Unbelievable! Someone or some developer REALLY wants Parish elected. How else can you explain the 3rd glossy postal card within a week?
Does anybody know the cost for only one these glossies? I have received a figure, but suffice it to say, it's much too expensive for someone earning a sergeant's pay with Pima County.
Speaking of Pima County Sheriff's Department, did you see Parish's latest claim?
"As a Sergeant with the Pima County Sheriff's Department, I will make certain that our sheriff, police and fire departments have the staff and resources to keep our citizens safe."
There you have it. Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, Oro Valley Police Chief Danny Sharp & Golder Ranch Fire District Chief John Fink need not worry. PARISH WILL MAKE CERTAIN EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE. Why do we need these three if Parish has everything under control? Wow! What a claim. He'll make CERTAIN they all have the staff & resources! What a ludicrous statement!
In case you missed it, Parish will also ENSURE that Oro Valley schools and teachers will have adequate funding. I guess we can get rid of the Amphi School District Board, in that Parish already ensured us he's got that under control as well. Too bad, the OV Council has NOTHING to do with Amphi School funding.
Perhaps Parish will sponser a $150 million bond issue if the schools need more money. More empty promises!
And getting an endorsement from ex-council member Warner Wolff who was instrumental in giving the developers $50 million of our future tax revenue within two months of leaving office, tells you enough.
Bill Garner & Salette Latas both have public safety as a top issue. They don't have the big developers subsidizing their campaigns the way Parish does. Is it any wonder why Parish continues to endorse the subsidies to the big developer?
VOTE FOR ONLY GARNER & LATAS. Tell Parish we've had enough of him, his glossies and his commitment to the developers!
29 comments:
Terry is confused. He thinks he is running for Sheriff not town council.
These flyers are coming from the Phoenix area.
Probably from some big group like the
State Realtors, or perhaps a developer.
Vestar is in the phoenix area, so is
Vistoso Partners.
Who knows.
Terry does say he takes money from developers for his campaign and is proud of the support he gets from them.
What does that tell you?
"THE TIES THAT BIND"
Vistoso Partners
Vestar
Wolfswinkle
Need more be said?
Art
You forgot that approved developments when they occur generate tax dollars for our schools and fire depts and other govt entities. Many of theses taxes are collected in the form of property taxes and as a result that becomes money the average citizen will not have to pay because the big and bad shopping center is.
If you are going to blame me for the Marketplace then you must also give me credit for the $119 million dollars in new revenue that it will generate much of it in property taxes that you won't have to look forward to paying because of people like me.
I finally got over the flu feel much better today. Two weeks of misery I hope this post finds everyone doing well. Stay dry stay healthy.
Sorry Terry I don't "buy" your way of thinking.
Development causes the need for more schools, public safety personnel, etc.
Yes we do pay property taxes, just not to Oro Valley.
Also you mention the $119 million in tax revenues that the big bad shopping center will generate.
Well If I recall those figures were based on each person in OV spending thousands every month,in the Vestar Marketplace, in other words we would all have to shop until we drop, to match the figures that Vestar sold you and others.
Terry, I now believe that you are in bed with the developers as many have been saying.
Who is paying for all those flyers we received?
Here is one plus for you. The kids are adorable.
mscoyoteIt is not my way of thinking it is simply the truth. The $119million is mage up largely of property taxes that will be collected as a result of the property improvements IE the buildings parking lots etc
Terry,
The property tax is paid to the county correct? Oro Valley will get a share correct? So it is probably a wash because the amount Oro Valley will receive will probably be enough(I hope) to pay for the increased need for police, fire, etc
. None of us know how many stores may be hurt or go under because of
a Wal Mart locating there. So we can't factor that loss in yet.
I am sure you are aware that some big corporatons like Wal Mart use
"creative" planning to avoid paying property taxes, so I will assume the develoeprs like Vestar also do the same when they can mangage it.
Again who is paying for all those flyers? We got 3 of them.
Somebody or some business is paying a lot of money to get you elected !!!!
Why?
"Vestar has estimated that the town will receive $119 million in sales taxes over 20 years once the center is open for business." (http://www.explorernews.com/article/show/15497)
"Oro Valley collected nearly 82 percent less sales-tax revenue than originally projected from two retail developments granted tax-sharing incentives by the town, figures show." (http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/209054)
Mscoyote
Yes Pima county collects them and disseminates the taxes collected ie
library district
flood control district we get to pay that one 2x now
fire district don't know who collects for sure but eventually the fire district get it
The crux of my point was that decisions made by the Oro Valley Town Council on development do impact school funding and fire department funding etc. If business growth stops we the citizens will have to bear more of the burden and our schools etc will suffer.
