Home » Featured » Eddie Maddock: Sustainable or Implausible?

Eddie Maddock: Sustainable or Implausible?

eddie-s-maddock-sedonaeye-sedonatimes-columnist

SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie S. Maddock asks Sedona voters to decide whether sustainability is no longer plausible with red rock demolition for road construction, loss of scenic views to careless building and past city funded projects that failed miserably.

Sedona AZ – Sometimes it’s impossible to predict what a person can come up with by researching the Internet. Have any of you attempted to find a clear meaning of the word SUSTAINABILITY? If you have, and in particular if you succeeded, kindly share your enlightenment with the readers of Sedona Eye.

Of the many descriptions offered perhaps the following most clearly defines the intricate and complex web of tentacles this catchy word of the moment has the ability to embrace. The ultimate result remains unclearly defined simply because of the myriad opinions existing relating to interpretations of what, specifically, is required for survival.

“What is Sustainability?”

Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations.”

The argument, however, seems to arise during the quest to determine just exactly what, if anything, is causing what appears to be alarming changes in global warming and other labels presently extended to Mother Nature’s constant embracing of seasonal global variances over the course of hundreds – yes – hundreds of centuries of weather changing phenomenal historic periods, such as the “ice age” versus “greenhouse” periods of time.

Volcano eruptions and earthquakes forever remain out of mere human control, but should they not rightfully head the list of “alert” factors when municipal development for health, safety, and welfare of the general public remains the number one reason for concern in certain locations. Sedona (being one of them) is subject to lightening caused forest fires and, yes, occasional earthquakes are, indeed, felt here from time to time.

Remember this? View of Sedona Slide Rock fire from the Village of Oak Creek in Sedona AZ at 6:45 PM on May 21, 2014. [Exclusive SedonaEye.com photo may not be used, reprinted or copied without permission.]

When a development site is rezoned for higher density it represents a risk of also increasing traffic. When city planners approved the extension of beautiful Tlaquepaque to include a pedestrian-crossing on a state highway, it vastly reduced the “sustainability” of traffic flow through that corridor. The previous commercial buildings existing in that area did no such thing, but the expansion of one of Sedona’s main attractions stymied the flow of traffic through one of our most travelled routes.

When the City of Sedona approved a perhaps ill-advised marketing contract with the Sedona Chamber of Commerce to promote “destination” marketing essentially to exclusively promote only their members as is also the situation with the city-financed Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center, has it ever been proven to have attracted anything besides tourism daytrippers, creating even more havoc on the already over-burdened corridor?

As recently as the Friday, September 23, 2022 edition of the Red Rock News, President and CEO of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Michelle Conway, writes: “As the voice of Sedona’s regional business community, we regularly take the local economic temperature by listening to more than 730 members and evaluating economic data as it becomes available.” Former Chamber Pres/CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff had previously confirmed at a city council meeting that ONLY “Chamber” members were promoted at the City of Sedona financed Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center. Is that blatant discrimination against city tax collecting businesses in Sedona who are NOT Chamber members?

Why was it necessary for the City of Sedona to acquire the former school on Brewer Road for the purpose of using it as a Sedona Court facility when at the time City Hall was constructed great care was taken to facilitate the “Council Chambers” for multi-use as a “Court room” – even providing an area as a jury box location?

Increased density has already obscured scenic views and quality of life for both residents and visitors. Is it fair to suggest attempting to correct some of these obvious blunders might fairly be compared to retrofitting a bad heart transplant?

Good luck with the heat attracting steel and concrete multi-story parking garage uptown and the proposed redevelopment of the former Cultural Park. Sustainability has already been extensively violated, but to what extent? Beyond repair? Will it continue? You decide.

151 Comments

  1. Stan says:

    Didn’t somebody propose looking at Les Springs eminent domain for airport access road thru their rear and front gates? Fiscal conservatives step up.

