The Mesa Tribune - Zone 1 - 01.31.2021

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Sunday, January 31, 2021

Of�icials call $90M pipeline vital for SE Mesa

BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer

M

esa has a plan to ensure an economical supply of water to serve fastgrowing southeast Mesa, but that doesn’t mean it will be cheap or easy.

A 10 ½ mile pipeline costing $90 million

and snaking through east Mesa and through Gilbert would send a large amount of treated ef�luent to the Gila River Indian Community to irrigate crops.

In return, Mesa would receive rights toward supplies of potable water suitable for drinking after treatment, averting potential shortfalls an estimated four or �ive years

from now in southeast Mesa.

Despite the daunting cost and the disruption of traf�ic during the pipeline’s construction along parts of Val Vista Drive and Green�ield Road, Mayor John Giles said the pipeline is not only a necessity, but a good

��� PIPE ���� 4

NEWS ......................... 8 Ducey upbeat in chat with EV leaders.

BUSINESS .............. 24 Couple brings Venezuelan cuisine to downtown.

COMMUNITY ............................... 18 BUSINESS ..................................... 24 OPINION ....................................... 27 SPORTS ........................................ 29 GET OUT ........................................ 31 PUZZLES ...................................... 33 CLASSIFIED ................................. 34 Zone 1

Arizona State University's building in downtown Mesa is quickly taking shape and as of last week, it now has a name: The Sydney Poitier New American Film School, honoring the legendary Black actor and Academy Award winner. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer)

Poitier name elevates Mesa ASU building cachet

BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer

L

ong before the dedication of Mesa’s longawaited Arizona State University building last week, the new �ilm school and

technology facility had become a magnet for bringing new businesses downtown.

Now, it has a name as well: The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, honoring the �irst Black man and Afro-Bahamian actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor (for

his 1963 performance in “Lilies of the Field”) and the oldest living recipient of that Oscar.

Poitier’s moniker will only enhance Mesa’s already high credibility in leveraging the ASU

��� ASU ���� 3

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

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ASU ���� ���� 1

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campus into a job generator, Mayor John Giles said.

“We are already getting economic bene�its from the ASU building," Giles said. “ASU gives a lot of con�idence to people that it is a wise investment to come downtown."

A trailblazing actor who starred in several �ilms highlighting the evils of racism, Poitier, 93, starred in numerous noteworthy �ilms, including “Raisin in the Sun” (1961), “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “In the Heat of the Night” (both 1967).

Giles said he is thrilled the �ilm school is being named after Poitier, underscoring Mesa’s diversity.

Kiana Marie Sears, president of the East Valley NAACP and a Mesa Public Schools Governing Board member, also applauded ASU’s move.

“I think this is an amazing thing ASU is doing," Sears said. “I think he’s a very historic and iconic person," serving as an ambassador for civil rights at the height of the movement in the 1960s.

“He’s the symbol of someone who built bridges," Sears said.

Giles said the imminent opening of the ASU building gives some extra incentive to businesses that might have been interested in downtown but “didn’t want to be �irst in line.”

Shortly after his election as mayor in 2014, Giles said he met with ASU President Michael Crow and sought to lure the university to downtown Mesa, hoping for a transformation similar to what it did in downtown Phoenix.

Giles said Crow told him that Metro Light Rail is the key factor, allowing students to move easily and cheaply between ASU’s main Tempe campus and any new Mesa facility – just as students do today between the Tempe and Phoenix campuses.

Giles said the city and ASU are anticipating that additional facilities beyond the $63.5 million building now under construction will be built.

City of�icials anticipate a summer 2022 grand opening while ASU of�icials said during the Poitier Film School announcement that it will be more like fall 2022.

Giles said Crow told him, “when we come to your downtown, we will change it permanently," with a large number of students suddenly injecting a new buzz into the area.

This is what ASU's downtown Mesa building will look like once it is finished. The university expects it will be ready to welcome students in fall of 2022. (Special to the Tribune) Several new restaurants already have opened downtown and multiple projects bringing hundreds of apartments are already under construction.

Moreover, industries beyond downtown are “fascinated with the technology ASU is advancing," such as augmented reality, Giles said, noting, “All of it has applications in every industry you can imagine."

“This is going to grow exponentially going forward," Giles said.

While the newly-renamed �ilm school’s home is in Mesa, it will be linked as well to the Tempe campus and a newly RENOVATED facility in the Herald Examiner building in Los Angeles, making an important connection to the mecca of the American �ilm industry.

Annie DeGraw, an ASU spokeswoman, said the Mesa facility will remain ASU at Mesa City Center, while the LA building will be known as ASU LA Center. She said both buildings will have signage identifying the Sidney Poitier New American Film School.

She said that Michael Burns, the vice chairman of Lionsgate Entertainment, one of the world’s largest �ilm and media companies, has a close working relationship with Crow.

Burns, an ASU alumnus, helped connect Poitier and his family with the university to negotiate the naming rights deal, DeGraw said.

Giles said he spent the weekend watching some of Poitier’s legendary performances. He said Poitier will have a large presence inside the new building.

Giles recently announced that he will seek the development of an anti-discrimination ordinance in Mesa, a move that was welcomed by long-term advocates.

“Mesa is a very diverse city. About 1/3 of our city is Hispanic," with a substantial Black population, he said. “A lot of the people coming to school here will be diverse.

We want this facility to be an inspiration to them."

Among the Sidney Poitier Film School’s goals is to improve diversity in the �ilm industry – not only in front of the camera but behind it.

“Our society has been moved forward by �ilm and television," said Beverly PoitierHenderson, one of Sidney Poitier’s three daughters who spoke at the digital unveiling Jan 25, which also featured Crow, Stephen J. Tepper, dean of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, and several students.

Poitier’s daughters, Sydney Tamila Poitier and Anika Poitier, described how their father is honored to have his name attached to the �ilm school, combining his passions for advancing education and civil rights.

Poitier himself did not appear and turned down interview requests, but such stars as singer Harry Belafonte and actor John Lithgow made cameo appearances praising him.

“You see a lot more inter-racial couples and gay people. It’s not fun and games. You are shaping the world," Poitier-Henderson said. 

GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

4

NEWS

development continues, we are going to PIPE ���� ���� 1 get squeezed on our water supplies.’’ long-term investment in creating muchThe council �irst discussed the issue sought high-paying jobs and sales tax about a year ago, when water of�icials revenues. recommended the pipeline and said the He said it all boils down to one �inan- next step was to perform an extensive cial tradeoff: paying $56 per acre foot alignment study to locate the cheapest for the supply from the water credits or and least inconvenient route. more than $200 per acre foot for water Brady’s goal is to maximize use of a wapurchased on the open market. ter deal between Mesa and the Gila River “We would very quickly recoup our Indian Community dating back to 2008. construction costs,’’ Giles said. “The math While the Native American community is so lop-sided. It’s obvious that this is has the water rights, it has no direct acthe right thing to do.’’ cess to the Central Arizona Project canal Although there is no immediate emer- system, while Mesa has a connection that gency, City Manager Chris Brady said it regularly uses. it is important to plan for long-term “Every year that goes by is a missed opgrowth in southeast Mesa that will start portunity,’’ Brady said. to strain the city’s water supply in four The ef�luent would start at the city’s to �ive years. northwest Mesa plant near the Loop 202 “We can meet their phase on develop- and Dobson Road and head east through ment plans, but we’re concerned about mostly existing pipes to the Val Vista phases two and three,’’ Brady said.

Drive plant.

He said the need for pipeline will beFrom there, the pipeline would head come progressively more urgent. “If that south on Val Vista for two miles before heading east on McLellan Road.

Eventually, it would turn south onto Green�ield Road and head under U.S. 60 before entering Gilbert, said Chris Hassert, assistant director of Water Resources.

The pipeline’s destination would be a hookup between Baseline and Guadalupe roads near Recker Road, where there is a connection to the Gila River Community.

“It’s mostly on Green�ield. The �irst two-miles are down Val Vista,’’ Hassert said, with the portion in Gilbert still under negotiation with Gilbert of�icials.

“We’ve had some good virtual meeting with Gilbert,’’ he said. “We’re working with their of�icials The diagonal line charts one possible route for the 10.5 mile to get the best alignpipeline Mesa says it needs to build. (City of Mesa) ment.’’

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

He said the Gilbert segment of the potential opportunity for the project to reach a ballot in 2022. pipeline would be about two miles long.

When the pipeline eventually opens, With Mesa council members signaling their support for the plan at a recent it would allow Mesa to trade a staggerstudy session, the next major step is hir- ing 13,400 acre-feet of ef�luent a year, or ing consultants who will design the proj- 4.4 billion gallons, for 10,700-acre feet ect, a process that is expected to take 18- of Central Arizona Project water, or 3.5 billion gallons.

24 months.

Hassert said the disruption caused by He said the pipeline would allow Mesa the pipeline’s construction will be much to more than double the amount of efless extensive than when Mesa rebuilds �luent that it supplies to the Gila Indian one of its aging streets or intersections, Community. such as the ongoing rebuild on Mesa The city now supplies the Gila Indian Drive between Broadway Road and Community with about 6,000-to-7,000Main Street. acre feet a year, while the maximum alThe pipeline will be built in segments, lowed is 27,000-acre feet. In return for causing disruptions along the way to the ef�luent, the city receives about an 80 speci�ic areas in front of businesses and equivalent in water rights. other properties, he said.

“We are woefully short,’’ Hassert said. “You might experience disruption for a short time period, like a month,’’ he said.

At a meeting more than a year ago, Mesa of�icials estimated the cost at $66 million, but they said a more accurate estimate would become possible when a route was chosen.

The original map showed the pipeline heading down Val Vista, but of�icials called that “an illustration’’ that was bound to change after an extensive, year-long effort to pinpoint a route.

A bond issue would be necessary to �inance such a large capital i n v e s t m e n t , This map shows how the pipeline would carry effluent to a pipe that Brady said, would take it to the Gila River Indian Community, which would use it with the next for fertlizing farms. (City of Mesa)

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

State board wrangles over charter grants

BY CECILIA CHAN Tribune Staff Writer

T

wo East Valley charter schools will each get up to $1.25 million over the next �ive years to expand or open more locations to serve disadvantaged children.

Though some members of the state Board of Education last week had reservations about equity and some recipients, the board approved 10 charter school grants totaling $12.5 million over �ive years.

The federal grants were awarded in 2018 to the Arizona Charter Schools Program.

“When I looked at this list of recipients and the criteria, the main question that came to my mind is in light of the fact we have three awards going to a singlecharter entity, which is a signi�icant sized charter and another award to another signi�icant sized charter entity,” said board President Lucas Narducci, a lawyer.

The Legacy Traditional Schools in East Mesa, in Deer Valley and in East Tucson all received the grants as well as the American Leadership Academy for a new location in Surprise.

Legacy Traditional School has 16 locations in the state, including one in Gilbert and American Leadership has 12 locations, including four in Gilbert.

Other recipients include the soon-toopen facilities –Glen Canyon Outdoor Academy in Page, Highland Prep West in Avondale, Ridgeview College Prep in San Tan Valley and Liberty Leadership Academy in Cottonwood. American Charter Schools Foundation operates Ridgeview College Prep and has 11 locations in the state, including one in Gilbert and one in Mesa.

Recipients Synergy Public Charter Schools in central Phoenix and Leading Edge Academy in East Mesa are expanding.

None of the schools have previously received the award, according to staff.

Narducci questioned if smaller charters were at a disadvantage in applying for the grants because they lacked professional grant writers compared with their larger counterparts.

Legacy Traditional School currently is building a campus in east Mesa that will be partly funded by a grant approved last week by the Arizona Board of Education. (Special to the

Tribune)

To ensure there is equitable knowledge of the grants, they are well-advertised, said Kate Wright, chief of staff for the state Education Department, who noted her department provides three hours of free training to help with the application process.

But Narducci remained concerned.

“This is a considerable amount of money, $250,000 per year over �ive years,” Narducci said. “Some of the reasons that that money is being given, from what I’ve read, is to assist the schools in developing what they need to do for those areas to open up schools in the right areas to help the kids that want the help.

“At least two of the entities receiving the money, one entity receiving it three times, are very pro�icient in what they do. I think one entity’s got like 20,000 kids in their charter school system and another probably has just as many as that. So, they don’t really need that help.

Noting 20 percent of Arizona students are in charter schools, Narducci said, “There has to be a heck of a lot of charter schools than 15 applications” and that there were areas in the state “that need really good charter schools.”

“It just worries me. May be the process itself is not equitable and as broadly accomplished as it needs to be,” he said.

