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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us March 5, 2005 Mirage of unity in Phoenix was undoing Unity is overrated. Unity in politics is fantasyland, which apparently Phoenix Mayor Vicki Bear is finding out this week. Bear's directive to be the sole source of information for the city is crumbling like the walls of Jericho. Several councilors expressed reservation about the communication ban as soon as it was announced. One, Steve Schulman, said he will move to have the directive dropped in Monday's council meeting. We hope the rest of the council will follow his lead. Behind the unity facade is a far more interesting reality. Bear was elected as part of a bitter election that included a still-anonymous group called Citizens for Responsible Government that saturated the city with inflammatory letters about the previous council. Bear said for the record that she has no ties to this group. But it doesn't dismiss the fact that the city is painfully divided as a result of the election. Bad feelings exist, which led directly to the resignation of Councilor Hal Burks, the one holdover who was re-elected. Phoenix is an interesting place right now, with more people moving in, businesses starting to blossom and talk of plans for a new, energized downtown on the minds of its residents. But one thing Phoenix isn't is unified. Like any budding process infused with the interests of many new residents not unlike Bear herself, opinions are vastly diverse. This diversity of opinion and heightened interest should be welcomed and encouraged, not squelched behind one appointed spokeswoman for the entire city staff and council. What this past week has helped make clear is that there are not just two warring factions in Phoenix, the old and the new. In fact, many in Phoenix, and quite possibly many on the council, don't want any part of these bitter divisions that became more entrenched by the letter-writing campaign. Mayor Vicki Bear's first 100 days have been interesting, to say the least. Small-boat-hammered-by-waves-on-all-sides interesting. We suspect that most everyone is ready for a little less interesting, and a little more calm on the seas of change. To do that, an important first step is for the council on Monday night to reorganize itself. Start by rescinding, not clarifying or altering or tweaking, but removing altogether any concept of the mayor speaking for the city. Let department heads speak for themselves and let the diversity of opinion that will bring forward greater creativity take flight among council members. To be productive and earn the trust of the city, other important steps will follow. But it starts with a commitment to openness, starting at the very top. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams