Physicists Geoffrey West and Luis Bettencourt of the Santa Fe Institute have looked at data from cities around the world to try to understand what, exactly, they are. They've found that surprising patterns underlie the growth of all urban systems. You can read more about their research here: http://www.santafe.edu/research/citie...
In an exclusive interview with GeoBuiz, Ivan B. DeLoatch, Executive Director of Federal Geographic Data Committee, U.S. Geological Survey explains how open data is essential for informed public. The Open Data Initiative was launched to share and expose data and to allow additional use by citizens, companies and other federal agencies. Following the Open Government Initiative, the Obama administration launched the Open Data Initiative again with the idea of having transparency. There are some data that are bound by a license agreement, and some of those license agreements allow share the information. There is uptake of information and is going to be an area of continuous growth. Legislation is before the Congress to establish the Open Data Act which would make machine-readable data available by the law. By codifying that data, we can expect to see more growth in this space.We are witnessing economic growth from open data and repurposing it for other uses. We definitely need some enhancements in existing framework. The challenge lies in taking the data, processing it and providing it in a way that is digestible by the everyday citizenry.We need to be mindful that there will be some people who will try to use information in inappropriate ways. By exposing the information, it leaves us vulnerable in some cases. We are only making that data open which we were already collecting. We are leveraging investments to repurpose data in a way that can really help inform our citizenry again. Currently, we are assisting with identifying data sets that can be used for the indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals.We are in a process of identifying where are the gaps that need to be filled. Forum should be constituted to have discussions about what is available and what is not including cost associated with that. By exposing, sharing and making information available on the Internet, we are starting to see a huge uptake in the number organizations. Open data across the boundaries is something where government need to take stand.
Economic Development Advisory Board City Council Chambers 57 E. 1st Street Lower Level Tuesday, September 6, 2016 @ 7:30 AM About the City of Mesa EDAB: The Economic Development Advisory Board shall act as the advisory board to the Mesa City Council on matters pertaining to economic development, including goal setting, strategic planning, marketing and business recruitment, retention and expansion. The membership of the Economic Development Advisory Board shall include:
9 voting members [3 first-term and 1 current vacancy]
6 ex-officio non-voting members.
Voting Members - 1 Vacant Position
Terry Benelli (17) - 2nd Term Executive Director Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Phoenix tbenelli@lisc.org
James Christensen (19) - 2nd Term President & CEO Gateway Commercial Bank jamesc@gcbaz.com
Natascha Ovando-Karadsheh, Vice Chair (17) - 1st Term Owner/Realtor KOR Properties nataschak@KORproperties.com
Dominic Perry (17) - 1st Term Vice President GPE Advisors dperry@GPE1.com
Three of the ex-officio members shall be the Mayor, City Manager, and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce Three may be City of Mesa representatives that are currently sitting on the Greater Phoenix Economic Council Board of Directors.
Call (480) 644-2398 for information.
AGENDA
1. Chair’s Call to Order 2. Items from Citizens Present
3. Approval of Minutes from August 2, 2016 meeting
4. Visit Mesa Update
5. Southwest Redevelopment Area and Central Business District Expansion Update
6. Director’s Update
7. Other Business: Next EDAB Meeting- October 4
8. Adjournment
Previous Economic Development Advisory Board Minutes and Agendas Go here >> http://apps.mesaaz.gov/meetingarchive/meetings?body=EDAB
WHAT is a Mitt Romney voter to do? "The man’s antithesis, the unscripted and unscrupulous Donald Trump, now leads the Republican ticket. And the other major-party candidate, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, seems hardly palatable. . . " That's the way this article published on September 1, 2016 in The Economiststarts off. Many are choosing neither. Following the cue of their former standard-bearer—who has disparaged Mr Trump loudly and often—only 76% of those who voted for Mr Romney say they will select Mr Trump at the ballot box. Romney now lives in Mormon-dominated Utah where he's hoping to put the state into play for November's election by public support for the 3rd party Libertarian ticket while enlisting other LDS politicians in Arizona to organize support - if you can't win it, spoil the election for Donald Trump.
