Page 14 - the NOISE April 2014

STORY BY CINDY COLE
The City of Sedona failed to take asser- tive action against Arizona Public Ser- vice (APS) to keep smart meters out of the
area. Prior to the March 12 council meet- ing, smart meters were further discussed at an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Lunch & Learn and in a meeting be- tween APS and city representatives. While Sedona City Council approved a measure to file as an intervener in APS’ request to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) regarding fees for those who opt out of smart meter use, it did not take the more definitive action of issuing an emergency ordinance to stop their deployment.
Following a City Council workshop held on February 20, Mayor Rob Adams, City Manager Tim Ernster and City Attorney Mike Goimarac met with representatives from APS to request smart meter deploy- ment in Sedona be delayed until the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) com- pletes its report on their health and safety concerns. This report was requested by the ACC and its completion date is still unknown.
APS arrived at the meeting with seven representatives from the company, including two security guards. At the February council meeting, Mayor Adams stated representa- tives from APS had expressed concern for their personal safety when visiting the city.
In an article published by Red Rock News, Mayor Adams expressed his disappointment in the meeting and the attitude of the APS representatives. “The bottom line, they didn’t come here to negotiate. They had their minds set before they even got here,” he said.
According to assessments of the meeting by Mayor Adams and Mr. Ernster, APS did not give legitimate reasons for requesting opt-out penalties of $75 up front, followed by $360 a year in “meter reading” fees. The mayor also said he didn’t hear any valid reasons to justify why installations could not be deferred until after the DHS report is completed. APS informed the city rep- resentatives that smart meter deployment would resume as scheduled on March 31.
On March 5, OLLI sponsored a debate between John Neville, president of Sus- tainable Arizona, representing the ben- efits of smart meters and Sedona City Councilor Barbara Litrell speaking about their dangers. Ms. Litrell stressed she was speaking on her own behalf and not as a city representative. More than 100 people crowded into the room at Sedona’s Yavapai College campus to listen in.
In addition to providing evidence regard- ing the dangers of smart meters, Ms. Litrell pointed out factual errors in Mr. Neville’s pre- sentation. One glaring inaccuracy was his mention of an oft-used passage from a 2005
PHOTO BY OMAR VICTOR
World Health Organization (WHO) report stating that non-ionizing electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation — the kind that comes from cell phones, cell towers, wi-fi, DECT phones, cordless phones, baby moni- tors ... and smart meters — posed no risk to humans. Ms. Litrell corrected this citation with information released by WHO classify- ing this type of radiofrequency radiation as a 2B (Possible) Carcinogen along with DDT, lead, and engine exhaust.
On March 12, the City Council met first in Executive Session, and then publicly to fur- ther discuss the City’s next steps. The city hired Phoenix attorney David Pennartz to advise on available options for further challenging smart meters and opt-out fees. There are now more than 50 municipalities in California that have issued such bans.
In the end, City Council backed down from considering the creation of an ordinance ban- ning smart meters. However, it did authorize Mr. Goimarac to file a formal motion for the City to intervene with the ACC in APS’ request for financial opt-out penalties. This means Sedona could get a “seat at the table” when the ACC formally reviews the fee request.
The City of Sedona continues to say that it “has no jurisdictional authority regard- ing the installation of ‘smart meters’ or the establishment of opt out fees; that author- ity is vested with the ACC by State statute.” Corporation Commissioners are elected but it has been reported at least two of the five have received financial support from APS.
Smart meter opponents have suggested Sedona could use its public nuisance or- dinance to ban smart meters in the area. According to city code, “anything which is injurious to health or indecent or offensive to the senses, or which interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property or anything which unlawfully obstructs the free passage or use in a customary manner of any public place, street, sidewalk or alley in the city, is a public nuisance and subject to summary abatement.”
To opt-out of smart meter installation, or to restore an analog meter, consumers may call APS at 800/253-9405.
