On Your Mark: Hizzoner Johnny G,The Myth of Non-Partisan Mesa & The Real 5-to-2 Rift

O Yeah! Welcome to Mesa, The Land of Make-Believe that the current incumbent mayor, former track-star, and former ambulance chaser/accident-law attorney John Giles once said reminded him of Mayberry RFD. Giles first slid into office on-the-tail winds from the resignation of former Mayor Scott Smith, endorsed by Jan Brewer, who wanted to run for higher office only to get defeated by Arizona's current Governor Doug Ducey. Giles got elected in his own right as the 40th Mayor of Mesa and is now serving his first term in City Hall. He says it's his job "to sell Mesa". . .

He's done that - selling-out Mesa, and trying to pull-off stunts on-the-stage like this one in 2016 > > Little did we know about the under-handed deals captured in this now-iconic image taken by photographer Ivan Martinez at his first inauguration, until all the Devils-in-the-Details made behind-the-scenes with a closely-connected network of cohorts out for their own private wealth-creation were revealed - sparking a Mesa taxpayer REJECTION of that unsavory and suspicious proposition to finance a satellite campus for ASU here in downtown Mesa that's turned into a Money-Pit.

_________________________________________________________________________

SO NOW WE HAVE THIS GULLIBLE PROCLAMATION (of Sorts) “The City of Mesa is a shining star on the national stage in job growth and affordability,’’ Giles said. “I’m proud of what the city council has accomplished. The economic development accomplishments of Mesa are very impressive. I hope to be back on track very quickly,’’ despite the COVID-19 pandemic. . ."

_________________________________________________________________________

Please take some time to read more of this article written by East Valley Tribune Staff Writer Jim Walsh:

TOP STORY        

Ready, set, go! Early voting starts this week

By Jim Walsh, Tribune Staff Writer Jul 5, 2020        

"Progress" on the ASU @ Mesa City Center last
(Image insert Tim Mello)

"Starting this week, Mesa voters can either endorse the aggressive pro-growth, pro-downtown redevelopment policies of Mesa Mayor John Giles or choose an anti-Giles ticket recommended by his constitutionalist opponent.

Early voting by mail starts July 8 in a city election that has exposed a deep divide on City Council that has been apparent since a split decision in 2018 to approve Giles’ hallmark project, Arizona State University@mesacitycenter.

 

The ASU project has been billed as a stimulus for reawakening long slumbering downtown Mesa and creating an innovation district that will spawn high paying, high-technology jobs.

Councilman Jeremy Whittaker and mayoral candidate Verl Farnsworth have continued to attack the project even as construction progresses, while Giles, Vice Mayor Mark Freeman and council members Jen Duff, Dave Luna and Francisco Heredia have continued to defend it as a vital part of Mesa’s recovery from the pandemic-fueled recession.

The rift also is showing up in the election, . . "

DID DEEPER > East Valley Tribune News 07.05.2020

_________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________________

RELATED CONTENT ON. THIS BLOG:
Use the Search box and just type-in keywords "Holly Street Studios"
"With such a unique list of features and components, it’s not hard to understand the ASU@ Mesa City Center project is not just another office building – and designing it would be a challenge.

The long-sought Arizona State University campus will be devoted exclusively to students pursuing careers in “transdisciplinary digital expertise” such as virtual reality.

And it seems like a safe bet . . .
(Huh? A 'safe bet' using $64M of taxpayer debt to finance a new building for ASU??)

. . . the controversial, yet much anticipated facility likely will wake up historically sleepy downtown Mesa and inject life into the area – a goal set by Mayor John Giles and several city council members.

(2 Mesa City Council members opposed it)
But other issues remain unsettled as the three-story, 65-foot tall, 110,000 square foot building heads toward the first steps of construction early next year – including
> what it ultimately will look like,
> the final price tag and
> what will happen to some wavy concrete canopies that have jutted off the back of a city building for decades.

< Despite some concerns that the future landmark doesn’t look like one so far, the project’s site plan won a 4-1 vote for approval last week from Mesa’s Planning and Zoning Commission. The vote serves as a recommendation for approval by Mesa City Council, which has final authority. 

 

But the next step is scheduled for Oct. 8, when more detailed renderings are expected to be presented before Mesa’s Design Review Board, another advisory panel that focuses on issues such as architecture and landscaping. . .

 

 

 

________________________________________________

Planning & Zoning Board member Tim Boyle criticized the exterior appearance as lacking a “wow factor’’ that is necessary for a landmark project.

“It’s uncooked so far,’’ Jacobs said, referring to the exterior. 
BLOGGER NOTE: 'un-cooked so far' ????
Diane Jacobs actually said at the September 25th Site Review that this project is now
A 360-DEGREE DILEMMA

“We feel good about making the pieces click and fit.’’

_______________________________________________________________

> City council member Jen Duff, who represents downtown, said she is confident the design team will produce a building that will make Mesa proud.

“I think we will be very impressed,’’ Duff said.
 “I’m very excited about it. I think it will set the tone.’’

She said that many people are curious about the building and what it will look like, but eventually,

“I think the other cities will have this Mesa-envy thing.’’

Say what????

Like that 'Penis-envy' thing since Duff chose to use that metaphor?

 

> Jeff McVay, Mesa’s downtown transformation manager, said five stories originally were planned, but it became clear early in the design stage that tall studios were required and there was no need for the upper floors.