A Follow-Up: Mesa People In The Media | What It Takes for Jenny Watwood

Here's an update to an earlier post with the March 2018 Playboy Magazine cover. Here's the background: What was it like growing up in Mesa, Arizona? Do you think there’s anything specific to your Mesa upbringing that makes you who you are today? ". . . I had a pretty rough start in life living in Mesa, Arizona. I grew up in government housing until I was about fourteen-years-old and got out. I wouldn’t trade those hard times for the world. 100% they made me who I am today. I’m such a strong person and very motivated to always move forward in life because I came from nothing. When I look at where I came from I’m just thankful for everything I have now and the life I’ve created for myself. . . .
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That excerpt is from a post on this blog from April 18. See Link below after
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Raised in Sunshine Acres, Mesa model fulfills her dream

by Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Tribune Staff Writer Jun 15, 2018

click here

"Watwood grew up as the youngest of seven children in a conservative household in West Mesa.
“When I was younger, my mom needed help with two of my brothers,” Watwood said. “We lived in a really bad neighborhood. My brothers were at Sunshine Acres until they graduated high school and could make their own decisions.”
Their mother soon landed a job as the Sunshine Acres chef and Watwood and her sister moved to the facility at Loop 202 and Higley Road with her.
Watwood’s mother was a former model, and the little girl heard stories about her career. In high school, she decided to try it.
“I found a photographer on Facebook who would do a test shoot,” she said. “I borrowed money from my sister, who had a job at the time. I thought I had to have pictures before going to an agency and see if they wanted to sign me.”
The photographer submitted the pictures to a modeling agency. Watwood immediately moved to Milan, booked international campaigns and appeared in Vogue, GQ and Vanity Fair.
“I took it into my own hands,” she said. “Nobody came up to me in Starbucks. Arizona isn’t a fashion state.”
Watwood spent the next five years working and living between Milan and the United States, establishing an impressive modeling career. While living in Milan, she was cast in the 2016 reboot of the Italian cult favorite TV series “Ciao Darwin,” which boosted her into the spotlight in that country.
She acknowledges that her family initially was shocked.
“But they told me they were proud of me, and they knew any decision I made would be thought through,” Watwood said. “They trust my decisions. That meant a lot to me.”
The Arizonan’s true passion is as a writer. She and Cuban actress Rachell Vallori are developing a female-focused TV series based on the lives of women living in Los Angeles.
“I want to eventually be a film director,” Watwood said. “That’s my main goal. I love suspenseful drama, serious movies, documentaries, things like that. I love comedies when I’m in the mood. I’m more of a serious person. That’s what I like to write about, as well.”
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Mesa People in the media:
https://mesazona.blogspot.com/2018/04/mesa-people-in-media-this-is-jenny.html



 

Qwik Snatch At Some Hyper-Local News: Goodies For Everybody

Hey! Ya gotta wonder about that when City Hall's favorite go-to-for-the-story East Valley Tribune  'Staff Writer' Jim Walsh publishes a re-hash playback of the new scrubbed-up scheme to sell taxpayers taking on more debt by throwing yet another pitch ready-to-land on the playing Field of Dreams here in Mesa for the November ballot.Ready-to-play ball and see how City Manager Chris Brady wants to juggle the numbers to create more confusion?
Toss everything up-in-the-air all at once to see if the public can really figure out what's next: ________________
What's your guess? Thumbs up or Thumbs down?

The game is on! GOODIES FOR EVERYBODY 
New Financing Plan Proposed for $60M Sports Complex
by Jim Walsh, Tribune Staff Writer 6 hours ago
"Mesa is hoping taxpayers kick the Mesa Plays sports complex across the goal line after a shift in financing placed the tax burden on out-of-town patrons for the much awaited, much debated $55 million facility.
READ ALL ABOUT IT >
EVT Staff Writer Jim Walsh's Story-Time 

At the same time "Goodies for Everybody" could look like a trap to trick taxpayers 
PROCEED WITH CAUTION  
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Notice of Public Hearing for Home Rule: Were You Adequately Informed In A Timely Manner?

Office of Management & Budget City of Mesa
TENTATIVE
Schedule of Public Meetings 
(Taken from a May 13 2018 post on this blog site)
Please note that the two notices for the two REQUIRED HOME RULE PUBLIC HEARINGS were done in a list of seven items . . .
All meetings held in City Council Chambers at 57 E. First Street 

  

Public Hearing on CIP/ CIP Adoption	May 21 2018
Public Hearing on Utility Rate Ordinance/Ordinance Adoption	May 21 2018
Tentative Budget Adoption	May 21 2018
Fees and Charges Resolution Adoption	May 21 2018
Public Hearing on Home Rule Election	June 4, 2018
Public Hearing on Expenditures and Tax Levy, Final Budget Adoption	June 4, 2018
Second Public Hearing on Home Rule, Home Rule Election Adoption	June 18 2018

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. . . and here again on this blog in another post on June 15,2018
Hell No! Nobody Ever Said Being An Informed Voter Is Easy!