  2. Walt & Sally says:

    After a trip to the grocery store today we honestly wondered whether or not we would have enough gas to make it back home. Also raising the question could we even afford to purchase fuel? This country has taken such a whopping reversal the past couple of years it makes our heads spin.

    What’s the point in saving the planet from global warming if we all starve or freeze in the attempt? How can we afford to pay utility bills if this trend continues? This is very serious, Folks.

    The elite presently calling the shots are so out of touch with the real world. They sit in their ivory towers and make decisions that will soon turn this country into the very thing it was created to avoid. The nation is divided – split. What happened to the “United” in the United States of America? The liberals happened, isn’t that the answer to the question?

  3. Ken says:

    Our sedona and nation aren’t able to keep spending. Period period period. New CNN poll said only 25% of Americans think we can sustain Biden policies for two more years without collapsing and the same goes for Sedona. Orange County CA declared bankruptcy in 1980s due to liberal policies and climbed out of that hole in 2017. The damage was horrendous to its business economy and its housing. Learn from others. Slash the budget and no more acquisitions unless it’s a parkland. Congrats Astros.

  4. Jim, Sedona says:

    Kari Lake for governor says we need to get rid of AZ grocery taxes and she’s right. Vote for her. Hobbs says open Border ok!

  5. Howard E. says:

    What? Incorporated Sedona is discussing purchasing the little airport here in Sedona? Are they out of their minds? (dumb question)

    Good grief if even one time they made a decision and followed through maybe just maybe it might generate a little respect from the dwindling number of people who actually live here year round. They flit about much like bumblebees collecting nectar only our flitterers take pleasure in collecting money, attempting to gain prestige throughout the Verde Valley and beyond. THAT is NOT what they were elected to do!

    If only next Tuesday the outcome would by some miracle reflect an opportunity for a change in direction but chances of that happening look pretty slim. The dusting of snow during the night has been the only recent ray of sunshine here.

  6. Maxine says:

    I’ll be happy when this election is over. Turn your clocks back, people.

  7. @Maxine says:

    No Daylight Slaving (thank God!) in Arizona.

  8. Gene Therapy says:

    WORDS OF WISDOM
    “If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven’t done anything today.”
    LOU HOLTZ

  9. David, West Sedona says:

    It is true if stupid is votes for stupids it gives stupids what’s deserved ——-a broken city with excess debts sustains airport with big debt loads kept even while running on tight budgets????? a good idea is evident this isn’t ———-no Keystone oil means costs to fly are planes becomes ridiculous and electricity won’t fly them——agree good plan to add parks, preserves, oasis, not commercial for sustainable living in this desert city that can’t grow food ——-my last gas tank cost $67.82 and that’s eco car with all modern economy safeguards ——-cost was 26.84 for gas without President Biden ——why we are asked to absorb losses after government shuts off pipeline built for saving Americas economy n environment with proof it did do that? —-90% America wants home security tranquility and why this government seems to put us in jeopardy every other week with poor policies and administrators is like Sedona city council and staff needs job reorganization and streamlining and smaller budget. Time to separate the wheat from the chaff.

  10. Mark says:

    Biden’s approval hit a new low of 31% just 1 day from midterms! Don’t know wheat from chaff @david but like your better made points. Strike while the iron’s hot. Save America. Vote Kelley out of Senate by voting for his opponent, let Arizona undo the clutches of this do-nothing 100% voting pro Biden coaster. Yes, his wife was shot years ago and it was a crime and tragedy, but she’s recovered and moved on and he wasn’t worth the sympathy votes.

  11. Pat says:

    Follow the money trail and come to Canyon Corruptible. It exists in Sedona.

    Example – Nevada seat should go to the uncorrupted veteran Adam Laxalt and instead Schumer and Pelosi just sent $90miion today to get votes. Common sense would tell you that kind of money can’t be spent in 24 hrs on tv and radio and special editions of newspaper ads, it must be working its way down to the campaign workers and polls? The Democrat in Nevada, loved by the 100% progressive left who counts her votes owned by them (what’s wrong with you Nevadans – you were Independent American capitalists not communist sympathizers when I lived there)? plus this Democrat brought crime in the streets for the first time in Vegas and mass shooting! Sick that you sell your beautiful soul to DC dark life political corruption.

