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Joyce Clark Unfiltered

For "the rest of the story"

May 16

11

The Five Es

Posted by Joyce Clark on May 11, 2016
Posted in City issue and actions • City of Glendale • Glendale elected officials • Glendale finances • O'Neil Pool • West Branch Library  | Tagged With: , , , | 2 Comments

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO ON SAMMY CHAVIRA’S USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY TO THE LEFT OF THIS COLUMN

I have offered the five Es of my campaign platform one by one over the past few weeks. Here is a comprehensive list of all five elements of my pledge to the voters of the Yucca district:

Ethics

The current holder of the position seems to have misplaced his ethical compass. The people of Glendale have every right to expect their public officials to be of the highest character.  Taxpayer dollars fund councilmembers’ expense accounts. It’s your money and you should know the who, what, where, why and when of my expenditures of taxpayer money as a councilmember.

  • I am running to bring ethics, including honesty and integrity, back to the Yucca district city council position.
  • I pledge that as your councilmember I will make public every taxpayer dollar I spend. If the city cannot accommodate my intent then I will personally post all of my expenses on my blog site, www.joyceclarkunfiltered.com for anyone to see at any time.

Economy

Without continual economic growth Glendale will not maintain its ability to keep its infrastructure in good repair nor will it be able to add amenities necessary for our residents’ quality of life. These elements go hand in hand with building an attractive economy. Businesses that look to locate in Glendale look for a well maintained city with amenities that are attractive to its employees.

  • I am committed to ensuring that Glendale’s local economy is vibrant and diverse to ensure that our city budget continues to become healthier and that well-paying jobs are created for Glendale’s residents.
  • I am committed to ensuring that Glendale’s planning and approval process for new business development is continually updated and made faster and more efficient through the latest technology available
  • I am committed to strengthening our partnerships with existent businesses by ensuring that Glendale’s business development department is constantly seeking new ways of assisting them and solving their needs
  • I am committed to making sure that Glendale’s business climate is diverse. For years Glendale has struggled to identify a business cluster to develop. That has not occurred and may be an opportunity in the years to come. In the meantime we must create new policies that attract all sorts of business to locate in Glendale.

Engagement

Our world is changing rapidly. We live in an age when social media is vital to ensure that all of Glendale’s residents’ voices are sought and heard. You, who live within our community, are eager share how best to build an even stronger Glendale and Yucca district.

It is time to use social media and all of its potential. More and more of us use Facebook, Twitter, etc. and mobile platforms such as tablets and smart phones. These conduits have the capability to get information out instantly and to solicit the opinions of large groups of Yucca and Glendale residents.

  • I pledge to advocate for the use on online surveys and polls on city and district issues.
  • I pledge to resume hosting of regular district meetings, at a central location within the district.
  • I pledge to provide the opportunity at district meetings to express your concerns on issues important to you and to offer you the opportunity to submit complaints with regard to the performance of city services.
  • I pledge to resume the issuance of Yucca district newsletters mailed to every home.
  • I pledge to be accessible by use of the phone, the internet, other social media or in person.
  • I pledge to use social media to not only explain my point of view on issues but more importantly, to give you a venue where you know your opinion will be heard and valued. Be assured that I will listen and I have been known to change my position on an issue as a result of listening to Yucca residents.

Equity

The city is perceived by many residents in south and west Glendale as having failed them in an equal provision of city resources.  Residents of the O’Neil Ranch square mile have lost a major amenity with the closure of the city’s O’Neil Pool. Residents surrounding Heroes Park have waited over 18 years for its completion. City council approval of a recent residential subdivision allowing homes on 5,500 SF lots highlights an action that would not have occurred in any other part of Glendale.

The city’s commitment to these areas of Glendale has vanished on my opponent’s watch while serving as the Yucca district councilmember. He has consistently failed to represent your interests on these very important issues.

