The city council budgeted between $5500.00 and $8500.00 for the installation of this ugly temporary sign and a more permanent one in Heritage Square Plaza in Downtown Flagstaff:

This is a picture of the temporary sign, the final product is not much better and stands as a reminder of how our town is being moved towards an Aspen Colorado and is loosing its free-spirited friendliness.

(note the child in the photo in blue, the man sitting on the rock and others in the background who are on the landscaping - they can now be removed by the police and charged with trespassing!)

Shame on Mayor Sara Presler Hoefle and the rest of the Flagstaff city council for wasting money in these hard economic times, the excessive amount of money budgeted for this sign could have been used for new bike racks or other useful items. 

This sign states among other things that citizens are not allowed to gather in this public square after 10pm (12pm on weekends).  This is equivalent to a martial law curfew in Flagstaff.  Many downtown businesses are open until 2:30 am, yet citizens are not allowed to cross from one business to another through this walking plaza??  This sign and its accompanying laws are unconstitutional.  The new rules were prompted by the few in our city who don't want "undesirables" gathering in public. 

If anyone is caught breaking curfew, the police can ticket, detain and/or arrest that person. 

Ironically the sign has wording in it to supposedly protect vegetation, but the sign itself which is ugly and obstructive is placed in the midst of one of the nicest landscaping beds.  However, that is the least of the problems relating to this sign and our new city government.

NO WEAPONS - while it may be legal to carry a gun into a bar, it is NOT legal to carry one outside on Heritage Square Plaza - this is a classic case of hypocrisy.  This is especially ridiculous considering that Heritage Square is not only a plaza but also a walkway between various streets, alleys and other public rights of way in downtown Flagstaff. 

News Flash: On April 5, 2010 the governor signed a bill making this weapons ordinance illegal.  HB2543: A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE SHALL NOT ENACT ANY RULE OR ORDINANCE THAT RELATES TO FIREARMS AND IS MORE PROHIBITIVE THAN OR THAT HAS A PENALTY THAT IS GREATER THAN ANY STATE LAW PENALTY. A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION'S RULE OR ORDINANCE THAT RELATES TO FIREARMS AND THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH OR MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN STATE LAW, WHETHER ENACTED BEFORE OR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE AMENDMENT TO THIS SECTION, IS NULL AND VOID.

Some of the downtown businesses are attempting to remove teenagers and other "undesirables", who socialize in the square.  In doing so they are treading on the constitutional rights of American citizens to gather publicly, to make use of public places and services, and to practice free speech. 

If certain teenagers are committing crimes such as illegal drug use, public indecency, etc..., then they can be charged for those crimes. However, taking away the rights of citizens is wrong and inappropriate. 

Arizona Daily Sun Reports on teenagers in the square.