SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie Maddock provides a forum for Sedona mayoral candidate, Kurt Gehlbach, to provide his perspective on the March 2020 City Council decision to approve the purchase of 430 Forest Road (Uptown) for over its appraised value, and encumbering more than $11 million in new debt for city taxpayers if projected tourism parking meter income fails to service the debt.
Sedona AZ – Although earth as an orb continues its normal rotation, global inhabitants have been thrown into an alien orbit which is NOT in outer space. The seriousness of the deadly coronavirus is reality in the truest form. Isn’t it somewhat stunning to become shell-shocked and forced to face the fact that mere mortals really don’t have a great deal of control?
However and in spite of the turmoil, it is an election year and survivors of the pandemic will have the privilege of casting votes in Sedona for candidates vying for Sedona Mayor and rotating seats on the Sedona City Council.
The two mayoral contenders remain Mayor Sandy Moriarty, opting for yet another term, and a new name on the slate, Kurt Gehlbach.
Because the coronavirus conflict quite likely will obstruct the opportunity for city council candidate forums prior to the primary vote in August, Mr. Gehlbach contacted me inquiring about the possibility for Sedona Eye to feature some information about him. Therefore, this resulting article has been derived solely from e-mail communication obliging the mandate for no private meetings, consultations, or even phone calls.
Mr. Gehlbach opted to focus on his own perspective relating to the city council’s recent approval at the council meeting on March 24, 2020:
- AB 2570 Approval of a Resolution authorizing a Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement for the City of Sedona to purchase the property located at 430 Forest Road (APN 401-160-71) located in Coconino County, City of Sedona, Arizona, for the sum of $480,000 for use as a parking structure.
Due to recent global events creating such an upheaval and uncertain economic predictions, Kurt Gehlbach maintains this premise:
Sedona AZ uptown tourist traffic. The city plans to build parking garages for 500 additional vehicles in Uptown to encourage shopping. [Photo courtesy The Arizona Republic]
He continues: “With regards to real estate, I personally have 24 years as a licensed residential Real Estate Agent and Developer, always successful through every negotiation. Why? Experience, research, knowledge and always emotionally prepared to negotiate.
Considering all circumstances I would never move forward with the purchase of any property during an election year and certainly not when we know there’s the possibility for another financial recession.
When moving forward within favorable conditions I first request a current appraisal to be accomplished by the property owner. While waiting for the appraisal, I personally research all comparative properties in order to compare to the appraisal. When the appraisal comes in, I scrutinize the hell out of it making sure everything is accurate and up to date. When negotiations begin, I never offer appraised value, starting the negotiation below appraisal, especially when it’s a cash transaction.”
Questioning the wisdom of the city having paid $100,000 OVER appraised value at the recommendation of the city manager, Mr. Gehlbach stated: “The people of Sedona have now been ripped off through pure ignorance!”
His conclusion is the city of Sedona has now set a precedent for any FUTURE land acquisitions to be overvalued, questioning the premise of “property is only worth what the Buyer is willing to pay.” Is that true when the investment was overpriced to begin with?
Regarding future Uptown parking, here’s what Kurt Gehlbach has to say:
A recent ADOT traffic study found the majority of Sedona tourist traffic backs up miles just to drive through the Sedona city limits without stopping before continuing along SR 89A to reach their northern destinations.
“$11.5 million to place 300 automobiles in the center of uptown, and that’s one of two parking structures, totaling roughly an additional 500 automobiles in Uptown Sedona. Add another $500,000 or more for the “ledge work” they will find digging down at least 2 floors or 30 feet (??)”
Kurt continues: “Not long ago our Mayor, Sandy Moriarty, was headstrong to be part of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, designed to cut emissions, basically decreasing Sedona’s carbon footprint within the next three years. Does this make sense to anyone?”
Regarding Sedona residents, Kurt Gehlbach relates:
“Prior to lockdown, I spent days and many hours walking door to door throughout our city gathering 200 signatures myself while sharing in conversation.
The emotions are all over the place, and many of our residents are very angry. I’m truly, truly worried about the future of Sedona so I believe the conversation needs to be about Sedona herself and our residents, to include their mixed levels of anger toward this government. We, as a city, must now come together to create change through a government that will listen, respond, inform, create and prosper with and for the Residents of Sedona. How about grasping the opportunity for such a collaboration giving new life and hope for Sedona’s survival?”
