http://research.asupublichistory.org/2013/11/20/papago-saguaro-abolishing-a-national-monument/

Who’s Dick Ellis, if you don’t know who Dick Ellis is, you should go to the library or Google and learn a bit about Sedona to know who Dick Ellis is.

As for this National Monument question, I went to the Rep Bob Thorpe site like every one else as been suggesting and learned a lot. That site in and of itself TELLS ALL of why we don’t want the Monument in Sedona

2013: Forest Service releases Draft Land and Resource Management Plan for the Coconino National Forest.

Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick introduces HR 3704 in the 113th Congress: Sedona-Red Rock National Scenic Area Act of 2010. Bill not enacted because it was not heard in committee.

Sedona City Council requests Keep Sedona Beautiful to organize effort to determine how best to permanently preserve Forest Service lands in the Greater Sedona Region.

2014: Sedona City Council establishes Citizens Engagement Committee to review priorities for 2015-2016. Besides 5 priorities the committee also recommended that seeking permanent protection for national forest lands be considered. March 21, 2014.

Sedona City Council sets priorities for 2015-2016. Included in priorities is permanent protection for Forest Service lands in Sedona area.

Keep Sedona Beautiful initiates committee to investigate preservation of lands.”
(end of KSB web site quote)

Conflicting statements in a full-page “notice” (advertisement?) Red Rock News Friday, August 28, 2015, reference the “Monument Workgroup called to action by the City of Sedona . . .” and towards the bottom of the page under “Timeline . . .” it states:

“March-August 2015. A workgroup was formed in response to a request from the City of Sedona that KSB identify the most viable option for permanent protection of the world-famous scenic Red Rock Ranger District forest lands surrounding Sedona – the area’s economic lifeline.”

So at just what point in time was this deal with the City of Sedona and Keep Sedona Beautiful activated – 2013, 2014, or 2015? Was the request to KSB made “official” through the endeavors of a Sedona Citizens Engagement Committee? How many “work groups” has KSB established and at how many requests from the City of Sedona?

Many more questions remain unanswered. For starters, names please.

Oh sure, there’s many who’d like to see that crossing “rebuilt.” Not many know it was simply a couple of boards and you had to drive through the river to get from Loop Road to Verde Valley School Road. Can you imagine thousands of cars driving through the river in the middle of a riparian area where (currently) the only sounds we hear are the sounds of nature and people enjoying the creek?

Years ago when they were talking about a bridge across the the creek at Red Rock Crossing, there wasn’t a lot of development in the middle of Loop Road. That’s no longer the case – and if you make a bridge, a lot of people are going to lose their homes or the serenity of peace they now enjoy. The bridge will open up even more development, more traffic, and more pollution.The people now enjoying a quiet lifestyle in the Cathedral Rock Valley will be subject to a virtual freeway in their backyards. Private property next to the creek will be impacted. The costs will be huge. Who will pay? We all will. It’s a lose-lose proposition.

There’s a bridge at LaMerra that goes to Verde Valley School Road from Loop Road and that property is sitting there, waiting for real estate to recover so they can sell the lots. Nothing is there at the moment, except the roads. If the County (outside city limits) wants to, they should purchase the property and open it for public access back and forth from west Sedona to VOC. The truth is that they can’t afford it. To take the land forcefully through eminient domain would cause just big lawsuits it would bankrupt the county.

The Red Rock Crossing is nothing more than a pipe dream – all the reasons why not have been addressed years ago. Stop thinking the National Monument proponents have any authority at all.

I have been in Sedona for over 25 years, raised my kids here, own a home, and have my own business. I care deeply for Sedona, which is why I’m against this National Monument designation. I do not want Washington DC to manage my home. They can’t even manage the National Monuments they have now due to a lack of money. This designation will do nothing for Sedona except create more problems. Who’s going to pay for this? The Sedona/Verde Valley resident.

Sign here http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/united-citizens-opposing