E-Newsletter of the Green Party of Maricopa County, AZ, USA

   Issue # 3.  2006 March 1.

   El boletín electrónico del Partido Verde del Condado Maricopa, Arizona, EEUU.  Si usted no lee inglés, podemos ponerle en contacto con alguien que habla español.  Por favor, escríbanos por correo electrónico o puede buscar gratis una traducción aproximada en el Internet, por exemplo, en www.freetranslation.com.
 
   If you can't see the large color headlines with your Internet connection, you might want to read this newsletter at www.maricopagreens.org.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Events and other notices.
Letter to the editor.
Articles:
   1.  Our 2 Green Party candidates:  Saif Al-Alawi for the Arizona legislature; Tom Doran for school board.
   2.  Bill for ranked ballots in local elections is introduced into the Arizona House.
   3.  Air America Radio keeps 1010 AM frequency.
   4.  Tempe city council candidates answer questions.
   5.  New Green Party officials.
   6.  Humor!  (Dick Cheney and Bush II, of course, and others!)
   7.  Citizens' assembly for Arizona?
   8.  "Bond issues are a scam"  (Opinion).
   9.  Cars and sprawl.
   10.  More slogans for stickers, badges, etc.
   11.  Green leaves (short items from here and there)
Articles for future issues.
Masthead:  publication identity, address, owners, etc.
 
End of TABLE OF CONTENTS.

 Events and other notices
2006 March:
 
   March 3, Friday.  Last day for early ballot requests for March 14 election.*
 
   March 3, Friday, 6 - 11 p.m.  First Friday Art Walk, central Phoenix, AZ.  (First Friday of each month.)  The Green Party usually has a table in the parking lot just west of Modified Arts, 407 East Roosevelt Street, from about 6 to 10 p.m.
   Free shuttle bus all around central Phoenix to participating art galleries, etc., such as the Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 North Central Ave.  Free admission to most galleries.  www.cenpho.com/journal/2005/11/5/first-fridays-art-walk.html.
 
   March 4, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Time for some Fun!  Peace and Justice Benefit Concert.  Charlie King and Karen Brandow, America’s leading political folksingers and satirists, perform.  At Community Christian Church, 1701 South College Avenue, Tempe, AZ  (s.e. corner of Encanto Drive).  $15 in advance; $18 at the door; children under 12 free.  $2 of each ticket sold (and mentioning this announcement) will go to the Arizona Green Party!
   Buy tickets at:
1.  AIPER, 2510 South Rural Road, Tempe, AZ; 480-967-3880.
2.  Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 South McClintock Drive, Tempe.
3.  AAPJ:  www.azpeace.org, 480-894-2024 or 480-829-5746.
 
   March 14, Tuesday.  Primary election in Maricopa County.*
 
   March 15, Wednesday.  Usual due date for articles for the April 1 issue of this e-newsletter.  Late submissions are welcome, but might be used instead in a subsequent issue.
 
   (Unconfirmed) March 18, Saturday.  7 p.m. refreshments; 7:30 p.m. show.  "Three Years of War"  free film/video showing.  A discussion will follow.  At Arizona Institute for Peace Education & Research (AIPER), 2510 South Rural Road, Suite 102, Tempe, AZ  85282; telephone 480-967-3880,  www.azpeace.org  www.aiper.org.  Donations appreciated.
 
   March 23 and 24, Thursday and Friday.  Prescott, AZ.  Green to Gold Conference:  Sustainable Cities, Healthy Local Economies, 220 Grove Avenue.  Jan Bryan, 928-771-0052, or Mary Lin 928-350-4503. green2gold@prescott.edu.  Missions:  1.  A forum for cities and their citizens to learn and share for transition to sustainable cities.  2. Creating “Sustainable Cities Task Forces” in home communities.  Randy Hayes speaks:  “A Green City Plan to Save the World”.  $60 / day or $100 / 2 days.  Student $25. www.prescott.edu.  Accommodations.  Work-study & other scholarships.
 
   March 26, Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.  Our Meet the Candidates event in South Mountain Park, south Phoenix.  Potluck picnic, too!  Invite everyone to meet our Green candidates Saif Al-Alawi and Tom Doran.  See also Article # 1 below.  This event is instead of our regular monthly meeting.  We would appreciate hearing ahead if you will attend or not!
   Notices will be e-sent with the location inside the park.  Or call the Arizona Green Party (AZGP) voicemail-hotline: (602) 417-0213 or read update in  www.maricopagreens.org.
 
