06/05/2024
81% of the El Mirage citizens who voted in the November 7, 2023 election voted a loud and resounding NO to $41.5 million in wasteful spending for building projects that would not benefit El Mirage citizens.
In spite of the overwhelming vote, the majority of the El Mirage city council refuses to listen to the majority of the voters and are insisting upon going ahead with the wasteful spending. They just voted (5 yays to 1 no-Anita Norton voted NO to this wasteful spending) to buy land for "municipal purposes." The 5 who voted for this purchase all refused to identify what the land was for specifically. However, it should be noted that this land, parcel 501-45-980B is the exact same parcel of land they had planned to build a second fire station with 4-bays and a new courthouse with two courtrooms, two jury sequester rooms, two attorney/client rooms, and two judge's chambers with the $41.5 million bond. But, Oops, that bond failed. That should have been the end of their pipe dreams, but it's not. They still plan to spend OUR money even though the majority said NO.
We can go into all the reasons why this is utter wasteful spending later. However, what is so noticeable right now is the fact that every council member, except council member Anita Norton, tried to claim that this land was not for those two items. One council member, Donna Winston, went so far as to repeatedly lie and say that at no time was there any discussion after the failed bond that the City Council had talked about building the second fire station and a new courthouse. Her statements are totally false. Others on the council made similar statements also. When council member Norton tried to speak and recap the reasons why she could not support the land purchase, she was rudely and repeatedly interrupted by council member Dorcey and the mayor. It seems that they only want to hear from those who support their bad decisions about wasteful spending.
The 3 incumbents are fully supporting this wasteful spending and other major wasteful spending. It's sad indeed that they have no problem saying No to the residents for something as simple as improved lighting at Gentry Park with $130,000 in grant money that would have paid for 51% of the project cost, but they insist on spending $41.5+ million of our money on unnecessary building projects.
And this isn't the only example of their wasteful spending.
It is way past time to vote the three incumbents out of office! Since they repeatedly refuse to listen to the residents, we need different ears and minds to sit in the council seats. Any of the four challengers would be better than what we currently have.
Let's make major changes with our VOTE in this election. As we saw in this last council meeting, council member Anita Norton cannot do it all alone.
Let's help pass the word and share with our El Mirage neighbors and friends why we need this change now.