Wright said in applying for the federal money, Arizona intended to use it to support the opening and expansion of charter schools.

Wright noted that the federal grant the state received is based on Arizona’s plan to open 40 charters over �ive years, and that the funding process is designed “for a small number to receive” a grant over that time.

Board member Calvin Baker, a retired school superintendent from the Tucson area, said one of the most signi�icant challenges facing the state is how to educate students living in poverty.

He questioned how many of the applicants had chosen that as their goal and how many of the charters are located in high-poverty areas.

“I would hope that our quality charters can be encouraged to open in areas where there is signi�icant poverty,” Baker said, asking for a map that would show “whether or not these charters are locating in areas and neighborhoods where there are signi�icant numbers of ‘D’ and ‘F’ schools, where there is a high need for quality or if they are locating in areas where there already are a lot of ‘A’ and ‘B’ schools.”

Wright said she didn’t know if the charters are located in high-poverty areas but would request more information to bring back to the board.

Board member Patricia Welborn who also sits on the board for Empower College Prep, a charter school, asked staff about the possibility of adding grant requirements for the federal grants such as proximity to a high-poverty area.

Wright said she would need to get more information regarding if it was possible to add more criteria.

While Narducci was inclined to postponing a vote, board member Armando Ruiz, CEO of Espiritu Schools, a charter system in South Phoenix, said a delay would affect the critical timeline for recipients that are in the process of creating new school sites.

“I don’t want to put these schools that have already got money invested, they’re moving ahead,” Ruiz said. “I don’t want to put them in a situation where there is undue stress to open these schools that they’ve already had planned.”

Narducci said he didn’t have any negative feelings about the recipients but he was still troubled that only 10 got the funds and that three of the 10 are with the same entity.

Ruiz said it was unfair to tell the operators who spent a year getting the grant that now the board didn’t like the process, though Baker countered, “This money was never guaranteed to anyone.”

“So no one should have a business plan that depends on this money,” Baker said.

“A �ive-year funding being delayed by one month so that we can have good information is not unreasonable.”

The board voted 7-2 to approve the grants with Vice President Daniel Corr and members Christine Burton, Jill Broussard, Janice Mak, Robert Robbins, Ruiz and Welborn in the majority.

Corr said no one on the board was casting aspersions on the recipients but was questioning who was being served.

Legacy Traditional School in East Mesa, which opened in 2020, indicated it will use its money to expand its grades K-12 and Leading Edge Academy in East Mesa planned to do the same for its 9-12 campus.

The discretionary grants go to schools that have met one of four criteria – serving at last 40 percent racially and ethnically diverse students; serving at least 40 percent economically disadvantaged students eligible for the free and reduce lunch program; serving at least 40 percent of students with identi�ied disabilities or serving at least 40 percent of students who are English-language learners. 

GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

Ducey sounds hopeful note for post-pandemic Arizona

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor

T

here was no tinkling of silverware, no low murmurs of conversations and, in fact, no food at the annual breakfast visit from the governor last Thursday hosted by the PHX East Valley Partnership and the region’s chambers of commerce.

And in some ways, the virtual nature of the event underscored one of Gov. Doug Ducey’s central points in his message to business, education and community leaders who gathered around their laptops or cellphones instead of at a hotel of Mesa Community College, the usual venues for what has been a tradition in the East Valley for more than a decade.

“The pandemic remains the most signi�icant threat to Arizona and it is going to require vigilant attention for months to come,” Ducey said. “This is a vicious virus and it has taken some 12,000 lives in its path in the state of

Arizona alone.”

But Ducey is not wont to be a crepe hanger.

So, he quickly added a message of hope to his dire warning, stating, “But with the arrival of a vaccine, we’re hopeful that 2021 is going to look a lot different than 2020.

Though local public health of�icials are working hard, I’m asking them to work even faster with more of a sense of urgency.”

He announced that a 24/7 COVID-19 vaccine distribution site is opening at Phoenix Municipal Stadium at 5999 E. Van Buren St. to serve the East Valley, complimenting a similar one at State Farm Stadium on the west side, where he said 6,000 doses a day are being administered.

“We’ve distributed over 500,000 doses of the vaccine and these are crucial steps in our continuing battle against COVID-19,” he said.

Ducey then switched gears to talk about the East Valley’s signi�icance to Arizona’s overall economy, includ-

ing some recent developments here, and his vision for this year.

Noting Commercial Metals Company’s announcement of plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Mesa, Amazon’s expansion in Tempe with 500 new technology jobs and NXP Semiconductor’s new fabrication plan in Chandler, Ducey said: “Arizona will emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever with the East Valley leading the way.”

He highlighted some of his legislative priorities, giving �irst place in his list to the issue of providing COVID-related liability protection for businesses “so a statewide emergency doesn’t line the pockets of trial attorneys with frivolous lawsuits.”

��� DUCEY ���� 10

Gov. Doug Ducey addressed East Valley leaders virtually last week.

(Special to the Tribune)

EV lawmakers push emergency powers curbs

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

S

tate lawmakers took the �irst steps Monday to trim the powers of the governor -- this one and all successors -- to enact and enforce unlimited emergency orders and legislators from Mesa, Scottsdale and Chandler say it’s long overdue.

On a party-line vote, members of the Republican-Senate Government Committee approved several measures to require governors to get legislative approval once they declare an emergency. In each case, the failure of lawmakers to ratify the action within a certain number of days would end the emergency powers.

“Our government isn’t set up as a monarchy," complained Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa. “We are not subordinate to the executive branch."

Townsend said she believes that Gov. Doug Ducey overreacted with the restrictions he put in place last year due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

What happened, she said, is that some

East Mesa state Sen. Kelly Townsend said the Legislature needs to share decision-making with the governor in emergencies. (Tribune file photo) bars in Scottsdale allowed customers to act recklessly, with people packed in and dancing in a way that would spread the virus. But Townsend said the governor put

in place lockdowns that affected everyone from Page to Bisbee.

“It was just an arbitrary and capricious decision that had no input from us," she

said.

But Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai, D-Window Rock, said she’s not convinced that adding 90 legislators to the decision-making process will improve management of the pandemic. And she’s particularly skeptical about adding this current group of lawmakers, many of whom she said do not believe there is a pandemic, to the decisionmaking mix.

“And a lot of them can’t even keep a mask on their face," Peshlakai said.

Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, however, said this is not about stripping the governor of the power to declare an emergency. That would remain.

Instead, it gives lawmakers “a seat at the table" when deciding, after the immediate crisis passes, to review what the governor has done and, as appropriate, determine whether a different course of action is appropriate.

“It’s bringing back a balance of power," she told colleagues. “I don’t know why you would handicap yourselves."

��� EMERGENCY ���� 15

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

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Aspen Medical will do a chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination to determine the extent of the nerve damage as a public service to you and/or your family and friends. This neuropathy/ pain severity examination will consist of a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and a detailed analysis of the findings of your neuropathy.

The treatment that is provided at Aspen Medical has three main goals.

1) Increase blood flow 2) Stimulate and increase small fiber nerves 3) Decrease brain-based pain The treatment to increase blood flow, stimulate small nerve fibers and get you back to health is our new $50,000.00 SANEXAS UNIT!

As you can see in Figure 2, as the blood vessels that surround the nerves become diseased they shrivel up which causes the nerves to not get the nutrients to continue to survive. When these nerves begin to “die” they cause you to have balance problems, pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and many additional symptoms.

The main problem is that your doctor has told you to just live with the problem or try the drugs which you don’t like taking because they make you feel uncomfortable. There is now a facility right here in Mesa that offers you hope without taking those endless drugs with serious side effects.

(See the special neuropathy severity examination at the end of this article) In order to effectively treat your neuropathy three factors must be determined.

1) What is the underlying cause?

2) How much nerve damage has been sustained.

In addition, we use a state-of-the-art diagnostics like the TM Flow diagnostic unit to accurately determine the increase in blood flow and a small skin biopsy to accurately determine the increase in small nerve fibers!

The Sanexas electric cell signaling system delivers energy to the affected area of your body at varying wavelengths, including both low-frequency and middle-frequency signals. It also uses amplitude modulated (AM) and frequency modulated (FM) signaling.

During a treatment session, the Sanexas system automatically changes to simultaneously deliver AM and FM electric cell signal energy.

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The amount of treatment needed to allow the nerves to fully recover varies from person to person and can only be

Aspen Medical will be offering this chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination from now until February 28, 2021. Call 480274-3157 to make an appointment to determine if your chronic pain and peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated.

Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this FREE consultation offer to the first 15 callers. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL Call 480-274-3157 … NOW! We are extremely busy and if your call goes to our voicemail, please leave a message and we will get back to you asap.

480-274-3157 1425 S. Greenfield Rd., Ste. 101 Mesa, AZ 85206

10

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

Big addition coming for Mesa’s Asian District

BY GARY NELSON Tribune contributor

M

esa’s burgeoning west-side Asian District is about to get a new attraction.

The owners of Mekong Plaza, at the southwest corner of Main Street and Dobson Road, plan to build a nearly 33,000-square-foot structure just south of the existing plaza to accommodate more Asian-themed restaurants and shops.

Mekong 88, as the project is called, won approval from the Planning and Zoning Board on Jan. 27 and it now heads to City Council for �inal action.

That Mesa even has an Asian District was not the result of deliberate city policy. But Asian businesses began to cluster there perhaps 20 years ago, with one especially dense node at Dobson and Southern Avenue.

The process accelerated when Mekong Plaza opened in a former Target store in 2008.

That, coincidentally, was the year light rail opened its �irst leg in Mesa, stopping just east of Dobson. The trains made it easier for Arizona State University’s sizable Asian student population to head east for home-�lavored food.

Beyond that, the district, which covers

DUCEY ���� ���� 8

On other agenda items, he said, “We intend to work on broadband expansion, greater access to telemedicine, better roads and bridges, and, of course, continuing to be a global leader on water innovation.

"We want better equipment and training for law enforcement of�icers, criminal justice reform and guarding against wild�ires so that we stay on guard against that ever-present risk.”

During a question-and-answer session that followed his brief prepared remarks, the governor said Arizona’s “biggest challenge right now is getting enough vaccine from the federal government” but that he anticipated the state would climb quickly out of the pandemic’s economic blowback.

That’s especially true, he added, since

City Council still has to sign off on Mekong Plaza's project, which will had 33,000 square feet of space for new restaurants and shops. (Tribune file photo) the 1.5 miles along Dobson from Main to Southern, is seen as a draw for many of the estimated 132,000 Asians who live in Maricopa County.

They follow in the footsteps of longestablished families such as the Wongs,

“when the pandemic hit…Arizona had 45 states behind it in terms of economic growth and personal income rising. Today, through the recession and through the pandemic, Arizona remains top �ive.”

When asked about the pandemic’s impact on education, Ducey again reiterated his increasing insistence that classrooms be open, stating “this online learning, this digital learning has not been good for our young people.”

“We need to get our kids back in the classroom,” Ducey said. “The Centers for Disease Control says it’s the safest place that the child can be.”

He noted that while the COVID’s impact has been measured in many ways, “what we aren’t measuring are the numbers around addiction and alcoholism and depression and isolation and suicide. These are all very real issues and the best way

whose general store at Main Street and Mesa Drive helped supply the crews that built Roosevelt Dam more than a century ago.

Mekong 88 appears to be the �irst purpose-built addition to the Asian District;

to deal with them is to get our kids back in school.”

Though he noted that education is “our top line in spending and investment,” Ducey did not mention any speci�ics of his budget proposal – particularly the difference in per-pupil reimbursement to school districts for in-class learners and virtual learners, which is costing some districts millions of dollars.

The State Senate Republican Caucus earlier last week said it will push to equalize that reimbursement rate for one year – a move that Mesa Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Scott Thompson applauded.

“We appreciate the Senate’s continued commitment to restoring the recessionera cuts to our base per-student formula funding and we support the funding of students who have been attending school

the other stores and restaurants occupy strip malls or re-used buildings such as the former Albertsons store across the street, now home to H Mart.

A Scottsdale architectural �irm, 3rd Story, is overseeing design.

The �irm told Mesa in planning documents that con�iguring the narrow, deep tract was challenging, requiring some adjustments to normal development standards. Nothing has previously been built on the rather unsightly lot.

The existing driveway from Dobson will be retained, allowing access to some parking on the L-shaped building’s north side. But most of the parking will be in the rear, with access from Mekong Plaza’s parking lot.

“We are integrating an intentional connection to the neighboring Mekong Plaza, … using the same �inishes, colors and materials,” the company said in a narrative it submitted to the city.

