Ukraine on Fire | Victoria Nuland and Geoffrey Pyatt phone call

This is early February 2014
Phone call intercepted between Conservative Republicans Victoria Neuland and Ambassador Geoffrey - who are 'interfering in the election' by essentially selecting who will be-in-charge,
Guy named YAZ for short ... Let's cut through the current bullshit

Published on Jun 28, 2017

Views: 2,871

Ukraine on Fire | Victoria Nuland and Geoffrey Pyatt phone call
Watch and listen as the U.S. officials discuss and plan the overthrow of a democratically elected president Viktor Yanukovych in Ukraine. This is undeniable proof of U.S. government and officials organizing bloody regime change in Ukraine.
Learn about some behind the scene truths about how Ukraine became the powder keg it is today. #Ukraineonfire

One-Minute Qwickie from Hizzoner John Giles > ICYMI: Mesa, AZ

These might be Giles' stats he wants you to hear in just one more over-hyped public relations juggernaut 

Hard-To-Believe: Pioneer Park One of The Great Public Spaces in America????

Pioneer Monument

Really hard-to-believe!
Pardon me while I gag and choke on that one. Seriously. . .
Gotta admit that your MesaZona blogger definitely has a different perspective after living for more than 15 years in New York City on the Upper Westside - one block west to Riverside Park that runs on the side of Hudson River from Battery Park north to above 96th - and three blocks east to Central Park. Pioneer Park here in Mesa is far from my idea of a "Great Public Space" after living downtown for 6 years.
_________________________________________________________________________

Pioneer Park is not properly located inside the grid of the original One-Square Mile where the eastern boundary is Mesa Drive. It's just east of that across from the Mesa LDS Temple Area and the public park takes its name from a dedication of a statue in 1987 honoring four Mormon families sent by Joseph Smith from Salt Lake City to colonize Arizona. That Pioneer Monument is what you see arriving on Main Street at the entrance.

There's also a stone structure erected in 1955 just behind it, somewhat modified before the park re-opened in December 2017, with a plaque memorializing the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
< Take the time to read it
"Early in 1878 with a straight edge and a spirit level they proved the feasibility of using the ancient Montezuma Canal to bring life-giving water from the Salt River to the desert sands. On February 14th work began on the project, A survey was made and stakes driven, May 16, 1878 to plat the townsite according to the "City of Zion" Plan given by Joseph Smith. the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. Elijah Pomeroy was the first bishop and A.F. Macdonald was the first mayor."  
_______________________________________________________________
BLOGGER NOTE: Ever since then there's a direct pipeline from the religion of the Pioneers where their descendants who are bishops and the leaders in LDS stakes and wards get elected to become mayors or elected/unelected power brokers in a closely-connected network of cohorts in Government, Finance, Insurance and Real Estate.
The pipeline still produces results from A.F.Macdonald the first mayor > the 40th mayor John Giles was also "a bishop'"
_________________________________________________________________________.
Other than that, no other mention in the public park for the two indigenous cultures  already living on the land for centuries before the arrival of The Pioneers in the late 19th Century.
Is that in any way a respect for the well-documented history or two earlier first peoples - Spanish-Mexican and the Hohokam/Salt River Pima Maricopa - or is it a skewed  and flawed a one-dimensional interpretation?

_________________________________________________________________________________



Playground equipment

Please take the time to take a look at all the over-blown hype from the City of Mesa Newsroom
[it's mostly a press release from the APA]
Pioneer Park named one of Great Public Spaces
by the American Planning Association

September 25, 2019 at 7:49 am

https://www.mesanow.org/news/public/article/2383:. . . The Great Neighborhoods, Great Streets and Great Public Spaces of 2019 are 13 places that are unique and exemplary in their success stories of revitalization, cultural identity and strong community connection. . . "
Contacts: Sara Altieri, Dig Studio, sara@digstudio.com; 602-595-4101 x 211
Roberta Rewers, APA, rrewers@planning.org; 312-786-6395
_________________________________________________________________________________

Note what the American Planning Association logo says:
CREATING GREAT PLACES FOR ALL

Great Places in America

"Planning is behind the places communities value most.

