Archive
Ron Paul Wins Arizona GOP Straw Poll
By Elisha Dorfsmith
Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul won yesterday’s AZ GOP Convention straw poll by a massive margin. I did not attend but people who were there told me that the organizers did everything they could to avoid releasing the straw poll results. When they finally did release the results, 90% of the attendees had left.
I suppose you can’t fault the establishment for being nervous and afraid to release the numbers. Here’s the final tally:
Ron Paul: 256
Newt Gingrich: 20
Mitt Romney: 17
Rick Santorum: 8
Great work to everyone who attended! The revolution continues.
Flagstaff’s Proposed PMO Is About Control Not Safety
By Elisha Dorfsmith
In 2009, the Arizona Daily Sun published a piece complaining that city code enforcement could only respond to health and safety concerns and more needed to be done to address run down property. Lax maintenance standards were keeping Flagstaff from reaching it’s full potential and eyesores had to go! The majority of the article read like an advertisement for a Property Maintenance Ordinance talking about how it would solve a multitude of problems and quoting community members who wanted to impose $150 a day fines on homeowners who did not comply.
Fast forward to 2012. Flagstaff council members including Councilwoman Coral Evans are trying to drum up support for a PMO by claiming that a PMO is needed to address major health and safety concerns like trees falling on neighbor’s roofs or frequently used outhouses that have not been cleaned in years. This is simply not true. I pointed out in another article that all of these health and safety concerns are already covered by existing law. If code enforcement is not responding to these gross violations then the City of Flagstaff is not doing their job.
What we really have here is a push by some community and council members for a city wide HOA where you can be fined $150 a day for a ripped screen on your window or chipped paint on your fence. Unfortunately, it’s being deceitfully sold to the citizens of Flagstaff as an urgent health and safety matter. Don’t fall for the scare tactics.
UPDATE: Councilwoman Evans disputed the information in my blog on her facebook page by saying the following:
“Residents from several neighborhoods in town have been asking for a PMO for close to 20 years. I think that it might be worth your time to speak with members of A League of Neighborhoods (ALN) regarding this issue. They have created a strategic plan which includes in-depth information regarding what they envision a PMO to be. It is NOTHING like the posts that I have read regarding individuals being fined for chipped paint on fences and broken window screens.”
The only information I could find on the ALN proposal is a Flagstaff city council work session agenda from 2009 talking about what a PMO should cover. You can read it HERE. You be the judge.
What Is The Real Agenda Behind A PMO?
By Elisha Dorfsmith
Flagstaff Councilwoman Coral Evans recently lashed out at PMO critics on facebook with the following:
“This is not about a group of people “not liking the looks of things”; this is about some serious quality of life issues. You might not think that a “overgrown shrubbery” is an issue but I think that if the dead, overgrown tree from a neighboring property was laying on the roof of your house in the middle of fire season (or during last year’s snow season when roofs were collapsing under the weight of snow on them, now add the dead tree) then you might start to care a little. Or if someone had a porta-pottie in their front yard, along the fence, for active use and did not bother to empty it periodically for a couple of years that might matter to you if you were trying to sell your property.”
Funny, existing city code says the following:
“Tree limbs shall not touch roof coverings at any time.
Deadwood and litter shall be regularly removed from trees and the surrounding area.Hazard trees, as determined by the Code Official, shall be removed. When determining hazard trees, the Code Official may be guided by industry standards, individual site conditions, hazard ratings, risk assessments, basal area calculations, and/or tree densities determined to be effective in identifying and mitigating fire danger and/or protecting property. Trees that are in such a position that they may fall endangering life or property are determined to be hazard trees.”
and
SECTION 7-02-001-0008 TREATMENT OF POLLUTED WASTES REQUIRED:It shall be unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within the City or in any area under the jurisdiction of the City, any sewage, industrial wastes, or other polluted waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided, in accordance with provisions of this Chapter. (Ord. 1104, 12-4-79)
SECTION 7-01-001-0003 TOILETS:Every apartment house, hotel, house court or dwelling shall be provided with toilet facilities. The toilet shall be located conveniently and shall be connected to a public sewer, cesspool or septic tank, and properly trapped and drained.