It’s time to take back our neighborhoods that have fallen victim to years of neglect. A city is not measured by its sports stadia but rather by the quality of life amenities offered to each and every neighborhood in the city. When one area of the city receives more resources than others, that is not equity. When it’s easier for a resident to get to and to use a library in one area of the city, that is not equity. When one area has to wait 18 years for its park to be completed, that is not equity. When some areas of the city look better and cleaner, that is not equity.

  • I pledge to work to refocus attention on the city’s areas of greatest need in south and west Glendale.
  • I pledge to advocate for the concept of equality in delivering the city’s scarce resources.
  • I pledge to work with city council to commit to reopening O’Neil Pool, completing Heroes Park and assuring homeowners that new development will raise their property values not diminish them.

Environment

We must implement responsible city growth. The city’s delivery of its essential, core services of public safety, water, sewer and sanitation is our first priority. Yet we cannot afford to ignore maintenance of the city’s visible assets: its streets, its city right-of-way landscaping, its parks and its major buildings.

  • I pledge to work with city council to ensure that comprehensive laws and adequate resources are adopted and used for responsible growth of our core service delivery.
  • I pledge to work with city council to ensure necessary funding is identified to preserve and improve our streets, roads and other city infrastructure.
  • I pledge to challenge the city’s senior management in its recommendations to ensure that city resources are used to meet its highest priority needs.
  • I pledge to ensure that city resources are placed where the needs are the greatest in terms of service delivery to our residents.

© 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.

May 16

9

Compare and Contrast

Posted by Joyce Clark on May 9, 2016
Posted in City issue and actions • City of Glendale • Glendale elected officials • Glendale finances  | Tagged With: , , , , , | No Comments yet, please leave one

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE VIDEO TO THE LEFT OF THIS COLUMN!

It has been 18 years and 143 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

On May 10, 2016 it will be 2 months since I announced my decision to run for the Yucca district city council position. I’ve already discussed some of the stark differences between Sammy and I and will continue to discuss them further up until the Primary Election on August 30, 2016.

All of Sammy’s campaign financial filings from the time he began to run for the Yucca council seat up until December of 2015 (the last required filing) have been reviewed. If you ever want to  check out for yourself what money a candidate has received and from whom, try this link: http://www.glendaleaz.com/Clerk/PoliticalCommitteeCampaignFinanceReports.cfm . If this doesn’t work for you, go to www.glendaleaz.com, click on City Clerk from the left sidebar, then Political Committees on the left sidebar, then Campaign Finance Reports at the top of the page. Every political committee registered in Glendale must periodically file finance reports with the City Clerk’s office and all filings are public records.

As of January 1, 2016 Sammy had $16,671.14 cash on hand. $16, 250.00 of that total came from 3 sources:

UFCW99 (United Food Workers)         12/23/2015        $6250.00   maximum amount allowed

Arizona Pipe Trades 469                        12/28/2015        $5000.00

Mark Becker (Becker Billboards)         12/04/15             $5000.00

During the same span of time ( approximately 4 years) Sammy received contributions from a total of 12 Glendale residents. Only 2  contributions came from anyone in the Yucca district. That’s it. Make no mistake he received a lot of money from special interests…the unions, political consultants, attorneys, etc. But the support he received from people in the district he purports to represent has been virtually non existent.

Two of the contributions Sammy received (non-Glendale residents) were note worthy: Jacob Long (of the Long Trust) contributed $930. You might remember that the Long Trust successfully gained very recent city council approval for a Long Trust project, Stonehaven, within the Yucca district. Stonehaven is  a 1,161 home residential development with 43% of the lot sizes at 5, 500 square feet.  Yucca district residents from adjacent neighborhoods had asked the city council to table the project to allow for further opportunity to dialogue about the 5,500 square foot lots. Such an opportunity was not granted. During the city council meeting after Stonehaven’s approval Sammy extolled the virtues of this residential project. Hmmm…

The other interesting contribution is from Sammy’s buddy, Ruben Gallego, for $300. This just happens to be the same Ruben Gallego Sammy went to D.C. to see sworn in…on the taxpayers’ dime. Hmmm….I’m not an expert in campaign finance but it might have been possible that Sammy could have used some of the $16,000 in his campaign account for this trip as it seems there was clearly a political agenda for his trip. Or perhaps he could use some of this money to reimburse the city.

