Sedona AZ (September 12, 2016) – The Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona invites community members to celebrate recipients of the 16th Annual Spirit of Sedona Awards on Thursday, September 29, at 5:00 p.m. at the Hilton Sedona Resort, Village of Oak Creek, Sedona.
The Spirit of Sedona event is a special evening where ACF of Sedona pays tribute to the exceptional contributions of local people and organizations that are dedicated to improving Sedona and the Verde Valley.
Sedona Heritage Museum offers digitized photos of days gone by and its nonprofit work to preserve local history and artifacts earns it a 2016 Spirit of Sedona award.
This year’s honorees include the Sedona Historical Society, which will be honored as the Nonprofit Organization of the Year. Perhaps best known for operating the Sedona Heritage Museum, the historical society welcomes more than 10,000 visitors annually for events and exhibitions that focus on historical aspects of life in Sedona and Oak Creek.
The recipient of the Philanthropist of the Year Award will be Barbara Vickers, who created the Sedona Wish List as her personal, charitable, part-time, retirement project.
Inspired by the rugged beauty of red rock country, Pink Jeep Tours began offering their off-road and formal tours of Sedona and surrounding areas in 1960. Well-known in tourism, their quiet philanthropy and involvement in the community may be less well known. Deservedly, Pink Jeep Tours will be honored as the Business Benefactor of the Year.
This year’s Volunteer of the Year will be Doug Copp, a long-time resident known for his quiet efforts to make this a better place to live. Lauded by his nominator, Doug is said to have his imprint on “essentially anything and everything that is associated with bicycles in Sedona.”
Having been awarded only twice before, the Community Collaborator Award will go to the Sedona Public Library this year. Far more than a place to read magazines and check out books, the Sedona Public Library collaborates with so many area nonprofits that listing them all would be impossible.
Spirit of Sedona’s signature award this year is also not always given; however, when there is a force of nature like Millicent “Mille” Leenhouts, the Lifetime Achievement Award is a solid fit. A longtime resident, Millicent moved here with her husband Tom when he relocated his ophthalmology practice to Sedona. Their mutual love of the arts has kept her involved with the Sinfonietta, Chamber Music Sedona and many, many other nonprofit organizations. She is especially proud to have worked as a board member for the Benefactors of the Red Rock State Park, and was a founding member of the advisory board for ACF of Sedona.
Thanks to the generosity of local donors, ACF of Sedona awarded more than $183,000 in grants this year to 43 nonprofit organizations serving Sedona and Verde Valley in the areas of arts and culture, animal welfare, environment and sustainability, community improvement, tolerance and diversity, social services, children, healthcare, and senior citizens and the disabled. Spirit of Sedona will be a chance to recognize these worthy organizations, who were selected by members of the ACF of Sedona Board of Advisors in collaboration with community members to ensure funds are distributed in alignment with the community’s greatest needs. These nonprofits are listed below:
ANIMAL WELFARE
1. Red Rose Inspiration for Animals
2. Runnin W Wildlife Center
3. Verde Valley Humane Society
ARTS & CULTURE
4. Red Earth Theatre
5. Sedona Arts Center
6. Sedona Arts Festival
7. Sedona International Film Festival
8. Verde Valley Sinfonietta
CHILDREN
9. American Red Cross
10. CASA Children’s Center
11. Gardens for Humanity
12. Girls on the Run
13. RENEW
14. Running River School
15. Teen Lifeline
16. Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
17. Jewish Community of Sedona
18. Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition
ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
19. Arizona Wilderness Coalition
20. Benefactors of Red Rock State Park
21. Oak Creek Watershed Council
22. Sedona Historical Society
23. Sedona Recycles
24. Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund
HEALTHCARE
25. Alzheimer’s Association-Desert Southwest Chapter
26. Mentally Ill Kids In Distress
27. Northland Cares
SENIORS & INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
28. Adult Community Center of Sedona
29. Rainbow Acres
30. Senior Citizens of Camp Verde
31. The Giving Angels
32. Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition
SOCIAL SERVICES
33. ABIDE Maternity Home
34. Bread of Life Missions
35. Catholic Charities Community Services
36. Cornucopia Community Advocates
37. Old Town Mission
38. Sedona Community Food Bank
39. Steps to Recovery Homes
40. Trauma Intervention Programs
41. Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
42. Yavapai Food Council
TOLERANCE & DIVERSITY
43. Northern Area Restorative Justice
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
44. 2016 Healthy Challenge Initiative (a funding collaboration with ACF of Sedona, Northern Arizona Health Foundation and Delta Dental Foundation of Arizona) – Red Earth Theatre, The Mouth Project
45. 2016 Education Initiative – Rotary Club of Sedona, Imagination Library
46. 2017 Education Initiative – Verde Valley School Summer College Preparation Program
BMO Harris Bank is the presenting sponsor of the 16th Annual Spirit of Sedona, which is open to the public, but space is limited. Community members are invited to reserve a seat online at Sedonaspirit2016.eventbrite.com. Tickets are $75 per person or $750 for a table of ten. For more information, contact Tracey McConnell at tmcconnell@azfoundation.org, or call 928-399-7218.
The Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona is a permanent philanthropic endowment for the enduring benefit of the community, securing, managing and allocating donors’ gifts for charitable purposes in the Sedona area. This family of charitable funds is guided by a local Board of Advisors and benefits from cost-efficient, centralized professional services provided by the Arizona Community Foundation. Founded in 1978, the Arizona Community Foundation is a statewide philanthropy with regional offices serving communities across Arizona. Last year, Arizona Community Foundation granted more than $46 million to more than 3,000 nonprofit organizations, schools and government agencies.
Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!
Congratulations to Mille Leenhouts. You do, indeed, deserve the Spirit of Sedona’s signature award. The hours you have spent over the years, not to mention financial support and willingness to allow use of your home countless times and even during your absence, are over and above the call of duty for even one project let alone dozens.
Accept that award with honor, Mille, knowing how proud Tom is that you have rightfully been acknowledged for your good deeds. Thank you for understanding my reason to decline your invitation to join you for your moment of celebration. My thoughts are and will remain with you.
Your friend,
Eddie Maddock
also on the list
job well done
ARTS & CULTURE
4. Red Earth Theatre
5. Sedona Arts Center
6. Sedona Arts Festival
7. Sedona International Film Festival
8. Verde Valley Sinfonietta
Eddie
Just an up date Marriott is starting process on new hotel “Residents Inn” ,
Just to keep everyone in the loop
Eddie This is the nicest letter I ever received ! Mille
IT is really super to see people like Mille Leenhout great this award.
Not happy to see awards for groups that the taxpayers paid for getting it like the film fest and red earth. Their effects were not paid by a good heart by=ut by the taxpayers.
Congratulations to the real contributors like Mille Leenhout !!!!! The community needs to recognize those that give without having being funded by the city. They are theMille Leenhout true Non profits.
Congratulations Mille Leenhout !!!!!
Isn’t comparing individuals such as Barbara Vickers and Mille Leenhouts with organized groups about the same as comparing apples to oranges. Efforts made single handedly hardly equate to those groups mentioned in that other comment that congregate at Sedona City Hall for financial handouts. Although their causes are worthy to those interested they don’t do the grunt work that individuals provide with no financial gain to them.
When some of the non-profits like the Film Festival offer alleged high end salaries for the top brass – well, how does that equate to charitable? And then to think the Red Earth Theatre is being paid BY the city of Sedona to use a city-owned facility at city taxpayer’s expense to the tune of $50,000 annually, with no tangible return to the city for that investment – again hardly levels the playing field.
It seems like it’s the City of Sedona that should be reaping the benefits of an award from the Community Foundation. Conspicuous by absence is an award to the regional Chamber of Commerce. Don’t they also operate under the guise of “non-profit” and have their say-so in every issue and decision made at City Hall?
