Streaming 2-Hour Video Mesa City Council Study Session 11 April 2019

This study session is almost two hours long. When uploaded to this blog at 08:00 this morning there were 40 views on YouTube. The screengrab provided by Mesa Channel 11 that you see in the insert is from Item 2 on the session's agenda.
The first item is TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS ITEMS on the agenda items for Monday's Regular City Council Meeting on April 15th at 5:45 p.m.
Please watch how the mayor makes the points of order at this study session instead of just saying "various" this and that . . .

 A number of small-dollar grants, added to the agenda made public the day before the meeting, are the first thing to get mentioned. The revenues come from a mandated city-share of gambling incomes from two tribes, one from Homeland Security. There's also an item for more money for the city's Facade Improvement Project that's required due to the fact that the consultant hired by the city only did a casual job estimating, while other required details were found by the construction company doing the work.

There are other agenda items with big-dollar amounts attached to them, especially with job contract awards.
There are major multi-residential and industrial developments in District 6, some "opt-ins" by City Manager Chris Brady that need to get approved at the Elliot Road Technology Corridor, the creation of some more water irrigation districts, and action the city wants to take by using eminent domain to seize an 18.6-acre privately-owned land parcel next to city-owned land by Lehi Road when a low-ball offered got turned down.

The fact that all these items and the review of the Mesa Police Department budget are both included in this one study session would test anyone's power of concentration.
Perhaps that is done for a reason, when the Mesa PD budget might deserve closer attention in itself - it's puzzling that the police have been enlisted in "mental health" when there are so few, in any, professional qualified mental health experts on-staff. But let's not get too-detailed too early.  
Mayor John Giles notes that D5 David Luna is absent, then goes right to asking if the entire Consent Agenda is still intact - those are action items that all get approved at the same time, but any councilmember or member of the public can ask for an item to be removed for individual consideration - D6 Kevin Thompson requests that Item 4-t be removed within the first few minutes

Yes, there are consequences: The input that the mayor and the six city councilmembers do receive will then originate from other sources than the public without you . Not everything is fair in politics as you probably realize when there are other competing priorities that will set and determine the policies here in the City of Mesa. With that in mind, here's what on the agenda for today's study session.
At first glance the list on Agenda Items might look easy-and-simple. FAIR WARNING > It is not just 1, 2, . . . 3
_________________________________________________________________________
1 Review and discuss items on the agenda for the April 15, 2019 regular Council meeting.
  
2 Presentations/Action Items:

• 19-0405 Hear a presentation, discuss, and provide direction on the Police Department budget. (Item 2-a)
• 19-0471 Appointments to the 2020 Census Task Force (Item 2-b)

3 Acknowledge receipt of minutes of various boards and committees.

• 19-0460 Housing and Community Development Advisory Board meetings held on February 26 and February 27, 2019 (Item 3-a)
• 19-0473 Economic Development Advisory Board meeting held on March 5, 2019 (Item 3-b )

_________________________________________________________________________  Here are meeting details and links for Item 2 and Item  3 Attachments: Meeting Items (4) 4 records Group Clear sorting Clear grouping Group by Type Group by Result Export Export to Excel Export to PDF Export to Word Show: Legislation only Legislation only All agenda items File # Agenda # Type Title Action Result Action Details 19-0405 2-a Presentation Hear a presentation, discuss, and provide direction on the Police Department budget.     Not available 19-0471 2-b Appointment Appointments to the 2020 Census Task Force.     Not available 19-0460 3-a Minutes Housing and Community Development Advisory Board meetings held on February 26 and February 27, 2019.     Not available 19-0473 3-b Minutes Economic Development Advisory Board meeting held on March 5, 2019.     Not available                                  _________________________________________________________________________ Here's just one item. Note that members previously on the Task Force have resigned to get replaced by four new persons who are faith-based related. Likewise, unless you are curious who the other 20 members are, their names and affiliations are not included. WHAT IS THE CITY'S 2020 CENSUS TASK FORCE? The purpose and work of the Taskforce is to increase response rates from individuals that would otherwise not be counted, thereby increasing population-driven revenues to the City over the next decade.  Here is the Council Report The Bottom-Line: The city needs you to count because every person - man, woman, and child - is worth $3,195 every year. ________________________________________________________________________ First note the Fiscal Impact Fiscal Impact  The City of Mesa receives approximately $330 per person in state-shared revenue annually for each resident counted. According to the George Washington University report, Counting for Dollars 2020, it is estimated that each person counted directs $2,865 of federal funding to education, transportation, healthcare, housing and other needs in Mesa each year.

