Black students criticize GPS
Mayor’s initiative on teen suicide
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An edition of the East Valley Tribune
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This Week
NEWS.............................10 SanTan Ford, nonprofit gift Gilbert officer.
COMMUNITY.......... 17 Gilbert quilters show off heirloom work.
BUSINESS.................22
How pandemic impacts this year’s weddings. COMMUNITY........................................17 BUSINESS............................................. 22 SPORTS.......................................24 PUZZLE.......................................26 CLASSIFIED..........................................28
BEST? WHO’S theThe votes are in.
n... e have spoke RT! The peopl OF GILBE It’s the BEST
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Sunday, May 23, 2021
Short-term rentals rile Islands owners BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
P
ublic urination in the front yard, people swimming in the lakes, loud parties and fighting are some of the problems that come with short-term rentals, say homeowners at The Islands community of over 2,000 houses. Residents voiced their frustrations at an overflowing meeting last Monday as the HOA Board announced an election to amend
its community rules to curb short-term rentals made available through platforms such as VRBO, Airbnb and Travelocity. “Investors are buying up property,” HOA President Matt Letter told the audience. “The Islands have completely become a private market for these investors.” Letter said the HOA is increasingly fielding complaints from homeowners about problems caused by short-term renters in their neighborhoods and inquiries from non-resident investors looking to buy more
houses in The Islands, which does not control short-term rentals in any way. “It’s an issue all over Arizona,” he said. “We live in an area people like to vacation.” But other Islands homeowners oppose restrictions, saying they have a right to use their property in the way they see fit. Letter used Prescott as an example, saying 26 percent of the single-family homes there are vacation rentals.
Mom outraged by Sweet victory! Higley’s ‘limitations room” for girl, 7 BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
H
aley Kizer had no idea that Higley Unified School District controls student behavior by putting kids into a small, windowless room with no handle on the inside of the door. She learned differently last March when her daughter, Finley, 7, refused to go to class at Power Ranch Elementary School. “That morning, she stood there crying and peed her pants, begging not to go to school,” the Gilbert mom said. When pressed, the first-grader – who has ADHD, audito-
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Mesquite junior outfielder Keeton Bell celebrates with the 4A championship trophy after the Wildcats’ beat Salpointe Catholic 2-1 Monday at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Zac BonDurant/GSN Contributor)
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