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Joyce Clark Unfiltered

For "the rest of the story"

It has been 17 years and 272 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

Today, September 30, 2015, former Glendale Fire Chief Mark Burdick pulled a packet from the Glendale City Clerk’s office with the intent of running for the position of Mayor of Glendale in 2016. Burdick will, obviously, receive a majority of support in terms of campaign funding and manpower from the fire unions. As we have witnessed in the past, the fire unions will operate just a hair’s breadth inside campaign laws. Mayor Weiers is going to have a fight on his hands to retain his seat this coming election.

The Glendale Fire Department, kicking and screaming all the way, has finally implemented the use of a unit staffed with 2 persons, a paramedic and an emergency medical technician (EMT) to answer non-life threatening medical calls. It’s about time and the department is to be congratulated for implementing this test program. After all, it’s been in use in Mesa and Chandler for several years and is a proven system. It’s the first step in the elimination of the use of an engine or ladder answering medical calls…and is long overdue.

Also today, September 30, 2015, Glendale announced the hiring of Terry Garrison as its new fire chief. Here is the link: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale/2015/09/29/glendale-fire-department-names-houston-head-departments-new-fire-chief/73045786/ .

The first question that comes to mind is why would he deliberately demote himself? From the third largest fire department in the country to a much smaller department in Glendale? Apparently Mr. Garrison has been Fire Chief in Houston for the past 3 years and during that entire time his wife continued to live in the Phoenix Metro area. In his resignation letter his reason for leaving Houston is to assist in the care of an infant grandchild with a chronic condition. Many wonder if he will be the man to resist the continual pressure of the fire union power grab. We will find out shortly, won’t we?

© Joyce Clark, 2015

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This site contains copyrighted material the use of which is in accordance with Title 17 U.S. C., Section 107. The ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law and who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democratic, scientific and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a go to http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use,’ you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

It has been 17 years and 271 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

NOTE: You may have noted that I haven’t posted blogs lately. More trips to California on personal business interfered. In addition, on one of my usual forays into the koi pond to trim pond plants I fell not once, but twice. It was the second fall that put me out of commission for I broke my fall into the water with a hand. Luckily, due to the strong bones I inherited, I didn’t break anything but I did do damage to my wrist and arm. It was just enough damage to incapacitate me for a few more days…sigh. My invincibility gene was malfunctioning that day.

Recently Judge Campbell, tasked with making local judicial decisions on all things Tohono O’odham casino related, issued another decision. The Tohono O’odham (TO) filed a motion to compel the state to issue it a Class III gaming license. Currently the TO have the right to install Class II (bingo type) gaming equipment but to use Class III equipment it needs state approval. It is generally believed that Class II gaming is not as lucrative as Class III.

Judge Campbell noted the court “has never held, as the (tribe) argues, that the State’s allegations of fraud… lack merit.” This may be the crux of the entire legal situation. Ned Norris, Jr., previous Chairman of the Tohono O’odham, has never once denied or refuted the charges of deception leveled against he and his Tribe allegedly committed against the State of Arizona, the Governor and the voters. Fraud and misrepresentation appeared to be woven into every decision made by the Tohono O’odham. They bought land in Glendale on a county island and kept it secret for 7 years. They funded and actively participated in the campaign to convince Arizona voters to approve the State Compact. They betrayed their sister tribes and the people of the state of Arizona. They had a plan which they shared with no one while advocating for the state gaming compact.

Many who oppose the casino believe as Judge Campbell noted that there is merit to the state’s allegations of fraud. During the campaign to convince voters to approve the State Gaming Compact in 2002:

  • Not once did the TO reveal that they had been secretly land shopping for a new casino site in Maricopa County and even considered a land purchase in Buckeye.
  • Not once did the TO reveal that they had secretly acquired land in Glendale for a casino using a shell company.
  • Not once did the TO reveal that they secretly held land for a new casino for 7 years.
  • Not once did the TO reveal that they planned to violate the promise to voters to limit the number of casinos in Maricopa County.
  • Not once did the TO reveal to its sister tribes its plans for a new casino in Maricopa County.

In 2009 the Tohono O’odham publicly announced its plans and shock waves rippled throughout the state. Their action, if ultimately successful, will blow the state gaming compact apart as  new precedent is set. If and when the compact is finally trampled on by the TO, the specter of new casinos (Indian and non-Indian) on other county islands looms large. Is it any wonder that other Valley Metro cities are concerned and have voiced their disapproval of the TO’s actions? They don’t want a casino in their neighborhoods any more than the people of west Glendale want a casino in their neighborhood.

Judge Campbell has demonstrated that the Tohono O’odham can’t win ‘em all. Allegations of fraud and misrepresentation may be the undoing of the TO and may turn out to be the most important point of law still untested.

© Joyce Clark, 2015

FAIR USE NOTICE

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which is in accordance with Title 17 U.S. C., Section 107. The ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law and who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democratic, scientific and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a go to http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use,’ you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Go pound sand…

Posted by Joyce Clark on September 23, 2015
Posted in City issue and actionsCity of GlendaleGlendale finances  | Tagged With: , | 6 Comments

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