Thanks to AZ Capitol Times reporter Howie Fischer for the following report. Why are these elected legislators messing around with this when voters wanted and approved raising the minimum wage? Find out who represents where you live and work hard to get them out of office. < Here's just one: Mega-Millionaire Bob Worsley Go AheadGet Mad! Get them out-of-office! Throw them out!
Senate panel asks voters to reconsider their approval of $12 minimum wage
Your MesaZona blogger is thrilled and excited to have attended this morning's meeting in the Lower Council Chambers that started at 07:30 am. Agenda: Pre-K Update: Natalie Lewis and Jaye O'Donnell Imagine Mesa: Tom Ellsworth Business Prospect Report: JD Beatty Director's Update: Bill Jabjiniak (Quick Jab Bill) Some sketchy notes later but the big take-away is in the fast deadline to make nominations (or request a 30-day delay) Questions + More Information: William.Jabjiniak@MesaAZ.gov _________________________________________________________________________
Treasury, IRS Issue Guidance On Opportunity Zones To Spur Private Investment In Distressed Communities
Washington –The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act established Opportunity Zones to spur private investment in distressed communities throughout the country. Opportunity Zones advance President Trump’s goal that the benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reach across the entire country and boost economic development and job opportunities. Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provided guidance to states, the District of Columbia, and any possession of the United States, on designating Opportunity Zones. “We look forward to working with governors to implement this important provision that will encourage private investments in communities that need it the most,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “The resulting benefits will be jobs and economic growth to move these communities forward and provide a brighter future.” Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Governors or chief executive officers of States, D.C., and U.S. possessions will nominate areas within their jurisdictions to be Opportunity Zones. Investments in these areas will benefit from tax incentives. In order to designate Opportunity Zones, Governors and chief executive officers must make nominations by March 21st or request a single 30-day extension.
The media blitz is on for a development atop the 3-story city-owned parking garage behind the Mesa Superior Court building on First Avenue. Just one day after the mayor's SOTC18 speech, he's thrilled [seems like John Giles is always "thrilled" and "excited" about something] to announce "the big deal" to a news crew from ABC 15 that happened to show up in the 3-acre parking lot at 300 East Main Street between the Wells Fargo building and classroom space for Benedictine University at 225 East Main.
Most people are familiar that area if only to grab a bite to eat at Pete's Fish & Chips on the west side of Mesa Drive slightly south of the intersection with Main Street where a Valley Metro Light Rail Station is located @ NEC with a 500-car Park N Ride parking lot.
If ever there were a BIG PRIZE parking garage looking for A BIG DEAL it's this one at the NWC of Main Street, right across the street from a vacant 10-acre entire city block that's the prime piece of real estate here in DTMesa, half-a-block east of the Mesa Arts Center. It's been cleared by demolition. The former site for 85 years of Brown & Brown Chevrolet for 85 years, it may be a "Brownfield" that's gotta get cleaned-up.