For 12 years, APA has recognized the neighborhoods, streets, and public spaces that make communities stronger and bring people together through good planning. https://www.planning.org/greatplaces/

Good Planning Through Good Policies

Our 2019 Great Places designees represent the gold standard in planning and demonstrate why stakeholder engagement at the local, state, and federal levels matters.

2019 Great Public Spaces

Pioneer Park: Mesa, Arizona

"Pioneer Park, one of the oldest parks in Mesa, Arizona, was once a prized amenity for people living near the bustling downtown. But as families moved farther from the city center, the park, its surrounding neighborhood, and residents suffered.

By the end of the 20th century, Pioneer Park was neglected, filled with graffiti, and a site for unsavory business. One of its famed features, a historic train engine, was crawling with stray cats and locked behind an ominous steel tipped fence. But despite its dire state, long-time residents cherished Pioneer Park, remembering it fondly for what it had once meant to them.

The custom play experience was designed to resemble three existing legacy trees: pistache, pine, and palm. (Photo courtesy Landscape Structures.)

In the early 2000s, the City of Mesa formally recognized the ongoing challenges that continued to plague Pioneer Park, but also saw potential. City leaders viewed the park as an asset — one that could attract new life to the still slumbering downtown, while providing greatly needed local, walkable space for lifelong neighborhood residents. In 2012, the city leveraged bond funding to improve the park space, but officials knew from early planning and discussions with community members that more must be done. A master planning and design process, led by Dig Studio, was launched. . .

Working together, the city and Dig Studio crafted a new vision for Pioneer Park that balanced the needs of longtime advocates with larger-scale revitalization plans for the downtown. But public engagement did not stop when the plan was complete. The design team worked closely with park champions, including Mesa's mayor, Mesa's park director, and neighborhood organizations to preserve special elements in the park.

A shade structure cantilevers out to a 16-foot water wall that can display custom graphics.
Photo by Brandon Sobiech. 

The playground, which incorporates play features that weave through the trees, is visible from the light rail station adjacent to Pioneer Park, inviting residents of all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds to be part of the action.

_______________________________________________________________

LOOKS LIKE THE CITY OF MESA HAD ITS WELL-GREASED MEDIA SOURCES

READY-TO-GO

(the city announcement was published at 07:49 am yesterday

Top stories

Mesa’s Pioneer
Park, 5 others
named to Great
Public Spaces list

KTAR News

20 hours ago

Mesa's Pioneer
Park named one of
Great Places in
America

AZ Big Media

14 hours ago

Mesa's Pioneer
Park recognized
among 'Great
Places in America' ...

FOX 10 Phoenix

18 hours ago

 

Council Study Session - 9/23/2019

DNI Threatened To Resign If Prevented From Testifying Freely Before Cong...

Shades of Watergate???
Strange that Maguire is a retired member of the Navy Seals, now the "Acting Director" of National Intelligence - he's scheduled to testify tomorrow . . .

Published on Sep 25, 2019

Views: 5,480++

 

Joseph Maguire, the acting director of national intelligence, vowed to resign if he wasn’t allowed to testify to Congress, a source familiar with the matter told NBC News. Aired on 09/25/19.
Maguire is expected to appear before the House Intelligence Committee Thursday over the whistleblower complaint that has led to a formal impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.
» Subscribe to MSNBC: http://on.msnbc.com/SubscribeTomsnbc
MSNBC delivers breaking news, in-depth analysis of politics headlines, as well as commentary and informed perspectives. Find video clips and segments from The Rachel Maddow Show, Morning Joe, Meet the Press Daily, The Beat with Ari Melber, Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace, Hardball, All In, Last Word, 11th Hour, and more.
Connect with MSNBC Online
Visit msnbc.com: http://on.msnbc.com/Readmsnbc
Subscribe to MSNBC Newsletter: http://MSNBC.com/NewslettersYouTube
Find MSNBC on Facebook: http://on.msnbc.com/Likemsnbc
Follow MSNBC on Twitter: http://on.msnbc.com/Followmsnbc
Follow MSNBC on Instagram: http://on.msnbc.com/Instamsnbc

DNI Threatened To Resign If Prevented From Testifying Freely Before Congress | Katy Tur | MSNBC

Mesa City Council Approves Bold Plan To Seize Private Property - Seeking A Notice & Demand For Order of Immediate Possession

 Why the rush now when this 8-acre parcel in Northeast Mesa has been family-owned by an estate attorney's family for more than 60 years? He's transferred ownership to a Christian church with the intended purpose to build a retirement home. City officials made a low-ball offer on the undeveloped property back in December 2018. Now they want to seize it using eminent domain 'as a public necessity'
What's the story here in Mesa?
Most conservative Republicans rave about limiting the role of government when it comes to property rights - it's the opposite here in this special case.
________________________________________________________________________
See this: https://law.justia.com/codes/arizona/2005/title12/01116.html
> 2005 Arizona Revised Statutes - 
 Revised Statutes §12-1116  

Actions for condemnation; immediate possession; money deposit  
> View the 2018 Arizona Revised Statutes |
> View Previous Versions of the Arizona Revised Statutes
______________________________________
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version.
Arizona may have more current or accurate information.
We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site.
Please check official sources.
__________________________________________________________
A. All actions for condemnation shall be brought as other civil actions in the superior court in the county in which the property is located except that, at least twenty days before filing an action for condemnation of property or any interest in property, the plaintiff shall deliver to the property owner of record and as a courtesy to the sole lessee of record, if applicable, according to the records of the county recorder in the county in which the property is located:
1. A written offer to purchase the property or interest in the property and to pay just compensation for the property or interest in the property and for any compensable damages to any remaining property.
The offer must constitute the plaintiff's estimate of just compensation. . .
BLOGGER NOTE: Estate attorney and property owner Wetzel told The Arizona Republic he would consider selling the land for “at least $15 to $20 million.”   
NOT 'the meager proffer' made by city real estate acquisition officials. Furthermore
Wetzel said if Mesa exercises eminent domain, he and the nonprofit will oppose it because the price the city is offering is “a pittance” and “a miserly amount of money.”

2. One or more appraisals that support the amount of the proposed compensation.

B. Except for special taxing districts formed pursuant to title 48, chapter 17 . . .
BLOGGER NOTE:
There are qualified and designated census tracts
in Northeast Mesa that are classified as Opportunity Zones in 2017 Tax Credits & Jobs Act.
This might help to explain the offer of just over $2M made to the owner in December 2018.
There's a loophole in the TCAJA that also permits high income tracts to be included as long as they are somehow contiguous to distressed tracts.

C. For special taxing districts formed pursuant to title 48, chapter 17 . . .at least twenty days before filing an action for condemnation of property or any interest in property, the plaintiff shall provide notice of the offer and appraisal by delivering to all property interest holders of record the notice that an offer has been made and an appraisal has been conducted. The notice does not apply to lessees of record if the lease or other written agreement governing the interest holder's rights in the property provides that the property interest holder would not be entitled to condemnation proceeds.
E. At the time of filing the complaint, or at any time after filing the complaint, the plaintiff may apply to the court for an order permitting the plaintiff to take possession of and use the property sought to be condemned for the purpose prayed for.
F. The superior court may waive the requirements of subsection A, B, C or D of this section if the court determines that the plaintiff will suffer immediate and irreparable harm that outweighs the property owner's or lessee's interest.
G. On filing the application, the court shall set a time for a hearing.
Notice shall be served on the parties in interest by personal service within the state, or by publication if without the state, in any manner as the court directs.
H. On the day of the hearing, if it appears that the use for which the property is sought to be condemned is a necessary use, the court shall receive evidence as to the probable damages to each owner, possessor or person having an interest in each parcel of land sought to be condemned and of any unpaid property taxes that have been levied, including penalties and interest, on the property sought to be condemned and may direct that on a deposit of money, on direct payment to each owner, possessor or person having an interest in each parcel, or if the condemnor is the state or a county, city, town or political subdivision of this state, on posting a bond in a form to be approved by the court, the plaintiff shall be let into the possession and full use of the parcels of land, as described in the order, for the purposes specified in the order.
________________________________________________________________________

Headline story for AZ Central: https://www.azcentral.com/story
Mesa wants to take land through eminent domain.