And adding insult to injury is this event is at the Hilton in the Village of Oak Creek, and therefore not even contributing to the Sedona city tax base, the big money behind the designated specified list.
What was the point in dissecting the recipients? Simply to turn yet another Sedona Eye report into one of controversy?
Looks like the guy with his hand in cookie jar is already starting to whine. Payback is a b—–. Brands sell better than unknown names. Now the dollars will all go to the big names brands. Payback.
The city of Sedona should be getting the award as most the groups are funded by the city.
At a recent council meeting Steve Segner was given credit by someone on the council as the brains behind raising funds to maintain local trails. It was subsequently announced that it was, in fact, the Chamber of Commerce that came up with the idea under some Red Rock Enhancement Program (something else being funded with Sedona city tax revenue) to donate $56,000 to aid the trail fund. Then not too long ago there was something reported like the Chamber kicking in some sizable amount to assist with the city’s transportation study. And just what was the origin of that money? You guessed it. Allegedly part of the bed tax kick-back designated for destination marketing. Of course no one really knows since there are no official audits, but it seems very doubtful that chamber membership dues extend to such extravagant financial undertakings.
Therefore it further enhances the importance of the question of just who it is should be garnering accolades from the Community Foundation? With such high financial stakes on the line here, clearly the City of Sedona in their generous efforts to support each and every non-profit group in the Verde Valley, and maybe even beyond, why don’t they just cut to the chase and honor the chumps that make it all possible? The fools that voted for Sedona to incorporate. Of course there aren’t too many of them that would acknowledge they actually supported such a disastrous decision providing they’re still even around.
More Hanky Panky? says:
At a recent council meeting Steve Segner was given credit by someone on the council as the brains behind raising funds to maintain local trails. It was subsequently announced that it was, in fact, the Chamber of Commerce that came up with the idea under some Red Rock Enhancement Program.
Sorry, I did the “Nine easy hike in Sedona” book all the profits go to the The Red Rock Trail Fund, I paid for all the cost on this book, no city or chamber monies.
The chamber program is the Sedona trail Keeper , the goal is $250,000 a lot of the hotels are and local business are committing to $1,000.00 a year for five years.
All good stuff no government money, and all going to fix trail, so More Hanky Panky are you in for $5,000. ?
ss
The purpose of worthy causes like the Community Foundation of Sedona is obvious, as should be the function of incorporated municipalities. The CFS clearly understands and serves their mission appropriately. Why is it the City of Sedona is unable to do that?
We that vote to elect our officials is so they can represent us, the legitimate residents. Instead they step in and all too often function as the another “Community Foundation” of their own designation. For them to give money to all the non-profits as they continue to shun local residents and businesses is shameful and just not right. And it’s wasteful of public money and discourages much needed economic stimulation within our own city boundaries.
We didn’t vote for and elect a regional Chamber of Commerce to do our bidding. They butt into everything in our lives, whether we want them to or not. And yet they will not appropriately represent in-city businesses unless they are Chamber members.
Why does a city council, city staff, and especially a city attorney allow this ongoing control by a special interest group? Isn’t that money for the trail maintenance as well as designated funds for the traffic study, allegedly from the Chamber, in reality public money that should have been allocated directly from an elected city council and not channeled through an outside agency?
Congratulations to those non-profits that still have the dignity to actually stage fund raising events which encourages public participation and, yes, a small town feel of participation instead of the ongoing greed mongers that no longer have the integrity to even attempt to stand on their own two feet. Red Earth Theatre, etal – City Council – Staff, pay attention!
And again thanks to the CFS for including individuals and worthy recipients, although in my opinion and as has been suggested in other comments, certain recipients quite possibly are receiving rewards under false pretenses. Maybe in the future you might consider a special category, City of Sedona, and lump those in question together and give the award as was suggested to the residents of Sedona that sit on the sidelines and are forced to accept outside control.
Eddie Maddock
I would like to present a note of clarification to the generalization that all NPO’s in Sedona receive operational funding from the City.
