Phoenix Park Ranger Carlos Sotomayor Sued

That was a big lie. Since becoming Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton has flip flopped on that lie and now supports the sales tax he promised to eliminate.

I suspect that Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton is supported by the 3,000 members of the Phoenix Police union, which is probably why he is against repealing the 2 percent sales tax, most of which goes to public safety [the cops] and the police.

Now here we have an editorial from a guy who lied about repealing the Phoenix sales taxes in which he promises to bring sunshine to a corrupt Phoenix government!!!!

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Mayor: Time to let sunshine into City Hall

By Greg Stanton My Turn Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:40 AM

Over the past several months, we’ve made important strides to make Phoenix a more modern city. [Yea, and one of them wasn't repealing the 2 percent sales tax Mayor Stanton promised to repeal when he ran for Mayor in 2011]

We’ve made the Phoenix economy more attractive by ending discrimination against those with disabilities and on the basis of sexual orientation. And we’ve done the simple things, too, such as streamline the process for securing a city permit.

In my view, a modern city must also guarantee City Hall will never be in the pockets of special interests and lobbyists — but always in the hands of the people. [Well expect for the police union which seem to own Greg Stanton because he broke his promise to repeal the 2 percent sales tax, which mostly goes to the police]

To do that, we need safeguards to make sure our elected officials can never break the public’s trust. [Well lets forget about silly lies made when running for office, like the promise to repeal the 2 percent sales tax Mayor Stanton made when running for office in 2011] Unfortunately, Arizona’s ethics rules are among the weakest in the nation — and according to one national expert, score a grade of “laughable.” [Yea, that's true, and I suspect the only thing we will get from you is lip service on promising to improve things]

We deserve better — and we can do better. The hard truth is that far too much influence peddling takes place under the cover of darkness. It is time to let the sunshine in. [Yea, like your refusal to repeal the 2 percent sales tax which you promised to repeal when running for mayor in 2011]

Some at the Legislature have tried to fix the problem, but the Center for Public Integrity recently got it right when it said the recent Fiesta Bowl scandal produced big headlines, but it did not lead to change. [And I suspect all we will get from you Mayor Stanton is empty promises, just like we got from the Legislator, which didn't fix the problem]

I can’t change the rules across Arizona, but, as mayor, I am committed to creating real change in Phoenix and holding our city to a higher standard. [Yea, and we can believe that like we believed your promise to repeal the 2 percent sales tax when you ran for mayor in 2011] And that’s what we’ve done. With the help of a bipartisan Ethics Reform Task Force — led by former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley [Yea, he was the worst Maricopa County Attorney until we got that sleaze bag Andrew Thomas who was kicked out of the bar for his unethical conduct] — we put forward the toughest ethics package in Arizona history. [I am sure we can believe that promise Mayor Stanton like we believed your lie to repeal the 2 percent sales tax]

There are many components, but two are especially important: greater disclosure and real penalties. [Which we won't get, other then the BS and hot air that is coming out of your mouth when you talk about it.]

Significantly increasing disclosure requirements will help ensure that elected officials don’t accept special favors offered to influence their actions in office. [You mean like breaking your promise to repeal the 2 percent sales tax that mostly goes to the police, in exchange for the support of the police union and it's 3,000 Phoenix Police officers????]

Those who resist greater disclosure say that, as a result of the new rule, elected officials might stop going to the kind of community events they should attend. I disagree. Voters are wise enough to discern the difference between a Kiwanis luncheon and a lobbyist-paid vacation getaway to the Bahamas. I’ve even asked city staff to explore what we can do to enact a complete ban on all gifts. [And I suspect when the hot air stops leaving your mouth all we will get out of it is the empty promises you made]

Skirting the rules — failing to report a gift with the hope that nobody finds out — will come with a harsh penalty. [I bet. Probably a gentle slap on the wrist. Maybe even TWO slaps on the wrist for really outrageous corruption] There’s a simple reason for that: For ethics rules to be worth the paper they’re printed on, there must be real penalties for violations. [Yea, just like your promise to repeal the 2 percent sales tax, which was nothing more then a bunch of hot air and BS]

An independent ethics commission — made up of five judges — will review potential violations. To help safeguard against the commission becoming politically motivated, commissioners will need a three-quarters vote of approval from the City Council — a near guarantee of bipartisan support. [But you crooks will find a way around that like you always do. Assuming this stuff gets pass, which it probably won't be.] In the case of wrongdoing, commissioners will be able to slap a financial penalty on a guilty party and recommend censure or even removal from office. [OK, so it's a toothless law, administered by political hacks who probably won't enforce it]

We can’t pretend these new rules are a cure-all that will rid the world of those determined to break them. [I agree with that. If they are passed, and that's a BIG if. They will probably be toothless laws which you and your politician buddies will ignore.] But they’re an incredibly important step — the most significant in state history — toward creating a more open and transparent government the people deserve.

Greg Stanton is mayor of Phoenix.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton piece was hot air

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Stanton piece was hot air

Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:54 PM

Regarding “It’s time to let the sunshine into City Hall” (Opinions, Monday):

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton’s guest column seems to have taken the place of the haboobs we haven’t had to deal with so far this summer. We get that kind of wind from Washington; it has needlessly blown into Phoenix City Hall.

— Jim Rogers, Phoenix

Here are some more article about Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton