A portion of Kathy Howe’s May 8, 2026 article on Substack. I’m Not Democrat or Republican…I’m a problem solver. Kathy Howe ~ I’m Not Democrat or Republican…
Fast forward to 2026. Watching the Sedona City Council act “lock and step” in everything they do, is like watching a sorority, a fraternity, a coalition, a bloc or a phalanx act out their mission. It has been stressful for businesses who have watched the City Council and the City itself work against businesses in these liberal years. What was once wonderful about Sedona has become oppression.
The pièce de résistance occurred when the City Council voted to use OUR money to sue US… we Sedona voters who signed a petition to put the decision in the hands of the voters in July. An Initiative to keep the Cultural Park without residences. “An initiative is the method by which voters may propose new laws or amend existing laws by gathering signatures from registered voters to place the issue on the ballot.” But because we, the voters, were not lock and step with the City Council, they hired Phoenix attorneys to sue us to stop the Initiative. Don’t believe the current Mayor who stated this was only to determine if an Initiative could be used in a zoning issue. Ha! If that was the truth, the Council could have instructed the City Attorney to ask for an opinion.
The Initiative brought out the worst of our City Councilors and City Manager and staff. Not one person stood up to what the voters wanted! Not one of the City Councilors.
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How did it turn out with the lawsuit? The City lost. And the Judge put it short, sweet, and to the point:
The question now is how far the City Council wants to go. Spend more money to appeal? Further anger the electorate?
I guess we shall see.
We need a new Council.
PS. The quotes are from Lenin on the Rocks. Thank you, Tim! Looking forward to The Cactus Quill
