Let me go on record that I had the pleasure of meeting Dave Perry, editor & publisher of The Explorer shortly after he arrived here a little more than 6 months ago. Subsequently, Dave & I have spoken and he even suggested we meet for lunch---his treat.
So---what's not to like?
Well, in case you missed Dave's editorial comments in the June 18 Explorer, he addresses a number of issues pertaining to Oro Valley.
Perhaps one advantage I have over Dave is the fact that while he has been a resident of Oro Valley for approx. 6 months, I've been here going on 15 years.
Therefore, I think Dave misses a few points on some of the issues he addresses.
Let's take the Kai property, for one.
Dave writes: "The Kais have as much right to use their land as those who live on horse properties."
No argument, but Dave----the Kais were looking for a General Plan Amendment to change the zoning. Do you know how much time, effort and money was spent to finally generate a General Plan that the voters could accept? Why in the world would the neighbors say "To hell with the General Plan. Let Kai build what he wants."
No! The neighbors stood up for their rights, and it appears the Kais realized we now have a town council that will not cave in and go along with every developer's request.
I think you missed the point on this issue Dave.
Your comment that "There’s no point in sending the developers elsewhere, lest Oro Valley become an island surrounded by relative mess. So let’s deal with the developers, straight up"
fails to acknowledge that the developers have pretty much gotten whatever they asked for, in particular over the last 8 years or more. Regardless of whether it was retail developments, with the approx $50 million in giveaways, or the home builders who were receiving favorable treatment when it came to impact fees, I for one couldn't be more pleased that we now have a council with common sense that will be a lot more fiscally responsible. As I noted in a recent posting, if SAHBA isn't happy with our "new rules," they may want to do their home building in South Tucson in lieu of Oro Valley.
You mention that "The Greater Oro Valley Arts Council has put out the call to its constituency, urging a show of support for the arts at the town council meeting Wednesday night." You may not realize it, but not too long ago, Dick Johnson----who voted for all those giveaways during his tenure on the OV Council, put out a call in a GOVAC newsletter to have kids from all over the place come and tell our council how our citizens should tax ourselves for the Naranja Park. If it wasn't so sad, it would have been funny. Kids from outside of Oro Valley asking for the dozens of fields so they would not have to travel so far. Oro Valley kids were one thing. Outsiders were something else.
Fortunately, this new council will not be swayed by groups or individuals coming with "their hands out" looking for financial help. This council will do what is best for the people, and if that means curtailing some funds, so be it.
Lastly, you allude to Vestar. You write: "Many people in Oro Valley are angry and upset about the massive retail complex rising along Oracle Road. Some believe they were misled."
On this issue, you will get no argument from me.
Glad to see you writing your opinion about what's going on in Oro Valley. Too bad, but I think you "missed the target" on too many issues.
Hopefully, we can talk about it more over lunch----if you're still buying!
Read Dave's Editorial here
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2008/06/24/opinion/editorials/doc485834241a853296292803.txt
9 comments:
So there is always a story behind the story.
It is just as important to find out what we don't know about a story then what we do know.
Dave sounds like a good guy but he needs to brush up on the history or background of things here in OV before he writes editorials.
Perhaps the bloggers on this site were not paying enough attention when the Explorer was sold and the new editor/publisher took over his post. He made it quite clear then that his intent was NOT to become the local paper that routinely bashes local politicians and decision-makers.
The reporters cover the meetings and interview both political leaders and citizens. The Editor can choose to be part of whatever issue is forefront in people's minds, or he can choose not to. The newspaper is privately owned, and while we could argue about the responsibility of the "4th estate," it may be unreasonable to expect a local paper that depends on local advertising to dedicate its editorial space like the New York Times or Chicago Tribune.
Times are a'changin', and we're using other ways to communicate--e.g., this blog, social networks, text messages, even old-fashioned phone calls. Newspapers themselves may soon be relics, at least as we know them now.
So, I wouldn't get my hopes up about finding the story behind the story behind the story. Today's editorial really is tomorrow's fishwrap.
Both the editor of the explorer AND
the producer of this blog have the right to editorialize and they have both done so; so has mscoyote and so has bb, and from each we learn!
And now, it's my turn to editorialize: That GOVAC is holding it's concert series at La Encantada is, to me, a travesty. Here we are in Oro Valley, giving money to this organ, an organ that keeps asking for more blood, and they then take the acts out of town. If we want to participate, we have to spend for fuel, pollute the air, and waste our precious travel time to get to the scene, and then, as further salt, GOVAC has the nerve to brag about the amenities of La Encantada, amenities which many had hoped and were duped into believing that we might have been able to have here. In addition, what about the peripheral sales generated and the resultant taxes? They end up in Tucson, NOT Oro Valley. This Town is always crying about how we have to give away our money in order to generate income; well, we're giving our money to GOVAC and GOVAC is giving money away to Tucson, and we're not getting (pardon the word) crap.
No one can cry to me that [gee, we just don't have the facilities here] because I have seen what can be attained starting out with simple and 'meager' facilities; just check it out on the internet by typing in 'Regency Park, Cary, North Carolina' and view and read about the 'Coka Booth' facility; it started out with a temporary stage which has EVOLVED into a beautiful, state of the art pavillion, almost everyone brings blankets, food, drink, lawn chairs, and uses the 'grounds'. The concerts are virtually sold out rain or shine, families, singles, etc., all have a great time AND they draw THOUSANDS of patrons to each performance. We do have Riverfront Park and there ARE ways that it could have been utilized. This is not just pathetic, it's a travesty!