End of input from city of Sedona mayoral candidate Kurt Gehlbach. Read, study, ask questions and by all means plan to vote in August. Life in Sedona continues and be grateful each and every day for what we have and consider by way of your own judgment what will be the best way to preserve and protect this special corner of the world.
Over and Out. Cheers. Be Safe. Stay Well.
To speak by phone, email me at Kurt4mayor@gmail.com for my contact number.
Hi pay no attention the negative comments.. They are a very smallVocal MINORITY!’ Always will be. Do t waste your time these people hate everything. Your never gonna get their votes. they are never satisfied with anything.
Suspicions confirmed give it a rest. Tony would NOT of won under any Circumstance. Your living in a fantasy!
To speak by phone, email me at kurt4mayor@gmail.com for my contact number.
This is hilarious, he’s running for public office but won’t publicly state his opinions.
psst….email him and he will give you his phone number…
This election is the kind of clown show uninformed voters deserve. The inevitable end result is the town goes broke and becomes a ghost town. The parasites move on to their next victim.
Karma, you get what you deserve, good and hard.
And how do you KNOW “Tony would NOT of won under any Circumstance” @Suspicions confirmed?
If Tony had received the number of votes that went to the “third” candidate? Maybe even some Sandy voters would have voted for Tony. You don’t know anymore than anyone else unless you’re some deity from outer space. But, of course, that’s a possibility here in Sedona.
And back to the subject. Do we need hundreds of more vehicles in uptown Sedona? What about the fumes and our clean air and dark skies? Where’s Keep Sedona Beautiful these days. Oh forgot. They allied with the chamber of commerce when they endorsed the Bambi Scare Laser Light Shows a few years ago!
Well at least that’s been done away with which is what should happen to the multi-story parking facility proposed for an over priced land purchase. But of course that’s just my opinion.
And what about the property on Jordan Road, owned by the “chamber” but purchased with city revenue? That was supposed to have been for a parking facility. More shenanigans contrived behind closed doors at City Hall?
Yes, it really is remarkable, “running for public office but won’t publicly state his opinions.” But hey, “just trust us” worked for the CoC, so why not? After all, this is Tard Town.
Thanks for bringing the conversation back to topic.
I think that all of the posters figured out the Gehlbach is someone that neither side would support, he’s just clueless.
As for the question of traffic, I don’t like it but Sedona was a tourist town way before it was a twinkle in my husband’s eye. So, I either have to pull my big girl panties up and live with it or move. I think I’ll be staying.
I’m always disturbed at the either ors of my neighbors in conversation and here. Tourism is not an either or.
3 million visitors were handled without a chamber and without funneled cash through the city and our quality of life as far back as the 1980s and 1990s withstood the test as Sedona was owned and operated and lived and died by the residents and visitors economics, not by this artificial chamber and city Siamese relationship.
Get it yet? We don’t need the chamber or fake advertising.
@Kay. Perfect comment. Spoken like a true advocate for Sedona.
I’d add this by saying the virus and off seasons and no holidays has proven the traffic isn’t caused by locals and is strictly a tourist phenomenon. Even with three thousand locals added in 30 years the road improvements on 179 and 89 more then adequately addressed local and tourist needs. It’s the Chamber’s advertising that has skewed the day traffic from tourists that stayed a week and came for
Sedona to Those who can’t afford lunch and misuse our town and to that statement I add some of its last decade of politicians, business owners and city hall.
Turn off that faucet and let us get back to normal.
We don’t need a parking garage in uptown for the Very Few who would use it and it’s known in private discussions to be solely to enrich the Very Rich out of state landlords in uptown. Let them pay for their own garage and the purchase of property for it knowing they never wanted it or saw a need for it, or would have done the same as the city to contact site owners (whether it’s listed wouldn’t make any difference to them either) if it was necessary. As you see, it never was built.
I know this as fact. I’m one of them who would have pursued it. Even now I don’t want it. There no reason to build a redundant structure. The same group that pushed for Barbara Antonsen concrete shell that collapsed for city involvement in a ridiculous scheme and inappropriate design or need is pushing again for this.
We do not need it. We do not need a park and ride outside the city. We need to allow thr people who visit determine what makes
Them happy with what is offered. Naturally. Without false promise or hype.
I like this upstart site. Always have. First and quite likely last comment. Sedona at its best needs a voice and it’s yours.
