dear “Concerned”:
You have taken my comments out of context. I trust that wasn’t intentional, but just a misunderstanding on your part. To clarify what I had written – I was responding to the notion that all of the traffic in West Sedona is tourist-based and I quoted The Transportation Board’s (a division of the National Research Council) data that “of all trips; 50% are under 3 miles, 28% are 1 mile or less and 72% of trips 1 mile or less are driven.” This information is available on http://www.completestreets.com as part of its PowerPoint presentation slide 20/81. I then posed the question as to how one would make the assumption that all of the traffic in West Sedona is composed of tourists only. The fact that it ” meanders at least from Prescott through Jerome, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, and Flagstaff, is irrelevant because one could also state that I-117 “meanders” through the entire state of Arizona. My point as supported by national traffic statistics if that of the 7,000 residents in West Sedona many of us make at least one car trip through the city daily. I have seen an estimate that we have 1.1 million tourists/year (I don’t know who gathered this data), but for sure, they are not all coming at the same time.
Dear Concerned,
Since there is no way to protect people from themselves and their jaywalking tendency’s….it becomes up to us to help them (all of them – citizens and visitors)…us, meaning providing a safe level of travel within our city boundaries.
Your point of “what price do we stop at to protect everyone’s life.” is well taken.
I am settled on that answer and I do not twist statements.
The nail I feel comfortable hanging (not my) the hat on is that in less than 2 weeks – 1200 concerned citizens signed petitions to get two issues to a vote of our citizens….so I guess they are the ones who hung their hats on a better way to deal with the council’s 4/3 vote….and in a few short days that is exactly what will happen…they will vote NO on 410 and YES on 411.
Why will they do that? Because they see the larger picture vs the narrow one Lin puts out. Fact!
Guess you missed her comment of ” I’m sick of hearing We can’t afford to protect our citizens and guests (except the ones who jaywalk in the dark).” Weren’t all those killed on 89A either guests or citizens? Or who else could they be? Please remember – her operable words are “in the dark”.
I’m thinking she just hit those poor people, again, who were killed on 89A, due to the lack of adequate lighting so the on coming drivers would have had the opportunity to put their breaks on and not have nightmares of what the realities of what an unlighted state hiway in Sedona did to them.
Daily, I hear repeated accounts of how our locals, and guests have had to work hard at not hitting people crossing 89A at night – never in the day time.
What am I missing?
Sheri Graham
This is what you’re missing, Sheri . . . “According to Sedona Police Department data, during the four year period from 2007 through 2010, 402 daytime crashes on W. 89A accounted for 95.2 % of the total crashes, and 96% of all injuries” (www.voiceofchoicefor89A.com).
To N. Baer re your response to “Concerned.” One question: Thank you for having proven my point. Your obvious confusion pales in comparison to my own. I rest my case.
Bobbie, this election has nothing to do with the last election. Revealing anything we know about the thefts that might interfere in a police investigation is not appropriate. I understand your side is missing signs, too. I apologize. Fortunately, you didn’t have banners vandalized and car magnets removed en masse.
Sheri, All you and your comrades talk about is “we can’t afford it!” You’re the ones elevating four night-time fatalities in a 6-year period above 100 crashes a year! My remark about jaywalking in the dark was meant to ferret out, by humor, the illogic of your wanting safety ONLY AT NIGHT.
You’re on the team that published a picture of a teddy bear and cross, indicating a child’s death, on the road. Yes, that would be tragic. That’s why we need some daytime safety measures, which ADOT has up till now refused to consider.
I do not understand how you can cry We can’t afford it, when lives of children, seniors, disabled, and the rest of us, including three intoxicated jaywalkers and one senior jaywalker are all at stake. Can you not see the need for crosswalks?
ADOT offered an ultimatum. Take the road or get lights and nothing else. Do you and your team “divine” ADOT doesn’t know its own mind and will be lured back into starting the safety discussions from the beginning?
Please explain.
Hi Lin,
It is truly unfortunate that you have elected to continue to make unfounded allegations against your fellow residents. And yes, this is the same as the last election. Candidates made false allegations in the last election all in an attempt to further their political agenda. And now it would seem that VOC is following the same political strategy.
Personally I believe when a committee or candidate has to reach for such forced drama and unfounded allegations of breaking the law they have tipped their hand that they are not as sure of their message and their ability to convince the voters as they would like us to believe. How sad and I hope the voters are as weary as I am of such nonsense.
I think it speaks highly of LTPVON89A that despite missing campaign collateral, despite the name calling they have stayed to the high road and understand after this is over we all have to live together in the same very small community.
Lin, look to the past leaders including such diverse political opinions as former mayors Dick Ellis and Pud Colquitt. Both stick with the facts, never roll in the mud and understand that while they may disagree on one community issue they will be in agreement on another issue. Simply stated, Ellis and Colquitt do not burn bridges and work to preserve the honor and integrity of all concerned citizens.
I would think your job is to present your case and allow the voters to decide not argue with anyone that has a different view than you. Let’s just give all of this a rest knowing we will have the election results very soon.
Thanks,
Bobbie
You know Bobbie, the vote is over. Too bad that folks did not understand the real numbers of 89A. Too bad they did not mention that Sedona already pays 50% of the annual maintenance of the road, and does most of the maintenance. Your LTPV vote crowd scared the folks with the threat of a city property tax, for months, which of course you left out the little detail that the citizens would have to vote on it. And DiNunzio – being dragged around by Dr, Wright listened to that statement and never ONCE corrected the property tax fear.
