News From The Paris Air Show: Governor Ducey Makes First International Economic Development Trip + Little Birds from Mesa Get Global Orders

The first production standard Boeing AH-6i Little Bird light attack/reconnaissance helicopter, dubbed AH-6X, seen during its maiden flight out of the company's Mesa production facility on 01 May. Source: Boeing 

Your MesaZona blogger didn't see any "local reporting" at the time about one of Mesa's biggest employers, but it's big news in the world of air platform business development for rotary-winged platforms at the Annual Paris Air Show.

Paris Air Show 2015: Boeing to start work on AH-6i production facility later this year

Gareth Jennings, Paris - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly15 June 2015 Link to original article >  Paris Air Show 2015: Boeing

Detail: Main Street Bronze Boeing Statue

Speaking ahead of the Paris Air Show, Brad Rounding said that work to build the line would start in December, with assembly of the first helicopter following in December 2016. The line will then produce the 24 helicopters currently contracted at a rate of two per month through to December 2017.

This contract was awarded to Boeing in September 2014 (although it was actually revealed by Boeing in late 2013), and in April of this year the US Army's Non-Standard Rotary-Wing Aircraft project office (NSRWA PO) issued a sources sought notice for transporting these helicopters from the United States to Saudi Arabia, as well as for pilot and maintainer training.

Boeing has previously estimated a potential global market of around 700 helicopters for the Little Bird, predominately aimed at replacing aging MD 500-series and AH-1 Cobra platforms. While Rounding declined to name specific countries, he said that there was a great deal of interest shown by several potential operators. Jordan signed a letter of intent some years ago, but has yet to sign a contract.
After Banner Health, Boeing is the largest privately-owned employer in Mesa with over 4,000 job.

Gov. Ducey's Paris Press Conference with Aviage Systems

Governor Ducey was in Paris on June 15 and 16, making Paris his first foreign economic development trip
His press office said he hopes to close “multiple significant deals” during his trip overseas + an upcoming and busy 11-day expedition to promote investments in Arizona that includes stops in London, Italy, Germany and Sweden. 
While in Paris,  Governor Ducey met with 35 aerospace and defense companies.He also held a press conference with Aviage Systems, who announced in January it was opening its first US location in Arizona.
Next international destination to promote bi-national economic development by the fast-moving Governor is scheduled to Mexico City [one of this blogger's most favorite cities in the world] where he will sign a number of Memorandums of Understanding to push forward long-planned initiatives for the CanaMex Trade & Transportation Corridor ... Watch for a future post here on The Sun Corridor.

Your MesaZona blogger always likes to connect posts about companies with tech/design/production facilities based in Mesa, like Boeing in the Falcon Field Aerotropolis, to the New Urban Downtown Mesa in one way or another.

The image to the image is a long-shot view of the entire sculpture installation in a shaded pocket park area adjacent to City Hall Plaza on the pedestrian pathway along the north side of Main Street [view looking west].

In the left background you can see the boarding platform for the Valley Metro Central Mesa Light Rail Extension at the signature Center Street station that will no doubt be the most visible intersection and the one destination on Main Street with the most riders getting to/from events and performances at The Mesa Arts Center.

Please note the decorative brick patterns in the sidewalk that are a feature in this pedestrian traffic area - it is different than the usual concrete on both sides of Main Street and adds both a visual interest and a comfortable foot feel.

Decorative Asphalt Stamping for Intersections and Crosswalks on Main Street

Starting today Monday, June 15 and going until Sunday, July 12, 2015 crews will be working on Main Street from Country Club to Mesa Drive to increase safety and the visual appeal at both street  intersection and crosswalks between the intersections.
Center Street will remain open all the time, with phased closures as the work progresses.
Here in the image to the right is the schedule and work zone plan.
According to an email just now from Rob Antoniak, Community Outreach Director for the Valley Metro Central Mesa Extension, all the crosswalks between Country Club Drive and Mesa Drive get treated in a similar fashion with several of the intersections in between Country Club Drive and Mesa Drive get treated through the intersection as well.

Eastbound traffic will be detoured to 1st Avenue. Westbound traffic will be detoured to 1st Street
Work activities and restrictions may change due to weather or other unforeseen conditions

Maria Polletta: Spotlight on The Human Cost of Escalating Land Values

Residents Speak Up @ City Council Meeting

An updated Preface to this post:
Please watch the video that was included in Maria Polletta's reporting . . . According to Robert's Rules of Order, comments from the public are invited and they are heard for three minutes - however if there is to be further action by the City Council, a motion must be made to place that item on the next meeting's agenda. There was no such action, only that the item "would be looked into".
In the detailed and approved minutes for this session "Mayor Giles apologized to the residents and said that the Council was unable to discuss their concerns because the matter was not agendized."

See this link: http://apps.mesaaz.gov/meetingarchive/ArchiveDocuments/ClerkDetailedMinutes/June%201,%202015%20RGL.pdf

Mobile Home Park Mesa Royale is turning out to be "a not-so royal mess" for the City of Mesa, after ignoring a point in a decade-old 2004 Housing Master Plan.
What's the benefit of all these "Master Plans" when the city only takes action on "a case-by-case basis" and nobody speaks up to raise attention at public meetings directly with city officials?
In that so-called Housing Master Plan, Mesa officials were highlighting the city's larger-than-average amount of manufactured-housing stock — much of it concentrated along the Main Street corridor — and the problems it could create. At the time, the city had 63 mobile-home parks with nearly 14,000 manufactured units.

"The availability of these affordable properties is an asset to lower-income households," planning officials wrote in the city's 2004 Housing Master Plan . . . " 
Now the City of Mesa recommends the best option is clearing the property by bulldozing, after 100+ residents get evicted
Deanna Villanueva-Saucedo, now the Mesa Association of Hispanic Citizens board chair, cautions now that it was a warning that somebody needs to be paying attention to this. ... This property has been on the city's radar screen for decades, so for there to be such a delayed, reactive response on everybody's behalf doesn't behoove our community."

The City of Mesa has a double standard - one for investors/developers and a different one for residents who live on land for years paying rent for the only housing  they can afford. The City of Mesa provides direct financial incentives for investor-developers , discounts on utilities, tax relief, providing millions in infrastructure, but in this case . . .  Maria Polletta quotes this:
City Manager Chris Brady said Mesa is indeed trying to help, but it can act only as a facilitator, not as a direct provider of financial aid or other services.
 
Here's a link to the excellent reporting in yesterday's Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2015/06/15/mesa-royale-mobile-home-park-decision-human-cost/71235678/

Here's a link on the same subject written IN SPANISH by Maria Polletta and Laura Gomez on June 5th from La Voz: Translation = Hundred of Families in Mesa Face Imminent Eviction

Cientos de familias en Mesa enfrentan desalojo inminente