Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 18

ALL A18 Saturday, October 20, 1990 The Arizona Republic Founded in 1890 Published tlnce 1946 by: Phoenix Newspaper, 120 E. Van Buren, Phoenix, Ariz. 65004 EUGENE C. PULLI AM JOHN P. ZANOTTI WM, R.

HOGAN 1889-1975 Publisher Vice PresidentGeneral Manager Publisher. 1946-1975 WILLIAM P. CHESHIRE CONRAD KLOH EUGENE S. PULLIAM the Editorial Pages Director of Sales and Marketing President JOHN F. 0PPEDAHL BILLSHOVER Managing Editor Director of Public Affairs Idunno about A oW Whefe The Spirit Of The Lord Is, There Is Liberty II Corinthians 3:17 EDITORIALS BACK-ROOM DEALS ACE's dirty little secret LETTERS Schools in desperate need of money Dog attacks tracked THE deal was probably doomed from the outset and a good thing, too but that did nothing to deter supporters of Proposition 103, the so-called ACE initiative, from trying to cobble together a back-room tax deal to fund the $5.8 billion school bonanza.

Despite earlier opposition to ACE, Don Bliss, chief executive officer of West Communications, has been striving to induce other corporate leaders to withdraw themselves and their money from the campaign to defeat the proposition. He has been working to get everybody ACE, the Legislature and business leaders into a quiet corner where a tax deal could be devised that was acceptable to big business. Because of his opposition to ACE, Mr. Bliss had come under intense pressure from powerful fellow Democrats. Evidently he got cold feet.

Rather than work for Proposition 103's defeat, he decided it would be safer for West to cut, a deal on how to raise the money if the proposition were approved. Several meetings were held to explore possible tax plans, with Mr. Bliss urging corporate leaders to back off opposition to ACE if they could get a tax deal they could live with. As it turned out, however, word of the wheeling-dealing leaked. Moreover, with only one top legislative leader, House Speaker Jane Hull, running for re-election, an ironclad deal probably was impossible from the start.

Also, in spite of Mr. Bliss's lobbying, most other CEOs remained steadfast against the ACE proposal ancl rejected back-room dealing on taxes. Rumors of these mancuvcrings had been afloat for days before Fife Symington blew the whistle Thursday, blasting the meetings and the arrangers Mr. Bliss, grocer Eddie Basha (a key ACE supporter) and others. The negotiations even included, in addition to business leaders, a representative of the Arizona Tax Research Association, which opposes Proposition 103, and the ubiquitous political operator Bilj Jamieson.

Mr. Symington produced a document he charged had been hammered out at the meetings. Among the eye-poppers were a new 5 percent sales tax on services hair cuts, dry cleaning, auto repairs and such a doubling of property taxes, a 1 percent real estate transfer tax and a half-cent boost in the sales tax on goods. The conspirators were quick to dismiss Mr. Symington's accusations, professing that the document amounted to little more than scribbled notes on hypothetical tax increases that might be needed to fund ACE.

(Proposition 103 would amend the Constitution to require the state to spend an additional $100 per student annually for 10 years, a.total bill of almost $6 billion.) If that were the case, if these were nothing more than theoretical musings, why did the "notes" end up in the possession of Speaker-Hull, from whom Mr. Symington obtained them? The question is not answered, but a participant in the meetings has confirmed to us that the "notes" were indeed a concrete tax proposal. The obvious conclusion is that Mr. Bliss's curious business roundtable had been engaged in a clear attempt to strike a tax deal out of public view. Mr.

Symington's allegations were right on the mark, and such shenanigans have no place in Arizona. All these political machinations should not be allowed to obscure the obvious: If Proposition 103 is approved, it will require the biggest tax increase in the history of the state. This is the dirty little secret that ACE supporters refuse to admit. extra jobs to get by, but the students in my class who need help will get it from me if they can't get help at home. It may cost a little, but it's worth it.

I care about my students; in fact, they are our only hope for tomorrow. It seems as if we spend more on the prisoners who break the law than on those youngsters who are trying to do what's right. I am fed up with people who don't care, people who say we can teach effectively with 20 to 30 students in a class, people who don't think we need new equipment, people who complain constantly who have never taught 30 youngsters every day for a year, but know all the answers. I'd love to make more money teaching, but I'd rather have smaller classes first, better equipment second and rooms that are clean and pleasant to teach in each day. I believe people who don't care about the future of our country will never support more money for education.

They are blinded by the dollar sign. As for me, I will continue to teach because I believe in our young people today. They are our only hope for tomorrow. KENTHORNE Phoenix Editor: The Oct. 6 article "Best friend or beast?" by Kathie Price was very readable and informative.