Among the features will be a 32-foot, pagoda-like tower similar to those seen on Mekong Plaza. Also planned is an 18-inch-deep pond along Dobson Road to offer visual appeal for pedestrians and outdoor diners.

According to city planning documents, no objections were registered when the company informed neighbors of the proposal. 

remotely at 100 percent,” Thompson said.

“We look forward to working with members of the Senate to �ind additional opportunities to address the loss of learning opportunities for our students.”

Ducey also was asked about how he expected to get along with President Biden.

“He will be my third president as governor,” Ducey replied.

“I’ve worked with Democrats before in the White House," he continued. "That said, we’re going to be focused on what’s in Arizona’s best interests. My boss is right here in the state. It’s the people that I have to work with.”

He also maintained that the bipartisan rancor in Washington, D.C., is not re�lected in the State Capitol and that “over 90 percent of the legislation that we passed over the last six years has been bipartisan.” 

GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

Cactus League seeks season delay

BY GARETH KWOK Cronkite News

T

he Cactus League board has asked Major League Baseball to delay the start of spring training in Arizona due to high COVID-19 infection rates in Maricopa County.

In a letter addressed to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, the board wrote: “In view of the current state of the pandemic in Maricopa County – with one of the nation’s highest infection rates – we believe it is wise to delay the start of spring training to allow for the COVID-19 situation to improve here.”

The board’s decision is “based off data from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which projects a sharp decline in infections in Arizona by mid-March,” the letter stated.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, the state has over 727,000 reported cases of COVID-19.

The letter is signed by Bridget Binsbacher, the executive director of the Cactus League; Martin Harvier, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community President; the city managers of Phoenix and Tempe; and the mayors of Mesa, Surprise, Peoria, Scottsdale, Goodyear and Glendale.

“We just wanted to let MLB know that if there was any opportunity to postpone the season that we collectively, as the host cities, the host municipalities, and the tribal community, would support that,” Binsbacher said.

If spring training were to be delayed, MLB would not be able to make this deci-

‘Al Fresco Off Main’ benefits Mesa restaurants downtown

The city has launched a program called Al Fresco off Main with the Downtown Mesa Association to “extend” patio dining for all downtown restaurants.

A half block of MacDonald north of Main offers plenty of outdoor, distanced seating where people can bring food they ordered from any downtown restaurant before temperatures hit triple digits.

The fine-weather dining option continues through April.

Arts Center launching National Geographic series next month

National Geographic Live! will be presented by

If and when fans will be allowed to watch games at Sloan Park this spring, it is virtually a certainty fewer will be allowed in the bleachers than in pre-pandemic days. (Tribune file

photo)

sion unilaterally.

It would have to reach an agreement with the Players Association, which has been adamant about starting spring training on time.

Binsbacher made it clear that the Cactus League is “not part of those discussions” between MLB and the Players Association.

Cactus League spring training is scheduled to begin on Feb. 27.

Whenever it starts, it will look different because of restrictions prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chicago Cubs sent out an email Friday that said it will not be able to offer

spring training season-ticket holders their same seat locations for the 2021 season.

“As part of updated guidance from MLB and in coordination with requirements and guidelines, we are shifting to limited, socially distanced pod-style seating.”

Asked if no fans in attendance could be an option for Cactus League games this season, Binsbacher said “that is a possibility.” However, she is hopeful for a podseating concept for all facilities.

“This pod seating concept, it works,” Binsbacher said. “You can sell tickets in small groups and structure them so that they’re not close together. You can meet all

Mesa Arts Center from Feb. 10 to April 14.

The five-episode series will offer audiences “stunning imagery and stories from National Geographic’s world-renowned photographers, scientists, authors, filmmakers, conservationists and adventurers from the comfort of home,” the center said in a release.

Featured subjects include women and immigration, the wonders of the seas, dinosaurs, “scientific exposure” and “feats of filmmaking.”

Tickets can be purchased for individual installments in the series. Information/tickets: mesaartscenter.com.

Mesa is seeking a resident to serve on the Judicial Advisory Board.

The seven-member Judiciary Advisory Board recommends to City Council the best qualified persons to become City magistrates, evaluates the performance of appointed magistrates and advises the City Council about retaining them.

The board consists of the Presiding Judge of the Arizona Superior Court for Maricopa County, or designee; one Arizona Appellate Court Judge to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court; one active member of the State Bar of Arizona who resides in Mesa; one member of the Maricopa County Bar Association who resides in Mesa; and three Mesa electors who are not City employees, judges in any official capacity, retired judges

AROUND MESA

City seeks applicants to fill seat on Judicial Advisory Board

of the CDC guidelines and maintain social distancing and manage traf�ic patterns.

“It can be done. We’re hopeful that there will be fans in the stands, but again, it changes all the time. We’re moving in the right direction and so we’re just trying to be as optimistic and ready for whatever comes our way.”

If infection rates in Maricopa County show no sign of improvement and the Cactus League were to be canceled, Mesa Mayor John Giles says it would have a detrimental effect on the local economy.

The Cactus League generated approximately $363 million in economic last season before COVID-19 shut down the season on March 12, the league said.

“Every year, we experience a tremendous boon in our local economy because of spring training,” Giles said. “Last year, we saw the impact of terminating the spring training season early and it did have a signi�icant detrimental economic impact on the community.

“Certainly this year is not going to be a normal year. No one is suggesting that we return to business as usual but I think we are all stating the obvious of the longer we wait, hopefully, the better the situation is going to be for considering including fans.”

While Binsbacher awaits a response from Manfred and MLB, she and the Cactus League executive board are optimistic for spring training this year.

“There’s light at the end of the tunnel and whether that’s two weeks or four weeks or six weeks is again, completely out of our control and something that has to be negotiated between MLB and the Players Association.”  nor members of the State Bar of Arizona. Members are appointed for staggered terms of three years.

Information and application forms are at mesaaz. gov/boards. 

Submit your releases to pmaryniak@ timespublications.com

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

Ducey wants Legislature to OK off-tribe sports betting

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

G

ov. Doug Ducey wants to open the door to allowing Arizonans to bet on sports, fantasy leagues and even instant keno games.

And he wants to allow mobile devices to be used to place bets.

And all of that would be available off reservation.

Now he needs the Arizona Legislature to go along and repeal the laws that now prohibit such gambling.

In a document to lawmakers, the governor said he has negotiated a new compact with Arizona tribes which now gives them the exclusive right to operate casino-style wagering in Arizona, albeit with certain limits.

The deal, he said, will result in both more revenue for the tribes and more money for the state which currently gets a share of tribal revenues.

“Our goal is to bring Arizona gaming into the 21st century,’’ Ducey press aide C.J. Karamargin told Capitol Media Services.

“a signi�icant opportunity’’ for the state.

Ducey attempted in 2018 to fund part of his teacher pay package by convincing Arizonans to play keno, a game in which players choose several numbers and wait to see how many match those generated by a computer. Keno already is an option on reservations.

But the plan for off-reservation keno, run by the Arizona Lottery, had to be scrapped after it appeared to run afoul of the existing tribal compacts which prohibit the state from running new games that were not already allowed when the 2002 deals were approved.

New compacts provide new opportunities for change as long as the tribes also see it in their bene�it.

The bigger change would be in wagering on sports.

Karamargin would not say whether this would be limited to professional sports or whether there also would be opportunities to bet on college games, just as there is in Nevada.

There already is off-reservation sports gaming of a sort in Arizona.

“A lot has changed since the �irst compacts were signed, back when cell phones weren’t the thing they are now,’’ he said. “The world looks a lot different today and our proposal is intended to re�lect the way people live their lives today.

What gives Ducey the opening is that the current 20-year compacts, approved by voters in 2002, are starting to expire.

The tribes are interested in keeping the revenues �lowing. And for the governor, revised compacts are a way to generate additional state dollars not only without imposing new taxes but potentially providing cash for the tax cuts he wants lawmakers to enact this year.

What’s also helping is that the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 struck down a 1992 federal law forbidding most states from allowing such wagering. The majority concluded that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act is an unconstitutional move by Congress to tell states what they can and cannot do.

Ducey has long been interested in generating additional dollars with expanding gaming, saying at the time it creates

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That’s not just horse racing and placing bets at the tracks. There also are more than 50 off-track betting sites scattered throughout the state, mainly at bars, where Arizonans can now place bets not only on the ponies running in the state but on horse and dog-racing throughout the country.

Vince Francia, general manager of Turf Paradise, which runs most of those OTB sites, said he is counting on getting a piece of that sports wagering.

Ducey, in his message to lawmakers, said his goal is having expanded gaming that is “limited and well-regulated.’’

Francia said that’s where the OTB sites �it in.

“It’s already regulated by the state,’’ he said. But Francia said it’s also �inancially bene�icial to the state.

“It gets the product out to the most number of people in a very ef�icient way,’’ he said.

There was a prior effort in 2019 to allow wagering on sports events.

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NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

Giants’ Papago Park construction draws lawsuit

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Tribune Staff Writer

A

s Scottsdale resident Arthur Deal walks along a perimeter construction fence cutting through Papago Park, he shows off a picture of his grandfather on horse back on the same land in 1898.

Deal, who lives near the park, has been coming to Papago for 65 years – and now he is �ighting to preserve it.

Deal and Tempe resident Lasse Norgaard-Larsen have taken the cities of Phoenix and Scottsdale to court over a new San Francisco Giants training facility in Papago Park, the mountainous public space that straddles the border of Phoenix, Tempe and southern Scottsdale.

The �ight is nothing new for NorgaardLarsen, who has clashed with Tempe and Phoenix – which each own portions of the park – over the years to stave off new parking lots, roads and other encroachments into the hundreds of acres of desert park space where thousands of residents and visitors come every year to walk, hike and bike.

The pair is with Friends of Papago Park, a group of around 100 Valley residents opposed to more construction in the park.

Now they have trained their sights on a new Giants baseball training facility currently under construction on park land near 64th Street and McDowell Road.

The Giants began construction on the multi-million-dollar development in 2019 after the Phoenix agreed to lease the land to City of Scottsdale in 2018.

Scottsdale City Council then agreed to sublease the land to the Giants as a part of plan to expand the team’s year-round training facility, which is currently located at the smaller Indian School Park in Scottsdale.

Under the lease and sublease agreements, the Giants will pay annual lease payments of between $50,000 and $75,000 beginning in 2022, or between $1,370 and 2,055 per acre. “$1,200 an acre – literally smack in the middle of prime real estate,” NorgaardLarsen said.

The Scottsdale Entrada site directly across 64th Street from Papago Sports Complex sold for $38 million, or $1.3 million per acre, in 2019.

According to the lease agreement between Phoenix and Scottsdale, the Giants

A new lawsuit filed against Phoenix and Scottsdale argues that a new San Francisco Giants training facility in Papago Park violates decades-old deed restrictions by converting public park space to private use. (Photo courtesy of Lasse Norgaard-Larsen) would construct “substantial improvements” to an existing baseball facility on the land.

Deal and Norgaard-Larsen �iled a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for Arizona last month, arguing the new facility violates decades-old restrictions by replacing public park land with a private facility.

The lawsuit cites nearly a dozen historical documents tied to the park, including deeds and land patents recorded after the U.S. government signed over the majority of the land over to the State of Arizona in the 1930s and after the state later sold that land to Phoenix in 1959.

Both land transfers included language stipulating the land should be used as a public park.

According to the agreement between Arizona and Phoenix, “The lands shall be used only for municipal park, recreation, or public convenience purposes…if the lands or any part thereof shall be abandoned for such use, such lands, or such part, shall revert back to the United States of America.”

That agreement also allows for the building of a baseball stadium, though Deal and Norgaard-Larsen argue that the stadium allowance applies to Phoenix Municipal Stadium farther west.

Deal and Norgaard-Larsen also call the deed documents still binding and contend that by allowing the new Giants development – which will not be open to the public – Phoenix is violating the language requiring the land to be used for public park or recreation purposes.

“You can’t go in to a public park and give it away to private, for-pro�it entity,” Norgaard-Larsen said.

The pair acknowledged that the land oc-

cupied by the new Giants facility has been home to a baseball training facility for decades.

Opened in 1988, that facility was occupied by the Oakland Athletics until 2014.

However, Deal and Norgaard-Larsen said the new facility appears signi�icantly larger than the old one and intruded further into what was public open space.

Scottsdale of�icials did not respond to a request for comment.

“City staff is aware the lawsuit has been �iled and does not comment on pending litigation,” read a statement provided by Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department spokesman Gregg Bach.

