Last evening the good folks in the Suffolk Hills community sponsored a candidate forum. The president of their association, Geo Subiti acted as moderator, and asked a number of very insightful and pertinent questions, subsequent to having the 5 candidates present their opening comments.
I'm very pleased to say that many of the those in attendance shared my view that Bill Garner was "head & shoulders" the most articulate, the one who addressed the questions directly, and received the best response from the audience.
Not far behind Bill was the other challenger, Salette Latas who once again did quite well in this, the third forum.
Many in the audience acknowledged that the three incumbents had a big problem trying to defend their dismal record over their almost four year term.
I guess it would be difficult to defend more taxes, more fees, and more decisions that favored developers over the people.
Is it any wonder why we endorse ONLY Bill & Salette in our upcoming election for Oro Valley Town Council?
19 comments:
Salette Latas and Bill Garner will be a major plus for this town that must reverse it path of destruction before its too late.
Perhaps Parish, Dankwerth, and Barry G. can place their campaign signs in front of the huge boxes that are now going up at OV Marketplace. What a sad sight as this signals the end of the beauty of Oro Valley.
Thank you to the Suffolk homeowners for the great forum. It was extremely enlightening.
Naranja Town Park:
What a surprise to learn that unbeknownst to the rest of the Council; Mr Parish and Mr. Loomis went to Colorado Springs to study their park system and than changed the Citizens Plan to include "over the top" facilities for us all to pay for. Hello... Colorado Springs is how much bigger than OV? plus they have big military and corporations to support their wants.
I have yet to hear our Council tell us how they determined that we needed x ballfields, basketball and tennis courts, etc. If we need it that's one thing, quite another if it is just someone's claim to fame.
Why should OV taxpayers pay for the infrastructure and only charge fees for maintenance??
Impact fees: Mrs Dankwerth reminded us that this Council raised the fees, however correct me if I'm wrong - I believe the Star and Explorer said even though our fees were raised, they are still less than Marana and other towns. So why should present residents foot the bill for future residents of the northern Pima Cty annexation.
Taxes:
A secondary tax is a property tax Council members. Primary, Seconday...it's a Property Tax!
Vestar:
Yes, we are stuck with Wal-Mart and isn't it amazing how the tune changes at election time to learn that none of our Council members wanted a Wal-Mart. Not what I remember hearing....
And, since we have Wal-Mart why can't the Council say no 24/7 hours and no RV's in the parking lot???
Oh, I know... you never say NO! It's Yes to developers even if Planning and Zoning have learned the word NO.
Mr. Parish;
It might be a good idea - to bad it wasn't yours...to see if we can partner with the State and get some facilities at Catalina State Park. Oh, yes..you said 6 lanes of traffic on Oracle could kill a kid. Hmm, how do children on the other side of Oracle get to the Naranja town site???? Guess the park will be for a limited select few.
Fire:
Why didn't OV declare themselves a Fire District. We could all have come in on the annexation at the same time and the town could even have contracted for services and negotiated?
It is difficult to explain this situation to my insurance co. And, why should the highly assessed home in OV foot the bill for less assessed valued homes to our North?
I could go on... but we all know how this present Council has snubbed us and how they fail to represent us. Oh, that's right..if I can't afford to live here(and pay all those taxes for a Council members pipe dreams)I should move.
I want to close by saying that Garner and Latas are a "breath of fresh air".
Raindancer
Terry Parish,
I'm no fan of Dankwerth and I think she needs to take some anger management classes, but I wonder...
Just how far off the mark was she when she made the comment about you and Loomis taking a secret trip to Colorado and then coming back with those grand plans for the NTP? Is there more to this story?
Terry,
Forgot to ask this. You stated at the forum that Wal-Mart wouldn't have been your first choice for an anchor either. So do you feel at all betrayed by Vestar? Seems like they used you.
Do you think you'll allow them to use your name again when they start advertising for the Grand Opening?
Victorian Cowgirl
Re my covert spy mission to Colorado. A harrowing adventure to say the least. To have missed it one must have forgotten the vote or to have not read the materials we were voting on.
Either way Helen forgot to mention the tunnel the mayor and I dug with spoons as we successfully smuggled the new plans into Oro Valley undetected. Scary Stuff
Terry,
Do you remember when the council voted on this?