The Sedona Historical Society, this years recipient of the NPO of the year from ACSF, receives no ongoing funding from the City. We derive all operational revenue from admission fees, gift shop sales, membership fees, and private donations.
We employ no Executive Director and have three part employees who total approximately 40-50 hours per week working on data bases where continuity is essential.
All of the other functions are handled by volunteers including gift shop manager, docents, treasurer, restoration specialists, archival experts and many others.
If you would like to work with the best volunteers in town please call Nicole Dean at 928-282-7038. We have many opportunities including docents and restoration guys. We have recently completed the relocation and restoration of the last surviving structure (The Telegraph Office) from the West Sedona movie set to Jordan Historical Park and are now beginning the restoration of Walter Jordan’s 1937 Farmall F12 tractor. Next up is the creation of a permanent exhibit “A History of Wine in the Verde Valley”
In the interest of transparency, The City of Sedona does own the property, leases it to SHS at nominal rate, and contributes $40.00/month to cover electrical and heating costs for the public restrooms. We also receive a $600 grant from the City to assist with costs in hosting Sedona’s annual Veterans Day celebration
To Ron Maassen
FYI, whenever relatives or friends visit me from all parts of the country, I bring them to the Historical Society to learn our heritage. Thanks to you and your staff for what you do.
@Steve Segner. Quote from Sedona Red Rock News, 9/16/16, 13A: “Fund raises an extra $90K for local trails” = Check it out in case you missed it:
“Under its Red Rock Enhancement Program, the chamber donated $56,000 of its portion of the local bed tax that was allotted this year for destination marketing.”
@Ron Maassen. Thank you for sharing the information relating to your efforts relating to the Sedona Historical Society. Hats off to you for maintaining dignity and professional activity. By sharing your thoughts you have given at least one person here there’s still hope.
@Ron Maassen Thank you!
I appreciate the post. It is great to see that Sedona Historical Society operates as a true Non-Profit with all your Executives being volunteers. It is wonderful that you rent the building where SHS pays the city for the building use. I believe the building was donated to the city. It sounds like you are doing this with integrity and I hope that SHS remains that way. I will support a NP like this!
As far as the other NPs they do not operated that way. Infact they are getting paid significant dollars, pays all executives extraordinary high salaries, they are the highest paid in our region. They even exceed the private sector in salaries and wages. Since the City is paying for a majority of expenses, 90%-100% for red earth theater (zero return to city, city pays them), and for approximately 75% of the regional chamber with no checks and balances. The true facts are that the bulk of NPs are competing with regular businesses that collect taxes and pay taxes into the state and city. They are special interests groups and their members are the only beneficiaries of city financing. Don’t forget they compete with the in-city businesses.
There are more NPs here in Sedona as this is a new industry in making money with no investment. The money is free from the taxpayers without any restrictions. Why would anyone start a legitimate business in Sedona when the city will pay them? No risks, fun, and easy money. Hard work and values are long gone.
Thank you Ron!
$56,000 of its portion of the local bed tax that was allotted this year for destination marketing.” thanks chamber.
thats great,
ss
So here we go again. Not only does this great city government under the guidance of a regional Chamber of Commerce discriminate against non-chamber city based businesses but it’s now been made abundantly clear they even discriminate against non-profits.
For this city to pay Red Earth Theatre appx. $2,000 per month for use of a CITY OWNED FACILITY, and yet according to Ron Maassen the Sedona Historical Society must pay to use city-owned property – well, just how fair is that and what’s the reason? My guess is another example of just how this controlling Sedona clique manipulates the city purse strings and who benefits? Well, the exclusive little club, that’s who.
And not only that, the city’s new policy of allowing alcohol on city-owned property, such as the now city sponsored night club, Red Earth Theatre’s The Hub, is in direct competition, again, to city based businesses. And if food is also being allowed, too bad for restaurants that collect city taxes.
The award being given to Red Earth Theatre exemplifies a superb job in another manipulative maneuver of control over Sedona’s government and a slap in the face to other non-profits that are not being treated equitably. What a terrible thing to do to the Sedona Historical Society that most likely provides a far greater service for visitors which time and time again is cited as Sedona’s economic engine.
And why, you ask, does Red Earth Theatre get special treatment? Simple. It offers a free opportunity for Sedona’s drama queens to rehearse their roles for council meetings. Such as, when a council member makes a suggestion about getting RFP’s for the multi-million dollar contract for Destination Marketing, they are prepared to respond with such inane comments like:
“Oh, but WHY would you want to do that?” (whine, whine). Or, “Oh, but no one will LOVE you like WE do!.”
And now you know.
@steve Segner
The Sedona Chamber of Commerce and its corrupt affinity group, the Sedona Lodging Council, and their tools aka City Staff, as well as the beneficiary of them all, the Mayor and most Councilors, continue to siphon off money that could save Sedona from a very unpleasant economic future. But, the upside of this corruption may have one great benefit, namely, the death of tourism in Sedona.
Looks like the city of Sedona gave more than millions (16m plus) to the regional chamber. CONTROL ! Dumber than dumb.
Who is running the city? not the city managers, for sure. This makes the city look like overpaid fools. dumber than dumb. Complete embarrassment! BS They should be held accountable.
Who has had enough? Are you ready to take our city back?
Let’s not forget about the Sedona Film Festival, The city of Sedona Grants them $400,000 per year, then Pat Schweiss, President of the Sedona Film Festival, grants himself a $200,000 salary for a job well done. Half in his pocket.
Better than bank robbery, but still stealing what is not rightfully earned. If the city needs to support the Film Festival, it should not happen.
The sad part is that nothing will change. The majority of City Council, even with two new faces, have a mind-set about allowing the C of C to maintain control. Payback for the C of C and Lodging Council for getting them elected? And it’s doubtful the two newly elected will influence the outcome of the city’s control over our garbage collection.
So they will continue to treat Sedona businesses, residents, and even non-profits with selective policies without batting an eye. They do so because they can.
Hopefully next year the Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona will take a closer look at the recipients of their awards.
The SFF is a good thing for Sedona and so is its management. I, personally, believe we’re lucky to have it in any way, shape or form. What’s the downside? We have an upscale interesting group of people who come into town and see movies for a week, lots of good conversation and business. You think the Chamber can do better? Nope. SFF because of its leadership deserves recognition for being what old Sedona is all about and melds nicely into the new. It is the right kind of venue for a small town with limited highways – ask Telluride why theirs is like ours, ask lots of other towns and cities with film festivals – we’re one of a handful. It’s good business, it’s a good vibe, it’s not bikers and babes rolling down main street. Wake up, morons. Appreciate some of the good and fix the bad. SFF is GOOD. Thank you, Patrick and crew for a delightful Sedona venue. BTW other towns pay their festival directors more.
It use to be that trade associations like the wine fest aka sedona fair use to pool the businesses income together to help promote their businesses. All taxes were paid to state and city if applicable. Now you have these NP collecting money TAX FREE while they are also getting city funding. Sandy Moriety and Al Comello are two of those directors benefiting from taxpayers money.
On August 10, 2016, the City of Sedona gifted the Red Rock Trail Fund with the $10,000 in taxpayer money it had applied for from its $150,000 Small Grants Program.
The regional Chamber has hijacked the Council’s $10,000 decision and grossly misused $56,000 in DM money from the City by gifting it to a non-destination marketing FOUNDATION (i.e., the Red Rock Trail Fund).
OMG
Complain…….Complain……..Complain
Wow…….That one person out there posting under different names…….give it a rest already before your heart blows up….really
Looks like the city of Sedona gave more than millions (16m plus) to the regional chamber. CONTROL ! Dumber than dumb.
Please show us how you get $16,000,000 , you just keep making up numbers last month it was $6,000,000 by the way the Red Earth Theatre save the city money by now having to staff with city employees for booking and functions….
ss
ss
please
@Pathetic, Anonymous and Who What???
