Read all the way to the bottom for an amazing personal story that a new reader shared.

 

 

Lyn,

While I am in general support of the Butte Project and a Carefree Cultural Center that can serve ASU, and applaud Mr. Lewis’ efforts in bringing ASU to Carefree, I also am in support of the Desert Foothills Theater, and Sonoran Art League and other local area non-profits as well to utilize shared programming in such a facility. In addition, as proposed by Mr. Lewis, a multi-purpose room could be utilized by the town for council chambers, and meetings, and thus relieve us of our ongoing rent burden in our current location.

Yet, I have the following expressions and concerns:

I share everyone's concern for the future success of the Carefree town core (Easy Street). I want to do what is best to add many thousands of dollars to our Sales Tax income.

The 'town center' of Carefree, today, is at Ho/Hum, Carefree Drive and Easy Street. That is the "hub" if you will of our present concerns. For over 50 years the Sundial has been our trademark. I think we should consider location option(s) around the Sundial.

As a Commercial Broker, I am totally aware of the huge economic problem we have faced (like many other cities and towns) since 2006 and slow ongoing recovery with substantial sums already invested in Carefree.

As a Council member, I must put the welfare of the Town and its residents first and foremost.  We have a fiduciary responsibility as the guardians of the reserves and any debt obligations.

Short of Ed Lewis (Butte Company) donating the land component on his property, I strongly agree with other Council members that this matter should be put to the residents to vote on.  Yes, that might cause the development schedule to be delayed, but there is no other way to get the type of Community Support everyone says is needed.

Substantial taxpayer dollars of approximately $4 – 5 million dollars are anticipated for 100% of the land acquisition and construction (subject to a land appraisal and competitive bidding of construction costs). Understand, as proposed, Mr. Lewis has stated he will not donate the land for the Cultural Center. Mr. Lewis  also stands to benefit substantially in that taxpayer funds will be used to compensate him for the Cultural Center development costs and off-site and onsite improvements for approx. 25% of his total land area of approx. two acres in Phase 1, this also includes shared parking and common areas, etc.. Mr. Lewis stated he will build the Cultural Center at his costs, and there will be economies of scale. To be clear, Mr. Lewis is a developer and has hired a construction company, architects, engineers, etc., to build the Cultural Center. They are not building at their costs, as they will have profit embedded in their costs and fees.

Nevertheless, I am also open to a 'performance based' incentive plan wherein Mr. Lewis receives funding for 1/2 of the aforementioned costs paid upon completion of his 1st Phase and the balance upon completion of his 2nd Phase - subject to all due diligence and agreed upon deliverables in a negotiated development agreement, which is openly shared in a public announcement and town hall public meeting.

Unfortunately, at this time, Mr. Lewis has made it clear he will not commit to ever finish completion of his Phase 2, and his waiver of confidence in this project has me wavering in confidence on this whole endeavor as well.

In addition, ASU has made it clear by public expression, that they are open to any location in Carefree, and I believe those options should be explored as well 'before' the town commits to Mr. Lewis and his proposal to locate the cultural center on his property (Phase 1 only).

Additionally, my greatest concerns are the inherent risks involved that I have publicly shared and the limited 5 year commitment by ASU. If the 20 year revenue assumptions expressed by Mr. Lewis do not materialize, or ASU withdraws its commitment, then our community may have to face a property tax just to fund the debt burden and/or loss of treasury reserves. The risks are high to our small community, as we have seen in other communities throughout the country.

Mike Farrar
Councilman, Town of Carefree, Arizona

 

 

Lyn,

Ed submitted this letter today to Town Council members.  It is a public document and I felt should be shared with your readers if you choose to publish it.

~Kirsten

February 5, 2015

To:                  Carefree Mayor and Town Council

From:             Ed Lewis

I’ve attached two summaries of Public Opinion Polls.