One point of information needs to be corrected. RabiesAnimal Control does track dog bites and attacks. We monitor all anima! bites (except livestock), -which by state" law must be reported to us. Our present system docs not allow us to track all complaints and encounters with an animal, which could be an -indicator of a problem before a bite or attack occurs. A new system is under development and will enable us to monitor these -situations more comprehensively.

This will be in place by early next year. Animal bites are a serious and I continuing problem. An effective moni-" toring and surveillance system will increase the opportunity to identify potential problems and take appropriate" action, including referral for prosecution under municipal dog ordinances. SUSAN SVITAK Director RabiesAnimal Control Maricopa County Department of Health Services Phoenix Editor: I read the editorial "ACE is anti-reform" and need to comment. I am a teacher in the Glendale Union High School District.

I teach at Apollo High School, and six months ago the motors on my coolers burned out. This fall we started school with only half the coolers working. About a week ago I received a letter from the assistant principal telling me we were broke and could not fix the coolers. How do you think I feel or my students feel when we can't even have a few conveniences like coolers Have you ever taught a class with 25 to 30 student and have more than half of them special ed? When I ask why we couldn't have smaller classes, I was told it was because we don't have enough money to hire more teachers. No one in his right mind could teach all of these students everything they needed to know each day.

Have your children gone without food, clothing, paper, pencils or even tissues? Students come every day to my class without such things because they are neglected or the parents just can't afford to buy them such things. I'm not a rich man; in fact I work two NO STOMACH OR ECONOMY Congress savors plums Investing in future carries big price tag John moved into a homeless shelter he has a warm place to sleep in between his long days at school, consisting of both day and evening classes. While John's living arrangements are most humble, he explains to me that they are an excellent opportunity to prepare for the accommodations he will experience when he graduates in May. You see, John is enrolled in the delayed entry program for the Navy. John's story is far from unique.

I am constantly amazed at the barriers students overcome at South Mountain High in order to obtain an education. Our financial contribution pales in comparison. NICK CARUSO Youth Resource Coordinator City of Phoenix Phoenix Editor: While disagreement persists between the gubernatorial candidates over the way in which the state should intervene in our attempts to rebuild our failing public education system, one thing becomes clear: investing in our future comes with a significant price tag; It is essential that we not lose sight of the individuals we are investing in as we contemplate the bigger picture. To that end I would like to share with you some of the barriers a student I work with at South Mountain High School overcomes every day as he keeps his eye on the prize of graduating with his diploma next May. The student, who I will call John, dropped out of a dysfunctional home environment, but was determined to make something out of his life and did not drop out of school.

Proposition 202 a fraud Editor: I am alarmed to think that many people will be fooled into thinking that Proposition 202 is pro-environment. In my opinion it is a complete fraud. The official title sounds great, but when you read the body of it, you find that it actually weakens existing laws. It allows importation of out-of-state wastes and allows new garbage dumps in or near flood plains. It apparently deregulates incineration of infectious medical wastes and allows landfills to avoid installing the best protective measures until after they cause a groundwater pollution problem.

This proposal was promoted and paid for by Browning Ferris, one of the world's largest waste handlers. That should give us a clue. Vote "no" on Proposition 202. ALFRED S. FULLER Sun Lakes ing conditions cannot be used as an excuse for closure.

An assistance plan be established to help communities adjust to base closings, including worker retraining and new uses for the property. These procedures, included in the $289 billion defense authorization bill, would have no effect on the 86 installations that an independent commission recommended for closing in 1988. They would, however, bar any other shutdowns until 1992. Earlier this year Secretary Cheney targeted 35 bases for closure and more than 20 for force reductions or realignment. The House-Senate plan not only would send him back to the drawing board to draft a proposal that would meet with the approval of a bipartisan commission but also would require President Bush to design a new, ostensibly objective and non-partisan procedure for deciding where the ax would fall.

Secretary Cheney might as well throw darts at a board or randomly pick names out of a hat. The truth is that most members of Congress have little stomach for economy if economizing entails giving up backyard projects. Rare indeed is the congressman or senator who chooses biting the bullet over savoring a plum. SOME of the choicest plums in the defense pie are domestic military installations, and Congress is full of Little Jack Horners who stick in their thumbs to extract these choice morsels for their home districts. It's a way of telling the voters what good boys they are, delivering these juicy tidbits and sweetening the local economy.

Try taking away those goodies, as the Defense Department has attempted to do with proposals for shutting down obsolete' or unheeded and members of Congress start kicking and screaming. Tantrums done, they begin scheming to save the choicest plums. Recently they have come up with a beaut. The response to Defense Secretary Dick Cheney's list of "candidates for closure" is a legislative obstacle course that would challenge a decathlon winner. A five-point base-closing plan, approved by the House and Senate would require that: The Pentagon submit a long-term strategic plan for national defense.

