A plan for no plan?

The February 16th post attempted to summarize AHS options for the empty mineral museum building as reported in the referenced AHS Board minutes. However, they do not match the options discussed by the senators in the committee hearing on SB1200 (see prior post).  Those senators had reviewed the plans that the AHS and the DOA submitted to the JLBC.

According to these senators, the options included office space ($2.5 million), a  modern museum ($2.1 million), sale of the building, and leave as is (empty). The sale of the building was one of four  options instead of a reception and event center, and the recommended option was to leave as is (empty) rather than a reception center.

The senators appeared annoyed by the AHS recommendation to leave the building empty rather than allowing children to have their mineral museum and K-12 education programs back.

Having failed to put the building to any alternate use for nearly four years now,  why is the AHS opposed to the return of the K-12 science education programs?

Mineral Museum Reopening?

The Senate Rural Affairs and Environment committee passed SB1200 today. If the bill becomes law, it will restore the mineral museum by transferring all museum assets from the Arizona Historical Society to the Arizona Geological Survey. Senator Sylvia Allen is the committee chairman and Senator Gail Griffin (co-chairman) is the bills sponsor. Other committee members are Senators Don Shooter,  Andrea Dalessandro, and Barbara McGuire. The vote was unanimous.

To express support for the bill, Arizona residents can find contact information for their state senators and representatives at www.az.gov

Reference:

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2015/02/17/senate-committee-passes-bill-reopening-mining-museum/23561881/

http://www.wral.com/senate-committee-passes-bill-reopening-mining-museum/14453684/

Education or Entertainment?

This blog has, for nearly the past 5 years, been documenting the senseless destruction of the mineral museum and the K-12 education problems. Now, the AHS is continuing to present alternate uses of the building to the State Legislature. The minutes of the January 9, 2015 AHS state board of directors meeting (lines 44 through 82) show that the AHS has now made four recommendations for the future use of the now empty building.

Combined office and display space

A modern museum

A space for receptions and special events

Leave empty as is

The minutes go on to say that the AHS preferred use is a place for “meeting’s, receptions, special events, and other civic related opportunities” ( Cocktail bar like at the Marley Center Museum?)

The building has now been standing empty for almost four years as multiple, prior AHS projects failed.  The obvious (and most economical) use for the building is to restore the once top rated mineral museum and the K-12 science education programs.

Why can’t the kids have their museum back?

Why is letting it stand empty better than letting the kids have it again?

Is the AHS going on beyond madness?

Is this meanness?

Will the Madness end?

Four years ago, an unfortunate piece of legislation gave the Arizona Historical Society control of the once top rated mineral museum in Phoenix. It was a clear case of political malpractice. This blog has documented how the AHS proceeded to destroy the mineral museum in less than a year.  As of this date,  over 100,000 students have been cheated out of the once popular K-12 education programs even though the mineral museum has been fully funded in every subsequent state budget.

Senate Bill 1016 would transfer mineral museum assets from the AHS to the Arizona Geological Survey.

Will sanity prevail?

Will the bill become law?

Will the remnants of the mineral museum be recovered from the apparently incompetent AHS?