 

I.              The first one the 50 surveys from people leaving the January 14, 2015 Council presentation of the ASU/Butte proposal. These people heard what the proposal was and it was fresh on their minds. Key observations in this survey:

 

a.    Yes, Town Center needs revitalization                        44 people

No, Town Center does not need revitalization             1 person

 

b.    Yes, I support public funds for

Carefree Cultural Center                                                  36 people

No, I do not support public funds for

Carefree Cultural Center                                                 5 people

 

c.    I am willing to make a donation or

Endowment for a Carefree Cultural Center                 16 people

 

II.             We have reviewed the 26 letters to the Carefree Truth website with opinions about the Butte/ASU Proposal including the Carefree Cultural Center over the past week.

 

Carefree Truth Summary

There were letters from 26 individuals, 19 of those opposed the Butte/ASU project

The top reasons for opposition

4 voiced concerns of spending taxpayer dollars on private development

4 said to have a referrendum

3 sited other shopping centers that were successful w/o draw and some mentioned the failure of the Heard

3 said to form a redevolpment district have the businesses fund it

2 questioned the increase from $2.5M to $4M along with Butte's integrity

2 said they moved to Carefree to get away from the traffic and people

2 said to build a Town/ASU/DFT building

It appears someone has asked a large number of people to write letters of opposition to Carefree Truth. It also is obvious that most of these people do not understand the Butte/ASU proposal and likely did not attend the presentation. To clarify:

§  There are no taxpayer dollars going into my project. In fact, Easy Street South generates a lot of sales taxes for the Town of Carefree.

§  Everyone sees the need to revitalize the Town by creating an attraction or draw. But 3 letters of opposition don’t see a need for a draw.

§  Two thought that Butte ignored its offer to hold the Phoenix Art Museum building costs to $2.5M and did not even understand the ASU/Carefree Cultural Center is a completely different building at $4M.

 

So, which survey has credibility?

So who would have motivated these 19 letters of opposition to the Butte/ASU proposal?

 

Ed Lewis

Mr. Lewis, we have no knowledge of anyone asking people to write letters to Carefree Truth against your project.  We certainly have not done so.  The flood of letters we have received, and continue to receive, was sparked by a single reader who wrote to express his opinion of your project, which apparently encouraged others to do the same.  We have published those we have received, both pro and con. 

From one of the letters we did receive, it is obvious that Councilwoman Melissa Price solicited positive letters from multiple people on your behalf.  It began, "Hi Melissa – I’m responding to your request for a two-liner regarding the proposed Easy Street development.   I don’t imagine you will use my comment.  That’s okay, but I do want to explain why."   Ms. McDermott's letter, which did not support the project as proposed, was published in full in Carefree Truth Letters dated 2/2.  The president of our HOA received an email from Councilwoman Price requesting an endorsement ,which Maryann shared with the rest of us on the board since presumably these positive responses from HOA presidents would be considered representative of their respective communities.  From Ms. McDermott's opening statement, it sounds like she, as a commercial Broker, received the same email.  I feel it's a fair assumption that Ms. McDermott was not the only Broker, nor was Maryann the only HOA president to receive these solicitations.  In addition, Councilwoman Price authored and carried around to Carefree merchants for signatures a well known petition which advocated for your project, and which also insisted that no cultural attraction other than ASU be considered at this time. 

I am not criticizing Councilwoman Price for doing so.  I know she fervently believes in your cause, and is absolutely convinced she is doing what is right for the town.  I'm just saying that at least one person actively solicited only positive input about your project, whereas I know of none that solicited negative feedback to be sent to Carefree Truth.  This gives your question an air of projection, Mr. Lewis. 

As far as which survey has "credibility", they both do.  It is ludicrous to pit one against the other.  But there were not enough respondents to either to even begin to define the desires of those in Carefree.  Herbert and I filled out and turned in the survey given out at the meeting, to be returned to ASU. Yes, the question was asked if the respondents thought Carefree could use a boost, and if a cultural attraction was desired.  I think most are in agreement that it could use a boost, and that a cultural center/s of some sort, somewhere in the downtown or sprinkled throughout as Mr. DeVito suggested, would be a nice amenity.  Beyond that, the questions asked were aimed at gauging what attractions and exhibits the community would like to see from ASU, should they decide to participate.  There are many people in Carefree, and neither survey had very many respondents. 

According to your numbers, the ASU one had responses from 50 people who attended the meeting, and may or may not have been Carefree residents.  I know at least one of them, an old friend of ours who is a Realtor and does not live in Carefree, was there at your behest.  This suggests the possibility that he was not an anomaly.  We haven't kept a count but according to you, Carefree Truth has had 26 letters, and they are continuing to come. Our newsletter goes out primarily to Carefree residents and business owners, and the full videos of the meetings have been included, along with the text describing them in detail.  So for you to state that our readers obviously do not understand your project is insulting to their intelligence.  Carefree has a highly educated and bright population.

Mr. Lewis, this is not a "Battle of the Surveys".  We are rather surprised that you seem to view it as such, and that you take this degree of umbrage to any who question or disagree with your position.  At no point has Carefree Truth issued a stance on your project or on a cultural center.  We have diligently and accurately reported the public meetings.  Every voice that has been raised at the meetings, pro or con, has been included.  There has been no editorializing on our part, nor have we ever written anything even remotely adversarial towards your project.  We feel your statements and insinuations are unwarranted and unprofessional. 

That having been said, Carefree Truth will continue to report in full and accurately on all public meetings where discussions of the Easy Street South project take place, complete with full video.  Letters, both pro and con, will continue to be welcomed, as we feel it is important that all opinions have an open forum. 

Lyn and Herbert Hitchon       

 

 

 

Lyn,

Following this over the past few months, would like to add my two cents.

The Lewis project has been on the back burner for some time.  I do not agree that any private project, let alone a real estate one, should have any special treatment and the town should not be looking for any project or reason to create value in order to further private investment. This project should stand or fail on its own merits.  I agree that the residents of Carefree should have a vote on this.

The ASU/Desert Foothills Theater project should also stand on its own merits.  Risking a large percentage of the town's reserves is questionable even though I support both ASU and Desert Foothills

Theater.

Tom Surrency

 

 

 

This is Friday and we've heard nothing & have received nothing from Butte regarding the full & complete Meyers Report. This document is important in evaluating the findings of this consulting company. Only a two page & a three page Summary of the Report exists in the hands of the Council. This is not near enough info. This Report should have been in all our hands on Wednesday. It should have taken the simple press of a button on the computer and we'd have it to review - SO???

One other major issue that should be requested by our Council immediately is the Financials of Butte from 2015 -2010. This is not unusual but SOP for any RE negotiations. So far we've been the ones given concessions and giving concessions. Time to get Real. This is a Must Due Diligence by our Council.

The following needs Local Legal Critique but I believe is correct:

If the Town provides the money for the Cultural Ctr and it is built on the Developers land, that building will be owned by the Developer for as long as Developer owns the land, not Carefree. And if the Developer decides some day to sell the Easy Street Project he will sell the Cultural Ctr with it and Carefree would have no Cultural Ctr and no legal recourse to stop it.

 

Joe DeVito

(Lyn's note: Mr. Lewis' stated intention is to sell the land to the Town, along with the building.)

 

 

 

Thank you for sending my letter on your council.  There is a typo in last sentence/paragraph. The sentence meant to say that those other than merchants may NOT be as well represented.

Thank you again.  You do the town a great service.

Robert Wilson

 

 

 

 

On the matter of redevelopment a thought just came to mind which I think is important for the council.  That is, how many residents have been paying attention to what is going on?  While walking my dog this AM I met a gentleman who lives about a block from us.  I asked him what he thought about "the plan."  He replied that he knew nothing about it at all.  I was shocked at his answer.

In view of that encounter I think it behoves the council to make a renewed effort to enlighten all of our citizens.  I think an effective way to do this is, 1.) have staff draw up a clearly worded summary of what us at stake, etc.  2.) have volunteers personally take the summary to every single household and try to get the residents up to speed. (I would gladly be such a volunteer.)