Bach took issue with the characterization of the Giants development as a new facility, stating, “You refer to this as a ‘new’ facility, which it is not. I just want to be sure you have the correct facts regarding the project and intergovernmental agreement we have with the City of Scottsdale.”

The lease agreement between the cities makes no mention of a new development and only stipulates that a renovation of the old facility would occur.

“Scottsdale, through a sublease arrangement with the Giants, will improve the facility by adding an additional full size �ield or �ields of MLB standards, a renovation of the clubhouse, and ball�ield lighting…Other ancillary improvements may also be made,” according to the lease.

Nowhere does the lease say new buildings would be constructed.

However, Deal and Norgaard-Larsen said that in reality, the Giants project is much more than a renovation project.

The team doesn't dispute that.

NBC sports reported in January 2020, the

Giants are “literally tearing down the old facility and rebuilding from scratch.”

“We kept a couple of existing �ield footprints, but to be able to level the building… but the fact that you don’t have to work around existing facilities and structures is incredible,” Giants Farm Director Kyle Haines told NBC Sports.

Comparisons of overhead Google Earth satellite images of the site from 2018 and 2020 show that the Giants demolished most of the buildings and �ields and also appeared to encroach farther into the desert to create space for one additional practice �ields.

A large gray warehouse was also constructed at the eastern edge of the site that was not there previously.

Phoenix acknowledged that new facility is larger than the old one.

“The existing facility was 30 acres and once the renovation is completed will be approximately 36.75 acres,” Bach said.

But Deal and Norgaard-Larsen argue that this, too, is underselling the scope of the project.

Norgaard-Larsen walked the perimeter of the construction fence with a GPS device and found the new facility will likely take up at least 40 acres.

Both Deal and Norgaard-Larsen said they have no issues with the Giants – they purposefully left the team out of the lawsuit – and that it was the cities’ responsibility to ensure the land is used responsibly.

“They bring in tons of dollars in local revenue; I have nothing against the Giants,” Norgaard-Larsen said. “They contribute to the local economy.”

��� PAPAGO ���� 15

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

Lawmaker’s breast enhancement bill advances

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

W

omen considering breast enhancement surgery in Arizona would get more information about what could go wrong under the terms of legislation given preliminary Senate approval last week.

SB 1001 says that beginning next year doctors must provide women with the risks of the implants used in breast augmentation surgery. That also would include all the materials that manufacturers provide, including any warning requirements from the federal Food and Drug Administration.

A �inal roll-call vote will send it to the House.

Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, said she agreed to sponsor the measure after a constituent told her the story of having serious medical problems related to the implants. The woman was hospitalized

EMERGENCY ���� ���� 8

Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, was more blunt about why he believes there needs to be some checks on the governor’s power.

He said there seems to be a belief that anyone with emergency powers won’t hang on to them any longer than necessary.

“That’s just a fallacy," Mesnard said.

“Under that line of thinking there is no purpose to checks and balances because it’s all so obvious that there is no need for a check," he said. “You don’t want to let the cook run away with the kitchen."

Most of the measures would have no immediate impact.

In fact, in a bid to avoid a gubernatorial veto, they were crafted as constitutional amendments that would go on the 2022 ballot. So the earliest the restrictions on future emergencies could take effect, assuming voter approval, would be the end of next year.

But lawmakers also took aim at Monday the current emergency, using the little bit of power they already have to end it.

Under the current law, an emergency continues until the governor decides it is no longer necessary or until both the House and Senate, by a simple majority, decide to override that action. SCR 1001, approved by the panel, would do just that

and ultimately had to have them removed.

But Ugenti-Rita said this isn’t some isolated incident.

"There are thousands of women across Arizona and the country who do experience almost an adverse reaction, like an allergic reaction, if you will. The senator said that should not be a surprise.

"If you can imagine putting something in your body that’s foreign, not everyone responds to it the same way," Ugenti-Rita said. "On top of that, these implants are made from chemicals and compounds that are really not designed to be in your body."

The measure also has the backing of Robyn Towt, who had a double mastectomy in 2017 after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Towt has become a major proponent of the measure, which failed to clear the legislature last year, telling lawmakers that her doctor told her the implants "were perfectly safe."

But the result, she said, was "extreme

– assuming it gets through the full legislative process.

“We have moved past an emergency into a chronic situation that needs to be handled in a different way," Ugenti-Rita said.

Ducey declared the emergency on March 11. Since then, he has issued various orders dealing with everything from what hours individuals can be on the streets to how many customers certain businesses can serve.

“No one’s articulated when this may end," Ugenti-Rita said. And she said her constituents have had enough. “They don’t want a new normal," she said. “They want to go back to the way it was."

But Democrats on the panel said the action, even if legal, is premature.

“When did we get over this emergency?" asked Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe.

And Peshlakai said the evidence is that the underlying problems still exist.

“People are dying right now with no one to hold their hands," she said. “We are burying people at record rates."

Ugenti-Rita did not dispute the effects of the pandemic and even the possible need for some government action.

“But doing it under an emergency order is no longer the responsible thing to do," she said. What’s needed, Ugenti-Rita said, is a more “holistic" approach, dealing not

health issues" which resolved themselves after she had them removed four months later.

Testifying this year to members of the Senate Health Committee, Towt told lawmakers there is now even more reason for them to act in ways to protect women. She pointed out that the FDA last year implemented a "black box" warning to inform patients that implants have been associated with development of a type of cancer of the immune system.

This legislation seeks to go farther.

It speci�ically requires the medical boards that oversee physicians to not only provide a description of the risks of the surgery and the implants, but to develop a checklist that would have to be provided to patients. At a minimum, the legislation says, that list must include information of breast-implant illnesses and, speci�ically, implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a particularly rare and fastspreading disease.

And patients would need to be told just with the disease but effects of restrictions, like depression – and doing it with legislative input and consensus rather than gubernatorial �iat.

“You cannot handle a chronic situation with short-term solutions," she said. “And shutting schools and businesses down is a short-term solution."

Ducey has told Capitol Media Services he’s willing to listen to ideas to “improve" the laws in light of the fact this is the �irst time they were invoked due to a pandemic. But the governor drew a line in the sand at ending the current declaration.

“We’re still in that public health emergency," he said. “That’s why state law and the constitution provide for executive emergency authorities in situations like that."

SCR 1001 which would terminate the current emergency needs only a majority vote of both the House and Senate to take effect. There is no possibility of a gubernatorial veto.

Still, Ducey believes it’s a bad idea.

Arizona law allows cities and counties to declare their own emergencies. But Ducey’s own order declares that they cannot do anything he does not approve.

That preemption was cited by a judge in Pima County in overturning the decision by the Board of Supervisors to impose a

15

how they can report "adverse events" to the FDA and other programs, as well as provided information about the National Breast Implant Registry which keeps track of not only devices that are implanted but also subsequent surgeries.

Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales, D-Tucson, said she had no idea that women were not getting this information. Gonzales said she is sensitive to the issue as a breast-cancer survivor, though she does not have implants.

"I hope that this will help in all of those going forward to make the right decision for themselves," she said.

Sen. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, said this kind of legislation is overdue.

"It’s really a shame that people have to be hurt before the right thing is done and patients are fully informed," she said.

"Informed consent is a basic medical process," Barto said. "And information is absolutely critical when women and any patient makes a decision that potentially could be life changing."  local curfew.

Ducey, in his State of the State address, warned legislators that as much as they may not like what he’s done, they might be even less pleased if they strip away his authority which would let each city and county do what they want.

“I’ve been entrusted by the people of Arizona with this responsibility," he told legislators in his State of the State address. “I’m not going to hand over the keys to a small group of mayors who have expressed every intention of locking down their cities."

But Townsend said that might be preferable to have than the kind of one-size-�itsall rule that exists now.

“I disagree with Tucson," she said, referring to efforts by Tucson and, later, Pima County, to impose a curfew.

“The people in that area want that and believe that’s what’s necessary in their area," Townsend said. And she said they should be free to do that, unfettered by a statewide emergency declaration that preempts local control. 

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

Community service eyed for traf�ic ticket penalty

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

G

ot a bit of a lead foot while behind the wheel? But short of cash?

State lawmakers are moving to let motorists work off their traf�ic �ines.

HB 2110 would allow – but not require – a judge to convert a �ine into community service. And it would translate into $12 for every hour worked.

Rep. Leo Biasiucci, R-Lake Havasu City, said he doesn’t envision this being an option for everyone.

“Not many people will be taking advantage of this,’’ he told colleagues on the House Transportation Committee last week. “If you think about it, do you really want to waste time doing community service? Probably not.’’

He said many motorists will choose to go to traf�ic school where a fourhour class can wipe a citation off the record. And for others, Biasiucci said, it might be easier to simply “pay the

GAMBLE ���� ���� 13

The proposal by Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, would have allowed each tribe to operate multiple OTB facilities at bars through the use of remote devices or kiosks, with the state getting a share of the amount of money wagered there. He envisioned about 100 of these sites.

But that plan fell apart when Ducey said he wanted any such plan to be part of the renegotiation of tribal compacts and not a separate effort.

Any plan for expanded off-reservation gaming could generate opposition.

In 2018, when Ducey sought keno to fund teacher pay he drew �ire from Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy.

“Keno is predatory gambling,’’ she told Capitol Media Services at the time. She said in other states keno tickets are sold in “family-type restaurants’’ and sports bars, making multiple-per-hour drawings particularly addictive. 

ticket and get done with it.’’

“But for the people that really need it, which is a small group, they’re going to take advantage,’’ he said.

Biasiucci said there are people who can’t afford the ticket and the various surcharges that can nearly double the �ine and end up having their licenses suspended for failure to pay. It gets more complicated as then they get arrested for driving on a suspended license and their car gets impounded.

He pointed out the legislation makes it optional for a judge to offer community service.

The plan has the backing of the American Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education an organization that lobbies for the rights of motorcyclists.

Lobbyist Michael Infanzon told of a rider who ended up in legal trouble when he didn’t keep up with a payment plan and had his license suspended. He told lawmakers that judges need discretion to deal with people who have �inancial issues.

“I think he’s trying to do something

PAPAGO ���� ���� 14

Deal and Norgaard-Larsen said the lawsuit is a last resort and they made multiple overtures to staff and of�icials with Phoenix and Scottsdale in an attempt to �ind a solution and offered to drop the complaint if Phoenix committed no further encroach on the park land in the future.

They did not receive a response.

Emails provided to the Progress show the pair also contacted U.S. Department of the Interior, Arizona State Parks Board and Arizona State Parks and Trails in an attempt to convince those agencies to enforce the old deed restrictions with little success.

It is unclear what the lawsuit will accomplish if it is successful and even Nor-

really great,’’ Rep. Amish Shah, DPhoenix, said of Biasiucci.

But the measure, while approved by the Transportation Committee on a 6-2 margin, faces an uncertain future. And the issues appear to be purely legal.

One deals with the fact that the Citizens Clean Elections Commission is �inanced largely by a 10% surcharge on civil, criminal and traf�ic �ines.

The commission, created by voters in 1998, provides public funds to candidates for statewide and legislative of�ice who agree not to take private dollars. It also puts out voter education pamphlets and conducts debates.

Tom Collins, the commission’s executive director, said that the funding for those activities was part of what voters approved. And he said the legislature is constitutionally precluded from undermining that funding source.

Biasiucci, however, said he doesn’t see it that way.

He said the voter-approved law says the commission gets 10% of money gaard-Larsen and Deal seem unsure of what they want.

With the construction on the Giants facility nearing completion, they realize the damage has largely been done.

“They destroyed it; it’ll never be the same again,” Deal said.

The lawsuit itself outlines several courses of possible action, but does not necessarily call for the demolition of the new facility.

Rather, it suggests a temporary halt to construction while all parties involved seek an amicable solution.

“I just wish there was a better way to balance keeping the Giants happy and not destroying the park,” Norgaard-Larsen.

In what he called a “worst best case” scenario, Norgaard-Larsen said the judge

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that is collected. He said if there are no dollars collected, there’s nothing to share with the commission.

Marilyn Rodriguez, who lobbies for Living United for Change in Arizona, said there’s another potential legal issue.

She noted the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude “except as a punishment for crime where the party shall have been duly convicted.’’ Rodriguez said it is an interesting question whether the legislation amounts to mandating court-ordered labor for civil violations.

Still, Rodriguez said her organization hopes something can be worked out.

“We do believe it is possible to achieve an outcome to help those trapped in the justice system simply because they do not have the resources to climb out of the monetary hole,’’ she said.

The measure goes to the full House after a review of constitutional issues by the Rules Committee.  would �ind the development does violate the deed restrictions on the land and cause Papago Park – which has been owned by Phoenix for 60 years – to revert back to federal ownership.

It is unclear if this language is still in effect though.

In an email to Deal, John Hurst, an attorney with the Department of Interior, declined to intervene in the project, arguing subsequent actions by Congress removed federal interest in the land.

Deal nor Norgaard-Larsen don't want Phoenix losing ownership but just want to see an end to new building on the remaining public desert land in Papago Park.

“Next time we hope they’ll think twice before turning the bulldozers loose,” Deal said. 

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@ timespublications.com

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

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Arizona Brainfood feeding kids in 125 schools

BY MELODY BIRKETT Tribune Contributor

D

espite the pandemic’s impact on inclassroom learning, Arizona Brainfood is still feeding kids in need.

Whether they learning at home or go to school, the same need exists now as it did when the nonpro�it started.

“We started in 2009 because I was talking to a teacher who said students were coming to school on Monday morning hungry and he would spend time trying to feed them,” recalled founder-President Ruth Collins.

“That bothered me because I didn’t realize there were kids out there who were that hungry and who would go without food on the weekends. I was born and raised in Mesa and was surprised it was happening in Mesa. I’m a mother of four and it just made sense to me we do something.”

Collins talked to the teacher and introduced the idea of bringing a bag of food

Volunteers at Arizona Brainfood pack bags of weekend nourishment for hundreds of needy students. (Special to the

Tribune)

��� BRAINFOOD ���� 22

Mesa broadcasterauthor pens memoir

BY KEVIN PIREHPOUR Tribune Staff Writer

I

n 2018, Chris “Kaz” Nascimento was working as a detention of�icer at Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence, at times working graveyard shifts on death row.

“When they told me that I was going to work there, I was super nervous,” the Mesa writer recalled. “In my mind, from what you hear, these are the meanest, nastiest people on the planet.”

“It was very scary at times,” Nascimento said. “There were times where you thought, this is it, it’s about to go

down. I’m either going to get really hurt or I’m going to leave here on a stretcher.”

Those scary times and others are recounted in a memoir just published by Nascimento, the owner and host of the nationally syndicated radio show, “New Jack Radio.”

His book, “Reach: It’s All You Have to

��� KAZ ���� 19

Chris “Kaz” Nascimento of Mesa has a radio show and now has written a memoir of his struggles as a youngster and a younger man. (Special to the Tribune)

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

KAZ ���� ���� 18

Do,” is a candid look at how he overcame abuse, trauma and dejection and now tries to serve as a beacon of hope for anyone facing adversity and life-altering challenges.

At the Florence prison, Nascimento said he would deliver mail to inmates, organize their call times and check their cells for contraband, such as drugs or weapons, never forgetting that violence could erupt at any time.

Nascimento never left work on a stretcher. But the dangerous work conditions, compounded with a slow promotional process, started to weigh on him.

One night in October, while working in the guard tower overlooking inmates, he recalled asking himself: “What are you doing with your life?”

“At that moment, I realized I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing.”

That night, he sent an email giving two weeks of notice.

“A sense of pressure just came off my back,” Nascimento said. “It felt so good to be like, ‘I am going to go pursue what I’ve always wanted to do.’”

“I hope that everyone that picks up the book can at least �ind a piece of themselves,” Nascimento said. “Or �ind some encouragement to get out of that dark place in their life and push forward knowing that they can make it happen.”

Nascimento is no stranger to turning a negative situation into a positive one.

Growing up in East Oakland, he was the younger of two siblings. His father fought in the Vietnam War and met his mother while stationed in the Philippines. Upon returning to the U.S., his father coped with the transition to civilian life with drugs and alcohol.

Over time, he started to verbally and physically abuse his mother and siblings.

When he was 5, his parents divorced.

Shortly thereafter, his mother landed in another abusive relationship and the beatings continued.

For years, Nascimento said, he jumped around from house to house and ultimately landed in a home with his older brother — who struggled with drug addiction. It seemed as though no matter where he went, he said, that he found himself in an unforgiving environment.

“Those times really made me who I

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am,” Nascimento said. “I went from 16 to 21 years old, within a matter of months because I had to. The atmosphere was rough, it was tough.”

Tough years that inspired him to write a book that young readers could connect with.

“There are no fancy words, there’s no explicit lyrics or anything crazy,” Nascimento said about the writing style of the book. “But I know at that age, from the pre-teens to the young adults, is when your life starts to take that turn and you start to understand what is going on here.”

His drive to help others experiencing hard times goes beyond the pages of his book. With 14 years of experience in radio, he has mastered the art of a disc jockey. It’s also how he acquired the nickname, “Kaz.” Listeners can expect to hear mostly hip-hop and rhythm and blues songs from the 80s and 90s that he hopes offers freedom from disquieting thought or emotions.

Every time Nascimento turns his microphone for his show, he paints a vivid picture of his audience in his mind.

19

“I imagine there’s a guy, or girl, sitting on the bed in the dark with their radio and it’s my job to convince them to put down the gun,” Nascimento said. “I know that sounds crazy, but if I fail, they’re going to pull the trigger.”

Today, his book can be found on Amazon and on his website, NewJackRadioLive.com – where you will also �ind links to his show on various stations across the nation.

In the Valley, New Jack Radio can be heard on 88.7 The Pulse and 90.7 Neon Radio on Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and again from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

“You do have the power to move yourself out of those situations,” Nascimento said. “I am living proof and I want people to know that there are people out there that care for them; that love them; that will help.” 

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(Continued on next page)

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

21 SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

(Continued from previous page) a real steal because residents living outside of the designated 6 states must pay $124 per ounce which totals $2,480 if any remain.

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

BRAINFOOD ���� ���� 18

on Friday for kids to take home so they wouldn’t go hungry on the weekends.

She noted that many children she is helping get free or reduced lunch at school through the week.

“But then there’s this small percent of kids who when they go home on the weekends, there’s no food for them,” Collins said. “So, those are the ones we’re looking for.

“Once the idea started rolling and I talked to a few people, I got a few sponsors,” said Collins. “We started in two schools with about 100 kids.”

Shortly after starting the program, Collins said, “It just snowballed. After just four years, we were in every elementary school in Mesa, which is about 55 of them.

Then we had a couple of churches in Fountain Hills come to us and say, ‘We will sponsor two Fountain Hills schools if we can start those.’

“Then we started expanding to Gilbert, then Tempe and then we had a group from Chandler and Scottsdale come to us. Over these 12 years, we’re doing about 125 schools in the East Valley.”

Before the pandemic, Collins and

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her all-volunteer staff were delivering up to 3,500 bags of food weekly for the last several years. Now, about 2,500-weekend food bags are being sent home with kids.

“The schools are the ones who determine which kids need it,” explained Collins. “They know the kids the most. They know the families. We have a person in charge of brain food at each school we take bags to and they’re the ones who determine which kids need the food.

“Every week they email us a number. We don’t have names. We don’t know anything about the kids except a number,” adding the numbers change regularly because many families move frequently and are living in a shelter or motel.

“We’ve told every school, ‘If a child needs a bag of food, we’ll give you a bag of food,’” said Collins. “We don’t care what week it is if they’re homeschooled or not,” adding that all food is dropped off at elementary schools so kids/parents just need to �ind a way to pick it up.

The bags contain food items such as canned pasta, canned stew, tuna packs, beef jerky, peanut butter and fruit packs, fruit juice and chocolate milk.

“Food bags are meant for the individual,”

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Ruth Collins of Mesa, left, founded Arizona Brainfood and is the nonprofit’s president.

(Special to the Tribune)

Collins said. “We hand out a food bag, we’re making the assumption – although it’s not always true – that the child will go home and feed themselves. Every child in that family who is in elementary school will get their own bag. If a family has three children in elementary school, they’ll each get a bag.”

Students also get a 12-pack of tortillas every other week and a loaf of bread once or twice a month to help feed other family members. If there are preschool kids at home who are going hungry, an extra bag of food is sent home.

“When we started this, there were no backpack programs around here,” Collins explained. “Valley of the Sun United Way and United Food Bank have since started some. I think it’s great. If everybody in their area would take care of their schools and make sure their kids are being fed, I think that’s awesome.”

Prior to starting Arizona Brainfood, Collins had no prior experience in the nonpro�it world.

“Zero experience and zero desire or even the thought in my brain that this was going to be something I would do,” Collins said. “There were kids going without food and desperate parents trying to feed their kids and not being able to. We had no idea it would turn into this.”

The non-pro�it’s goal is to have all children returning to school on Monday mentally and physically able to concentrate in class.

“The reason we called it ‘brain food’ from the beginning, besides feeding children and making sure nobody’s hungry, is to make sure they can also be educated,” said Collins.

“If they’re hungry and if they’re wondering where their next meal is coming from, they’re not paying attention in school.

And we want them to become educated to change the poverty cycle or whatever the problem they’re in.”

That change occurs when children can study and get an education, Collins said.

With some food over the weekend, she explained, “So hopefully they’ll come to school more, will stay in school longer, will get their education to help them provide for themselves and their families. 

The nonprofit relies heavily on individual donations. To help: azbrainfood.org, info@azbrainfood. org or 480-415-0066

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

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Busy Waymo not expanding to E. Mesa for now

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor

E

ast Mesa residents who are hoping to catch a ride to downtown Phoenix or Scottsdale in one of those oddlooking white Chrysler minivans or Jaguar sedans with no one behind the wheel will have to keep waiting.

Waymo spokeswoman Amanda Ventura Zink told members of the PHX East Valley Partnership recently that the company has no plans at this time to extend its autonomous service beyond its current 50-square mile area that covers a good piece of Chandler and parts of Tempe and west Mesa and a sliver of west Gilbert.

That doesn’t mean East Mesa residents can’t download the Waymo app and ride in one of its vehicles – for a per-mile fee, like Uber. They just have to make sure they stay in Waymo’s zone, which extends into Mesa to around Country Club Drive.

Zink’s revelation brought some expres-

Besides passenger vehicles, Waymo also is testing out autonomous semis on I-10 between New Mexico and Texas. (Special to the Tribune) sions of disappointment from some of the people who were on the Zoom meeting that EVP hosted to hear from Zink and Valley Metro CEO Scott Smith – who focused his presentation mostly on what Valley Metro has been doing to the light rail system and the Tempe trolley system.

The disappointed listeners complained

how getting to downtown Phoenix from Chandler on a bus, let alone their own automobile, was a long and frustrating chore.

But the fact that Waymo hasn’t expanded its service area doesn’t mean it has been idling.

Indeed, Zink laid out an impressive list of advancements that Waymo has made

Maria moved to the U.S. in 2003 from Barquisimeto, Venezuela, and years later met Orvid, whose family moved to Arizona from Idaho when he was 9.

Once Maria shared her Venezuelan cuisine with him, Orvid said he felt the need to share it with the public. After many years of talking about it, Que Chevere food truck was born.

Maria uses family recipes from her mom and grandmother.

“I kept cooking for him and he kept saying, ‘We’re going to do a restaurant’ and I was like, “No, it’s a lot of work. Let’s not do it,’” said Maria. “And then one day he said, ‘I’m going to get the food truck.’”

Orvid and Maria Fernana Cutler opened the Venezuelan restaurant, Que Chevere, in downtown Mesa about six months ago. (Melody Birkett/Tribune Staff Photographer)

Food truck gave birth to Mesa restaurant

BY MELODY BIRKETT Tribune Contirbutor

O

rvid and Maria Fernana Cutler opened their Venezuelan restaurant six months ago in downtown Mesa, but the Gilbert couple have been rolling with their dishes for a lot longer than that.

The Cutlers, who run Que Chevere (cay shev-ray), have been operating a food truck for four years after they chucked their previous jobs for the restaurant business, something they’d never been involved in before.

Orvid previously worked in mortgage banking and Maria at a web hosting company.

since it opened its area headquarters in Chandler almost �ive years ago.

With the vehicles themselves, Waymo is now entering the �ifth generation and working on technology tweaks and upgrades, electric-powered and hybrid models and enhancements to the monitor that passengers view as their vehicle takes them around.

“No one needs to sit at the front seat or behind the wheel and an empty car can pick you up and take you where you need to go while you sit in the back seat – that’s truly autonomous and that’s what we’re pursuing at Waymo,” she said.

“Our mission is to make it safe and easy for people and things to get where they’re going,” she said, noting one million people annually lose their lives and 15 million are inured in traf�ic accidents around the world.

