Another productive meeting concerning the Apache Trial commenced between the concerned individuals. We were able to bring in several new pro-motorized access faces. Pinal County hosted the forum with Supervisors Jeff Serdy and Mike Goodman. The Tonto National Forest District Ranger Matt Lane attended the meeting in person while the legislative liaison of the Arizona State Parks and Trails and a representative from the State Historic Preservation Office attended our meeting via a video conference call.
Whats next
We are moving this effort to the next level and hope to plunge this issue into the middle of the political sphere. Over the next few months, our goal will be to engage as many political representatives from every town and city in the vicinity to weigh in on this issue. Our Apache Trail Committee will be reaching out to them with details. At the same time, we will simultaneously ask members of the public to call their political representatives and request that they join us.
We have already allowed the public to make considerable noise, and this issue has made it on the desk of dozens of elected officials across the state. Our goal is to gain more leverage on the governor to express how important this issue is to the surrounding communities.
A letter signed by multiple political representatives, including Mayers, City Council Members, County Representatives, and State Legislators, will be sent to the Governor’s Office urging him to initiate the required studies to reopen the road. Likewise, we are assuring this issue will carry on to the next governor and their appointees after the 2022 election. Redistricting is also changing the Congressional district of the Apache Trail, making Andy Biggs the new congressional representative.
Additionally, a bill is currently working through the capital to split Maricopa County into four different counties. This allows us to work with new county representatives with jurisdiction over the Apache Trail who hopefully care about these issues. We must adjust to these changes and include these new representatives in this process.
Organizers will be erecting a billboard in Apache Junction, driving awareness towards this issue. There is currently a billboard in place driving traffic to a change.org petition. However, this new billboard will direct traffic to a new website laser-focused on engaging the public with the Apache Trail issue and sending emails to multiple decision-makers across the state.