Zev,
Wow--you certainly took off in a different direction here.
As I understand it, the Town's support of GOVAC is just 10% of that organization's budget. So, I don't see how you or I can DEMAND that they produce all of their concerts or dances or art exhibits strictly within the confines of Oro Valley if no suitable venue is available.
I agree with you that it's sad that La Encantada is the chosen location this time. At the same time, remember, too, that the Explorer expanded its reach into serving the Foothills areas a couple of years ago, and that the Desert Leaf newspaper has always served portions of 85704.
So, where Greater Oro Valley begins or ends is still a mystery to me.
You've tied one GOVAC event to an economic incentive package that was approved years ago. That is your right, but it takes some substantial ssstttreccching to reach that conclusion.
bb, need some clarification - are you designating 4 concerts as one event (a package)? I do feel, from my experiences at the (now Koka Booth) Regency Park venue in Cary, NC, that an inexpensive venue could have been created right here in Oro Valley. The Cary venue, as I stated previously, started with a relatively small 'bandstand' and no provided seating and, because of
the picnic/concert ambience grew to what it is today. It was then and is now a high energy 'affair'. Yes, I am aware that we, the Town give only a partial amount of their
necessary(?) operating expenses and that they have been quoted as saying that they [expect deficits to be the norm], but, in my mind, if they utilize the name Greater Oro Valley Arts Council and are granted monies by the Town as a MATTER OF COURSE, then I believe they should be beholden and accountable to US. If they were raising money for the Town perhaps I would think differently but it doesn't seem that they are.
As one who has been a part of the performing arts 'world' (pianist, composer) at various times in my life, I will state emphatically that 'the arts' are very precious to me. As to the subsidation of them, well, I have many mixed feelings about that - how, to whom, and from whom.
At any rate, bb and others, I believe that THE role of GOVAC perhaps needs to be defined or redefined so it might be more in tune with public awareness and acceptance. I am still a bit miffed.
And, bb, I'm not a bad person.
boobie-baby,
I do recall when the Explorer was sold and the new editor put forth some of his changes.
Specifically I recall a comment about the paper being too new to endorse candidates for local office. Ok, not word for word maybe but you get the picture. Also recall a little tongue in cheek comment about some not appreciating the endorsement.
I was not questioning the right of the paper or Dave Perry to write or print what they want.
But we also have the right to comment on same.
My real hope is that Dave gets a little background on issues before he does his editorial.
Have you ever talked to a newbie in OV and told them a little background on issues and then have them thank you.
Not that I am an expert but I do try to keep current.
My opinion is that Dave really would rather be a writer then an editor.
Again just my opinion.
Thanks, Ms Coyote, for bringing this discussion back to its starting point.
Newspapers are probably misnamed now. They should be called advertising supplements with whatever space left over for news and editorials. A newspaper sells ads, and what is left over is known as the "news hole." The goal of a newspaper is to make that news hole as small as possible in relation to the ads. The same holds true for television and radio news, too, so don't expect too much from the Explorer. Whether you think this is a good or bad thing is up to you and, probably, the editor would most likely prefer to be a writer--a more creative pursuit, no doubt.
Zev--there are plenty of places for GOVAC activities in OV. In fact, they are sponsoring a summer series of dance and music recitals within the confines of the community. So, I can't fault them for taking SOME of their programs to La Encantada.
At some point in the future (perhaps not in our lifetimes), the Town voters will approve SOMETHING at the Naranja Town Site beyond the ballfields. That something, whether it's an outdoor amphitheatre or indoor performance center, will be the perfect setting for local productions. But until that time, expect presenting organizations to use churches, other shopping arenas, public buildings (e.g., libraries) and parks for their programs. Not a bad thing, for sure, but not optimal either.
Zev--for whatever it's worth, I am also an artist, although I will not say in which medium I work, so--yes--I do have a spot in my heart for funding for the arts. Without the King or Prince commissioning artists in the 17th and 18th centuries (using, of course, money he taxed from his subjects), we would not have many of the great art pieces (visual and musical) that we have today.
bb, last point well taken but, back in the 17th and 18th centuries if a King or Prince commissioned artists, in many instances the artist was beholden to the King or Prince (or the Church), and many works were held to imposed rules for creation by their benefactors. I believe that most artists, over the eons created out of their own dedication and love, and many were not recognized until after death. However, I also agree with the propriety for some funding of the arts, but, to me there is a question as to how, to whom, and from whom as well as to what a degree of accountability.
Zev,
Your knowledge of history is exceeded only by your politeness on this blog.
Of course, there are still rulers who commission art, usually of themselves (Hussein, Mao, Mugabe). The payment for these works of "art" come from the people, whether they know it or not (they know it now).
We, in turn, have a Public Art Advisory Committee in OV, so at least there's some accountability and responsibility where that type of artistic creation is concerned. We just don't have the same for other forms--e.g., dance, music.
Perhaps, given your background, you could be a committee of one.
Post a Comment