Recurring events (more often than monthly) followed by April events:
 
   Sundays, 4 - 5 a.m.  EcoTalk with Betsy Rosenberg, on Air America Radio, 1010 AM KXXT.  This program was launched on Earth Day, 1997, (originally as Trash Talk).  Call in telephone 866-303-2270.  See also Article # 3 about Air America Radio.  www.1010kxxt.com/ECO.php?sid=14
 
   Mondays, 5 - 6 p.m.  Peace Vigil outside on the corner at 740 South Mill Avenue (n.w. corner of West University Drive), Tempe, AZ.  Free.
 
   Every second Saturday:  March 11, 25; April 8, 22; May 6, 20, etc., 10 a.m. to noon.  Grandma's for Peace protest, West Bell Road and 99th Avenue, Phoenix.  www.codepinkphx.org/local_groups.html
www.grandmothersforpeace.org/directory/
 
   Saturdays, 5 - 6 p.m.  Cold Turkey on television Channel 51, i Network (formerly Pax).  Re-runs of this great self-help, reality show with a huge difference:  no one can get "kicked off the island."  Instead, they are usually supportive of each other.  The 10 volunteers try to quit smoking.  www.ionline.tv/shows/coldturkey/.
 
   Saturdays, 10:25~ to 11 p.m.  The Red Green Show on television Channel 8, PBS.  Many women can barely tolerate this comedy show, so maybe it's more for guys who want to laugh at their own machismo and foibles.  From Canada.
 
   Saturdays, 11 p.m.  Eyes of Nye on television Channel 8, PBS.  Hosted by Bill Nye, the Science Guy.  Consistently pro-environment science show.  Appeals to all ages.  Funny.  It is on so late possibly because PBS is more and more controlled by anti-science Republicans.
 
2006 April and later:
 
   April 17, Monday.  Last day to register to vote in May 16 election.*
 
   May 5, Friday.  Last day for early ballot requests for May 16 election.*
 
   Tentatively May 13 & 14, Saturday & Sunday.  Prescott, AZ.  General meeting of the Green Party of Arizona.
 
   May 16, Tuesday.  Election in Maricopa County.  Run-offs, bonds, etc.  See also articles # 1, 4, and 8. *
 
   July 26-30, Wednesday to Sunday.  Tucson, AZ.  National convention of the Green Party of the USA hosted by the Pima County Green Party.  www.pimagreens.org/gpusanm/index.html
 
   (Unconfirmed) November 7, Tuesday.  General election.  See also articles # 1, 4, and 8. *
 
   * For election details, see the Maricopa County Recorder http://recorder.maricopa.gov/electioncalendar.aspx .  For candidate and proposition information, please see the Arizona Secretary of State's website at www.sosaz.gov.
-- www.lwvaz.org/calendar.htm
 
Other notices:
 
   Campus Greens.  Active at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona.  If you are member of any other scholastic community, you may start a chapter.   www.azgp.org.  For ASU:  www.asugreens.org.
 
   Pima County Greens.  Includes city of Tucson, AZ.  You may read or e-subscribe to our sister e-newsletter there, no matter where you live:  http://pimagreens.org/getinvolved.htm.

    9/11 Truth.  Regular meetings in Phoenix and Mesa about what really happened 2001 September 11.  www.911Truthaz.org.  Telephone 602-246-4299.
 
   AZ One Voice, a new free local monthly newsletter on paper.  Available at AIPER, or call 623-583-7070, or fax 623-583-7077.  PO Box 1959, Sun City, AZ  85372-1959 azonevoice@earthlink.net.
 
End of Events and other notices.
 
