The letter Arizona's Secretary of State will not answer

Secretary of State Ken Bennett

Capitol Executive Tower

1700 W. Washington Street

Phoenix, AZ  85007-2888

Dear Secretary Bennett,

Your resume shows that, in 2007, you received the Polly Rosenbaum Award for your support in preserving Arizona history and ensuring access to state information and records.

Ironically, your current support for the Arizona Centennial 2012 Foundation is diminishing Polly Rosenbaum’s legacy and threatening public access to certain state records.  One of Polly’s prized achievements was establishing the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum in the Polly Rosenbaum building.  In 2004, the Legislature recognized that with House Concurrent Resolution 2042. It shows that the Polly Rosenbaum building was to be the ‘permanent home” for the mineral museum.

The Centennial 2012 Foundation’s number one “signature project” replaces Polly’s prized accomplishment with a 5C Arizona Centennial Museum featuring cows and cotton.  Polly would have been horrified to see that happen.

The elimination of Polly’s mineral museum will do considerable damage to Arizona’s future. The mining industry, geological research, and K-12 science education will all be adversely affected.

Please review the Foundation’s “signature project” and reconsider you support for the Foundation.  You website and the Foundation website both show that you are currently an active supporter.

Arizona's 'Five C's' ignores crime and corrections?

Guest post by Ted Rushton

Ted Rushton, now retired, is a former reporter, photographer, columnist and editor for newspapers and magazines in Canada, New Mexico and Arizona.

 "If something cannot go on forever, it will stop," is how the famed economist Herb Stein once explained an attitude that sums up the constant expansion of Arizona government programs, services and benefits. Surely this applies to the proposed $15.5 million Arizona Centennial Museum, a project launched a year ago that is intended to dismantle one of America's finest museums and to build a new "Five C's Museum." 

The intent is to raise construction funds from private sources; donors will be suitably recognized for helping destroy the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum.  So far, $1.75 million has been pledged but not received.  No mention has been made of how much the new museum will cost to operate, or who will provide those funds.  The present Mining and Mineral museum is self-supporting, due in part to annual contributions of about 10,000 hours per year of suitably skilled volunteer work.    Arizona legislators talk a lot about "cutting" government programs; but no mention has been made about the annual state funding level needed for a museum to replace a facility that now receives no state support (other than use of a historic state owned building).

 Gov. Jan Brewer already has her name included on a plaque as one of the advocates of county funding to build the covered ballpark for the Arizona Diamondbacks; that project opened on time for the new ball club.  The Centennial museum however, is not scheduled to open until late in the year following Arizona’s centennial observances.

One suggestion is for the new museum to operate a snack bar selling products related to the 'Five C's' theme.  Hamburgers, for example, to recognize the cattle industry; cotton candy, in recognition of cotton growers; orange juice, in recognition of citrus growers; to be cooled by "swamp coolers" in recognition of Arizona's 110-degree summer heat; with discounts given for purchases paid for with pennies, in recognition of Arizona's copper industry. 

The museum is not expected to feature a "Sixth C" of Arizona history, either "crime" or "corrections" as represented by the Yuma Territorial Prison which has been featured in a number of books, films and television dramas.  Adding this "Sixth C" in years to come would mean funds could come from the Department of Corrections, perhaps even using inmate "trustees" for staff. 

Another suggestion is to wait a few years after the Centennial, then when private funds run out pay for it with state appropriations paid through state parks, tourism, and historical society funding.

Arizona Historical Society preparing to entertain legislature

As the Arizona legislature is rocked by the Fiesta Bowl scandal, the AHS and the Arizona Centennial 2012 Foundation are preparing to provide both the governor’s office and the legislature with alternate entertainment. The 5C Arizona Centennial Museum is already a year behind schedule and 50% over budget. However, as shown on the Foundation website (http://www.arizona100.org) it remains their number one signature project. Since it cannot possibly be open in time for Arizona’s Centennial anymore, it has simply been renamed the Arizona Experience Museum.

Few people visit AHS museums. With a budget of $6 million and a reported annual attendance of 30,000, the AHS is currently operating with a taxpayer subsidy of $200 per visitor. So why this determined push to build yet another history museum no matter what the schedule, relevance, or cost? Because the objective is not really a museum. The high dollar museum displays are just a facade to justify the use of tax dollars to build another entertainment center. The model for the new museum is the Marley Center Museum in Tempe (AKA the Museum at Papago Park). The multimillion dollar, once high tech museum displays are somewhat hidden in a state of disrepair on the second floor. Except for a glass room containing some of Judge Sandra Day O’Connor’s gowns, there is no hint of a museum around the outside of the “museum” or anywhere on the first floor. The Marley is an event (entertainment) center featuring a cocktail bar, party rooms, and an auditorium.

