Sun, Jul 27, 2008

Arizona / West

Flagstaff's mayor gets nasty message

The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.16.2006
FLAGSTAFF — Mayor Joe Donaldson got a nasty surprise after attending a candidate's forum where his support of snowmaking at the Arizona Snowbowl was a point of contention.
Vandals had littered his car with toilet paper, and placed a urine-filled commode on top.
Donaldson took it as an extreme example of opposition to using reclaimed Flagstaff wastewater to make snow on the nearby mountaintop.
He's a backer of the plan, and it wasn't popular with many at the Wednesday evening forum sponsored by American Indians for Community Action.
Flagstaff police are investigating the case, and said they have some leads.
The Hopi Tribe, the Navajo Nation and other opponents lost a court battle to bar the snowmaking and expansion, although they vow to appeal.
Snowbowl officials claim the snowmaking is necessary for the survival of the ski area, which has struggled because of a lack of snow. Snowbowl, on federal land in the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff, is privately owned and operated.