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Toby Keith's "I love this Bar and Grill" has finally opened at Mesa Riverview. With its giant guitar shaped bar, a mechanical bull, and some creative food choices, it will probably attract a crowd. The real question: Is it enough to bring life to Riverview's entertainment district?
Since Riverview and Tempe Marketplace both opened, there have been a lot of comparisons between the two entertainment districts - most people forget that Riverview also has all of those dealerships, the hotel, and the business area. While Tempe Marketplace has Dave and Busters, Cadillac Ranch, and other attractions to anchor their district, Riverview has been more of a ghost town attracting a few tenants, but not the active district that we were promised.
Toby Keith's new place should attract some people, but the question is, will it be enough? It would seem to me that Bass Pro already attracts the "hunting/fishing, love America and my truck" type of crowd. Is it the goal to get them to spend even more money by checking out other parts of the area? Is it to turn the daytime Bass Pro shoppers into nightlife participants? Is there a Cabella's-style alternative bar that is going to move in Glendale, like "Garth Brooks' Friends in Low Places Bar and Grill?"
Let's hope that it will be enough to help bring some excitement to the Riverview area. In the meantime, it might be a fun time to witness someone try to take the 100 Ounce Challenge.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Waiting for the Cubs
Mesa is now waiting for the Cubs to see exactly what they think they need to stay in Mesa. It was shocking to learn that Fitch went under rennovation back in 1997, but a lot has changed since then, especially in the facilities around the valley. Not only that, but look how technology has changed.
In 1997, dial-up internet was still king, and video capturing was still fairly new. These days, you can go into almost any golf pro-shop, get your swing filmed in slow-motion, analyzed, put on Youtube, and a computer can probably tell you how to get 20 more yards on your drive.
Now, think about baseball as a multibillion dollar business. Wouldn't you assume that they would want the latest facilities to train and rehab their players? Don't you think as the highest draw in Spring Training, they look to some of the other facilities and think that they deserve similar?
If Mesa can get off with a new practice facility and some minor improvements to Hohokam, they should consider themselves getting off fairly easily.
In 1997, dial-up internet was still king, and video capturing was still fairly new. These days, you can go into almost any golf pro-shop, get your swing filmed in slow-motion, analyzed, put on Youtube, and a computer can probably tell you how to get 20 more yards on your drive.
Now, think about baseball as a multibillion dollar business. Wouldn't you assume that they would want the latest facilities to train and rehab their players? Don't you think as the highest draw in Spring Training, they look to some of the other facilities and think that they deserve similar?
If Mesa can get off with a new practice facility and some minor improvements to Hohokam, they should consider themselves getting off fairly easily.
Wins and Losses for the Tribune
Congratulations to the East Valley Tribune for their Pulitzer Prize for local news for their 5-part story on Sheriff Joe known as "Reasonable Doubt" from last year. However, the thrill of this victory must be tempered by the fact that the Trib also announced last week that they are now dropping Saturday service.
For those counting at home, the Trib is only publishing on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. That means if they wanted to run another 5-part story in the future, it would take them nearly 2 weeks to do it!
ETA: In a bit of Irony, one of the Trib's winners is among the many that have been laid off. Now, he's writing for the Arizona Guardian, an online news source.
Also, despite their best efforts, its seems clear that without the deadline of a newspaper looming, the writing for the Tribune website has slowed quite a bit as well. It seems like almost all of their content is now provided by local feeds like Howard Fischer, the AP, or other sources. Also, though the tabs are nice, they don't always appear to work as they are supposed to.
If the economy continues to struggle and nothing comes along to move papers, how long until the Tribune is a weekly like the New Times?
For those counting at home, the Trib is only publishing on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. That means if they wanted to run another 5-part story in the future, it would take them nearly 2 weeks to do it!
ETA: In a bit of Irony, one of the Trib's winners is among the many that have been laid off. Now, he's writing for the Arizona Guardian, an online news source.
Also, despite their best efforts, its seems clear that without the deadline of a newspaper looming, the writing for the Tribune website has slowed quite a bit as well. It seems like almost all of their content is now provided by local feeds like Howard Fischer, the AP, or other sources. Also, though the tabs are nice, they don't always appear to work as they are supposed to.
If the economy continues to struggle and nothing comes along to move papers, how long until the Tribune is a weekly like the New Times?
