SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie S. Maddock
Sedona AZ (November 4, 2012) – SedonaEye.com columnist, Eddie S. Maddock, takes a look at political intrusions and Truth illusions:
Having witnessed firsthand hundreds of thousands of dollars being spent to contribute tons of unwanted mail into recycle bins and or land fills, not to mention the unwanted too-numerous-to-mention phone calls which have been questioned as violating the National Do-Not-Call list, is it possible that, for at least a little while, we will be spared these grossly offensive intrusions into our private lives?
While efforts are being made to stop bullying in our schools and on the Internet, whether we wanted it or not, over and over again, we have been subjected to ads making questionable accusations about political adversaries. The attacks ran amok, endlessly degrading candidates of all persuasions, without the defined courtesy of substantiating evidence.
What kind of example does this set for children, the future leaders of our country?
Within our own smaller realm of Sedona we, too, are subjected at times to perhaps well-intended but somewhat devious methods whereby if implementation intervenes it frequently serves primarily to merely muddy the water.
As the Community Plan continues its trip to revision, how equitable is it for a handful of “planners” to ascertain the appropriate direction for Sedona’s future based on the input of a very small percentage of the total population? For example, if 500 to 1,000 people actively submit suggestions for the vision of “Sedona 2020 and Beyond” is that reason enough to implement plans and ideas that in the future may result in devastating financial burdens to the total population of Sedona?
It once was that the City of Sedona mailed out questionnaires for public input. Did that practice cease because the results of citizen input didn’t concur with what city planners had in mind?
Is it fair or prudent for those in-charge to encourage the idea of costly and questionably needed capital improvements which if made known could serve, and rightfully so, as a deterrent to proposals that should never come to fruition?
How reasonable is it to visualize Sedona focusing away from the automobile to trend towards pedestrian mobility and transit when the main thoroughfares through our city, SR179 and SR89A, remain state routes? It has been clearly decided – via the voters – that residents are not in favor of the city owning either of these highly traveled highways.
The ongoing determination to create enhanced appreciation of Oak Creek – either from a distance or more direct involvement such as pathways or a public park – should be thoroughly researched insofar as expense for establishment and subsequent maintenance and liability projections for future years: The public deserves to be made aware of honest results and potential sources of its funding.
Let’s face it. On a smaller scale the alleged longing for public access to a Creek Walk could easily set the scene for a future the same as the recent demise of the New Jersey shore and boardwalk.
How foolish is that?
Ask those who were forced to evacuate their own homes during a couple of previous floods. It was the late ‘70’s when Red Rock Crossing washed out. And does anyone remember former City Council Member Charley Crick in a front page photo rescuing a family member from her residence at Sycamore Cove Mobile Park during a wrath of raging Oak Creek in February 1993?
Sure, while some visitors come to seek physical or spiritual renewal or active recreation, doesn’t it still remain a fact the initial attraction has been and will remain the red rocks of Sedona? Are the Sedona planners and city officials so certain they have the ability to be more creative and are more capable of surpassing the gift originally bestowed from Mother Nature in the first place? If so, perhaps they should consider running for elevated stature of a national politician!
Think long and hard City Planners and members of the Sedona City Council! Be fair to the public at large – and not just the special interests who continue to pull strings and have their way with City Hall – at the expense of those of us who live here.
How sensible will it be to create an events center which will realistically be in keeping with Sedona’s “small-town character?” Is this just another example of a proposal representing a Sedona oxymoron?
Stay tuned. Closely follow new plans for Sedona’s revised red rocky road to the future.
Be well prepared to vote wisely when the time arrives in 2013.
Deception isn’t difficult to accomplish and has long been a coward’s tool for undeserving achievements. Rationalization is a somewhat whimsical method used to attempt to magically justify and make false facts out of even the most blatant of lies. Eventually, however, the truth will surface.
It always does.
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Vote 2012, November 6! This election will come down to one thing: how many people vote. Find out where and when you’re voting, and bring a neighbor.
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Ms. Maddock, while I have been a big fan of your writings in the past, I must take acceptation with most of your article. When you present your opinion about what the City is doing with the Community Plan Update I question myself of how in the world you can come up with this drivel.
As an elder Sedona resident I was thrilled at the way the City staff has handled the Community Plan Update. I have attended every one of the open meetings at the middle school, have you? I don’t recall ever seeing you there. If you had attended, you would have learned a lot about this project.