Letter to the editor
    [Concerning her visits to Arizona and her invitation to protest executions in Indiana, etc.]
      February 25, 2006
To the members of the Maricopa County Green Party,
   Greetings from Indiana!!
   Here's hoping everything is going well with all of you . . . . This is Sarah Dillon, organizer of the Vigo County (Indiana) Green Party [VCGP].  I came to the January Maricopa County Green Party [MCGP] meeting in Scottsdale.
   . . . I have found your meeting very helpful in the process of organizing the . . . VCGP, and sent some of the ideas to several of the Indiana Green Party (IGP) email lists . . . .
   I've also done some follow-up with the local city council.  In November 2005, I submitted to them and several other government entities [Area Planning Commission, County Commissioners, County Council, and County School Board] a petition [to have] their meetings broadcast on public access.  . . . What I got from the follow-up was, not surprisingly, [that] none of the entities sent the petition to the local cable company!! . . .
   And there's a whole lot happening out here, especially helping Bill Stant get on the ballot here . . . for Indiana Secretary of State.  He was nominated by the IGP annual Congress last year.
   In any case, hope everything is going well with everyone and hope to hear from you soon.  Hopefully, I may--if funds allow--come to the Green Party of the United States meeting in Tucson [this July] . . . .
   I mentioned this to the MCGP, but here in Vigo County / Terre Haute is the federal death row.  There are . . . 3 executions starting the week of May 7 of this year.  If anyone wants to come to . . . any [protest] events going on . . . , please let me know.  As far as I know, there are plans by some of the national anti-death penalty groups to have events here . . . that week.
      Take care, Sarah E Dillon cjester2@juno.com
      Organizer, Vigo County Green Party (Indiana)
 
End of Letter to editor.
 
Articles
Article # 1:   Our  2  Green  Party   candidates
Saif Al-Alawi for the Arizona legislature
 
   Saif Al-Alawi of the Green Party plans to run for the State Senate against Jack Harper or the State House of Representatives against a Republican incumbent.
   Saif (pronounced "safe") says, "When I get my paperwork finished, it will be time to collect signatures."  That is when we Greens can help.  E-write to "Saif Al-Alawi" <saifel-deen.al-alawi@asu.edu>.
   The deadline is June 14 for collecting signatures.
 
Tom Doran for school board
 
  The Green Party's Tom Doran is a candidate for the Riverside Elementary School Board.  That district is mostly between Van Buren Street on the north and the Salt River on the south, 39th Avenue on the east and 67th Avenue on west.   We can help him collect signatures starting in March.
   Write to Tom Doran <tdoranaz@hotmail.com>.
   He's also looking to run for the SRP Water District in 2008.
 
End of article # 1.
 
Article # 2:  Bill for ranked ballots in local elections is introduced into the Arizona House
 
   A state bill to allow Arizona cities and counties, if they choose, to use ranked ballots for instant run-off (IRV) or for proportional representation (pro-rep) was introduced into the Arizona House of Representatives.
   The 15 sponsors (with Arizona House district numbers) are representatives Amanda Aguirre (24), Manny Alvarez (25), Meg Burton Cahill (17), Steve Gallardo (13), Martha Garcia (13), Ann Kirkpatrick (2), Leah Landrum Taylor (16), Phil Lopes (27), Linda Lopez (29), David Lujan (15), Debbie McCune Davis (14), Robert Meza (14), Tom Prezelski (29), Pete Rios (23), Kyrsten Sinema (15), and Albert Tom (2).  All are Democrats.
   It is officially "HB 2734 Ranked Choice Voting".
   An insider says the bill probably will not get a hearing this session because it has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee--and Eddie Farnsworth will not hear it.  It is expected to be re-introduced in the next session (maybe 2007 January).
   I helped revise the bill's wording and plan to continue to suggest improvements.  -- Korky Day.
 
End of article # 2.
 
Article # 3:  Air America Radio keeps 1010 AM frequency
 
   Air America Radio said that they were going to leave their frequency, 1010 AM, on February 1, but they're still on when I last checked.  I haven't heard any explanation, not even at www.airamericaradio.com/stations.  (See also Article # 3 in issue # 1, January.)
   The on-air telephone numbers to call most of their local shows are (locally) 602-230-8255 and (toll-free) 888-294-4321 .  Their off-air recorded comment line is 602-234-1519.
 
End of article # 3.
 
Article # 4:  Tempe city council candidates answer questions
 
   We sent this questionnaire to the 5 candidates for city council in Tempe.  Three will be elected.
   So far, Corey Woods and Leonard Copple have answered, as shown below.
   No candidates are declared Greens.  The election is officially non-partisan, which means the candidates may not state on the ballot their party affiliation.
   In Arizona cities and counties, we usually have n on-partisan elections.  Such a system favors Republicans, writes Marjorie Randon Hershey in her book Party Politics in America, 2005, ISBN 0-321-20226-0, page 34.  It's a mainstream textbook at ASU.
   If you live in Tempe, you could encourage the others, also, to answer the questions.
   If you live in another city, you could send a version of the letter to your local candidates!  Their e-addresses are probably at your city government Web sites.  If you do, please tell us and send us the results.
   For further information about the Tempe election, see www.tempe.gov/clerk/ELXintro.htm.
 
