Glendale’s Community Newspaper
Vol. 76 No. 7
INSIDE
This Week
www.glendalestar.com
February 13, 2020
$400 million casino ready to roll BY TOM SCANLON
Glendale Star Managing Editor
NEWS...............5 Boyer wants to slow down street racers
It was 2 p.m. last Thursday, just a regular day of the week. Desert Diamond West Valley Casino’s parking lot was flush, so to speak. Cars were circling and circling, looking for a parking space like the mall during Christmas time. Clearly, the West Valley is ready for the Tohono O’odham Nation’s massive expansion. A temporary casino has been here at 91st and Northern avenues, bordered by Glendale and Peoria. Next to it, construction crews are working intensely on the final phases of the permanent casino. Starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, the new casino will be ready to roll.
The $400 million permanent Desert Diamond Casino West Valley is scheduled to open Wednesday, Feb. 19. The parking lot of the temporary casino is often packed. (Glendale Star photo by Tom Scanlon)
A snapshot of the new casino: Cost: $400 million. Size: 75,000 square feet interior, 2.3 million square feet total. Crew: 2,000 workers. Food: Five restaurants.
Slots: 1,000 slot machines. Poker: 36 poker tables. Blackjack: 48 blackjack tables. “This has been a long time coming,” said Treena Parvello, director of Government
Interest” form. The one-page form asks for the candidate’s name, position desired, address as well as phone number and is available from the clerk of each city, who collects the signed forms. “Per statute, nomination papers for the 2020 Glendale City Council election must be filed no earlier than March 9, 2020, and no later than April 6, 2020,” said Julie Bowers, Glendale’s city clerk. Mayor Jerry Weiers and councilmembers Joyce Clark, Ray Malnar and Ian Hugh have made the first step in defending their positions. All four of the above have filed candi-
date statements of interest. Bower said Amanda Trout filed an interest statement. At press time, no other candidates filed to challenge Hugh in the Cactus District and Malnar in the Sahuaro District. Corey Bowen and Kathryn McKinney filed statements of interest to challenge Clark in the Yucca District. Candidate statements of interest and candidate packets are available from the clerk’s office. To schedule an appointment to obtain a candidate packet, call 623-930-2252, option 1.
SEE CASINO PAGE 7
Mayor, council seats up for election BY TOM SCANLON
SPORTS ....... 16 MMA show ready to hit Glendale Civic Center
OPINION..................... 12 BUSINESS.................. 14 SPORTS ...................... 16 CALENDAR ................ 20 FEATURES.................. 22 RELIGION ................... 26 YOUTH........................ 28 CLASSIFIEDS ............. 31
Glendale Star Managing Editor
Before Glendale voters decide on the mayor and three council seats up for election on this year’s ballot, would-be candidates have work to do. Just making it to the ballot is a victory, as candidates must collect signatures of support. The number of signatures varies, based on the number of voters in each city. And the paperwork keeps stacking up for candidates. Prior to collecting signatures, candidates must file a “Candidate Statement of