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THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
A very different school year
Five Below headed to Buckeye PAGE
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westvalleyview.com
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS ............... 6 Tolleson mayor, council candidates ask for votes
NEWS ........... 10 State candidates square off in primary election
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21
July 29, 2020
The Voice of the West Valley for 35 years
Amazon, Aldi coming to Goodyear BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Managing Editor
An economic observer might give Goodyear an AA rating for July. After Amazon signed a $20 million deal to purchase 90 acres at Indian School Road and Cotton Lane, discount grocery store chain Aldi announced it will open a Goodyear store by year’s end. Both are great news for shoppers (whether online or in person)—and job seekers. At a time of record unemployment in Arizona, the two companies will bring scores of jobs to Goodyear. And more is coming: In addition to the store at Estrella Parkway and Roosevelt Street, “Aldi is also building a distribution center and regional office” in Goodyear, according to Tammy Vo, a city spokeswoman. “Construction has not begun, and that portion of the project is still a ways out,” she added. Amazon did not immediately respond to a question about what it will do with the sprawling property it purchased in the
Shortly after Amazon closed a $20 million land deal in Goodyear, international grocery-store chain Aldi said it was opening two West Valley stores, including one in Goodyear, by year’s end. (Photo courtesy Aldi)
fast-expanding PV303 area of northwest Goodyear, where its neighbors are Daimler Trucks, Fairlife and UPS. But whether it builds a warehouse or distribution center, the Amazon site is certain
to add to its recruiting. Indeed.com lists 84 Amazon job openings at its current Goodyear facilities.
ALDI...continued on page 2
State District 4 candidates talk priorities BY TOM SCANLON
FEATURES .... 18 Young Tolleson artist launches mural
OPINION ...............14 BUSINESS.............. 16 FEATURES ..............18 YOUTH ..................21 OBITUARIES ...........22 CLASSIFIEDS ..........23 SOUTH
West Valley View Managing Editor
In state District 4, which includes Buckeye and Goodyear, incumbents Geraldine “Gerae” Peten and Charlene Fernandez were the only two Democrats to file for the two House of Representatives seats. Joel John was the only Republican to make the Aug. 4 primary ballot for Legislative District 4 House of Representatives. For the District 4 Senate seat, incumbent Lisa Otondo of Yuma was the lone Democrat to file and Travis Angry of Goodyear the lone Republican to file. The West Valley View emailed questions
to District 4 candidates. Here are the answers of those who responded:
What neighborhood do you live in and for how long have you lived there?
Joel John
JOEL JOHN
I live in Buckeye and have lived here most of my life.
Gerae Peten I relocated to Arizona from New Jersey
GERAE PETEN
CHARLENE FERNANDEZ
in 1992, first purchasing a home in Peoria. In 2004, I purchased a home in Estrella Mountain Ranch.
District 4...continued on page 4