Regarding the last election, as soon as the third candidate entered the race I knew the votes would be split and my odds of winning went way down.
Those that ran the third candidate knew he would split the vote also. The people collecting city funds will do anything to keep the revenue stream.
I think in every election if there is a even slightly strong resident focused mayor candidate a third candidate will be run to insure the tourist focus remains.
I don’t think you are going to fix this by voting in new council candidates. You definitely won’t get any change this election.
I would not have gone forward with the parking garage if I were mayor.
I also think the parking garage is a done deal along with the disastrous uptown road improvements. Talk about killing the small town character.
OMG a voice of sanity! Something sorely missing at City Hall includes Staff AND City Council. YOU ROCK!
Tiny, says:I would not have gone forward with the parking garage if I were mayor.
That is why Tony lost BIG Tony, has no understanding of how local government works. The Mayor has no special powers, it is the majority of the city council that can pass any regulation or zoning changes, The mayor can not even put something on the council agenda without another council member’s approval. We need a parking lot uptown, low we have a lot someday we will have a parking garage. A parking Grage will take cars off the street driving around looking for a parking space and will be less traffic.
Hello Sedona,
Gee, not one email to kurt4mayor@gmail.com – after 24 years in Sedona that doesn’t surprise me. The Lions have no teeth! This is an election year with a virus that shut everything down. I am doing my best to communicate with all of you due to all the restrictions yet I seem to be the only one trying to offer solutions so that I am comfortable sharing while offering all of you what you’re asking for. Why? As I read through and pay attention to everyone’s concerns and wishes I must take a Neutral position knowing this is serious business while catering to everyone to include residents, small businesses, etc..
When I’m asked questions like, are you in bed with the Chamber of Commerce, are you a buddy invited up the canyon to Steve Segner’s home, etc.. The answer is No. Nor do I have relationships within groups, clicks or anything else. I am completely neutral. Through this neutral position I plan to accomplish everything you wish yet if I show you, for example, my poker hand for all to see – bad move!
Little more about me –
Back in the day I was a Sedona Firefighter/EMT, first responder, search and rescue, etc.. Residential Real Estate Agent licensed for 24 years. Created a business building homes in order to increase my Mother’s financial bottom line knowing she will need it in the future for her care. She went to be with our Lord September 2017 which was very difficult for me because I was just at the end of a 4 year personal investigation which took a lot out of me… October 2017 I called the Department of Homeland Security to my home and offered them the largest federal investigation Sedona and I believe our Country has ever witnessed with regards to a specific subject matter. – No additional information because it’s an ongoing investigation so please do not ask. I became involved within the City committees and Historical Preservation Commission years ago for personal research and understanding of our city politics. Much more but I don’t want to bore you.
We are all frustrated, angry and even enraged, yet we need to be thankful and loving towards those who have been involved because most of them are volunteering their time. We can’t continue to look at the past, we can’t continue this constant negative communication unless you truly don’t care about Sedona or yourselves. I know how hard it is to Trust. I know because I am one of you! I also know as a Mayor with a 10 year plan that every step of the way all you teethless Lions are going to continue to gum me to death unless I continue to prove I’m trustworthy. (Little Humor! Don’t take that personally.) If you want to succeed We must trust each other knowing that I will Lead and Guide as We Together bring Our Sedona to a place of Harmony.
Take the time and let’s get to know each other just as I continue to do all over our outstanding Sedona. Every day I spend time within our city talking to all of you and that will always continue along with constant transparent informative information. Please move away from the Dude, the Lame and every negative response and come together with Our skill-sets and brilliant minds proving Our love for Sedona. August 4th We can take office, spread the word!
Disclaimer – I did not consult with my Campaign Manager so if I get slapped it’s your fault! (Humor)
Ghelbach,
You say “As I read through and pay attention to everyone’s concerns and wishes I must take a Neutral position knowing this is serious business while catering to everyone to include residents, small businesses, etc..”
You can’t cater to everyone. You have to take a stand. Stand for something or fall for anything. What do you stand for? Oh yea, catering to everyone.
Maybe your campaign manager has an opinion, if she has not worn herself out from slapping you silly. Too bad it is too late for her to run.
Mr Gehlbach,
I think you take yourself too seriously. No one bothered to email you for your phone number because you have shown you are not a serious candidate. Even though I disagree, at least we know Sandy is for tourism. You apparently have no positions.