On April 5, Sedona Smart Meter Aware- ness is hosting a benefit to help continue the efforts to keep Sedona smart meter free. The event will be held at 7 Centers Yoga 6-9PM. On April 6, there will be a free showing of the documentary Take Back Your Power at 2PM. SedonaSmartMeterAwareness.com.
| Cindy Cole has been shopping for tin foil helmets. cindy@thenoise.us
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4/1 — Gloria — Directed by John Cassa- vetes (1980) PG, 123 minutes, Starring Gena Rowlands in her Academy Award nominated performance, with Buck Henry and Julie Car- men. Written and directed by one of the true pioneers of Independent film in the ‘60s and
‘70s, Cassavetes hit a home run with this dar- ling comedy about a former mob mistress that helps a Puerto Rican boy hide, after his family’s killed by the mob. Endearing and funny at the same time!
4/8 — Matewan — Directed by John Say- les (1987) PG-13, 135 minutes, Starring Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones, Mary McDonnell. Set in Matewan, West Virginia John Sayles wrote and directed a searing indictment of the actions taken by our government to smash the miner’s labor movement in Amer- ica circa 1920.
4/15 — Hairspray — Directed by John Wa- ters (1988) PG, 92 minutes, Starring Divine, Ricki Lake and Sonny Bono. A musical come- dy like none other. Waters uses his traditional shock-sploitation in a tamed down version (for Waters) to revisit the TV show dance craze of the 60’s. An unconventional love story from a little girl and a strange family.
4/22 — Mulholland Drive — Directed by David Lynch (2001) R, 147 minutes, Starring Naomi Watts, Laura Harring and Justin Ther- oux. A girl comes to Hollywood, like Dorthy landing in Oz and all hell breaks loose. The film’s dedicated to a girl who came to Holly- wood, like Marilyn Monroe, and didn’t make it. Lynch shows the dream world better than
he College of Arts & Letters Film Series
any director in the business.
4/29 — Stories We Tell — Directed by Sarah
Polley (2012) PG-13, 108 minutes, Starring Michael Polley, John Buchan, Mark Polley. One of the most fascinating “takes” on “what a documentary is.”The story has set-ups and payoffs like a scripted thriller and yet, it’s a documentary, or is it? The theme of memory is explored as Sarah Polley examines what really happened to her mother through the testimony of her family.
The International Film Series plays Wednesday evenings in April as they high- light a month long examination of Immigra- tion with both films and presentations. The film series theme is “Globalization and Migra- tion” and highlights issues from around the world, but as this is Immigration Month, they focus on our border. A discussion follows each film and they’re introduced by scholars from NAU and the community. Shows are usually at 7PM for free in room 120 in the Liberal Arts Building, except where noted.
4/2 — Who is Dayani Cristal? — Directed by Marc Silver, Mexico/USA, (2013) 82 min- utes. After Dayani Cristal dies in the corridor of death, while immigrating from Mexico to the USA, actor Gael Garcia Bernal retraces Cristal’s steps, showing us the trials and trib- ulations of those trying to come to America.
4/3 — The Immigration Paradox — Di- rected by Lourdes Lee Vasquez and Bryan Vasquez, who will also be present for a Q&A after the film. This film takes a critical look at why people would risk their lives coming to a country that may not want them. 6:30PM.
4/9 — Undocumented — Directed by Mar- co Williams (2013) The characters followed patrol the desert and rescue people from the brink of death. Shot in cinema verite style, this goes beyond mere politics, to a deeply personal story of a family in Mexico.
4/10 — Need to Know: Crossing the Line — Directed by Juan Carlos Frey. The film ex-
has wonderful films from five eclectic directors in April. The theme of “Hollywood Outsiders: filmmakers who started, ended or spent their entire careers outside the Hol- lywood mainstream” finishes this month so don’t miss these mavericks in action. This free series plays Tuesday nights in Cline Li- brary at 7PM. You can park for free behind the library.
14 • APRIL 2014 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us