For The Best Scottsdale Campaign
One Of The First Campaigns In Arizona To Make Recycling Commitment Following Research/Inquiries From Environmental Organization
(SCOTTSDALE) — For The Best Scottsdale Political Action Committee, the campaign in support of Questions 1, 2, and 3, on the November 5th ballot in Scottsdale, is one of the first campaigns in the state to commit to recycling its campaign signs and use signs made with recycled plastic.
Initially, the campaign assumed that its corrugated plastic campaign signs would be accepted at traditional municipal or commercial recycling centers. However the campaign learned that most government and private recycling centers no longer accept corrugated plastic. Indeed, the market for some recycled materials has been drastically reduced recently since China stopped accepting most recyclable material from the United States.
The campaign was initially made aware of the recycling challenge by Emily Austin, a Scottsdale businesswoman and environmental advocate. Upon learning that corrugated plastic would not be accepted at most recycling locations, the campaign sought out and located a company that would accept corrugated plastic campaign signs, B & L Polymer Processing in Phoenix. Looks Good Printing will be manufacturing the signs using recycled plastic. At the conclusion of the campaign in November, the signs will be delivered to B and L for recycling. While some additional costs are associated with recycling the signs and using recycled materials, the campaign feels it is worth the investment.
The three bond questions on the November ballot would build new parks and recreation facilities, expand senior centers, upgrade WestWorld, repair infrastructure at Civic Center Plaza and at the far southern end of Indian Bend Wash, build new and renovate existing police and fire stations and modernize the city jail. The bonds invest $319 million in 58 projects in all parts of the community. Scottsdale voters have not approved a major bond program since 2000.
For more information on the bond questions including a list of the projects go to www.TheBestScottsdale.com.
Campaign Co-Chairperson Paula Sturgeon said, “If voters say yes, Questions 1, 2, and 3 will improve Scottsdale’s quality of life now and for years to come. The campaign in support of the bonds can get an early start by doing the environmentally responsible thing with used campaign signs. The campaign thanks Emily Austin for bringing this situation to our attention, giving us time to plan accordingly.”
Scottsdale has not passed a meaningful community improvement package financed by bonds in two decades. Due to bonds now being retired to finance the infrastructure enhancements nearly 20 years ago it is highly likely Scottsdale’s secondary property tax, which funds bonds, will continue to decrease even if voters approve the new bonds, according to the City Treasurer’s Office. In 2000 Scottsdale voters authorized $361 million worth of new infrastructure that was critical to maintaining the city’s high quality of life. This year’s package is $319 million, substantially less than the $450 million city officials say would be the amount that taxpayers would begin to see a slight increase in their secondary property taxes.
Irrespective of the negligible to non-existent impact on effected taxes a deep and diverse group of Scottsdale citizens has organized in support of all 3 questions on the November ballot because they believe it is long last time for the community to invest in these critical improvements. And for the first time in recent memory the Scottsdale City Council is unanimously supporting “yes” votes, following the extensive public outreach and input the city undertook earlier this year.