Likewise, the Arizona Experience Museum plans include a cocktail bar, an event area, and auditorium. Available sketches and planning documents do not yet specifically show a cocktail bar, but AHS and governor’s office representatives have said that is part of the plan. The wonderful thing about the Arizona Experience museum is that it will be on the Capitol mall within easy walking distance of the Capitol, House and Senate. TheAHS will no longer have to rely solely on the efforts of their taxpayer paid lobbyist to maintain their overly generous budget and fat six figure salaries. They will be able to entertain the legislature and the governor’s staff in style with free lunches, free drinks, and other goodies.

House and Senate have both been supporting this capitol mall water hole, and it is obviously one of the Governor’s priorities. Since senators and representatives may have fewer Fiesta bowl junkets to enjoy in the near future, the Arizona Experience Museum can be expected to become an even higher priority. The bar will be a great place to drown their sorrow over losing their Fiesta freebies.

The Foundation’s website says the following: In collaboration with the State of Arizona and the Arizona Historical Society, the centerpiece of the Centennial is the Arizona Experience Museum. Designed with the idea that Arizona’s past will lead us to our future as a state, the new museum will raise the bar for museum experiences in Arizona and is destined to become an attraction for residents and visitors alike.

Yes indeed, it will certainly “raise the bar”.

Arizona insults mining industry

On January 14, 2011, the governor’s office notified the staff of the Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources that the department would be permanently closed. The staff was given until Jan 21st to close down the department and remove their personal items. The notice was a surprise, and there was no discussion about what would happen to the departments vast mine records, files, and references.

A January 22th Mineweb article made the following observation:

Despite running a state known as one of the world’s richest copper mining regions, Arizona’s governor eliminated the Department of Miners and Mineral Resources, which closed its doors Friday.

The article goes on to say that the governor’s action saves the state $200,000 per year. The editor of ICJM was blunter saying:

In a move that could only be described as asinine, the Arizona Governor’s office has ordered the closure of the Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources. We certainly understand the need for state governments to trim waste in these difficult times, but why the state would close one of the only agencies that helps generate income and create jobs is beyond imagination.

The truth is that the Governor’s action had nothing to do with cost cutting. Far from it. The real reason is that the Governor wanted the mineral museum building for her new boondoggle, the Arizona Centennial Museum. She is not saving any money. She is wasting millions.

In 2010, the Governor transferred the building (which housed both the department and the mineral museum) and most of the mining department’s budget to the Arizona Historical Society. The mining department did not have enough money left for the entire fiscal year. When the department then ran out of funds, the Governor fired the staff. It was the final step in grabbing the building for her new boondoggle.

The Governor’s actions were so remarkably irresponsible that she fired two people whose salary was paid by grants. At the last moment, the state geologist stepped forward to mitigate the damage with other non-appropriated funds.

The Governor’s capricious closure of the mining department and the mineral museum is an insult to the mining industry and to science education. She is also eliminating the popular earth science education programs at the top rated mineral museum.

References:

AZ Gov. Brewer closes state department servicing world-class copper region
Dorothy Kosich
www.mineweb.com
Friday, 21 Jan 2011

Arizona Closes Department of Mines and Mineral Resources
Editor
www.icmj.com (International California Mining Journal)

Arizona 5Cs Contest

Guest post by Ted Rushton

Ted Rushton, now retired, is a former reporter, photographer, columnist and editor for newspapers and magazines in Canada, New Mexico and Arizona

A new "Only in Arizona" contest is being promoted to herald the planned closing of the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum  --  one of America's finest natural resource museums.   The last day is May 31.  All exhibits will be dismantled, and then construction will start on the new "Arizona Centennial Museum" which will mark the centennial of Arizona statehood by opening sometime in the year following the centennial observances.

The new museum will focus on the Five C’s of Arizona history:  copper, cotton, cows, citrus and climate.  The contest is to create the cleverest use of the 'Five C's' to lament the closing of the Mining and Mineral Museum.

"Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy" Rushton 5C contest is not suitable; it describes the decision to scrap the existing museum, it's too factual  instead of  being languorously lamentable.

"Crazy clowns close cool cache" is along the line of what is wanted.

 "Clowns close cool cerussite cases" is another idea.

Or perhaps ----

"Centennial cans cuprite, corundum, chrysoberyl”

"Copper, chalcopyrite, calcium carbonate, calcite"

"Corrupt clowns cancel clever crystals"

 "Clever carvers cut crafty CaCO3"

  "Clever crustaceans create cute coral"

These are mere suggestions.  From silicon to silly cons, substantial suggestions are sought to save a precious element of Arizona’s heritage.

The honors will be everlasting fame, gratitude, plentitude, fortitude and felicitudes to a real dude for help in opposing the arbitrary axing of one of America's finest museums.