  12. Tony says:

    What is Sustainability? Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations.

    Why do we have a sustainability position at city hall when that’s a fancied name for Waste Manager? Or Rancher? Or Peacemaker?

  13. Scottsdale AZ says:

    Hello, Keep sustaining our Thanksgiving views at friends groaning table which are always lovely (bitter cold in winter, better in early spring when heat not scorching) and we’ll be happy.

  14. Ron says:

    We cannot afford for YOU to sit on the sidelines ANY longer.

  15. Maricopa County Tabulators Malfunctioning says:

    https://lists.youmaker.com/links/Bzwixv7rj/CmomL8JQ1/ztMpiVxCZKOa/LPkp2yAdHZ

    Who’s surprised by this? Nobody, eh? People need to lose their jobs after election, eh? Get to the polls and vote before this election is …. Stolen? Chose your own words for why or why not.

  16. @Maricopa says:

    Legal battles are afoot in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, two important battleground states, over if certain types of ballots should be counted. These will likely be far from the only challenges we see over the midterms. Sounds like AZ could be one of them you say is right. Dems has to be scared to send in Obama to shade Lake and support racist Hobbs whose case cost us taxpayers in AZ millions. Vote Lake now.

  17. Billy Martin, Upper Darby says:

    There’s no way Biden wins without dark money greasing palms and with CCP and Russians spending billions. They needed the Senate to keep Hunter and Joe from being exposed for their oil in Ukraine. Biden biz reeks of bad associations and makes Trump look like an angel. Anyone saying bad stuff about Trump now is a fool because he’s been proven right. That house raid was a message to Americans to fear big Biden and his associates and it worked. Sedona is same dealing gifts and it works.

  18. Hey Billy says:

    Well Billy you have it all figured out for sure! So why dosent the GOP get together with Democrats and fix that problem?

    Fix Citizens United, then your fun stories could never blossom

    I am truly amazed how many things people complain about that could easily be fixed by passing a laws!

  19. EN says:

    laws are on the books but your woke judges don’t enforce what keeps their politics from helping their power grow

    damn right I complain if my water glass gets filled by a covid or (deleted by editor) covered hand illegally here by the millions and they don’t pay my taxes and I’m not supporting them or their nonpaying employers cheating asses to help break our laws because it lines employers pockets right or wrong ?

    Saydona people in town can’t get hired because employers ripping illegal employees off and pocket what you’d have to pay residents a fair wage and benefits, am I right or wrong mr business? next time you get served check hand and glass washed ? ms government aider and abetted or am I right or wrong?

  20. Matt says:

    Biden is lifting Title 42 and they want to charge Trump for what? Sedona you’re in the path of thousands at the border surging next week. Let’s charge Biden with aiding and abetting the illegal entry into the US because he isn’t there either and says it’s not happening that people cross illegally? If one person murders like they do, then charge Biden for aiding and abetting. 16,000 are expected next week. Who’s guiltier Biden or Trump? Free speech says neither are guilty of being more than jackasses but the media wants you to continue to believe Trump is worse than the Biden who screwed up our economy in one year and brought recession for years to come.

  21. @matt says:

    Matt did you order your Trump trading cards for Xmas. Lol

  22. Matt says:

    We ordered a Tesla for my wife to go with mine and our Land Rover and Mercedes in the garage because gas will never go away, but you go on riding with Biden because stupid is as stupid does. Trump isn’t President, @matt, Biden the Braindead is. Biden is that crazy senile guy in the big White House in case you can’t recall the man responsible for our decline. Those are the cards Biden deals us every single day and you want to pretend we’re better off with Biden and not Trump? Your last name must be Cheney?

