CAREFREE TRUTH
Letters from Readers & Events: 10/8/14
(Lyn's note: Please feel free to send us any pictures you'd like included. If your photos are for sale, let us know and we will put them under that category. We have a special section for that purpose, and have just added some art as well. If anyone would like to buy a print of any of Herbert's photos, all profits will be donated to one of the local non-profit organizations.) Here's the link to this week's Pictures of the Week.
http://carefreetruth.com/Carefree_Truth/Photos_10-13-14.html
Desert Foothills Chronicle link:
http://www.desertfoothillschronicle.org/
City Sun Times link:
The Truth Does Not "Stink"
Carefree elected official are not "career politicians". They work for free as public servants, once elected by you.
Carefree voters rejected 4-year staggered terms only once…not “twice.”
488 and 489 do not “conflict with voter-approved term limits.” 488 and 489 propose a change in the current terms. A significant number of Carefree registered voters signed a petition to put the issue of staggered terms to a general vote.
The inflammatory language “Hold politicians accountable” is incorrect…current government officials are accountable, in fact they are volunteers who work for free and are elected by the voting public.
Why does the opposition use emotional terms such as “dirty old tricks, pull a fast one, scam, this is some pushy group, Washington could learn a thing or two from Carefree town government, staying in power, personal agendas?”…the answer is simple, to get people scared so the facts are hidden by fear and thereby obscured.
The quote “stores and restaurants keep closing up in Carefree…”The facts are that the businesses that left Carefree left for reasons other than the lack of foot traffic. Carefree Station…a dispute over finances with owners, etc.
Now the Truth
I chaired the initiative to bring Prop 488 and 489 forward. My motives have nothing to do with the allegations the opposition postulates. I did this because I, along with many other registered Carefree voters, believed there were sound reasons to do so.
To the Good Citizens of Carefree, AZ:
I was the chairperson for the Initiatives that became Propositions 488 and 489. I along with others secured more than the number of signatures required to put this issue to the voters of Carefree. I am fully in favor of this change. Here are my reasons for bringing this matter to you.
The first compelling reason is that turning over the Mayor’s position every two years presents a huge gap in leadership continuity. This continuity is especially important given the current landscape of initiatives intended to further strengthen our town’s financial strength and sustainability. The current two-year term is simply not long enough to get things accomplished. The current two-year term requires the Mayor to be significantly distracted to run a re-election campaign. Initiatives, critical meetings, focusing on the matters that will strengthen our town will go to the sidelines. Four-year terms allow the Mayor to stay on task for our collective benefits. Initiatives, critical meetings, and focusing on the matters that will strengthen our town will go to the sidelines.
Second, Carefree’s current Council and Mayoral terms are out of line with what terms are in other Arizona towns. We are among a very small minority of towns who still have two-years. If the vast majority of towns have gone to four-year terms, there must be some good reasoning. In my mind, they have gone to four year terms to provide continuity of leadership and continuity for the management of critical initiatives. This provides sufficient time to explore new ways to strengthen the town's fiscal standing, permits time to build new relationships that enhance and strengthen the community, and much more.
I am sure there will be the usual naysayers who will try to build their cases against this proposed change. They will come out of the woodwork and raise their voices. It will be interesting to hear their arguments and see what logic, if any, is applied. Or will it simply be those who have other agendas and axes to grind instead of applying reason and facts.
Good governance requires sufficient time to sit in the chair to make a difference. Two years is simply too short. The informed citizens of Carefree will now decide.
Michael J. Krahe, Ph.D
Statement in Support of Proposition 488
For the past 7 years, I have enjoyed the humble opportunity to serve our community in the capacity of an unpaid, volunteer Town Council member. I welcome this opportunity to serve my community simply to give back, and improve our quality of life. Indeed, that passion to volunteer and serve our community is the simple calling of many of the past and current Carefree Council members I have had the honor to serve with.
Recently, many Carefree residents signed a "citizen initiative" to support staggered 4 year terms for our volunteer Town Council members. I agree with this sensible citizen driven initiative for the following factual points.
1. With only a few exceptions, every municipality within the state of Arizona has staggered 4 year terms.
2. Staggered 4 year terms still allow for an election of 1/2 of the Town Council every two years.
3. Staggered 4 year terms minimize the loss of institutional knowledge on the Town Council.
4. Staggered 4 year terms minimize the typical transitional inefficiencies during changes in the Town Council's composition.
