Being shooed away from Flagstaff Az. (Mesa, Sedona: unemployment, buy, schools)

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by kdog

99% of the state of Arizona is completely uninhabited. Citing Sedona as an example of anything is ludicrous, because Sedona is one of the wonders of the world. It's perfect, like Maui, Carmel, the San Diego shore, or any of the few other places in the world that are deemed so desirable that people flock there like ants on a cookie until it's paved over and ruined. Sedona is a lost cause. However, Sedona ain't Arizona, and neither is Phoenix. You could probably have every retired person in the country move to Arizona and there'd be more than enough room for them. What's wrong with making an economy on retired people? I say bring 'em on.

Arizona has always been one of the most desirable places for Americans to retire. Building an economy around retired people, snowbirds, and tourists is just good business sense.

[poolgirl51]

Originally Posted by kdog

99% of the state of Arizona is completely uninhabited. Citing Sedona as an example of anything is ludicrous, because Sedona is one of the wonders of the world. It's perfect, like Maui, Carmel, the San Diego shore, or any of the few other places in the world that are deemed so desirable that people flock there like ants on a cookie until it's paved over and ruined. Sedona is a lost cause. However, Sedona ain't Arizona, and neither is Phoenix. You could probably have every retired person in the country move to Arizona and there'd be more than enough room for them. What's wrong with making an economy on retired people? I say bring 'em on.

Now Kdog, Sedona is not a lost cause. It may not be what people who knew it before the growth remember but it is hardly a lost cause. Yes the politics here are contentious and there has been a some out of control development but it is still a wonderful community in a beautiful setting. One day, perhaps, even the road construction will be done.

Living here one just has to look past the tourist trap shops and appreciate our many wonderful galleries, ignore the crystal shops and vortex tours and enjoy the fabulous hiking. It is easy to get out into the wilderness very quickly on the hundreds of miles of trails within 5 miles of most of the homes here. Within 2-6 hours one can drive to; the South Rim,North Rim, Zion, Bryce, Moab, Durango, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Vegas.....I could go on and on. And because we do have so many visitors we have more services available to us than a normal relatively remote small town would have; great restaurants, several grocery stores etc.

I know what it is like to see things change in a way that is disturbing to those who have been here a while. I grew up in Florida. That said Sedona is not really a lost cause it is just different than it was.

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by poolgirl51

Living (in Sedona) one just has to look past the tourist trap shops and appreciate our many wonderful galleries, ignore the crystal shops and vortex tours and enjoy the fabulous hiking. It is easy to get out into the wilderness very quickly on the hundreds of miles of trails within 5 miles of most of the homes here.

Yeah... but, what assurances do we have... that we won't run into those very same tourist trap shop owners, crystal shop enthusiasts, vortex tourists (and their guides), and/or fortune tellers... out there... on one of those "fabulous hiking trails"?

[kdog]

Originally Posted by poolgirl51

Now Kdog, Sedona is not a lost cause. It may not be what people who knew it before the growth remember but it is hardly a lost cause. Yes the politics here are contentious and there has been a some out of control development but it is still a wonderful community in a beautiful setting. One day, perhaps, even the road construction will be done.

Living here one just has to look past the tourist trap shops and appreciate our many wonderful galleries, ignore the crystal shops and vortex tours and enjoy the fabulous hiking. It is easy to get out into the wilderness very quickly on the hundreds of miles of trails within 5 miles of most of the homes here. Within 2-6 hours one can drive to; the South Rim,North Rim, Zion, Bryce, Moab, Durango, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Vegas.....I could go on and on. And because we do have so many visitors we have more services available to us than a normal relatively remote small town would have; great restaurants, several grocery stores etc.

I know what it is like to see things change in a way that is disturbing to those who have been here a while. I grew up in Florida. That said Sedona is not really a lost cause it is just different than it was.

At the risk of coming off a bit schizophrenic (even more so than usual for me), I will say I agree with you. I spend a lot of time in Sedona and love it. However, from the Ponderosa point of view, it's a bit of a lost cause because much of what was once a beautiful wilderness area is of course now one big tourist trap. You can't really deny that. On the other hand, like you say, if you get off the beaten path, there is great beauty and even solitude that can be had. Not totally unlike Maui for example which is mostly built-up, but still has pockets of public jungle. In Sedona there are vast expanses of Red Rocks area which you cannot get to because they're the exclusive turf of gated communities. Kind of criminal, that. Basically you're only allowed where you're allowed to go, if that makes any sense. It's frustrating, although not so bad that it will keep me away. No way, not with scenery like this to feed my photography habit.