I have noted at the last two meetings, at least, the merchants are well represented, while the stay-at-home types may be so, either from disinterest, age and/or infirmity, or by just by not " being in the loop" of town affairs.

I hope you will include these remarks in your emails to the Council.

Robert G Wilson

 

 

Lyn,

Words cannot express the sadness upon hearing of Mayor Schwan’s diagnosis.  We are a healthy Council and despite differences of opinion throughout our Council experiences, I have always thought David wanted what he felt was best for the Town.   Please relay to David the appreciation for the service that he and Binka have given to the community over the past 12 years.  They will both be in our prayers.  

Peace be with you,

Melissa Price

Council Member, Carefree, AZ

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Open Letter to Mayor David Schwan

 

Yesterday you shared with us the news of your coming battle with ALS – Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  In the short time since your announcement, we have felt the full range of emotions – and many tears.

 

One emotion that none of us expected – and one that is your greatest gift to us – is the smile you put on our faces as we reflect back upon the countless hours, days, and years we have spent with you as the leader of the Town of Carefree.

 

Most of us with the Water Company have difficulty remembering a time when David Schwan was not involved in our local government.  Your days as a Councilmember transitioned you into your natural role as Mayor – a role that allowed your leadership skills to shine.

 

As Mayor you have taught us that the power of suggestion is much greater than the iron fist.  Your support for staff has been unwavering and you never hesitated to use “thank you” and to hand out words of praise for a job well done.  You always shared a heartfelt greeting for each and every one of us, whether it was at work or at the grocery store.  And through your actions, which always speak louder than words, you showed us the value of treating everyone with respect, even if you have differences of opinions.

 

So it is with great sadness that we learn you are handing the baton on to the next generation of leadership in the Town of Carefree.  The value you have brought to the Town can be measured by the smiles you have brought to our faces and by the laughs that we have shared.  By that measure alone, your service has been invaluable.

 

Sincerely,

The Staff of the Carefree Water Company

 

 

Please pass along Mark & my best wishes to the Mayor. 

Quick note:  a friend Mark & I used to work w/ (in our radio days)  was diagnosed about 18 years ago.  While he certainly has his daily struggles…he has proven that the advancements in treatment have certainly changed the conversation about this disease.  (In fact- we used to kid him at our annual corporate meetings - where he would say his “goodbyes”…only to give the same speech the following year…and the following year!) 

This disease has seen its “best” days.  Last summer’s ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE put this disease on EVERYBODY’S RADAR.   In less than 1 month AFTER the “ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE” went “viral…the ALS Association receive $42 million dollars from 739,000 NEW DONORS!   ALS is in trouble. 

The question is- what can WE do here in Carefree to help??

Positive thoughts and prayers from our UPS Stores!

Michael & Mark

The UPS Stores

Carefree / Terravita / Cave Creek

 

 

Lyn,

Very sad news regarding Mayor Schwan.  Not an easy ailment to deal with but a great deal of progress has been made over the last few years.  I have a close friend who is doing well after 17 years.  I wish him all the best.

Tom Surrency

 

 

 

I am so sorry, David, for the unexpected news you received, but as I said when you were first placed on the council, "This man doesn't say much, but when he does you best listen to him." You have ever since then been our rock on the council  and in dealing with problems of the town. I am confident you again will take up this challenge too and beat it. I, and the town will give you whatever help you need; just don't be afraid to ask we all will be there for you.

Our blessings and Love,

Ron Nelson

 

 

 

Dear Lyn,

I am very sorry to hear of the Mayor's decision to resign and especially of his recent diagnosis.  Please forward on to him our deepest sympathies.  I have not known him long, but consider him a thoughtful, decent human being.  He will be sorely missed.

Robert G. Wilson

 

 

I wrote a letter (personal) to David and Binka. I'm heartbroken by this news. I love them both.

Patty Schiano

 

 

 

David, no one who knows of your long lasting efforts in behalf of Carefree can wish you anything but a happy and prayerful retirement as you tackle this new challenge with your typical "Let's get this done!" attitude.