Politics 101 would indicate you should have a platform. neutral is not a position. Neutral as I recall is something that does not move a vehicle in any direction. This is apparently what you offer. May I suggest you engage the electorate instead of keeping yourself in neutral, going neither forward or reverse.
My final question is, are you really running for office?
Apoliticism is apathy or antipathy towards all political affiliations. Being apolitical can also refer to situations in which people take an unbiased position in regard to political matters. The Collins Dictionary defines apolitical as “politically neutral; without political attitudes, content, or bias”.
You still have not answered specific questions put to you. For example, no one asked if you were “in bed with CoC.” What was asked was, do you support giving them $?
No one emailed you because you are a time-waster. This is not a game of poker (“I am completely neutral. Through this neutral position I plan to accomplish everything you wish yet if I show you, for example, my poker hand for all to see – bad move!”). This is politics and, rightfully, people expect to see specific positions advocated. Instead, you have adopted the CoC tactic of “just trust us” (“If you want to succeed We must trust each other knowing that I will Lead and Guide as We Together bring Our Sedona to a place of Harmony.”) Moron, only another moron will trust someone who runs a position-less campaign.
In addition to being a moron, you are delusional. “I seem to be the only one trying to offer solutions so that I am comfortable sharing while offering all of you what you’re asking for.” WTF? Lose the self-congratulations! You have not offered anything except a ridiculous park-n-ride idea for tourists.
As well: “Every day I spend time within our city talking to all of you and that will always continue along with constant transparent informative information.” You can’t even answer simple questions. You are NOT transparent, except maybe in the sense that you are a transparently delusional.
Thank you Kurt Gehlbach, I will follow your campaign, and listen to your views on all things Sedona.
Told you you’d be wasting your time with these crybaby’s. They are never satisfied lol. Thanks for proving my point people.
Mr. Gehlbach:
Please get over yourself. You seem to have expected that people would just bombard you with email, not going to happen.
Prior to a public event 2 months ago, you announced online that you would be attending and people should look for you in a nice looking suit. (yes, you really did stand out when everyone was wearing shorts and tank tops). You were dismayed to realize when you were ignored by the 150 attendees.
I heard that you were a good realtor perhaps, you should consider going back to what you do best, this group isn’t impressed.
Hay Gehbach:
What exactly do you mean when you say “trying to offer solutions”? You haven’t offered anything of the kind. NOT ONE!
We have very serious issues throughout our World with talks of a possible recession that may last not months but years. If your paying attention this virus is just a small example of what can happen and how all resources into our city could cease to exist. Sustainability of Sedona and her Economic Structure is pinnacle currently and throughout our future. Every penny will be accounted for and redirected to support the economic structure.
As one very nice resident commented – Pay no attention to the negative, they are a very small minority and always will be. Out to waste your time – these people hate everything and your never gonna get their votes. They are never satisfied with anything.
Time for me to move away from this and on to broadcasting live over social media. We will cover all topics and be discussing solutions as we move into face to face meetings hopefully prior to Aug 4 primary.
Take a look at the following article.
The US economy shrank in the first quarter by its fastest rate since the 2008 financial crisis, ending the longest expansion on record as lockdowns aimed at curbing the coronavirus pandemic choked off economic activity.
Gross domestic product, or the value of all goods and services produced by the economy, shrank at an 4.8 per cent annualised rate in the first three months of the year, according to the preliminary estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis published on Wednesday. That marked the steepest drop since the 8.4 per cent contraction at the end of 2008 and compared with economists’ forecasts for a narrower 4 per cent decline in output.
In a rare statement the BEA identified the economic damage from “stay-at-home” orders issued in March, which it said “led to rapid changes in demand, as businesses and schools switched to remote work or cancelled operations, and consumers cancelled, restricted, or redirected their spending”.
The blow to the American consumer powering the economy was evident in a 7.6 per cent drop in personal consumption data, which marked the biggest decline since 1980.
“Consumers adjusted very rapidly as the lockdowns were put in place,” Michelle Meyer, the head of US economics research at Bank of America, said, noting the sharp declines in spending on restaurants and travel. “Following this Covid shock, the tendency will be to build up savings and there will also be a change in how people spend and how people live.”
Counter intuitively, healthcare was among sectors that suffered the most, as hospitals stopped performing lucrative elective procedures as the focus shifted to tackling the pandemic. Paul Ashworth, economist at Capital Economics, noted it accounted for 40 per cent of the overall decline in consumption. Transportation, recreation, and food services & accommodations all experienced sharp declines as well.