In contrast I have been accepting campaign contributions for a scant 2 months, since March 10, 2016.

thermometer w new numbers Ap 20 2016

$6000 raised…on our way to the goal of $20,000

In that brief span of time I have received 38 contributions totaling a little over $6,000;  29 of those contributions came from residents of Glendale and what is even more gratifying is that out of those 29 Glendale residents, 20 of them are Yucca district residents. My support is coming from residents of the Yucca district. They urged me to run and now they are contributing to my campaign.

Could the simple difference in Sammy’s and my sources of campaign funding be that I have a connection with the people of the Yucca district and had, over the years, represented them…their concerns on issues…solved their problems with local government…and gave them their voice with the city. If you wish to know who Sammy represents, just check out his campaign reports and look for the biggest donors.

© 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.

May 16

7

Buddies

Posted by Joyce Clark on May 7, 2016
Posted in City issue and actions • City of Glendale • Glendale elected officials  | Tagged With: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

It has been 18 years and 141 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

By May 4, 2016 I had turned in my nominating petitions with far more validated voter signatures than required. It didn’t take long for the opposition to ask for copies of my petitions. I received this email from the City Clerk on May 6, 2016: “I am sending this information to you as part of our neutrality and transparency with candidates.  Mr. Allan Lira requested copies of your nomination petitions.”

This is nothing new. Almost every candidate will ask for copies of his/her opponent’s nominating petitions in the hope that they can prove that there are not enough valid signatures. If successful they can get rid of a potential opponent without ever having to run against him or her. Only occasionally does it prove successful. I’m afraid Mr. Lira won’t have any luck for we validated nearly 700 registered voter signatures before the petitions were submitted to the City Clerk.

We wondered who Mr. Lira is and why would he be asking for copies of my petitions. One of our group found this. Mr. Allan Lira is on Linked In and here is the information he provides:

Allan Lira                                                                                                                       Data analyst at Gallego for Phoenix                                                                    Location: Glendale, Arizona        Industry: Political Organization

  1. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99
  2. Gallego for Arizona
  3. Marquez for Arizona

His listed previous work experience:

Organizer

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99

November 2014 – January 2015 (3 months)

Data Analyst/Team Lead

Gallego for Arizona

September 2014 – November 2014 (3 months)

Campaign Manager

Marquez for Arizona

January 2014 – August 2014 (8 months)

Data Analyst/Field Organizer

Gallego for Phoenix

June 2013 – November 2013 (6 months)

It appears that Mr. Lira currently works for Ruben Gallego as a data analyst at Gallego for Phoenix.  Ruben Gallego assumed office as Arizona’s 7th district U.S. Representative on January 3, 2015.

Thanks to the Arizona Republic we are all keenly aware of Sammy Chavira’s travel on your dime—taxpayer money. One of those infamous trips was for $2,075 to go back to Washington, D.C. to see his good buddy…wait for it… Rueben Gallego sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives.

Arizona Republic March 4, 2016

Arizona Republic
March 4, 2016

 

It’s interesting to see how the links within Sammy’s web interconnect. Sammy spent your money to see Gallego sworn in. Sammy’s questionable travel expenses were exposed by the Arizona Republic and include the Gallego trip. Here is the link to Paul Giblin’s front page story of March 4, 2016 about Sammy’s travel: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale/2016/03/04/glendale-councilman-sammy-chavira-charges-24k-trips-3-years-taxpayers/78857734/ .

Sammy is now getting assistance from the very same good buddy, Gallego, in his current run for the Yucca district city council position. Could it be because Sammy is in trouble, politically…and his friend Ruben Gallego is trying to save him?