Nonetheless, the Mesa Superior Court parking garage is getting the green light. Does this chosen sight reflect downtown Mesa's "unique personality" in an already "hyper-localized" community? IMAGINE MESA Gosh - that's a stretch of the imagination, huh? Believe it???? _________________________________________________ Here's the press/media release from The City of Mesa Newsroom - note it is time-stamped at 12:00 AM 7 hours before the SOTC18 speech and 2 days after the City Council approved "the big deal"
CO+HOOTS at The GRID announced at Mayor John Giles' State of the City
February 6, 2018 at 12:00 am
An innovative partnership between Palladium Enterprises and CO+HOOTS was officially announced at Mayor John Giles' State of the City breakfast. _________________________________________________________________________ TWO BLOGGER INSERTS so you can see first-hand how this was presented in public: First of all here's Jenny Poon and the developer at a City Council Study Session on 05 Feb. So far it's attracted 21 views on YouTube for such "a big deal"
The Mesa City Council approved an agreement at it's Feb. 5 meeting - you can watch the reading of the Consent Agenda in this upload from YouTube
Palladium Enterprises is developing The GRID, a $60 million next-level, mixed-use residential, office and restaurant project on Main Street that will bring 500 new residents to downtown Mesa. The GRID takes an under-utilized City of Mesa asset, the Pomeroy parking garage, and turns it into a thriving downtown neighborhood and economic engine for Mesa. Palladium's partnership with CO+HOOTS brings the globally-recognized coworking community to downtown Mesa. CO+HOOTS will occupy 14,000 square feet of coworking space at The GRID and, in partnership with Benedictine University at Mesa, will provide mentorships, internships and entrepreneurial experiences for business students. "This is a big deal," Mayor John Giles said. "We are thrilled to be welcoming The GRID and CO+HOOTS to downtown Mesa. With hundreds of new residents living at The GRID, CO+HOOTS' cultivating a new coworking community and Benedictine University at Mesa students gaining insight into entrepreneurship, soon downtown Mesa will be known as a dynamic and well-balanced community that thrives on innovation. Congratulations to Palladium Enterprises and CO+HOOTS on a project that I can't wait to break ground on." In just seven years, CO+HOOTS has become the second ranked coworking community in the nation and has facilitated the creation and growth of more than 1,000 companies. Some of those companies have grown into multi-million-dollar operations. "We believe in the City of Mesa's commitment to transforming its downtown into a vibrant urban core," CO+HOOTS Founder Jenny Poon said. "We love downtown Mesa's already hyper-localized community and believe a CO+HOOTS location that will reflect downtown Mesa's distinctive personality will be a great fit. Among many of our goals, the Mesa location will support and bring together the area's entrepreneurial, startup and small business community; create jobs; provide free business and technology education through our nonprofit, CO+HOOTS Foundation; and become a major economic driver for Mesa." The GRID and CO+HOOTS are key in Mesa's development of an innovation district. The area around Benedictine University will be transformed into a thriving downtown neighborhood and economic engine that will help create an entrepreneurial ecosystem where people can live, work, eat and relax. "We believe that bringing CO+HOOTS into The GRID, located next to Benedictine University, is a game changer for the Downtown Mesa business community," Palladium Enterprises Manager Tony Wall said. "We are collaborative developers and we believe in Downtown Mesa. CO+HOOTS has joined us in this belief and this tremendous collaboration." The GRID is expected to break ground this year with CO+HOOTS opening it's doors in Fall 2019. > For more information about The GRID contact Tony Wall at tony@palladiumaz.com and
> For more about CO+HOOTS contact Emily Liu at emily@cohoots.com. ________________________________________________________________________ Maybe you, dear readers need some help wrapping your head around that, so here it is from the ABC15 crew with a reporter and camera guy in the parking lot in front of the parking garage, Mayor John Giles stepping out his office door, and some other on-camera selected talent. All of them appear to have gotten the right talking-points. Take a look at the video
Anchor tenant announced for $60M mixed-use development in downtown Mesa
3:48 PM, 07 Feb 2018 Updated 7:44 PM Co+Hoots will move into a 14,000-square-foot co-working space, and will provide mentorships and internships for business students, a media release explained. "We believe in the City of Mesa's commitment to transforming its downtown into a vibrant urban core," CO+HOOTS founder Jenny Poon said. Here's the link > ABC15 News
__________________________________________________________________________________ It's one of the fastest "big deals" your MesaZona has never seen! And big promises for jobs
Mesa juggles downtown growth, livability
By Wayne Schutsky Tribune Staff 11 Updated 12
Phoenix-based Co-Hoots is in negotiations to occupy 13,000 square feet in the development – which is currently under a memorandum of understanding between the city and developer 3W Management LLC. The City Council was considering an amendment to that agreement on Feb. 5 that would provide job-creation incentives to Co-Hoots that could total up to $375,000 and require the business to move into The Grid by Dec. 30, 2020. In order to receive the incentives, Co-Hoots would have to create a minimum of 500 new jobs over 10 years with at least 300 of them going to Mesa residents. It also would have to create at least 25 new businesses over that time frame, host workshops for entrepreneurs, provide 15 scholarships to Mesa high school students and work collaboratively with a Mesa university Read more > http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/mesa juggles
Thanks to KJZZ Fronteras Desk reporter Rodrigo Cervantes Phoenix-Based Art Initiative Looks For Business In Mexico By Rodrigo Cervantes For some, artists are just imaginative people - others see more than that. Several business people from Arizona have been working to keep close ties with Mexico, the state’s number one trade partner. And among them, one group wants to make the arts and culture part of that growing trend.