LTPV said the lights were IDSA compliant. You forgot about the part where the only thing that was DSC was the head. The system was not, the LPS bulbs are not, and the total system (which IDSA never rates) will increase the glow of Sedona by 14%.
You scared people into thinking that if Sedona owned the road that Sedona could not fix the drainage. You forgot the part where the dollars for the road could not be used by the city and the city funds could not be used for the road. How convenient. You also neglected to report, like the RRN did (big surprise) that there are three components to the flooding issue, the biggest one is encroachment of the arroyos by private property owners, which the city has no authority to address. Slip of the ole brain Bobbie? Or does the fear tactic work for you better, yes it did.
Did you ever stop and do the numbers on the $10.6 million that Sedona was going to get? Did you ever once look at the finances? Do you know HOW to look at finances? Did you ever run the REAL numbers that showed that the city could have done $6 million in upgrades which INCLUDED 15 years maintenance on the road and still had enough reserve at 2.5% interest to mill and replace the pavement in 2027 allowing the road to be good until 2042? Is that an OOPSEY Bobbie?
The fact that you once sat on the council with such a lack of understanding of facts and financial data is the scariest thing of all. Duping the people in this town to buying off on a pack of piecemeal statements that were built into one of the biggest scare campaigns that I have seen in some time has only been outdone by one entity, the White House? Are you in training for a job there?
Hello Mike,
It is a well know fact that I opposed ownership of Hwy 89A due to not having a plan, design cost, construction cost or a dedicated revenue stream.
All other issues you will need to take up with Let the People Vote on 89A as I am not on their committee.
It does seems strange that you are so upset with LTPV when one of your Ads listed that if we do not own the road West Sedona will look like South Phoenix. So I think it is an endless and pointless argument over what side had the most factual information or what side used the most scare tactics. I also disagree with this being the worse election. Last election included much mud slinging, inaccurate financial information and false allegations of breaking the law.
While I have a long history of community service I have never served on City Council. I also know the more you serve and volunteer the more you know that while you disagree on one community issue you will find yourself working together on another issue. I guess this is why I have had the pleasure of working with a diverse group of community leaders from many different viewpoints and opinions on what is best for Sedona.
I hope to have the pleasure of working with you in the future as I am sure another community issue will arise that we both find common ground on and are afforded an opportunity to get to know each other better than publicly posted letters.
Respectfully,
Bobbie Surber
Dear Bobbie:
I am sorry but I have not been following this discourse. I do not want to open old wounds. I am running for City Council because I want to encourage cooperation and not discord. Those comments I made about signs were made a long time ago, and probably should not have been made. I respect the vote of the people who decided that wanted the lights and did not want ownership of 89A. I still feel that we would have done better investing in our future and in safety on 89A. I do not feel we have a safe main street now.
Be as it may, I respect you Bobbie, and take your comments seriously. It is my goal to be positive and run a positive campaign on listening, learning and putting together solutions. I hope to have my campaign literature and website developed very soon and I look forward to hearing your comments on the issues which I feel affect us now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Angela
Thank you Angela LeFevre for the reminder. You neglected to mention how you used Democrats of the Red Rocks online newsletter as a source to promote your lust for owning West 89A back in 2011. Weren’t you President or Chairman of that group then? Good information for voters to keep in mind while making a decision.
Angela, I’m thinking you need to take your boat on down stream and find a new outlet for your DORR propaganda.
@Jerry, Sedona City Limits is just so correct in his definition/description of you.
I’ve yet to hear you say anything that actually benefits Sedona……..aside from your personal wishes. You lost on the 89A ownership issues (Even while you misused your position in DORR); you lost on your State election run…and Please don’t take up our time with your third personal wants and wanting to be on our council.
We need people who actually can look at the middle ground instead of their leftist propaganda stances.
OK Angela you wrote: Those comments I made about signs were made a long time ago, and probably should not have been made.
PROBABLY? Stay home. Be a volunteer. Do no harm. What possible knowledge could you bring to Council with your background? You weren’t raised in a democratic country and you do not know or understand how one works. God Save US in Sedona because Angela would be queen. Haven’t the voters told you enough times that you don’t represent them? Hasn’t DORR made it clear?
Good reminder, Bobbie et al.
The thought just occurred to me that no matter who is elected to the City Council it will be business as usual. With just the three still seated, all they need is one more to continue “business as usual” which translates to rob taxes from the WW treatment plant, sock it to user fees, and create new methods of taxation for the never ending spending spree.
As for Sandra Moriarity and her vying for mayor, we already know she served as a member and possibly “Chair” of the former Housing Commission and is one of the hot shots on the annual wine festival at the airport. She is constantly at council meetings, and noticeably has a close relationship with Jessica Williamson (also involved in the housing ADU promotion while on city staff.) Sandra has been very vocal about supporting the Chamber of Commerce with the marketing contract. Her election alone will assure continuation of the tax/spend policy that simply must be put on hold.
How to do it? The only solution at this stage is put a halt on freedom to spend, spend, spend. VOTE NO ON HOME RULE. Let’s please give it a try for the next four years. What do we have to lose? It’s all being snatched from us as those who serve only their own special interests continue to call the shots without concern for local businesses and residents.
NO, NO, NO On Home Rule. Four years of pulling in the spending reins just might send a long overdue message.