Special interests have a long history of influencing political outcomes. Union influence is one of those long standing components. The fire union, for years, has been able to manipulate election outcomes in urban areas, notably Phoenix, Glendale and several other cities in the Metro Valley. Do you believe the Food Workers Union should join the fire union in determining your councilmembers in Glendale? Across this country voters in droves are rejecting candidates under the influence of big donor, special interest money. Perhaps Glendale voters will do the same.

Just something for the voters of the Yucca district to consider…

 

© 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.

May 16

6

E is for Environment, Part V

Posted by Joyce Clark on May 6, 2016
Posted in City issue and actions • City of Glendale • Glendale finances  | Tagged With: , , , | 1 Comment

It has been 18 years and 140 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

The final E of my vision for Glendale and campaign platform is the Environment. We must implement responsible city growth. The city’s delivery of its essential, core services of public safety, water, sewer and sanitation are our first priority. Yet we cannot afford to ignore maintenance of the city’s visible assets: its streets, its city right-of-way landscaping, its parks and its major buildings.

  • I pledge to work with city council to ensure that comprehensive laws and adequate resources are adopted and used for responsible growth of our core service delivery
  • I pledge to work with city council to ensure necessary funding is identified to preserve and improve our streets, roads and other city infrastructure
  • I pledge to challenge the city’s senior management in its recommendations to ensure that city resources are used to meet its highest priority needs
  • I pledge to ensure that city resources are placed where the needs are the greatest in terms of service delivery to our residents

Too often, especially during the crafting of the city’s annual budget, senior management makes recommendations that grow government rather than meeting essential needs of our citizens. Local government must be lean and technologically adept to deliver the flexibility needed as new challenges arise. It is not always a question of adding employees but rather the adoption of new and innovative strategies to meet those challenges. As the city grows new employees delivering our essential, core services must be added to meet that new growth. As technology continues to evolve non-prioritized services will be able to meet their goals not by employee growth but by smarter, more efficient ways of doing business and by the use of continual employee training in new technologies. There is room for both strategies and it is critical to balance both.

© 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.

May 16

4

It’s official

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

It has been 18 years and 138 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

Signatures thermometer 2It’s official. I am now a candidate for the Yucca district city council position. On Wednesday, May 4, 2016 I turned in my nominating petition signatures to the Glendale City Clerk. Having verified the signatures we know that there are far more “good” signatures than are required.  From March 10, 2016 to April 30, 2016, in 8 weeks, we collected all the signatures needed.

The City Clerk and staff did an excellent job. They were very professional. I had paperwork to fill out which was then notarized. The staff counted signatures and verified that my petitions were correct as to form on the front and the back. I actually turned in more than the maximum number of signatures allowed (927). So at the end of the 927th signature a red line was drawn to indicate the maximum number had been turned in.

We personally verified signatures to make sure we had enough registered voter

City Clerk Pam Hanna and Yucca district city council candidate Joyce Clark

City Clerk Pam Hanna and Yucca district city council candidate Joyce Clark

signatures and know that out of the 927+ signatures submitted, 682 were verified as “good,” signed by registered voters.

By now the entire city council has been informed that I have turned in my paperwork. That is standard operating procedure. If and when Sammy turns his nominating petitions the City Clerk will notify me.

There are so many people to thank. My apology if I have not included your name. The list is long. People included, but were not limited to, Tom Traw, Norma Alvarez, Michael Hernandez, Sue Komernicky, Michael Socaciu, Monica Toby, John Fernandes, to name a few, and of course, my family – and many others. All walked faithfully and for that I am very grateful. I walked and secured many of the signatures personally so that I could talk to the voters

Many volunteers met no registered voters who said that Sammy or his representatives had been by to solicit signatures. Only twice did any of my volunteers meet a voter who indicated that someone from Sammy’s camp had been by. Well, not really Sammy’s camp. People have been circulating petitions for several state legislative candidates as well as Glendale mayoral candidate Burdick and Sammy. It appears that Sammy will rely on mayoral candidate Burdick and the fire union to obtain his petition signatures. Could it be that Sammy can’t be bothered with something as mundane as getting some of his own petition signatures?  Out of the over 900 voters we contacted, only 2 said the opposition had been by.