 

Sincerely,

Jim Raymond

 

Hello, Lyn –

Barbara and I were very saddened to read about the dreadful health status of Mayor Schwan.  David and Binka are about to face the most difficult struggle that the too often unfairness of life confers on the undeserving.

We can remember when we first began attending the monthly Carefree Council meetings.  We were relatively new to the area and reading the Sonoran News we just could not believe that the Carefree Mayor and certain council members were as inept as the newspaper depicted them to be.

So we went to the meetings to see for ourselves.  And what a revelation!  Contrary to the depiction presented by the Sonoran news, the situation was the exact opposite.  By far, Mayor Schwan was the most competent, most knowledgeable member of the council.  His very excellent leadership abilities were second to nobody among those seated at the council table.  Through the years, Mayor Schwan has continued to be the shining-star member of the seven-member council.  And while we didn’t always agree with Mayor Schwan’s position on discrete issues (and there were very few of those), we never lost our high respect for his professionalism, his administrative talents, his wisdom in so many areas of small town management, and his leadership skills.  As the Mayor of Carefree, David Schwan will be greatly missed.

Both David and Binka are, quite literally, in for the battle of their lives.  Barbara and I stand ready to do whatever we can to support David and Binka in their efforts to combat this progressive disease.  And we trust that there are many among the Carefree residents who would be more than willing to help whenever that assistance might be needed.

There is much work being accomplished to find a genetic therapy that could halt the disease’s progression, and maybe even function as a cure.  We would encourage Binka and David to never give-up the belief that science will find the solution to the containment or prevention of this disorder.

Our warm thoughts and hopes will abide with David and Binka as they remain courageous in the struggle that so unfairly has been inflicted on them.

Fred and Barbara Groszkruger

 

Ms. Hitchon:

I heard about the infirmity that has befallen on Mayor David Schwan.  I have, in the past, written to The Sonoran News with comments critical of Mayor Schwan’s position on a few of the town’s current or developing initiatives.  But it is quite dispiriting to know that Mayor Schwan has become a victim of this insidious disease.  I would not wish that disorder on my worst enemy.

This is an invidious disease and my heart goes out to the Mayor and his family.  I presume he has a wife and she will have to garner all the support she can in order to bear the burden of care for her husband.  It certainly appears that, despite my criticism on Mayor Schwan’s positions on a narrow range of issues, the man is well-liked by the Carefree populace.  I have heard from others that his oversight and governance over the town should receive the highest accolades.  That being the case, the town needs to rally support and assistance for what the family and Mayor Schwan are about to experience.

On a modestly positive note, one can look at the life span of Dr. Stephen Hawking who was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 21.  He is now 73 years-old.  Aside from the horrific physical degeneration that this despicable illness inflicts on the victim, as time goes along, the caretakers of the ill person have an increasingly difficult task, and remaining attentive and focused on the comfort of the victim can be a quite difficult challenge and responsibility.

My hopes and best wishes go to the Mayor and his family that medical science will soon find a success in addressing the challenges presented by ALS and there will be a drug or therapy that halts the progression of the disease.  I understand that much progress has been made in this endeavor over the last few years.

Again, my heart goes out to Mayor Schwan and his family.  They, perhaps, can take some comfort in knowing that the community, I’m quite sure, will be there to support the caretaking efforts in any way it can.

Freddy Bentine-Brown

 

 

 

I know how hard you have worked to defend the GOOD in Carefree, and David is one of the good guys.

None of us get out of this life alive. I don't know what solace I can give you other than to ask you to pause and realize that you are together for a reason and that you have grown in friendship and love, and THAT is priceless, something that doesn't just happen every day.

Now it is time to help them personally however you can, you have all been so strong for the community together. 

