It’s a bit long, so grab a snack and exercise while listening. Then share it.

As you all know I am a real person – lived here 20ish years. We have always had an Easter egg hunt for our children. Many families even had their grandchildren visit for the festivities. Small town charm. Love and support. Residents and businesses that financially supported the city.

Thank you Ms. Maddock for being my mentor, speaking up with honesty and being fair. Maybe those of you using your charlatan names can follow Ms. Maddock lead.

As I see it, there is a big disconnect. The City of Sedona was incorporated to govern the incorporated area. Period. The incorporated area is a focused area. The city of Sedona is NOT the Village of Oak Creek, Red Rock Crossing, Boynton Canyon, or Oak Creek Canyon. Over the years the outlining areas have been asked to become part of the city, they declined.

Many have their hand out for municipalities’ monies. This is the root cause. We all love our region. The City of Sedona is the district of incorporation. FOCUS AREA. Only those in that area matter.

Performance for City Council and City employees are based on that. FOCUS on the duties of Sedona City. Whether you like it or not, it is an exclusive club. This is the reason Prescott, Cottonwood, and San Diego are building their own CORE exclusive club., Their own city residents & businesses.

Sedona City numbers speak for themselves. Businesses and residents have declined over the last years. Don’t use the recession as a excuse, look at your neighbors. They have increased their populations, sales tax revenue, and they are business friendly. Don’t take my word for it. Go look. There are public records.

City Council is elected to represent the voting residents in the city district. Not special interest groups or those that live outside the district. It is up to the City to work with their income generators to do just that. Create income for the city of Sedona to sustain the quality of life and beauty of the national forest we live in. The City Council is suppose to represent us residents and make policy for the employees of Sedona to follow.

Simple. Exclusive club. Sedona City Residents while maintaining our income generators, Sedona City District Businesses. Only when everyone speaks up using their real names can change happen. I am a registered voter and want positive change. Write City Council as they are the ones that are supposed to represent you and set the “City” policy.

The link for email is http://www.sedonaaz.gov/Sedonacms/index.aspx?page=1096 Here you can send it to the entire city council all at once. Please speak up.

Under no circumstances did I object to activities for children, or anyone else for that matter, and it’s unfortunate Ms. Murdoch was misinformed that Sedona events did not exist prior to her becoming an employee of the City of Sedona.

The publisher of Sedona Eye welcomes all comments which, to my knowledge, is unique in Sedona since I do not believe there is another publication, print or online, that isn’t inclined to refrain from discrimination.

Since all opinions are invited, my suggestion to those who prefer tactics which might serve to take my words, or those of others, out of context and distort the meaning in order to serve as diversions, why not write your own Letter to the Editor? At the top of Sedona Eye is the opportunity you might well be seeking which will offer you true equal opportunity to speak your mind and have your say in “open court” so to speak.

Of course, the only problem is you would rightfully be required to legitimately identify yourselves. However, if you are really true to your own convictions, that should serve you well unless your sole purpose is to negatively belie and assail those who do not agree with you. Again, that indicates you perhaps are ashamed to step out of the shadows and proudly take ownership of your positions which, after all, is the only method by which you will truly attain credibility in any sense of the word. Transparency and political correctness are also terms which appear in my own submission.

Again, the above is my opinion and I thank Sedona Eye for this opportunity.
Eddie S. Maddock

PS: To those who have asked, no, there is no relationship between me and Rachel Murdoch. My last name is Maddock. The two of us have never met.

I got news for you, you are already full of yourself!! With your comment “I have an AA, BA, MA, and PhD!! also putting DR in your handle just adds to your self fulfillment. A little people”s skill for you may do you some good as well!

It would be interesting to know how tax collecting retail stores feel about non-profits selling competitive items, tax free, at the give-away comfort station being offered by the city, Ms. Murdock, and her Chamber allies. Little wonder the difficulty for businesses to keep their doors open in Sedona.

The more I read, the more inclined I am to agree with Mr. Saunders and his alleged “etals.”

Not to worry, when the “holiday trees” and other decorations go up, don’t forget to give Tony Marion Tonsich or Richard Saunders a call to take photos of the cops doing their job protecting the workers putting all of those festive decorations up around town.

It’s a shame that there are so many unhappy people around town that would rather have the city stripped of decorations and merriment to save a few bucks of our sales tax.

I’m happy to see Tony Marion and his alter ego: Richard Saunders, Julie Anna and her alter ego: Sharlett keeping busy on such important crusades like picking on pregnant women who are just doing their job. But after all, at least those city people are working and trying to make a difference in our city.

These issues that are so much more important then say, drug use, homelessness and the hungry. Those cast of characters have really nailed down real important problems.