Protect & Preserve Scottsdale

The following op-ed appeared on AZCentral.com. 

Time for some straight talk about Proposition 490.  

Proposition 490 is a ballot measure created by Scottsdale residents to benefit our entire city.

It would improve and better maintain citywide parks; provide ongoing care, including wildlife habitat protection, for our nature preserve; and increase the police and fire departments’ capabilities, such as by adding additional park rangers and creating a second technical rescue team.  

Yet, three residents sued the city to have Proposition 490 removed from the Nov. 5 ballot.

The case went to Superior Court, where Scottsdale prevailed.

Scottsdale measure was hardly a ‘rush job’

These same individuals next went to the Arizona Appeals Court, which ruled that the ballot language needed to be modified. So, the City Council held a meeting where it revised the language, and the measure is, again, on the ballot.  

Opponents say the City Council’s meeting to revise ballot language was a “last minute rush job.”

The reason it was held late is because opponents waited until the last minute to file their lawsuit. The City Council referred the measure to the ballot way back on April 2. Opponents waited until June 18 to file their lawsuit — 77 days later.

This is a well-known tactic to run out the clock.   

However, Scottsdale and supporters of Proposition 490 did not give up. Within the time constraints the opponents themselves created, every opportunity possible was given to speak on the record and revise ballot arguments.  

We spent 2 years collecting public feedback

Another comment was “we have plenty of time” to consider this measure. Actually, we don’t.

State law only allows for issues related to taxation to be voted on during even-year elections. This would mean waiting until 2026 for a chance to vote to improve our parks, care for our preserve and increase public safety capabilities. 

The final twisted piece of logic being perpetuated is that “people weren’t given the opportunity for input.”

The public process to create Proposition 490 has been going on for two years. The To Protect & Preserve Scottsdale Task Force, representing all areas of the city, was appointed in December 2022.

The task force held 22 publicized meetings across the city, all open to the public, with opportunity to speak on the record at each meeting. There were two televised work study sessions with the City Council, again with public comment. Then the council held two more meetings.

Don’t believe the misinformation. Vote ‘yes’

It would have been more productive if opponents had participated in this process. But the three residents who filed the lawsuit did not attend a single meeting.

In a fact rich with irony, though, only one very vocal opponent of Proposition 490 testified at task force meetings.

At that time, the individual did not oppose the funding proposal. He was, instead, asking for some of the money to go to the arts. He registered no complaints about the proposal until after the task force decided that including the arts wasn’t appropriate for this measure.

These are the facts — all available on the public record. Do not be swayed by opponents’ misinformation. Instead, please consider all the much needed, wonderful benefits that Proposition 490 can bring to our community. 

Some of the language may have changed, but the benefits remain the same. The proposition deserves an enthusiastic “yes” vote.

Mary Manross is former mayor of Scottsdale. Carla Carla is a task force member of To Protect & Preserve Scottsdale. 

 

 

 

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