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Joyce Clark Unfiltered

For "the rest of the story"

Mar 16

11

Starting campaign, Day 2

Posted by Joyce Clark on March 11, 2016
Posted in City of Glendale  | 1 Comment

It has been 18 years and 85 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

Today, March 10, 2016, I went to my local bank, who shall remain nameless, to set up a campaign account. An hour and a half later it was done. I have never seen so much paperwork produce so little. If you ever need to visit your bank for something other than making a deposit or withdrawing cash plan on an hour or two visit. I, being the impatient sort at times, kept asking, “Are we done yet?” To which the person serving me would mumble something like, “just a few more forms…we’re almost done.” Only to receive a phone call this afternoon asking me to return because they forgot to get one signature. Sigh…

Then off to an office supply store to get copies of the petitions. The City Clerk will provide them for 20 cents a page. Twenty five dollars later I had enough petitions to paper over all of Glendale.

The next major chore is to establish a link on this blog for campaign donations. This is really scary and I expect it won’t take much to have me pulling my hair out. The body is willing; the mind is weak, technologically speaking.

While I struggle with the internet to set up a convenient way for you to make a campaign contribution I ask you please not to wait. You can send me a check made out to “Clark for Council.” I mean it when I say small contributions add up. There are many of you who read this blog faithfully even though you do not live in the Yucca district or Glendale. You can help. You do not have to live in the Yucca district to contribute to my campaign. Please take a few minutes while reading this to stick a check in an envelope. Please include your address, your employer and your job title. These items are required by state law. Obviously I will gladly and gratefully accept any amount.  Thank you. Please send your contribution to:

JoyceClark                                                                                                                                   8628 W. Cavalier Drive                                                                                                       Glendale, AZ 85305

I did want to share what the current campaign donation limits are as established by the state legislature. I can remember during my last run in 2012 the donation limit from an individual was $460. I wonder what happened to make the legislature increase the dollar limits so dramatically. Take a look below:

Campaign contribution limits

Campaign contribution limits

I and a few others have designed a logo for volunteer T shirts and buttons. Now that I have an account I can legitimately order those items. Here are the designs:

Campaign button

Campaign button

Volunteer T shirt

Volunteer T shirt

Once those items are here to distribute to the volunteers, they and I will start walking to collect petition signatures.  Want a shirt and a button? It’s easy to get. Simply volunteer to gather signatures or make phone calls.

Right now I and others are developing walking lists of registered voters in the district. In order to maximize the volunteers’ time and effort it is important that they do not visit every home but rather go to those homes that have registered voters.

I will not be writing about campaign stuff every time I post my blog but I thought you might enjoy learning about the first few days. When I and the volunteers start walking I will let you know how we are doing.

© Joyce Clark, 2016

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 ‘fair use’ of any such material. For more information 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.

Mar 16

10

Starting a campaign, Day 1

Posted by Joyce Clark on March 10, 2016
Posted in City of Glendale  | Tagged With: , , , , , , | 4 Comments

It has been 18 years and 84 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

March 9, 2016 I picked up a nominating petition packet and established a political

Joyce and City Clerk Pam Hanna in her office

Joyce and City Clerk Pam Hanna in her office

committee called “Clark for Council.” Let me tell you how things work at city hall.  Whether you go to the clerk’s office or file online for an Information Request about a council member or something about the city, the minute you leave the office or file online councilmembers and/or staff members are immediately notified. I left the clerk’s office knowing that council and senior staff was notified that I had formed a political committee and pulled a packet. It’s not the city clerk’s fault. It’s policy that was created many, many years ago.

Visiting any office on city hall’s fourth floor (location of City Clerk’s office, the City Attorney’s office, the Mayor’s office, the City Manager’s office and the Council offices) requires passage through security these days. When you arrive on the fourth floor the security officer calls the department you are seeking to visit. Someone from that department comes to you and escorts you through secured double doors to his or her office. When you leave you are again escorted out through those secured double doors to the fourth floor elevators.

