Hey! Anyone who breathes here in Arizona IS A STAKEHOLDER . . . Clean air???? Are U kidding? Let's get real and take advantage to send in your thoughts and comments. Anybody else Freaking' Out????
Air Quality Stakeholder Meeting Clean Power Plan EPA's Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
ADEQ invites you to attend a stakeholder meeting to discuss EPA's development of the Clean Power Plan. ADEQ seeks your ideas and input in developing comments in response to EPA's Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, published on December 28, 2017.
EPA is soliciting information from the public as the agency continues to evaluate the Clean Power Plan. EPA is requesting information on what to consider in a future regulatory action establishing greenhouse gas emission guidelines from power plants, the respective roles of state and federal governments, as well as emission reduction strategies, compliance measures, and state planning requirements. Comments must be received before February 26, 2018.
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Pleasantly surprised that the same conservative city that elected Russell Pearce to the Arizona State Legislature - the same state that gave us Sheriff Joe and SB1070 - has changed its tune or at least "the lip-service" from Mesa Mayor John Giles, who's featured in this PBS report from yesterday (it was uploaded on 24 January 2018) . . . what's the story with the mayor's right eye???
ICE issues directive to make deportation arrests at courthouses
SAN DIEGO — Federal immigration authorities formalized a policy Wednesday to send deportation agents to federal, state and local courthouses to make arrests, dismissing complaints from judges and advocacy groups that it instills fear among crime victims, witnesses and family members. The two-page directive from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it will enter courthouses only for specific targets, such as convicted criminals, gang members, public safety threats and immigrants who have been previously deported or ordered to leave. Family, friends and witnesses won’t be picked up for deportation but ICE leaves a caveat for “special circumstances.” The policy, signed by ICE acting director Thomas Homan, says immigration agents should generally avoid arrests in non-criminal areas of the court, like family court and small claims, unless it supervisor approves. ICE — in a not-so-subtle jab at “sanctuary cities” that limit work with immigration authorities — said “increasing unwillingness of some jurisdictions to cooperate with ICE in the safe and orderly transfer of targeted aliens inside their prisons and jails has necessitated additional at-large arrests.” Immigration agents made courtroom arrests under the Obama administration, but the pace appears to have picked up under President Donald Trump, whose administration has seen a roughly 40 percent surge in arrests overall and has casted a much wider net. Read more > PBS Newshour
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Published on Jan 24, 2018
Two dozen cities that shelter undocumented immigrants have been sent letters by the Justice Department, threatening to subpoena them over proof that they are complying with immigration rules. The news angered some mayors meeting in Washington for a conference. John Yang talks to Republican Mayor John Giles of Mesa, Arizona, and Democratic Mayor Kathy Sheehan of Albany, New York.
Make that real local, folks. Hoya Saxa Way-back when your MesaZona blogger studied hard at Georgetown University for four years in The College of Arts & Sciences in Washington DC and enjoyed urban life for the very first time, we didn't have to deal with issues that one of these current students from Mesa is forced to deal with. Please take the time to read the testimony of one student. The Georgetown Voice __________________________________________________________________________
Solidarity Shouts: Immigrant Solidarity
By: Arisaid Gonzalez Porras and Anahi Figueroa-Flores02/02/2018 "My name is Arisaid Gonzalez Porras, and I came to the U.S. at the age of one. For the past 17 years, I have been raised in Mesa, Arizona–the only place I consider home. However, starting on September 8, 2019, I could be deported back to a country of which I have no memory. Since the DACA program was terminated, I have been constantly thinking about my future. Despite obtaining a degree from Georgetown, I will not be able to pursue a career without a social security number. That special number is the only thing preventing me from owning a home, being able to vote, getting a driver’s license, and much more. Many people consider these simple things, but for me, they are luxuries. . . " GO ON. AND RED MORE > ___________________________________________________________________________ Solidarity Shouts is spearheaded by members of the Georgetown Solidarity Committee (GSC). GSC is a non-hierarchical, consensus-based group that organizes around issues of labor in solidarity with workers on campus, in the DC region, and around the world. GSC believes in the dignity of all work and workers, and stands against all forms of oppression and exploitation. General body meetings for GSC are every Monday at 9pm in White-Gravenor 202. Even though members of GSC are coordinating this column, the perspectives shared do not necessarily represent the views of GSC as a whole. GSC simply sees the need for a leftist perspective on issues concerning campus, local, and international politics. In particular, this column will expand on the perspectives traditionally underrepresented in the mainstream left, informed by critiques of capitalism, imperialism, racism, sexism, and other exploitative systems. Solidarity Shouts appears every other Friday.
Yes, dear readers, please take the time to watch a presentation from yesterday's Mesa City Council Study Session: there was a presentation by Chief City Engineer Beth Hunig on the Phase 3 Expansion of The Greenfield Water Reclamation Treatment Plant. At the time of this early morning posting less than 30 persons have had the opportunity to see-watch-and-listen - very few members of the public usually don't have the time or interest to take the opportunity to find out about if the City of Mesa is doing enough about our water supply, whether it the source is groundwater from canals or wells dugged deep into the aquifers or reclaimed. All the sources are required to be tested to conform with federal standards that may or may not test potential health hazards.
Below is an infographic to show you the taxpayer-funded expenses and the ongoing debt burden in Bond Obligations for this fiscal year that are recouped by transaction privilege taxes and monthly utility service charges - water and waste water treatment is A HUGE CHUNK taken out of the budget pie amounting to over $126,000,000 and eating up 66.3% of the Debt Bond obligations . . . Disproportionate amounts are spent in different districts as an investment in infrastructure for economic development.
