Oro Valley has Web sites devoted to town issues. Sites like Let Oro Valley Excel (top) and Oro Valley First (above) give their creators a public forum and help residents stay informed about area issues.

Courtesy of Let Oro Valley Excel and Oro Valley First

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Got something to say about Oro Valley?

Web sites are to some contemporary Oro Valley residents what soapboxes were in pre-Internet times.

The sites give their creators public forums to say what's on their minds and also bring issues and perspectives to other residents' attention.

"We see so many (town government) decisions that the average citizen either does not know about or care about," said Art Segal, an Oro Valley resident who co-created the Web site Let Oro Valley Excel.

Here's the lowdown on that and other local citizen advocacy Web sites.

Let Oro Valley Excel

http://www.letorovalleyexcel.com

Created: February/March

The people behind it: Art Segal, 71, and Richard Furash, 62, both Oro Valley residents for 14 years. Segal is the site's main writer. Furash maintains the site and also is the voice behind the online audio commentary. "He's the content guy and I'm the technical guy," Furash said.

The cost to maintain the Web site and who pays for it: around $50 a year; Segal and Furash pay for it themselves.

Let Oro Valley Excel is not connected to any corporations or political entities, Segal said. "We are totally, 100 percent independent."

What's on the site: Blogs from Oro Valley residents on town issues, a summary of hot issues, blogcasts — audio commentary that site visitors can listen to online and links to other Web sites. The blog itself is hosted on another Web site, http://www. letorovalleyexcel.blogspot.com. The two sites are linked to each other. A blog is an online journal or newsletter.

Why they stared it: Softball buddies Segal and Furash started Let Oro Valley Excel because they wanted to give residents a forum to talk about a variety of town issues.

"We're trying to be the place where you gather it all together. (We're) letting people know we have a place for them to vent," Furash said.

They focused on making the site interactive with visitors and would like to see it become more interactive, Segal said.

Visitors to the site can comment on Segal's and other writers' statements, or write their own blogs on entirely new topics. But Furash and Segal ask that writers be respectful of them and each other and not use bad language.

"They can disagree with us," Furash said. "But they can't attack each other."

What's next: Segal said he hopes the Web site will help enlighten voters for next year's local election. Furash said he hopes the site will continue to give people a place to talk. "I know Art, and I know people like Art who have something to say. I'm trying to give them a place," he said.

The Oro Valley Watchdog

http://www.orovalleywatchdog.com

Created: January 2006

The person behind it: Phil Richardson, 79. Richardson has worked in Tucson radio and television broadcasting for more than 40 years. His neighborhood was annexed into Oro Valley several years ago.

The cost to maintain the Web site and who pays for it: About $50 a year. Richardson pays for it himself.

What's on the site: Commentary on issues ranging from Oro Valley's planned and now postponed annexation of the Foothills Mall area to fire protection from Golder Ranch Fire District and Rural/Metro Fire Department. Richardson writes most of the content himself, but others can e-mail him through the Web site if they'd like to write something for it, he said.

The Watchdog contains mostly "investigative pieces and diatribes," Richardson said.

Why he started it: "I have for several years been alarmed about what was going on financially" in Oro Valley, Richardson said.

What's next: More commentary and research pieces, including a biography of the current Town Council, he said.

Oro Valley First

http://www.ov1st.com

Created: February

The people behind it: Local citizens' and business owners' group Oro Valley First. About 25 town residents are involved in it, 10 of whom make up the core group, said Salette Latas, the group's spokeswoman. She announced earlier this year that she plans to run for the Town Council in next year's election.

In March, some Oro Valley First members protested at the groundbreaking ceremony for Oro Valley Marketplace, an 800,000-square-foot retail center on the southwest corner of Tangerine and North Oracle roads. The group opposes one of the retail center's anchor stores — a Wal-Mart Supercenter.

The cost to maintain the Web site and who pays for it: About $3 a month. Group members share the cost, Latas said.

What's on the site: A list of Oro Valley businesses with links to their Web sites, an online method for people to sign a pledge that they will not shop at Oro Valley Marketplace if there is a Wal-Mart Supercenter, photos of the group's protest at the groundbreaking ceremony and information about upcoming group events.

Why they started it: The group is concerned about big-box stores and their effect on local businesses, Latas said. "We are working actively to ensure the vitality of the local, independent businesses in our area. We believe in living as world citizens while buying locally when possible," the Web site reads.