(Update) Terri Proud and ‘tyranny of the minority’

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Back in the 1990's the Tucson Weekly used to refer to the "old" Town of Marana as "Dogpatch," when it was ruled by Mayor Ora "Mammy Yokum" Harn. Not much has changed.

The Town of Marana is represented by "consultant" Jonathan "Payday" Paton (Li'l Abner Yokum), who has been advising Dogpatch to steal Tucson's sewage treatment plant and thereby steal its reclaimed water, and no doubt he has advised Rep. Terri Proud (Daisy Mae Yokum) in her nefarious designs to give Tuscon's California refugee retiree bedroom communities — who tend to vote Tea-Publican — a veto power over that liberal blue island of the City of Tucson for Pima County bond projects.

The Yokums thought that neighboring retiree bedroom communities to Tucson would be supportive of the plot by Dogpatch. It turns out, not so much. The Arizona Daily Star reports, Bond-veto bill draws town, city opposition:

Marana is the only jurisdiction that supports the measure.

The mayors of Tucson and South Tucson wrote letters opposing the bill. The Pima County Board of Supervisors is set to approve a resolution opposing it. And the mayors of Sahuarita and Oro Valley have written letters criticizing the bill.

The proposed law – which would apply only to Pima County – would establish a Regional Bond Accountability Committee with one representative from the county and one representative from each city and town.

Ah yes, a replay of our Tea-Publican legislature's tyranny against the Charter City of Tucson in which it subjugated Tucson's residents by seizing control of its Rio Nuevo Board and gave control of Downtown Tucson redevelopment to state of Maricopa politicians to appoint their lackeys to the Board, including Jonathan "Payday" Paton (Li'l Abner Yokum). So far the Tea-Publican legislature's Rio Nuevo Board has only been a cash cow for its favored law firms, incurring millions of dollars in litigation costs, but not producing any of the promised development.

Under Daisy Mae Yokum's bill, "Pima County would not be able to issue or sell general obligation bonds for things like roads, parks, libraries or government buildings without a majority vote from that committee."

This gives retiree bedroom communities like Dogpatch minority veto power over the vast majority of residents in Pima County. It would also give Dogpatch leverage to extort money from Pima County for bond projects within Dogpatch to get its vote for any other bond projects in Pima County. This is a tyranny of the minority.

"The veto power will clearly end all regional bond proposals," South Tucson Mayor Jennifer Eckstrom said in a letter. She said her city is "strongly opposed" to the bill. PDF: Letter from the mayor of South Tucson on HB 2656.

Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild said the law could allow representatives of 6 percent of the regional population to determine bond issues that affect everyone. PDF: Letter from Tucson mayor on HB 2656.

Sahuarita Mayor Duane Blumberg said he is concerned the legislation might jeopardize a planned bond issue to support the aerospace industry. PDF: Letter from Mayor of Sahuarita on HB 2656.

Oro Valley Mayor Satish Hiremath criticized sponsor Rep. Terri Proud, a Republican, for not mentioning the bill when she met with town leaders for an annual legislative breakfast last month, during which Hiremath spoke about the importance of the jurisdictions working together.

"This bill would have a significant impact on the town of Oro Valley and its ability to work in a collaborative manner with neighboring jurisdictions," he wrote. "Regardless of our position on this proposed legislation, either the elected officials of the town or the town manager should have been informed prior to its introduction." PDF: Letter from Oro Valley mayor on HB 2656.

It's time for Li'l Abner and Daisy Mae Yokum to pack their bags and "Get Out of Town!" as the Tucson Weekly would say. (h/t www.deniskitchen.com)