One of the best things that happened in Scottsdale Tuesday night was the decisive passage of Propositions 490 and 491 despite an odd conglomeration of opponents. Both measures will meaningfully provide important funding of city parks, the spectacular Preserve, our great public safety and our significant “Central Park” that is WestWorld. It will do so for generations.
Though not as dramatic as initial decisions that launched the Indian Bend Wash or the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Propositions 490 and 491 represent tender loving care for 2 of the community’s most beloved places, as well as other needs. And they both did so in a way that will still see a reduction in city sales taxes from previous years, notwithstanding suggestions otherwise from the irresponsible.
Many were involved on task forces, the City Council, with contributions and with volunteering to help a two year process come to a successful conclusion. Yet, there 4 unwavering women that deserve the most credit. Former Mayor Mary Manross. Preserve pioneer and Greenbelt adjacent resident Carla, Scottsdale City Councilwoman Solange Whitehead and Scottsdale City Councilwoman Betty Janik. They were the heart and sould of the campaign to back the propositions. They were leaders, they were tireless and they were ultimately successful. And Scottsdale will be the better for it, and them.
Many months ago as initial opposition was surfacing from those who believe the good is the enemy of the great and who themselves have been engaged in advocacy for necessary taxes, it was the steely Janik, a Sonoran sage, who was heard whispering to a concerned supporter: “Not to worry. We are going to win because the facts and merits are on our side.”
Janik proved prophetic. And thanks to her, Whitehead, Manross and Carla, keeping Scottsdale special just took another big step forward.