What Does Transit Mean to You?

Press Release from Valley Metro
Tuesday 21 July 2015

Discover Businesses Along Light Rail

MESA, AZ – Support local businesses that will soon be just a train ride away. On Thursday, July 30, more than sixty businesses along the Central Mesa and Northwest Phoenix light rail extensions will be under one roof. The public will have an opportunity to meet with local business owners and find out about the shops, restaurants and museums they’ll soon be able to visit via light rail.The Central Mesa extension opens Saturday, August 22 and the Northwest Phoenix extension is anticipated to open spring 2016.

Valley Metro Press Release

This event is brought to you by Valley Metro and Friends of Transit and presented by Goodman Schwartz Public Affairs
Click for company website: http://goodmanschwartz.com/

Goodman Schwartz Public Affairs provides services in Arizona in four major areas: 

• state government relations and lobbying, 
• municipal government relations and lobbying, 
• community outreach and 
• issue campaign consulting . . . 

Recognizing the significant impact that public opinion can have in the government decision making process, the firm has established an effective community relations practice designed to operate independently or in conjunction with a traditional lobbyist effort. Specifically, the firm has designed techniques in which communities and other impacted parties can be mobilized, through community outreach, coalition building and grassroots mobilization efforts, 
to shape public policy by managing public opinion.

Notes from MesaZona: PUBLIC OPINION COUNTS
For instance in getting funding for public transit and infrastructure approved by helping to shape public policy

Goodman Schwartz Public Affairs provides services in Arizona four major 

As many public policy isstely .

Goodman Schwartz Public Affairs provides services in Arizona in four major areas:  state government relations and lobbying, municipal government relations and lobbying, community outreach and issue campaign consulting.Goodman Schwartz Public Affairs provides services in Arizona in four major areas:  state government relations and lobbying, municipal government relations and lobbying, community outreach and issue campaign consulting.

MAC > Central Mesa Light Rail Extension Opening Celebrations: Thanks to Casey Blake, PR @ Mesa Arts Center

Media Contact:
Casey Blake
Director of Public Relations
480-644-6620
casey.blake@mesaartscenter.com

With Valley Metro as the lead, many entities immediately sprang into action to plan events, activities and festivities for August 22. The City of Mesa’s Arts and Culture Department – which includes Mesa Arts Center, Arizona Museum of Natural History and i.d.e.a. Museum – is planning quite a few activities for the community celebration around the arrival of Light Rail, which will supplement the activities of Valley Metro, other City of Mesa entities, and numerous community partners creating festive events at each of the four new stations in Mesa. Everything listed below is subject to change and more activities will likely be added leading up to the event date. 

At Mesa Arts Center on the morning of August 22: 

·         Community Art Project:
Mesa Arts Center’s 10^th year logo will be made into a colorful work of art by the community throughout the morning’s festivities. A metal instructor at Mesa Arts Center is creating a giant metal framework. Everyone will be invited to add colorful pieces in a pattern on the metal sculpture. The materials are waterproof and washable so that the community-made art piece can stay through Mesa Arts Center’s annual Season Kickoff Festival scheduled for Friday, September 11. 

·         Outdoor Entertainment:
Mesa Arts Center will provide performances for the duration of the festivities on August 22, within view of the Center St. Light Rail station on the campus. The lineup of performers is still being finalized but will likely include a variety of performing arts genres, several founding resident companies from Mesa Arts Center, and other performing artists. 

·         Studio Art Demonstrations:
Mesa Arts Center’s studio art teachers will be at the north end of the MAC campus demonstrating ceramics, throwing a pot on a wheel and glass flame working. 

·         The Gift Store, Mesa Arts Center’s Artists Cooperative Gallery:

The Store itself will be closed but artists from the Co-op will set up a pop-up gallery on the north end of campus. Items will be available for viewing and for purchase. 

·         Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum (closed August 17 – September 10):
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum must close from August 17 through the second week in September in order to deinstall the current exhibitions, perform maintenance and repairs, and install five new exhibitions for public opening on September 11. Museum admission is always free, as is the Season Kickoff Festival event on Friday, September 11. 

