Sunday in San Tan Valley

Yup. San Tan Valley is a real for real entity. A quasi-entity but nonetheless an entity. We have a zipcode to call our own. We have a beautiful new High School. A Banner full-service hospital on the way.

We need some WELCOME TO SAN TAN VALLEY signs that preferably pick up where the YOU ARE LEAVING QUEEN CREEK signs let off. Wouldn't that be great?

The Mensawarrior would like to see us become a full-fledged entity....and strongly suggests reading the pdf located at:

http://www.azleague.org/pdf/pub_municipal_incorp.pdf

Just seems like any group of 75,000 strong deserves and needs incorporation. How can we justify being some giant Incorporated farm? Paying taxes to Florence.....not being self-sufficient. Being an unwanted supplicant for services - it just doesn't make sense.

What do you think the major oppositions of this kind of thinking are? Are you worried about taxes going up? Are you worried that we will lose our local "flavor?" Are you worried that our beautiful vistas will be crowded out by Big Box stores or other ugly blights of supposed economic development?

I agree that all of the above are not preferable. Let's discuss this thing - really discuss it. We have to collectively retire the Scarlett O'Hara "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow" thinking.

I guess like everyone else, I am worried about taxes, especially since the government seems hell-bent on divesting hard-working people of every discretionary dollar lately.

If we can get a front runner who has our real community interests at heart, and of course that means an INVOLVED ELECTORATE - they will keep our best interests at heart. We have all learned that throwing money at a problem is not the way to solve a problem. So before taxes are levied, they had jolly well better be justified.

As far as losing our "charm" is it really charming to have a clogged Hunt Highway adding hours to our commute? Again, striking the BALANCE. I don't know anyone who wants glut....who wants abandoned mini-malls with tumbleweeds blowing across them.....who would want horizon lines messed up, no more dark skies. Everything that we love about Arizona has to do with being open, untamed, natural, and pristine. It's a bitter pill to think that STV could turn into (horrors!) some vulgar version of Gilbert. I don't want that. Who in their right mind would want that????

Is there a middle ground? Is there a way to meet our needs as a community without ruining the community?

I would think that the powers that be should be thinking along these lines. As should you and I. Tell me about it.