Opinion
www.SanTanSun.com
November 2 – 15, 2013
Letters to the editor
Publisher Emeritus’ Note
Six reasons to vote ‘No’ on the Chandler schools override
Ready, set: Holidaze ‘Tis the season, once again. It’s the time for that crazy couple of months we call “the holidays”—but, for many, it’s a hectic, frenetic period filled with special school, church, work and Laurie Fagen organization activities. Photo by That’s on top of planning LightRainImages.com family gatherings for Thanksgiving and December holidays and shopping for the perfect gifts for everyone on your ever-lengthening “nice” list. I’ve often written about this time of year on these pages, almost to the “broken record” length. A couple of years ago I vowed not to rail against this holiday time, yet it seems like the season approaches faster and faster each time. But this year will be very different for my family. It will be a year of “firsts”—first anniversary, first Thanksgiving, first Christmas— without Geoffrey. But I still have my parents in Prescott, and of course, my son, Devon, and my youngest brother, Lee, and his family in Berkeley, CA, who will join us for Christmas. So we will continue to do family gatherings and hold on to all that we have and love.
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How will you handle this holiday season? Will it be a daze of endless activities? Will you wake up on Jan. 2 and ask yourself “What happened?” I hope you will make the time to look back over the past year and write down all your accomplishments and the positives in your life. Relax a bit with your loved ones and be truly grateful for all that you have. Have a potluck instead of all the cooking going to that same one person. Tell your family and friends how much you love them—every day—and how much they mean to you. Give back to your community, to those who might not be as fortunate. When you lose someone close, you realize how truly precious life is. Don’t squander it fretting over some tiny detail that others may not even notice. Be thankful for each day you are able to see the sun, feel the breeze and walk this earth, knowing others are not as lucky. I hope all our readers have special holidays— not holidaze—this month and next. Thanks for reading the SanTan Sun News, and Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
Just last November, a solid majority of voters defeated a Chandler Unified School District tax increase. Now, the school district is paying (at taxpayer cost) for a special election to once again see if they can get a tax increase approved. Unlike other school districts, they are asking for the maximum increase allowed by our state legislature. Here’s why you should vote no: 1. Sneaky Election Tactics. Even though it was soundly defeated just last year, the special interests behind this figured out a great way to get it passed. This tax increase is being done by mail-in-only voting, which will ensure that it passes. It is also being done in an “off cycle” election year when voter turnout is traditionally low. This gives these special-interest groups a way to get what they couldn’t achieve during normal election years. Your vote is needed—once again—to tell them, “What part of ‘No’ did you not understand?” 2. Are Chandler Schools Failing? According to the Vote Yes crowd’s own website, “Chandler Unified School District is a Grade A district with 27 schools, including five high schools, earning an A grade. In addition, 10 CUSD schools are in the top 100 in Arizona—more than any other district.” If this is all true, why do we need to raise more taxes? 3. Small Tax Increase. If the override is approved, the tax rate would be $1.37 per $100 of secondary assessed valuation, which means about $233.71 annually on a home SEE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PAGE 52
Community Commentary
Do-It-Yourself Connect takes mystery out of home improvement BY JAY TIBSHRAENY
Have you been thinking about doing a few projects around the house, but stopped short, wondering what permits might be needed from the city? Maybe you’re thinking about re-landscaping the yard but are worried what the costs might be, or how to get rid of the old materials when the work is done. Mayor Jay Tibshraeny On Tuesday, Nov. 12, I will Submitted photo present Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Connect, a workshop led by a team of city employees to answer all your questions about anything DIY. The event is free and begins at 7 p.m. at the Desert Breeze Police Substation, 251 N. Desert Breeze Blvd., in west Chandler.
Representatives from our Transportation and Development Department will discuss what jobs need permits—and as importantly—those that do not. Neighborhood Programs will discuss code enforcement and the most common violations that homeowners make. Our water conservation staff will tell you about rebates that are available from the city as well as tips on desert adaptive plants and drip systems. Solid waste employees will relay information on how to best dispose of the stuff you no longer need or want, including construction debris. And members of the police department will discuss alarms and provide tips for homeowners on crime prevention, including ways to landscape your yard to better deter thieves. Seating is limited so you will need to RSVP by emailing cristabel.dykstra@chandleraz.gov, or calling Cristabel at 480-782-4354. Everyone in attendance will receive a copy of the city’s Homeowner Building Permit
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Manual, courtesy of the city and Home Depot. It should be a great event and I hope to see you there as we continue to keep a strong focus on our neighborhoods. There is still some time to apply for the inaugural Neighborhood Excellence Awards in one (or more) of the following categories: Best Neighborhood Event (one-time or ongoing), Most Active or Engaged Neighborhood, Best Revitalization Story and Neighborhood Leader of the Year. The deadline is Nov. 15. And remember also to follow me on Twitter (@ jaytibshraeny) and visit the city’s award-winning website (www.chandleraz.gov) for more news on the community. Have a story idea or news tip? Know of an interesting photo opportunity? How about positive feedback or constructive comments? We’d like to hear from you. Email us at News@SanTanSun.com.