Owner says he's being shorted

Alison Steinbach, Arizona Republic 

Published 9:10 a.m. MT Sept. 24, 2019 | Updated 3:03 p.m. MT Sept. 24, 2019

"The Mesa City Council approved Monday for the city to acquire eight acres of land, likely through eminent domain, to construct a new public safety facility for police and fire departments. 

Eminent domain is a government’s right to seize private property for public use if necessary, while paying the original owner “just compensation.”  

FACTOIDS EXTRACTED

> Mesa appraised the land at just more than $2 million in November, but the property owner told the city its appraisal was too low and that he was working on a counteroffer.  

> The property owner, Cornville-based lawyer Paul Wetzel, told The Arizona Republic he would consider selling the land for “at least $15 to $20 million.”  

> The city said it has yet to receive Wetzel’s counteroffer, prompting its request for the council to move forward. In March, the city informed the property owner Mesa could exercise its power of eminent domain if a deal was not reached.  

> The city can now acquire the land “through eminent domain, as a matter of public necessity” in order to avoid further delays in breaking ground on the facility

> Mayor John Giles said Mesa’s rapid growth has caused challenges like maintaining quick public safety response times. 

“That was the compelling story we went to our voters with last November, and they agreed, and they’ve authorized us to build new police stations and fire stations,” he said. 

> Wetzel said he thinks eight acres is more than the city needs for the facility, especially considering other fire stations take up only two acres.
He thinks other parcels of land near him could be combined and would be cheaper and better fitted to the city’s purpose.  

_________________________________________________________________________
BLOGGER NOTE: Clearly, based on past practices, Wetzel appears to be correct in his assertion that the proposed city facility would only take up two acres.
 Any reasonable person might ask What is the City of Mesa planning to do with the extra 6 acres?
_________________________________________________________________________________
> Council members were largely in agreement that the land should be acquired and the public safety facility built as soon as possible. 

“I’m all on board,” Vice Mayor Mark Freeman said at the study session. 

City Manager Brady said this would be an important addition to the northeast Mesa neighborhood. . . “For a lot of people, you drive by a fire station or a police station, there’s a sense of security.”  

_________________________________________________________________________________

'A miserly amount of money'

Wetzel said the land has been in his family for nearly 60 years, and that he transferred it to Grace Chapel at Glen Eden, a Christian nonprofit organization, with the hope of building a religious retirement home there.  

Wetzel said if Mesa exercises eminent domain, he and the nonprofit will oppose it because the price the city is offering is “a pittance” and “a miserly amount of money.”

He said the nonprofit needs revenue to fund its projects like church-building and well-building, “but I just don’t feel right about such a small amount of money for eight acres.”  

“I’m not out to try to stop the city of Mesa,” he said. “I'm willing to deal with them if they are going to be reasonable, but their 2.1 (million dollars) is not reasonable.”  

But Giles said the city must push forward.  

“The real estate investor that owns this piece of property, I think is certainly going to do what they need to do to get their best price, and that’s good for them, but let’s go through the process and pay them what’s fair and get this built as soon as possible,” Giles said. 

The city expects the facility to be up and running starting in 2022.  

_________________________________________________________________________________

Robert Reich: Trump's Economy Revealed

Just the numbers please -
It's A TOTALLY DIFFERENT STORY from the 'alternative facts' presented by The Donald

Published on Sep 24, 2019

Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich explains how the economy seems to be doing well under Trump, but a closer look reveals the true story.
Watch More: The 7 Biggest Failures of Trumponomics ►►https://youtu.be/8sDFLYha_mA