As the weather cools and the leaves start to turn, I find myself thinking less about the beauty of fall and more about the people who will soon be sleeping outside in it. Every year, as Sedona heads into winter, families without stable housing struggle to stay warm, and some do not survive the season. We have lost community members before to the cold. It is heartbreaking that we may face the same again if nothing changes.

Sedona is supposed to be a designated Dark Sky Community, and for good reason. The stars above this valley are one of our greatest treasures, and many of us have lived here long enough to remember when the night sky still looked the way it should. Along with that designation, the city has long had rules about lighting and noise. We also have ordinances that are supposed to keep things reasonable for residents who actually live and sleep here.

As a teenager growing up in Sedona, I feel like kids and families in this community are being forgotten. Every day I hear my friends say the same thing: “I can’t wait to turn 18 and move away.” That is not how it should be. A hometown should be a place that makes you want to stay, to build a future, and to feel like you matter.

For decades, Sedona has been a haven, a place where people come to connect with nature and find a sense of community. My family has lived here for generations, and I've watched this town evolve, but recently, I feel like our very soul is being sold off, one short-term rental at a time.

It’s hard to ignore what’s happening in Sedona right now. Between the lawsuits, the Police Chief trading complaints with the Mayor, the City Manager and Mayor sparring in public, it feels like the walls are finally closing in on a leadership team that has been corrupt for far too long.

As a resident of Sedona for over twenty years, I want to say how excited I am to see a new community news source come to life.