In his letter to The Explorer, Donald Bristow lets the Mayor & Council(majority) know what he thinks about their actions concerning volunteer groups.
We agree totally with Mr. Bristow.
Here is his letter.
Council's acts will have a negative impact
Recent town council meetings reinforced my concerns with new council members and Mayor Hiremath.
Concern 1:
The mayor and council had temporarily delayed their plan to eliminate most or all resident-staffed commissions, boards and committees. However, during the last council meeting, disrespect for the residents' participation was again exhibited. The mayor and non-elected Councilman Solomon led a vote to override a decision made by the resident-staffed arts review commission.
The commission members had rejected some art proposed for the new retirement residence on Lambert Lane. The decision was within their authority and wouldn't delay the construction of the complex. The information presented by both sides clearly indicated a misunderstanding. Under these circumstances, even the most junior business manager would have sent the two parties back to resolve their misunderstandings.
However, the commission members' decision was overridden. Why were the art review commission members thrown under the bus? Was this another step to elimination of this commission? Will this council reduce the responsibilities of commissions to an insignificant level, thus allowing business owners, developers, builders, and the real-estate industry to set the direction of matters involving general plan, codes, ordinances and governing structure?
Concern 2:
The council is in the process of studying and approving an updated sign code. The Sign Code Task Force and staff, for the most part, have done an excellent job updating the Oro Valley sign code. Will the council and mayor accept the recommendations, or will they make numerous changes, again letting business owners, developers, builders and the real-estate industry set the direction of matters involving general plan, codes, ordinances and governing structure?
Will the council and mayor create a code that will make Oro Valley the sign-blighted capital of metro Tucson?
My concerns lead me to believe that actions of this council will negatively impact Oro Valley's future. Who is running Oro Valley? Do you want the future of Oro Valley to be crafted by special interest groups or residents? It is time to let your elected officials know what you expect from them.
Donald Bristow, Oro Valley
5 comments:
I continue to be confused by the continued use of the term "special interests" in LOVE blog postings. It appears as though it is simply used to define those individuals with whom there is disagreement.
Are their organized groups out there that are opposed to art?
And are there organized groups out there who are opposed to responsible sign code regulations?
If so it would be helpful if the writer identifies them with something a bit more specific than "special interest groups".
Not being aware if Mr. Bristow reads this blog, and the fact that I stated I agreed with him, I'll take the liberty of responding to Mr. Cox as to what I believe to be "special interest groups."
Mr. Bristow asks: "Do you want the future of Oro Valley to be crafted by special interest groups or residents?"
From my standpoint---especially in the case of the sign code, the "special Interest" would be the likes of the owner of Down Home Delights that saw fit to say---paraphrasing--- the hell with the Oro Valley sign code. I'll do what I damn well please.
A perfect example of a "special interest" business saying in essence; I'm more important than the town. I'll do what "I" want.
As it relates to the volunteer Arts Commission, it is obvious that Hiremath & Solomon feel their expertise trumps that of the likes of artist & sculptor, Matt Moutofis. The special interest in this case was the developer.
The Mayor and (appointed) Council Member said, in effect; We'll do what "we" want.
Who comes up short?
The people of Oro Valley!
The writer (Mr. Bristow) DID identify the special interest groups to which he referred. In fact, he mentioned it TWICE...
"...business owners, developers, builders, and the real-estate industry..."
I remember when the Sign Code Task Force presented its recommendations to the council, it DID NOT include the use of A-frame signs. However, Bonnie Quinn of Down Home Delights (who was a member of said task force) went against the recommendations of the very task force she sat on, and displayed an A-frame sign outside her restaurant in violation of the town sign code. She was certain that this A-frame sign would double her business and gave an anecdotal story to "prove" her assertion, although she offered no receipts as proof.
Remember the Battle Cry of all the OV small business owners...
"We need more signs...we need banners, we need A-frame signs, we need 24-hour lighted signs. That will turn our business around!"
So isn't it ironic that this same Bonnie Quinn who was so convinced that an A-frame sign would double her business that she deliberately violated the town sign code in order to prove it, is the same Bonnie Quinn who on October 2nd sent out a mass e-mail stating that her business was STILL in trouble despite the use of the A-frame sign.
She stated that she had only "seen brief glimmers of an upturn, but not enough to pay the bills."
My favorite part was where she stated, "I humbly ask that you..."
All I can say is that if Bonnie Quinn had been "humble" from the beginning instead of brazenly thumbing her nose at both the SCTF Committee on which she sat and at the Town of Oro Valley, then I might actually feel sorry for her.
Bottom line is that the Town catered to the whims of a small business owner over the wishes of the residents and the recommendations of the SCTF even though Quinn submitted no proof of her assertion that her business doubled on the weekend that she used the A-frame sign. And now we learn that the A-frame sign, in fact, didn't make a dent in her receipts.
But there you have it...the town catered to a small business owner, also known as a special interest. Rather than fining her for a sign code violation, they instead gave her permission to continue using the A-frame sign.
Our town, Oro Valley, has a long history of citizen involvement in our government. Oro Valley volunteer committee members have been major contributors to decision making in our town.
They will not go "gently into the night."
If, for whatever reason, their role is substantially diminished you will see a significant uprising.
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I can guarantee you that vast majority of those who voted for the Mayor and three new committee members (who then appointed Solomon) did not elect them because they wanted less citizen involvement in Oro Valley government.
They were simply sick of Loomis and Carter and.... Hiremath wins by a few votes.. hardly a mandate for anything. Johnson and the boys win because, well, lets face it, the competition wasn't all that great.
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Best they all tread lightly and focus on the one thing we can all agree upon: Oro Valley needs a strong dose of good, old fashioned fiscal restraint.
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And, VC, I can only add to your comments in agreement...
Downhome Delights is a failure because it makes expensive, less than average quality food.
The Loop is failing because its food is similarly overpriced.
Signs and left turn lanes from Oracle into their strip location will not alter the basic fact.
Consumers will beat a path the those locations, regardless of how inconvenient, that provide the best price:value relationship.
You want proof? Watch how successful Bread and Beyond is at a horrible location at Ina and Oracle. The lot is hard to get into. The lot is hard to get out of. And next year, the State will tear up the intersection for two years to "improve" traffic flow.
Point is: Consumers ain't dumb. They know a good deal when they see it. They don't need fancy signs and lots of pizazz. Quality food at a fair price wins every day.
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