Arizona Museum of Natural History (AZMNH) plans for August 22:

·         AZMNH will be open for free on August 22 from 9 a.m. to noon.
·         Before August 22, dinosaur footprints will be painted from the Center street station leading to the entrance of AZMNH.
·         AZMNH will place two large dinosaur models on the streets for the festivities. One near Main and Center and one near Main and Macdonald.
·         Near the dinosaur models, AZMNH staffers will have tables with a demonstration or activity for passersby to try.

i.d.e.a. Museum

·         The Museum will be open for free on August 22 from 9 a.m. to noon.
·         Before August 22, parent and child footprints will be painted from the Country Club station leading to the entrance of i.d.e.a. Museum.
·         Costumed storybook characters inspired by the current “Once Upon a Time” exhibition at the Museum will be engaging visitors at the Country Club Station and on Main Street.
·         The Museum will have a sit-on Wooden Elephant for photo opportunities, and a hands-on art activity for visitors.

Please Keep In Mind: Both Arizona Museum of Natural History and i.d.e.a. Museum will promote special Light Rail rider offers during the first month of Light Rail into downtown Mesa. 

More information will be made available as we get closer to the date.

10th Year Anniversary + Season Kick-Off Festival: At Mesa Arts Center we are fortunate that the launch of Light Rail in Mesa is happening right before the beginning of our 2015-16 season, during which time we will be celebrating our tenth year at One East Main Street in downtown Mesa! It all begins with our Season Kickoff Festival on Friday, September 11, 6-10 p.m.

World Famous Theater on Main Street > Creative Placemaking

A World Famous Theater here on Main Street in downtown Mesa?

The image to the right shows The Nile Theater days before it's grand opening in 1924. 

The top floors were offices and the side establishments are stores. Theater owners often created other form of use for the venue to continuously generate income.

What was true then is the same now: Lo-Fi Coffee is open in the sidewalk level front on Main Street, now serving more than freshly-brewed coffees and vegan baked goods - it has a liquor license.

Back in the 1940's it attracted crowds of kids standing in line for Saturday afternoon movies in the old image to the right
 . . .  fast fwd to 2015
this was the crowd waiting to get into The Underground today Sunday, July 27 - with people arriving from the parking lot and standing in line on McDonald Street under the shaded portico  wrapped around the corner all the way to Main Street.

It was the only location downtown drawing people to a show. Your MesaZona blogger was stopped by a cyclist, apparently surprised to see so many people, asking "What's goin' on?"

A change in shows taking place, with equipment being wheeled out while the crowd of ticket holders waits patiently in line to get in the door.

Some people might call this "alternative" or "rad" culture or "Millennial", but those labels miss the point that for creating a new urban downtown Mesa it's important to embrace everyone and be all-inclusive.

Contrast this to the Mesa Arts Center today taken about the same time just after noon.

There was no one

Associated Press Via YouTube > Huge 411 Dump

An exciting new level to digitize and democratize information

Forget About "Star Wars" > Solar Power Industry is Heating Up in Arizona & Mesa

Believe it or not, a Lehi Utah-based company has been acquired for $2.2 Billion

SunEdison, Inc. (NYSE: SUNE), the world's largest renewable energy development company, Vivint Solar (NYSE: VSLR), a leading provider of residential solar systems in the United States, and TerraForm Power, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, TerraForm Power) (Nasdaq: TERP), an owner and operator of clean energy power plants, today announced that SunEdison and Vivint Solar have signed a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which SunEdison will acquire Vivint Solar for approximately $2.2 billion, payable in a combination of cash, shares of SunEdison common stock and SunEdison convertible notes.

See Business Wire News Release from 20 July 2015 Business Wire News

Keep in mind that Solar City, founded in 2006 by Tesla Master-mind Elon Musk, has had a Mesa location for a number of years and might have mixed feelings about this market acquisition.
Apple's new global command center has promised to be reliant on renewable energy so time will tell who wins out as the provider. 
Money Flow Index reports that Shares of SolarCity Corporation appreciated by 5.37% during the last five trading days but lost 4.06% on a 4-week basis. SolarCity Corporation has dropped 6.31% during the last 3-month period . Year-to-Date the stock performance stands at 3.52%.

