Veto extends unlawfull activity

The text below was distributed to 750 media contacts across the state. The Sonora News (http://sonorannews.com/archives/2015/150520/letters2e.html)  and the Sierra Vista Herald
(http://www.svherald.com/content/letters-editor/2015/05/25/396366 ) were among the first to publish it.

Although he may not be aware of it, when Gov. Ducey vetoed Senate Bill 1200 he enabled the Arizona Historical Society to continue defying Arizona law. When the AHS was given control of the state mineral museum to prepare for the centennial celebration, Arizona Revised Statutes Title 41.827 established a clear responsibility to continue operating the mineral museum and education programs in a portion of the building. The subsequent failure of their centennial project did not relieve them of the responsibility to continue operating the mineral museum. However, in knowing defiance of the statute, they locked the doors in April of 2011 as students were still arriving for school field trips. Then, even though they were funded to operate the museum every year since, they emptied the building, scattering it contents across the state.

In an attempt the correct the situation, the Legislature passed SB1200 (mineral museum restoration) with a nearly unanimous vote. All mineral museum assets would have been transferred to the Arizona Geological Survey, a state agency willing and able to restore and operate the minerals museum. Unfortunately, the Governor’s veto enables the AHS to continue its unethical and illegal pursuits. Their lobbyists from R&R Partners of Las Vegas are promoting conversion of the building into a reception and event center for politicians and lobbyists. The AHS, a state agency, is actually supporting the interests of lobbyists over the interests of children.

Minority rule?

Prior posts reported on how the mineral museum restoration bill (SB1200) got nearly unanimous support in both House and Senate. Yesterday,. the Arizona Republic reported on the communications received by the Governors office:

For SB1200:          1,376
Against: SB1200:         5

Source:
http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2015/05/23/mining-and-mineral-museum-state-capitol-closed/27786917/ 

So, why did the Governor veto the bill?

As quoted in the above linked Republic article, the AHS claims that they did not oppose the bill.

If, so, who did?

As described in the 5/2/15 blog post, the "Friends of the Arizona Historical Society" requested that messages be sent to the Governor asking that SB1200 be vetoed.

Who are the "Friends of the Arizona Historical Society"?

Why did these 5 individuals get their way over the will of the people?

Historical society image crumbling?

The AHS obviously has delusions  of competence, presuming to certify "lesser" museums across the state. What is that certification worth when a series of Auditor General Reports prepared over a span of more that a decade shows that the AHS itself does not meet the criteria?

The mineral museum mess in Phoenix has attracted widespread attention, and is further diminishing the public image of the AHS. Go to the following link to see some biting sarcasm recently directed at the AHS,

http://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/events/event/show?id=6399857%3AEvent%3A64425&xgs=1&xg_source=msg_share_event

Support mineral museum restoration

Senator Gail Griffin sponsored SB1200 to restore the mineral museum. She got nearly unanimous votes in both House and Senate but did not get the new Governors signature this year. She plans to reintroduce the bill next year, and hopes to get the Governors support for restoring the museum for the children.

Senator Griffin is up for reelection in 2016. On May 20th, the Arizona Rock Products Association is having a reception - fundraiser for her.

You can support Senator Griffin and her efforts to restore the mineral museum by sending a contribution to:

Griffin for Senate 2016

PO Box 628

Hereford, AZ 85615

Imagined excellence

During the public hearings on SB1200, the few AHS supports kept parroting the following ludicrous talking point:

No other state agency could successfully operate a museum because that is the AHS mission and they excel at it.

Given the ever declining attendance at  AHS museums,  the claim is preposterous. It also reveals an inability to even comprehend and recognize competence and excellence.  SB1200 would have transferred mineral museum assets to the Arizona Geological Survey. An independent description of the AZGS follows:

The Arizona Geological Survey is a leader among state surveys.  For instance, last year the Arizona Geological Survey received an $18 million grant from the Department of Energy to lead a coalition of 46 state geologic surveys and universities to study the geothermal resources of the United States.

In April of 2011, the Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources was deactivated and its duties transferred to the Arizona Geological Survey.  These duties include maintaining a repository of mineral and mining information, including databases, books, periodicals, individual mine files, mine map repository files, mining district data and an archive of mine data; and providing quality mining data, evaluation, and assistance relating to mineral development to the legislature, federal, state and local governmental agencies, industry, and the public.

https://wryheat.wordpress.com/2011/10/15/the-future-of-the-arizona-geological-survey/

Investigation closed

A May 4^th news story reports that the minerals sold on eBay, advertised as being from the mineral museum, were not really from the museum:

AG: Mineral museum collection not stolen Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, The Republic | azcentral.com http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2015/05/04/ag-mineral-museum-collection-stolen/26901673/

Comment:

While the eBay sale apparently did not involve minerals from the museum, the AHS cannot really know if the mineral collection is "wholly intact" as stated in the article. In obvious violation of state statutes, it has scattered parts of the collection over the state, and a recent Auditor General’s report shows they do not have an adequate collection management plan. 

The Arizona Freedom Alliance posting the following: http://arizonafreedomalliance.ning.com/group/arizona-news/forum/topics/the-museum-mystery

Does the Arizona Historical Society have any friends?

The March 24^th blog post displayed an obviously false message distributed by the “Friends of the Arizona Historical Society”? The content of the message was completely debunked by both the March 29^th and April 10^th posts. A copy of the rebuttal was sent to the address shown in the message from the “Friends of the Arizona Historical Society”; 101 North 1^st Avenue, Phoenix, AZ.  The envelope was returned with the following hand written note: “return to sender, not at this address”.

It happens that the AHS lobbying firm, R&R Partners, occupied the 19^th floor of 101 North 1^st Avenue until December of 2014. Then they moved to their current address to 121 East Buchanan. Does this mean that AHS lobbyists sent a fake message from an old, abandoned office on North 1^st Street?

Is there a real organization called the Friends of the Arizona Historical Society?

Or, are the only “friends” of the AHS has ones it has to buy (i.e. lobbyists)?

R&R Partners is a Los Vegas based advertising, marketing, public affairs, and public relations firm with major clients. Why is it involved with a minor, functionally challenged client like the AHS?

Is the AHS paying R&R Partners to rewrite history?