The City Clerk has prepared packets of information for anyone wishing to become a candidate. In it is a large map of the city; a pamphlet on Glendale’s campaign sign regulations; City of

Information provided to every candidate

Information provided to every candidate

Glendale signature requirements (in the Yucca district the minimum number of signatures required is 464 and the maximum is 927); two City Clerk welcome letters; City of Glendale Election Calendar, a CD that includes the County Elections Department manual for candidates; and a blank Political Committee Statement of Organization.

I filled out the Statement of Organization as the City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk offered immediate, relevant information. Both women were helpful and courteous. They did an excellent job of relaying immediate information that a candidate should know. Half an hour later I was done.

Nominating Petition

Nominating Petition

Today, March 10, 2016 I will visit my local bank and establish a campaign bank account and get copies made of the nominating petitions. The City Clerk’s office can make copies for 20 cents a page. Going to a local copy store can get the same job done at a much lower price.

Before and after my excursion I answered more phone calls and emails and got pledges for my first three campaign contributions. It appears I am not the only one excited about running – so are a lot of other people, in and out of my district. I even received an unsolicited campaign pledge from a friend in California who reads this blog faithfully. Lesson learned. You don’t have to live in the Yucca district or even in Glendale for that matter, to contribute to my campaign. I hope readers who don’t live here but have followed me faithfully for the past three years will consider making a campaign donation as well.

The campaign mechanics have begun.  It is exciting and somewhat busy. It promises to become very busy shortly when we begin walking for nominating petition signatures. Thanks for following me on this journey. Together I will be reminded and you will learn just what goes into running a local campaign.

© Joyce Clark, 2016

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 ‘fair use’ of any such material. For more information 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.

Mar 16

9

Clark is doing it again

Posted by Joyce Clark on March 9, 2016
Posted in City issue and actions • City of Glendale • Glendale elected officials  | Tagged With: , , , , | 9 Comments

This afternoon I will be visiting the City Clerk’s office at Glendale City Hall for the purpose of picking up a nominating petition packet and establishing a political committee. Yes, I have decided to run for the Yucca district councilmember seat.

I took my time to really think about it. I weighed the pros and cons. I talked to family and friends and asked for their unvarnished opinions. Since Norma Alvarez’ Letter to Editor was published I have been inundated with positive phone calls and emails. My former constituents want me to run. They want to “get their voice back.”

Why am I running? For fame and glory? Hardly. Being a councilmember is time consuming. There are not just the Tuesdays one gives up for council meetings and workshops. There are weekends doing “homework” after council books are delivered. There are small meetings with neighborhood groups. There are the countless phone calls to solve a constituent problem, to listen to a constituent concern or to hear a constituent opinion. There are local functions and regional meetings representing the leadership of our community. It’s a thankless job where more often than not, complaints rather than compliments prevail.

I can and will be the voice of my constituency. I can and will resume holding district meetings. I can and will send out district newsletters. I can and will be available by phone, email and in person to listen to constituents. I can and will use my abilities to make the best decisions possible for all of Glendale. I can and will seek innovative ways to deliver the best possible services to all the people of Glendale.

Sammy has failed to do all of those things. Sammy has failed to reach out to and to listen to his constituents. Sammy has failed to have district meetings and in his term had only one, in early 2013. Sammy has never sent out a district newsletter instead relying on his e-newsletter written by staff. Sammy has not been available and has often canceled scheduled meetings with Glendale residents. Sammy has taken to participating at council meetings telephonically. Sammy has done nothing at council meetings other than to thank everyone.

Perhaps more importantly Sammy has squandered taxpayer dollars with trips that did not serve the interests of Glendale such as going to D.C. to see the Pope or to witness his buddy’s induction into Congress. Sammy has squandered taxpayer dollars by financially supporting Glendale festivals that failed such as $8,000 of taxpayer money for a Watermelon Festival and      $2,500 of taxpayer money at a festival that promoted political candidates of just one political party. Sammy has squandered taxpayer dollars by picking up the tab for lavish meals such as a $420 dinner in D.C. for his boss, the Phoenix Fire Chief, and others including her husband. Sammy appears to be using his position as a councilmember who voted for supporting the casino to obtain a job at this casino from the Tohono O’odham. Sammy has not only failed to serve his constituency but he has also failed to work in the best interests of our entire community.

