Our Friend & Oro Valley Neighbor Phil Richardson Addresses Naranja Park Issue

Phil is a friend I hold in high esteem. He is one of the residents who didn't come to Oro Valley: Oro Valley came to him, as part of a hostile annexation, with promises made, but promises not kept.
Art
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Thanks for fighting for your, and our Constitutional Rights. Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press (including the modern electronic media) are unique blessings first gained for we Americans 230 years ago - even if they are used by politicians to pervert (spin) positions they once held.

Take the phrase: "No Property Taxes." We are reminded three times per year what this often broken promise means - once when we get the notice of assessment, once when we get the Property Tax Statement and once when we pay it.

We have noted of late a change in the lexicon of some of our Oro Valley Politicians. The pledge has now been changed to: "No PRIMARY Property Tax.”

Will it ease the pain if you get your annual tax bill from the Pima County Treasurer and for the next 25-30 years “Naranja Park-Secondary” is listed on line four?

Let's not discuss the cost of the army of people that will be needed to administer and maintain a facility the size of the proposed Naranja Park.

Once upon a time, former Council Member Culver and current Council Member Dankwerth came to our home - in an effort to pour a healing balm on we "draftees.” This was following a heated, hostile annexation of our Suffolk Hills neighborhood. At that friendly exploratory visit, it was explained to them that there was no sort of small park nearby where families could take their children. A tiny park would go a long way toward healing much bitterness about the way in which the annexation of our homes was achieved. What we envisioned was not grandiose. A playground, perhaps a basketball court, a few picnic tables within reasonable walking distance. I offered to help raise half of the cost of outfitting it.

We were underwhelmed by the response we got: The politicas pled poverty.

I rush to say that none of us in the “southern precincts” below the CDO wash deny the prettiest town anywhere a beautiful park, but does it have to so BIG – 80-million dollars big to start with? At least one Council Member, Deputy Parish, wishes we could be burdened with $150-million dollars of tax debt! This is in agreement with the Mayor’s expansive plans, but he is not up re-election, while Parish is.

We are thankful that the incumbents apparently did not want to have voters going to the polls with this mammoth bond-payoff hanging over the voting booth. This will give the newly elected council members and those who remain sufficient time to scale-down the initial cost of the park for which so many have waited so long.

Phil "Barney Wetstone" Richardson.

PS: We sure have an enterprising, conscientious, freewheeling and apparently independent Town Clerk and Town Attorney don't we? - Just checking to see who is in charge here.