LETTER TO TEMPE, AZ, CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL
   P. Ben Arredondo - www.BenArredondo.com
   Leonard Copple - www.LenCopple.com
lencop@mindspring.com.  See his answers below.
   Shana Ellis - www.ShanaEllis.com
   Onnie Shekerjian - www.ElectOnnie.com
onnie@electonnie.com  480-831-2733.
   Corey Woods - www.WoodsForTempe.com
corey@woodsfortempe.com (480) 217-7530.  See his answers below.
 
Dear candidate,
   I edit the E-Newsletter of the Green Party of Maricopa County.
   The Green Party's 10 Key Values are
1.  Ecological wisdom.
2.  Social justice.
3.  Grassroots democracy.
4.  Nonviolence.
5.  Decentralization.
6.  Community-based economics.
7.  Feminism.
8.  Respect for diversity.
9.  Personal and global responsibility.
10.  Future focus / sustainability.
 
   Would you please answer the questions below for my readers, if you haven't already on your Web publication?  Your specific commitments and your reasoning will be particularly appreciated.
   If you leave some questions unanswered, I'll check before we distribute the news to see if you answer on your Web publication.  However, of course I realize that a campaign such as yours might not be able to answer every single question.
   Unfortunately, very few candidates include many of these kinds of answers in their campaigns, such as in their literature and Internet publications.
 
   If elected, would you try to:
   1.  Improve the electoral process, such as with proportional representation, if possible under Arizona law, and with other reforms?
   Woods:  Yes.  I believe in Clean Elections, and would encourage more public funding of elections to get big money out of government.
   Copple:  YES.
   2.  Improve the basic structure of government?
   Woods:  Yes.  Copple:  YES
   3.  Reduce poverty and homelessness?
   Woods:  Yes.  Copple:  YES
   4.  Increase public safety?  Woods:  Yes.  Copple:  YES
   5.  Decrease crime and reform criminals?
   Woods:  Yes.  Copple:  YES
   6.  Improve public health?  Woods:  Yes.  Copple:  YES
   7.  Guarantee male-female equal rights?
   Woods:  Yes.  Copple:  YES
   8.  Improve abortion rights and funding?
   Woods:  I support abortion rights, but I would also like to support education and programs that help to reduce the number of abortions.
   Copple:  I DON'T KNOW ABOUT FUNDING
   9.  Improve worker and labour union rights?
   Woods:  Yes.  Copple:  YES
   10.  Promote co-operatives?
   Woods:  Yes.
   Copple:  I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN OTHER THAN SOMETHING LIKE GENTLE STRENGTH WHICH I LIKE
   11.  Stop condemnation or expropriation of property for private use or commercial development?
   Woods:  Yes.  I am very much against the use of eminent domain for economic development.
   Copple:  YES ALTHOUGH I SUPPORT WHEN THERE ARE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES OR A TRUE PUBLIC NEED.
   Ellis' Web publication:  I do believe that eminent domain should be used when public safety issues are at stake (this is the intent of the law).  I do not support any entity taking private property solely to "package" and resell for economic development.
   Shekerjian's Web publication:  Abusing eminent domain for Tempe’s business development is just wrong.
   12.  Reduce urban sprawl?  Woods:  Yes.  Copple:  YES
   13.  Stop the building or widening of freeways and roads?
   Woods:  Depends on what the public need is.
   Copple:  NO, WE MUST HAVE A BETTER SYSTEM OF ROADS TO SERVICE THE PEOPLE USING THEM
   14.  Reduce pollution?  Woods:  Yes.  Copple:  YES
   15.  Increase "refusing, re-using, and recycling"?
   Woods:  Yes.
   Copple:  YES
   Arredondo's Web publication says he'll improve recycling.
   16.  Change the regulations for strip bars?
   Woods:  I'm concerned about the secondary effects of adult-oriented businesses.  I would like to look into this to see if some of our ordinances need to be adjusted.
   Copple:  I WOULD WORK TOWARD TIGHTENING THEM
   17.  Reduce borrowing with bond issues?
   Woods:  Depends.
   Copple:  NO BUT I BELIEVE IN LIMITING THEM TO WHAT OUR RESIDENTS ASK FOR
   18.  Enforce pedestrian rights?
   Woods:  Yes.  Copple:  YES
   19.  Reduce and slow traffic?
   Woods:  Yes.  This is part of why I'm such a big proponent of Light Rail.
   Copple:  YES
   20.  Stop hookah use indoors?
   Woods:  Yes.  Copple:  I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS
   21.  Otherwise promote the Green Party's 10 Key Values?
   Woods:  Yes.
   Copple:  IT DEPENDS ON THE SPECIFIC ISSUE.
 
