Acosta Editorial about Leadership in Sedona

Where a political vacuum exists, something is bound to fill it
An Editorial Opinion
By Tommy Acosta, SVVT
Sedona, AZ - Sept. 24, 2008 -

The last line of our editorial in the 9/11 edition of the Sedona Verde Valley Times read “In politics, where a vacuum exists, one can be sure it will be filled.”

Talk about looking into a crystal ball and foretelling the future.

An individual Sedona resident by the name of Dr. Samantha Ruckman stepped into the political landscape of this community and almost single handedly, in a week, collected more than 700 signatures from citizens who want the 76-lights for 89A question put to a vote.

Of course the city’s legal staff made Swiss cheese out of the petition and rejected it; but the fact remains an individual was able to make a profound statement political entities and interests in this town need to be acutely aware of.
Those signatures represent almost 800 voters who are not going to forget the council members who voted for the lights the next time they face election.

Further, armed with the email addresses, home addresses and phone numbers of these voters, one can be sure Dr. Ruckman, now galvanized and more resolute than ever to change the course and face of city government, will use them with precision to remove the 89A lights supporting council members and replace them with representatives amenable to their cause in the next election.

And she doesn’t even have to form a political action committee to do it.
Take for example what happened in Gilbert, Arizona, a number of years ago when the town council voted to put fluoride in its water supply.

One solitary woman launched a campaign to override the council’s vote, gathering thousands of signatures against it. The council prevailed but those supporting fluoride signed their own political-death warrants because without forming a PAC, without raising money or contributing money to a candidate, she and her supporters voted out of office the offending council members.

Those who believe the 89A lights issue divided the community are also mistaken. The community, through surveys and petitions and showing up at council meetings, has spoken loud and clear its support for dark skies in Sedona.
There has been absolutely no groundswell of support for the lights in the community, save for members of boards who are related to council members supporting the lights and editorials in one of Sedona’s weekly newspapers.
People have come out en-masse against the lights and for alternate-safety measures. There has been no organized effort by residents in support of the lights.

The real division is not between the people of the community – it is between the people and their government.
Presently, Keep Sedona Beautiful, the International Dark-Sky Association and the Sierra Club are mobilizing a day of protest and demonstrations at the State Capital and City Hall on Oct. 1.

Sedona resident Cole Greenberg is spearheading a petition drive to recall Councilwoman Nancy Scagnelli, considered by some as the chief architect behind the city’s approval of the lights.

One community resident, skilled in accounting, is conducting an investigation into the city’s budgetary-record keeping and is now sharing his findings with the press.

Why now? Why are so many people so fired up and taking action to change the political course of their government?
At Mr. Greenberg’s Sept. 21 community meeting at the Elk’s Club on Airport Road, more than 150 members of the community showed up to protest and organize against the city council’s decision on the lights and pursue a recall.
During the meeting, Mr. Greenberg asked how people felt about the coverage they get from the Red Rock News. People hissed and booed and it was captured on video. RNN publicly supports the lights.

They were asked how they felt about Sedona.biz and the Sedona-Verde Valley Times and people cheered.
Community leaders realize their efforts to create change will now see the light of newsprint, both electronic and pulp. Where before there was only one source of information and one perspective, now there are three.

One news outlet no longer monopolizes community news. Other opinions now can be expressed publicly. This emboldens individuals to take action. And they are taking action, like never before, and from many different directions.
Proponents for dark skies in Sedona have raised their sights to ADOT itself. They know they have almost two years to stop ADOT from putting the lights up and the same amount of time to find candidates amenable to their cause to replace those council members who went against them.

Existing-council members supporting the lights should be acutely aware of this.
There are leaders in the community who are grabbing the proverbial bull by the horns and demanding change.
Barbara Litrell, Cole Greenberg, Cliff Ochser and now Dr. Samantha Ruckman: these are leaders who are going to deeply influence Sedona’s direction now and in the near future.

Stay tuned.
Acosta, SVVT