Mission = Informing + Educating The Public

Readers of this blog may wonder what the media and/or press are all about . . .  it's not about getting "spoon-fed" media tip sheets [although they are welcome to see] or playing spin-doctor helper. Whatever is news always has a context; what you see is what you get > or is it?

For example, like this recent article in the Mesa Independent dated September 15, 2015
More than 1 million pounds of fuel in soil removed with steam at former Williams AFB in Mesa

Fuels in soil? . . .  say what? ya mean there's oil discovered here in the desert at a former Air Force Base?? ... and there's a new extraction process using steam technology? NOT.
WAFB has morphed into Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport - a prime area the City of Mesa is now promoting for economic development  that was a serious hazardous waste site - it's still being "cleaned up"
Read the entire report on the still on-going environmental cleanup >>>

Along The Sun Corridor: Business, Trade + Economic Development

Image from Joint Planning Advisory Council

The State of Arizona shares a border with the United States of Mexico - perhaps people in Maricopa County don't have too many friendly feelings about that, but we are connected by centuries of cultural exchange and economic development.

The new chains that bind us are transnational supply chains for goods and materials going back-and-forth to respond to the growth in consumer markets across North America.

The ASU Morrison Instistute for Public Policty will be hosting a high-level gathering on business, trade and economic development driven by the growth in consumer markets and supply chains in Mexico, Canada and the U.S. Topics include bilateral initiatives to further integrate supply chains in North America and regional strategies to cultivate cross-border ties and bi-national economic development.

https://morrisoninstitute.asu.edu/news/north-america-economic-connectivity-conference

Swift Transportation founder and CEO Jerry Moyes and other high-level executives will share insights on operating in North America and accessing supply chains in a panel moderated by Arizona Commerce Authority CEO Sandra Watson. Federal officials from the U.S., Mexico and Canada, including Tom Guevara from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, will set the stage for greater North American economic connectivity.

An interactive session with business organizations from the Arizona- Sonora region will provide an opportunity for attendees to identify business opportunities and increase cross-border collaboration. 

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton will address the conference for a welcome followed by Thomas Guevara, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Ana Luisa Fajer-Flores, Director General for North America, Mexico Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Glenn Williamson, Honorary Consul for Canada, Arizona

This event will illuminate how business leaders from a diverse group of companies select locations for investment and market development, link businesses, researchers and innovators on both sides of border regions; enable communities to identify potential organizations to partner with to advance regional cluster initiatives, and assist stakeholders, particularly those in cross-border regions, in developing successful regional economic development strategies and support regionally vital businesses.

Here's a link to the panelists in their order of appearance at the conference with biographies:https://morrisoninstitute.asu.edu/content/naecc-participant-bios-order-appearance

Just in from the Newsroom for the City of Mesa:
Office of Economic Development receives state economic development award09-23-2015 at 12:27:12 PM

The City of Mesa’s Office of Economic Development has been honored with a Golden Prospector Award of Merit from the Arizona Association of Economic Development (AAED) for the City of Mesa Technology Brochure. . .

[yes, for a brochure- and 5 days after it happened, but see below]

Read more >>> http://www.mesaaz.gov/Home/Components/News/News/503/

 

 

From OED's webpage: Mesa's Industries of Opportunity
QUESTION: What about Arts/Culture and Creative Place Making? . . . NOT an "industry of opportunity?

Economic Development priorities are guided by Mesa’s industries of opportunity: Healthcare; Education; Aerospace/Aviation/Defense; Tourism/Technology. Building on Mesa’s strengths, quality infrastructure, talented workforce, projected growth and global market trends, the City of Mesa is already realizing significant benefit in each industry space.

See >>> http://www.mesaaz.gov/business/economic-development/key-industries

See Mesa’s Technology Brochure and link to other Industry Profiles at www.tinyurl.com/MesaIndustryProfiles. 
Office of Economic Development
Contact: Kim Lofgreen
Tel. 480-644-3962
kim.lofgreen@mesaaz.gov

About the Arizona Association of Economic Development
AAED serve as Arizona’s unified voice advocating for responsible economic development through an effective program of professional education, public policy, and collaboration. AAED.com

 

Headlines: Flash Floods, Free Sandbags + A Tool Kit ?

Imagesfrom Sept 2014 azcentral.com

On September 16, 2015 the Newsroom for the City of Mesa announced:
Mesa honored for environmental excellence

Post Date:09/16/2015 1:27 PM

http://www.mesaaz.gov/Home/Components/News/News/492/

The City of Mesa’s plan to reduce stormwater runoff and pollution has received one of the top honors at an event known as the “Academy Awards” of the environmental community. Mesa’s Low Impact Development (LID) Toolkit has earned the coveted Crescordia Award for Public Policy/Plans . . .

Readers might wonder what this "toolkit" is - it's a document, a .pdf plan to promote the benefits of Low Impact Development.

The concept and beneficial outcomes of Low Impact Development will get highlighted and encouraged on a future post on this  blog . . . meanwhile, the infrastructure that the City of Mesa brags about has failed - millions of dollars are thrown at cleaning up the problems and damages created by years of bad high impact development for fast growth - the city is not limitless. It's time to recognize that to plan on Smart Growth + Low Impact Development.

Underwater in the Desert Sept 2014

O Yeah! More Pop-Ups > Community Cinema Changes to Indie Lens Pop-Up!

The City of Mesa Diversity Office has made an announcement:

A New Year Means a New Series of Films!

 We are excited to announce that there is a whole new Independent Film line-up for the coming months.  What used to be Community Cinema Series is now Indie Lens Pop-Up!  Though the name has changed, the series will still offer the same diversity, thought -provoking material that so many have come to love about this unique offering of documentaries.  

 

About Indie Lens Pop-Up!

 Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on the PBS series Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics to family and relationships. Make friends, share stories, and join the conversation. Can't attend in person? Find Independent Lens on Facebook for information on our online Pop-Up events.

Save the Date: Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 6:30 pm 

Stray Dog a film by Debra Granik

Winter's Bone director Debra Granik's searching, stereotype shattering documentary focuses on Ron "Stray Dog" Hall.  The movie follows Stray Dog, as he caravans on his Harley from his rural Missouri home to Washington, D.C. with his fellow vets to pay tribute to his fallen brothers at the Vietnam Memorial.  Back home, Ron and his Mexican wife, Alicia, assist her two newly arrived teenage sons, who, like Stray Dog, are striving to find their place in a country that has become foreign.  Stray Dog is at once a powerful look at the veteran experience, a surprising love story, and a fresh exploration of what it takes to survive in the hardscrabble heartland of America.

  

For a list of this season's films, please visit the City of Mesa Diversity Page!

MultipliCITY: Maricopa Association of Governments

This weblog is all about content > Re/Generating The New Urban Downtown Mesa that isn't such a square any more original One-Square Mile - we're outta that box.
Downtown? Where's Uptown? Urban/Sub-Urban?
. . . and what's a city?
Yes we are all connected:: worldwide and in the county
How many of us interact and participate in Governments?
Are you a registered voter or even bother to vote?
Are you staying informed with issues that impact you?
Do you care?

multiplicity [noun]

1. The quality of being made of many different elements, forms, kinds, or individuals:

diverseness, diversification, diversity, heterogeneity, heterogeneousness, miscellaneousness, multifariousness, multiformity, variegation, variety, variousness.

Biology: polymorphism.

2. An indeterminately great amount or number:

jillion, million (often used in plural), ream, trillion.

Informal: bushel, gob (often used in plural), heap (often used in plural), load (often used in plural), lot, oodles, passel, peck, scad (often used in plural), slew, wad, zillion.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

 

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is a Council of Governments (COG) that serves as the regional planning and policy agency for the metropolitan Phoenix area.When MAG was formed in 1967, the elected officials recognized the need for data driven long-range planning and policy development on a regional scale. They realized that many issues such as transportation, air quality and human services affected residents beyond the borders of their individual jurisdictions.
MAG was founded in the spirit of cooperation. MAG members believe that by uniting, they can solve common problems, take an active role in long-range regional issues and address concerns that affect all of the communities. MAG conducts extensive applied research needed to accomplish its core mission of strengthening the Greater Phoenix region and State of Arizona
MAG is the regional air quality planning agency and metropolitan planning organization for transportation for all jurisdictions in Maricopa County, including the Phoenix urbanized area and the contiguous urbanized area in Pinal County, including the Town of Florence and City of Maricopa. MAG has also been designated by the Governor to serve as the principal planning agency for the region in a number of other areas, including water quality and solid waste management. In addition, through an Executive Order from the Governor, MAG develops population estimates and projections for the region. Extensive primary research aids in this work.
Link to homepage> http://www.azmag.gov/

Regional Council Executive Committee 9/21/2015 Meeting
Date: 9/21/2015 @ 12:00 PM
Location: Ironwood Room, 2nd Floor MAG Offices/Suite 200 302 North 1st Avenue Phx

Please see agenda for details http://www.azmag.gov/Events/Event.asp?CMSID=6971
 

 

 



Urban Mobility | Yes > Light Rail on Main Street > Here's What's Next

On October 14, 2015 the New Cities Foundation will host Cities on the Move, a one-day event exploring the multifaceted nature of urban mobility and its impact on our cities.

Cities on the Move will take place at the Google headquarters in London, following a successful first edition in Mountain View, California in 2014.
We will gather 150 of the most forward thinking researchers and practitioners from economics, sociology, architecture and design, policy, finance and technology to discuss the changing nature of urban mobility.

Paper Series: Re-imagining Urban Mobility

To complement Cities on the Move, we invited participants and other thought leaders to contribute short papers on the mobility needs facing cities globally. Find out more below. 
 Organized by the New Cities Foundation and hosted by Google, with support from Ericsson and Transdev

Re-Imagining Urban Mobility
Urban Mobility Article Series
Go to this link for all the articles to read and download: http://www.newcitiesfoundation.org/cities-on-the-move/

What Works: Highlights Film from New Cities
2015 Summit
https://youtu.be/JzHxpEOi8mw