Friday, April 17, 2009
Karen Johnson plans to run for Governor
Former Mesa Senator Karen Johnson has announced that she plans to run against Governor Jan Brewer in 2010.
It doesn't take but a google news search to show that this is probably a bad idea, and it would be best for her to stay retired in Snowflake. Just so you can recall, this is the same Karen Johnson who was a fomer aide to Evan Mechum, asked to meet with Senator McCain to discuss 9-11 theories, and openly bashed gays on several occasions.
She also opposed Riverview, advocated for guns in schools, and even has some of her own friends calling her "crazy."
Sounds like a recipe for success. She served Mesa well in her time in the legislature, but let's hope that this isn't her Brett Favre playing on the Jets, Emmit Smith on the Cardinals, Joe Montana on the Chiefs, Michael Jordan on the Wizards era. Perhaps it would be best if she kept the uniform hanging in the closet.
For your watching enjoyment, here is a video of her quest for the "Truth" about 9-11:
It doesn't take but a google news search to show that this is probably a bad idea, and it would be best for her to stay retired in Snowflake. Just so you can recall, this is the same Karen Johnson who was a fomer aide to Evan Mechum, asked to meet with Senator McCain to discuss 9-11 theories, and openly bashed gays on several occasions.
She also opposed Riverview, advocated for guns in schools, and even has some of her own friends calling her "crazy."
Sounds like a recipe for success. She served Mesa well in her time in the legislature, but let's hope that this isn't her Brett Favre playing on the Jets, Emmit Smith on the Cardinals, Joe Montana on the Chiefs, Michael Jordan on the Wizards era. Perhaps it would be best if she kept the uniform hanging in the closet.
For your watching enjoyment, here is a video of her quest for the "Truth" about 9-11:
School start times to change
Who knew that tweaking the school start times around MPS could save nearly $1 million a year? While most of the school cuts are very unfortunate, its interesting to see what kinds of efficiencies can be found when people are forced to look for them. Could this $1 million been saved before now? Probably. But what was their motivation to save the money?
These tough times are a good opportunity to look for effiencies within the system that can and will be found. Every family has been impacted by this economy, and for the most part, they have found ways to stretch even further. Very few people have said, "this is as far as we can go."
It times of prosperity, its easy to get lax about the way things are done. In times of hardship, its an excellent opportunity to reform and make changes for the future. That is not to say that laying off 200 employees is ideal for MPS. However, finding ways to improve effiency could help them be insulated from even further cuts.
These tough times are a good opportunity to look for effiencies within the system that can and will be found. Every family has been impacted by this economy, and for the most part, they have found ways to stretch even further. Very few people have said, "this is as far as we can go."
It times of prosperity, its easy to get lax about the way things are done. In times of hardship, its an excellent opportunity to reform and make changes for the future. That is not to say that laying off 200 employees is ideal for MPS. However, finding ways to improve effiency could help them be insulated from even further cuts.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
All Aboard Mesa Metro Station
Mesa's metro station is the busiest on the Light Rail line the other top of the list was the other terminus at 19th Ave and Montebello. Its not that surprising that the end of the line would be among the most popular stops, especially since anyone from outside the area would go to the end of the line as the closest access to the rail.
It will be interesting to see what happens as the train expands further into Mesa. Does the old Tri-city stop stay popular because of the park and ride, or does the bulk of people move to the new end stop? Meanwhile, it looks like they are getting their kinks out of system and with baseball season starting, we will probably continue to see ridership increase.
The real test is going to come this summer when the weather is 115 degrees and people are having to wait in the heat for a train.
It will be interesting to see what happens as the train expands further into Mesa. Does the old Tri-city stop stay popular because of the park and ride, or does the bulk of people move to the new end stop? Meanwhile, it looks like they are getting their kinks out of system and with baseball season starting, we will probably continue to see ridership increase.
The real test is going to come this summer when the weather is 115 degrees and people are having to wait in the heat for a train.
Mesa enters the digital age
The City of Mesa is now facebooking, youtubing and twittering. Its great news for those who rarely visit the City's site and don't have the time to decipher the antiquated categorizing systems that seem to pervade all government websites.
Glad to see that Councilman Scott Somers is also giving twitter a try. We would like to re-extend our offer to him and the other council people to share with us a state of the district post as a guest blogger on Mesa Issues.
Making government more open and accessible is a noble effort, one that builds trust and expands understand of what, exactly, it is that local government does. Good luck on their endeavor, and hope it leads to genuiune community discussion and engagement.
