Your Money, Your Land, YOUR right to VOTE on them.
In the dusty folds of rural Arizona, a small town became the epicenter of one of the most significant battles for local democracy in the state’s recent history. Not many people noticed at first. But that changed. Transparent Payson was born not in a boardroom, but in living rooms. Coffee tables, community centers, and kitchen […]
To the citizens of Payson and all those who stood with us There comes a moment in every civic movement when the dust settles. When the courtrooms go quiet, the signs are taken down, and the social feeds slow. That moment is here for Transparent Payson. But make no mistake: the echo of our efforts […]
It must be a something; it can’t be a nothing. We apologize for this very long post. The process is nine months in the making. The ongoing saga of a records request we have previously touched on in What is the Town of Payson Hiding and Payson has nuclear launch codes. Some Cliff notes: Records […]
The Roundup published an opinion by Council Member Nossek that took exception to voters’ rights. Mr. Nossek targeted his address at me. The Nossek opinion was removed from publication. The opinion was on the heels of an article by Mr. Aleshire that attempts to lay the dysfunction of Payson politics at my feet. While flattering, […]
A funny thing happened when Mr. Jon Paladini separated from the Town of Payson. We researched new Town Legal, Ms. Christina Werther, to see if there would be a change in approach regarding citizens’ rights. Based on her position in a Prescott Valley voter matter, it does not look like there will be. Citizens’ rights […]
The Payson Roundup recently had an article discussing a Tea Party meeting where Transparent Payson was a guest. The Roundup gives Transparent Payson too much credit. “You can explain a lot about Payson town politics at the moment by listening to Aal’s critique.” No critique would be necessary if the Town listened to voters’ will. The […]
Town Legal, Mr. Jon Paladini has separated from the Town of Payson. Yesterday, we updated the records request and asked, “What is the Town of Payson Hiding?” Soon, we will provide some information on the failed bond. Today we will look at the firm of Pierce Coleman. As we have stated before, there is no […]
Much has happened in the Town of Payson over the past few months. The 70 Million Dollar bond has been shelved. Lawsuits against the Town have advanced to the Arizona Court of Appeals. Two incumbent Town Councilors and the Mayor lost their reelection bids. The Town manager, Troy Smith, has “separated” as of January 3rd. […]
The Town has filed an answering brief to the appeal. The entire brief on Transparent Payson’s appeal is below in .pdf. The Town maintains that the Voter Protection Act does not apply to general-law towns. Based on the totality of the record and Arizona law, it is established that the VPA does not apply to […]
That is likely not true; Payson does not have nuclear launch codes. But it must be something. On March 7th, we requested documents under a request for records (RFR), commonly called a FOIA request. We have reviewed some that should be in the production. If they are not, we will know the production is incomplete. […]