“Artists are business people, artists are creative entrepreneurs,” Dorina Bustamante said. She is one of the five people coming from the U.S. to Mexico City for the Phoenix-Mexico Art and Culture Exchange program (PMACX). The Phoenix Trade Office in Mexico City helped PMACX for this first trip, and the organization is already planning to bring another group in the fall. “I think the way we can relate business and arts is very simple: building relationships," said Janielle Penner, entrepreneur and head of this new initiative. Penner brought the group during Mexico City’s art fair week. Visitors from the Phoenix-Mexico Art and Culture Exchange program (PMACX) touring Mexico City's downtown. Image: Rodrigo Cervantes - KJZZOne of the highlights is Zona MACO, Mexico's largest contemporary art event. ______________________________________________________________ Link added by MesaZona blogger: ZONAMACO Mexico: Arte Contemporáneo 7-11 February, 2018
Presents its fifteenth edition with the most representative selection of the international art world through more than 130 galleries from 27 countries.
Website: https://zsonamaco.com/february/arte-contemporaneo ______________________________________________________________ Penner said PMACX will build bridges between art investors and artists from both cities. Wayne Rainey is an artist and owner of The monOrchid Gallery in Downtown Phoenix. “The artists are really cutting some new paths," Rainey said. He likes what he sees in the Mexican contemporary art scene. "The contemporary work that we saw in Zona MACO is incredible," Rainey said. Reiney plans to get some art from Mexico City and strengthen the relationship among artists, while hoping that the art dealing business may grow between his hometown and here. _____________________________________________________________
Why say that? Perhaps he smells "blood-in-the-water" facing a Latino demographic seismic shift in the political landscape here in Arizona, getting featured [and quoted word-for-word] in an article from the New York Timeson Friday 09 February with this: The image and words are alarming
“The Arizona Republican Party, they’re just slitting their own throats, . ." - John Giles, the Republican mayor of Mesa [Notice the use of the indefinite pronoun they, as if Giles is not of them, disclaiming any party loyalty]
WARNING ABOUT SYMBOL AND IMAGE WORDS USED: It's gory and may be upsetting in the words by John Giles slitting their own throats Why does the mayor use these strong words for his own party? Does he believe it's "political-suicide" for Arizona Repubs to ride against the Trump Tidal-Wave? At the same time trying to find a political Life-Saver from Arizona Latinos who have mixed-feelings about him? That's the question rising from the twisted turmoil.
Could Giles be Teeter-Tottering with fellow Arizona Mormon Republican politician Jeff Flake who's become the pariah of conservative activists who are Trump-skeptic Republicans? While at the same time going to the Trump White House to get federal financing for infrastructure here in Arizona - he can't have it both ways, but he chooses to step into into the microcosm of Arizona politics. . . that might be "The Achilles Heel" in John Giles' marathon public track record.
Your MesaZona blogger is glad that Mayor Mesa John Giles is getting more scrutiny from the national media no matter where the fault-lines fall. AZ Senator Jeff Flake, to his credit realized his re-election was in jeopardy - choosing to retire instead while waging his own campaign for life-after-office to restore an old brand of "caring conservatism" based on the previous Arizona conservative Republican Barry Goldwater platform that was defeated by Democrat Lyndon Johnson. Flake is now trying to enlist the support of the Latino demographic rising tide by support for "immigration reform" to undo the bad image from Maricopa County's conservative Repubs for SB1070 that turned Latinos against them.
Now they need them.
What alarms Giles is the real threat and high-probability from Martha McSally to take-over Flake's seat in the U.S. Senate - that's the way things are rolling in two directions with Latinos here in Arizona at the fulcrum. To his credit John Giles realizes that now he can't ignore Latino political clot - that could be "a lesson-learned" from the embarrassing recall-election when another conservative LDS Mesa Republican Russell Pearce, champion of SB107- got removed from office.
(Notice symbols on McSally's outfit)
Back to the story from The New Times over the weekend:
Arizona G.O.P. Tiptoes Between a Trump-Loving Base and a Leery Wider Electorate
PHOENIX — Representative Martha McSally of Arizona worked hard to carve out a moderate profile since her election in 2014 to a border district seat that had been held for decades by paragons of centrism from both political parties.
But when she entered the Republican primary to succeed the retiring Senator Jeff Flake, Ms. McSally veered right. She gleefully describes her budding relationship with President Trump, a commander in chief she harshly criticized and may not have even voted for in 2016. Ms. McSally, the first female fighter pilot in the Air Force, recalled how at a West Wing meeting with Mr. Trump last year, she made the case for the A-10 Warthog by calling her old jet “a bad-ass airplane with a big gun on it.”
Ms. McSally represents the evolution of the Republican establishment’s handling of Mr. Trump, from wary detachment to warm embrace, and the delicate dance that Republican politicians face in 2018. Somehow, they must appeal to their Trump-besotted activist base without alienating the broader population of less partisan suburban voters and a growing minority population that has recoiled from the president’s policies and divisive messaging.
In that sense, Arizona has become something of a microcosm of the country’s politics and could be ground zero in the fight for control of Congress in November. Hispanics make up a fast-growing 31 percent of the state’s population, and moderate whites have turned greater Phoenix into what one local political veteran described as effectively the country’s largest suburb.
Your MesaZona blogger strongly supports Equal Rights across the entire spectrum, most recently for the Hashtag #MeToo dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace where the "Wall of Silence" has been broken through - yet there's a bigger issue out there: It's been more than 40 years since 1973 when The Equal Rights Amendment passed by Congress in 1973 still not been approved to become the law-of-the-land. Arizona is one of the hold-out states. WHY??
Now that's A LOADED QUESTION for sure . . . notice that all the non-ratifying states are colored what yours truly might call "chicken yellow" - afraid for one reason or another to take action to approve equal rights for women for more than 40 years. But it's not just about women only - Equal rights include everyone - in the workplace and in public accommodations and commerce across the entire spectrum.
If we are to move forward in this basic principle, then we - that's ALL OF US - need to get the ERA approved and ratified by the states before we can take action on LGBTQ equal rights. We are the change.
With that being said, change happens on many levels. This one - an event - is local. It is organized by a Non-Profit here in Mesa scheduled in Phoenix at the Phoenix Marriott Hotel. Yours truly has no idea whatsoever if the women in the program are part of the #MeToo movement or if they work to get the ERA ratified here in Arizona. Let's see if this topic is included in celebrating International Women's Day
ATHENA Awards-International Women’s Day Celebration
March 8, 2018
In honor of International Women’s Day, ATHENA Valley of the Sun will be hosting the 2nd Annual ATHENA Awards.
Join us for an event honoring and celebrating women of all ages and stages of leadership.
Learn how women inspire change locally and globally
Support leadership development for women in all communities
Be motivated by the stories of the ATHENAS being honored.
Unite with women in our community
Discover attributes of leadership traits intuitive to women
ATHENA honors the highest level of professional excellence coupled with the values of giving back and the responsibility for opening leadership opportunities for others. Honoring successful women in business encourages others to both envision and strive for their highest potential. The long-term vision is to achieve a balance in the voices of leadership.
This inspiring event will honor ATHENA Leadership Award honoree, renowned psychologist, speaker and best-selling author, Dr. Eileen Borris. You will also hear stories of six HAIL honorees chosen for their leadership demonstrating one of the following ATHENA Principles: Live Authentically, Learn Constantly, Advocate Fiercely, Foster Collaboration or Build Relationships.
ATHENA Valley of the Sun (AVOS) strives to Support, Honor and Develop the next generation of women leaders. From this year’s Young ATHENA program, ten outstanding young women who lead in their communities, will serve as emcees for the event.
