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Janik: This time it’s personal

Why I am voting yes on questions 1, 2 and 3

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Questions 1, 2 and 3 are very personal to me and my family.

The 58 projects in the $319 million program will help our first responders, our seniors and our arts community.

My family is very interested in one project in the Scottsdale bond questions that will help our community’s great young swimmers. We are excited to see a 50 percent increase in pool capacity and facility improvements at the Cactus Pool.

We know how important swimming (and other youth sports) can be to a young person’s development and growth.

All three of our children were swimmers starting at age 5. They all continued to swim through college at the University of Michigan, Cornell University and University of Illinois.

All three of our kids are now medical doctors and swimming played a big role in their success. Swimming taught our kids discipline and commitment.

That is why we are strong supporters of voting yes on questions 1, 2 and 3 with a focus on the improvements at Cactus Pool.

The pool is already home to some of the top competitive and high school swimmers in the state and nation. The Chaparral Girls Swim and Dive Team won the national championship last season. We have Olympic hopefuls training at the Cactus Pool.

The problem is there is never enough pool time for our aspiring swimmers and top teams to practice especially for longer distance events. Swimmers and teams face waiting lists and time constraints just to practice the sport they love.

This is problem with a solution.

The Scottsdale bond questions on the Nov. 5 ballot will significantly increase capacity upgrade at Cactus Pool. The expansion and improvements will offer more pool time for top swimmers as well as the families and seniors who use also use the pool.

The proposed upgrades to the Cactus Pool will also put Scottsdale on the map for top events and meets. Scottsdale will benefit from the tourism and publicity from those events.

We already see what hosting equestrian events, Spring Training baseball and major youth sports events does for Scottsdale in attracting visitors and their spending.

We have world-class swimmers and swim teams in Scottsdale. They deserve first class facilities that will also be used by families and seniors.
Questions 1, 2 and 3 delivers that and I am voting yes on all three in the upcoming Nov. 5 election.

Editor’s Note: Betty Janik is a Scottsdale resident and is president of the Coalition of Greater Scottsdale.