Sammy has truly become the Invisible Man. No one knows who Sammy is. When I revealed to petition signers that he was their councilmember and asked if they had read a news story about his travel expenses, some said they had and others expressed surprise that he was actually their councilmember. They were angry to read of his wasteful travel expenses paid by them as taxpayers and usually shared an earful with me.

Sammy has a problem. He has only been responsive to the big donors to his previous campaign. Some told me that they scheduled time to meet with Sammy, only to have him cancel their meeting, never to be rescheduled.

Sammy had only one district meeting during his term and that was in early 2013. Since then he has been neither seen nor heard. He’s lazy and relies upon council staff to produce his weekly Friday e-newsletter.

Sammy missed a record number of 12 council workshops or voting meetings during his term. There were other council meetings when he participated telephonically or arrived late. He even arrived late for the most recent council budget workshop of May 3, 2016.

What was gratifying to me was that many knew who I was and expressed their gratitude that I was running again and volunteered that they would be voting for me. Some offered to help in any way that they could.

There is an avalanche of change approaching and Sammy is directly in its path. Sammy has no one to blame for his poor performance and invisibility but himself. He squandered his voter-granted opportunity to serve the people of the Yucca district. Instead Sammy has only served Sammy and his agenda. He has not earned the privilege of continued service as a councilmember in the City of Glendale.

Since there are only 2 candidates for the Yucca city council seat the winner will be decided in the Glendale Primary Election. That is why it is so critical that you send in your Early Ballot or take the time to vote.  I ask for your vote at the Primary Election on August 30, 2016. You have a dramatic choice between a man who has failed to serve the people of his district and has been invisible and me, with a proven track record of availability and service to my district.

Please vote for Joyce Clark on August 30, 2016.

© 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.

May 16

3

Glendale council budget workshop, May 3 2016

Posted by Joyce Clark on May 3, 2016
Posted in City Council Actions • City issue and actions • City of Glendale • Glendale elected officials • Glendale finances • Heroes Park • O'Neil Pool • University of Phoenix Stadium • West Branch Library  | Tagged With: , , , , , | 2 Comments

It has been 18 years and 137 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

On May 3, 2016 city council had another budget meeting. I am always surprised about councilmembers’ lack of in-depth questioning of senior staff about specific budget items. To be fair, Councilmembers Turner, Tolmachoff and Aldama are asking questions but are they the right ones? Just one would be to ask senior staff to justify the hiring of new employees (Full Time Employee, FTEs) being requested in the proposed budget. Specifically adding employees to the city’s core services, public safety, water, sewer and sanitation is a no-brainer and should be approved for they comprise essential city services. However, adding employees to non-essential services should have been thoroughly vetted by council.

I have a lot of questions about the proposed budget but without serving on city council it becomes an exercise in futility for the average Glendale citizen to get any meaningful answers. Instead I offer some observations about the May 3rd session.

Senior staff recommended that three council identified requests go back to the

O'Neil Pool abandoned

O’Neil Pool abandoned

appropriate citizen board or commission with yet another subsequent city council workshop. An increase in library hours will go back to the Library Advisory Board. When library hours were cut it was just announced by the city as a cost saving measure and no citizen input was sought. The repair/replacement or even necessity for the O’Neil Pool will go back to the Parks and Recreation Commission. When the pool was closed due to leaks it was simply announced by the city and no citizen input was sought. Heroes Park is scheduled to receive a $50,000 reevaluation of its Master Plan and it will go to the Parks and Recreation Commission. The city never

Southwest Heroes Park

Southwest Heroes Park

announced its inattention to Heroes Park, it simply ignored it for 18 years. I can tell you what the result of this $50,000 study will be: citizens will say overwhelmingly complete the darn park; build the ball fields, the dog park, the urban fishing lake, a permanent branch library building and an aquatics and recreation center. It appears that city is betting through this wasteful study that citizens will be willing to settle for less in this park.

