Now We Know: Who/What Rules Mesa > It's NOT The Voters

Mayor John Giles presided over perhaps the final power-grab by the deep-pocketed powers-that-be here in Mesa - inside and outside of City Hall - at yesterday's meetings and hearings in Council Chambers. With all the overlapping "friends-and-family" connections and undisclosed business relationships investing in each other, is anyone surprised that no councilmember recused himself from voting on approving THE BIG ASU DEAL with a conflict of interest? 
That would have been the right thing to do* (Scroll down)

There's just too much money getting played-out on the table here from the same close group with interests in real estate speculation to build their private fortunes. It's not about "higher education" on one proposed property for ASU. That's just the linchpin and catalyst for rampant real estate speculation here in downtown no doubt about that. Some critical commentators like your MesaZona blooger might want to call it "leveraging" public city-owned property for the wealth-creation of private investors in newly created Opportunity Zones. Anyway you want to look at it, realizing capital gains is the name of the game for the network of crony capitalists in the Political Machine that has monopolized Mesa for generations - it's just their new ball game.      

A closely-connected network of investors snapped up 12 parcels on Main Street to corner and control the real estate market here in downtown Mesa. According to almost every published report, they've been planning for years.. Since they monopolize government and politics, finance, insurance and real estate, the skids were greased real good and everyone got their cuts or commissions or fees for services rendered. 

However, if any Mesa City Councilmember profits from actions approving an ASU campus downtown  either directly or indirectly  that not only fails the public trust and the test of integrity in elected office but might be punishable by the forces of law if proven to be the case.

Anyone who carefully followed City Council proceedings might note that the agreements made by city officials were carefully crafted to sidestep the will of voters who REJECTED  more debt to finance an ASU campus downtown. They got around that by hiking utilities consumption fees/charges permitted under Home Rule

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Blogger Note: For good reason any reasonable person might think that three Mesa City Council members might profit personally - either directly or indirectly - as a result of actions passing the ASU items. One of Mesa Mayor John Giles' best friends is AZ State Senator Bob Worsley who's admitted he's gambling about $20 Million dollars speculating in the real estate market here in downtown as a private developer. Moreover, District 4 Councilmember Chris Glover and District 2 Councilmember Mark Freeman both have family connections in finance and other industries over generations that stand to make gains from services rendered to real estate development.

Some businesses associations may be undisclosed
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Re: Six Years On > The Supreme Court's Wedding Cake Decision (HBO)

MASTERPIECE MIX:Six years later and The Justices chose not to deal it? 7-2 decision handed-down yesterday.
Weird about non-discrimination and religion in public accommodations gets combined all about a wedding cake? Go figure!

Published on Jun 5, 2018

Views: 390

On Monday, the Supreme Court sided 7–2 with a Christian baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple in 2012.
Jack Phillips, the cake shop owner, argued that he was protected by two clauses under the Constitution — free speech and free exercise.
Decorating cakes, Phillips said, was a form of art and producing a design for the couple went against his sincere religious beliefs.
But David Mullins and Charlie Craig, the couple who wanted the cake, said Phillips’ refusal violated Colorado’s anti-discriminations laws and filed a complaint against the bakery. The Commission, along with the Colorado Court of Appeals, found that Phillips had violated the state’s anti-discrimination laws. Phillips appealed the decision and petitioned the Supreme Court to take the case on.
In the Court’s decision, the Justices found that while handling the claims against the cake shop, the Commission had shown “hostility” towards the baker’s religious beliefs and in doing so, violated his religious rights under the First Amendment.
The court, however, did not answer the larger question on whether businesses can use religious views to exempt themselves from anti-discrimination laws - a question that is likely to reappear in front of the highest court soon with at least one similar case pending.
It’s a narrow win for Phillips, in what has been one of the closest-watched cases of the term.

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UN-Covering Hypocrisy Here In Mesa: Hydration Donation Kick-off

This is supposed-to-be one of those "Feel Good" things that the City of Mesa does, while making scant efforts to deal with t THE UN-SHELTERED HOMELESS

Mesa City Council Meeting Mon 04 June 2018

A tense session for sure.
"Glasses-Guy" Giles all suited-up to appear credible running this meeting of elected district representatives and salaried city officials in another of three sessions yesterday - this one goes on for almost three hours with more members of the public who turned out last night.
Keep in mind that it's primary election time with 4 seats on the Mesa City Council open - the only one who's unopposed is D6 Kevin Thompson. Chris Glover is termed-out.
District 1 Mark Freeman and District 2 Jeremy Whittaker are not up for election this time-around.   

Special Mesa City Council Meeting Mon 04 June 6 2018

One public hearing >
STATEMENT FROM JEREMY WHITTAKER opposing adoption . . . 

Mesa Council Study Session Mon 04 June 2018

"Glasses Guy" Giles all Suited-Up > does he look more credible? .... No questions or comments from council members
Items taken off the Consent Agenda to be considered separately  AND - Surprise? No study session on Thursday.  Giles has to be reminded about the REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING to discuss extending Home Rule.
The ASU issue is looming in the background as well as bond issues ....

Rocky and Bullwinkle | A Raw Deal | TV Series Full Episode | Cartoon for...

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