Electric scooters may not be around for long…

I'm not crazy over these - investors are betting they will turn profitable. Planning to build "a better scooter", but both the scooters and the companies could have a short life-span

Published on Apr 12, 2019

Views: 2,520

Electric scooters have been one of the biggest tech crazes of the last year, with venture capitalists pouring more than $1 billion into the startups.
But the fundamental numbers don’t add up because the scooters don’t bring in enough money to cover their costs.
If the business continues on its current path, the scooter hype might be short-lived.

Read more here: http://bit.ly/2P5g030

Who's The Sports-Jock Allred Getting An Inside-Scoop from John Giles & Mark Garcia?

Proposed site for "Mesa Plays'

Just like some members in the Family Tree, Damon Allred somehow managed to get the fast-track on what is up in front of the Mesa City Council to approve "continuing negotiations" in-the-process for Eminent Domain to cease 18 acres at 2200 North Center Street in Mark Freeman's District 1 near Lehi Road above McKellips.
What's that about? A matter of "public necessity" or what?
Here's a clue in the opening image on a billboard at a toxic BLM piece of land deeded to the city for a buck, located at Red Mountain. It got flagged-out in 2018 by taxpayers.

It was what was once a foretold story from the "Field of Schemes" by Marc Garcia back in 2014, and again in 2018, re-packaged with a hotel complex, for an outdoor youth sports complex. Cheered on from the sidelines by the the mouth of Mayor John Giles about that "Mesa Plays" Ballot Item last year that taxpayers rejected. It was declared it dead-on-arrival. Giles said that taxpayers won't have to deal with it again. Look what horse got out-of-the-barn and what jock-journalist  jumped-the-gun loading up a story to Mesa Legend where he's a sportswriter

Damon Allred / Image from
https://twitter.com/bydamonallred

Youth sports project won’t die

04/03/2019 Damon Allred MesaCC Legend

Sports complex project persevering after Mesa Plays failure 
"Whether they pass or fail, not all bills are created equal. Despite a 2018 failure, the Mesa Plays bill continues to live and evolve from its original presentation.
The bill originally proposed the creation of 24 athletic fields, including 10 artificial turf fields, in one massive sports complex located on the corner of 80th St. and Adobe Road, just southeast of Red Mountain High School.
One of the major reasons the City of Mesa wants to build this new complex is to provide high-quality, well-lit fields available for youth usage. . . " [cont'd farther down]
_________________________________________________
BLOGGER NOTE: Little did with know that some players or special interests were making-the-rounds apparently for months.
> A written offer was made to the property owner in November 2018 in the amount of $3,820,000 for 18.63 acres of vacant land.
> A counter offer was received from the property owner’s attorney in December 2018 in the amount of $5,700,000.
> A 20-day letter has been sent to the owner on March 6, 2019, by our outside legal counsel. 

• Arizona Revised Statutes require that at least twenty (20) days before filing an action for condemnation the City must provide the property owner with a written purchase offer and an appraisal supporting the amount of the offer. 
• This letter serves as notice that we are not in agreement with their counter offer and we will be proceeding with eminent domain. 

 It's an item for a public City Council meeting on Monday 15 April 2019:

Requesting approval for Staff to continue negotiations to acquire certain property located in the 2200 block of North Center Street for the construction of athletic fields, and in order to avoid construction delays, authorizing and directing Staff, that fee title, or other interests in, and possession of, certain property, be acquired by the City of Mesa through eminent domain, as a matter of public necessity. (District 1)

It is Resolution 5-g       

File #19-0428

On agenda:

4/15/2019

Title:

Requesting approval for Staff to continue negotiations to acquire certain property located in the 2200 block of North Center Street for the construction of athletic fields, and in order to avoid construction delays, authorizing and directing Staff, that fee title, or other interests in, and possession of, certain property, be acquired by the City of Mesa through eminent domain, as a matter of public necessity. (District 1)

Attachments:

1. Council Report, 2. Resolution, 3. Vicinity Map, 4. Detail Map

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_______________________________________________________________

The entire Council Report is reproduced after the rest of Damon Allred's article

_______________________________________________________________

 

 