What is more troublesome is that when senior staff deems something to be a priority, it is accomplished…quickly…and money is no object. Take the need to meet the parking requirements for the football stadium. Senior staff was able to identify the necessary debt capacity of $32 million dollars, purchased the necessary land for $22 million and has already begun construction on the actual parking lots for another $10 million. The entire project will be completed in less than a year.

When it is not a senior staff priority the issue gets punted…er, delayed. Hence the maneuver to send back to citizen boards and commissions the very projects that enhance the quality of life for citizens in our community…extended library hours, reopening of O’Neil Pool and completion of Heroes Park with a definitive timeline. It appears as if it’s not a senior staff priority…you can forget it for a long time.

It’s time for city council to stamp its feet, have a hissy fit and insist that these projects get the attention they deserve…long overdue.

© 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.

May 16

2

E is for Engagement, Part III

Posted by Joyce Clark on May 2, 2016
Posted in City issue and actions • City of Glendale  | Tagged With: , , | 4 Comments

It has been 18 years and 136 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.

Our world is changing rapidly. We live in an age when social media is vital to ensure th6XB820H7that all of Glendale’s residents’ voices are sought and heard. You, who live within our community, are eager share how best to build an even stronger Glendale and Yucca district.

It is no longer “enough” for the City of Glendale to hold public meetings, often sparsely attended. People are just too busy living their lives to make a commitment to attend. However, I believe there is still a place for them in communicating with the people of the Yucca district through twice yearly district meetings.

It is time to use social media and all of its potential. More and more of us use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. and mobile platforms such as tablets and smart phones. These conduits have the capability to get information out instantly to large groups of Yucca and Glendale residents.

There is yet another use for social media that has been generally ignored by the city to date. Too often, the city announces decisions without the benefit of socialth7NYL9EW7 media’s use to engage residents in its decision making process. I’m not referring to big decisions such as the update and adoption of Glendale’s next City Plan for that is an issue where city solicitation of residents’ opinions is robust but rather relatively smaller issues where social media could be a valuable tool.

  • I pledge to advocate for city use of on online surveys and polls on city and district issues.
  • I pledge to resume hosting of regular district meetings, at a central location within the district.
  • I pledge to provide the opportunity at district meetings to express your concerns on issues important to you and to offer you the opportunity to submit complaints with regard to the performance of city services.
  • I pledge to resume the issuance of Yucca district newsletters mailed to every home.
  • I pledge to be accessible by use of the phone, the internet, other social media or in person.
  • I pledge to use social media to not only explain my point of view on issues but more importantly, to give you a venue where you know your opinion will be heard and valued. Be assured that I will listen and I have been known to change my position on an issue as a result of listening to Yucca residents.

A councilmember’s duty is to reach out to district residents. Reaching out to district residents has always been my priority and was practiced during my previous service to you. From time to time you may have a complaint about the level of service you receive from the city. It will remain my responsibility to advocate for you and to work to get your complaint resolved.

© 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.

Apr 16

29

If firemen support a candidate, run

Posted by Joyce Clark on April 29, 2016
Posted in City issue and actions • City of Glendale • Glendale finances  | Tagged With: , , , , , , , | No Comments yet, please leave one

In the latest edition of the Glendale Star there is a Letter to the Editor by Bobby Gonzalo. Here is the link: http://www.glendalestar.com/opinion/article_f1487ca8-0bbc-11e6-af6a-8bae75c29b1e.html

Since many of you do not get the Star I am offering the letter to you in its entirety.

If firemen support a candidate, run

“The fire department seems to spend a lot of money on candidates every election, but look at the results.

Gary Sherwood was heavily supported by the firemen and look what a catastrophe, as he was recalled. Sam Chavira is a fireman and what has he done except create chaos and spend money as if it were monopoly money. City Manager Brenda Fischer, whose husband is some sort of fireman in Las Vegas, caused a divide in the council and disrupted the city, and who supported her, Chief Mark Burdick, the rest of the fire department, Chavira and, of course, the man that interviewed her before the process even started, Sherwood.

