DarinLand: Unexpectedly, 9/11

by Darin Lowery

On that awful day in 2001, when the Twin Towers of New York’s World Trade Center collapsed in a furious mass of deadly smoke and debris, the keening at my office was out of control. No one understood what was happening, despite the nonstop news coverage gleaned from an antiquated, rolled-in Motorola. The state of shock was palpable, a numbness shared with the rest of the country. A heavy smoker then, I found my lighter and headed out the side door but was stopped by a tear stained, anxious young woman in a too-bright print dress. Oh my God, she said, why do they hate us so much? Why do they hate us so much?  I shrugged and ignored her. The Pentagon was in flames, a tight lipped reporter droned; another plane had crashed in the Pennsylvania countryside. The 1993 Trade Center bombing was reviewed in depth- it had been a matter of when, not if, another attack would transpire. … Continue Reading

DarinLand: Growing Globe

Why the big rush to grow Globe? Really- what is so God-awful about living in a small town? I like the fact that we’re not Chandler or Gilbert, with their pollution, congestion and proliferation of cosmetic surgery clinics, and I absolutely love the simple act of driving 1.3 miles to work every day. Some mornings I only hear half a song on the radio. … Continue Reading

OUR TOWN’S PRIVATE PRISON FIASCO

By: Jim Moss

Globe is not becoming a ‘Prison Town’ any time soon.

The ‘official’ word is that Emerald Co. failed to secure state land for their prison proposal.  Does this mean that Emerald Co., the EDC, Globe’s Mayor and majority Council, and Gila County Supervisors —- did not perform the required due-diligence?  It is tempting to explain the news by declaring Local Officials incompetent.

But, we must give credit where credit is due — PEOPLE POWER prevailed. … Continue Reading

No Prison for Globe

July 12, 2011

It’s Official.  No private prison for Globe.

AZ Department of Corrections informed Emerald Co. that their bid did not fulfill RFP requirements.

AMAZING!  How could it be that so many local leaders —- EDC President McCreary, Mayor Shipley, Vice-Mayor Wilshire, and Supervisor Dawson —- spent more than a year (and who knows how many taxpayer dollars) steering THEIR private prison project idea to a DEAD END?

Of course, they will spin this outcome so that Emerald Co. gets the blame.  They will not take responsibility for failing to secure a private prison project for our community.  And, rest assured, they will not acknowledge the plain TRUTH —- that PEOPLE POWER PREVAILED.

The first battle has been won, but there remains some unfinished business.  Next, citizens can safeguard our community from future attempts to make Globe an Arizona Prison Town, by voting for both Ballot Initiatives at Globe’s next municipal election in March.

“The truth of what you believe in is what you do about it.” P. Darrow

Jim Moss, Globe Resident & Business Owner

Ten Days…1000 signatures

Kelly Moss and Sarah Bernstein turn in the petitions to Globe City Clerk, Gina Paul on Wednesday.

Yesterday, the grassroots citizens group which has been called “…one of the most effective and organized yet truly grassroots groups out there” turned in over 1000 petition signatures of registered Globe voters to Globe’s City Clerk, Gina Paul.

The petitions were part of a Citizen’s Ballot Initiative to force Globe’s Mayor and Council to put the contentious issue of a large private prison to a vote, instead of letting a small handful of leaders speak for everyone.

Although the group only needed 582 valid signatures, they gathered over 1000 in just ten days to place the 2 initiatives on the ballot next March.  Globe City Clerk, Gina Paul has 20 days to review all the signatures and confirm the final count, but says she believes it will take 4-5 days.

Both petition folders were counted twice for accuracy.

The citizens group engaged the services of Rhonda Barnes with Perkins Coie LLP to help draft the language of the initiatives. Barnes specializes in election law. Volunteers were trained to follow exacting rules of who could and couldn’t sign and Citizens Opposed feels confident that a high percentage of signatures will be validated. Over 40 volunteers helped to gather signatures over the ten day period.

This is the first Citizen’s Ballot Initiative in Globe’s history and promises to reinforce the American ideal of one man/ one vote. Something we can all celebrate this July 4th!

Mr. Mayor, It’s Not a Game

Dear Mr. Mayor:

This is an open letter to Globe’s Mayor which was recently published in the SilverBelt, Copper Country News and – here.

The purpose of this letter is to set the record straight about your statements quoted in the June 15,
2011 issue of Copper Country News. You stated, “I think it is sufficient to say that Mr. Moss was notified
that his initiatives as written pose several concerns and he was advised to review them with his legal
counsel.”

Your remarks to CCN validate why I do not have confidence in your credibility. Now, here is the truth of
the matter. … Continue Reading

Local EDC Stone Deaf and Dead Wrong

Dear Editor:

This letter was recently published in the SilverBelt, Copper Country News – and here.

In last weeks’ letters to the editor, Jerry McCreary once again showed how stone deaf and disingenuous he can be when it comes to presenting the facts as he would like you to believe them.

He says in his letter,  “…we have not with held any facts about the project.” Did he forget? Or intentionally mis-represent the facts? He conveniently avoids The Fact that at the very  beginning of this whole debate,  Ted Lake, who writes for the SilverBelt, did an excellent piece on how the EDC held a closed door meeting in which the press was not invited and Councilman Terry Wheeler was told he “wasn’t welcome.” (That piece is posted here EDC under Fire. … Continue Reading

Something Big in a Small Town

by Darin Lowery

If you haven’t heard the music of Chris Mathews, you’ll have your chance this Friday, June 17 when Sam Palmer’s Good Junk Bakery hosts ‘Ma & Jack Antelope’. The show starts at seven and if past performances by the two artists featured are any guide, you’re in for a treat. … Continue Reading

Citizens launch ballot initiative process

Can Citizens force a vote on a controversial plan to bring a Private Prison to Globe?

A group of local citizens gather in front of United Jewelry in downtown Globe to launch a petition drive to get 2 ballot initiatives on the March ballot.g

No ballot initiative has ever been done in the 19 years that Globe City Clerk, Gina Paul has been at her post. Its easy to see why. Ballot initiatives, like so much of our political process has gotten cumbersome and expensive , and few have the tenacity and dedication to see such a process through. However, the grassroots organization which launched their opposition to a private for-profit prison to be built in our community has shown just such tenacity, and this morning, they officially launched a Citizens Initiative which will require 580 signatures to be placed on the ballot in March.  See Initiatives Here:Ballot Initiatives … Continue Reading

A Simple Plan

Ready, Fire, Aim….

When I had a furniture business in Tucson many years ago, I made a business plan – after four years into the business. Up to that point I had simply proceeded from one happenstance to the next, growing from an idea I shared with my partners to re-cycle office furniture into what became a large warehouse operation. Originally we simply wanted to inventory companies’ furniture assets and give them an idea of re-sale value so they could make better decisions about either trashing an item or re-furbishing it. This proved to be a good service, but one which was hardly profitable. What turned out to be profitable was helping clients re-sell the furniture they no longer needed, to folks who were happy to save money and get a great value on second-hand furnishings. And here is where a good business plan could have helped from the beginning. It is not enough to have a good idea. Even one that somebody likes and is willing to pay for. It has to be profitable to survive. … Continue Reading