Opinion by Peter J. Fagan Much like the waters of Oak Creek flowing down over Slide Rock, the city’s fiscal strength is following that same downhill path. Peter J Fagan During the council retreat on November 20, tax revenue results for the first quarter of the 2010 fiscal year were reviewed. With the majority of the city revenue derived from excise taxes, sales tax revenue is down from budgeted revenue... 

Sedona Times and SedonaTimes.com editor Tommy Acosta examines the Feb. 17 Sedona city council special meeting and its emergency suspension of voting rules to disband the Mayor’s Advisory Committees in a 4-3 vote. Sedona, AZ – Editorial by Tommy Acosta. Might as well warn the reading public right now — this is going to be one heck of long editorial. The mayor’s advisory committees are... 

  Sedona Times reporter, Tommy Acosta Sedona AZ (February 18, 2009) — Opinion by Sedona Times Tommy Acosta.     As predicted, four Sedona City Council members shot the Mayor’s Advisory Committees down out of the sky at their February 17, 2009 special meeting. It was no surprise and it was expected, with it being a matter of when, and not, if.   The opportunity for their action, which... 

Tommy Acosta, Sedona Times Publishing guest writer Sedona AZ (December 20, 2008) – There’s a lot of talk going on whether a strong or weak mayor is the best form of local government, especially for Sedona. Unfortunately, these opinions don’t quite grasp the reality of political science or what constitutes a weak or strong mayor. It is not about whether the mayor has executive powers or not. It... 

Sedona Verde Valley Times Guest Editorial by Tommy Acosta Sedona AZ (December 9, 2008) – On November 24, Judge C. Kenneth Ray II of the Sedona Magistrate Court issued an order that the case against Sedona citizen Clifford Ochser filed by Sedona City Attorney Michael Goimarac, in the matter of former mayoral candidate Matthew Turner receiving an alleged-threatening letter, must go to jury trial 9... 

Tommy Acosta Sedona AZ (December 7, 2008) – Oh dear! Oh my! Another stumbling block in the path of the 76 or more lights for 89A. This…is a big one. This saga plays out like a heavyweight match between two worthy opponents in an Ultimate Fighting contest. Back and forth and back and forth. It looks like the pro-dark skies group has gained advantage, holding the pro-lights group down on... 

Sedona, AZ — By Tommy Acosta… All right you political chess buffs out there, here’s another one for you to ponder and masticate. Last night, Nov. 25, at the Sedona City Council meeting, members discussed allegations filed with the Attorney General’s office that four council members violated the Open Meeting Law shortly before the council voted to put lights on 89A. Needless to say,...