by Verde Valley Independent Democrats

By Verde Valley Independent Democrats

episodes

October 11, 2021 Austin Interview – Podcast October 11, 2021
“We Must Not Be Enemies.” That is the title of Michael Austin’s latest book based on a quote taken from President Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address. “Lincoln understood that disagreement drives democracy,” says Austin. “So how we disagree becomes really, really important.”
He continues, “Human beings usually end up with the government they deserve. We have a polarized country right now and a very polarized government. And the government is a consequence of our inability to get along with each other.”
Austin goes on to put the current polarization in historical context and offer suggestions for how we can disagree without trying to destroy our opponents.
The post Austin Interview – Podcast October 11, 2021 first appeared on .
45 min
October 11, 2021 Moore, Wozniak Interview – Podcast October 4, 2021
Filling The Need With Food And Shelter. Hava and Steve welcome Laurie Moore and Kathy Wozniak to the show to discuss their approach to helping those who are unsheltered and food insecure. Moore is president of the Sedona Area Homeless Alliance. And Wozniak is president of the board of Project Fill The Need.
The post Moore, Wozniak Interview – Podcast October 4, 2021 first appeared on .
45 min
September 27, 2021 Richtman Interview – Podcast September 27, 2021
Prioritizing Lives And Democracy Over The Filibuster. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome back Max Richtman, President of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, to discuss the pending Human Infrastructure bill which is at the heart of President Biden’s agenda. As you likely already know, Democrats will try to pass the bill through a reconciliation process in order to avoid a filibuster. Yet Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin have announced they do not support the bill. As a result, the bill could die in the Senate. And, by opposing any changes to the filibuster, the two Democrats also threaten the proposed voting rights bill.
Nevertheless, Richtman is hopeful. He recently wrote a
letter to Sinema in support of the two bills and co-authored an editorial in
the Tucson Sentinel in hopes of influencing her. He explains that Sinema has
reservations about the cost of the reconciliation bill. Yet the bill will be
paid for, in large part, by raising taxes on the very wealthy and large
corporation. Moreover, according to
Richtman, by enabling the federal government to negotiate prescription drug
prices for Medicare and Medicaid, the bill would save about $500 billion over
10 years.
Richtman notes that the bill could also improve the lives of
seniors by providing enough funding to expand Medicare to cover dental, hearing
and vision. It would also increase the number of people who provide home care
for seniors by increasing their salaries and benefits. Richtman believes that
would save money in the long run, because it’s much cheaper to keep people in
their homes.
The post Richtman Interview – Podcast September 27, 2021 first appeared on .
45 min
September 20, 2021 Segner Interview – Podcast September 20, 2021
Replacing Misinformation And Fighting With Dialogue. Democratic Perspective host Steve Williamson welcomes Steve Segner, hotel owner and president of Sedona Lodging Council, to discuss changes in the City of Sedona.
Segner begins by announcing an upcoming panel discussion on short-term rentals intended to correct misinformation and disinformation. “We need to get the information out there that’s correct in a way that’s not slanted and not one-sided,” he explains. “We’re not thrilled that there’s short-term rentals. But we’re also pragmatic that the law got passed and does, in fact, make it legal.”
The panel discussion will include the City Attorney, the City Manager, the Chamber of Commerce, and a man who manages 500 AirBnBs in four states. “We’re trying to get all the facts on the table,” Says Segner. “Then we’re going to open it up to the floor so people can ask questions. If we can get this panel format to work, we can use it for other things in the city.”
The event is part of Segner’s long-standing desire to end
the angry rhetoric between community and political tribes. “Instead of
everybody screaming at each other, let’s have some dialogue. I’m just sick to
death of people just fighting and not having dialogue,” he says.
The post Segner Interview – Podcast September 20, 2021 first appeared on .
45 min
September 13, 2021 Martinez, Williamson interview – Podcast September 13, 2021
Workers Priced Out Of Sedona. Steve Williamson welcomes Linda Martinez and City Council member Jessica Williamson to discuss a long-standing problem for Sedona – affordable housing. According to Williamson, affordable housing is defined by income based on a household spending no more than 30 percent of its income on rent. The problem is that the median cost of housing in Sedona is $850,000 while the median income for the area ranges from $41,400 to $48,150. So, only the very wealthy can afford a home in Sedona.
An Arizona law that has taken away local control of short-term rentals has further compounded the problem by turning apartments into condos and converting homes to mini-hotels.
Martinez sums up the impact this way: “When we don’t have
diversity of housing, we lose what it means to be a community.” She says Sedona
needs housing for ordinary workers – plumbers, electricians, people to work in groceries
and hardware stores, people to cut hair. “We are all dependent on one another.
It’s important to all of us.”
The post Martinez, Williamson interview – Podcast September 13, 2021 first appeared on .
45 min
September 06, 2021 Ruby, Lutes Interview – Podcast September 6, 2021