“We believe that fully autonomous tech-

��� CHEVERE ���� 25

��� WAYMO ���� 25

BUSINESS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

WAYMO ���� ���� 24

nology holds the potential to save lives, make roads safer, offer new mobility options to millions of people and improve their independence,” she continued, reporting that the passenger vehicles have driven 20 million actual miles and another 20 billion miles virtually as Waymo tests the sensors and other components of its technology. Many of those miles also have involved weather-testing vehicles in 25 other cities around the country.

It’s not just cars the company is working on either.

Zink said Waymo’s autonomous semitrailers have been long-hauling goods along I-10 from New Mexico to Texas while it’s also using its minivans and sedans to deliver car parts for AutoNation within its service area and working with UPS to make deliveries in Tempe.

Waymo also is trying to get the driving public to quit referring to their vehicles as “driverless.”

“As more people join the conversation around autonomous driving technology,” Zink explained, “researchers are �inding that people maybe don’t fully understand what their own technology and

CHEVERE ���� ���� 24

Orvid said it took six months to build the truck, explaining, “I believe in the food so much, I spent all of my savings on a food truck.”

“The food truck has a limited menu because there are things we can’t cook in the food truck that we can do at the restaurant,” he explained. “That was one of the main reasons we opened the restaurant so we could expand the menu.”

Since opening the restaurant, the food truck is not out as much.

The couple used to take it out up to �ive times a week but now only do that once a week.

What makes Venezuelan food unique?

“One of the things is called arepas,” replied Maria. “It’s made out of corn dough.

We cook it on a �lat top on both sides and once it’s cooked, we cut it in half and then stuff it with shredded beef or chicken.

their vehicles are capable of and they might equate it with autonomous driving technology and think that they don’t need to be as attentive as they should be.

This is a safety risk on our roads and we think that by helping drive that conversation around the differences between driver-assisted and autonomous driving technology that we could be helping them be safer drivers.”

While the autonomous vehicles might not yet become a presence on East Mesa streets in the near future, Smith said that eventually Waymo vehicles will become an integral part of his grand vision for public transportation throughout the Valley, where a Waymo vehicle might take someone to a bus stop or light rail station, for example.

“There’s a ton of potential for us to help integrate that into public transit,” he said.

“It will be seamless. It will be ef�icient.

I think that’s the real future and I think it will make it so that people won’t have to have cars because for their local transportation, there will be a series of microtransit, point-to-point” stops, Smith said, adding that while infrastructure for the Tempe trolley system is nearly complete, cars will not arrive until fall.  “Our empanadas are different because they’re not pastry-based. They’re cornbased. Those are deep-fried but arepas are not.”

The restaurant also serves patacon, two smashed fried plantains.

“It’s almost like the top and bottom of bread and then you �ill it,” explained Orvid. “It’s like a sandwich. We put shredded beef, shredded chicken, cheese and different Venezuelan sauces inside.”

Cachapas are corn pancakes with a soft white Venezuelan cheese inside, topped with shredded white cheese with an option to add protein.

Orvid said Venezuelan food is not spicy.

“It’s vegetables. It’s the contrast of sweet and salty. We’ll throw a sweet plantain in with a salty cheese. The contrast is phenomenal.”

Maria does most of the cooking but Orvid assists.

“It’s amazing food,” said Orvid. “There’s

25

Waymo for now is sticking to its 50-square-mile service area in the East Valley for people who want to ride - for a per-mile fee - in their autonomous vehicles. (Special to the Tribune) nothing like it. You can’t compare it to any other cuisine. It’s nothing like Mexican food. My mom is Mexican and made fresh tortillas every day.

“Everything we put out is a 10. People ask, ‘What’s your favorite?’ I’m afraid to tell them my favorite because they’ll miss out on something else on the menu.”

Orvid admits it’s not always easy working together but, “We love it. We’ve always spent a lot of time together.”

The couple married 11 years ago and have three children.

Maria said running a restaurant has been a good experience. “We try to divide the work. We complement each other with our skill sets.”

The pandemic has impacted business.

“It has been down a little bit,” said Maria.

“Thankfully, because of our food truck and our amazing followers we’ve been able to stay a�loat,” adding that many customers come to the restaurant after visiting the

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food truck.

She said it also helps there’s not another Venezuelan restaurant in the area.

“I think a lot of the key to our success is that we’re both here,” Orvid explained.

“People get to meet us. They like the feeling of meeting the owners and knowing who’s making their food and knowing that we care and there’s passion behind it.”

The couple try to make it out on the �loor as much as possible to talk to customers.

The restaurant serves lunch and dinner and has a bar.

And they appreciate the loyalty of their patrons.

“We’re only as good as they make us,” Orvid said. “We try our hardest with everything we do. Maria’s very passionate about everything she does. We try and give good service, good food. I’m appreciative of everyone.”

Information: quechevereaz.com, 142 W. Main St., Mesa; 480-474-4954. 

SEND YOUR BUSINESS NEWS TO PMARYNIAK@ TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

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Hank Aaron was more than a hero on the diamond

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

I

t was a Monday night in April and my parents let me stay up past bedtime to watch the Atlanta Braves play the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It was a special occasion: Hank Aaron trying to smack his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth and become the greatest home run hitter in baseball history.

I was 9, sports obsessed and Aaron ranked high on my personal list of baseball diamond gods. The thickest book in my possession was a copy of The Baseball Encyclopedia, 1,500 pages of statistics through which I could wander for hours.

Aaron’s metronomic consistency with the bat kept me riveted. He never hit 50 homers in any season, but across two decades Aaron never hit fewer than 20. His was a sustained excellence, year upon

year. And he was never greater than at 9:07 pm on April 8, 1974.

The pitch from Al Downing that became number 715 was a high fastball Aaron arced into the left �ield bullpen.

Aaron began his stiff-legged trot around the bases as madness descended. As he rounded second base, he was joined by two white teenagers jogging beside him like maniacs.

Years later, I would learn that one of Aaron’s two bodyguards, Atlanta police detective Calvin Wardlaw, had to make a conscious decision not to grab his service weapon out of his binoculars case.

As Wardlaw told the New York Daily News in 2007: “My instinct was at that moment that even if I could have gotten out there, my man was not in danger. And I tell (people who ask) something else: What if I had decided to shoot my twobarreled .38 at those two boys, if I thought he was in a life-threatening situation, and

had hit Hank Aaron instead, on the night he hit Number 715?”

Wardlaw had witnessed �irsthand what the rest of us learned about only on the sports pages and TV news: The vicious hatred Hank Aaron received for approaching Ruth’s record.

Aaron got so much mail the U.S. Postal Service gave him an award for receiving more letters than any other American.

Many of them were racist death threats Wardlaw would forward to the local of�ice of the FBI. In his autobiography, Aaron shook his head at this exposure to the worst of humanity: “The Ruth chase should have been the greatest period of my life, and it was the worst,” he wrote. “I couldn’t believe there was so much hatred in people. It’s something I’m still trying to get over, and maybe I never will.”

Almost a half century later, this country seems no closer to getting over our collec-

tion of hatreds. Back then, when I was 9, I had no concept of what Hank Aaron had been through as the �irst Black baseball superstar in the deep South.

To me, Aaron was many things – a Gold Glover, an All-Star, a cleanup hitter, Number 44 – but none of what he meant to me involved the color of his skin.

In some ways, those were gentler times: A kid in Queens, New York, could grow up thinking there were two kinds of people in the world: Evil racists who mailed Hank Aaron letters warning him they would kill him if he hit one home run too many. And the rest of us.

Aaron passed away at 86 on January 22.

Many of us continued to worship his excellence long after his baseball career ended.

We did so because Aaron, in his persistence, his �ight for equality, and his refusal to be intimidated by hatred, was even more heroic off the baseball �ield than he was on it. 

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article, “COVID-19 Is Deadlier for People With Autism, Down Syndrome.

Now Families Are Pushing Hard for Vaccines,” discussing studies that show, “People with such disorders, who account for one in 50 Americans, are on average more than 2½ times as likely to die from COVID-19 as the wider U.S. population.”

The question of ”why” is not de�initive.

Could it be attributed to the fact that people who have disabilities are more likely to also have multiple diagnoses that include high-risk COVID-19 disorders like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes?

Is this due to inadequate access to quality care because most adults who have disability rely on public health care for their medical insurance? Or is it because many of these individuals have dif�iculty expressing and communicating their symptoms of illness that makes it doubly hard for medical professionals to diagnose and treat them for COVID.

I would argue that all of these are true.

While local and state advocacy has been able to secure our direct care workers and family members of people with disability high priority in the line to get this much anticipated vaccine; surprisingly enough, the people who have disability with whom we work and support have not. In most instances, this vulnerable population has been grouped with the general population in the lower tiers of prioritization.

However, there are some exceptions. In Tennessee, public health administrators are “speci�ically making its entire intellectual development disorder population a priority, citing its own studies that the death rate for this group is 3½ times higher” than in the general population.

Regardless of the reason why people with disabilities have been consistently ignored and overlooked throughout this pandemic, it is something we have all too often seen �irsthand in Maricopa County.

Whether intentional or not; we have had

to continue to advocate for our community members with disability and remind our local of�icials, representatives, and legislators that this population we are proud to serve are citizens and their constituents.

They are struggling, and they need our support and consideration. I urge our of�icials to look at the numbers here in Arizona and follow suit with other states, such as Tennessee, to establish that vaccine allocation must be based equitably to include vulnerable populations.

They deserve equal access to vital medical care to combat the statistic and increase their ability for survival after potential contraction of this virus. Citizens who have intellectual developmental disability must be moved forward in line to receive this vaccination.

Madison Blanton is CEO of One Step Beyond, Inc., a non-pro�it organization that provides comprehensive programs that empower adults who have intellectual disabilities. Information: osbi.org. 

Developmental disabilities rate vaccine priority

BY MADISON BLANTON Tribune Guest Writer

Every week, the United States meets another COVID milestone, for example registering more COVID-19 cases in a single day than ever before in the early parts of January. With the hope of a new start at a new year, it seems clear that the coronavirus has also made a new year’s resolution to persevere with a vengeance and stick around and mutate.

Many of us hold a sense of optimism around a miracle vaccine that could provide some gleaming hope for our communities.

Yet, the actual implementation of vaccinations seems not only to be slow moving, but also to be overlooking populations in our society who should – but are not – recognized as a priority. One of these groups are people who have intellectual and developmental disability.

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

28

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Mesa’s David DiDomenico seeking 250th win as wrestling coach

BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

S

ince David DiComenico took over the Mesa High School wrestling program as head coach seven years ago, it’s a position he has cherished.

It’s the same feeling and mindset he has had in his previous two stops at Amphitheater High School in Tucson and Red Mountain High School. With each school came new milestones for DiDomenico, and he remains just one win away from another: 250 career wins.

Mesa had a chance to reach that milestone Thursday against Desert Ridge but fell short. The Jackrabbits faced Cibola Saturday with another chance for DiDomenico to secure the coveted win. No matter when it happens, it will be a special moment he and his team – with all the adversity faced this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic – can cherish forever.

“It’s quite a milestone,” DiDomenico said. “I’ve been an assistant coach most of my career under some great coaches.

But to have the wins under your name, it shows longevity. I’m having fun with the kids and they’re winning.

“But it will also be a tribute to the other coaches I learned under.”

DiDomenico’s love for Mesa has grown since he �irst stepped foot on campus.

Living in the community, he felt a deeper connection to all of his wrestlers – many of which state champions – over the years.

During his tenure at Mesa, DiDomenico has coached the likes of Anthony Robles, who went on to star at Arizona State University and become a national champion and household name in the wrestling community despite doing so with one leg.

Recent champions include senior John Jarman, who has moved up a weight class in three of his nearly four years with Mesa.

Jarman has placed at state twice during his career and hopes the pandemic doesn’t take away an opportunity for a third. He credits DiDomenico with much of his success throughout his prep career.

“He’s helped me grow a lot and �ind my position,” said Jarman, a senior co-captain

Mesa High School wrestling coach David DiDomenico is nearing his 250th career win as a head coach. (Zach Alvira/Tribune Staff) wrestling in the 134-pound weight class.

“He can be pretty harsh. If you don’t keep up to the standards, you’re done. His record speaks for itself, but he’s coached a lot of great wrestlers.”

Austin Gray, a senior co-captain alongside Jarman in the 140-pound weight class, echoed the sentiment of his teammate.

DiDomenico’s tough, yet loving style of coaching has paid dividends to the success of wrestlers at Mesa. Gray is one of those this season that hopes to see that coaching pay off in the state tournament.

“If we have state, I want to win state,” Gray said. “I think these least four years here have helped me get to the point where that can be done. It’s been special.”

