Sedona seems to be on the brink of a revolution — or maybe more appropriately, its Latin root “revolutio,” a turnaround.
Although far from a revolution, public outcry against a recent Sedona City Council decision, complaints against local governments’ budgets and unrest toward the fire and school boards have created a sense of political disarray in the red rocks.

Sedona seems to be on the brink of a revolution — or maybe more appropriately, its Latin root “revolutio,” a turnaround.
Although far from a revolution, public outcry against a recent Sedona City Council decision, complaints against local governments’ budgets and unrest toward the fire and school boards have created a sense of political disarray in the red rocks.
Sedona residents will march on the steps of the State Capitol in Phoenix and at Sedona City Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 1, to protest streetlights. On Sunday, Sept. 21, nearly 200 people showed up to a private meeting to “take back our town.”
The March Against Lights
Keep Sedona Beautiful, the International Dark Sky Association Sedona Chapter and the Sierra Club Sedona/Verde Valley have organized what they call “A People’s Day of Action.”
On Oct. 1, Sedona residents will voice their opposition to the Arizona Department of Transportation installing 76 or more streetlights on Highway 89A in West Sedona.
On Aug. 13, City Council voted 4-2 to give ADOT the go-ahead to install continuous roadway lighting along the highway from Dry Creek Road to Airport Road.
In 2007, the city asked ADOT to make the highway safer after four people were killed crossing the highway at night in previous years.
Protestors will be at the Capitol steps in Phoenix from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and at Sedona City Hall from 2 to 5 p.m. urging ADOT to abandon the lights.
According to KSB President Barbara Litrell, KSB — a 501(c)(3) — can’t get involved in politics, but can get involved in issues, advocacy and education. The 501(c)(3) label limits political activities, as defined by the Internal Revenue Services, such as backing candidates, she said.
Red Rock Conservation Coalition
On Sunday, Sept. 21, Cole Greenberg, president of the Red Rock Conservation Coalition held its first private meeting.
RRCC is a 501(c)(4), which, according to the IRS, is to operate to further the common good and general welfare of the people of the community.
RRCC is not a political action committee, but a 501(c)(4) formed to be a politically active version of Keep Sedona Beautiful, Greenberg said.
Greenberg resigned from his elected position on the KSB board on Aug. 18, but as a former KSB president will always be a board member, he said.
According to Greenberg, RRCC “has exactly the same objectives as KSB,” and is a “political partner version of KSB.”
RRCC is a completely different organization from KSB, Litrell said. It is not an arm of KSB, she said, and if KSB wanted to form a political arm, it would do so separately.
RRCC’s campaign is “Take Back our Town,” and the revolution started Sunday when about 175 people showed up in support.
“It wasn’t a complaint session,” Greenberg said. “It was ‘what can we do?’ All they heard from me was specifics on how bad it was.”
How bad is it?
First up on Sunday’s agenda was a discussion about the recall of Councilwoman Nancy Scagnelli for her motion to have ADOT install the street lights on Highway 89A.
“Nancy’s [Scagnelli] motion in the face of all who oppose it was the last straw,” Greenberg said.
Greenberg collected 10 percent of the 380 signatures required for the recall petition Sunday night, he said. Since Greenberg has 120 days to obtain signatures, he’ll keep going even after he’s received 380, he said.
Scagnelli is aware that Greenberg pulled a packet, she said.
“I made the decision that I thought was right, and I still do,” Scagnelli said of voting in favor of the lights.
With the economy as bad as it is, Scagnelli doesn’t think the city should have agreed to a $10- to $12-million project to install continuous medians or barriers in place of the lights.
City Council and the city budget weren’t the only things RRCC found fault with Sunday night.
According to Greenberg, the Sedona Fire District and the Sedona-Oak Creek School District aren’t representing residents either.
“They represent something else. I don’t know what it is,” he said.
The local media also made the agenda.
Greenberg asked the crowd if they think they’re getting even-handed reporting and he received a resounding “no,” he said.
Greenberg’s meeting was for all individuals, “tired of being ignored by our elected officials, disgusted by millions of dollars being spent without your input, confused and angry about a $76 million city debt and disappointed with poor municipal management.”
The meeting, he said, was about people who say they care and are willing to do something about it.

Alison Ecklund can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 125, or e-mail
aecklund@larsonnewspapers.com.