Fighting The Good Fight. Back from an extended vacation, Steve Williamson welcomes John Lutes and Jay Ruby to the show. Lutes is chair of the Yavapai Democratic Party, a business owner and manager who ran for Yavapai County Supervisor against one of the extreme right Oath Keepers. And Ruby is events chair of the Yavapai Dems who recently campaigned to remove far right Congressman Paul Gosar from office.
Located in one of the reddest areas in the country,
represented in Congress by an anti-government conspiracy theorist, and surrounded
by the nation’s largest chapter of Oath Keepers and other far right militias,
the two men are attempting to bring some political sanity to an area that has
experienced three decades of Republican rule. As Lutes says, “Our nation’s
built on dialogue, and if you have too much of one-party rule – and it doesn’t
matter where you are in the world – one party rule begins to corrupt.”
Lutes and Ruby have organized R&R (Referendums and
Redistricting) meetings throughout the county to inform and activate residents
about issues that will impact Arizona for years to come. The referendums
involve seven petitions – three about public education and four about voter
suppression and dirty money. And redistricting, of course, refers to the
realignment of congressional and legislative districts based on the 2020 Census.
The post Ruby, Lutes Interview – Podcast September 6, 2021 first appeared on .
45 min
August 30, 2021 Deardon, White Interview – Podcast August 30, 2021
A Master Class On Sedona And Arizona Schools. Guest host Karen McClelland, a former school board member, is joined in the studio by Sedona-Oak Creek School District Superintendent Dennis Deardon and Sedona Red Rock High Junior, Hunter White.
Faced with the pandemic and declining enrollment, Deardon took on the dual role of Superintendent and Principal. The move seems to have paid dividends for the school. Despite the disruption caused by Covid-19 and a housing shortage, the school has added 75 students!
The turnabout seems to have come about, at least in part, as a result of innovation. For example, the school added White to the school board as a student representative, giving young people the opportunity to have their voices heard and their questions answered. For more, check out our podcast.
Class is now in session.
The post Deardon, White Interview – Podcast August 30, 2021 first appeared on .
45 min
August 23, 2021 Gunnigle Interview – Podcast August 23, 2021
Holding Police Accountable. As the next in our eight-part of our series on criminal justice, Hava welcomes attorney Julie Gunnigle to discuss the DOJ investigation of the Phoenix Police Department and a variety of other civil rights issues.
Gunnigle begins by noting, “The story of this investigation goes back years because Phoenix Police Department and some of those in the outlying areas have been some of the most violent in the nation. That violence hasn’t been met with any kind of accountability within our prosecutor’s office. But that was just one of 5 different issues that made the DOJ step into our county.”
She says the other issues included charging protesters with criminal gang enhancements for exercising their first amendment rights, ongoing issues with respect to our unhoused population and those experiencing mental health incidents, and the 2017 death of Muhammed Muhayim who died in the same way as George Floyd. “It’s been shameful, and I think it really show that police are unable to police police and, for that reason, you have to have the feds step in,” says Gunnigle. “Now I’m not really optimistic as to what happens next. But it is a step, and it speaks to exactly how urgent and dire the situation in Arizona is.”
On the other hand, one issue that does give Gunnigle hope is the HR4 John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Bill to restore parts of the voting rights act gutted by SCOTUS. Congress is expected to vote on the bill this week.
The post Gunnigle Interview – Podcast August 23, 2021 first appeared on .
45 min
August 16, 2021 Hoffman, Constabile Interview – Podcast, August 16, 2021
All Things Elections. Guest host Kathy Kinsella welcomes Yavapai County Recorder, Leslie Hoffman, and Elections Director, Lynn Constabile, to discuss election procedures and election security in Arizona.
In a few minutes, these experienced professionals explain
everything you need to know about voter registration, how elections are conducted,
how mail-in ballots are verified, how ballots are secured, and how ballots are
counted. Their expertise should give voters everywhere assurance regarding the integrity
of our elections.
The post Hoffman, Constabile Interview – Podcast, August 16, 2021 first appeared on .
45 min
August 09, 2021 Michaels Interview – Podcast August 9, 2021
The Importance Of Stewardship. Democratic
Perspective co-host Hava welcomes Donna Michaels to discuss her first six
months in office as a Yavapai County supervisor. She begins by noting that stewardship
is the key to a healthy community. To that end, she is focused on creating a
ten-year plan with input from the public – “A document that guides us for the
next ten years.”
“I urge everyone to go online to take the survey,” she says. “Hopefully, by 2022, we’ll have a document that reflects who we want to be.”
Michaels lists some of the issues facing the county are
homelessness on forest lands, affordable and attainable housing, and destruction
caused by off-road vehicles (ATVs). “What we’re seeing is an unprecedented destruction
of our forest lands,” says Michaels. “I had no idea the kind of damage that is occurring
around the clock by these vehicles. Had I not seen it, I would not have
believed it.” To address the issue, she intends to look at how other
communities are addressing ATV use and abuse. “I’m hopeful we’ll benchmark best
practices,” she says. “There is nothing we can’t do together.”
The post Michaels Interview – Podcast August 9, 2021 first appeared on .
45 min

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