DiDomenico’s track record at Mesa speaks for itself. While the team has fell short of state championships, it has been a perennial top-10 team on a yearly basis and the lives of wrestlers that come through the program are impacted in other ways.

The team focuses heavily on succeeding in the classroom. On several occasions, DiDomenico has helped wrestlers improve

The head coach at Mesa the last seven years, DiDomenico has impacted the lives of many and has produced state and national champion wrestlers. (Zach Alvira/Tribune Staff)

their grades to have an opportunity to attend college. Additionally, the program has seen a slew of wrestlers go on to serve the country in one of the military branches.

DiDomenico has several souvenirs from former wrestlers serving overseas.

It’s the life lessons DiDomenico teaches each of his athletes that generally stick with them, which has allowed for Mesa to become well-known not only across the state but the country.

“It’s funny, I’ll be in another state with my gear on and someone will recognize it from Mesa,” DiDomenico said. “I mean, I’m talking across the country people are recognizing this school. That says something.”

Like it has for the seniors, DiDomenico’s impact as a coach has also been felt by juniors and other younger wrestlers in the program.

Kaiden Cisneros, a junior, said the impact DiDomenico has had on his wrestling career has paved the way for him and the rest of the team to be successful. That’s why capturing their coach’s 250th win is among their top priorities heading into the season and realizing they were close to the feat.

“It will be special,” said Cisneros, who wrestles in the 197-pound class. “He’s a great coach to all of us and is always motivating us to do our best. He’s worked so hard. I’ve been here three years learning under him and I wanted to be here when he did it.”

While securing his 250th win has been accomplished, DiDomenico is far from achieving all of his goals as Mesa head coach. He wants to bring the team a championship, which would be its �irst since 2008, when the Jackrabbits beat DiDomenico and Red Mountain in the semi�inals.

But no matter what happens over the course of this season and the foreseeable future, DiDomenico remains thankful to have the opportunity to be at Mesa.

“This is where I want to retire,” DiDomenico said. “Mesa High is a special place, a special community. Once you’re part of it, you’re part of the family. That’s what you get when you come here, one big family.” 

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

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Macayo’s spicing things up for 75th anniversary

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

GetOut Editor

N

ava Singam has been in the restaurant business for most of his life. But when he purchased the Macayo’s Mexican Food brand two years ago, he continued the chain’s love affair with the Valley.

“It’s a legacy brand to me,” Singam said.

“You don’t see very many restaurants that have been around for 50, 75 years. This brand will really carry a lot of history down the line. Even 40 or 50 years down the line, somebody is going to look back it and try to trace its roots back to Phoenix when it opened.”

The seven-restaurant chain is celebrating its 75th anniversary on Sept. 26. However, it’s celebrating throughout 2021 by introducing new specials the 26th of each month.

“We’re honored and grateful to have been a part of families’ traditions and celebrations every day and on special occasions for 75 years,” said Singam, who

Nava Singam purchased the Macayo’s Mexican Food brand two years ago and has never looked back. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer) owns Kind Hospitality.

“We aim to continue to be the place where people come to enjoy a traditional Mexican meal and a great experience and

to provide the delicious food that people bring into their own homes for many more years to come.”

Macayo’s kicked off the milestone year

with specials such as 75-cent crispy tacos.

It continues with 75-cent cheese enchiladas on Feb. 26, and 75-cent cheese crisps on March 26.

Those are three of the many appetizers, entrees and desserts Singam kept on the menu when he acquired the brand. The changes were more organic, he said.

“We’re not trying to change the brand,” Singam said. “The brand was around for 73 years when we picked it up. There was no need to change it.

“What we need to do is make sure that the newer generation understands what Macayo’s is all about. That’s what we’re trying to gravitate to. The menu is the same. The recipes are the same. In fact, when we bought the brand, we took everybody on our team.”

The portions were just as important to Singam. He wanted to serve enough food for guests to have leftovers.

��� MACAYO’S ���� 32

Central Kitchen in Chandler offers tasty variety

TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

T

hirsty Lion Gastropub, a division of Concept Entertainment Group, has picked its Chandler location to launch Central Kitchen – an online food hall.

Four new restaurant concepts were developed for Central Kitchen, each featuring unique culinary directions and scratch-made food available for takeout and delivery from the one central website.

“The online food hall launched in Oregon last fall with great success,” said the company, and Arizona is now the fourth state where it has launched.

“We’ve been fostering the idea of a kitchen focused on takeout and delivery for the last year,” said John Plew, president and CEO of Thirsty Lion Gastropub. “The pandemic put the process into hyper speed, and we saw this as the perfect opportunity to pivot with the climate and launch an idea that aligns

Five different restaurants, each with an array of menu items, are part of Central Kitchen at Thirsty Lion Gastropub’s Chandler location at 3077 W. Frye Road. (Special to the Tribune) with current consumer demands.

“Central Kitchen �ills a need in the restaurant space by providing multiple cu-

linary offerings from one hub. Guests can order the food that everyone in their home is craving under one ticket.”

The Central Kitchen website has a food hall appearance with �ive differently branded restaurants, including Thirsty Lion.

An advanced point of sale system communicates orders to the kitchen based on predetermined measurements of cook time for each dish.

“This results in precise preparation time, no matter which restaurant is included in an order,” a spokesperson said.

The Chandler Thirsty Lion kitchen will offer takeout and delivery from �ive total concepts, which include Soy Joy, Southern Jewel, Killer Wings, and Pizza and Spice.

All menus have been designed under the direction of Keith Castro, CEG’s vice president of food and beverage and executive chef.

Soy Joy Kitchen specializes in rice bowls, sushi, ramen and other Asian favorites.

Southern Jewel offers Southern fried

��� THIRSTY ���� 32

32

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MACAYO’S ���� ���� 31

“That’s No. 1,” he said with a smile.

“When you think of Macayo’s, you think of big meals. We want to make sure they’re getting value. We made sure the plating was correct. We revisited the training manuals. We visited our stores and retrained everybody, so the service levels would be the same.”

Besides its service, Macayo’s is known for its chimichanga, which the restaurant will celebrate on September 26, National Chimichanga Day. The Chimi de Macayo ($13.99) comes with shredded beef, chicken or carnitas, and relleno sauce, crispy �lour tortilla, sour cream and rice or refried beans.

Singam is planning to expand the brand this year to meet the demand for food at Macayo’s. He’s already inked a deal for a restaurant at Pima Crossing in Scottsdale.

Singam is committed to opening a Macayo’s at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

He’s also considering Queen Creek, Gilbert/Chandler and Buckeye. A pandemicera expansion is a bold move.

Expansion wasn’t his primary concern, however.

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

“Everyone appreciated what we did,” he said. Every Macayo’s delivered food for up to 20 people. I think the community has blessed us back for coming and visiting us. So, I think pivoting in so many ways was critical. But I think we pivoted toward humanistic values more than anything.”

Singam is looking forward to the September 26 Crispy tacos are 75 cents at Macayo’s as part of its 75th an- anniversary. He hopes paniversary specials. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer) trons will, too.

“The biggest concern for us was safety,” “We hope we’re going to be around for Singam said. “Once everybody knew that the next 75 years,” he said. “We’re just apwe were really being cautious about how preciating everything that our customers we delivered the food and how we control have done throughout the last 75 years.”  the restaurant’s environment, I think folks really gravitated to us.

“I’m thankful that we had the Macayo’s locations 6,000-square-foot dining rooms because 12637 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee, 480.598.5101 when we cut to 50% occupancy, that’s still 650 N. Scottsdale Road, Tempe, 480.967.2552 quite a number of customers. That’s really 1920 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, 480.820.0237 been helping us.”

6538 E. Superstition Springs Blvd., Mesa Macayo’s was helping others, too. The 480.807.1846 staff took food to hospitals, �irst responders and grocery stores every day.

THIRSTY ���� ���� 31

chicken, Nashville hot chicken, sliders and Southern specialties.

Killer Wings serves boneless and traditional wings with a variety of house made sauces.

Pizza and Spice has a large selection of gourmet specialty pizzas and salads.

“These four restaurants will be anchored

by Thirsty Lion Gastropub, which features starters, burgers, sandwiches, salads and specialty entrees, the company said.

Central Kitchen is offering a Takeout Tuesday deal for 25 percent off each togo order placed through the hub website.

Information: CentralKitchenFoodOnline.com.

Thirsty Lion’s mission is “to revolutionize the gastropub business by combining the traditional values of European and American pubs and creating a gathering place where friends and family can come together to celebrate life, enjoy great food, craft beers, signature cocktails, wines, music and sports.

Concept Entertainment is a hospitality management company based in Scottsdale.

Information: thirstyliongastropub. com. 

www.azurologicsurgeons.com

Ladies,

If you see something

say something.

Coloplast Corp. 1601 West River Road North, Minneapolis, MN 55411 USA Customer Service 800.258.3476 PM-02005 9.17

If you are experiencing incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, please call Dr Kashif Alvi (480) 409-5060.

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

VOTE NOW!

King Crossword ACROSS 1 4 8 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 22 24 25 29 30 31 32 34 35 36 37 40 41 42 46 47 48 49 50 51

Atlas page Act of faith?

TV’s “Warrior Princess” Oklahoma city Operatic solo Sick as -Newscast opener Cathedral area Vittles Half of a ‘60s group Sad song Begged Early Peruvian Taylor Swift’s genre, say R-V link Beetle Bailey’s boss As well Bargain for leniency Felines Fail to see Island porch Neptune’s realm Ride the waves Actress Cameron Cowboy Cassidy Challenge Matty of baseball Old Olds Auctioneer’s cry Citi Field team Society newbie

Our reader poll is designed to let YOU tell us about your favorite people, places, shops, restaurants and things to do in Mesa.

37 38 39 40

Probability Pisa farewell British noble Espy

42 43 44 45

Sudoku

The votes are in.

The people have spoken...

It’s the BEST OF MESA!

PEOPLE | PLACES | SHOPS | RESTAURANTS | THINGS TO DO

VOTE JANUARY 29TH THRU FEBRUARY 26TH, 2021

Vote for us Best Chiropractor and Best New Business

DOWN 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 16 19 20 21 22 23 25 26 27 28 30 33 34 36

Deli meat Flamenco cheer Born abroad?

Sailor

WHO’S the BEST?

Vote for US!

Hubbub Drink-to-go holder Coffee bar offering Cupid’s alias Tire filler Salary Idyllic place Dutch cheese Bright star Mellows Long tale Viral Web phenomenon Platter Division word Sweat outlets Women’s links org.

Buddies Silicon Valley school Teeny bit Mozart’s “-- fan tutte” Whirl Stunned Sagan or Sandburg Waikiki wingdings

VOTE NOW!

Quality care at an affordable price • $29 per visit • Free exam • No additional charges • No sales pitch • No insurance www.spinetime.life PUZZLES ANSWERS on page 7

602-730-6666

33

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

34

The Mesa Tribune

1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway #219 • Tempe, AZ 85282 480.898.6465 class@timespublications.com

Deadlines

The Place “To Find” Everything You Need | TheMesaTribune.com

Obituaries Jean Marie Krug Jean Marie Krug of Mesa AZ. passed away on January 20, 2021 at the age of 85. Born on June 20, 1935 in Kansas City MO., Jean was the only child of Albert and Mary Schmidt. She was preceded in death by her husband of 36 years: Charles C. Krug. Jean is survived by her children: Janet Gray, Barbara Walker, Robert Krug; grandchildren: Christopher Gray, Shelby and Ryan Walker; great-grandchildren: Lilly Marie and Matilyn Grace. Visitation will be 5:00pm to 8:00pm Monday, February 1st at Lakeshore Mortuary, 1815 S. Dobson Rd; Funeral Mass 10:00am Tuesday, February 2nd at St. Timothy Catholic Church 1730 W. Guadalupe Rd. www.LakeshoreMort.com.

H E A D STO N E S

EVERLASTING MONUMENT Co.

“Memories cut in Stone” • MONUMENTS • GRANITE & BRONZE • CEMETERY LETTERING • CUSTOM DESIGNS

480-969-0788 75 W. Baseline Rd. Ste. A-8 Gilbert, AZ 85233

www.everlastingmonumentco.com info@everlastingmonument.phxcoxmail.com

Make your choice Everlasting Your Ad can go ONLINE ANY Day! Call to place your ad online!!

Classifieds 480-898-6465

Employ ment

Employment General Hiring Auto Technician / Auto Mechanic Both Experienced and Entry-Level Huffs Automotive Chandler AZ .

HuffsAutomotive.com Submit Resume for Consideration

huffsautomotive @yahoo.com 480-726-8900

Employment General Water Eng (Mesa, AZ): Water/wastewater engin’g, incl. design, hydraulic modeling, microbiology analysis, treatment process, permitting & project mgmt.