All three of you or just one of you; come on Cake Lady aren’t you tired of the same old same old???? You’ve been blaming the CoC for all of your woes all of these years I bet you blame the CoC for having to close your cake place for good. Oh yeah, your mouth got you kicked out for good and I guess that you have nothing better to do then bake up half baked stories.
I love the comment “BTW other towns pay their festival directors more.” Seriously, more than $16,666 every month for a week event?
Why are taxpayers paying the SFF’s director Pat Schweiss salary?
Then tell us about all the people who volunteer their time and donate the proceeds to a real charity.
(Deleted by editor) are a thief and a crook. Those that enable your theft should be punished. It’s like the thief that steals your wallet and punches you in the nose. He then says , “Consider yourself lucky I did not steal your clothes, and without your wallet you have less weight to carry home, other thieves do worse. “
It seems abundantly clear. Those that protest so violently about alleged improprieties related to city funding of certain non-profits must have a reason. Could that reason be because they benefit from the current system? Me thinks the answer is “yes.”
@@Anonymous The SFF doesn’t bring in revenue they actually get rooms in every hotel for FREE. They give tickets to the film fest in exchange, They also get FREE food along with FREE booze. Most expenses are GIFTS that do not generate income for anyone but them. Have you ever counted how much donated items they get? No one can get around town, and the visitors going there block all the normal businesses by parking in front of the doors. The locals go elsewhere during that time to shop and eat. That hurts the city by forcing locals to stay out of town. BTW we see many of the hotel staff there watching movies all day. It’s a great deal, they give free rooms and food for tickets. Think about it, they gave the rooms away without collecting any taxes. The food they get also doesn’t get any taxes.
BTW Most cities have Film fest now. It is a great business for the producers. They are private businesses and have the space for them. Unlike Sedona where we don’t.
Speaking of giveaways the chamber does the same thing. Free rooms, food, tours are routine in this town. It would be very interesting to count all the lost revenue these groups steal. Governments should not be subsidizing private groups like SFF. The regular businesses like Harkins does not collect taxes nor can they conduct regular business during this time.
I just walked out of Bashas to hear two women talking about celebrating getting rid of Willamson. That is something to celebrate. Hip hip Hooray!!!! Maybe (deleted by editor) stop posting bs on this site, Wsr.
Best if she moves to russia to be with her kinda people.
Mary C
You poor poor government hating conscripacy theorist…..
Please move along there are always new and better conscripacys to uncovers and bigger things to hate….g luck in ur joyrney
Time to face facts. The direction of Sedona has been well established and there’s nothing you can do about it. The slippery slope of referrals and payoffs is too well established to change.
Does anyone else recall a council meeting some months back when, at the end of the meeting, as usual there was the part about discussion of future agenda items and It was John Martinez that approached the subject or Sedona referrals with Mayor Moriarty and she promptly informed him that not then or ever would such a discussion be placed on a council agenda. Quite possibly Councilman Martinez might recall that incident. The mayor may or may not.
However the point is, the control of this cheesy local government is firmly set in place, and those that attempt to change it, although gallant, are treading water. It ain’t gonna happen.
What is true is that you cannot fight City Hall. Especially in Sedona. If and when this city crashes and burns will be the day of reckoning but those that created the destruction will pack up their bags along with their profits and move on to the next vulnerable city to victimize. That’s they way the system works.
I don’t hate government, I hate waste and stupidity.
It’s not a “conspiracy theory”, it’s a fact the city of Sedona has given Millions of our tax dollars to the Chamber of Commerce, Sedona Film Festival and others without any accountability.
It’s a fact that the city of Sedona spends more money that it brings in and still gives millions in unaccountable money to these so called non profits.
It’s a fact that if the city of Sedona keeps doing this it will go broke.
It’s a fact that WSR is a troll with noting positive to say.
regarding the “Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona”…. The name is an affront on the citizens of Sedona who donated funds to the “Sedona Community Foundation” (SCF) years ago. SCF was a local, independent organization making local decisions on funding of local not for profit organizations. It was swallowed up a few years ago by the state wide, Phoenix controlled Arizona Community Foundation. Need we say more? Ce la vie….
Mary C
If sedona goes broke…..it goes broke than you’ll be happy cause there won’t be a city of sedona government….
So that should make you happy and then free you up to complain about many other things…….your a crybaby troll
@Wsr,
In your comments to Mary C you say, “You poor poor government hating *conscripacy* theorist…..” and then “…new and better *conscripacys* to uncovers…”
Wsr, are you just so much of a simpleton that you can’t see the irony of your comments? You’re supporting government, and thereby its educational system, when you’re so obviously a victim of public (govt) education. The word you can’t seem to comprehend is CONSPIRACY, not “conscripacy (there’s no such word).” You’re amazing adept at consistently proving yourself to be a half-wit. I would go a step further as guess that you don’t even know what a conspiracy is. Have a good laugh Mary C.
Thx for the update. One of many examples of big city invasions, coming at us from all directions. Sedona has turned into just another ho-hum community with a mere skeleton left of the hen that once laid the golden eggs. Way to go, folks. Nice legacy, especially for those that successfully continue to exploit, grab, take, sneer and gloat. Nothing lasts forever.
JRN. Aka thought (deleted by editor)
You keep proving that your a pompous pontificater…..with little substance and a complete (deleted by editor)
But as also Thnks for the punctuation and grammar lesson (deleted by editor)
About your response to “Mary C.” – “If sedona goes broke…..it goes broke than you’ll be happy cause there won’t be a city of sedona government….”
Oh, man oh man – what a happy day that would be! Watching the rogue chamber of commerce pack up and move on out (selected leaders and members with their wagon-full of do, re, mi) thumbing their noses at their most favorite council members as they chant “farewell, chumps.”
The best thing that could possibly happen to Sedona. YES!!
And if Sedona’s cookie jar really does break, just like a piggy bank, then and only then will the true meaning of non-profits resurface and take their rightful place here. It’s true – the scenery is beautiful but internally it’s ugly, hideous, and disgraceful. A cancer that will continue to grow unless stopped by the enabling source . . . incorporation.
A while ago there was a movement to disincorporate Sedona. It can be done.
If the city does not serve the residents, it’s time to end it. The city will end itself due to poor management, good riddance. The police chief and assistant chief have recently quit, perhaps they saw the writing on the wall.
To All Readers at The EYE
Concerned Citizens for America welcomes
TREVOR LOUDON
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Mr. Loudon will preview and discuss his new documentary:
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by your own Justice Department. Do you know the real “back story” here?
Your southern borders remain unprotected and porous, despite repeated calls by border state voters for additional security. Who has already gotten into your country? What is the real agenda in all this? What do Europeans see that Americans do not?
Why are Arizona states’ rights so important in the face of this reality and why must everyone of us become an activist and vote!…RIGHT NOW. What is likely to happen in 2017 and what should you be doing this month to protect your freedoms?
TUESDAY, OCT. 11th, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, Church of the Nazarene
(Village of Oak Creek), 55 Rojo Drive, Sedona, 86351
Maybe it is time to disincorporate the city. The city has gone too far. They disrespect the legitimate residents and businesses in the incorporated area. The exclusivity of being in an incorporated area is violated everyday. Those that live outside the area get all the benefits while the residents and businesses are held hostage to the whims of an arctic system that enables special interest groups to control city hall. We pay while they play.
To make matters worst the city council continues down the path of destruction by praising the abuse and promoting continued discrimination while not taking responsibility for the responsibilities of a municipality. The citizens and businesses should be informed before they invest in such a bogus city by having the city disclose that they have not rights in the city of Sedona.
The only ones that matter are the councilors, staff and regional chamber of commerce. They let everyone and anyone onto city focus groups, engagement and other committees. Geez they even let Steve Segner who lives up the canyon run for Anglea seat.