We invite you to spend International Women’s Day with us, celebrating the achievements of women.
Event Details
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Check-in 10:30am-11:00am
Luncheon Event 11:00am-1:30pm
Phoenix Airport Marriott
Last Day to Register is March 2nd
By attending this event, you automatically give your permission to be photographed and/or video-recorded by the ATHENA staff for print, internet content or another medium, unless you direct otherwise.
Proceeds provide leadership programs to women.
All monetary sponsorships and donations are tax deductible.
Time-and-time again Giles has said "it's the right thing to do" here in Mesa, delaying action until after last year's election - nothing happened to get it in front of the Mesa City Council to get the Non-Discrimination Ordinance approved - so why can't he exercise the leadership skills to do it? Once elected to public office, officials have the duty to serve the public interests - not narrowly-defined religious principles whose adherents are obligated to obey the chain-of-command for faithful followers . . albeit with some fractures.
Many elected local officials and state legislators here in Mesa, have been bishops and presidents in LDS wards and stakes who have "received callings" to elected office, carrying with them the heavy baggage of the dictates of their religion to civil governance. Equality for all and human rights gets left by-the-wayside when they're caught in the middle of "Do What You're Told To Do" or "Do What's Right". It's a struggle to say the least, with John Giles and other fellow Mormons not getting on the same page too soon. Or that's what the following article by Andrew Nicola seems to say in a narrative, where the AZ State Legislature can't even get to "a hearing" of the issue at hand: thanks to the opposition of Eddie Farnsworth. . .
. . . while Giles gets a good feature with this quotation:
The idea that civil rights are only for certain classes of people and not for everyone seems obviously wrong to me Well then, John > Take action to Fix It! It's more than an idea
Bill to bar discrimination against LGBT people can't get a hearing
Andrew Nicla, The Republic | azcentral.com Published 2:35 p.m. MT Feb. 9, 2018 | Updated 3:08 p.m. MT Feb. 9, 2018
For the first time ever, a proposal to protect LGBT people from discrimination in Arizona has gained support from a Republican in the Legislature, along with GOP municipal leaders.
But that doesn't appear to be enough to get a hearing at the Capitol.
The bill, HB 2586, would amend Arizona’s anti-discrimination laws to make it illegal to fire someone from a job, deny them housing or refuse them service because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Phoenix, Tempe, Flagstaff, Sedona, Chandler and Tucson have such protections, but there is no statewide law.
The bill has one more chance to get a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee next week prior to a deadline to hear proposals, butChairman Rep. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert, said he would "probably not" grant it because he disagreed with the proposal.
The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Daniel Hernandez, D-Tucson, said if it were to get a hearing, he believes it would be a close vote that would not necessarily fall along party lines.
"We're not saying we want special treatment for the LGBTQ community, we're saying we want an even playing field so that all people are able to be treated fairly and equally so that they can compete in the marketplace for jobs," Hernandez said.
He said this year's effort is one step in a long process to gain the support of the majority of the Legislature — or at least get a hearing — and that he will continue to advocate for it as long as he's in office.
One of his major obstacles is the Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative group that pushes "religious freedom" bills, among other things, and generally opposes gay rights issues. Hernandez' bill seeks to fix something that has not been proven to be a problem in the state, they say.
Many Republican members of the Legislature vote in accordance with the organization's stances.
The media blitz is on for a development atop the 3-story city-owned parking garage behind the Mesa Superior Court building on First Avenue. Just one day after the mayor's SOTC18 speech, he's thrilled [seems like John Giles is always "thrilled" and "excited" about something] to announce "the big deal" to a news crew from ABC 15 that happened to show up in the 3-acre parking lot at 300 East Main Street between the Wells Fargo building and classroom space for Benedictine University at 225 East Main.
Why say that? Perhaps he smells "blood-in-the-water" facing a Latino demographic seismic shift in the political landscape here in Arizona, getting featured [and quoted word-for-word] in an article from the New York Times on Friday 09 February with this: The image and words are alarming 
Bill to bar discrimination against LGBT people can't get a hearing