Well, the Lodging Council and its cronies are up to their old tricks. As should be obvious, some of the posts on this site labelled as being from Kurt Gehlbach are clearly not from him. They are made by imposters who just fill in his name on the comment form.
Perhaps the editor of the Sedona Eye can get an email address from Kurt known only to the editor, then change the name of any post that does not come from the real Kurt’s email address.
This disinformation and is the same kind of trickery used by the city before the last Home Rule election when the manager sent a letter essentially threatening all the nonprofits with losing city support should the election not go his way. Staff members who warned that this approach was, at best, not ethical (and verging on illegal) were punished by the management.
It would be helpful, as someone earlier suggested, for Sedona Eye to continue to offer an outlet leading up to the election for us to hear more from Mr. Gehlbach. He will never get a fair shake from the obviously biased Red Rock News, we have seen this time and time again with any candidate who strays outside the chamber and Lodging Council party line.
If someone tries to post a comment using Gehlbach’s name (but not the correct email address known only to the Sedona Eye), please change the name to “Anonymous” or some such name before releasing the post. Let’s try to tamp down the dishonesty we saw in the last election, much of it from the city and the chamber of commerce “spinners.” There are still working hard at spinning.
(www.SedonaEye.com editor: All postings using Mr. Gehlbach’s name were vetted for authenticity: The improper gmail address in an original post removed the word “for” and replaced it with the number “4.” If this Observer has a specific comment to question, please email that question directly to Editor@SedonaEye.com and include the comment identifiers. Thank you.)
Kurt Gehlbach is bleeping unbelieveable.
“Time for me to move away from this and on to broadcasting live over social media. We will cover all topics and be discussing solutions as we move into face to face meetings hopefully prior to Aug 4 primary.”
I don’t like the questions so I won’t answer, what is he , two?
He will fit right in with the existing city council. Another reason why we should shut the city down.
Gehlbach even says so,
“Sustainability of Sedona and her Economic Structure is pinnacle currently and throughout our future. Every penny will be accounted for and redirected to support the economic structure.”
What about the residents !!!! Not even a thought, just the economic structure !!!!
Hey genius, I have a way to save 100 % of Sedona City costs. Just shut it down and transfer the functions to the counties which already have existing staff and infrastructure.
SHUT THE CITY OF SEDOAN DOWN.
Mike Campbell says: Hey genius, I have a way to save 100 % of Sedona City costs. Just shut it down and transfer the functions to the counties which already have existing staff and infrastructure.
ok Hey genius Mike, please show the state city county regulations that will allow this. It must be doable, I’m sure both counties would jump at the chance of taking over Sedona, Then Sedona would have two governments, “two” police officers and no local zoning control great idea.
Every penny will be accounted for and redirected to support the economic structure.”This I like more money for the business that pays the bills Tourism,
MONTEGO BAY RESORT // WEST WENDOVER, NEVADA AND WENDOVER, UTAH
This 552-room resort and casino’s official address is in West Wendover, Nevada, but it sits directly on the Utah-Nevada border. The placement means that the resort actually looks into the future. While the rest of Nevada is in the Pacific Time Zone, this tiny resort town, some 120 miles west of Salt Lake City, follows Utah clocks. They observe Mountain Standard Time in the winter and Mountain Daylight time from March until November.
Hey Steve Sedona isn’t unique nor is it difficult to straddle any governmental line. Towns share Mexico and Canadian borders without issues and California and Arizona and Arizona and New Mexico and Texas share LOTS of towns. Every state has Towns like this and we only share a county line which is a no brainer issue. If your city manager was qualified for his job, he would tell you that it’s not a problem so don’t use it as an excuse. Page and the rez even in our area handle those issues every day. Give them a call.
Take us back to Coconino County control any time. Better roads, better police (had a Coconino County Sheriff’s station uptown), better flood control – better EVERYTHING!
No big controversy over funding a “regional” chamber of commerce (which actually would have been appropriate under the county).
Keep Sedona Beautiful served to communicate local concerns at county meetings – monitored things like signage, building codes, etc. All without “big” city government and wannabe big shots puffing their chests at stupid city council meetings. Better quality of life.
But best of all maybe: Sedona was discovered and promoted without the stupid chamber of commerce and lodging council dictating to city hall.
