THE VOICE OF THE EAST VALLEY SINCE 1891 AND WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR LOCAL REPORTING
Prep football returning this week to EV
THE SUNDAY
Tribune
PAGE 15 West Mesa Edition
INSIDE
This Week
New EV alliance formed to fight hunger here.
COMMUNITY ....... 10 200 needy kids get beds through store’s generosity.
BUSINESS .................. 13 Mesa recording studio a hidden gem.
No need to ask where’s the beef with this recipe.
COMMUNITY................10 BUSINESS....................... 13 OPINION........................ 14 SPORTS ...........................15 GETOUT......................... 18 CLASSIFIED....................24 A New Beginning Can Start Now!
PAGE 19 Sunday, August 18, 2019
Official quits, questions Mesa’s respect for history
K
ate Singleton seemed like the perfect person to rebuild Mesa’s historic preservation program when she started her job with the city in April. She drew accolades for her work over a 41year career devoted to preserving history in Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin, Texas. But less than four months on the job, Singleton resigned — accusing city officials of hindering her attempts to overhaul Mesa’s outdated preservation program and refusing to listen to her ideas. ”I have encountered reluctance to change or strengthen regulations, even when that was the logical approach and required by the city’s status as a certified local government and federal law,’’ Singleton wrote in a stinging letter of resignation to Planning Director Nana Appiah
dated July 29 with an effective date of Aug. 4. “It appears the city administration does not fully understand what a good, well run historic preservation program should be and there is ongoing surveillance from those in the city who are concerned that the program would disrupt the status quo, a factor that has hampered the program.’’ Mesa City Manager Chris Brady said Mesa has had a
see HISTORIC page 4
Kate Singleton, standing in front of the historic Nile Theater in downtown Mesa, quit her job as city historic preservation program director out of frustration with the city’s seeming lack of concern for preserving its historical treasures. (Kimberly
Carrillo/Tribune Staff Photographer)
A third of Mesa’s new school buses need drivers BY JORDAN HOUSTON Tribune Staff Writer
FOOD......................... 22
EAST VALLEY
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE THE EAST VALLEY) | EastValleyTribune.com
BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
NEWS.......................... 4
EV business welcomes your rage
M
esa Public Schools bought 150 new buses for the new school year, thanks to voter approval of a bond issue last November. But 50 can’t be used yet because the district has no one to drive them. Although bus driver shortages are plaguing districts across the East Valley, Assistant Superintendent Scott Thompson said it’s important to fill these roles as soon as possible. Not only is it crucial for ensuring students make it to school on time, but filling the jobs eases the burden on existing drivers, who have to cover multiple bus routes, he said.
“Right now, most of our drivers we’re dealing with are driving full time plus overtime,” Thompson said of what are normally part-time positions. The district has changed the start and end times at almost all of its schools — with some starting as early as 7:30 a.m. — to compensate for the shortage. Most times, though, have only been adjusted by 10 to 15 minutes. “We have taken start times and switched to a three-tiered system,” Thompson said. “Past schedules meant most drivers could deliver only to two schools because of the school times.” “Having less people delivering more kids has helped with the shortage,” he continued.
While bus driver shortages in Arizona districts are not new, Thompson said it’s hard to pinpoint an exact cause for the deficit. “Right now, there is a national bus driver shortage — it’s not unique to Mesa or even to Arizona,” he said. “This is happening across the country and there is a lot of speculation.” Competition from the other districts is one factor, Thompson explained. Meeting the requirements of the 2016 voterapproved minimum wage referendum is another. MPS has increased drivers’ pay by $1.50 this year, but they still only earn slightly above minimum wage. MEDICATION A
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