I have done the job before. I know that I can be effective and responsive. We may not agree on every issue but on those issues where we do not agree I will listen respectfully. I am ready and willing to serve my community again.

Here is the Press Release issued today:

Press Release Mar 2016

As I run you can expect blogs on how and what one does when one runs for a local office. I suspect that you will learn things that you did not know or never considered. I do know one thing. I cannot take this journey without your support. You answered the call when I asked that you share your opinion about my running but there is more to be done. I need your support. I need your help in collecting nominating petition signatures. Can you canvass your neighborhood for me? If you cannot walk, can you make calls? Can you help to prepare political mailings? Can you host a get together at your home so that I might answer questions posed by you and your neighbors? Can you plant a yard sign in front of your home? Lastly, can you contribute to my campaign? Even $5 will help. Many small contributions do add up.

Let the race begin and let’s “get your voice back.”

© Joyce Clark, 2016

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 ‘fair use’ of any such material. For more information 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.

 

Mar 16

5

Repercussions

Posted by Joyce Clark on March 5, 2016
Posted in City issue and actions • City of Glendale • Glendale elected officials • Glendale finances  | Tagged With: , , , , , | 5 Comments

It has been 18 years and 79 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

It seems the latest Sammy saga is not quite finished. In the Arizona Republic of March 5, 2016 Paul Giblin has yet another story about it entitled Phoenix employees to repay $420 dinner bill sent to Glendale. It is not online yet so I cannot provide a link.

This story reminds me of the symbolism of throwing stones into a pond. The ripples made by the stones intersect and affect how each reacts.

The first three lead paragraphs say, “Several Phoenix employees will personally reimburse Glendale for their portions of $420 seafood dinner in Washington, D.C., that Glendale Councilman expenses to Glendale taxpayers in 2014, according to a Phoenix spokeswoman.

“Phoenix Communications Director Julie Watters requested an itemized receipt for the meal from Assistant City Manager Tom Duensing on Friday, the day a story about Glendale Councilman Sammy Chavira’s travels appeared in The Arizona Republic.

“ ‘The city of Phoenix is requesting a copy of this receipt with the intent that Phoenix employees who were at the dinner will personally repay their portion of the meal,’ Watters stated in the email.”

There are a lot of sub texts to this story. It is amazing that Julie Watters’ information request to the City of Glendale was filled almost immediately. The general public’s requests for information are not nearly as timely. I guess as Phoenix’s Communications Director her public information requests take precedence.

For two years this dinner was unnoticed and unreported publicly. None of the participants, including the Phoenix contingent, appeared to be ethically challenged about their action and never offered repayment for their portion of the dinner. It wasn’t until it is revealed publicly that the wagons are circled and repayment is forthcoming.

It leads to an assumption that the Fire Chiefs Kalbrenner and Burdick had no problem with a subordinate employee picking up the tab for their high priced meal. The question arises, is there a pattern of such behavior? Of course, Sammy was using his office as a Glendale councilmember but in terms of the Phoenix Fire Department he is a subordinate employee, quite far down on the food chain.

Giblin in his article states that Fire Chief Kara Kalkbrenner and Kalkbrenner’s husband, Kevin, Phoenix Director of Emergency Management were two of the attendees. It appears Phoenix does not have a nepotism policy.

Also in attendance was Phoenix Councilmember Danny Valenzuela, a good buddy of Chavira’s. Nowhere in the article does it state that Valenzuela will be using personal funds to pay for his portion of the dinner. Then Glendale Fire Chief Mark Burdick was in attendance as well. He happens to be Danny Valenzuela’s boss as Danny is a Glendale firefighter. How ethical is it to grant access to some subordinates and not others? If I were a Glendale or Phoenix firefighter I would not be thrilled to learn of Chavira and Valenzuela using their councilmember positions to gain extraordinary access to their fire chiefs.