Regards,  

Cynthia Weiss

 

 

 

(Lyn's note: Carefree Matters has been handed over to John Traynor, who ran against David Schwan in the failed recall attempt a few years ago, and Jim Van Allen, who resigned from the Carefree Council.  In the Carefree Matters issue dated 2/6, it was incorrectly reported, "Lyn Hitchon suggested the council consider imposing a Property Tax." That was all it said.  The following is what I actually said.  "I just wanted to toss out one more idea that I haven't heard broached.  Has anyone thought of possibly asking for a vote to fund a bond to do some of these cultural amenities, like they did for preserving Spur Cross, where it would be a very temporary property tax that was just devoted to that, and it would end once that was paid off?  That's another funding option."  This suggestion was an alternative option to draining the Carefree cash reserve account to fund a cultural center, and would require, by both state and local law, a vote by the citizens of Carefree.  It would have the additional benefit of definitively demonstrating, for better or for worse, the amount of community support for the cultural center Mr. Lewis' says he requires in order to proceed with his project.  Everyone agrees that a significant degree of community support is vital to the cultural center's success.  Here is the video of what I said.

http://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/118974967/188dd9d715  

 

 

 

Hi Lyn,

Please do add me to your mailing list!  We would love to read your newsletter.

If you ever write about Carefree residents or have any interest in personal stories, this is mine in a nutshell.

I am a Daughter of The American Revolution, born to a CIA operative in 1953  in Sao Paulo, Brasil.  In January of 1976 when I was a very young, very naive and  very sheltered 23 year old, I married my high-school sweetheart, the great grandson of NY State Senator Henry Manning Sage in a lavish ceremony that was, for its time,  a rival of the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Di, complete with a full platoon of parade-dressed Brazilian Military police guarding our home for the reception all while cases of illegally imported Perrier Jouet flowed to no end.  At the time I was an Olympic hopeful in Grand Prix horse-jumping.

But just 4 months later both my husband and I were locked up in a hell-hole dungeon prison in Sao Paulo, the now notorious Carandiru jail.  We were kept there for 45 days, while our family went through horrific machinations attempting to orchestrate the movement of  $400KUS for the untraceable bribe that was demanded for our release.    During those agonizing 45 days we were beaten, raped and tortured on a device called a parrots perch.  We were released following the payment of that bribe on July 4, 1976. 

How we ended up in that prison is a story almost as twisted and horrifically torturous as what we experienced in jail.  It is a story of deceit and betrayal, of despair and agony and of love and of the  will to survive.  What we experienced and suffered as a young American couple is something most people cannot even imagine.  It is a story that involves the CIA and the torture methods they taught to the very men who tortured us.  It involves corrupt American police and corrupt Brasilian police.

One year later on July 17, 1977, I gave birth to our son, but our marriage was sadly unable to overcome the trauma we had experienced.  My husband never walked again without a cane and developed hepatitis C.  He took his life at the age of 50 after struggling with alcoholism and PTSD until the day he died.

I fled Brasil with my 18 month old son and made a life for myself first as a waitress and maid, then working my way up to becoming a riding instructor,  an Executive Director of a Chamber of Commerce, and the first-ever female GM of a mens professional hockey franchise.  I never spoke about the horrors I had experienced until 2010 when I realized that what I had experienced was the norm for Brasil and that it would never change unless I spoke out and could be heard and when Brasil elected its’ first female President, a woman who like me had been tortured on a parrots perch, but then did nothing to change a law that to this day provides amnesty from prosecution to its state torturers.

Today, I have become a Human Rights activist, and have spoken at Amnesty International and at book clubs and anywhere else  I can.   I have given my testimony at the Brasilian National Truth Commission and continue to work toward having Brasil over-turn a horrific law that provides amnesty from prosecution to state torturers to this day! I have written and self-published  my story in an attempt to bring about positive changes for Human Rights in Brasil.  My book is called The Parrot’s Perch.

Let me know if you have any interest or have any questions.  Have a wonderful day,

Karen Keilt

 

(Lyn's note: Yikes!  It makes us realize just how lucky we are to live in America.  Karen is one of the winners in the Carefree Gardens Photo Contest.  The winning photos will be on display for public voting at the Fine Chocolate and Fine Art Show from Feb. 12-15.  Come see her lovely photo and vote for your favorite.  Karen's book is available at the Desert Foothills Library and on Amazon.  I'm hitting the Library for it ASAP.  What an amazing lady.)