Heads Up, dear readers!
Just in case and - In Case You Missed It ICYMI:
2nd required PUBLIC HEARING 
for Home Rule
Special Council Meeting
Agenda Item 1-a
Type: Public Hearing
Conduct a public hearing to extend the locally controlled alternative expenditure limitation - home rule option.
What is that?????
Is the City of Mesa keeping you informed?

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Link to information from the City of Mesa's official website: Scroll down after the table

Public Hearing on Home Rule Election	June 4, 2018
Public Hearing on Expenditures and Tax Levy, Final Budget Adoption	June 4, 2018
Second Public Hearing on Home Rule, Home Rule Election Adoption	June 18 2018

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City of Mesa

www.mesaaz.gov

www.mesaaz.gov/home/showdocument?id=26160

City of Mesa File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat Home Rule Continuation. February 15, 2018. Presented by: Candace Cannistraro, Management and Budget Director. Robert Baer, Operating Budget ... www.mesaaz.gov www.mesaaz.gov/home/showdocument?id=26160

clipped from Google - 6/2018

14-0509 - Council Report

www.mesaaz.gov

www.mesaaz.gov/home/showdocument?id=5604 

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More Make-Believe 4 U > VIRTUAL AND BLENDED REALITY. . . Sounds Absolutely Fabulous, Huh?

Over the welcome wet weekend, here's just one more trickle of mainstream media-manufactured good news, from some one named Erin Dragoo, keeping her writing 'all-in-the-family' by bringing back the same cast of characters featured before in the "Old Donut-Hole' --- Oops! Make that

Innovation District, a term NOT coined by The Brookings Institution, but a money-maker for "The Wealth Creators".

We just can't have another lackluster performance from the same old cast - Caliber: The Wealth Development Company, W. Tim Sprague and AZ State Senator Bob Worsley principals of Habitat Metro, THE GRID developer Tony Wall/3W Management, the Mesa City Council for ASU’s downtown Mesa expansion. Let's add some flashy neon at the suggestion of Vic Linoff from The Mesa Preservation Foundation . . .

“I think in the next few years, you’re going to see [downtown Mesa] transformed into a real vibrant, dynamic space punctuated by several blocks of historic buildings that will give it a really unique character, and if the neon goes in, there won’t be anything else like that in the valley,” Linoff said

O yeah that's DOES DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION! - glowing at night   

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Downtown Mesa going back to its roots with innovative twist

By Erin Dragoo azfamily.com | 2018/06/17

Erin Dragoo's piece de resistance starts off like this in a barrage mix of almost everything:
MESA -- "New developments and proposals for eclectic mixes of restaurants, office space, entertainment venues, higher education, housing, hotels and retail in downtown Mesa hope to transform
the halcyon area into a bustling metropolitan destination.

Since the public’s investment in the light rail extension in 2015, plans for economic development in downtown Mesa have been created by members of the community and council, and February was a big month for development. Although no physical buildings were constructed, 100,000 square feet of property was purchased by developers Caliber: The Wealth Development Company and Habitat Metro, a lease agreement was accepted with developer 3W Management, and ASU’s downtown Mesa expansion was approved by the Mesa city council on a 5-2 vote.

These developments are all projected to be key pieces in turning the area into City leaders’ desired “Innovation District,” a term coined by the Brookings Institution. The institution describes these districts as “dense enclaves that merge the innovation and employment potential of research-oriented anchor institutions, high-growth firms, and tech and creative start-ups in well-designed, amenity-rich residential and commercial environments. . . "


http://www.azfamily.com/story/38443843/downtown-mesa-going-back-to-its-roots-with-innovative-twist

Shining Some Light On Religion & Real Estate

An arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sold land in the East Valley
Blogger Note: As if you didn't know it already, The LDS Church is a big real estate and land owner in the Phoenix region with holdings in both the East and West Valley. 

Enlarge

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Mormon Church sells Arizona land to homebuilder
By Mike Sunnucks  – Senior Reporter, Phoenix Business Journal

Dec 4, 2017, 11:26am

"Mattamy Homes bought 37 acres belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the East Valley for $13.64 million.