This story about Sammy’s dinner is probably the tip of the iceberg. There are many tangled interrelationships in politics and municipal affairs and generally they turn out to not serve public interests very well. The repercussions of Sammy’s dinner may have a far greater effect than anyone could have imagined.

© Joyce Clark, 2016

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 ‘fair use’ of any such material. For more information 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.

Mar 16

4

Sammy the spendthrift, Part II

Posted by Joyce Clark on March 4, 2016
Posted in City issue and actions • City of Glendale • Glendale elected officials • Glendale finances  | Tagged With: , , , , , | 3 Comments

It has been 18 years and 78 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

As I announced in my blog of March 3, 2016 I am in the process of deciding whether to run for my former Yucca district council seat. Today on the front page of the Arizona Republic is a major story by Paul Giblin on Councilmember Chavira’s use of his council discretionary funds for travel. Here is the link: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale/2016/03/04/glendale-councilman-sammy-chavira-charges-24k-trips-3-years-taxpayers/78857734/ . Thank you Paul Giblin for fleshing out with extensive research what I had discussed in my February 28, 2016 blog, Sammy the spendthrift. Giblin’s article is just one more reason to tip me toward serious consideration.

Here are some bullet points from the story by Giblin:

  • “Glendale Councilman Sammy Chavira expensed a trip to Washington to see U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego sworn in.”
  • “He billed city taxpayers for another trip to Washington to see the pope.”
  • “Chavira has taken the most trips of any current council member.”

 

I am dismayed and disgusted by Sammy’s cavalier approach to spending your money, taxpayer dollars, and you should be as well. This much I can tell you. While there is no oversight (and there should be) of how a Glendale councilmember spends his or her discretionary funds. 95% of the time they are mindful of the fact that it is not their money and treat its use with respect.

As a former councilmember on the occasions that I took out-of-town trips to the National League of Cities Conventions and as a member of the League’s Public Safety Steering Committee, I turned in receipts for all of my expenditures. I often submitted Public Safety Steering Committee summary reports to senior staff and my fellow councilmembers. When I attended state League meetings sited, for example, in Scottsdale, I would not stay in a nearby hotel but rather traveled from my home to the meeting site daily. When the sites of state League meetings were too far away to accommodate this practice, such as Tucson, then I would stay in a hotel. During my entire tenure as a Glendale councilmember I never had your dollars pay for my cell phone or its monthly charges even though much of its use was city related. I never submitted monthly car mileage reimbursements. There were a handful of occasions, such as state League meetings, for which I did ask for mileage reimbursement. The point is that I was careful because it wasn’t “my” money. A majority of Glendale’s councilmembers are mindful of their council expenses. All it takes is one bad apple to destroy the people’s trust in how elected officials operate and act on their behalf.

Perhaps the most disturbing of all of Sammy’s D.C. trips was his expensing taxpayer dollars to spring for a dinner that included his bosses at the Phoenix Fire Department (Sammy is a Phoenix firefighter); now retired Glendale Fire Chief Mark Burdick; and Glendale firefighter and Phoenix Councilmember Danny Valenzuela. Oh, to be a fly on the wall. Clearly Chavira used that to self-aggrandize himself. I wonder if Phoenix Councilmember Danny Valenzuela expensed this D.C. trip to Phoenix taxpayers. I wonder if the attendees were informed of Burdick’s plans to retire as Glendale Fire Chief and subsequently run for the Glendale mayoral seat.

His trip to see the Pope and another trip to see his good friend Rueben Gallego’s inauguration are certainly questionable. No matter how he tries to spin these trips they were certainly not “city business.”