Mesa Mayor John Giles said, “We have a real shortage in Mesa of lighted athletic fields for youth sports… We could schedule another 1,000 hours per week of lighted athletic fields between soccer, baseball, football, field hockey, and all the things that people want to do.”
The original planned location was prime real estate for the city. Mayor Giles said, “We have over 100 acres of property that was given to the City of Mesa by the Bureau of Land Management with the restriction that it has to be used for recreational purposes.”
The average Mesa homeowner would’ve had to pay $24 per year, while tourism taxes on hotels and revenue generated by the complex would pay for the rest of the expenses. That revenue could reach astronomical levels thanks, in part, to the tourism the sports complex would attract. At full booking capacity, the facility would have an annual economic output of over $365 million, and the complex would bring in over 400,000 annual visitors while supporting nearly 3,500 sustainable jobs.
But the bill failed to pass. Questions 4, 5, and 6 made up the bill, and while Q4 passed with a 6.11 percent margin, Q5 and Q6 both failed with a combined margin of 3.11 percent. Mayor Giles attributed the failed vote to dissatisfaction with taxpayer-funded sports facilities ever since the attempted Arizona Cardinals stadium in Mesa.

He added, “Half of the project did pass, so you’re going to see a lot of nice, new fields there… And maybe once that happens and we can go back later and say let’s go ahead and finish the project if the voters see what a great facility this is.”
Going forward, the project has a few options, one of which is to bring slightly adjusted propositions before the people again, but Mayor Giles said, “I think the voters have spoken and I’m pessimistic the voters are going to change their minds on the stadium side of it.”
The project also has the option of using a different location and funding privately, as the current location will not allow for non-public use.

VisitMesa CEO and president Marc Garcia, who was not at liberty to share specifics, said, “At least two other parcels of land are being explored by a private sector entity.”
Garcia added,

“If it does come to fruition, I think it will be very successful because it will have our support.” The project in some ways seems like an inevitability.

Source: https://mesalegend.com/youth-sports-project-wont-die/
_________________________________________________________________________________
City Council Report 
Date:  April 15, 2019
To:  City Council
Through: Kari Kent, Assistant City Manager   
From:  Beth Huning, City Engineer and Rob Kidder, Assistant City Engineer 
Subject: Authority to acquire property located at 2200 block of North Center Street  Council District #1  
Purpose and Recommendation 
The purpose of this report is to consider a staff recommendation to authorize staff to acquire parcels of land necessary for the North Center Athletic Fields located in the 2200 block of North Center Street. Staff is requesting authorization to acquire certain parcels through eminent domain if necessary. Staff intends to continue to negotiate with the property owner with the intent of reaching a settlement. Our goal is to acquire the parcels through negotiations with the property owner.  

Background 
On July 2, 2018, City Council was presented General Obligation Bond Projects for the General Election in November 2018.  As part of Parks & Cultural, the North Center Street property was on the list for athletic fields.  
In November 2018, the voters approved Question 4, that authorized the City to issue and sell general obligation bonds to provide funds to design, acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve, furnish, equip and install: libraries, museums, arts and cultural facilities and improvements, parks, open space and recreation facilities and improvements, and including acquisition of land or interests therein necessary for such purposes.  

Discussion 
Real Estate Services has received an appraisal in the amount of $3,820,000 for 18.63 acres of vacant land.
> A written offer was made to the property owner in November 2018. 
> A counter offer was received from the property owner’s attorney in December 2018 in the amount of $5,700,000.

• This counter offer was not supported by an appraisal. 
• The owner’s attorney has informed the City they will not be getting an appraisal at this time.  

> A 20-day letter has been sent to the owner on March 6, 2019, by our outside legal counsel. 

• Arizona Revised Statutes require that at least twenty (20) days before filing an action for condemnation the City must provide the property owner with a written purchase offer and an appraisal supporting the amount of the offer. 
• This letter serves as notice that we are not in agreement with their counter offer and we will be proceeding with eminent domain. 

The City is required by law to pay what is called “just compensation” for the land needed for this project. “Just compensation” includes the value of the land and any improvements being taken and damages equal to any diminishment in value of the remaining property resulting from the acquisition.   
Staff seeks Council approval to start the court proceedings on these parcels where the City and Property owner have not yet reached an agreement. 
> Staff will continue to work with the property owner and attempt to reach an agreement on a compensation amount for this property.
> Filing the court actions is necessary because it will allow the City to seek the Order of Immediate Possession (OIP), so that the Project may proceed while the negotiations regarding compensation continue a parallel course.  

Alternative 
The project cannot begin as scheduled if the use of eminent domain is not authorized when necessary to obtain immediate possession. 