“I talked to a fireman before Sherwood was recalled and his comment was that we need to keep him because he is for supporting and giving money to the fire department. So, they want to give money to themselves, but the heck with our roads, the heck with our recreation programs, the heck with our libraries.

“Don’t support their candidates unless you are absolutely sure they want to help everyone. It is like three people being in a desert with a little water; you need to dole it out proportionately so that everyone survives. Don’t vote for Burdick or Chavira. They are not good for Glendale. Vote for Jerry Weiers and Joyce Clark. They are here to help everyone, not just a select few.”

Bob Gonzalo

 

Apr 16

28

E is for the Economy, Part II

Posted by Joyce Clark on April 28, 2016
Posted in City issue and actions • City of Glendale • Glendale finances  | Tagged With: , , , , | 2 Comments

The second piece of my platform in my run for the Yucca city council district seat is the Bag of Money ClipartEconomy. Glendale is just beginning its climb out of the Great Recession. Westgate and the surrounding area will continue to add new development that has already been approved by previous city councils. The next great economic frontier is west Glendale past the Loop 101 out to the Loop 303 and beyond to Sarival Road. Glendale’s future opportunities include building a diversified economy and providing good jobs for our residents. How can we achieve such goals?

  • I am committed to ensuring that Glendale’s local economy is vibrant and diverse to ensure that our city budget continues to become healthier and that well-paying jobs are created for Glendale’s residents.
  • I am committed to ensuring that Glendale’s planning and approval process for new business development is continually updated and made faster and more efficient through the latest technology available
  • I am committed to strengthening our partnerships with existent businesses by ensuring that Glendale’s business development department is constantly seeking new ways of assisting them and solving their needs
  • I am committed to making sure that Glendale’s business climate is diverse. For years Glendale has struggled to identify a business cluster to develop. That has not occurred and may be an opportunity in the years to come. In the meantime we must create new policies that attract all sorts of business to locate in Glendale

Without continual economic growth Glendale will not maintain its ability to keep its infrastructure in good repair nor will it be able to add amenities necessary for our residents’ quality of life. These elements go hand in hand with building an attractive economy. Businesses that look to locate in Glendale look for a well maintained city with amenities that are attractive to its employees.

© Joyce Clark, 2016

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Apr 16

26

Uh Oh, Sammy

Posted by Joyce Clark on April 26, 2016
Posted in City of Glendale • Glendale elected officials  | Tagged With: , , , , | 2 Comments

This morning in checking the latest edition of the Glendale Star I noted a story that Sammy Chavira had received a speeding ticket in Glendale. That, however, it not what caught my attention. Rather it was that Sammy failed to appear for his court date resulting in additional fines and a suspension of his driver’s license and vehicle registration. Here is the link to the online story: http://www.glendalestar.com/news/article_396a5ba0-0bbd-11e6-aeb2-e79ffa40b720.html

It seems as if Sammy Chavira and recalled councilmember Gary Sherwood are brothers under the skin. Gary Sherwood was recalled after it was discovered that he had received at least one speeding ticket, allegedly continued to drive while under suspension (criminal offense) and he failed to appear in court. Subsequently a warrant for his arrest was issued for his Failure to Appear. That wasn’t the only reason for his recall. There were others such as his lack of representation of his constituency on the Becker Billboard issue, etc.

Sammy is apparently following in his buddy’s footsteps. Here are the facts as publicly available from court records:

  • Chavira w car 2On Sunday, March 13, 2016 Sammy received a speeding ticket (civil traffic citation) in Glendale. Apparently he was in a minor traffic accident. A Glendale officer was called to the scene and the officer determined that the cause of the accident was due to Sammy’s “speed too fast to avoid collision.”
  • His date to appear in Glendale City Court was Wednesday, April 13, 2016.  According to the court record he failed to appear. Since Sammy’s citation was civil, no arrest warrant would be issued for his failure to appear in court.
  • His case was turned over to the court’s collection agency, FARE, and fines were imposed and started to mount.
  • The court also sent a notice to ADOT and a letter to Sammy suspending his driver’s license and vehicle registration. The vehicle is not registered to Sammy although he has been driving it for quite some time.
  • On Monday, April 25, 2016, Sammy apparently received his letter from the court and paid his fines, now at $408.

