Comments on: The Will of the People, Be Damned

By: Jean Jenks

Jean Jenks — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:10:14 +0000

More on new fees: Under our current City Manager an undemocratic, discriminatory, financially stiffling fee was implemented with regard to elections. Submitting your statement for inclusion in the City of Sedona’s “Publicity Pamphlet and Text of Ballot” publications mailed to qualified voters, always free of charge before, now costs $250.00.

By: Warren

Warren — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:28:23 +0000

Dittos to Henry & Jean. Voting NO on Prop. 420, the “Home Rule Option”, is the Sedona residents’ only hope of reining in Council’s insane and wasteful spending.

Candidates continually claim to be “fiscally conservative” but it never works out in practice.

Do not be fooled by Council and Staff’s continued claims of fiscal responsibility. If Sedona was in such great financial shape then already high wastewater fees would not be skyrocketing, “court costs” would not have been implemented, and neither would have the new “licensing fees” for businesses.

Vote NO on Prop. 420, the “Home Rule Option”, or expect more “fees” and “costs” in the future.

By: Jean Jenks

Jean Jenks — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:21:25 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with Henry Twombly about City government’s unresponsiveness to citizens’ concerns, so intend to vote “NO” on the Home Rule Option also. In my opinion, defeating Home Rule is probably the only real opportunity “we, the people” will get to restrain City Hall spending.

By: Henry Twombly

Henry Twombly — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:45:18 +0000

I commend Eddie and Jean on their article and comments. I’ve only been in respectively. Sedona for a little over four years, and I have found the City Council very unresponsive to local concerns. As in the past, they seem to represent business concerns over the public good – which seems to be typical of all levels of government. My biggest concern is that Sedona will become an overdeveloped, tacky tourist trap. In terms of our debt, I find the City Council, the School District, and Fire District to be fiscally irresponsible, always fear-mongering to promote their personal agendas. I’ve decided to vote against Home Rule as a last-ditch effort to get the City to curtail its spending. Thanks again for the information and insights. And hopefully we the people will take back our government, which would then promote common sense for the common good.

By: Jean Jenks

Jean Jenks — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:07:54 +0000

Even though the housing bubble has burst, local housing prices have plummeted nearly 50% and the real estate depression continues, our Sedona Housing Commission is demonstrating its profound ignorance of the economy and lack of concern for local property owners by pursuing development.

That the Commission scheduled a meeting with a landowner on a possible land acquisition for low-income housing and met with Habitat for Humanity several times is very troubling. The unintended consequences of the Housing Commission’s economic illiteracy will be more downward pressure on property values and the quality of life in Sedona.

E.g., won’t low-income housing be coming to a nice neighborhood? To one where many are already dealing with foreclosures, underwater loans, negative equity and/or vacated houses? How many more homes will be in financial hot water as a result of an increase in the housing supply in Sedona during this era of lost demand? When will the Housing Commission step up to the plate and protect the interests of Sedona’s current property owners? Don’t you feel it insane that a City development project is being planned for a small municipality with a bonded indebtedness of over $60 million, i.e., approximately $5,900 per resident?

Lastly, why should Sedona’s Housing Commission be allowed to operate as a developer?