We do receive emails from our readers from time to time that express how many feel about the commercialization of Oro Valley. This, from resident Lou Dudas, was written before the election. It is, nonetheless, relevant to the situation in which Oro Valley finds itself.
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I read with interest Ryan's (Hurtung) pithy and seemingly well-intentioned comments.
One is tempted to quibble with his perspectives as some sort of Johnny-come-lately. I wince every time someone uses expressions as "scenic corridor" or as one of our town's self-appointed senior statesman proudly informed me that the coming development was indeed the realization of our "historic gateway".
Ryan's hopes of balancing developer interests with the desires of its resident citizens sounds like democracy in action. Democracy as defined "when two wolves and a lamb vote for what to have for lunch".
My main reaction to the goings-on in our recall efforts concerns the more fundamental question of the continued town growth trajectory
...recently pronounced publicly by the mayor. His thrust is to grow the town, encourage cluster homes, increase rooftops, build more apartments instead of homes, increase the number of retailers, develop sports tourism, accelerate and increase the size of the business community, and most importantly (and perhaps not well understood by a seemingly docile citizenry), transform Oro Valley (how very Obama-like) from a retirement community to a "collectivism" by subordinating individual rights to group rights! (Maybe Bernie Sanders has struck gold here.)
It appears that the focus of the recall has been largely on the golf course fiasco, even as the debate rages over another General Plan which will undoubtedly continue the mayor's vision for a more robust, business-driven, tax generating town.
Issues of managing massive apartment complexes, with their eventual control and cost need not be of concern to ordinary residents. There is no fear that these complexes may develop into future slums, add to traffic, spike pollution levels, and escalate the costs of burgeoning town infrastructure staff, police, fire,water demands, and a divided citizenry.
Our mayor seems bent on increasing the sheer size of Oro Valley to pay for all the growth
I expect that people who moved here when the town was smaller can readily appreciate the impact of growth. If originally a town of 15 or 20,000 seemed about right, now that we're nudging into say closer to 45 or 50,000, perhaps the mayor will be particularly pleased if he can grow it to 100,000 or more.
If the residents who came here years ago wanted to live in a denser, business-like atmosphere, they may have instead moved to the Phoenix area and enjoyed the ambiance of a bustling place to live.
The most telling result of the recall effort it the ferocity of the recalled members in their self-defense and the incessant attacks on the citizen candidates. The divisiveness of the council/staff has produced a hostility which can be expected to continue into the future. No amount of trumped-up support/endorsement by the police/fire, Explorer/Army general/attack dogs/shill candidates/recalcitrant judges/clerks will erase the bitterness of an aggrieved citizenry.
Those recalled should remember to not foul the place they live.
Lou Dudas
Oro Valley Resident
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