Update to “What’s happening to the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum”, March 2011

In March 2010, Representative Russ Jones and Senator John Nelson pushed through a bill transferring the top rated Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum and its’ K-12 education programs to the Arizona Historical Society.  The AHS is scrapping the popular education programs and plans to scrap the mineral museum because they want to use the building for a new 5C Arizona Centennial Museum. The centennial museum, featuring the old history book 5Cs of Arizona, will include cotton and cows.

The mineral museum is being destroyed even though funds for the centennial museum are not available. Only about 10% of the currently estimated cost of 15.5 million has been raised. Initially, the centennial museum was projected to cost $9 million and it was to be open for Arizona’s centennial. Now, even though work has not even started, the project is already 50% over budget and about a year behind schedule.  Because the centennial museum can no longer be ready for Arizona’s centennial, it is being renamed. Planners are now calling it the Arizona Experience museum, and its theme is getting fuzzy. One thing is clear from the sole source, out of state contractor’s sketches. Virtually no trace of the mineral museum will remain.

In pursuing these plans, the AHS is blatantly defying the law.  In March 2010, the centennial museum bill was amended to preserve essential features of the mineral museum; the outdoor displays (mining equipment), the indoor mineral displays, and the K-12 education programs. However, the AHS sole source contractor’s sketches and their recent procurement documents still indicate the mineral museum will be obliterated.

Past reports on the ASH prepared by the Arizona Auditor General show the AHS has a history of incompetence and corruption. Their Marley Center Museum project in Tempe was an absolute mess and drew extensive ridicule from the news media at the time.  The 5C Arizona Centennial Museum, or the Arizona Experience museum, or whatever it is ultimately called, appears to be on the way to becoming a similar boondoggle.

Incredibly, the AHS statute defying project is supported by a retired Arizona Supreme Court judge and the current Arizona Secretary of State. As president and vice president of the Arizona Centennial 2012 Foundation, they are responsible for the sole source contracts placed with centennial museum contractors. Even though funds are not available, the Foundation released a statement saying contractors have been placed. How these contracts could have been placed without adequate funds being available is unknown.  The contracts are for work on a state owned building. If the sufficient funds are not raised and the Foundation defaults on the contracts, taxpayers will be responsible for any liens placed on the state owned building.

A lot of people are willing to defy the law to deprive Arizona students of a lifetime learning experience.

5C Arizona Centennial Museum boondoggle caught in the lights

For over a year and a half, centennial museum planners and plotters have been working in secrecy. They knew that to have a successful boondoggle, you have to finish it before you are discovered. Unfortunately for them, sunlight is catching up with them before they even got a good start. They still do not have the money, and they have only a few architects’ sketches for plans.

Several recent Arizona Republic and azcentral.com articles put some very unwelcome light on them. A very fair an balanced article by Rau and Pitzl revealed that they are way behind schedule and have only raised about 10% of the needed funds. Because the “centennial” museum can never open for the centennial anymore, they are struggling with changes to the name and the theme. They also have created determined opposition that recognizes the existing and top rated mineral museum they are destroying is far more valuable that the boondoggle they are trying to build.

Later, not so balanced articles by Ingley simply described it as the destructive boondoggle that it is. It not only wastes money, it destroys a valuable part of Arizona’s heritage. On Mar 22, Ingley wrote:

Arizona is about to celebrate its centennial by closing a place that explains a big part of our heritage …. It’s going to be replaced by a needlessly redundant museum …

On March 23 she wrote the following about the centennial museum:

The concept is mushy and changing. The price is mushy and rising. This has all the makings of a boondoggle. Worse, we sacrifice a fine institution that is also and educational resource for teachers and school kids. How dumb is that?

She went on to describe the 5C theme as “staggeringly snoozy” and “not a prescription for compelling exhibits of historical balance.”

The centennial museum boondoggle had better hurry. Bad press is catching up with them. The Arizona legislature did not have the common sense required to kill this foolish venture when they had the chance, but an informed public will. Informed teachers and students will become outraged. Hundreds of thousands of parents and grandparents that fondly remember their class field trip to the mineral museum will not be abused with a 5C gang that is trying to cheat their children and grandchildren out of that experience.

Time is running out for the 5C gang and their cherished sole source, east coast contractor.

References:

Centennial museum hits snags
Some are against subject change; fundraising slow
by Alia Beard Rau and Mary Jo Pitzl
The Arizona Republic, Page B3, Mar. 20, 2011

Shutting mining museum makes no sense
Don't celebrate by closing a museum
By Kathleen Ingley, The Arizona Republic, page B5, Mar. 22, 2011

Don't celebrate centennial by killing a museum
Kathleen Ingley’s blog
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KathleenIngley
March 23, 2011