Giblin states that he set up at least three meetings with Sammy to hear his side of the story and all three meetings were cancelled. It’s reminiscent of the many meetings Sammy has scheduled with Glendale residents only to have them cancelled as well. Instead he sent an email to Giblin saying in part, “I made these trips on behalf of the city for legitimate purposes…”

Don’t forget there are other sketchy Chavira financial dealings. One was his and Councilmember Danny Valenzuela’s involvement in a Hispanic Firefighters Association event fundraiser that netted not one dime to the organization. In fact the organization lost money as it had to pay for the actions required to hold the event. How about his $8,000 sponsorship of the failed Glendale Watermelon Festival or his $2,500 sponsorship of the Glendale Dia del los Muertos, an event that allowed political activities favoring Democrat candidates for elected office.

Sammy has demonstrated a pattern of questionable financial decision making as a Glendale city councilmember. If he makes poor decisions with his council budget can you really trust him to make good decisions about the city’s budget?

© Joyce Clark, 2016

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 ‘fair use’ of any such material. For more information 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.

Mar 16

3

Will Clark do it again?

Posted by Joyce Clark on March 3, 2016
Posted in City of Glendale  | Tagged With: , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

It has been 18 years and 77 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

IMG_1171

This newspaper clipping is an old headline from 2000 when I won an election for my council seat. In that election I was the only elected official in the state to run as a write-in against an incumbent and to win.

Imagine my surprise last week when I received a call from the Star editor, Carolyn Dryer, telling me she had received a Letter to the Editor from former Councilmember Norma Alvarez who represented the Ocotillo district. She told me Alvarez has publicly asked me to consider running for the Yucca district council seat. Here is the link to the Alvarez letter: http://www.glendalestar.com/opinion/article_93660af6-e088-11e5-8fca-07da10ddf430.html . Here is my response to Dryer’s question asking me if I intended to run: http://www.glendalestar.com/news/article_a08de88c-df3b-11e5-9b98-8749566839f1.html .

I have been asked repeatedly by my former constituents of the district since 2013 to do so. The reasons they offer are various. They would express their appreciation of my accessibility, my problem solving of their complaints and my representation of their voice. For years I had resisted even consideration of their pleas. But no longer.

They have also expressed their frustration and disappointment in their current representative. He is inaccessible. In fact, he is often AWOL. They cite his flip-flopping on issues and the exorbitant amount of money he has spent on travel, especially on trips that they contend are not city business.

I will spend the next week picking up the phone and talking to Norma to listen to her reasons as to why I should run again. I will also talk to my family and close friends to hear their thoughts on the subject. It is not a decision to be made lightly for it requires a major time commitment. It requires councilmembers (such as I was) to spend weekends “doing their homework” as council material for consideration and discussion at workshops and meetings is usually provided on Friday afternoons. I have the stamina and the intellect but do I have your support?

I would like to hear from you – readers of my blog, many of whom live either in the Yucca district or live in Glendale. The answer I seek is not only do you think I should run but are you willing to give of your time and talents in my campaign? I cannot take on a major commitment such as this without your support. You may contact me at: clarkjv@aol.com or leave a comment on this blog. Obviously your email response will remain private but any comment you leave on this blog will be instantly public.

Here is an excerpt of an email I received this morning in response to Norma’s call for my running for the Yucca district council seat. “I read the article about you in the Glendale Star and I also read Norma’s editorial, endorsing you! I say YES, go for it!! The Yucca and Glendale residents deserve a councilmember like you who cares about the community.”

This much I promise. I will seriously think about it. I will talk to others. I will wait to hear from you. After that, I will make a decision and publish it on this blog. So the question is: Will Clark do it again?

© Joyce Clark, 2016

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 ‘fair use’ of any such material. For more information 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.

Mar 16

1

Coyotes want another short term lease

Posted by Joyce Clark on March 1, 2016
Posted in Arizona Coyotes • City Council Actions • City issue and actions • City of Glendale • Gila River Arena • Glendale elected officials • Glendale finances  | Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

It has been 18 years and 75 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

On February 26, 2016 Arizona Sports ran a story on Anthony LeBlanc’s reaction to Mayor Jerry Weiers’ remarks at his State of the City address. Here is the link:  http://arizonasports.com/story/566510/arizona-coyotes-ceo-glendale-may-want-us-to-stay-but-not-being-realistic/ .

