New name for the ballpark PAGE 4
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
This Week
NEWS ................................... 7 Polio-like disease strikes in East Valley.
COMMUNITY ............ 16 Gilbert Realtors plan second community bash.
BUSINESS ..................... 23 Business is hot for Ohio ice cream franchise.
COMMUNITY.................16 BUSINESS ..................... 23 OPINION ....................... 26 SPORTS ......................... 28 GETOUT ........................ 32 CLASSIFIED .................. 36
1 OUTS E O G
ERT
| GilbertSunNews.com
Sunday, October 21, 2018
EV leaders urge ‘no’ on voucher, no-tax propositions BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor
T
he East Valley’s most prominent organization of business, education and community leaders has parted ways with the governor and a state Realtors group on two ballot propositions. The nonpartisan East Valley Partnership board urged voters to cast their ballots against Prop 305, which would expand school vouchers, and against Prop 126, which the Arizona Association of Realtors has pushed to prevent state and local governments from enacting new taxes on services – such as real estate transactions. The board also urged a “No” vote on Prop
127, which would amend Arizona’s constitution and require utilities to get 50 percent of their energy from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, by 2030. The Partnership’s 5-member advocacy committee and 65-member board is a who’s who of representatives from some of the biggest businesses and educational institutions in Arizona, ranging from Wells Fargo and Cox Communications to Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project. It also counts virtually all East Valley municipalities, ASU and both community colleges among its members. While it never endorses candidates, it occasionally weighs in on propositions and other issues. The board said its recommendations on all
Council vote may turn wedding venue into ‘rental party house’
three propositions followed “presentations from both sides of the issues and thoughtful consideration.” Its recommendations for votes against expanded vouchers flies in the face of Gov. oug ucey, who threw his support of the controversial measure and was reported saying recently, Prop 05 is fiscally responsible, improves accountability and transparency, prioritizes low-income students and families and does not raise taxes. When parents have options, kids win." That’s not the way opponents, including the Partnership, see it. Opponents call the expansion a direct at-
see EVP page
Mobilizing on teen suicides
BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
T
he owner of a Gilbert wedding venue is throwing in the towel after his request to sell alcohol was shot down. Town Council voted 6-1 last week to overturn the Planning Commission’s approval of Elegant Barn’s bid to serve alcohol through a licensed third-party vendor during certain hours. “I’m going to close the business and turn it into an Airbnb,” said owner ennis Elliott. “They don’t want me to be a wedding venue.” That means, attorney Adam Buck said, that his clients will turn the venue into a “short-term vacation rental party house.” It will go from a controlled atmosphere to no alcohol restriction for a bed and breakfast, he said, citing a news article that listed problems that communities have had with these temporary vacation rentals such as public intoxication and loud music. “This is not what the Elliotts want to do,” Buck said. “They-
see ELEGANT page
AIR QUALITY SPECIALISTS Inc.
(Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)
Christina Nguyen talks with parents who are among scores of Gilbert and other East Valley residents who are mobilizing to find ways of curbing the alarming rate of teen suicides in the region. Educators, business and government leaders, including Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels, are alarmed by the 31 teen suicides in the last 15 months that have occurred in the East Valley. For details, please see page 8.
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