In the Feb 20 issue of The Explorer, Steam Pump Ranch funding options are reported on, as discussed at a recent Town Council Study Session.
http://www.explorernews.com/article/show/21498
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Oro Valley Neighbor Michelle Saxer Speaks Out
In a letter to The Explorer Feb 20, Michelle Saxer speaks out.
Councilman Parish said many times on Wednesday 2/6 during the town council meeting, “Take it to the constituents. Let them decide.”That, I concur, Mr. Parish, is a wonderful suggestion. Your words suggest that maybe you see that people / voters are your most potent resource.
How will the voters vote who have been impacted by this council’s decision to build a crematory a quarter of a mile from their subdivision? The February 2008 issue of Desert Leaf, in an article written by Loranne DarConte, points out that 16 percent of mercury emissions come from cremation. She documents what those subdivisions will be exposed to. Besides threatening their health you are lowering their property values. How do you think Vistoso Vistas and Vista Mirabella feel about the incumbents’ votes for the crematory? Do you think they feel protected by your council, your concern about them?
How do you think voters in Oro Valley will feel that by seducing them to vote for a “high-end store,” you effectively have deceived them by inviting Wal-mart, lowered their quality of life, view, property values and undermined their trust in local government?How is it possible that such an affluent community needs to financially persuade a retailer to come here? They should be knocking at Oro Valley’s door. Do you think this very educated, financially solvent community will feel you value them with this decision?How do you think this very educated, aware population feels when the town attempts to muzzle a citizen’s blog site by manipulating its description as a political organization, negating his right to freedom of speech?
Is this what a progressive, well-heeled, beautiful community wants … an image of a terrified reactionary political body that is closed to difference of opinion? Does the First Amendment work in every place but Oro Valley in the continental U.S.? This smacks of Nazi Germany. Haven’t we learned from history yet? Who will want to come to a community whose government even considers such a thing?
Naranja Park raises still more questions. At the council meeting, Bill Adler restated the results of the study about the park. The constituents are against it.Children need communal recreational facilities. But they don’t need to be built with the price tag of $164 million when there are fundamental services like water, roads and emergency equipment competing for the dollar. How do you think voters will feel if after the expensive survey where you obtained their opinion, you ignore the study and proceed to build the park?
Do you think they will feel appreciated, valued, or important and that you were fiscally responsible in using their tax dollars?The council often talks about the importance of enterprise. But you are forgetting your most valuable resource: the citizens of Oro Valley, whose money pays for its wares. This is what makes community … People with feelings, needs, wants, hopes, dreams, not just a collection of quality homes with beautiful views and owners with expandable wallets. Your most precious resource here is the people … they are the community. The quality of life here depends on the quality of people.
None of those events would entice anyone I know to move here. Just what are you doing to help, support, involve, pay attention to what the community is saying to you? Lose credibility with the community, and Oro Valley nosedives as a desirable place to live. You are seeding the demise of this town by your actions. Do you have to wait until election day to understand that message?
Michelle Saxer
Councilman Parish said many times on Wednesday 2/6 during the town council meeting, “Take it to the constituents. Let them decide.”That, I concur, Mr. Parish, is a wonderful suggestion. Your words suggest that maybe you see that people / voters are your most potent resource.
How will the voters vote who have been impacted by this council’s decision to build a crematory a quarter of a mile from their subdivision? The February 2008 issue of Desert Leaf, in an article written by Loranne DarConte, points out that 16 percent of mercury emissions come from cremation. She documents what those subdivisions will be exposed to. Besides threatening their health you are lowering their property values. How do you think Vistoso Vistas and Vista Mirabella feel about the incumbents’ votes for the crematory? Do you think they feel protected by your council, your concern about them?
How do you think voters in Oro Valley will feel that by seducing them to vote for a “high-end store,” you effectively have deceived them by inviting Wal-mart, lowered their quality of life, view, property values and undermined their trust in local government?How is it possible that such an affluent community needs to financially persuade a retailer to come here? They should be knocking at Oro Valley’s door. Do you think this very educated, financially solvent community will feel you value them with this decision?How do you think this very educated, aware population feels when the town attempts to muzzle a citizen’s blog site by manipulating its description as a political organization, negating his right to freedom of speech?
Is this what a progressive, well-heeled, beautiful community wants … an image of a terrified reactionary political body that is closed to difference of opinion? Does the First Amendment work in every place but Oro Valley in the continental U.S.? This smacks of Nazi Germany. Haven’t we learned from history yet? Who will want to come to a community whose government even considers such a thing?
Naranja Park raises still more questions. At the council meeting, Bill Adler restated the results of the study about the park. The constituents are against it.Children need communal recreational facilities. But they don’t need to be built with the price tag of $164 million when there are fundamental services like water, roads and emergency equipment competing for the dollar. How do you think voters will feel if after the expensive survey where you obtained their opinion, you ignore the study and proceed to build the park?
Do you think they will feel appreciated, valued, or important and that you were fiscally responsible in using their tax dollars?The council often talks about the importance of enterprise. But you are forgetting your most valuable resource: the citizens of Oro Valley, whose money pays for its wares. This is what makes community … People with feelings, needs, wants, hopes, dreams, not just a collection of quality homes with beautiful views and owners with expandable wallets. Your most precious resource here is the people … they are the community. The quality of life here depends on the quality of people.
None of those events would entice anyone I know to move here. Just what are you doing to help, support, involve, pay attention to what the community is saying to you? Lose credibility with the community, and Oro Valley nosedives as a desirable place to live. You are seeding the demise of this town by your actions. Do you have to wait until election day to understand that message?
Michelle Saxer
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