In the spirit of full disclosure I had two speeding tickets issued to me in Glendale…one was 20 years ago and the other 15 years ago. I paid my fine and attended the one day of traffic school in each case and I was done. No points on my license, a painful fine and an even more painful day in traffic school.

Sammy could have done the very same. Does Sammy think that the law doesn’t apply to him? First is his issue of his nearly $25,000 in questionable travel expenses and now a Failure to Appear for his court date.

A pattern demonstrating Sammy’s less than ethical behavior has emerged. First in the pattern is his apparent abuse of taxpayer money in his councilmember discretionary accounts. He used taxpayer dollars to go to Washington, D.C. to see the Pope and on another trip to D.C. to see a friend sworn in to Congress. Yet city policy, as lax as it is, requires that substantial, official city business be conducted.

This time he received a civil traffic ticket and failed to appear for his court hearing. Sammy’s response to being queried by the Glendale Star is typical Sammy when he responds with, “A glitch, I’m all good.” I don’t know about you but when I received my speeding tickets 20 years ago, I was a nervous wreck. I didn’t consider it a “glitch.” I couldn’t pay my fine and go to driving school fast enough.

Sammy also questioned why his ticket would be a news story. He still doesn’t get it. Elected officials, the visible leaders of our community and the highest representatives of Glendale, are and should be, held to a higher standard. Their decisions and behavior should be beyond reproach and should be examples of ethics and morals to emulate.

Sammy’s unethical behavior coupled with the urging of many people disgusted with his inaccessibility and lack of responsiveness as a councilmember were prime motivators for my decision to run for the Yucca district city council position. I can, and will, restore honesty and integrity to the position. No more voting for large campaign contributors’ issues. No more flip-flopping on campaign promises. No more following a personal agenda. No more looking to see what’s in it for me. No more repeated absences from council meetings. No more invisible councilmember. No more personal trips using taxpayer money and then claiming city business.

In other words, NO MORE SAMMY.

Below is the actual court record, a public document obtained from the online Arizona supreme court website:

         
Case Number: M-0747-TR-2016006290  
Title: ST OF AZ VS CHAVIRA SAMUEL UL Category: Traffic
Court: Glendale Municipal Filing Date: 3/15/2016
Judge: J BAXTER Disposition Date: 4/20/2016 
       
Citation Count Description Disp. Date Disposition
C00000000905382 1 SPEED GREATER THAN REASONABLE AND PRUDENT 4/20/2016 FAILURE TO APPEAR
Date Description Party
4/21/2016 FARE: COLLECTION LTR TYPE 1 D 1
4/20/2016 FUND: 2012 SURCHARGES (83%) D 1
4/20/2016 FUND: VICTIM RIGHTS ENF ASSMNT D 1
4/20/2016 FUND: COURT IMPROV-BASE D 1
4/20/2016 FUND: DEFAULT FEE $45 031602 D 1
4/20/2016 FUND: 2011 ADDTNL ASSESSMENT D 1
4/20/2016 SUSPENSION LETTER SENT D 1
4/20/2016 FUND: FARE DELINQUENCY FEE D 1
4/20/2016 FUND:PROBATION ASSESSMENT D 1
4/20/2016 FUND: FARE FEE SPEC COLL D 1
4/20/2016 FUND: TIME PYMT $20 JCEF D 1
4/20/2016 FUND: CRT IMPROVE SURCH 83% D 1
4/20/2016 FUND: BASE FINE D 1
4/20/2016 INFO: ASSIGNED TO FARE D 1
4/13/2016 CAL: ARRAIGNMENT-CIVIL TRAFFIC
3/15/2016 COMPLAINT FILED-UNIFORM CITATN D 1

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