Fiscal Impact 
The recommendation does not have a fiscal impact on the overall cost of the project. 

Concurrence 
The Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and Engineering concur with this recommendation  

BIG Jammed-Up Tentative Agenda For Regular Mesa City Council Meeting Mon 15 April 2019

Let's try to put some fun into government-and-politics for a change. Boogie your bad self on down to your keyboard on whatever device you choose to use to get information.
Quick link > Click Right Here Now  to open a new tab.
Whoa! that was easy to get to the entire April 2019 Calendar for the Mesa City Council. Easy as that.
Now the hard part. Scan the lines. What day do you want?
_________________________________________________________________________

There it is, printed looks like yesterday for the review at the study session this morning at 07:30 a.m. this morning 11.04.2019.
Did you notice the Tentative Agenda for Monday, April 15th's meeting @ 5:45 p.m.  goes on-and-on for 18 pages? . . . and that
"All citizens are permitted and encouraged to speak on agenda items including and preceding “Items from citizens present.” ??
O Yeah! CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
_________________________________________________________________________

HEAVY-DUTY STUFF FIRST:
Introduction of the following ordinances and setting May 6, 2019 as the date of the public hearing on these ordinances:
> 19-0415 ZON18-00984 (District 4) 
Within the 700 block of South Stapley Drive (east side) and the1200 block of East 8th Avenue (north side).  Located south of Broadway on the east side of Stapley Drive (0.9± acres).  Rezoning from RM-3 and OC to NC-BIZ; and Site Plan Review. 
This request will allow for a commercial development.
Adaptive Architects, Inc., applicant
Pro Tax Financial Services, LLC, owner.                                                              
Staff Recommendation:  Approval with conditions
P&Z Board Recommendation:  Approval with conditions (Vote: 7-0) *6-a

>19-0416 ZON19-00070 (District 6) Within the 8000 block of East Ray Road (north side).  Located west of Hawes Road on the north side of Ray Road (36± acres). 
Rezone from AG-AF to LI-AF-PAD; and Site Plan Review. 
This request will allow for an industrial development.
Jack Gilmore, Gilmore Planning & Landscape Architecture, applicant;
Kay & Judy Toolson Joint Trust/Crisko, LLC, owner. 

Staff Recommendation:  Approval with conditions

P&Z Board Recommendation:  Approval with conditions (Vote: 7-0)

*6-b

> 19-0413 ZON18-00806 (District 6) 

Within the 3100 to 3400 blocks of South Ellsworth Road (west side).  Located north of Elliot Road on the west side of Ellsworth Road (67.5± acres). 
Rezone from LC-PAD and PEP-PAD to LI;
Site Plan Review; and a
Special Use Permit for a reduction in parking. 
This request will allow for an industrial development.
Jeffrey Blilie, Beus Gilbert, PLLC, applicant;
Sunbelt Land Holdings, LP, owner.

Staff Recommendation:  Approval with conditions

P&Z Board Recommendation:  Approval with conditions (Vote: 7-0)

*6-c

(Page 16 City of Mesa Printed on 4/9/2019 April 15, 2019City Council Meeting Agenda - Tentative

>19-0414 ZON18-00980 (District 5) 

Within the 2600 block of North Power Road (east side).  Located south of McDowell Road on the east side of Power Road (10.43± acres).  Rezoning from RM-3-PAD to RM-3-PAD; and Site Plan Review.
This request will allow for a multi-residence development. Timothy Tyson, Aquila Las Sendas, LLC, applicant; Continental 452 Fund, LLC, owner. 

Staff Recommendation:  Approval with conditions

P&Z Board Recommendation:  Approval with conditions (Vote: 7-0)

*6-d

7 Discuss, receive public comment, and take action on the following ordinances:

19-0305 ZON18-00933 (District 6) 
Within the 10800 to 11600 blocks of East Williams Field Road (south side), the 6000 to 6300 blocks of South Signal Butte Road (east side), the 6000 to 6300 blocks of South Mountain Road (west side), the 6000 to 6500 blocks of South Mountain Road (east side), and the 6000 to 6300 blocks of South Meridian Road (west side).  Located south of Williams Field Road east of Signal Butte Road
(203± acres). 
Rezone to modify an existing PAD; and Site Plan Review. 
This request will allow for the modification of the PAD for single residential development. Sean Lake, Pew & Lake, PLC, applicant
Groh Revocable Trust, Demuro Properties, SB CLB 18, LLC, Tres Points, LLC, owners.  