More important at least in my mind, who initiated this vote and who brought up the idea in the first place?
mscoyote
Im home sick today and I don't remember when. It was part of our decision to approve the programming of the site and to to find the maenities necessary to help the NTS capture more of its maintenance and operations budget through user fees.
I was the PRAB liason and we went to similiar sites with similiar demographics and found that certain aspects of the facilities made them more sustainable.
The plan never really changed at all. Prior to the trip no one knew what specific types of amenities would be in the aquatics area or in the community center. We were looking for ways to bring the community something they could be proud of that could also have upwards of 70% of it operation budget paid with user fees.
At the forum, I thought Salette was the most approachable of the candidates, connecting with the people rather than portraying an image of, "I know what's best for everyone." (Dankwerth comes to mind here.)
Dankwerth came out swinging and never connected with the audience. She needs to get off her high horse...of course I suspect that will be happening very soon anyway!
Garner's speeches also resonated very well with the crowd, especially when he talked about EDA's and other corporate "gifts."
Terry,
You didn't answer my Vestar questions. Are you avoiding? (I know my questions are challenging!)
victorian cowgirl
I don't feel used by Vestar we all knew and many in SOVOG said before the vote that this could bring us a Wal-mart. What the name of the store is and what they sell is driven by the market not by me or even Vestar.
Interesting to note that the Chamber of Commerce supported the Marketplace too. I wonder why they would support something that is bad for business hmmm hmmmm
Terry--- One point only as it reletes to your most recent comment concerning the Chamber of Commerce.
Why don't we add the caveat as to who makes these decisions FOR THE WHOLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
It's the same few elitists, for the most part that also go through the charade of endorsing candidates.
Does any reasonable person believe that the multitude of small OV business owners can't wait until Wal-Mart comes in and effectively puts them out of business.
Fortunately our readers are smarter than to "buy into" your story!
Art
Terry,
Just for your FYI. The National Federation of Independent Business, which has over 600,000 members nationwide has filed a friend of the court brief in support of the Turken v. Gordon lawsuit filed by Clint Bolick of the Goldwater Institute.
This group is a "lobby" type organization for the small and independent business owner.
Seems like the small guys/gals were not being represented by groups like the Chamber of Commerce.
Terry, you have a right to support
Vestar and Wal-Mart. What I have a problem with is how did you give an endorsement to Vestar knowing that they promised us this "unique" shopping center, blah blah while knowing that it was probable that Vestar would give us another Wal Mart?
So it sounds like you knew that Vestar would be giving us another Wal Mart, you supported this and
know you say that Wal Mart would not have been your first choice.
And the winner is.....
For the worst performance at the forum my vote goes to HELEN DANKWERTH. She either wilfully lied about the vote on the measure to cease EDAs for retail businesses or she forgot her role and forgot the outcome. In reality she kind of pulled a 'John Kerry' -first she wrangled against it and then she voted for it - but she claims that she was instrumental in getting it passed (whew). She then stated the vote had been unanimous; well, I was there, Mrs. Dankwerth, and between myself, reports in the press, and the facts on record, I can solemnly swear that the vote was 6 to 1, Mayor Loomis having voted AGAINST this cessation; and that, Mrs. Dankwerth, is not a unanimous vote. Also, you did spend a 'bit' of time expressing your concern as to how this measure might affect a pro-shop on a golf course - remember that? Was it because you thought that another annexation by 'enticements' might yet be possible but in jeopardy if you couldn't offer some taxpayers' cash? And what about your more recent statement relative to giving Sanofi-Aventis a nice juicy perk. The argument that this company would be spending lots and lots of money on improvements, sidewalks, streets, lights or whatever simply doesn't wash. Do you not know that the price on a piece of developed land is considerably higher than on a piece of undeveloped land? So, your thinking is skewed! Sanofi-Aventis purchased a piece of land knowing damn well that it would need development and it was thus that they got the land for the price they paid - so be it, that's business! Let's not forget that, as of now, EDAs are apparantly illegal under several clauses of the AZ Constitution. No matter what kind of a private business might be in consideration of pursuit - retail, manufacturing, R&D, or whatever, historical negligence of a law does not negate that law. You like giveaways, Mrs. Dankwerth, other peoples' money, and you have the audacity to proclaim that you are the candidate 'of the PEOPLE, by the PEOPLE, and for the PEOPLE' - for shame!
You, and others, note that the demographics of Oro Valley have changed. Although that may be true, as a good portion of Oro Valley was 'built on the backs' of some of us older folk; as an analogy, does that mean that just because the average age of my immediate family has lowered, children, grandchildren, that we, the parents, the grandparents, should be doling out more and more money for all of their excesses?
I don't think so. You infer an aversion to more taxation; how are you going to get those things that you drool over?
And then there was your sappy meandering discourse relative to your family and The Holocaust. What relevancy was that to either YOUR character, YOUR abilities, or the issues on the table - NONE that I could fathom. If The Holocaust was such an important factor in YOUR life, where were you when I raised the subject of MY queasiness at having a crematorium in my back yard and the virtual entrance to the age-related, mostly retirement community in which I live; because of the impact of The Holocaust on my own life, I stood before the Council in opposition to this neighborhood abomination and, Mrs. Dankwerth, YOU UTTERED NOT A SOUND!
Let's go on - not only were/are you 'footloose and fancy free' with your portrayal of fact, your grasp of community, and your role in all of it, but your sharp tongued and scornful body-language
references to your fellow council members was only the tip of an iceberg when it comes to how you view others. You wield a kind of goody-two-shoes superiority attitude as if you're someone special. I once stated that [I thought you might be a nice person but...]; now, Helen Dankwerth, after hearing your nonsense at this forum, I can only perceive you as a bit of a witchy snob - there should be no place for you in deciding the future of this Town!
Zev,
I didn't understand Dankwerth's allusions to the Holocaust either. I could only assume she was looking for the sympathy vote.
She also made some snippy comment that Bill Garner's background meant nothing. I think she was implying that his background didn't qualify him for a seat on the council. But I guess she thinks her background as a psychologist does!
I wonder how THAT qualifies her to understand land issues, tax issues, business incentives, etc.
Victorian Cowgirl
She doesn't!
What "secret trip to Colorado"? The Council members who did NOT travel to Colorado certainly knew about it; the senior administration officials knew about it; the architect working on the NTS design knew about it. There are some outstanding examples of various types of community facilities in the greater Denver area. It would be foolish NOT to perform due diligence to learn what types of amenities work and what types do not, almost regardless of the size of the community. Think--if you were on the Council and had to vote as to whether to send the funding question to the voters, wouldn't you want to have some first-hand knowledge of what comparable facilities have and the challenges that they faced? If your answer to that question is "no," then perhaps you should be happy that you have your Wednesday nights free because voting without examining similar facilities would mean that you're not representing your constituents by doing the necessary homework.
Boobie, Are you saying or implying that Helen Dankwerth was lying?
She is the one who publicly mentioned the "secret" trip. I don't really know if it was a secret or not.
Why do our town officials think that this project required a road trip.
Don't you think there are local parks they could have evaluated or compared, why go all the way to Denver . Nothing close by is good enough for these guys to spend our money on. Oro Valley is not a big city, well not yet.
Like Bill Gardner and others have mentioned there is a big difference between wants and needs.
Some on our council need to understand that.
Ms Coyote,
Certainly there are "parks" in Arizona; there is a lovely Performing Arts Center in Mesa (which the Council visited); but I don't know of any other 200+ acre site in a metropolitan area in Arizona that presents similar possibilities and challenges. Was the trip absolutely essential? Probably not. Did it add to the knowledge base of the Council? Probably a little. All in all, it shouldn't be a big issue since there are so many more important challenges facing the Council (did I mention water, water and water?).
Boobie-Baby, I did not initiate the
discussion of the park nor the supposed secret trip. I like you just add my 2cents in when I get the urge.
Of course not as eloquently as you but I feel I get to the point.
Of course you noticed that councilperson Parish felt the need to comment on this "secret" visit also.
Yes there are more important issues.
But how small issues and decisions are handled sometimes give us an indicator of how a person or a government agency handles the big ones.
To me this is a show of how they make decisions or it is a benchmark, something to compare.
Lots of little problems sometimes cause loads of big problems.
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