Sedona AZ (August 26, 2018) – The following is a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor:
In this highly contentious August 28 election, polls differ on the outcome on Home Rule. Vote No on Home Rule polls show 2/3 of voters want Sedona City Council to stop funding Chamber salaries and marketing operations and reexamine City Hall policies.
I am outraged by SRRN’s most recent editorial (8/22/18) and its article “News polls Sedona voters.” Once again the SRRN shows its true colors as a propaganda mouthpiece for the powers that be that seeks to manipulate public opinion. And again, right before an election, it stoops so low one has to wonder about the paper’s objectivity and integrity.
In the last election (2014) right before the vote, the SRRN editorial lambasted Cliff Hamilton with its version of fake news about him. The timing was such as to give Cliff no chance to respond to its false allegations. Once again its recent editorial does the same thing to Tony Tonsich.
Nearly every paragraph begins with “Tonsich” did this or “Tonsich” does that. Again the editorial claims things that are wrong, facts that it couldn’t possibly know and/or that are extrapolated based on its biased opinions. Again the SRRN leaves Tony no time to respond…unless it is willing to publish his reply in Friday’s edition, which probably has already been formatted.
I am more upset by its more underhanded, insidious political ploy of its poll, because it’s a more subtle way of influencing public opinion. The SRRN surveys only 88 out of 10,000 plus residents and comes up with percentages, which are questionable due to such a small number of participants. It puts those results in a sidebar column with the article.
These percentages just happen (coincidentally?) to show strong support for all its preferred candidates. (One has to ask if there was no such support for its candidates would the SRRN have published its poll.) The strategy behind this poll ploy is that those who have yet to vote will see that most of the town (according to these questionable percentages) is voting for these candidates; and then, these about-to-be voters will choose to vote the same way too. It’s a misuse of the standard obligations and probity of the press.
SRRN questioned about its editorials and polls as a misuse of the standard obligations and probity of the press by voters.
“While admittedly the point wasn’t to be the most scientific, we did take as many precautions as we could to make sure and get as wide of a survey group and result as possible…” so my questions for SRRN General Manager Kyle Larson are then: What was the actual point? What were the precautions that were taken?
Furthermore “One of the challenges faced was finding enough people to actually take the survey,” Larson said. “Many simply didn’t want to be bothered.” SRRN did confirm that all 88 out of our 10,000 residents that were polled were residents of Sedona. But not the same can be said of its Facebook poll, where non-residents skewered the results in SRRN’s favor.
These polls and editorial show that the SRRN and the powers that be are afraid that they might lose the Home Rule vote and their support at City Hall. They are desperate to win.
And, as the saying goes, “Desperate times require desperate measures.” But I urge those who have yet to vote to see through this artifice and not let the SRRN pull the wool over your eyes.
Henry Twombly
Sedona AZ 86336
Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!
It’s time to let the Chamber go. Sedona doesn’t need it and neither is it benefiting from it, the ones benefiting are the recipients of its largesse from city hall. Cities and towns are built for the benefit of residents living there, not visitors. We don’t pay for Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson, Bisbee, Surprise, Glendale, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, etc, and they’re not responsible to pay for our growth. They are responsible to accept what our residents choose to offer or stay home or away. Simple. That’s it. We don’t have to offer one thing other than our Sedona serenity and peace and quiet and dark skies. NOTHING. NADA.
Voting no on home rule. It’s the right thing to do for this time and place.
@FranBerkowitz Lovingkindness was a good reminder.
Here we have a classic example of Fake News:
1. The Red Rock News invents a “Voters Poll” and then goes out and interviews 88 people. According to DATA USA, we got 10,209 people living here. So that sampling is 0.86% of the population.
2. The interviews take place in parking lots, with business owners and employees and people coming out of the public library. And they’re on the honor system when asked if they really are Sedona residents.
3. Finally, the Red Rock News grandly announces, “The margin of error on this non-scientific poll is 8.9 percent.” Huh? What a sentence. Sounds like something out of a Monty Python sketch.
4. Then, the big finish, General Manager Kyle Larson boasts, “As Sedona’s leader of news and information, I felt it necessary to conduct the only random, in-person survey about the upcoming election and Home Rule.” Wow! Nothing impresses us like a self-congratulatory statement.
Well, folks, that’s why you’re reading The Sedona Eye, Sedona.biz and other Social Media.
The Red Rock News? Maybe not so much anymore.
There have been threatening phone calls from blocked numbers to women who openly oppose the cabal and Home Rule. The cowards have not called me, my phone number is public record. Cowards and bullies don’t like those who might show them for what they are.
Steve Segner wrote me – “getting elected it getting people to vote for you , you have gone after everyone.” Yea the bullies don’t like it when you call them out. They say, please, play nice, when they never do.
I met with someone today whose wife was threatened not to be against home rule, or her job would be in jeopardy.
I received a letter from a long time Sedona resident, they did not want to lose the town they love. I asked if I could use it and their name. They said no, they did not want repercussions.
I’ll admit, I’m not a politician. I never wanted to be one. I was asked if I had a warm and fuzzy side, very very few will ever see it.
If you want a tough leader to stand up to the bullies, the cabal, the Sedona Mafia, those that make veiled and not so veiled threats, those that lie, those that write false editorials, well, sometimes you need someone tougher than the bullies.
I have far more pleasurable things to do than be mayor. I do have a very particular skill set. It may be of use to Sedona at this time. I’m running because I fell in love with Sedona. You can choose to elect me. I won’t threaten the taxpayers, I’d like to lower taxes and residents sewer fees. The tax feeders have reason to fear.
