Dear Frosty:
Thank you so much for your article on our future. I loved the first book you wrote “America on the Brink: The Next 100 Million Americans”, which is now coming true. I bought a number of copies and gave them away. I am forwarding your article on “News With Views” to a lot of people. I am turning 80 in eight days and already very worried about the future of America. Trying to talk to Democrats seems a hopeless cause, they are so brain washed but, I will not give up. Our small town of Sedona is a mini example of what you write. We have a City Council and City Manager and Chamber of Commerce who want nothing more than to invite every tourist they can find to come to Sedona and our City gives the Chamber $2.5 million each year with increases to get them here and they are destroying our environment.
The City encourages resorts right on our beautiful Oak Creek which brings in more traffic which is already at a tipping point, I have lived here 41 years and shocked at what is going on. Tourists rent ATVs from half a dozen companies and are tearing up the forest trails around our City so much the dust is destroying the trees. Our traffic is so bad it can take one hour to go fifteen miles from Interstate 17 from Phoenix to get into town. I have to shop early am to avoid traffic and long lines at Whole Foods where I shop. Due to the frightening increase in tourists – four million a year we have a huge increase in power lines to carry internet and phone services making ugly neighborhoods. Also our City advertises for mountain bikers and organizes a huge Bike Festival each year and they are tearing up the forest trails along with the ATVs and add to traffic problems.
One day someone will die due to delays in first responders to a 911 call due to traffic. Visitors have no caring for our beautiful environment and residents who hike are constantly complaining about it and get no where. Hardly anyone wants to run for public office due to the machinery such as Chamber, Lodging, City Hall and Democrat Party they have to go against so they give up. We have a group trying again this year to find people to run.
ARBNB has ruined our City with so many homes converted to vacation rentals workers cannot find a place to live and we have reached a crisis. Our State Legislature and Governor passed the bill allowing it and our neighborhoods are full of strangers. We are a town of only 9.000 surrounded by State and National Forests.
Yes Frosty, your first book was right on the mark. I moved here from Australia in 1966 and married an American who passed away 20 years ago and am now alone in the world and very worried about the future. All those illegals will put a burden on medical access. They have nowhere to live in Sedona thank goodness but, in other cities they will increase property taxes for schools,fire and police departments placing financial burdens on the long term residents who built their towns and now being invaded. Federal taxes will increase to pay for their subsidized housing, food stamps etc. Also the schools are required to hire translators, psychologists etc. and will have to build onto current schools and purchase land to do so.
Love you Frosty,
Blessings,
Joan Shannon
Sedona, Arizona
