Sedona City Council Meeting May 10, 2011

Democracy or Deception?

I was astounded at Tuesday evening's council meeting when Councilor Dinunzio stated that, "As I understand, the initiative for the referendum was not to let the people vote; it was predominantly, if not entirely, to stop the turn back." He followed his comments by voting (the only "nay" vote) against Councilors going up to Flagstaff to speak to the ADOT Board on behalf of the citizens of Sedona to urge ADOT to keep their offer on the table until after a citizen election on the issue. Otherwise the election would have no meaning since ADOT will have backed out of the deal and begun to install 108 35' tall street lights on 89A. Since Councilor Dinunzio signed the referendum petition and his wife was a circulator of petitions, it seems very deceptive that people were told the petition was to "Let the People Vote" and he now says that's not really the case. I was told by a petition circulator (who incidentally, lived in VOC) that this would be "democracy" in action and "All we ask for is the chance to vote." Sounds more like "deception" in action. I wonder how many other petition signers thought the idea was really to have a vote. We'll know the organizers' intentions for sure if Sheri Graham and Terri Frankel, who also attended the May 10 council meeting and who have led the referendum action, do or don't join councilors at the ADOT Board meeting on May 20 in Flagstaff to speak as one voice for Sedona citizens urging ADOT to extend their deadline for the contract until after the election.

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News & Politics

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