It’s your choice. But as you have seen, the bullies ruining our home and those taking your lunch money do not play nice.
got my vote tony
“Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him had better take a much closer look at the American Indian.” Abraham Lincoln
Sedona city council & staff — learn your history because you are repeater offenders — proof you’re all not well educated.
No one is outraged, ‘cept Tony. Funny. As ye sow, so shall ye reap.
If you vote Yes then you’re not from Sedona and don’t believe in Sedona. Walk a path of honesty and integrity and the pros and cons says FOOL you once when you voted it happens but FOOL you twice then YOU ARE THE FOOL. Vote NO Sedona and don’t rush in to some marginally intelligent persons vision that isn’t Sedona !!!!
What does it take to drop an ace on Sedona? Vote no. Don’t be lazy and be smart. I’ve lived and believed in Sedona and my fellow clients and residents are letting me down. STOP letting yourselves down!!! Sedona is worth protecting. STOP THIS TRAFFIC. STOP THIS DEVELOPMENT BY FRANCHISERS AND OUT OF TOWNERS. WE HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEM WITH BUSINESSES THAT DON’T BELIEVE IN SEDONA. WE HAVE ENOUGH TROUBLE WITH PEOPLE WANTING TO GET RICH ON SEDONA LAND. STOP IT.
We are ALL outraged, including you when we talked. Believe it. Stop covering your (deleted by editor).
Congratulations Mike Ward.
Good Riddance to Jessica Williamson.
What can I say
Home Rule
Yes 1837
votes NO 923
Lost by 914 votes
Sedona Said yes on Home Rule by huge number .
Sandy
Scott
Jesica
Chisholm
Hudson
Sedona has spoken , and votes NO on the Tea Party people
@Steve Segner,
What can you say? Something intelligent for the first time I hope!
JRN
You lost big , how is that ?
Yeah, not so fast.
There’s still an investigation underway.
It ain’t over.
I still have an open IRS investigation ongoing against the Sedona Chamber.
Under the terms of the new AZ State investigation category, restitution could be required along with jail time.
It ain’t over. Far from it.
The only question is how much more damage the Cabal can do. I talked to a trucker picking up a vehicle I recently sold. He said he lives in Tucson, and they hear about Sedona in advertising all the time. As the mayor says “Everybody knows about Sedona, you are not going to stop them from coming.” Tell me why do we give the Chamber over $2.5 million to advertise for Tourists?
Is it because the mayor wants more customers for her wine fest?
Come on Tony just admit it, you were soundly beaten by a little 74-year-old lady and never saw it coming. (deleted by editor)
Hey – it ain’t over til it’s over. Translated: There’s a pending lawsuit in motion so until you know the decision about that, maybe best not to toot your horn. Karma lives.
Well it ain’t over.
It looks like Chisholm & Julian are closer in the last update 1591-1496 only 95.when are the final numbers out?
There’s no lawsuit from Tonsich that I know of. (deleted by editor)
@@@Tony Tonsich
Since you are a coward afraid to use your name, how would you know what lawsuits I have pending?
I can think of a number of actions by City staff that deserve prosecution. Remember, among other things, I have copies of all the accounts payable. Remember those questionable charges (theft) that were made? Staff from cities go to jail all the time. Just because I don’t get to pursue them from the position of Mayor, does not mean I will let them go.
@Tony T
Yawn Tony
(deleted by editor)
I’m disgusted with our government locally and in DC. It reeks and the people there are working against our best interests.
The case against Judge Kavanaugh by this Cali woman is an example of democratic politics gone wild. It’s a witch hunt against Trump and it’s a ridiculous allegation by a ridiculously partisan woman. It feels like a plan by Feinstein and cronies who all are failing to capture votes by the centrist and conservative Democrats of our party. To keep the spotlight off their stupidity and unethical politics they will collude to bring a respected judge on both sides of the aisle and with the highest rating given by his peer lawyers down because Trump is successful at being both a Democrat and a Republican.
High school after a half century of adulthood?? Ask Bill Clinton about his high school days. Why you are at it ask Kristen or Elijah about high school…Jerry and Mario want to stand up and tell all?
We must want every single politician to be investigated since birth. Did they kick their mothers inside the womb? Did they give their babysitters a golden shower at 5 months? Did they refuse to play with a classmate at school? Did they tell a teacher they loved them? Did a lovestruck teen give unasked for flowers and they felt stalked? Did a girl get drunk with a boy and they fondled each other through their clothes and never had sex like Kavanaugh?
Maybe Abraham Lincoln did pinch Judge Ruth Bader Ginsberg on the butt in 1861 like someone rumored . This Democrat vs Trump dog and pony show is pathetic and laughable.
Keep it up Democrats and you’ll lose every reasonable citizen’s vote this midterm. We’re sick of the dysfunctional state of our party.
For fairness let’s investigate Everyone.
Let CNN and MSNBC get this T and A high school show on the road America!
But first let’s agree Anderson and Maddow and Lemon must be investigated and interviewed about their sex lives in high school.
Then it’s your turn.
The traditional media, television and print has ruined their reputation through repeated lies and fake news. Even our local Red Rock Fake news Soy Boys think they can lie and get away with it. With every lie they print they lose more readers. They are so dense they don’t even notice that their paper keeps shrinking. The sooner they are all gone the way or the covered wagon the better.
We are sad to learn of Henry Twombly’s death. Condolences to his family and friends. We’ve enjoyed reading his letters to the editor and have often agreed rather than disagreed with his local takes on power and greed.
@Diane & Kevin Smith
Everyone is invited to Henry’s Celebration of Life is this Friday September 28, 2018. Henry’s brother Dave and his wife Cindy will be there.
5-8 pm Sedona Hub
525-B Posse Ground Road
POTLUCK
Bring stories ~ song ~ poems ~
anything your heart wants to share
Come celebrate our friend Henry!