The land is at Pecos Road and Hartford Street in Chandler.

Land Advisors Organization brokered the deal between Mattamy Arizona LLC and the seller, Property Reserve Inc., a real estate arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The land is not developed and is called Haven. It is zoned for 283 single-family homes.

Land Advisors Bret Rinehart, Ben Heglie and Ryan Semro represented Canada-based Mattamy.

Link  >> Phx Biz Journal December 2017

 

Is The Mesa City Council Cleaning Up Its Act?

Hey! Ya gotta wonder about that when City Hall's favorite go-to-for-the-story East Valley Tribune  'Staff Writer' Jim Walsh publishes a re-hash playback of the new scrubbed-up scheme to sell taxpayers taking on more debt by throwing yet another pitch ready-to-land on the playing Field of Dreams here in Mesa for the November ballot.
Ready-to-play ball and see how City Manager Chris Brady wants to juggle the numbers to create more confusion?

The game is on! GOODIES FOR EVERYBODY 
New Financing Plan Proposed for $60M Sports Complex
by Jim Walsh, Tribune Staff Writer 6 hours ago
"Mesa is hoping taxpayers kick the Mesa Plays sports complex across the goal line after a shift in financing placed the tax burden on out-of-town patrons for the much awaited, much debated $55 million facility.
READ ALL ABOUT IT >
EVT Staff Writer Jim Walsh's Story-Time 
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City officials last week acknowledged they are taking a risk that financial forecasts are correct and that Mesa Plays, with 24 fields, will become a magnet for large tournaments.
The financing shift, orchestrated by City Manager Chris Brady, leaves Mesa taxpayers responsible for paying off the $25 million cost of nine artificial turf fields reserved for community use, even though they also could be incorporated into a large tournament.

But $30 million in excise bonds would be issued to pay for 15 fields reserved for tournaments. Sales tax revenues would be pledged in support of the bonds, but the biggest source of funds is a 1 percent increase in bed taxes paid by hotel and motel guests.
Although excise bonds do not need approval from voters, advocates must convince voters to support two related ballot questions – the bed tax increase and spending more than $1.5 million on a city project.
But $30 million in excise bonds would be issued to pay for 15 fields reserved for tournaments. Sales tax revenues would be pledged in support of the bonds, but the biggest source of funds is a 1 percent increase in bed taxes paid by hotel and motel guests.
Although excise bonds do not need approval from voters, advocates must convince voters to support two related ballot questions – the bed tax increase and spending more than $1.5 million on a city project.
“The community is going to have to endorse Mesa Plays. It’s thumbs up or thumbs down on both of these questions,’’ Brady said. . . "
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Whoa! > Hold On TIME-OUT!
Blogger Note: Way-too-Cunning Chris sets that up as

A BINARY CHOICE
“The community is going to have to endorse Mesa Plays. It’s thumbs up or thumbs down on both of these questions,’’ Brady said.
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. . . and farther on here's a quote included by Staff Writer Jim Walsh from our goofy mayor Jiving' John Giles 
"The folks who are coming from out of town are paying for this. That seems a lot cleaner to me,’’ Mayor John Giles said, vowing to campaign for voters to approve the related Mesa Plays ballot questions, and also the general obligation bond packages which amount to a municipal goodie bag of improvements . . .

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Marc Garcia, president and CEO of Visit Mesa, said hotel developers have already written to Giles, promising to build new hotels if the complex gets built.
“I’m pretty confident. I would not agree to this if I didn’t think it was achievable,’’ Garcia said. “This is the right project for the right city at the right time.’’


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". . . A secondary benefit from the split financing arrangement is that city officials were able to shave a cool $30 million off the general obligation bond ballot measure that would go before voters in November, perhaps making it more palatable . . . "That’s not to say they are not hoping taxpayers are generous this year. The parks and cultural outlay would be $111 million, a cost of $24 in secondary property tax to the average homeowner.
The public safety portion of the bond package is $85 million, which includes two fire stations in southeast and northeast Mesa, a police station in northeast Mesa, new fire trucks and a new police evidence facility. The cost to the average homeowner is $19.
The City Council is scheduled on July 2 to formally vote to place the $196 million bond issue on the November ballot, with separate questions for the parks and public safety improvements.
Giles said he supports all of the ballot questions but is still interested in receiving feedback from voters.
The bond issue contains goodies for everybody, but it focuses especially on building out many quality-of-life and public safety facilities in East Mesa
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Fractured Fairy Tales -- Red Riding Hood

Lessons in customer service...