Now is the time to take a stand with Transparent Payson.   

Who we are:

We are citizens of Payson, Arizona, striving to make our local government more transparent.  We believe in the people voting on what happens with their money, their land, and their town.  We believe that elected officials are there to serve the public; as such, we should have a voice in making decisions that affect us all.  We are nonpartisan/bipartisan with no party affiliation, no hidden agenda. We believe in Payson, Arizona, and its future.  We support growth that will better serve all its citizens while remaining financially sound.  As a 527 nonprofit PAC, we were responsible for successfully enacting Propositions 401 and 402 in 2018.  A short history of our group can be found here.


Voters' rights are essential to all.

Fundamentally, we are responsible for Propositions 401 and 402 and their defense.  We have been compelled to become a voters' rights group in that defense.  The implications for Payson appear limited to the validity of Propositions 401 and 402 and their enactment.  At the state level, we suspect the implications of our effort have a much more significant impact.  That is, do citizens, as allowed by law, have the ability to initiate law?  Is that law then valid?  Can it be repealed by Town Council or any legislative group?

There was recently an attempt by the Town of Payson to repeal these ballot initiatives.   With the help of an attorney, we are fighting that effort in Superior Court; we still have much work to do to defend your voting rights.

We are defending the rights of Payson citizens on large-scale, publicly funded projects that may be placed on public lands via long-term leases to third parties.  Our goal is NOT to prevent such projects but to ensure transparency in all negotiations, discussions, and contracts that affect your town.  If the citizens approve the funding through an election, or if the citizens approve the lease of public land to complete the project, we would support that effort.  We are protecting YOU – the voter.

Our vision is that our leaders provide all the information as to the proposed spending of Town money as well as the utilization of Town property so that we, the citizens, can choose how and where our money and our land are utilized.

We welcome YOUR involvement in this process.  Dare we say, support the cause.


I appreciate your consideration.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

 

___________________________

Jeffrey S. Aal 

Chairperson, Transparent Payson

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May 29, 2023

A Healthy Government Does NOT Suppress Free Speech.

Attempting to stifle protected/free speech is never a good quality for a government.  By definition, that action is oppressive.  Bullying is not tolerated at the local schools.  There is a significant discussion on the causes and consequences.  Bullying is a real issue, most grow out of it, and apparently, some do not.  Perhaps some Council Members or Town management could benefit from a time out?

bul·ly

VERB

1. seek to harm, intimidate, or coerce (someone perceived as vulnerable):

Paul Frommelt has been a Board Member of Transparent Payson from day one.  Paul spent countless hours collecting signatures and coordinating the many other volunteers collecting signatures; we would not have been successful without Paul.  Recently the Town of Payson allowed for a drive-through marijuana dispensary.  Some people in the Town were vocal in their objections.  Part of that vocalization was via a meme riffed on the Town of Payson logo.  As a group, Transparent Payson has no position on the drive-through issue.  We take very seriously perceived/actual threats or perceived/attempted intimidation against our Board Members.

Town Legal, Mr. Jon Paladini, on behalf of the Town of Payson, with the firm Pierce Coleman, sent a Cease and Desist letter to Paul.  The letter is for trademark infringement and threatens legal action.  The images in question can be found on our website.

A full copy of the Transparent Payson response by Counsel Mr. Timothy A. La Sota is also on the website.  Here is a brief snip of the response:

"Your letter was ill-advised and a naked attempt to squelch the free speech rights of the Town opponents.  It hardly seems a coincidence that Mr. Frommelt is a board member of Transparent Payson, which has sued the Town alleging that the Town illegally repealed two citizen passed ballot measures."

This is not the first time the Town of Payson has tried to intimidate members of Transparent Payson.  Prior Town Legal, Mr. Figueroa, sent the Constable to deliver documents, threatened claims of open meeting violations, and demanded that information provided by the Town be removed from publication as an “emergency.”  Counsel advised that if it was an emergency, Mr. Figueroa should call 911.  The Town has a history of attempted retaliation and intimidation.

Bullying is best left to third-world dictators, banana republics, and children with low self-esteem.

To stop this behavior from our local government, it is necessary to place checks on them.  That can only be done with your financial support.  Please donate.  Or wait for your turn in the cross hairs.

Still YOUR money. Still YOUR land. Still YOUR vote.
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