MesaZona > Table of Contents : Here's The Menu. Enjoy

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Carrying-On As Usual > We Don't Talk About 'Sensitive Issues'

Hate & Anger

Published on May 28, 2017

Pie wants answers to some difficult questions.

Friday, May 26, 2017

Why Divide Every Generation Calling All of Us 'Names'? HUH?

Older Americans Are More Millennial Than Millennials

To understand both changes to the workforce and changing attitudes toward work, don’t watch young people. Watch their parents (and uncles, aunts, and grandparents).

Derek Thompson May 25, 2017

Source: The Atlantic

Spoiler Alert:

One should always be careful not to oversell generations, which are, by definition, extremely broad swaths of tens of millions of people with diverse wealth, education, and living conditions. Still, when economists and marketers want to understand changing attitudes toward work and life, they often focus on Millennials.
It’s tantalizing to say that, because something new is happening, the newest cohort must be responsible for the change. But many of the trends ascribed to Millennials are actually better fits for their parents.

Young people are the supposed vanguards of a new economic age. Unlike their parents, young people are said to value happiness over money. They prefer gigs over jobs. They prefer flexibility and meaning rather than status and hours at work. Rather than attach themselves to a single company, they are ushering in an economy of coffee-shop “creatives,” hot-desking between WeWork-style shared work spaces in pursuit of their individualistic dreams.

But there is another generation of U.S. workers with those non-monetary values and gig-style jobs. It’s not America’s youngest workers, but rather America’s oldest.

There is little question that an aging workforce—and an aging country—is one of the most important features of the modern economy. By 2024, one quarter of the workforce will be 55 and over—more than twice what the share was in 1994. And as they extend their working years, sometimes by choice and sometimes by necessity, it’s older Americans who are quietly adopting Millennial stereotypes, far more than actual Millennials are. . .

Bribes Over $18 Million-Dollar-Deal for Wastewater Treatment Plant

Ex-Mesa legislator, Pinal developer indicted for bribery

By Evan Wyloge and Jim Small, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting 12 hrs ago East Valley Tribune

"Federal prosecutors on Tuesday charged former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce, his wife, prominent lobbyist Jim Norton and utility owner George Johnson with conspiracy, bribery, mail fraud and wire fraud, over what prosecutors lay out as a scheme to pay off Pierce in return for favorable regulation by the Corporation Commission surrounding a special $18 million wastewater plant deal. . . "

According to the charges filed in U.S. District Court on May 23, Pierce, his wife and Norton set up a scheme to have Johnson, the head of a Pinal County water company, make regular payments to Pierce.

Gotta wonder, huh?

Blogger Note:
1. Another story in AZ Capitol Times
2. Connections to Mesa: At the time of an FBI investigation back in 2015, Pierce was employed by Mesa-based Americopy, a large commercial printing company that also has a division called Amagine Communications that runs Republican campaigns for the commission with the Clean Elections money the candidates get.
3. The campaign to elect John Giles mayor of Mesa paid over $30,000 to AmeriCorps for 'campaign materials' [public campaign documents from Mesa City Clerk's office]
The CEO of Americopy/Amagine Communications is Alan Heywood an influencial East Valley Republican donor and chairman of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce.
Source: Wikipedia

In all, Pierce got $31,500 from Johnson, prosecutors allege. In return, Johnson got a $18 million wastewater plant added back into the company’s base rate – essentially putting the entire cost onto ratepayers. Pierce also spearheaded an effort to allow Johnson’s company to recover income taxes by passing the cost on to ratepayers.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

[Infographic inserted to show that here in Mesa Water + Wastewater Treatment are more than half of expenses]

Norton, who at the time worked for the lobbying firm R&R Partners, and an unnamed, unindicted co-conspirator agreed to arrange the payments between Pierce and Johnson. The co-conspirator created a consulting firm that contracted with Johnson International and was paid roughly $7,000 per month. That consulting firm then paid Sherry Ann Pierce $3,500 a month for 10 months in 2011 and 2012 for what amounted to a job that included little more than “simple tasks.”

Norton and Pierce also made plans in late 2011 to purchase a $350,000 piece of land together, court documents show, using money that would have been provided by Johnson.

Dealt A Great Hand . . . by Who?

. . . in a card game???
Have no idea who 'writes the script' or produces these videos but here's just about a minute of what it is.

Published on Dec 8, 2015

Mesa Mayor John Giles announces he is running for re-election

Way Too Much Mall Retail? It's Not Dead Yet

Superstition Springs Center Live Mall Tour starting in the Food Court

Published on May 25, 2017

This video is from the live video tour I did of Superstition Springs Center in Mesa, AZ. A few hundred viewers joined me for the tour which was live streamed on YouTube.

Twitter:
@Ret_Archaeology

Thursday, May 25, 2017

READY-TO-THINK ABOUT THIS > Living in Space

Published on May 15, 2017

What Astronaut discover after a year in Space ?

EVERYONE AFFECTED: Surviving 2017/The Arctic Vortex in Chaos

Hurricane Season ahead too

Published on May 23, 2017

2017 is Proving to Be a Record Year in Rain and Temps. Are You Ready. Survival Skillshttp://www.BPEarthWatch.Com
New T-Shirts and Ball Caps are In