We pay twice for the library, too. Once through the County and once through the Town budget.
And Mr. Parish, you don't know who collects taxes for the fire district?!!
"When Wal-Mart proposes to build another of its giant stores, local residents often raise concerns about increased car and truck traffic, a loss of open space, higher crime rates and other negative impacts that they argue will lower the quality of life in the neighborhood and thus depress property values. The company responds to these concerns by painting a different picture, claiming that its stores provide substantial benefits to communities.
"Yet what Wal-Mart does not disclose in site fights—but is revealed for the first time in a new report by Good Jobs First—is the extent to which the company later in effect concedes the point about reduced property values. Once a store has been in operation for a while, Wal-Mart frequently challenges the assessed value that local officials assign to it for tax purposes. In an effort to cut the property tax it pays to local governments—revenue that pays for public education, police and fire protection and other vital services—Wal-Mart routinely tries to belittle the value of its own facilities...
"We researched local property tax records, looking at assessment appeals on both real property (buildings and land) and business personal property (fixtures and equipment), and found what appears to be a company policy of systematically challenging assessments."
--http://www.corp-research.org/archives/sep-oct07.htm
Thank you Oro Valley Mom...
You said it for me, just take a look at Oracle Crossings and Steam Pump village... SO far BELOW their estimated sales already!
There isn't going to be $119 million in tax revenue coming out of Wal-Mart...not in ANY form.
Any taxes collected will surely be spent on police calls. And if Wal-Mart does devalueate their own properties (as it appears they certainly do!) how can anyone have any trust in an organization like this?
I have posted information and links to anti-wal-mart campaigns before, do your research Parish, before you make a total ass of yourself...too late!
Oh for some interesting reading... go to http://www.pimasheriff.org/code.htm
it is the CODE of ETHICS for pima sheriff's... I will let the reader decide if Parish even conforms to the ethics of his first career choice...My guess is that most of us will agree that he does not!
I sent my ballot in today.. marked for ONLY Bill and Salette!
Terry,
Having been in the retail AND real estate fields most of my life, let me stress to you that, if there is a NEED it will be filled; if there is a prospect that any given area or 'space' will produce a profit for someone, generally there is a someone that will take advantage of that opportunity and that will be achieved without corporate welfare. Yes, the owners of the property where the Oro Valley Marketplace had the right to sell it to anyone who deemed it fit for their purposes (within zoning applications), of course. The 'new' proprietor has the right to erect any establishment that is deemed fit (within zoning applications), of course. However,'find a need and fill it' is an old adage in the business world, retail or otherwise and I assure you that if a business entity truly feels that success can be attained and thus profit realized, that entity will build it or situate themselves within
it WITHOUT asking for gratuities from the tax paying public. Developers cry 'wolf' and we get scared and feed them. EDAs in this state are like meth - a horrible habit injected by horrible greed.
Now, Terry, you are a 'lawperson' and I believe that you are sincere in your expression of desire for a lawful society. When I, at a neighborhood meeting, stated, in a brief conversation with a person I did not know at the time, that EDAs MIGHT be illegal per the Constitution of the State of Arizona,that person contemptuously shrugged his shoulders and muttered "so what"; a 'lawful' concern? That person is a managing partner in Vistoso Partners.
Terry, as a 'lawperson' shouldn't you be 'squeeky clean'? Your past
answers relative to 'donors' to your campaign as well as your positioning yourself with developers, while perhaps 100% legal, taints your credibility. Perhaps you actually believe that you are doing good for the community, but you, yourself, put a blot on your image by affiliating yourself with persons of questionable motives let alone character.
Could another retail developer have put in for, purchased, and developed the space where the OV Marketplace is being built? The principals in both Rancho Vistoso and Vestar are alleged to have "Ties That Bind", and one of the 'principals' buried in those ties has an extremely dubious past. So, Terry, try to answer THAT question yourself.
Has your need for contribution to this community kinda gotten out of hand and perhaps instead of maintaing it's heart, destroying its character. I've lived in many communities throught the country.
