An Update From The Mayor Of Sedona. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Scott Jablow, Mayor of Sedona who is running for re-election this Fall. He provides updates on a variety of issues beginning with the planned Safe Place to Park.
“Well, the whole point of the Safe Place to Park was very, very simple,” says Jablow. We listen. This council that we have right now, all seven of us are out in the public listening to businesses, hoteliers and residents alike. And we’ve heard loud and clear that the businesses are hurting for employees. Many of them…we found that at least 30 to 40 of them have employees living in the forest right now…and these people need someplace to sleep that’s safe.”
He notes that the reason the employees are unhoused is that their prior residences were turned into short-term rentals. On that topic, Jablow explains that there has been some progress in controlling short-term rentals. He reminds listeners that they are still totally controlled by the state, but, he says, “They have given us a little bit of latitude. So, we have permitting they’ve allowed us to do.”
The other persistent issues he addresses include OHVs, traffic, Sedona’s legislative lobbyist, and Yavapai College.