Staff Recommendation:  Approval with conditions

P&Z Board Recommendation:  Approval with conditions (Vote: 7-0)

*7-a

> 19-0374 ZON19-00016 (District 6) 

Within the 7100 to 7600 blocks of East Elliot Road (north side) and the 3100 to 3500 blocks of South Sossaman Road (west side).  Located north of Elliot Road and west of Sossaman Road
(187± acres). 
Rezone from LI-PAD-PAD and PEP-PAD-PAD to EO to create the Red Hawk Employment Opportunity Zone. 
This request will establish zoning to guide future development of employment and industrial uses. 
W. Ralph Pew, Pew & Lake, PLC, applicant
MBR Land I, an Arizona General Partnership, MBR Land I, LLP, B&K Land Investment Co., et al, and Morrison Ranch, Inc., owners.

Staff Recommendation:  Approval with conditions

P&Z Board Recommendation:  Approval with conditions (Vote: 7-0)_________________________________________________________________________

Now please pay attention to the Items on the Consent Agenda and note:
"All items listed with an asterisk (*) will be considered as a group by the City Council and will be enacted with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Councilmember or citizen requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered as a separate item.  If a citizen wants an item removed from the consent agenda, a blue card must be completed and given to the City Clerk prior to the Council’s vote on the consent agenda."
___________________________________________________________

ITEM 4: CONTRACTS 

Downtown Façade Improvements Project - Phase 1,
Dollar-Limit Increase for Added Scope of Work (District 4)

The scope of phase 1 of this project was to renovate the façades of ten buildings along Main Street between Country Club Drive and Center Street. 
During the design phase of the project, visual investigations were made to understand the existing building façades, without causing damage to the existing structures or impact to operating businesses.  However, once construction began on the first seven properties, numerous unexpected conditions were encountered that were not apparent during the design phase.

Staff recommends a dollar-limit increase for the added scope of work to the construction contract with Rytan Construction by $107,000, from $852,239.30 to $959,239.30, for the Downtown Façade Improvement Program - Phase I. 
This increase is funded by
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) grants,
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), and the
General Fund, which will be reimbursed from FY 2019/20 CDBG grant funding

SOME SWEETHEART DEALS?
> Pre-Construction Services contract in the amount of $58,541.

> Water Line and Gas Line Replacement Project(Various)
CMAR Selection and Pre-Construction Services Contract (Districts 3, 4, and 6)
These contracts will be limited to $1,500,000 per job order
Total contract value not-to-exceed $10,000,000 for each year of the contract, per contractor.

One-Year Term Contract with Two Years of Renewal Options for

• Five Master Job Order Contracts;
• three contracts for the General Utility Construction Services and
• two contracts for Specialty Utility Construction Services.

(Citywide)

> Not-to-exceed limit of $1,500,000 per job order; a total contract value not-to-exceed $5,000,000 for each year of the contract, per contractor.
One-Year Term Contract with Two Years of Renewal Options for Two Master Job Order Contracts for Landscape Construction Services. (Citywide)

Job Order Master Contracts for landscape construction services include renovations and repairs, additions, demolition, and facility upgrades for a broad range of City landscaping improvement projects

Purchase of a Digital Signage Solution (Upgrade) for the Mesa Convention Center as requested by the Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Department (Citywide)

$69,919.21, based on estimated requirements.  This purchase is funded by Capital Enterprise Fund - Convention Center sub-fund.

 

One-Year Renewal to the Term Contract for Performance Cooling Water Treatment Program for the Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Department (Citywide)
authorizing the renewal with Water & Energy Systems Technology Inc. (W.E.S.T. Inc.) (a Mesa business), at $73,816, based on estimated usage.

> $400,000 annually, based on estimated usage. 
Three-Year Term Contract with Two Years of Renewal Options for Entertainment Production Services for the Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Department, and the Arts and Culture Department (Citywide) 
This purchase is funded by the Enterprise Fund - Convention Center sub-fund ($200,000) and the Arts and Culture Department - Mesa Arts Center operating budget ($200,000).

skip skip 

> $275,000 annually, based on estimated usage.
One-Year Renewal to the Term Contract for Jet A Aviation Fuel for the Police Department (Citywide)

This contract provides Jet A Aviation Fuel for the Police Department, Aviation Unit’s three helicopters, which are based at Falcon Field Airport.

