Comments on: Call ADOT’s Bluff: Stay the course on 89A lights opposition

By: Editor

Editor — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:16:53 +0000

In now way am I advocating the city should take 89A back. What I am saying is the City just has to stand up to ADOT and kick butt in court should the state agency be that arrogant to try to shove the lights down our throat.

They do not have the power. The real power is in the mandate voters gave the elected new council to fight the lights.

By: James Harrington, Sedona

James Harrington, Sedona — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 01:08:32 +0000

Will someone please tell me if “Tommy’s” article to which Cole Greenberg refers is the same one I read? If, by chance, the answer is “yes” then where is it mentioned that he recommended for the City of Sedona to take back the remainder of SR89A within City Limits? In fact, two comments above Cole’s remarks, the editor advocates the money being “blown” to study a turnback would be better spent preparing a legal campaign once ADOT commences to proceed with the lights. Anyone in their right mind knows the city cannot afford to assume that State route as a “city street”. Pipe dreams of grants as funding for improvements might be compared to looking for that pot at the end of one of Sedona’s fabulous rainbows. Further, Cole’s comparison to SR 179 is so off the charts one might question his thinking process? Has he forgotten that it was ADOT who paid for that fabulous route which, so far, remains under the jurisdiction of the State of Arizona. If the city is so foolish to take back the remainder of 89A, how long will the status of 179 remain with the State? Cole, go look at the mess the city made of the portion of the 89A turnback in uptown Sedona and kindly reread the words of the editor that you so blatently twisted to suit your own needs.

By: rubberstamps

rubberstamps — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 05:42:22 +0000

“After the bidding went three rounds of raises, I called — and lost my shirt.”

By: Cole Greenberg

Cole Greenberg — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:06:37 +0000

Bravo, Tommy! You have captured the essence of this issue! It took us years to overcome ADOT’s “bluster” about SR179 and have our efforts realized in the very beautiful “scenic parkway” that wends its way through Sedona (the place) and also Sedona (the city). We did it by discovering and then promoting “Context Sensitive Design. The current struggle with the runaway State agency known as ADOT is only another round in the same fight. ADOT enjoyed being the single largest importer of outside (federal) money into Arizona (private or government) and by virtue of that fact, also enjoyed a singular position with regard to its influence. Sedona upset all of that with its relentless and successful campaign against the ADOT juggernaut interstate-highway design and ADOT wants to restore its power over the legislature by bloodying Sedona’s nose in public. We must not let them do it! Everything about West SR89A is “Sedona,” except the pavement and curbs. We can afford to own the rest if we really do our homework (thank you, Cliff Hamilton) and use what we learn to get sufficient money from ADOT along with the pavement to take care of maintenance and as much in improvement as we really want and can afford over time . . . And, once the whole thing is ours, we can go for grants, using our success with SR179 and its acknowledged (award winning) “Context Sensitive Design.”

By: Beverly Smith, Sedona

Beverly Smith, Sedona — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:45:08 +0000

Bravo to Tommy Acosta….. for a clear and understandable explanation of what has been going on with the 89A lights.

By: Editor

Editor — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:59:36 +0000

I agree with the Sedona Times Associate Editor. If the City wants to blow bucks on studying a turnback that’s their perogative but those bucks could be better spent preparing a legal campaign and a bad publicity blitz against ADOT should it make the mistake of trying to put those lights in.

Realistically, a turnback will not lead to a makeover of the West Sedona 89A corridor because the City does not have the money. We may be looking at rows of boarded up storefronts along 89A by 2012 should the dire predictions of economist Rick Normand come to pass.

The City can buy time and push back the inevitable confrontation with ADOT over the lights or it can simply prepare for legal and civil battle with the state agency.

That’s the choice.

By: Eddie

Eddie — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:21:05 +0000

Referring to my colleague’s comments, I couldn’t agree more. As the author of another article on the same subject, my goal was to be factual insofar as a quick recap of this most recent Sedona Saga and to do so in a fair and balanced manner. My personal opinion, however, very much parallels the suggestion of Tommy Acosta . . . that being to ultimately tell ADOT to go ahead with the lights, provided none of the further pending discussions prove to have merit. Those involved in the revision of SR 179 went through years of revolution before agreement for the final design and, in the very near future, implementation reflecting the people’s choice will loudly shout the reward of persistence when construction of our “scenic highway” comes to fruition.. My hope is that the pitfalls I pointed out in my article will eventuate as being deemed unfeasible to accommodate and the will of the majority ot the people who elected the new members to our City Council to complete the quorum necessary to “stop the lights” will realize their ultimate goal.

By: Loomofjer, Jerome

Loomofjer, Jerome — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:31:10 +0000

ADOT has to justify its existence becuz it is overstaffed and its budget is out of sink with fiscal reality so cut the fat out Sedona. how many engineers does it take to make a presention before a tiny city council? all on overtime, most mediocre brained. Nuff said about ADOT.

By: George, Sedona

George, Sedona — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:26:50 +0000

If the en masse voters who elected the current city council sent a “with us or agin us” message to the Governor and the Chamber of Commerce guess who would see the light first in this election year? organizations out there ought to stop fighting alone and get a cooperative post card and fax and petition started like KSB did with NSA. Where are our elected officials voices like Kirkpatrick and McCain? The organization that elected the new council should use its resources to take the battle to the Governor and the Chamber. Stop being a HennyPenny, Vice Mayor Hamilton.

By: P. Revere

P. Revere — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:29:18 +0000

I believe your assumptions are correct. I believe that ADOT has been bluffing because it has NO MONEY and those of us against the lights would surely win a lawsuit once all the evidence is revealed in a court of law.