  23. @Matt says:

    Proud of you Matt …now we both have a Tesla and a Mercedes as well as a jeep Rubicon.. I repeat did you buy your Trump trading cards as well!!

  24. Matt says:

    No dumb*** I bought the Biden deck. Unlike you I know when to hold and when to fold ‘em. You are the problem with this country and the Bidenateminers. Kudos to the leftist teachers and schools in charge of your indoctrination, they did one hell of a job with your less than qualified IQ.

  25. @matt says:

    Oh I’m sorry Matt ..did I hurt your littles “feelings”.. sorry childhood didn’t toughen you up at all… must of been “entitled..

  26. Pop floating spy balloon now says:

    Call the White House and complain its buddy China is busting in on Sedona tourists balloon rides with one of “Joe’s ridin with Biden” ideas. . .this attack on our small businesses must stop!

    https://youtu.be/U1FORYd7qV8

  27. JM says:

    We don’t need to reinvent the wheel here in Sedona or USA. We just need good paying jobs, better education for our children, and common sense here and over in Washington, and people working every day to make sure it happens in both places.

  28. Sedona Peter says:

    Crime in Sedona needs greater space? That’s what’s happening with needing expansion! UNELECT people in charge. They’re causing this downturn in safety and living well. Biden admin says do not go to Mexico on spring break, guess you have no control over yourself and kids from what we hear?

  29. George W. says:

    It’s utter nonsense for pitiful Biden and/or his administration to tell anyone about whether or not to go to Mexico. Why is that? Simply because day after day they allow violation of a federal law which requires people to enter this country LEGALLY! Drug cartels are presently running amok. Great examples for our youth and future leaders?

    Isn’t it especially unfair for those law abiding citizens who follow the procedure?

    What’s scary is prior direction from Sedona City Hall has indicated favoring those policies. Maybe, just maybe, with some newly elected council members we will move away from national trends and lack of enforcement? We can always hope and continue to vote for change when they continue to ignore laws.

  30. Denise says:

    love my Sedona, love my snow, love my no snow

  31. Alex D. says:

    How sustainable will the Mesa airport be when City takes it over? Just look at the mess they made of a pedestrian crossing on a state highway at Tlaquepaque and that takeover of SR89 in uptown? Constant traffic snarls. Wtf Sedona. Thank goodness city doesn’t own WSR89. Hang on when planes are flying under local jurisdiction and TSA hasn’t checked baggage or vetted crazies flying in to do what? Wealthy fly in on private flights to do what in this secluded town? (Sedona pedophilia group loved it here, right?)

    Seriously, they aka city can’t keep up with maintaining streets and roads under their current city assigned duties. Even more interesting the Sedona mayor sent out a message for the readers of another online publication. Fortunately Sedona grapevine does a pretty damn good job of passing the word around, JabLow. Check FB and Tweets about Sedona and read SE for realtime news. JabLow has list of people just askin’ when he expects you to be just listenin’, right?

  32. Kevin says:

    Bogus

  33. Simon says:

    But here’s the thing. The mesa becomes the Sedona International Airport. The city renews their love affair with the chamber of commerce by entering into another multi-million dollar destination marketing contract but this time targeting owners of private airplanes.

    End result based on attracting an overwhelming number of automobile daytrippers from the previous chamber promotion effort, Sedona International Airport because of increased airplane traffic becomes Arizona’s version of Disney Land. It might even offer a new version for a lottery based on predictions of how many survivors there will be from ongoing plane crashes.

    Creative minds in Sedona leadership resulting in yet more failures? You decide.