Finest choice for top of the world: – NO INCORPORATION.
I asked you a simple question you made a statement what is the regulations ? Just state the law , and please tell us who’s going to pay off the millions of millions of dollars in bonds and who’s going to pay off the bonds for the sewer plant so easy to make stupid simple statement isn’t it just show us how it’s done state the exact statutes You also forget the majority of people in Sedona who keep voting in our town Council and approved the marketing plans every single year seem to be happy if not I am at the running for office or marching on City Hall
You have much bigger problems. Don’t worry though. The pres will be here next week.
Please watch:
Released today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5QnrsX8jaA
Please read:
Released 10 years ago.
https://www.nommeraadio.ee/meedia/pdf/RRS/Rockefeller%20Foundation.pdf
Yes steve, the city can be dis – incorporated.
If you want the technical info please ask the AZ Secretary of State.
You might have to get a real job. No six figure salary, no car allowance, no 4 day week. At least for 2 of the 3 people writing as segner.
Chant it loud No City Se DO Na !! NO City Se DO Na !! NO City Se DO Na !!
Cities go bankrupt and go out of business all the time. Sedona tells us it has lots of reserve money? What’s that lie about?
“and please tell us who’s going to pay off the millions of millions of dollars in bonds and who’s going to pay off the bonds” @Steve segner.
City walks away from the bonds, Steve. Declares bankruptcy. If “they” even dared to go after the residents to foot the bill because of their folly it would be the chance of a lifetime to rally and slam “them” with a class action law suit! Maybe even name individuals at city hall and on city council?
End of report. End of city. We go back to county jurisdiction. Oh, what a happy day that would be! Especially for those of us in Coconino County!
Sedona needs to disband the chamber and redirect the tourist money to infrastructure and savings for the future after paying down debt. Isn’t that what Steve is implying, there isn’t any money train after all and the debt is outrageous?
https://youtu.be/t10FfzIpiKs
We are a nation of many and no foreign nation is as diverse and wonderful as ours. People like Pelosi and her gangs of 4 will never destroy us by telling us we hate each other because it’s a lie.
Stand up America and be great because our families include every color in the world and many religions, and we came here to be Americans who live free and abide by this unique and great nation’s rules and laws.
Those rules protect us all equally – and they exist as the Bill of Rights and Constitution.
I’m sick of being told that socialism and racism are American. They aren’t and they will never be.
Alex says. City walks away from the bonds, Declares bankruptcy. If “they” even dared to go after the residents to foot the bill because of their folly it would be the chance of a lifetime to rally and slam “them” with a class action lawsuit! Maybe even name individuals at the city hall and on the city council?
Alex Great idea but under federal law the bond and in the bond contract the lenders would be paid off with a property tax, Written in the bonds offering.
We have a great town with money in the bank and visitors pay the majority of our bills Alex, Business is starting to open up we are full this weekend, state parks opened last weekend. Sedona has always been conservative in it’s spending they do not start a project without the money in the bank, We even have money saved for marketing. No one flying this summer they will all drive to Sedeona…..
“Alex Great idea but under federal law the bond and in the bond contract the lenders would be paid off with a property tax, Written in the bonds offering.” @steve Segner
Doubt that. Since when can a property tax be imposed without voter approval? If that were the case the “city” (Sedona) would have assessed the residents a long time ago.
We residents didn’t vote approval for the bonds as it sometimes occurs in the case of special improvements or improvements districts! Let those fools at city hall (staff & city council members) be held responsible for their own dirty little deeds including millions of wasted dollars to the useless chamber of commerce.
Wow – the grounds for a class action law suit are looking better all the time!
“We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune.” -Theodore Roosevelt
Who among you have?
The city bonds should have been paid off with new bonds at closer to zero interest rates. Your city s**** with inadequacy.
Shut the city down, shut the City of Se Do Na down .We can do it . We are in charge, not the parasites.
Where’s a petition? We’re ready to sign. Enough of the BS – that “segner” fellow already put it in one of his comments about them planning their next strategy to save Sedona from the perils of this virus. Say what? There are so damn many people here right now – came to “escape” and brought all their germs and viruses with them! Nice job city/chamber vultures! Our opinion? (not that you care) You’re worse than the coronavirus!
Count on it like springtime rain. I looked at the Red Rock News this week and, sure enough, there’s an article with Steve Segner talking about how carefully the hotels will reopen and Jennifer Wesselhoff talking about how careful the chamber is going to be when the economy reopens because community health is the chamber of commerce’s top priority.