A bipartisan method be found for determining what bases should be closed. '''The Defense Department delay base closures until a rational process is formulated. Bases be adequately maintained while the review process is under way so that deteriorat Hawks lose their longtime home to new pavilion their interactions and hunting habits in the surrounding fields. When they fly in this year I wonder if they will feel confusion when they find no trees, no fields, only our wonderful new Desert Sky Pavilion. JOHN FANDORF Phoenix Editor: For many years there stood a small stand of tamarisk, pecan and chinaberry trees in the middle of many acres of cotton in the west Valley.

Each fall my wife and I awaited the arrival of an extended family of five of more Harris Hawks that made their winter home there. We enjoyed observing LETTERS POLICY Your letters are welcome. Please include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Please keep your letters brief. All letters are subject to editing.

Short letters will be given priority. Forging bond-project compromise will test mayor's mettle he job of gutsy bullfighters, which Ernest Hemingway likened to "grace under pressure," isn't too 3 JOEL NiLSSON Editorial Writer The Arizona Republic moment. In the next two weeks Mr. Johnson can expect to feel the fury as he hasn't before. Huffing the strongest likely will be his fellow council members.

In the past they've been known to let parochial views creep ahead of interests most beneficial from a citywide perspective. (Isn't the name of the game, after all, survival?) The sleepy bureaucracy at City Hall may awaken to stake out its territorial rights as well. The Police and Fire departments likely will lead the charge, but don't rule out potshots from other agencies, i.e., parks and recreation and housing. And citizen activists who tirelessly volunteered their services to push passage of a $1 billion bond election in 1988 are beginning to sound off. The landscape is dotted with mines.

The wrong step, and he could be wounded politically. The right moves, and the city as a whole benefits. What Mr. Johnson must do is convince everyone that the city manager's compro Museum of Science and Technology and; expansion of the Phoenix Art shouldn't be sacrificed. The contemplated caveat to require that a private sector match of funds be obtained before construction isn't reasonable.

More time is needed to raise funds, not less. "I understand the caution on the city's part, but it's the ghost of the Herbergcx. Theater," says Michcle Irwin, who was instrumental in securing passage of the cultural package. Unlike the theater, private funds aren't to be used for construction of the museums. Mrs.

Irwin also is upset about proposed delays in restoring the historic Orphcum Theater and a new Arizona Museum. So am because, like Mrs. Irwin, I believe these are not merely economic stimulators, but the sorts of amenities that reveal much about a city's soul. But here, pragmatism ought to prevail. A fair balance has been struck.

Mr. Johnson's tough task is to keep it from unraveling. mise plan to delay construction of hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of bond projects is not only fair, but in the best interests of the city. The list of projects is extensive from parks and pools, to libraries and museums, to fire stations and police computer dispatch systems, to storm sewers and low-income housing units. Mr.

Johnson suffers no illusion that his task will be easy. For starters, all were authorized by voters in 1988, who were told they'd be completed by 1995. And need it be said that location does make a difference to council members who want to bring home the pork? In the first few days of the plan's release, six council members privately mentioned to the mayor how upset they were, and "all six for completely different reasons," Mr. Johnson told me this week. "I will tell you that there is a division on the council," Mr.

Johnson says. "I will tell you that the only one who at this point believes the staff recommendations are correct is this office." The course charted by City Manager Frank Fairbanks is reflective of the economic downturn. In short, the city's property tax base isn't what it was. Assessed valuations have plunged from an annual growth rate of 10 percent to less than 1 percent today. Raising taxes or borrowing more heavily are options nobody favors.

As a result, the decision was made to stretch out the bond program to eight years, from five. It's not as if any project gets the heave-ho. The pain is shared. At the center of the firestorm promises to be an array of cultural items slated for downtown Phoenix. Criticizing downtown Phoenix is almost de rigueur for some because of former Mayor Goddard's unyielding emphasis on the central core.

The feeling, particularly among newer council members, seems to be: It's our turn to get the goodies. Planned cultural projects, e.g., a new vastly different from the task for which Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson finds himself gearing up. Unquestionably, the mettle and persuasiveness of Mr. Johnson are about to be tested in ways they haven't been previously, if for no other reason than that he's been on the job only since February. Deftly getting his City Council brethren to appoint him to complete Terry Goddard's mayoral term was an indicator of his ego and cunning.

His prowess at piecing together the coalition on behalf of Craig Tribken to fill an empty council seat in June further underscored the. young mayor's maturity and his ability to lead. And his fighting for extra open space in the proposed Phoenix Indian School development has revealed a refreshing combination of spunk and vision. But put these matters aside for the.