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November 2 – 15, 2013
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM PAGE 51
with an actual value of $170,036, which is the average in the school district (Source: Arizona Republic). This may seem small to some, but when you combine with all the other tax increases we experience, it adds up. 4. Better Security. In addition to the 10%, they are asking the community for an added 5% to address school security concerns. Anyone adult who has ever visited their child’s school knows that all you have to do is walk in the main entrance. To access a locked door, just wait until a student comes out or simply lets you in. Until simple things like that are addressed, high-tech security measures amount to nothing. 5. Above it All. In recent years we have been barraged with increased taxes and fees. Struggling families have not seen a salary increase in years and many are still looking for full-time employment. For some reason, government employees— like educators—feel they are above everything the regular taxpayer is going through in this economy. Remember, government employees make more money than the private sector—yet we’re the ones who pay their salary. 6. The Sky is Not Falling: Anyone who has ever been inside a school or administration building knows that our school system could easily run on current funding. If a school district has rows of flat-screen computer monitors, swimming pools, and television production studios, but is threatening to lay off teachers, that’s a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Defeating the override will force Chandler to finally get serious
Opinion about where they spend our money. Ballots for this special election were mailed on Oct. 11. Open it, check no and mail it back in. David Ross, Chandler
Why I voted ‘Yes’ for Chandler students Recently, Chandler voters received an important piece of mail: ballots for the 2013 Chandler Unified School District override election. As a CUSD parent and concerned citizen, I implore all Chandler voters to mark their ballots “Yes” and mail them in immediately. More than 40,000 students benefit from the excellent educational opportunities provided by CUSD. This override promises those students safer schools, cutting-edge teachers and manageable class sizes. Our children deserve everything we can give. I’ve been a CUSD parent for almost 10 years. The qualities I appreciate most are the highly qualified, caring teachers and their determination to help all students experience success. While my friends from other districts complain of ridiculous class sizes and sub-par teachers, I’ve watched CUSD studentteacher ratios hold steady. However, if this override fails, CUSD will have no choice but to eliminate staff positions and increase class sizes. At this time, there is no such thing as a “cookie-cutter” education in CUSD. The district strives to implement educational programs to meet individual needs of students. From traditional
academies to online campuses, CUSD is currently equipped to help all students thrive. Common sense says some of these programs will disappear without additional funding. A quality education is not just about reading, writing and math. CUSD provides students with a host of extracurricular offerings including sports, fine arts and vocational programs. Many students would never have access to these opportunities outside of the school setting. CUSD is the only Southeast Valley district that doesn’t charge students to compete in sports. With the news reporting school shootings left and right, my sons’ safety weighs heavy on my heart. With override funds, CUSD commits to hiring additional security officers, expanding emergency communication and helping students feel as secure as possible in the classroom. With safety worries off the table, CUSD students and teachers will be able to keep to the important business of learning. CUSD has been operating under a 10% override for 20 years with success, but with the state of Arizona cutting funding year after year, there’s only so much belttightening school districts can do. CUSD has done everything in its power to keep budget cuts out of the classrooms. If the override passes, the district will continue to have the funds to maintain their “A” grade status and to pursue even higher levels of excellence. If the override fails, CUSD will be forced to let teachers go, to reduce or eliminate student programs and to cut an already barebones maintenance budget. I don’t want my sons to suffer because
www.SanTanSun.com voters are unwilling to spend a few extra dollars in property taxes. The average cost of the override is less than $50 for a $100,000 home. My sons are worth it. The other 40,000 CUSD sons and daughters are worth it. The communities supported by CUSD are worth it. Please, CUSD voters, don’t let your ballot get lost in a pile of junk mail. Mark your “Yes” and mail it in before the holiday hustle distracts you. Our children deserve continued educational excellence. Give CUSD your “Yes” and encourage your neighbors to do the same. Lee Merrill, CUSD parent and Gilbert resident
Thanks for SRP coverage Thank you for doing such a nice job breaking down the Chandler SRP power line issue. Shame on you, SRP, for playing a shell game with our communities. Regardless of the option you choose, once the dust settles the residential customers will still see our bills increase. In the last seven years, I have felt the last two expansions of the Intel plant. Now my peaceful backyard oasis is accompanied by the constant electrical hum from the plant, and you want to add more electrical noise and towers? Do the right thing for our communities: Bury the lines. The cheapest way to complete a project doesn’t mean it’s the best way. Amy Wahlgren, Ocotillo Lakes