  34. Scott says:

    Sedona weather chili today hot tamale

  35. Not giving my name it’s opinion not fact says:

    street talkers believe airport shit it’s for helping criminals activity to get fentanyl and human trafficking in easier like those pedophiles operated in and out of here undetected because how??? think about it because people knew and nobody spilled the beans?? ask taxi Uber private drivers from Flagstaff airport another places coming to town what’s going on here if they aren’t afraid to talk. No airport crazies unless you want gangs to step in and run this area and city officially when a couple people with drug money and criminal clout can strip away our lives. If city has that kind of money offer it to help build a f****** hospital or clinic not marijuana related @alexd (deleted by editor)

  36. Tommy, Sedona says:

    https://youtu.be/2qiGvVe3-Nw (YouTube offsite)

    After examination the Biden budget doesn’t include a penny to use in order to fix Social Security that in 9 years will face a 24% cut in benefits. Janet Yellen testimony before Senate shows Biden budget has nothing for Social Security and it wasn’t even in his plan to address it.

  37. Jason Williams says:

    Simon, Simon – what you might have added is Simon “Says” because you really did.

    Yes, indeed, more blind decisions without really thinking things through. Don’t believe it?

    Example: PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ON SR179 @TLAQUEPAQUE = failure!

  38. Ted says:

    No building in Sedona! You cannot build on any desert lands in climate change. Move to colder climates and have water but no building on desert lands in Arizona and Sedona! You people lie about caring for Sedona. No more builds, no more asphalt, go back to winters. Don’t come to Sedona we dont want you or need you here.

  39. @Ted says:

    @ted
    The indigenous people said the same thing about your type, but here you are….

  40. @Ted says:

    Your very progressive….No building?….So should be jail those who try? Death penalty for new roads….Please we are all waiting with bated breath for you to tell us your authoritarian ideas!

  41. @Ted says:

    “Climate change” is bunk. Learn at cfact.org and also watch this video about how NASA lies about stats. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvuhxv1Ywd4 (offsite link)

  42. @@ted says:

    First before I answer you should stop drinking before you post…. You make no sense.. you sound like a card carrying member of Quanon..

  43. Suzanne says:

    When i was a child the threat was “the world was going to end.

    Children walked to school back in those days and we actually frequently huddled in fear that we wouldn’t live to see our Mamas and Papas again.

    And guess what – 40 years later of course we can no longer see our parents but the reason is NOT because the world ceased to exist.

  44. Daily Golf says:

    watched & recommend cfact

  45. Arizona Jimnastic says:

    AAZ photographer got pics of rare ocelot July 4 this year believed not here . Yahoo for nature in 2023 and search says Mountains . Worries border intrusions in protected territories badly impact desert animals insects . Good reads Sedona Eyes . Sustainable is plausible .

  46. Raphael says:

    Good post people

  47. NAU says:

    Millions crossing border illegally killing wildlife and destroying desert flora and fauna and succulents and destroying our world in their path. They have no right and no guilt and they destroy instead of rebuilding and they tear down. . .

  48. MAX says:

    What evidence is needed to convince you people that this influx of migrants is a devised plot, like we’ve watched happen in Europe. Your party and government don’t want Trump in power because he stands in the way of globalists and corrupt politicians in both parties loving complete control over the taxpayers funding them and Trump already proved he stood for America’s uniqueness during his first term that he wouldn’t play ball with the UN and cartels. Biden is the worst face of Maoism and Nazism and Fascism on the rise and never Trumpers. There needs to be cultural understanding once again that we all are responsible for this democracy success. Support Republicanism. Support freeing Sedona from the Chamber mission destroying the city and lining the pockets of the out of city businesses. It’s simple and we need it to survive or become obsolete. Cut staff and return to normal.

  49. Victor Brand says:

    To build (Sedona) housing at obscene interest rates is criminal —- wait for interest rate drop because historically rates fall under Republicans and climb under Democrats, we dont need spoon fed credit demons when (Sedona) generates millions in annual cash largesse.

  50. Bob, Sedona says:

    watch movie about building Vegas, Phoenix and how fiddling with numbers brought developers to their business knees lmao Scottsdale will laugh at Sedona again

Leave a Reply

Copyright © 2008-2017 · Sedona Eye · All Rights Reserved · Posts · Comments · Facebook · Twitter ·