The Solomon Chronicles. Part 4. Conflict of Interest

Want to see Steve Solomon in action? Visit: realstevesolomon.com
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With the Town Council election on the horizon, LOVE will be presenting a series of articles entitled, “The Solomon Chronicles,” highlighting the abysmal record of Councilmember Steve Solomon who is running for re-election. This weekly series will highlight his 4-year record of incivility and his interdependent relationship with local developers. This series was written by a LOVE contributor and contains a synopsis of previous LOVE articles plus new information.
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Solomon had a dog in the golf course fight
As previously reported on LOVE, Councilmember Steve Solomon (via his development company, Canada Vistas, LLC) had property in escrow along the 17th and 18th holes of the Town-owned Canada golf course since at least December of 2017. His plan was to build golf-course-view condos and/or townhomes on that property. He therefore had a financial interest in what happened to those golf courses since he can’t build golf-course-view condos on property that no longer contains golf course views.

He remained in escrow on that property for all of 2018 and until at least April 2019 (the last date in which LOVE has documents stating that he was still in escrow). Why is this important? Because during all of 2018 and 2019 he consistently advocated from the dais to keep all 36 holes of golf open.

Solomon’s unethical behavior
At the June 6, 2018 council meeting, during the FY 2018/19 budget discussions, Solomon spoke on the benefits of (and voted in favor of) a $6 million bond that designated $3.8 million dollars for improvements on the golf courses…golf courses that were adjacent to his planned residential development.

Solomon voted to use public monies to improve land on which he had a financial interest
This was a clear conflict of interest. If Solomon had been honest and ethical, he would have recused himself from any votes having to do with the town-owned golf courses. Instead he voted to spend public money for his own potential gain.

A lie by omission is still a lie
At the July 18, 2018 council meeting, a resident revealed during the Call to Audience that Councilmember Solomon had a financial interest in what happened to the golf courses. Solomon responded:

“I just want to assure everyone that there was absolutely nothing that occurred that was unethical. I do not own property on the golf course.”

Solomon was lying by omission and he knew it. While he didn’t technically own any property on the golf course, he was in escrow to purchase property on the golf course. He conveniently left that part out.

The bottom line is that Solomon had a financial interest in maintaining the town-owned golf courses and he never revealed this information to the public. It was a resident who made the information public.

Desert land in foreground is the "escrow" parcel

The parcel surrounded by the 17th and 18th holes of the Canada Course

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The Solomon Chronicles: Part 5. “A Pattern of Incivility and Disrespect” will be published next Wednesday.

Council Member Solomon: A Financial Conflict Of Interest (Part 2)

Yesterday we presented evidence that Council Member Solomon may well have a financial interest in a property known as Parcel 9B. This parcel lies between the 17th and 18th holes of the Canada golf course. Today we posit: Shouldn't he recuse himself for all voting matters regarding the town owned golf courses?
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Solomon’s unethical behavior
We have already seen how Council Member Solomon will vote concerning Oro Valley's town owned golf courses.   Solomon voted to use public funds to improve lands on which he has a financial interest at the June 6, 2018 council meeting, This occurred during the FY 2018/19 budget discussions.

At that time, Steve Solomon spoke on the benefits of a bond that designated $3.8 million dollars to go towards improvements on the golf properties. He not only spoke in favor of the bond, he also voted in favor of the budget that included the bond.

A lie by omission is still a lie
At the July 18, 2018 council meeting, after it was revealed during the Call to Audience that Council Member Solomon had a financial interest in what happens to the golf courses, Solomon responded:

“I just want to assure everyone that there was absolutely nothing that occurred that was unethical. I do not own property on the golf course…”

Solomon lied by omission. While he didn’t technically own any property on the golf course, he was in escrow to purchase property on the golf course. He conveniently left that part out.

It's a question of ethics, morals, and the public trust
Council Member Solomon has a clear conflict of interest when it comes to what happens regarding the town owned golf courses. Solomon should recuse himself from any votes having to do with these facilities.

However, we doubt this will happen.

Our sources inform us that Solomon may have received legal advice on this issue advising him to withdraw from escrow prior to the vote, then vote to continue all 36 holes of golf, then reopen escrow. If he chooses this route, the fact would still remain that he voted in his own best interest. This may not be illegal, but it is gaming the system for his own benefit. It's unethical and a violation of the public trust.

If Solomon does not recuse himself immediately, then Mayor Winfield should ask the town attorney to provide legal counsel on whether Solomon's pending ownership of property 9B presents a conflict of interest to Solomon in regards to being able to assess golf course options; and to advise the Mayor on actions the town should take if such is the case.

Does Council Member Solomon Have a Conflict of Interest? (Part 1)

Does Council Member Solomon have a conflict of interest in the Golf Decision?
In July 2018, LOVE reported that since at least December of 2017, Council Member Steve Solomon, via his development company, Canada Vistas, LLC, was in escrow to purchase property along the 17th and 18th holes of the Town-owned Canada golf course.

This property is known as Parcel 9B.  Zoning could allow condos or townhomes on this property.

Council Member Solomon has a financial interest in what happens to the Town-owned golf courses
Council Member Solomon can’t offer golf-course-view condos on property that no longer contains golf course views.

We ask: Could this be why Council Member Solomon has remained in escrow on this property since late 2017?  Has he been waiting for a town council decision on the golf courses?

The Canada Course will either remain a golf course or become a linear park. As a Council Member, Solomon will vote on this, isn't he therefore conflicted? Because of necessity, he will be considering the financial impact of any option on his potential purchase and development of 9B.

Council Member Solomon in July of 2017: Must maintain "open natural desert" 
At the July 12, 2017 Golf Courses Study Session when the town council was discussing the possibility of closing one or all of the golf courses, Council Member Solomon said:

“We have to be very sensitive to what happens to the areas that we no longer use as golf courses, because you’ve got homes backing up to these areas…We have an obligation to maintain, at minimum, an open natural desert setting for those homes.”

However, since being in escrow to purchase land along the golf course, Solomon has been advocating solely for retaining all 36 holes of golf. There is no more talk from Solomon of returning it to a natural desert environment.

Timeline and Paper Trail
LOVE has obtained email exchanges that took place in December 2017 between employees of Northwest Management Company. This was the management company for the Canada Hills Villages HOA at that time. These emails contain the following information:

• Dec. 18, 2017: “The board has asked me to find out who is purchasing the 9B piece of land owned by HSL. I know A.F. Sterling backed out but there is talk now that it is being purchased again. Can you tell me who the purchaser is?”
• Dec. 22, 2017: “We did receive the demand for the 9B parcel of land. I did speak to the title company and they did give me the contact information for the buyer. He is a licensed realtor. His name is Steve Solomon from Canada Vista Homes, LLC.”

LOVE has also obtained emails from 2018 regarding this property.

• January 4, 2018: Solomon communicated with the controlling HOA of Canada Hills informing them of his purchase of property on the Canada Course and his desire to meet with both the Master HOA and the sub-HOA’s to discuss design and approval requirements
• January 26, 2018: “I just wanted to touch base and follow up with you regarding Canada Vistas and Village 9B. It was interesting to learn from Steve that they have the property in escrow.” This email also discusses development possibilities including 40 condo units in ten 3-story buildings that would sell in the $300,000 range and 26 two-story townhomes that would sell in the $400-500,000 range.
• June 29, 2018: Solomon replied to a question that he indeed still owned the property and that it was in the early stages of development.
• LOVE is also aware of a Canada Hills HOA meeting in April 2019 where the management company specifically mentioned that “Steve’s property” is still in escrow.

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Tomorrow in Part 2: Council Member Solomon claims that there is no conflict

Councilmember Solomon's unethical (and possibly illegal) actions being investigated by the AG's office, Special Investigations Division

Councilmember Steve Solomon now has a financial interest in maintaining the town-owned golf courses.
A few months ago, LOVE was made aware that Councilmember Solomon (through his development company, Canada Vistas LLC) had purchased property along the golf courses in Canada Hills on which he plans to build condominiums and/or townhomes. This means that he now has a financial interest in what happens to those golf courses.

We held off on reporting on this while we waited to see how Solomon would proceed when it came time to vote on FY 2018/19 budget; a budget that included $3.8 million dollars to be directed to improvements on the golf courses…golf courses adjacent to his new property.

Would Solomon do the honorable thing and recuse himself from any votes involving taxpayer money being directed towards the golf courses? Or would he speak in favor of the bond, and then vote in favor of the budget that included the $3.8 million for the golf course improvements?

During the June 6, 2018 budget vote, Solomon gave us the answer we’d been expecting. Solomon’s unethical behavior and possible conflict of interest were exposed by Mike Zinkin during last night’s council meeting during the Call to Audience. Below is Mike’s speech:

Mike Zinkin’s Call to Audience Speech
On May 16, 2018 I came before you regarding a rude communication between one of your Councilmen and a resident of the community. I requested that you require said Councilman to apologize. You failed to do so, sending a message to the citizens that you find his appalling behavior acceptable.

Tonight I come forward with an issue that is potentially illegal, and certainly unethical.

On his required financial disclosure statement, Councilman Solomon states that he and his wife control a business called Canada Vistas LLC. (Statement attached). On January 4, 2018, Mr. Solomon communicated with the controlling HOA of Canada Hills informing them of his purchase of property on the Canada Course and his desire to meet with both the Master HOA and the sub-HOA’s to discuss design and approval requirements. (Email attached).

On January 26, 2018, there was a communication confirming that this property was in escrow and it also mentioned development possibilities. (Email attached.)

On June 29, 2018, Mr. Solomon replied to a question that he indeed still owned the property and that it was in the early stages of development. (Email attached.)

Here’s where it gets interesting. A few weeks prior to the June 29th communication previously mentioned, at the June 6, 2018 Council meeting, during the FY 2018/19 budget discussions, Mr. Solomon spoke on the benefits of a bond, a bond that designated $3.8 million dollars to go towards improvements on the golf properties. The very same properties in which this Councilman has a financial interest. Mr. Solomon not only spoke in favor of this bond, he also voted in favor of the budget that included the subject bond.

Mr. Solomon could very well have rescued himself from this discussion and the vote. The budget and the bond would have still passed. However, he did not recuse himself.

This behavior could very well be in violation of ARS 38 501-511, Conflict of Interest. This is because Mr. Solomon voted to use public monies to improve lands on which he has a financial interest.

I will let the County Attorney and Attorney General rule on the legal aspects of his behavior. Regardless of their positions on the legality, his behavior demonstrates the highest form of unethical behavior.

I am asking that you censure Councilman Solomon for this behavior, and even ask for his resignation. This type of unethical behavior should not be tolerated in government, certainly not Oro Valley.

I will be sending each of you an email communication, complete with the evidence I have uncovered. It will also be sent to the media. If you again choose to do nothing, you will be sending yet another message to the voters that you condone his inappropriate, and in this case, unethical behavior.

[Click on each document to enlarge]