Pima County’s leadership has earned a reputation over the years of playing hardball with anyone who might choose to challenge them, but this month it was taken to a whole new level when they decided to play hardball against an elderly, physically challenged Oro Valley resident, Geri Ottoboni.
Days before Christmas, Pima County administrator Chuck Huckelberry notified Supervisor Ally Miller that Pima County would no longer accommodate Ottoboni’s disability by allowing her to park in the disabled parking spaces just below the Board of Supervisor offices for the twice-monthly Board of Supervisors’ meetings.
Huckelberry advised Miller that if she wanted the County to accommodate Ottoboni’s disability, the matter would have to go before the entire Board of Supervisors for a formal vote.
Ottoboni, who regularly attends the supervisors’ meetings, suffers from severe arthritis and torn ligaments in her foot. The conditions make it extremely difficult for Ottoboni to walk, however Ottoboni has not allowed her physical challenges to hinder her fight for what she believes is right. Living on a fixed income, while acting as the sole caretaker for two young grandsons, Ottoboni regularly speaks out against the actions taken by supervisors Ray Carroll, Richard Elias, Ramon Valadez, and Sharon Bronson to increase her taxes and block prosperity.
From exposing anti-business practices, to the pork in the failed bond proposal this year, the fearless grandmother has hobbled up to the dais to confront supervisors during the meetings’ open Calls to the Audience. It appears to many that Ottoboni’s exposure of Huckelberry’s astronomical salary and the crony deals evident in the bond package might have been the last straw for Huckelberry and the majority on the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
According to Supervisor Ally Miller, Ottoboni was granted permission to park in the always partially full garage for nearly three years without incident until a few weeks ago.
Suddenly in November, shortly after the bond election failed, that all changed. Ottoboni drove up to the garage and was told that she was no longer on the list of people who could access the lot. She explained to the attendant, who she had become familiar with, that she was handicapped and would have difficulty accessing the day’s Board of Supervisor’s meeting if she were denied parking. The friendly attendant allowed her access, and told her that she would have to speak to someone in charge to get her name back on the visitors’ list.
Miller contacted Parking administration to ensure Ottoboni’s name was on the guest list and assumed the issue had been resolved.
Two weeks later, Ottoboni was once again denied access, and according to Miller, her staff suddenly began “getting multiple emails that said (Ottoboni) can no longer park in the disabled visitor parking spaces in the A level parking garage at 130 W. Congress.”
Miller told the ADI she then requested that County Parking administration Manager, Jim Garrison, allow Ottoboni to continue parking in the A level garage due to her disability and lack of access to closer parking to minimize the walking distance for Ottoboni.
Initially Miller received a response from Garrison that the request would be honored without further incident. After permission was again granted by Parking administration personnel, the Sergeant at Arms, Eric Johnson, forwarded the email to Huckelberry notifying him that Ottoboni had been granted permission to park in the disabled parking twice monthly for the board meetings.
Huckelberry then responded that Ottoboni would no longer be allowed to park on A-level parking in the disabled parking spots “until Supervisor Miller puts this item on the agenda for the Board of Supervisors to approve.”
Huckelberry responded via email to Miller:
“Miss Ottoboni can certainly park in the El Presidio parking garage as the facility is ADA compliant.”
Per Miller this is unacceptable as the walk from El Presidio garage would be extremely difficult for an individual with Ottoboni’s disabilities. The reason Ottoboni was parking in the A-level disability designated parking spots was due to the long walk from El Presidio Garage and the very steep ramp Ottoboni would be required to climb from that garage to the Board hearing room.
“I believe this is shameful and this action appears to be another move by Chuck Huckelberry to retaliate against a disabled individual who disagrees with his political views,” stated Miller. “Clearly the administrative staff for parking services had no issue with Ottoboni parking there twice monthly. These parking spots are most often unoccupied and I can think of no other reason for denying this elderly woman the ability to park there.”
“I will place this item on the agenda for a board vote on January 5, 2016,” stated Miller.
It was clearly a non-issue with Parking administration staff as they immediately agreed to allow Ms. Ottoboni to continue parking in the disabled parking until Huckelberry intervened to say no.
While Miller says it is unacceptable, a source with the Attorney General’s Office says it is “unwise.” They questioned why, after all this time, the County would change accommodations and suggested that Ottoboni should consider filing a complaint.
“Apparently Chuck Huckelberry is the only one with an objection to utilizing the disability designated parking spaces for the disabled,” stated Miller shaking her head. “I can only assume the Board of Supervisors would vote unanimously to allow a disabled individual, who is clearly in pain when she walks, to continue parking in an area that seldom has more than 3 vehicles in the 13 designated visitor spots.”
Arizona State Rep. Mark Finchem agrees wholeheartedly with Miller. He stated, “This shows just how petty the Pima County administrator can get. It is shameful and disgusting that he would make a conscious move to harass and interfere with a senior citizen who actually cares about her community and takes the time to appear before the Board for testimony and comment on the issues they consider.”
“Just because she challenges their positions, their motives and their plans they seek to make it more difficult and physically challenging for her to do so? This is reminiscent of Supervisor Bronson gaveling down citizens earlier this year when they showed up to give public comment on a controversial matter.”
Related article: Pima County Bond Results Show Carroll, Bronson, Valadez Lack Of Influence
The truth of the matter is that under Huckelberry’s leadership, the County has done all it can to make participation in government for anyone but cronies impossible. Miller tried to get the Board of Supervisors’ meetings to be held at night to accommodate the working public, but Huckelberry, who has no problem spending money on frivolous items, said evening meetings would cost too much.