One of the organizers in Arizona is fellow Mormon Dave Richins, with a full-time job working for Resolution Mining, a part-time job working for citizens and families on Mesa City Council in District 1, and as reported in here today at 07:59 a.m. Mormons [and fellow conservative Republicans] will do anything they can to spoil the fun for Trump, although the last time third parties played a part other unintended things happened read more excerpts:
On Road to 270, Arizona is home to best chance for a spoiler
Here's some background about the two Libertarian candidates
If you walk by some of the street boxes of free newspapers, you will notice a vertical card urging you to vote for Johnson/Weld. They are running on the Libertarian ticket. Gary Johnson is a former Republican Governor of New Mexico. He ran for president four years ago and received about one percent of the vote. This year, his running mate is William Weld, who is the former Republican governor of Massachusetts. Weld also ran for the U.S. Senate and was defeated by John Kerry. This patrician Brahmin I found to be one of the most unpleasant individuals I've ever interviewed. He also attempted to be Ambassador to Mexico and was never confirmed. Obviously, Weld is looking for a home and something to do. Oh, he also flirted with running for Governor of New York. Quite a checkered political past. The Libertarian team wants you, the voters, to "help them get into the debates." (They need to poll 15 percent to gain entry.) They describe themselves as “credible, proven, capable and honest” (the last one was in bold green letters). They go on to call themselves "America's Most Successful Governors." They probably take more votes away from Trump than Clinton. But right now their visibility and impact seem limited. Now, if they should get in one of the three debates, that could change. I really don't think they will ever reach the 15-percent threshold. Another candidate is a total unknown. His name is Evan McMullin. He might have a serious problem getting on many state ballots.
Politics & Religion: O No! One of your MesaZona blogger's favorite subjects. Pie takes it on in one of his most expletive-loaded uploads to date. Published on Sept 4, 2016 Views: 6,130
Cultural Coalition and Childsplay Theatre announce the fifth El Puente Theatre Festival and Mask Procession happening at Tempe Center for the Arts (TCA) Sunday, October 2, 2016 from 2 - 6 p.m. This unique celebration, supported by a grant from the City of Tempe, features an afternoon of theater, music, games and cultural performances. FREE ADMISSION to the festival includes dynamic performances by local artists, mask-making and art activities. These two groups are thrilled to be bringing back El Puente for its fifth event. Tempe has the unique advantage to call this festival their own, bringing revitalization and enthusiasm for the arts. To kick-start this year's festival, Guerrero will be holding mask-making workshops with schools and community groups throughout the Valley
According to this press release performances begin at 2 p.m. and will continue through the afternoon, featuring: Desert Sounds Mariachi "Sones del Desierto" Zarco Guerrero and the Dancing Dragons DJ Sean Derek Ollin Yoliztli Ballet Folklorico Barrio Stories by Borderlands Theater
Cultural Coalition, Inc., provides unique cultural programs which foster community engagement and are dedicated to the education, promotion, and development of Indigenous arts and artists in Arizona. For more information, visit http://www.culturalcoalition.com
Zarco Guerrero is a sculptor, mask maker and performance artist, born in Mesa, AZ whose family has lived in the region for centuries. He has dedicated his artistic endeavors to create positive social change through the arts. He adopted Cesar Chavez's ideology of art as a social service. His art includes music, poetry and theatre.
He is the founder of Xicanindio Artes (now Xico, Inc.), the Cultural Coalition, Inc., and has been instrumental in the development of Latino Arts statewide.
He has exhibited and received international acclaim and many prestigious awards.
In 1985, PBS broadcast a one hour documentary about his art entitled "The Mask of El Zarco".
He received the Japan Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Arizona Governors Arts Award, the Artistic Excellence Award from American Hispanics in Higher Education and the Esperanza Teacher of the Year Award among many others.
He also won the 2012 Ari-Zoni Award for his ground breaking work as a mask maker in Childsplay's 2011 production of The Sun Serpent.
He is the recipient of the Doris Duke Foundation grant to present theatre to Latino communities in Arizona
2015 Master Fellow with the Southwest Folklife Alliance.