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by kdog

At the risk of coming off a bit schizophrenic (even more so than usual for me), I will say I agree with you. I spend a lot of time in Sedona and love it. However, from the Ponderosa point of view, it's a bit of a lost cause because much of what was once a beautiful wilderness area is of course now one big tourist trap. You can't really deny that. On the other hand, like you say, if you get off the beaten path, there is great beauty and even solitude that can be had. Not totally unlike Maui for example which is mostly built-up, but still has pockets of public jungle. In Sedona there are vast expanses of Red Rocks area which you cannot get to because they're the exclusive turf of gated communities. Kind of criminal, that. Basically you're only allowed where you're allowed to go, if that makes any sense. It's frustrating, although not so bad that it will keep me away. No way, not with scenery like this to feed my photography habit.

What's wrong with the tourism aspect? If not for tourism, towns such as Sedona, Flagstaff, and Las Vegas would dissapear.

What we need is more affordable housing, and more businesses to provide jobs for the locals, and the people who have just moved to town.

And by affordable housing, I mean $600 or less per month, as you'll find in Yucca Valley, California where they don't have "smart growth."

I think lands along I-17 between Flagstaff and the Verde Valley could be re-zoned for commercial developments, including big box stores and outlet stores.

When 40% of Flagstaff residents polled have to drive out of town to Phoenix, Prescott, or Vegas for goods and services, that's a waste of foreign oil -- and the City loses tax receipts supporting parks and programs for our children.

People in Flag drive out of town to get cheap tires at Superwallmart, discounted prescription drugs at Costco, and computer stuff at Fryes electronics.

Therefore, a true conservationist who is also pro-family would be pro-development, not against it! (This is an economically liberal point of view!)

In fact, Durango wants to bring in a Target and Kohls, to prevent losing tax dollars to Farmington, NM.
Yucca Valley wants a Superwallmart and Target to prevent residents from driving to Palm Springs!

South Lake Tahoe, CA and Santa Fe, NM have similar problems as Flagstaff and Sedona, with far-left, anti-liberal, anti-family tree huggers keeping big box stores OUT OF TOWN.

Again as always we liberal, pro-family environmentalists arriving to AZ and NM from the West Coast are speechless.

[poolgirl51]

Originally Posted by ZonyPony

Yeah... but, what assurances do we have... that we won't run into those very same tourist trap shop owners, crystal shop enthusiasts, vortex tourists (and their guides), and/or fortune tellers... out there... on one of those "fabulous hiking trails"?

Well, like any other hikers you meet on the trail, you say "good morning" and keep on hiking and enjoying the view. right back at ya.

[poolgirl51]

Originally Posted by kdog

At the risk of coming off a bit schizophrenic (even more so than usual for me), I will say I agree with you. I spend a lot of time in Sedona and love it. However, from the Ponderosa point of view, it's a bit of a lost cause because much of what was once a beautiful wilderness area is of course now one big tourist trap. You can't really deny that. On the other hand, like you say, if you get off the beaten path, there is great beauty and even solitude that can be had. Not totally unlike Maui for example which is mostly built-up, but still has pockets of public jungle. In Sedona there are vast expanses of Red Rocks area which you cannot get to because they're the exclusive turf of gated communities. Kind of criminal, that. Basically you're only allowed where you're allowed to go, if that makes any sense. It's frustrating, although not so bad that it will keep me away. No way, not with scenery like this to feed my photography habit.

First of all, what a beautiful photo! Anyway short of making the Sedona area a national park, say back around the turn of the previous century there was really no way to prevent the development. Some of it could have been controlled a bit better but certainly not completely avoided. That said I am honored to live here an glad that I can. As always I love the photos you post so keep visiting and photographing our lovely Sedona!

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by poolgirl51

Well, like any other hikers you meet on the trail, you say "good morning" and keep on hiking and enjoying the view. right back at ya.

Okay, "girl"... thanx... now, go get back in your "pool".

[poolgirl51]

Originally Posted by ZonyPony

Okay, "girl"... thanx... now, go get back in your "pool".

Actually I left the pool in Florida I just did not change the name. So I'll just get back to my hiking on the beautiful trails around Sedona.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by Tom Lane

What's wrong with the tourism aspect? If not for tourism, towns such as Sedona, Flagstaff, and Las Vegas would dissapear.

I grew up in Sedona. Went to High School at Mingus Mountain in Jerome. All before Tourism. And you know what? We did just fine without the likes of you and yours coming in and thinking you knew better then those that founded the town.

Frankly Tom, your ideas are not going to happen - period. Sedona, Flagstaff and the Verde Valley are just fine. We don't need your "affordable housing" projects. Or your big box stores our outlet malls along I-17

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