No matter how they try adapating, uncontrolled and reckless growth AND amenities bring more traffic, more pollution (of several types), ruined landscape, financial hurt, personal frustration, more crime, more pressures, ad infinitem!
It's like trying to 'conquer' a wave, the more you try to 'climb' it the more chance you have of getting slammed to the bottom and drowning.
I especially love the part about the personal life being unsullied....honest in thought and deed....
You will have to go there to read it, as it is copywritted and I cannot "legally" reproduce it here!
http://www.pimasheriff.org/code.htm
Parish you have 'strayed' so far from the code...!
Terry,
After reading the code of ethics and hearing and reading your responses to the questions of recieving gratuities from those 'connected', I have a question for you: would it be possible for you to enforce
upon any principal of Vestar, Vistoso Properties, or any other related and/or involved person, the law, to it's fullest extent, as is required? I cannot help
but believe that a conflict of interest is in play here.
Terry, the answers and your attempts to explain them indicate to me that you are in 'way over your head' in the matters of this Town no matter that YOU may feel you are being of good guidance service to it. In addition, there is no question in my mind but that you are being used by those who can't or won't 'take the heat' themselves. Please think about it.
LET'S DO THE MATH ON WAL-MART***
If every single man, woman and child shopped at Wal-Mart, they would have to spend $7,437.50 per year (or $8,887.50 a year to make up the EDA of 23.2 mil) for 20 years. (this is based on a population of 40,000 and a 2% sales tax).
If you are a family of 4, you would need to spend $29,750.00 (or $35,550.00 for the 23.2 mil EDA) to make up the 119 million in sales tax revenues that Parish is trying to exploit!
Below is an expert showing some of the "hidden" costs of Wal-Mart besides crime and property values...
Also noteworthy... Our current council members just added 23.2 million to the 8 million spent across the state of AZ as of March 2006. Which leaves one to wonder why, with only 1% of the whole states population are we [OV] paying 3 times the amount in EDA's for our "Upscale Luxurious" shopping experience?????
TAKEN FROM AFL-CIO
March 2006
http://www.aflcio.org/corporatewatch/walmart/upload/walmartreport_031406.pdf
"ARIZONA
According to statistics released by the Arizona Department of Economic Security in 2005, nearly
10 percent of Wal-Mart’s workers in Arizona get their health benefits from the state, a total of
almost 2,700 employees—more than any other private employer in the state.
Even as Wal-Mart avoids providing its workers with basic health care, the company has benefited from more than $8 million in taxpayer-financed economic
assistance in Arizona since 1999, with $7.6 million in infrastructure subsidies alone.
Arizona had to address a $269.1 million shortfall in its state Medicaid budget in FY 2005.
The state took several steps to contain its Medicaid costs over the last two fiscal years, including freezing provider payment rates and making cuts
to program eligibility."
***OVWebSleuth disclaimer
I might not be 100% accurate in my math, as this is not my area of expertise, if someone else comes up with different numbers, I will gladdly succeed mine!
Terry,
You said the $119 million is made up largely of PROPERTY taxes. But Vestar's flyers said the $119 million would come from SALES tax revenues over 20 years. Which is correct?
If it's sales tax revenues, then I would ask exactly where did Vestar come up with that figure? Developers came up with figures for sales tax revenue for two other EDA's and the actual figures turned out to be nowhere near what they projected. So isn't there a good chance that Vestar's projected figures also won't be anywhere near the actual figures?
If the $119 million will come from property taxes, exactly who in the OVM deal will be paying those taxes? Vestar?
Terry---I am presently not in OV, so I did not get the chance to respond to you.
Let's get back to the issue of my original posting. I noted I, and I'm sure many OV citizens received THREE Glossy postal cards extolling your virtues and why you should be re-elected.
Here's an easy question. If you see fit to respond, without side-stepping the issue---
Who is so interested to see you in office that they are spending thousands of dollars to get those glossies out to the citizens?
You obviously saw fit NOT to respond to Ms Coyote. Perhaps, you'll see fit to respond to me.
We'll see!
Art
Art
Business owners, employees, house-wives, parents who want a park that has something for everyone, people who love the arts, etc. As you know businesses cannot contribute to any campaign only the citizens who work for them or own them. Everyone has their reasons for contributing. My report lists them all and a new one will be released shortly. I make sure all my contributors are identified in what they do. Some candidates do not. Hmmm. It has cost my campaign $ but its the right thing.
Most people give to causes they care about. It's why I am on the council I care about Oro Valley. It's certainly not for the praise everyone hands out so generously and I can think of easier ways to make $9,200 a year.
Get home safe and I hope you had a good trip.
Terry,
So then if mr or ms, xyz owns abc company, legally they can't give you give $$ under their business name. But mr or ms xyz can give you money
they just say its from xyz?
So a developer could give his or her employees money to contribute under individual names.
In the past I recall Dick Maes of the infamous Vistoso partners giving contributions.
That made me cringe.
So the money you receive still comes from a developer it just arrives under different names and instead of one big contribution from xyz co, all their employess sent individual checks?
Interesting.
Well leave it to the big developers and other growth lobby
companies to find loopholes
They do that well as we all know.
Terry,
You said that businesses cannot contribute to a campaign but you also said that you take money from developers. Does that mean that, say, David Malin contributed to your campaign under his own name, but Vestar did not contribute to your campaign?
Isn't that like saying, "I smoked pot but I didn't inhale."
Something to consider.
We would all like to have parks, community arts, etc, etc.
Seems that some concerns who will
benefit from this, say like developers, realtors, want the taxpayers to foot the bill.
I find this unfair and selfish.
Let the big developers foot most of the bill for the park.
Terry,
You urged people to vote Yes on Question 2.
Vestar lied to us and apparetnly to you also.
You need to admit that Vestar used you!
Next we get Wal-Mart donating 250,00 to the park.
Breaks my heart, what a joke.
That is truly an insult to all of us.
Terry,
Also, can you answer my previous question? Is the $119 million coming from sales tax revenue (as Vestar stated) or from property taxes from OVM (as you stated)?
Don't forget these big companies like Vestar are masters of deception and
have the cash to hire lawyers to find loopholes that benefit them.
Terry,
Most developers would sell their soul for a buck. Not all, but most.
To me most of their money is "dirty".
Parish
You still didn't answer one question. I realize you are a very avoidant man. You should try to answer all questions (even the uncomfortable ones) equally.
Didn't Vestar say the $119 mil would come from SALES TAX REVENUE?
Now you are saying it is MOSTLY from PROPERTY Taxes.
Which is true?
Did Vestar and you lie to US, or did Vestar lie to YOU?
Oh Heaven Help Me! I have three more questions to ask...(they won't be addressed anyway..so what do I have to loose?)
First Question for Parish:
When did you sell out to the developers?
I remember before you were elected to council you would come to the meetings and express your concerns against developers etc. Then after you were elected, you did a 180. Vote Yes on 2, Vestar, You had Richy fired...etc.
Second Question for Parish:
What is going to happen when all the developers that have bought your loyalty call in their favors?
Are you going to be able to control your ego and any morals you have left to stand up to them? Or will they own you out-right? What will happen to you if you don't do their bidding?
Third Question for Parish:
(I post this separate in-case it is censored)
Did you complete full-disclosure with your employer?
Your current spouse was mandated to do a court-ordered drug screen and the results were "sealed". I can only assume they were sealed because she tested positive.
Also, there was reference made to her alleged Marijuana and alcohol abuse in other court documents. What is your legal stance on this? What is your public officer stance on this? What is your personal stance on this?
I know from experience working in LE that you must complete FULL-DISCLOSURE with your employer, I also know, you are obliged to enforce it when you have "specific knowledge of a crime", did you do this?
For all of you that believe this is 'personal'... It isn't. All public officials are scrutinized regarding prior drug use by both themselves and their current spouses. Just ask Obama!
Sorry .... but I had to know!
Terry,
If parents are contributing to your campaign because they "want a park" then why are developers contributing to your campaign? What do THEY want?
"Business owners [like Dick Maes and Don Diamond], employees [of Vistoso Partners and Diamond Ventures], house-wives [whose last names are Wolfswinkel, Diamond, etc.], parents who want a park that has something for everyone [and who may not even live in Oro Valley], people who love the arts [and would like to see a bigger handout to GOVAC so that they don't have to pay higher ticket prices to hear the symphony], etc."
You forgot to mention super PACs like SAHBA and RAPAC, who can write big checks.
A quote for today - Presidents' Day:
"FEW MEN HAVE VIRTUE TO WITHSTAND THE HIGHEST BIDDER" - George Washington, 1st President of the United States
Terry?
Zev,
I love the quote, how true that is and our founder's sure knew what they were talking about.
Also the silence is telling.
Post a Comment