A Sonoran Truth Editorial by Gracie O’Malley, June 11, 2015.
An Illegal Act By A Town Council Constitutes Political Corruption
The most recent chapter in Cave Creek’s long history of corruption occurred June 1st, 2015. In an unbelievable move the Town Council again blatantly disregarded and ignored Arizona law and legal advice from the town’s attorney by reinstating the Sonoran News for publication of public notice.
The Sonoran News does NOT meet the definition of a newspaper under Arizona law, ARS-39-201(A). Therefore, this council could not legally award a contract to it to publish public notices at a cost of which to be paid from town funds.
But, they did it anyway. Political corruption such as this poses a fundamental threat to the future of our town and our rural way of life. How off-the-charts corrupt does this council have to be to capture somebody’s attention in the town of Cave Creek? We have had a negative narrative in Cave Creek for decades with the cloud of political corruption.
“Illegality will never solve the problem
of political lawlessness.”
Emanuel Celler
Town attorney Gary Birnbaum emphatically said in his legal opinion that according to Arizona Revised Statutes the Sonoran News does NOT meet the legal criteria for advertising public notices and is NOT a newspaper:
“Under Arizona Statutes public notice has to be given in newspapers that meet certain statutory
criteria. Our analysis is that the Sonoran News does NOT meet that criteria. So, the motion as stated does NOT comport with Arizona law.” Gary Birnbaum
This pattern of lawlessness and illegality has to stop! It is a good illustration of the use of powers by this council for illegitimate private gain. This corruption is an offshoot of running a small town, a government with a small voting population, and an even smaller engaged citizenry. The rule of law must control the direction of this town.
We must launch an investigation of the performance of this council. The message is “someone is watching you.” A forensic audit, commissioned by the Attorney General, would forever change the town of Cave Creek. It would send a wake-up call telling this council that local, state, and federal authorities are monitoring them along with citizen watchdogs.
This council is guilty of municipal malfeasance. There are numerous instances in which local rules or state and federal laws were violated. Cronyism and favoritism are out- of- control.
Cave Creek today is a classic example of what can happen when a grumpy old man has the power to appoint or elect those who will do his bidding/dirty work.
What we need are term limits followed by mandatory public floggings upon the completion of their term.
Survival Requires No Apology,
Gracie
Editor’s Comment: George Ross is speaking before Town Council on Monday, June 15, 2015 to denounce the Sonoran News as a Racist, Anti-Semitic tabloid. see: