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Mesa police would like to be informed next time Sheriff Joe sends a crime sweep into Mesa. Sounds like a reasonable request to me. That's is exactly why it will probably be ignored.
Immigration is a huge problem, but going through the streets with big unannoucned sweeps is not the way to solve this problem. Gascón is right. This is an emotionally charged issue and it does have the potential for violence.
The Mesa PD should be aware when its coming. Law enforcement should be about cooperation and building support. Having Arpaio tromping through this whole thing like a crazy old man just adds emotion and confusion to the mix.
The problem is that people are so fed up with illegal immigration that they welcome anyone who appears to be doing something to fix the problem. He has public perception on his side and as long as he keeps that, he can continue to trample civil rights and cost the county millions of dollars because no one will be able to stand up to him.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
About Endorsements
This is an interesting bit of news. Scott Smith's campaign made a mistake in including a Rex Griswold supporter on an invitation to an upcoming fundraiser. I haven't really heard of Suzanne Davis, so I don't know if its a big deal or not, but it never helps to have someone publicly say they are not supporting you. On the other hand, the newspaper just publicized Smith's fundraiser for free and reminded people that he is being supported by the three newly elected council members and other Mesa leaders.
What is interesting to me is how Griswold is handling the whole thing. First, warning Smith to be careful is a funny bit of advice when he has been charged for a bit of his own carelessness in the form of campaign violations. Herzog takes a little bit of time away from Smith bashing to make a similar observation.
Second, he tries to turn the tide of positive stories for Scott Smith by claiming that Smith is "trying to get all the endorsements (he) can." It conjures up this image of Smith running all over town begging people to support him. Thats an interesting twist in a story where he is trying to make hay over endorsements.
Seems to me that we have recently seen several prominent people step forward and say that between Griswold and an unknown, they would rather go with the unknown. What does that say about his brand of leadership?
I think the commenter Thinkindependent said it best:
"Its always the person with a crappy number of endorsements who say its not a big deal."
What is interesting to me is how Griswold is handling the whole thing. First, warning Smith to be careful is a funny bit of advice when he has been charged for a bit of his own carelessness in the form of campaign violations. Herzog takes a little bit of time away from Smith bashing to make a similar observation.
Second, he tries to turn the tide of positive stories for Scott Smith by claiming that Smith is "trying to get all the endorsements (he) can." It conjures up this image of Smith running all over town begging people to support him. Thats an interesting twist in a story where he is trying to make hay over endorsements.
Seems to me that we have recently seen several prominent people step forward and say that between Griswold and an unknown, they would rather go with the unknown. What does that say about his brand of leadership?
I think the commenter Thinkindependent said it best:
"Its always the person with a crappy number of endorsements who say its not a big deal."
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Scott Smith momentum continues
Checking out some of the blogs I read daily and I came across this announcement that Yarbrough and Tolman have also endorsed Scott Smith.
First, I think its cool that other places are starting to pick up on Mesa politics. The more people are talking, the better the dialogue.
Second, its pretty impressive that Smith has racked up yet another impactful set of endorsements. That certainly has to help boost his support in District 1 and 3 where he has now locked up both candidates.
ETA: The Arizona Republic has covered the endorsement as well.
First, I think its cool that other places are starting to pick up on Mesa politics. The more people are talking, the better the dialogue.
Second, its pretty impressive that Smith has racked up yet another impactful set of endorsements. That certainly has to help boost his support in District 1 and 3 where he has now locked up both candidates.
ETA: The Arizona Republic has covered the endorsement as well.
Lowe's coming to West Mesa
Well, I am shocked. It looks like there is going to be a Lowe's in West Mesa without a big stink or a public hullabaloo. From the sound of the neighbors, we may not even have to vote in an election to allow the store to be built.
I respect the neighbors and their efforts to keep their neighborhoods safe. However, the site seems like a fairly decent place to build especially since there is a Costco, a Home Depot, and a bunch of car dealers already in the area.
This is such a new thing for Mesa. A big box being built without an election. Its a fairly prudent move on the council's part because it certainly could have had a negative impact on the upcoming Bond election.
I respect the neighbors and their efforts to keep their neighborhoods safe. However, the site seems like a fairly decent place to build especially since there is a Costco, a Home Depot, and a bunch of car dealers already in the area.
This is such a new thing for Mesa. A big box being built without an election. Its a fairly prudent move on the council's part because it certainly could have had a negative impact on the upcoming Bond election.
Is Rawles trying to make nice?
Councilman Tom Rawles has announced that he will stand for the Pledge of Allegance, even though he will not recite the words or put his hand over his heart. As he heads into the end of his four years on the council, you have to wonder if he is trying to make a little bit of nice before he goes back into private life. Either that, or he is going to get his name back in the news one more time before he steps down.
You have to hand it to the guy, he sticks to his guns and does what he believes. He seems like the kind of guy where you always know where you stand.
Should he be on a city council representing one of the more liberal parts of the city in a place where the City does a lot beyond his view of "core city services?" I don't know the answer to that, but I do know that I have always liked to have a "devil's advocate" around to help make sure my thinking is clear.
You have to hand it to the guy, he sticks to his guns and does what he believes. He seems like the kind of guy where you always know where you stand.
Should he be on a city council representing one of the more liberal parts of the city in a place where the City does a lot beyond his view of "core city services?" I don't know the answer to that, but I do know that I have always liked to have a "devil's advocate" around to help make sure my thinking is clear.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Did the Mesa PD fail Issurah Jackson?
Make sure to weigh in on if you think the Mesa PD failed Issurah Jackson. Its really interesting to see what people have to say. For the most part, the people who took the time to weigh in believe that the PD did NOT fail, which is what I believe.
Like I said yesterday, its a truly tragic situation and my heart goes out to everyone who was involved. There was no way of knowing with the limited information from Sunday who this assailant was or if he would do something like this again. Sending out heightened police presence and sounding all of the alarms could have the potential to create a public hysteria.
Its important to be vigilant in making sure people are doing the right thing and behaving as society expects. Living in a civilized society for most, means agreeing to abide by a social contract in which you agree to live your life and not do harm to others. You have to trust that other people are going to do the same. When people break that promise, it has horrific and tragic results. However, we can't spend all of our time assuming that people are out there waiting to hurt us.
We have already grown to have a more than healthy amount of mistrust in our lives. I don't know about you but I always think that the news is slanted and every time I have ever dealt with a car dealer, I always feel like he is trying to screw me over.
We have to find a balance between doing our best to assure people's safety while maintaining our individual rights and freedoms. So no, I don't think that the Mesa PD failed Issurah Jackson. Now I do fear for the overreaction that is more than likely to take place which has the potential to have a crippling effect on Fiesta Mall and the entire surrounding area.
Like I said yesterday, its a truly tragic situation and my heart goes out to everyone who was involved. There was no way of knowing with the limited information from Sunday who this assailant was or if he would do something like this again. Sending out heightened police presence and sounding all of the alarms could have the potential to create a public hysteria.
Its important to be vigilant in making sure people are doing the right thing and behaving as society expects. Living in a civilized society for most, means agreeing to abide by a social contract in which you agree to live your life and not do harm to others. You have to trust that other people are going to do the same. When people break that promise, it has horrific and tragic results. However, we can't spend all of our time assuming that people are out there waiting to hurt us.
We have already grown to have a more than healthy amount of mistrust in our lives. I don't know about you but I always think that the news is slanted and every time I have ever dealt with a car dealer, I always feel like he is trying to screw me over.
We have to find a balance between doing our best to assure people's safety while maintaining our individual rights and freedoms. So no, I don't think that the Mesa PD failed Issurah Jackson. Now I do fear for the overreaction that is more than likely to take place which has the potential to have a crippling effect on Fiesta Mall and the entire surrounding area.
Confirmed: Blake Herzog hates Scott Smith
In the most mysterious of headlines, Blake Herzog takes yet another swipe at Mesa Mayoral frontrunner, Scott Smith. She makes a half-hearted attempt to say that Griswold is the better choice for mayor in a write up containing some reasons and some seemingly backhanded compliments. Its almost like Smith has offended her in some way.
Its sort of interesting to see such slanted editorial writing in a blog from a paper that is unwilling to take a stand in local elections.
Do the rest of the Editorial Board also have it out for Smith? Their tacit acceptance of 3 negative blogs from Herzog in a week and a half makes me wonder.
Its sort of interesting to see such slanted editorial writing in a blog from a paper that is unwilling to take a stand in local elections.
Do the rest of the Editorial Board also have it out for Smith? Their tacit acceptance of 3 negative blogs from Herzog in a week and a half makes me wonder.
Can Mesa keep MD Helicopter?
MD Helicopter's parent company is looking to purchase a small jet manufacturer and they plan on bringing that operation to their new facility, where ever it may be. As the Republic says, that certainly sweetens the deal. So, the question is, can Mesa keep MD Helicopter?
