Inside Mesa

I picked up my copy of the Tribune today and there it was, above the fold, "E.V. Gains with ASU’s Growth," "University expected to add $4 Billion yearly to local economy." The additions of ASU’s Polytechnic campus as well as such projects as the new River View Project are the direction we need to go. It is a direction we should have been going long ago. There are two schools of thought when it comes to a city in financial crisis, one you can raise taxes to increase revenue. We saw how that was received by an already overburdened citizenry. The second is that you can look to the future and stimulate growth through investing in money making projects. As an admitted conservative I tend to like the second option better.Sure, we could have had a property tax, given the money to our government and trusted that they should spend it properly, but what if they didn’t? What if at the end of this tax dollar money grab we had nothing to show for it? When you stimulate business growth in an area, and I am not talking about putting a check cashing store on every corner, you have something left over at the end, a business, an actual physical location that generates money. It even gets better; it creates jobs which create tax payers which create tax revenues, everybody wins. It is a trickle down process which poises us to sustain life in the future. Tax increases are like putting a butterfly bandage on a hemorrhaging wound, it might stop a little of the bleeding and you can say that you tried but the patient will die in the end. Investing in sustainable growth and encouraging business to flourish is the right antidote for a city in crisis.What we need to do is to bring this city into the future, make it a place where business wants to be, where people want to shop and go to school. What we don’t need is to throw up our hands and scare people away by saying if you move here we are going to solve all our problems by taking more of you hard earned money in the form of taxes. If you’re short on cash and can’t pay them then you can visit one of our many pawn shops or lounge in the air-conditioned comfort of a check cashing store, if one isn’t on your corner, it will be shortly, give me a break…

A great idea emerges out of the southeast area of Mesa, more commonly known as District 6. Councilmember Scott Somers does something new….Councilman Somers hosted a tour of District 6 to "show and tell" how the largest and fastest growing district is developing with over 64,344 in population and 46 square miles. Wayne Balmer, Williams Gateway AREA Project Manager assisted as several areas were discussed.The most important area is the growth of Williams Gateway and the surrounding land, population, businesses, transportation and jobs. Councilman Somers believes it is important to bring higher wage earners into our area. There is interest in the land that General Motors is selling and if there is a proposal for homes, the 2025 general plan would need to be amended. Wayne Balmer points out that an amendment would need to be filed, reviewed by the City Council, brought to the Planning and Zoning Board for a public presentation then come to the council for action.The expectation is that Mesa will become more of a medical hub with several medical facilities going up. The Mountain Vista Medical Center, a three story hospital at Crismon and Southern, 171 beds, will open in 2007 with a future expansion that will supply 1100 jobs.Retail growth at Signal Butte Rd. and U.S. 60 - east and west - is also scheduled to open in 2007, with 900,000 square feet that features a 14 screen Dickinson theater, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Petsmart, Ross, L.A. Fitness, Villiage Inn, department stores, retail shops and restaurants. On the other side of Signal Butte and 60 another retail center with 819,900 square feet - both bringing retail employment and money into District 6.With the rapid increase in population more fire stations and the staff to fill them, this will be a priority because of the already slow response time. Stations planned are: WGA, Crismon and Broadway, Pecos between Signal Butte and Meridian Drive, in the area of Ellsworth and Warner, near Warner and Meridian, and Sossaman and Elliot.As Councilman Somers puts it - change is coming and it’s coming faster than some might think — we will be the economic hub of the East Valley. It’s clear were are on our way and the changes in the next few years will be significant.

Earlier this month an article was written about police resource officers in the Mesa Public Schools, I was wondering if anyone heard one voice….Did anyone hear what Deb Duvall, Mesa School Superintendent had to say? The concern is the loss of 7 Mesa schools police resource officers - and rightly so.Last year, the MPS Board paid $250,000 to help pay for 14 officers. However, the federal grants used ran out. The property tax would have resolved the problem…..we all know what happened there.The officers were placed in Jr. High School’s according to Mesa police Interim Chief Fowler, five years ago because of the Columbine massacre. The result - violence decreased in the schools with the visible deterrent, developing a trust brought significant benefits. Without this proactive measure it becomes difficult with no pre-established relationship.Without the officers on campus the police department and school must rely on a phone call from schools which delay response times. The city cut $470,000 that would have gone to the school resource officers paid by the property tax…had it passed.There is more to a SRO than meets the eye - it’s not a case of "hanging around" waiting for something to happen. Some of the responsibilities include:- investigate crimes on campus- investigate incidents involving students off campus- mediate student conflicts - conduct traffic control- teach classes on law enforcement- teach classes on citizenship- act as counselors- role models for students- crime preventionAn SRO is an important ingredient that bring education and law abiding citizenship together.I’m with Superintendent Duvall, our children deserve the protection and benefits. It would be a crime not to!

For those that do not trust Mesa City Council members, I hope that you read an article this past week that revealed some details of a recent city council meeting.Vice Mayor Claudia Walters drew attention to additional revenue sought with the potential of bringing in funds from new bonds proposed for the city. One of her concerns - the citizens of Mesa in view of the result of the recent property tax failure in March.Accountability and a view of the "big picture" in relationship to the Mesa community such as this is needed. These concerns may have been discussed in times past but no publicly. Bringing conversations like this to the public will be important toward changing the mind-sets of those whose negative comments most likely come because they do not see the full picture of a process. When one has not been included in hearing or reading about those discussions assumptions are made.The news media helps as well, not only reporting what will "sell" but also reporting threads of credible truth so as not to undermine our government whether it be local or afar. I was very happy to see the report given from this council meeting!

What a great headline in the East Valley Tribune today - Chris Brady, Mesa City Manager names the next Chief of Police.George Gascon has held the office of Assistant Chief of Police, Los Angeles, CA since 2003, serving that department for 27 years - this man knows commitment and certainly has experienced a diverse community throughout his career.Once the city council ratifies Brady’s selection at the July 12 meeting, August 7 will be the first day Chief George Gascon, will officially be on the job. With over 80% of of the 900 Mesa employees surveyed favoring Gascon, it will make for an easier transition coupled with the anticipation of the positive influence the new Chief of Police will have on the department.Last week Interim Chief G. T. Fowler spoke at a Mesa Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association dinner, hopeful that the department’s choice would be selected to lead them on. Chief Fowler commented he felt honored to serve as interim but went on to say that a temporary situation brings some anxiety. The department has experienced the lengthy process necessary to go nationwide to select a new chief, the interview process, the short-list, waiting, and then to begin anew which usually brings changes. However, Fowler underscored that the experience and now the culmination of this process is an exciting time and most welcomed.I know we all look forward to meeting Mesa’s new Chief of Police and at the same time very thankful to have Chief Fowler serving Mesa and the department in a challenging position as interim. Mesa has been favored by these two men and the working relationships that will develop positively for our city.A brief comment regarding the salary - no surprise to me - anyone coming from CA and that salary scale plus the years of experience in multiple law enforcement areas, the education plus a list of associations our new chief belongs to says alot about who he is: involved, dedicated, relates to and understands ethnicity and cultures, a commitment not only to his current department but to law enforcement and its principals. I agree with City Manager Brady - the salary agreed on is worth it and most deserved for this quality person and soon to be - Mesa’s Police Chief, George Gascon.

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