The Police Department and Purchasing recommend authorizing the renewal with MercFuel, Inc., dba Mercury Fuels, Inc.,

3 Contracts for Fleet Services Department
#1. $360,250 annually or a total of __________________________________________
Three-Year Term Contract with Two Years of Renewal Options for Aftermarket Parts for Automotive and Light-Duty Trucks (for the Fleet Services Department) (Citywide)

This contract will provide various aftermarket parts to support Mesa’s fleet of light-duty vehicles.

#2. 1,000,000 annually or __________________________________________________  
Three-Year Term Contract with Two Years of Renewal Options for Emergency Vehicle Equipment and Installation Services for the Fleet Services Department (Citywide)

#3 increasing the dollar-limit with Redburn Tire Company (Mesa location); by $75,000, from $300,000 to $375,000 annually, with an increase allowance of up to $75,000 should the County opt to extend for a second  

Three-Month Extension with a Three-Month Extension Option and Dollar-Limit Increase to the Term Contract for Bridgestone Tires for the Materials and Supply Warehouse (for the Fleet Services and Mesa Fire and Medical Departments) (Citywide)

 

> Guaranteed Maximum Price of $1,007,901, plus an additional $100,790 (10%) as a change order allowance, for the total award of $1,108,691. 
Project funding by 2014 authorized Electric bonds.
Robson Electrical Substation East Bay Transformer - Switchgear Replacement CMAR Project - GMP No. 1 (District 2)

> $5,571,298.15, and authorize a change order allowance in the amount of $557,130 (10%), for a total award of $6,128,428.15. 
This project is funded by 2013 authorized Street bonds and 2010 authorized Gas bonds
Southern Avenue, Greenfield Road to Higley Road - Arterial Roadway Improvements Project (District 2)
________________________________________________________________________________
MONEY-TO-SPEND FROM GAMBLING REVENUES
Quite a few - take a look at Item 5
________________________________________________________________________________
IN DISTRICT 1 (Mark Freeman) EMINENT DOMAIN

Requesting approval for Staff to continue negotiations to acquire certain property located in the 2200 block of North Center Street for the construction of athletic fields, and in order to avoid construction delays, authorizing and directing Staff, that fee title, or other interests in, and possession of, certain property, be acquired by the City of Mesa through eminent domain, as a matter of public necessity. (District 1)

_____________________________________________________________________________
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST:
> Approving an increase in the maximum dollar amount for individual job orders under existing Job Order Master Contracts for the following construction services: general, landscape, utility, water and wastewater, gas line, and transportation, from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 per job order, and authorize the City Manager to approve future job orders under the Job Order Master Contracts. (Citywide)

 

> Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Development Agreement with RagingWire Data Centers, relating to approximately 86 acres of property located near the northwest corner of Elliot and Signal Butte Roads for the purpose of “opting-in” to the Elliot Road Technology Corridor zoning overlay. (District 6)

 

> Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Development Agreement with Hawk Ventures LLC, relating to approximately 63 acres of property located near the northeast corner of Elliot Road and the Crismon Road alignment for the purpose of “opting-in” to the Elliot Road Technology Corridor zoning overlay. (District 6)

 

 

 

 

  

Where Are The "Badass Babes" Here in Mesa?

He-He: Nominations are an Open-Call
Nobody's sayin' nothing so far - and probably won't do that - but there are a few women ["babes"] that are definitely not, or even  want to be, called "badass babes".
It's just not in the local vocabulary or common usage.
Raise your hand if you want ....but your MesaZona blogger isn't hearing even any whispers, murmurs and mumbles, or shouts on that subject. You know who you are
I could name a few with the intention not to diss or dis-respect anyone: Sally Jo Harrison?Jaime Glasser?
This is a Humor-Piece
Ooops! Better not do that, take a look at my old home-town visionary rag The New Yorker

Shouts & Murmurs

#Proletariat

By Cora Frazier April 8, 2019

"You are a bold, fierce woman laborer. The workplace is your place. And you’re never going to apologize for having ideas. You’re never going to apologize for speaking up. You’re never going to apologize for being a bossy, badass babe, elevating the condition of the masses.

You are going to set up that meeting, do a few power poses in the bathroom, walk into upper management’s office, lean in, and demand that the means of production be commonly shared. You know your worth. You will look them in the eye and name your figure. And that figure will be no higher or lower than that of every other wage laborer. . . 
Babe, you’re an inspiration. . .
_________________________________________________________________________________
READ MORE > New York Magazine 15 April 2019
This article appears in the print edition of the April 15, 2019, issue.

• Cora Frazier has contributed humor pieces to The New Yorker since 2012.
  Read more »