March 28, 2021 | www.santansun.com
Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
Intel’s $20B investment bringing thousands of jobs BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor
In a move that will have major implications for virtually every facet of Chandler’s and the Valley’s economy, Intel last week unveiled plans to invest $20 billion for the construction of two new fabrication facilities at its Ocotillo campus over the next three years. “As I hope you’ve gathered, Intel is back,” Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said at a press conference March 23 announcing the tech giant’s plans. “This is the old Intel. It’s now the new Intel as we look to the future.” That future includes 3,000 permanent high-tech, highwage jobs; over 3,000 construction jobs; and approximately 15,000 local long-term jobs in support companies. Intel’s investment is part of its “IDM 2.0” Initiative – a major evolution of an “integrated device manufacturing” model that Gelsinger said makes Intel “the only company with the depth and breadth of software, silicon and platSee
INTEL on page 2
Intel's massive Ocotillo campus will be getting bigger over the next three years as the tech giant builds two more fabrication facilities. (Courtesy of Intel)
Waymo: we could have Sign of the times prevented Chandler fatals BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
Waymo claims it has data proving its autonomous-driving vehicles could have prevented most of Chandler’s fatal collisions over the last decade. According to a study it released this month, Waymo said its researchers virtually reconstructed 72 deadly car crashes reported throughout Chandler since 2008 and conducted a simulation that inserted one of its vehicles into the scenarios. In simulations where the Waymo car replaced the vehicle that initiated the accident, the study found Waymo
technology was able to avoid a collision every time. In scenarios where Waymo replaced the vehicle that was struck, 82 percent of the simulations avoided a collision and 10 percent resulted in an accident less severe than the actual one. The remaining simulations had similar outcomes to the real events. “These results demonstrate the potential of fully automated driving systems to improve traffic safety compared to the performance of the humans originally involved in the collisions,” the study states. See
WAYMO on page 4
Chandler movie houses reel from pandemic, other woes BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
The pandemic has created hard times and an uncertain future for two of Chandler’s movie theaters. Slammed by the pandemic like many of its counterparts worldwide, Alamo Drafthouse Chandler and its sister venues in Gilbert and Tempe are in a dogfight in bankruptcy court over an attempt to break from the national theater franchise. Meanwhile, Flix Brewhouse – the dine-in movie house once heralded as an economic engine in downtown Chandler’s revival – remains closed amid social media reports that it is perma-
nently closed and is looking to lease its space. The restaurant blog Mouth by Southwest reported that Flix Brewhouse’s parent called those reports inaccurate. Owners of the Alamo Drafthouse Chandler, as well as its venues in Tempe and Gilbert, want to rebrand their properties by severing their ties with Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas and partnering with Blank Ink Development Holdings, a Texas investment firm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas and the Arizona theaters have filed separate requests in federal bankruptcy court to reorganize. See
ALAMO on page 6
Rising numbers of hate crimes against Asian Americans prompted a former Chandler City Council member to organize a demonstration in downtown Chandler March 31. For the story, see page 9. (Kevin Reagan/SanTan Sun News Staff)
F E AT U R E STO R I E S Science helps Tarwater kids master Mandarin. . . . COMMUNITY . . . . Page 22 Bondurant school is history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . Page 33 Chandler teen pianists win big honor . . . . . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . Page 40 Limelight Theater readies in-person plays. . . . . . . . ARTS . . . . . . . . . . Page 43 Couple expands taco restaurant chain . . . . . . . . . . . EAT . . . . . . . . . . . Page 50
Real Estate .................................... Center Section
More Community . . . 1-23 Clip-It . . . . . . . 30-32 Business . . . . . 33-36 Sports . . . . . . . 37-39 Neighbors . . . 40-42 Arts . . . . . . . . . 43-45 Faith . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Directory . . . . 47-49 Eat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50