In his prepared remarks with reference to the Coyotes the Mayor said, “I need to be clear about this. I want the Coyotes to stay in Glendale. The city wants the Coyotes to remain in Glendale. We have, since day-one, invited them to remain engaged in this process.”  In his recent remarks Mr. LeBlanc said this about the Coyotes’ refusal to engage in the bid process to manage Glendale’s arena, “…the team did not submit a bid to manage the arena because it refused to participate in a ‘flawed process’.” LeBlanc did not elaborate on his characterization of a “flawed process.”

Mr. LeBlanc went on to say, “I think they do want us to stay, but I don’t think they’re looking through a realistic lens of what that means.” Translate this statement to read that in his view “a realistic lens of what that means” is the Coyotes would only stay if Glendale continues to subsidize a portion of their annual loss. LeBlanc, et. al., may have retired their Fortress loan by adding additional owners but don’t forget they still owe a boat load of money to the NHL for another loan that covered buying the team.

What governmental entity is not only going to build a new hockey arena but also subsidize the Coyotes’ annual loss? It’s Glendale all over again. Tempe? Scottsdale? Probably not. Phoenix? Perhaps it can bury its subsidization of the Coyotes within possible plans to build a new facility for joint use by the Suns and the Coyotes.

The Coyotes want to manage their own facility. Then they collect all of the revenue generated by non-hockey events and they can claim a management fee that not only covers their cost to manage but off-sets their annual loss.

LeBlanc praised a recently approved deal between Broward County, Florida and the NHL Florida Panthers. The deal allows the Panthers to get nearly all of the arena revenue and reduces any profit-sharing between the Panthers and the county. Since the Panthers first season in 1993-94 the Broward county’s public subsidy of the team has been $342 million (an estimated $14 million a year). It should be noted that the Panthers lost $36 million last year and another $27 million the previous year. Of course LeBlanc would think that’s a wonderful deal. Reality is that the majority of NHL teams can’t survive without public financial support. That has been the model for years but many governmental entities are under financial pressure and can no longer afford this type of model. It is a model destined to die in the future as the public clamors for sports franchises to pay their own way.

LeBlanc said three options are still being discussed. They are a shared arena with the Phoenix Suns in downtown, a partnership with Arizona State University or an arena in Scottsdale’s Loop 101 corridor. Hey, if the City of Phoenix wants to pony up and pay the Coyotes to play downtown, congratulations to all. Previously the Suns and the Coyotes shared an arena downtown and it was the fans who suffered with terrible sight lines while watching the games.

Is the Arizona State Legislature delusional? It has budget problems. Will it allow a portion of its allocation of state public money to be used to pay for a new hockey arena instead of educational purposes? It seems doubtful that Scottsdale will wish to pay the Coyotes to play in their town. It would be déjà vu as they refused to do so in 2001.

LeBlanc said if a new arena is built it will take at least three years. He went on to say they would “rather not move twice in five years.” Here is where the situation becomes problematical. Glendale and IceArizona currently have a two year agreement that allows IceArizona to manage the arena for $6 million per year. The first year of that agreement is nearly up leaving only one more year of IceArizona’s management. After that it is assumed AEG, the presumed new arena manager, and IceArizona will have to negotiate short-term tenancy for two more years. Will they be able to craft a mutually satisfactory tenancy arrangement? Then the question becomes if IceArizona can live with the deal for two years, why can’t it live with the deal permanently? Can LeBlanc and company afford to rebuild its fan base in another part of the Valley while it continues to rebuild the team?

No matter what the outcome I continue to have greatest respect and admiration for the players. They have endured a great deal since Jerry Moyes put the team into bankruptcy in 2009. They are a great group of men who certainly deserve more stability than they have had. They deserve better. Let’s see if cooler heads can prevail and a deal that benefits all entities can be achieved permanently. Isn’t it time?

© Joyce Clark, 2016

 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 ‘fair use’ of any such material. For more information 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.

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