Chance Allred Vivent VP Sales

Yesterday Zacks Equity Research http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/182796/solar-etfs-in-focus-on-sunedisonvivint-dealhad this to say: As per the terms of the deal, Vivint shareholders will receive $16.50 per share in cash, shares, and convertible debt – a 52% premium to Vivint’s closing price of $10.88 a share on Friday . . . With this transaction, SunEdison will enter the residential solar market, where Vivint is already a top player. Vivint’s solar systems are quite popular among households as it allows homeowners to lease its systems rather than buying them outright . . . "

Some Arizona utility regulation issues are still to be worked out with assessing a new valuation on leased and financed systems..

Vivint Solar opened offices in Mesa in June of last year and operates in eleven other states. Vivint made the decision after the net-metering compromise last year, with the Arizona Corporation Commission deciding to impose an extra $5 fee per month, instead of the $50-$100 Arizona Public Service Co. was proposing.

Computer World http://www.computerworld.com/article/2950587/sustainable-it/sunedison-drops-22b-to-acquire-vivint-solar.html also made the acquisition announcement, noting that Hewlett-Packard had signed a 12-year power purchase with SunEdison ..... 

New Cities Summit 2015 Jakarta: Highlights Film

Back To The Future: Discover Mesa All Over Again

Valley Metro is shifting gears and getting a big advert campaign on-track and online [maybe "jump-starting" to use one of Mesa Mayor John Giles favorite words, but we're dealing with a new no-emission and quiet technology here and now, not a crank-up car]
Link to click >
 Central Mesa Lightrail Opening Celebration

Plans are already in the works for expanding Valley Metro farther east to Gilbert Road 
[See image to the right]

What a Great Day for Downtown Mesa!
Who's to say how many people might be in downtown on Saturday August 22nd??
Thousands? Valley Metro won't estimate a certain number - just that it's difficult to predict, and they are planning and preparing for a good crowd and plenty of activities for all ages.
Commemorative passes, good for lightrail transit only, will be handed out at all stations from 9 - Noon
Valley Metro trains will run on a normal Saturday schedule with the Central Mesa Extension opening at 9:00 a.m.
On Saturday night, the last full trip of the day begins at 2 a.m., arriving at the opposite end of the line at 3 a.m. Sunday morning - that's according to this link from Friends of Transit Light Rail Schedule
A lot of people might be wondering when the last lightrail train will be leaving downtown

The Downtown Mesa Association is working to plan related promotions on Main Street with some Facebook postings at this early time for Night Market.

NEDCO will soon be announcing what it has been collaborating with its community partners for transit-oriented economic development, arts and culture and Creative PlaceMaking all around the New Urban Downtown.

Individual businesses have agreed to open early and stay open late - your MesaZona blogger talked with the owners of Gotham City Comics & Coffee who will be having artists creating illustrations on-site all day.

In addition to the link to Valley Metro Opening Celebrations above, Corinne Holliday and Rob Antoniak sent an email on Friday 25 July saying that  

It will be blocks of family fun. 

There will be music, food, local vendors, face painting, band performances, games, selfie stations, free museum admission and much more. 

Valley Metro has sent out a vendor application to all stakeholders from Dobson to Horne; Broadway to University, requesting any interested business or organizations return to Corinne Holiday by July 31, 2015.  

Holliday, Corinne <cholliday@valleymetro.org> 

That application can be found here: http://www.valleymetro.org/images/uploads/prop_photos/CME_Station_Celebration_Participation_Guide-Application_FINAL_071615.pdf


Valley Metro events are from 8:00 to 1:00

Afternoon and night time give light rail transit users and residents to turn Main Street into a pedestrian zone > find your reasons to walk-see-enjoy

Station celebrations will include:  Family fun, Music,  Food, Cool zones, Cultural experiences and Local vendors

Each station will have it’s own unique theme: 

Alma School/Main Street  Discover Education 

Country Club/Main Street Discover Community 

Center/Main Street Discover Downtown Mesa 

Mesa Drive/Main Street. Discover Mesa’s History