That’s a different tune from the song Wesselhoff and the mayor were singing just a couple weeks ago when they were in the Phoenix newspapers and TV shows reassuring all the tourists that they would be ready to welcome them with “open arms” as soon as they could. The total phoniness of this public relations ploy would be laughable if it wasn’t our tax money being used to support the chamber’s dishonest and damaging existence.
Then I get a postcard in the mail from two city council candidates dedicated entirely to Kumbaya and telling us that we are really great because we are being nice during the coronavirus lockdown.
Here is a news flash for those candidates: We are tired of Being Nice and allowing the chamber of commerce and lodging council to be gifted with a huge chunk of city money (meaning OUR money) every year to continually drive more tourists to Sedona, then being taxed to build an ugly divided highway in the middle of Uptown and make other “improvements” to address the problems caused by over-tourism.
We are tired of city “managers” who are not competent and who tell us we are just too ignorant to understand their brilliant government plans because we disagree with what they are doing. We are tired of accepting poor management and the schemes of the city “managers,” examples that include paying $100,000 over appraisal for a property for an unneeded parking garage, having the chamber buy another property on “our behalf” and threatening nonprofits with loss of “grants” in order to influence an election.
You’re in charge of what, hate???
But of course the Chamber of Commerce, Lodging Council, and City of Sedona simply must be busy plotting justification for future spending of literally millions to encourage more people to clog Sedona roads, streets, and highways as they are presently planning the budget for next fiscal year.
It’s important to keep that Chamber CEO and other Chamber Visitors Center employees (NOT City of Sedona Visitors Center) on the payroll.
Forget about the good people of Sedona who have volunteered to meet and greet tourists for years at the “Chamber Visitors Center” to promote only chamber members. Forget those businesses within incorporated Sedona who DO collect city taxes but choose not to be chamber members, but must therefore pay a fee to presumably get referrals from that city-financed Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center!
And forget the BS that those chamber members outside city limits provide more Sedona (city) shoppers! Where’s the proof of that other than miles and miles of backed-up traffic?
Would things change with a different mayor? Methinks NOT! Same old same old. Get rid of incorporation IMO!
Me thinks you should bake a cake!
I’d start the petition to put dis incorporation on the ballot, but I am no longer a city resident. I don’t know that it is a requirement but I will be attacked for being a non resident if i do.
It’s time, people are ready and as with most dishonesty it keeps going until it goes too far.
It’s up to you. I’ll collect signatures for you.
I’d start the petition to put dis incorporation on the ballot, OK Tony when is the petition do how many signatures as they take, what’s the procedure to get it on the ballot does, it need to be okayed by the two counties and the state legislature and how do you plan on paying off the bonds just take a few minutes and lay it out for us you seem to be knowledgeable on all subjects particularly on how hOK Tony when is the petition do how many signatures as they take what’s the procedure to get it on the ballot does it need to be okayed by the two counties the state legislature and how do you plan on paying off the bonds just take a few minutes and lay it out for us you seem to be knowledgeable on all subjects particularly on how Community development could be run by three people because your neighbor said so
No matter who many times you answer those writing as segner they keep asking the same questions.
The easiest truth to see is where the city of Sedona combined the Community Development Director and Assistant City manager jobs. If they both worked 40 hours a week that would not be possible. So one, or most probably both did not perform any real function.
The people that bought the bonds made a bet the city would pay. It would not be the first time a bond became worthless. Hey segner, how about all the money Sedona City has in reserve, we could pay the bonds off with that? Or does that money belong to the Greater Sedona Chamber of Commerce?
Sign the petition. End the waste. Take your town back.
There you go again Tony.
I realize that Segner’s rant is a bit out of joint so I thought I’d repost it in case you wanted to respond to a legitimate question. It seems that you think you know all that is needed to know about the law so how about you show all of us by answering these questions:
How many petition signatures would they take?
What’s the procedure to get it on the ballot does?
It needs to be okayed by both counties and the state legislature how would you plan on accomplishing that?
How do you plan on paying off the bonds?
Just take a few minutes and lay it out for us since you seem to be so knowledgeable on all subjects.
@Tonsich’ former neighbor
Like I would bother to answer in detail some anonymous wanker, who as already been answered many times on the SedonaEye.
Your fear is showing.