With the majority of the expressed concerns already addressed with existing law, one has to wonder what the real agenda is behind the proposed PMO.
UPDATE: I always like looking at other examples around the country of these types of ordinances. I came across a similar situation in Lemoyne Borough, PA where fines are $100-$500 a day for violators. Their PMO is directly connected to the International Property Maintenance Code which is directly related to Agenda 21.
Lemoyne Borough Council Adopts Property Code
UPDATE 2: Lots if interesting information in THIS Flagstaff PMO Document. It mentions the International Property Maintenance Code as well as this interesting quote:
“Similarly, while some neighborhood organizations have been vocal in their support for a PMO, it is unknown how the greater Flagstaff community will respond to such an ordinance. The public outreach component of the process in seeking adoption of the PMO will be critical to ensure it’s success. This may take at least 3-5 months prior to council hearings and adoption of the PMO.”
It seems that Councilwoman Coral Evans is using fear mongering and scare tactics to get the public behind the PMO. Let’s make sure it doesn’t work. Please contact the mayor and council and tell them that Flagstaff DOES NOT need a PMO.
UPDATE 3: For pointing out the above, Councilwoman Coral Evans has banned me and deleted my comments from her page.
UPDATE 4: After banning me from her page, Councilwoman Evans posted the following:
“In the four years that I have served this community as a member of the Flagstaff City Council I have always supported freedom of speech and encouraged conversations that are diverse in nature as this is what our country was built on. My Facebook page is open to all opinions that are provided in a civil manner whether we agree or disagree on concepts.”
For the record, I’m still banned!
UPDATE 5: Councilwoman Evans accuses me of calling her names while offering zero evidence and allowing me no chance to defend myself because I am banned from her page:
January 18 SOPA / PIPA Internet Strike
By Elisha Dorfsmith
On January 18, websites across the country will be protesting any way they can to help bring awareness to the dangers of SOPA / PIPA. Do your part to stop internet censorship! Please contact your congressperson and senators and ask them to oppose the SOPA / PIPA nightmare.
UPDATE: SOPA/PIPA Lose More Supporters On Blackout Day! Keep calling and keep fighting!
No City Council Primary For Flagstaff
By Elisha Dorfsmith
Flagstaff will not be holding a primary for city council candidates this year. As of today’s deadline, only six candidates turned in the required signatures to compete for three open spots on the council. At least seven candidates were needed to necessitate a primary. The following candidates will be on the May 15 general election ballot:
Karla Brewster
John Malin
Jim McCarthy
There will be a primary for mayoral candidates. The following mayoral candidates turned in signatures by today’s deadline and will appear on the March 13 primary ballot:
Paul Reilly
Flagstaff Liberty Alliance is helping organize a council and mayoral candidate forum. Hope to see you there.
Jeff Oravits Turns In Signatures For City Council Run
For immediate release; 1/6/2012
From the Jeff4Flagstaff.com City Council Campaign.
Earlier today, long time resident and local businessman Jeff Oravits turned in 950 signatures to the Flagstaff City Clerk’s Office, assuring he will be on the ballot in Flagstaff’s 2012 City Council election.
Find out more about Jeff Oravits at his website: www.Jeff4Flagstaff.com
Flagstaff Candidate Forum Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact email: FlagstaffForum@yahoo.com
FLAGSTAFF MAYORAL AND CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM
Coconino County Republicans, Flagstaff Liberty Alliance, Flagstaff Republican Women, Flagstaff Tea Party, NAU Conservatives, and Young Americans for Liberty at NAU are pleased to present a Flagstaff mayoral and city council candidate forum at the Radisson Woodlands Hotel on February 2, 2012.
This event will be free and open to the public.
Questions for the candidates should be submitted in advance to FlagstaffForum@yahoo.com
Date: February 2, 2012
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Radisson Woodlands Hotel 1175 w. Route 66