While some people realize that a chamber is not part of the city, many do not. As you listen to city council meetings the chamber is brought into many decision by council. While the city spends more than they bring in they continue to fund this trade association np that has a majority of regional members. They enable and enforce continued abuse with no checks and balances discrediting the legitimate businesses in the foot printed incorporate area. They do not directly deal with their own businesses and let a regional group speak as if they are the actual true businesses of the city.
In Wednesday’s newspaper there was an article titled ” City bike share effort feasably phases forward” Guess what the chamber is now deciding for you how to live by the chamber doing product development for the city of sedona. What does our city staff do? They keep their mouths shut and do what CC tells them. Not one of them has the balls or integrity to speak up.
The city of Sedona went into a agreement with the regional chamber fully aware that they are not an exclusive to in city businesses. They market and direct with city money themselves and their members. No RFP s. They got it without any directing MILLIONS of dollars to their special interest group without any consent from the voters. Why is it acceptable for them to do a 2.01 million a year agreement without any RFPs? A monopoly is now well ingrained in the city, kickbacks and referral fees are common practice. The residents and businesses have completely lost their rights.
While we see other tourist towns grow we see sedona shrinking. We see other tourist towns gain in quality attracting residents and visitors that like a higher quality of product and services we see the city driving our resident out of town by not taking care of them. ATV clog our streets affecting the quality of life. But that ok as the special interest groups are primarily outside the city limits anyway.
City Council continues to go down the path of how to stick it to the residents and businesses and get more money. Since they enable and endorse abuse of the legitimate residents and businesses it is probably time to disincorporate.
How is can this happen? Direction please @JessLookin
@JessLookin
A terrific disincorporation website (cityofsedona.org) was up and running by around Jan 2014, but now it can’t be reached. One Richard Saunders (an alias?) was the leader and voice of the disincorporation website.
I believe a fellow who called himself Tony Tonsich (sedonacity@gmail.com) and who had lived in Sedona for over two decades was behind the “citizensagainst thecityofsedona.”. He had an amazing tech person. I submitted a few eye-opening documents. Tony preferred his address be kept from the city, so I promised to keep it secret. I do not have his phone number nor know if he’s still living in Sedona. I hope a reader of The Eye may add to my information.
The citizens needed to do more.
@Wsr
As an obvious victim of public (govt) education, will you never be able to write an intelligent sentence that doesn’t have to be deleted by the editor for the most part? You can’t communicate without the use of gutter language which is an identifier of your social class.
By the way, Wsr, you can’t start a sentence with “Aka” since it requires an antecedent to which it must refer. No wonder you love government so much. You and your husband aren’t smart enough to accomplish even the simplest tasks on your own. That’s why everyone at this site disrespects you both. Good thing they don’t have to actually see you, Wsr. That would scare away all the readers at this site.
@jrn
As always……thanks for the grammer lesson (deleted by editor).
Sunlight is the best disinfectant. The city does not serve the residents.
The best thing we all can do is to tell our friends and neighbors about what is happening in the city and make them aware. Tell them to read the Sedona Eye.
The city will collapse financially, we can defeat Home Rule and then end the city.
Yes Sunlight is the best Disinfectant
Richard Sanders once created a webpage that took photos of wasteful Sedona employee spending…..His examples included….Two cops talking to each other for 15 minutes as an ex. Of government waste
Another included a city employee cashing his check at the bank on their lunch…
Yet another ….Sedona cops protecting workers hanging Xmas Lights…
All his examples of government waste…..also included in his vile webpage he routinely attacked a city employee….
Yes Tony T sunlight is the best disinfectant to uncover you devious sick mind…..Also Ben Franklin died over 250 years ago..
The wonderful thing about the websites was everything was documented and totally factual.
Driving a city vehicle to make a personal bank deposit?
Posting embarrassing personal emails that a government employee wrote on government time and a government email account?
If anything was false there would have been a lawsuit. The website only posted facts. That was embarrassing enough.
It still embarrasses you Wsr? Shall I reactivate your all factual personal website?