 
   If your platform is agreeable enough, I believe that the Green Party might endorse you.  Also possible, for a less perfect platform, is an endorsement of your stand(s) on a particular issue(s).
   Thank you for your time and interest.
 
Sincerely, Korky Day, editor
korkyday@yahoo.com  480-966-9243.
 
Please copy your reply to: 
Green Party, Maricopa County
P.O. Box 60173, Phoenix, AZ 85082-0173
(602) 417-0213;  www.maricopagreens.org.
 
End of letter to candidates and end of article # 4.
 
Article # 5  New Green officers elected
 
   These are our officers (which comprise the Steering Committee), some of whom were elected 2006 February 25 by the Green Party of Maricopa County, AZ:

   1.  Co-chair:  Mara Schmerfeld--1-year term until February 2007.
   2.  Co-chair:  Angel Torres--2-year term until February 2008.
   3.  Secretary:  Evelyn Abbott--2-year term until February 2008.*
   4.  Treasurer:  Robert Neal--term expires February 2007.
   5.  Media Coordinator:  Richard Scott--2 year term until February 2008.
   6.  At-large member:  Celeste Castorena--1 year term until February 2007.
   7.  At-large member:  Peter Hickman--1 year term until February 2007.*
   8.  At-large member:  Rob Jackson--1 year term until February 2007.
   9.  At-large member:  Michelle Mascarenas--1 year term until February 2007.*
    * Pending some legal technicalities for these 3.
 
End of Article # 5.
 
Article # 6:  Humor
 
   From CBS-TV's The Late Show with David Letterman.  The show, which always includes a "Top 10", airs Monday to Friday, Channel 5.
 
     From 2006 February 13:
   Top 10 Dick Cheney Excuses
 
   [Background:  The alleged vice president had shot his buddy in the face while hunting quail February 11--and then suppressed the news (as would someone needing time to sober up and to cook up their story!).  Harry Whittington, 78, is now out of the hospital and recovering.]

    10.  Heart palpitation caused trigger finger to spasm.
   9.  Wanted to get the Iraq mess off the front page.
   8.  Not enough Jim Beam [hard liquor].
   7.  Trying to stop the spread of bird flu.
   6.  I love to shoot people.
   5.  Guy was making cracks about my lesbian daughter.
   4.  I thought the guy was trying to go "gay cowboy" on me.
   3.  Excuse?  I hit him, didn't I?
   2.  Until Democrats approve medicare reform, we have to make some tough choices for the elderly.
   1.  Made a bet with Gretzky's wife.

-- from
www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/top_ten/archive/ls_topten_archive2006/ls_topten_archive_20060213.shtml
 
   Also near there is a page (www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/top_ten/contest/) which is a contest to write funny Top Ten jokes which they might use in a broadcast (?).
   As I was writing this, the contest topic was "Top Ten Dumb Guys Ways To Slow Down Global Warming".  My entry was "Vote for Republicans or Democrats."  The winners are supposed to be on the Web site February 27, Monday.  They are ____________________
   I also used their search feature looking for "Green Party".  Nothing!
   However, there were 11 for "Nader".  Among them:  2000 December 1:  "Top Ten Things Overheard Last Night at the Florida Election Commission . . .  4.  America must never know Ralph Nader actually won the election . . . ."
 
     From 2004 June 25:
   Top Ten Questions Ralph Nader Asked Potential Running Mates:
 
   10.  Are you here because you lost a bet?
   9.  If I pick you, do you promise to vote for us?
   8.  In case anybody asks, can you think of a reason I'm running?
   7.  Are you sure you won't be intimidated by my dazzling charisma?
   6.  Wanna drop out of the race and go to Massachusetts to get hitched?
   5.  Is it okay if I pay you in grocery coupons?
   4.  Isn't this a step down for you, Mr. Gore?
   3.  Do you get nervous speaking in front of groups of 8 to 12 people?
   2.  Are you comfortable being the answer to a trivial pursuit question?
   1.  What's it like to be with a woman?
 