Glad to see that Councilman Scott Somers is also giving twitter a try. We would like to re-extend our offer to him and the other council people to share with us a state of the district post as a guest blogger on Mesa Issues.
Making government more open and accessible is a noble effort, one that builds trust and expands understand of what, exactly, it is that local government does. Good luck on their endeavor, and hope it leads to genuiune community discussion and engagement.
Crime vs. Illegal Immigration
In a recent press conference, Chief Gascon said that crime, not immigration status, is the number one priority of his police department. The message is a good one, but the timing? Not so much.
It is true that violent crimes are down and that Mesa hasn't gone this long without a homicide since the 80's. This should be the focus of the Police Department's efforts, and it looks like their focus on the worst of the worst is paying off. Congratulations to the Mesa PD for all of their hard work.
The problem is, just as Sheriff Joe casts a shadow on everything right that the MCSO does, Gascon's personality and his recent faux pax, are threatening to do the same. When you look at this article, what do you take away from it?
Do you notice the great work being done by the Police or do you notice that immigration, once again, is the topic that creates the controversy? Now, is it the topic that sells papers and creates loads and loads of comment pages, yes. Is there a way to constructively discuss the issue? I think so.
For example, what impact has the employer sanctions law had on the illegal immigation population of Mesa? Can you draw a correlation between the decline in illegal immigration and in the decline in crime? Are violent crimes down and petty crimes up because people are broke and there is less to fight about?
It is true that violent crimes are down and that Mesa hasn't gone this long without a homicide since the 80's. This should be the focus of the Police Department's efforts, and it looks like their focus on the worst of the worst is paying off. Congratulations to the Mesa PD for all of their hard work.
The problem is, just as Sheriff Joe casts a shadow on everything right that the MCSO does, Gascon's personality and his recent faux pax, are threatening to do the same. When you look at this article, what do you take away from it?
Do you notice the great work being done by the Police or do you notice that immigration, once again, is the topic that creates the controversy? Now, is it the topic that sells papers and creates loads and loads of comment pages, yes. Is there a way to constructively discuss the issue? I think so.
For example, what impact has the employer sanctions law had on the illegal immigation population of Mesa? Can you draw a correlation between the decline in illegal immigration and in the decline in crime? Are violent crimes down and petty crimes up because people are broke and there is less to fight about?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
No homicides in Mesa this year so far
In the past decade or so, Mesa has rarely made it out o January before a homicide has occured. This year, we are already into Mid-April, and we have yet to see a homicide. Come on, Mesa, let's keep up the good work!
It appears that the crackdown on serious crimes appear to be working. Who knows if the employer sanctions laws limiting illegal immigration activity has helped as well? Regardless of the factors, its good news that fewer homicides are happening. Let's hope this continues.
It appears that the crackdown on serious crimes appear to be working. Who knows if the employer sanctions laws limiting illegal immigration activity has helped as well? Regardless of the factors, its good news that fewer homicides are happening. Let's hope this continues.
Gascon's funders identified
Sonoran Alliance is reporting that the group Respect/Respeto is behind paying for Gascon's recent trip to Washington DC. They also point out that Gascon has since returned the money - which was probably a smart move.
However, the question is: Has the damage already been done?
As SA points out, once you untangle the web, you can see that Respect/Respeto is affiliated with the Golden Door Foundation. One of their projects is Secure Borders for a Secure Country, which is affiliated with the groups that fought employer sanctions laws here, including outspoken Russell Pearce opponent Jason Levecke.
Mesa cannot afford to appear soft on immigration, especially since its still such a large problem. Gascon has already received a lot of criticism from Arpaio, and one would assume that Pearce is not that far behind. Whatever Mesa is doing to address this issue, they should announce it publicly and soon.
However, the question is: Has the damage already been done?
As SA points out, once you untangle the web, you can see that Respect/Respeto is affiliated with the Golden Door Foundation. One of their projects is Secure Borders for a Secure Country, which is affiliated with the groups that fought employer sanctions laws here, including outspoken Russell Pearce opponent Jason Levecke.
Mesa cannot afford to appear soft on immigration, especially since its still such a large problem. Gascon has already received a lot of criticism from Arpaio, and one would assume that Pearce is not that far behind. Whatever Mesa is doing to address this issue, they should announce it publicly and soon.
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