Due to these factual points and based on my experience on Town Council, I whole heartedly support the residents who are requesting the Town institute this common sense approach.
Statement in Support of Proposition 489
Under Carefree's small Town form of government, the Mayoral position is a pivotal position, which is designed to provide strong leadership. As with many successful private and public organizations, the continuity of this leadership position is always a critical ingredient to the success of the organization.
Simply, the "citizen driven initiative" extends the unpaid, volunteer position of Mayor from the current term of 2 years to 4 years. This will insure that the Town's top leadership position maintains critical institutional knowledge, provides strong leadership, and insures more emphasis on serving our fellow residents, rather than on running for office.
Please join me and many of your fellow Carefree residents, and Vote YES on Proposition 488 to support strong volunteer leadership in Carefree.
Glenn Miller
To the people of Carefree,
I received a card in the mail signed by some organization called "PAC in opposition to prop. 488 & 489".
First of all I want to say " if you have something negative (or positive) to say, "PUT YOUR NAME TO IT". Your opinion is negated when you are too chicken to put your name on any opinion you write, and want to share it with the community.
Secondly, If you had taken the time to discuss with someone who knew why 488 & 489 were introduced, you wouldn't have written and distributed the nonsense contained in your postcard. I am convinced anyone on the council, the Mayor, or the town manager would be happy to explain it to you, if you came out from hiding under your desk long enough.
Joseph Corpora
Carefree, Arizona
Lyn:
For your readers...It's ironic that an e-mail message from Sue and Bob Coady ended up automatically in my Junk Mail folder! Obviously, computers do have a brain and can recognize junk when they see it.
It is equally ironic that the publisher of "Carefree Matters" now wants to interfere with Carefree activities, when it didn't matter that they moved out of town. About the only positive aspect of the e-mail was the early warning of possibly two more to come " because I feel this issue is that important for Carefree’s future." If he really cared about Carefree, he would still be living here.
It is slightly reminiscent of the days when out-of-town 'consultants' were brought in to run a recall campaign.
The good news is that the majority of Carefree residents are far too smart and well-informed than to follow advice from a former member of the town council who was only often supported by the publisher of the Sonoran News.
Arthur Gimson
(Lyn's note: Past Councilman Arthur Gimson was the recipient of the first "Spirit of Carefree" Award and is a long time volunteer for the Foothills Caring Corps. During his tenure on the Council, he organized the Carefree Veterans Day event each year. Here is a short video of the ceremony. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjejkkpGx58&list=UUiL9eWRuc6rwuZa0Lhi9AbQ)
Lyn,
All 7 points are well stated.
Bill Rintelmann
(Lyn's note: see Carefree Truth Issue #345 at www.carefreetruth.com. Dr. Rintelmann is also a past Carefree Councilman.)
Hi Lyn,
THANK YOU for taking the time to have breakfast with us, share you amazingly gentle "Angel", and then taking the time to send us the pictures!
We feel like we got to know two celebrities of the town - YOU and ANGEL!
You are one of our favorite stories about the synchronicity we experienced during our travels in AZ. The happen-stance meeting at Albertos, led us to other memorable experiences as a result of your giving nature.
We are convinced that you know everyone at every restaurant! And that Melissa works at every restaurant! :-)
We did have a wonderful time in Sedona - the red rock mountains are so beautiful...and we happened upon the Sedona Center for Creative Living. This place was the dream of a woman named Shirley Caris, and she built a beautiful space for spiritual growth and development of all types for all people (A non-profit, non- religious center). She also was a front runner in making a "green", ecologically sensitive marketplace. We went to a Religious Science service in a chapel within the center for creative living that overlooked the red rock mountains and were so inspired and uplifted! Shirley passed away in 2003, but her legacy lives on in such a wonderful way. There is a plaque on the building -dedicated to "Shirley - a Dame that made a Difference". I think you might be a dame who makes a difference too!
Our trip to Arizona was delightful - and you were a part of what made it that way!
Thanks again for your kindness and your generosity with your time.
Toni and Sheryl Cattell
(Lyn's note: Herbert and I had dinner at Alberto Ristorante a couple of weeks ago (see Alberto's ad in Carefree Truth ads). Sisters visiting from Miami were at an adjoining table and we struck up a conversation. They missed their dogs. I offered to meet them for breakfast the following morning at the Sundial Cafe with one of our dogs, Angel, so they could get their "dog fix". Melissa is a server at both places, hence their reference to her.)