I’m a former resident from Ft. Lauderdale and the idea that Local Government would spend money on a project such as the Community Plan Update, would never be discussed because they don’t care about big changes. This whole project has been as transparent and accessible as anyone can imagine. I remember John Sather and Mike Bower saying that they went to every extreme to get input, houses of worship, schools, senior centers, C of C, even to the extent of offering a Party in a Box to community organizations and small groups. HOW MUCH MORE CAN ANYONE ASK?
The mere fact that the committee received over 1000 suggestions is a great accomplishment, were any of them from you?
Your scare tactics of DEVASTATING FINANCIAL BURDENS are just that, scare tactics. Your rants in the posting are all over the place with very few making sense.
Perhaps it’s time for you to hang up your keyboard, if that doesn’t work, why not attend some of the open meetings at the Community Room or speak with Mr. Raber at City Hall and GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT.
Thank you, Patrick Michael Thomas, for your comments. Indeed I have attended many Community Plan public meetings over the years, including city council meetings whereby standing room only attendance has objected to suggested features of proposed plans. The response from former city council members has been: “Vote to approve the plan now and we will work on the issues to which you object at a later date.” And, of course, such promises remain unfulfilled.
And yes, as a matter of fact, I did submit a written suggestion and to my knowledge it was added to the mix. With respect and acknowledgment that demographics of Sedona as well as other growing communities do, indeed, change to some degree, unlike other cities and towns, protecting Sedona’s outstanding scenic attraction was, from the beginning, to have remained the focus in Sedona.
That was the reason Sedona became an incorporated municipality, to maintain local control since some people didn’t approve of the direction being taken under the previous jurisdiction of Yapapai and Coconino Counties. Of course it is absolutely a matter of varying opinions whether or not Sedona’s rare treasure has been handled with the care and consideration many think it deserves.
As for devastating financial burdens, that remains to be seen. My only suggestion is that people who visualize high end facilities do so realistically with full disclosure as to potential citizen obligation. For example, the former organizers of the Cultural Park had been forewarned, by people far more knowledgeable than I, about the predicted fate of that complex and they turned out to be correct.
As for potential perils of a creek walk and related public park, historically they have proven real as evidenced by serious flooding when spring rains melt vast amounts of snowfall in the higher elevations. That, Mr. Thomas, is a fact over and above additional flood threats during the monsoon season. For years study after study has resulted in the same conclusion: Creek walk, bad idea.
Further, the Community Plan serves only as a guideline of suggestions. Time and time again city codes and ordinances work to dilute the plan’s effectiveness which, in a way, renders it a somewhat useless document or, frequently at best, an application to be applied according to varied interpretations. Another fact, Sir.
Respectfully,
Eddie Maddock
Ms. Maddock:
I appreciate your quick and knowledgeable response. I completely agree with your opinions about the Cultural Park and the Creek Walk, no further discussion needed.
When it comes to the Community Plan update, keep in mind that the City is mandated to conduct this project every 10 years. While I can also agree that the whole process may seem useless because there’s no money, the process still has to be done. In concept, the fact that a community can have real input into the future of their city is a fantastic idea and to the best of my knowledge, not mandated in other state. That aside, I always thought that if the State mandates that each City goes through the Community Plan process, then they should kick in a few million dollars to help accomplish the changes derived from the plan but we all know that this would never happen.
For you to say that you have attended many Community Plan public meetings over the years doesn’t say that you have attended THE CURRENT meetings. While I wasn’t a resident 10 years ago, I have heard from those who were, that this process appears to be much more focused. It’s easy to sit back in your home and take cheap shots but I must say the people conducting this plan have pulled out all of the stops to do their best to GET IT RIGHT.
Patrick Michael Thomas
and just who wins the prize for taking cheap shots here mr. thomas my vote goes to U
It’s reported that the city will evaluate its commssions. Does anyone believe this might be an attempt to restrain control by a select few? For example, those who continue to restructure our subdivisions and re-write our CC&R’s?
Very funny after the cow was let out of the barn when the city voted approval to enter the real estate business by randomly rezoning for “affordable housing” in established residential areas. Too little too late.
Since Parks & Rec several months ago were given their marching orders to incorporate a creek walk and park into their master plan, and now Dr. Rod Abbott of the Sedona 30 was recently named Volunteer of the Year by the Sedona Community Foundation (among his achievements included support for a creek walk), let’s face it. As many things “Sedona” it appears to be a done deal, like it or not. Might the project more appropriately be named “Cakewalk?”