A Budget is a Moral Document

To many people a budget is a jumble of numbers. Most importantly it is a statement of values. The values of our City Council and the values of our community. It represents the institutional fidelity between Councils and the integrity of the promise they make to “We The People”. It represents our social contract, the foundation of our democracy.

There is no more important item them the 68th Street Redevelopment project. In the annual budget of $2.2 Billion dollars, our project is less then $3Million, yes less then 0.1364%, an insignificant number for a project whose impact is of major consequences. The impact on the whole community, able bodied and disabled individuals and neighbors and visitors, children and pets, Nobody should have to risk life and limb to enjoy the amenities our city has to offer. Our projects impact punches way above its cost.

We need the support of this council to get it done. This is an older project having started in 2022. 70% of the design engineering of the undertaking has been completed, we need support and approval to complete the design engineering and start construction so that a year from now, it will be completed. We need their support.

If approved, a year from now it will be a point of pride for this council and the whole community. A singular achievement of co-operation and collaboration to accomplish something of meaningful consequence that would represent the best values of what it means to live in Scottsdale. It is the stated reason these elected people say they wanted to serve, to serve the families and all the members of our community. Voting for this undertaking would be evidence of the veracity of their promises.

The obvious dangers were visible in the political chicanery on display last night. We all need to watch what is being done and call to account any of the City Council, our elected representatives, who may try to kill this project when nobody is watching. Sucking all the oxygen out of the room by spending dollars so as to starve our project, we all need to stay alert. Very alert,, we need to make sure that they “DO THE RIGHT THING!.