It sounds like Mesa has pretty much messed this thing up from the beginning. From different stories, this is the impression that I get: First, they sent some staff level person to negotiate a contract. Second, they took a hardline stance on raising the rent. Third, I don't think that they even put Gateway on the table until MD threatened to walk away. All of this under the watch of the current council.
So does the allure of the future of Gateway have enough to keep these people in town? Is anyone stepping up to make sure this deal happens?
It sounds like Mesa has pretty much messed this thing up from the beginning. From different stories, this is the impression that I get: First, they sent some staff level person to negotiate a contract. Second, they took a hardline stance on raising the rent. Third, I don't think that they even put Gateway on the table until MD threatened to walk away. All of this under the watch of the current council.
So does the allure of the future of Gateway have enough to keep these people in town? Is anyone stepping up to make sure this deal happens?
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Undervote in Mesa Race
Wow, missed this yesterday. I didn't realize that there was a dramatic undervote in the Mesa City Council Races. I would be interested to know if there is a big difference between the undervotes in the early ballots and those in the election day voters. You would think that people with early ballots in their hands wouldn't use the "I don't know enough" excuse to not vote.
Heck, during the council races, I had lots of search traffic on this blog from people trying to learn more about the candidates. There was a lot of interest during that time, especially in the Richins/Tolman race. In fact, I still get a lot of Richins and Tolman name search traffic. If you have internet access and an early ballot, there should be no reason for you to not vote in the race. Yet, it still happens.
That's totally interesting to me. Will there be an undervote in District 5 again with Higgins and Austin on the ballot in the run off? There was 17% of the people who didn't pick a council candidate last time around.
Heck, during the council races, I had lots of search traffic on this blog from people trying to learn more about the candidates. There was a lot of interest during that time, especially in the Richins/Tolman race. In fact, I still get a lot of Richins and Tolman name search traffic. If you have internet access and an early ballot, there should be no reason for you to not vote in the race. Yet, it still happens.
That's totally interesting to me. Will there be an undervote in District 5 again with Higgins and Austin on the ballot in the run off? There was 17% of the people who didn't pick a council candidate last time around.
More on Fiesta Mall stabbing
They have identified the victims and the suspect in the Fiesta Mall stabbings. Turns out that the suspect has a history of mental illness and felt like the victims were "disrespecting" him.
This is truly a sad story and a tragic one for Issurah Jackson's family. No one should have to go through this sort of tragedy. People should be able to feel safe when they go to the mall, or when they step out on the street. These are two places that the suspect has violated, from his drive-by shooting 10 years ago to the stabbings this week.
I also fear that this will be bad news for Fiesta Mall. Its a tragic and isolated incident, but its the kind of thing that could have a lasting effect. Bad press like this is sure to scare some people away and I hope that they have some plans on how to change the image of the mall without going overboard. You can't put armed guards and metal detectors at each door, because that only reitterates the reasons people should be afraid.
It is my guess that this will be bad news for The Knife Shop as well. As long as I can remember, those guys have been in business at Fiesta Mall. Plus, anyone can buy knives in the home departments of any of the other department stores. However, reactions often defy logic and reason. It is my hope that there isn't a rash outcry against those guys. For pete's sake, they sell swords at that place and we haven't seen a dramatic rise in sword killings or ancient duels.
If you have concerns, go hear what they have to say at Rhodes Junior High tonight at 6:30.
This is truly a sad story and a tragic one for Issurah Jackson's family. No one should have to go through this sort of tragedy. People should be able to feel safe when they go to the mall, or when they step out on the street. These are two places that the suspect has violated, from his drive-by shooting 10 years ago to the stabbings this week.
I also fear that this will be bad news for Fiesta Mall. Its a tragic and isolated incident, but its the kind of thing that could have a lasting effect. Bad press like this is sure to scare some people away and I hope that they have some plans on how to change the image of the mall without going overboard. You can't put armed guards and metal detectors at each door, because that only reitterates the reasons people should be afraid.
It is my guess that this will be bad news for The Knife Shop as well. As long as I can remember, those guys have been in business at Fiesta Mall. Plus, anyone can buy knives in the home departments of any of the other department stores. However, reactions often defy logic and reason. It is my hope that there isn't a rash outcry against those guys. For pete's sake, they sell swords at that place and we haven't seen a dramatic rise in sword killings or ancient duels.
If you have concerns, go hear what they have to say at Rhodes Junior High tonight at 6:30.
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