-- from
   Those are pretty funny, except # 7 and 3,  which contradict the fact that Nader can pull in much bigger crowds than any candidate in my memory.  And he doesn't screen out non-supporters, as does Bush!
   You can also buy books of their Top Ten lists.  I can't find any reference to them on the show's Web site (!), but on www.amazon.com I found some listed by the author, David Letterman: 
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books&field-author-exact=David%20Letterman&rank=-relevance%2C%2Bavailability%2C-daterank/102-1932592-3903365
   The ones I found, by year and International Standard Book Number:  1990:  0-671-72671-4.  1991:  0-671-74901-3.  1994:  0-671-41143-2.  1995:  0-553-10222-2.  1996:  0-553-10243-5.
           -- Korky Day.
 
National symbols
 
   A Canadian teenager, "A.S.", quips, "Eagles may soar, but beavers don't get sucked into jet plane intakes."
 
Another Bush blooper
 
   Our alleged president George Bush was talking on television recently.  If I heard him right (you're never sure with him!), he said that we should do as we did at the end of World War 2:  surrender!
 
End of Article # 6, Humor.
 
Article # 7:  Citizens' assembly for Arizona?
 
   The article “Greens and allies can make AZ democratic!” from the last issue (February) is now thoroughly revised and re-titled "Citizens' assemblies could force referenda on democracy for USA state governments!"
   A member of the Arizona legislature is considering introducing it as a bill, but it's too late for the current session.
   You may read the new version at www.korky.ca in "Part 4 continued", article # 21.  Or for a free e-copy, please e-write to korkyday@yahoo.com.
 
Libertarians and others like random democracy
 
   I went to a meeting of the Maricopa County Libertarian Party to try unofficially to make political friends on February 13.
   After my explanation, they moved and tabled a motion to endorse a citizens' assembly for Arizona.  It seems likely to pass at their next meeting in March.  They also put me in touch with a prominent Arizonan electoral reformer, with whom I am now corresponding.
   The monthly Libertarian meetings are often at the new Libertarian bookstore at 601 East Indian School Road, Phoenix,  www.lpmaricopa.org.
   The plan was also on the Greens' agenda for February 26.
   A blog about citizens' assemblies around the world is now being written by (Jim) J.H. Snider.  It includes one most recently in Nederlanden.  Try http://snider.blogs.com.
      --Korky Day.
 
End of article # 7.
 
Article # 8:  "Bond issues are a scam"
 
Opinion by Korky Day.
 
   When you study the Republican Party and Democratic Party positions on a topic, you often can think of a superior "third way".
   Many Republicans oppose bond issues with the rallying cry of "Lower taxes!".  Many Democrats plead for bonds to fund particular urgent community needs.  Rarely will either side discuss whether bonds generally are a good deal--or the best way to fund particular projects.
   I think we can have both lower taxes and still fund the needs which the public thinks are important.  All we have to do is "pay-as-we-go" for the desired projects and thus save all the money we would've had to pay in interest.
   My statement below will appear in the pamphlet mailed to all registered voters.  It is for the 2006 May 16 election in Tempe for Bond question # 2.  Anyone may submit one (but the deadline was last month).  It costs 25$ to submit one, and is translated into Español for free.
   It will be published in the pamphlet in both languages April 3.  I asked for it to be put on the Internet, too.
 
   Below is my statement which is to appear in the official publicity pamphlet published April 3 for the May 16, Tempe, AZ, election.
 
Bond question # 2.
Street improvements:  $8,000,000.
Statement Against:
 
   When the public borrows with a "bond", the public pays interest to the lenders.  The rest of us lose heavily, except to the extent that we make the next generation pay.
   For comparison, would you get a home mortgage if you had enough cash?  Why pay all that interest unnecessarily?
   If Tempe can afford these projects, we should save the interest by paying for them as the revenue comes in.  If the people aren't willing to pay enough taxes now for the projects, then we don't really want those projects.
   This ballot should, but does not, let us rank these 3 choices in order of preference:
   1.  Approve this bond.
   2.  Raise taxes, if needed, to pay for the same projects.  Save the interest and contingent costs.  Then lower taxes when previous bonds are paid.
   3.  Neither.
   Furthermore, city council doesn't let us vote on the rest of their budget, just on the popular projects they cherry-pick for bonds.  Then they schedule the vote for an election expected to have a low turn-out.
   For Bond 2, they mix street safety (very popular) with more freeways and wider streets (not green).
   Let's shift the whole tax load--from the poor, the struggling middle class, the retired, and the students--to the kinds of people who give big to the election campaigns.