August 30, 2016
By Les Conklin
T
wo individuals who played prominent roles in the establishment of Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve have written an informative article that was published this week in the Scottsdale Independent. The article is entitled “My turn: Desert Discovery historical record” and it is written by Art DeCabooter, former president of Scottsdale Community College and the long-time chairman of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission, and Bob Cafarella, Scottsdale’s Preservation Director from the establishment of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve until 2009. They are two individuals who were on the forefront of the successful effort to create the preserve.
They begin their article with the following statement. “Our interest is to provide historical information to assist the community’s input to the consultants work to determine the preferred scope and contents of the long-planned amenity.” It’s obvious from the comments that have been published below the article that the article is getting the attention of the Independent‘s readers. Click on the link below to read the article and reader comments.
Read Scottsdale Independent Article
August 30, 2016
The history is not relevant. What is relevant is that none of the Bond proposals submitted to the voters to approve taxes for the Preserve indicated that several acres were to be destroyed for a Desert Discovery Center. If this were a legitimate benefit to Scottsdale, they would have been more honest about it, not try to ram it through under cover of night and would agree to submit it to the voters – before the November election. The entire process has been dishonest. Also, there is nothing that will keep it from expanding once it gets a foothold in the “Preserve”.
September 7, 2016
In 2009, Bob Cafarella provided me a copy of the comparatively modest Weddle Gilmore site plan which he claimed was the city’s proposed design for any discovery center. He then further advised me that it was too costly and would have to be constructed with private contributions. Somewhere between then and now, the scope and funding of this project has been run off its rails to the point where it finally must be stopped, if only by citizens’ efforts.
September 12, 2016
Absolutely correct – years ago the concept was much smaller and Pinnacle Peak area was a considered location. It was then that Bob Littlefield supported that idea. Now they are talking indoor/outdoor amphitheater, lighting & sound system, classrooms, museum, restaurant/cafeteria, gift shop…..And, once they have ‘violated the virgin” there will be no limit to what all they can construct on the “Preserve’.
Join us Monday, Sept 19 at the Scottsdale City Council Study Session where they will “consider” what to do with the Citizen Petitions to submit the DDC issue for a vote by the same citizens who voted for the Bonds to buy the Preserve.
http://www.teapartyscottsdale.com/ddc_city_council_study_session