Research treatment techs & prepare reports.

Ensure compliance w/ safety reqs. Req: MS Enviro Eng’g, 1 yr exp., Civil 3D, AutoCAD, ArcGIS, Microbiology & ROSA. Resumes to: Brandon Denicke Sunrise Engineering 6875 S. 900 E. SLC, UT 84047

Employment General Virtuouspros has openings for Software Engineers in Phoenix, AZ. Reqs US Masters degree/foreign equiv or Bach + 5 yrs exp w/ skills in MS SQL/Oracle/J2EE/JSP/HTML/ Java to analyze/design/develop/ implement/test systems & apps.

Email resume to Tanya at tanya@ virtuouspros.com with ref no 2021-19 & ref ad in EVT

Employment General

eFulgent has openings for Software Engineers in Glendale, AZ and/or client sites in the US. Must be willing to travel/relocate. Reqs US Masters/foreign equiv or bachelors + 5 yrs exp to analyze/design/dev/test systems/apps using JavaScript/HTML/ JQuery/CSS. Send resume to hr1@efulgent.net with ref # 2021-19 & ref EVT ad

Classifieds: Thursday 11am for Sunday Life Events: Thursday 10am for Sunday

Employment General

If Stability is what you are looking for, then MAAX Spas, one of the Best Places to Work in the Chandler area has immediate openings for 1st and 2nd shift production.

Many associates have been with us for 10 to 35 years and we are looking to add more to the family. Generous pay with full health insurance, paid vacation and sick time, combined with matched 401K program are the just the start.

Call today to learn more about the opportunities and join the MAAX Spas family, 480-8954575. OR Apply online at maaxspas.com.

Job Title: Project and Holding Controlling Manager (Tempe, AZ) Manage fin’l status of ASHUSA Inc. by performing forecasting & budgeting after reviewing fin’l data. Reqs: Bach degree or foreign equiv in Bus Admin or rel + 5 yrs of exp in job offered or rel.

Must have 5 yrs of progressively resp exp w/: Managing compliance w/ local, state, & federal budgetary reporting reqs, incl all Sales Tax & Property Tax reqs imposed by State; Managing Loans guaranteed by fed governmnt, covenants, follow up & periodically reports to DOE by overseeing fin’l & compliance reqs solar power plant & transmission line projs; Managing & tracking sales taxes on invoices to comply w/ state laws; Managing compliance w/ all legal & contractual reqs incl risk matrix analysis & contract review; Leading preparation of reports under US GAAP & IFRS using accounting & mgmt reporting tools; Performing regular Contracts & Covenants analysis to ensure all Internal Audit issues are resolved; Analyzing monthly operating results against budgets, & producing cash positions; Completing & performing regular reviews of P&L Account, Trial Balance, & Cash Flow statements & Treasury Management by overseeing monthly, quarterly & annual fin’l reports, incl Annual Reports, Monthly, Quarterly reports; Managing tracking & prep of O&M cost & revenue reports & Trial Balance reports; Ensuring budget & forecast compliance using rolling forecast tools & internal systems incl SAP; Advanced skills in Excel to deal w/ reporting & fin’l model updates; & SAP administrator managing users & roles assignmnt. 20% domestic & intern’l travel reqd, monthly to plants located in US & intern’lly. To apply submit resume to ASHUSA Inc. by email at Kimberly.Tarzian@atlantica.com

Your newspaper.

Your community.

Your planet.

Please recycle me.

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

Employment General TechMileage has openings for the following positions in Scottsdale, AZ area.

Software Engineers reqs US Masters degree/foreign equiv or Bach degree + 5 yrs experience w/ skills in Java/Jscript/SOAP/CSS/ Clear Case to dsgn/dev/implement/test apps/systems. Sr. Programmer Analyst reqs US Bachelors/equiv (3 or 4 yr degree) in Commerce/BusAdm/STEM field to analyze/resolve/test/report on IT related projects using skills in EMC/MS/SQL/ Excel/Java/C. Email resume to techmileagejobs @gmail.com with ref # 2021-19 for Software Eng; 2021-20 for Sr. Prog Analyst & ref EVT ad.

Announce

ments

Merch

35

Real Estate

andise

For Rent

Auctions & Estate Sales

Apartments

Ongoing Estate Sale Through February. 605 W. 2nd St. Mesa 85201. 10a-6pm daily Schwin Like New Adult Tricycle, blonde china cabinet, large desk, bunk beds, blonde dining room table, lots of misc, and 100's of free items.

Cemetery Lots FOR SALE 2 CEMETERY PLOTS Mountainview Cemetery Mesa $2,400 or best offer Contact Lisa at (612) 400-5937 goodlisa691 @gmail.com

APACHE TRAIL & IRONWOOD Secluded Cute Studio, A/C $650/Month Bad Credit ok No Deposit.

Water/Trash Inc. (602) 339-1555 ALMA SCH & MAIN 1b 1 bath duplex Income verified UTILITIES INCLUDED Bad Credit OK. No Deposit Close to Lightrail $700 (602) 339-1555

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Place your ad online!

Call 480-898-6465

OUR JOB BOARD HAS THE TALENT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR.

FIND THE BEST TALENT. EASILY POST JOBS. COMPETITIVE PRICING AND EXPOSURE More info: 480-898-6465 or email jobposting@evtrib.com

Concrete & Masonry

Block Fence * Gates

602-789-6929 Roc #057163 Air Conditioning/Heating

Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley

QUALITY, VALUE and a GREAT PRICE!

YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST!

Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship Furnace / AC Tune Up - $69 New 3-Ton AC Units - now $3,995 New Trane Air Conditioners NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 MONTHS!

‘A’ RATED AC REPAIR FREE ESTIMATE SAME DAY SERVICE

J BS. EASTVALLEY TRIBUNE.COM

Most jobs also appear on Indeed.com

Real Estate for Sale

Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252

480-405-7588

ItsJustPlumbSmart.com

Drywall

JOSE DOMINGUEZ DRYWALL & PAINTING House Painting, Drywall, Intall Doors, Baseboards, Crown Molding Reliable, Dependable, Honest!

QUICK RESPONSE TO YOUR CALL! 15 Years Experience • Free Estimates

480.266.4589 josedominguez0224@gmail.com Not a licensed contractor.

Religion Healing Ministry Sufi Tradition If interested send letter of inquiry care of Master Warren Muen 4340 E. Indian School Rd, Ste 21-126, Phoenix, AZ 85018.

Wanted to Buy

Manufactured Homes

Diabetic Test Strips by the box, unused. Any type or brand.

Will pay top dollar.

Call Pat 480-323-8846

THE LINKS ESTATES

Cash 4 Diabetic Strips!

Best Prices in Town.

Sealed and Unexpired.

480-652-1317

Employment General HUMAC, Inc has openings for the following positions in Phoenix, AZ and/or client sites throughout the US. Must be willing to travel/relocate. IT Engineer reqs US Masters/equiv or bachelors + 5 yrs exp to design/dev/test systems/apps using Java/J2EE/HTML/CSS/Unix/Windows. IT Analyst reqs US Bachelors/equiv (3 or 4 yr degree) to test/maintain/monitor systems/programs using SQL/Oracle/Java/Hadoop/Unix.

Send resume to jobs@humacinc.com with ref # 2021-19 for IT Eng; 2021-21 for IT Analyst & ref this ad

Why Rent The Lot When

YOU CAN OWN THE LAND And Own Your New Home

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Appliance Repair Now

FROM THE UPPER 100’S

ASK US HOW YOUR $105,000 CASH INVESTMENT AND OUR SENIOR LOAN PROGRAM ENABLES QUALIFIED 62+ SENIORS MAKING THE LINKS THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE HAVE NO MORTGAGE PAYMENT & NO LOT RENT AS LONG AS YOU LIVE IN HOME.

Gawthorp & Associates Realty 40667 N Wedge Dr • San Tan Valley, AZ 85140

602-402-2213

www.linksestates.net

See MORE Ads Online!

www.TheMesaTribune.com

Electrical Services HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY

If It’s Broken, We Can Fix It! • Same Day Service • On-Site Repairs • Servicing All Major Brands • Quality Guaranteed

• Serving Arizona Since 2005 •

We Also Buy, Sell & Trade Used Appliances Working or Not

Sell Your Stuff!

Call Classifieds Today!

480.898.6465

Appliance Repairs

480-659-1400 Licensed & Insured

• Panel Changes and Repairs • Installation of Ceiling Fans • Switches/Outlets • Home Remodel

ALL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Call Jim Endres 480.282.7932 Over 28 Years Experience • ROC #246019 Bonded/Insured

Concrete & Masonry

Garage/Doors

DESERT ROCK

OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE SERVICING & INSTALLING GARAGE DOORS AND OPERATORS

CONCRETE & MASONRY BLOCKWALL CONCRETE RETAINING WALL BLOCK FENCE PLANTER BBQ

FOUNDATION DRIVEWAY SIDEWALK PATIO

PAVER • CONCRETE REMOVAL • HARDSCAPE BONDED & INSURED • ROC#321648 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! FREE ESTIMATES • 16 YEARS EXPERIENCE RESIDENTIAL CALL JOHN: 480.797.2985 COMMERCIAL

OPEN 24/7 • SERVING ALL OF METRO PHOENIX • HONEST AND REPUTABLE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

ANOZIRA DOOR SYSTEMS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

36

Garage/Doors GARAGE DOOR SERVICE East Valley/ Ahwatukee

Broken Springs Replaced Nights/Weekends Bonded/Insured 480-251-8610

Not a licensed contractor

Glass/Mirror

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

Family Owned with 50 years' EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures, Framed, Frameless or Custom Doors, We also install insulated glass, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio doors, glass table protectors. If it’s glass, we can help you. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices.

FREE Estimates

WESLEY'S GLASS & MIRROR wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY Call 480-306-5113

Home Improvement HOME REMODELING REPAIRS & CUSTOM INTERIOR PAINTING Move a wall; turn a door into a window.

From small jobs and repairs to room additions, I do it all.

Precision interior painting, carpentry, drywall, tile, windows, doors, skylights, electrical, fans, plumbing and more.

All trades done by hands-on General Contractor.

Friendly, artistic, intelligent, honest and affordable.

40 years' experience.

Call Ron Wolfgang Pleas text or leave message Cell 602-628-9653 Wolfgang Construction Inc. Licensed & Bonded ROC 124934 WE’RE ALWAYS HERE TO SERVE YOUR CLASSIFIED NEEDS

480.898.6465

Hauling

uce at 602.670.7038 t 602.670.7038

Landscape/Maintenance

Juan Hernandez

Juan Hernandez

Drip/Install/Repair & Tune ups!

Superstition Landscape Maintenance

TRIMMING

Not a licensed contractor

• Furniture • Appliances • Mattresses • Televisions • Garage Clean-Out • Construction Debris

• Old Paint & Chems.

• Yard Waste

25 years exp. Call Now (480) 720-3840

TREE

25 Years exp (480) 720-3840

• Concrete Slab • Remodeling Debris • Old Tires

Landscape/Maintenance

Irrigation Repair Services Inc.

Home Improvement

Licensed • Bonded • Insured Technician

General Contacting, Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC118198

One Call, We Do It All! 602-339-4766 Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists

Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems

Call Lance White

480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

All Remodeling, Additions, Kitchen, Bath, Patio Covers, Garage, Sheds, Windows, Doors, Drywall & Roofing Repairs, Painting, All Plumbing, Electrical, Concrete, Block, Stucco, Stack Stone, All Flooring, Wood, Tile, Carpet, Welding, Gates, Fences, All Repairs.

Irrigation

WE DO IT ALL!

Bath & Kitchen Remodels • Car-Port to Garage Conversion Drywall & Stucco Repairs • Plumbing • Electrical • Can Lights Windows • Doors • Cabinets • Painting • Block Fences Wrought Iron Gates • Remodeling • Additions • Patios Tenant Improvements

East Valley

480-833-7353 - Office 480-430-7737 - Cell A+

-S

I

E NC

19

78

Sprinkler & Drip Systems Repairs • Modifications • Installs

-

LIC/BONDED/INSURED Res/Comm’l ROC#218802

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

All Estimates are Free • Call:

520.508.1420

www.husbands2go.com

Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC#317949 Ask me about FREE water testing!

NTY

480.654.5600 azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

ALL Pro

T R E E

S E R V I C E

L L C

Prepare for Winter Season!

LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE

Tree Trimming • Tree Removal Stump Grinding Storm Damage • Bushes/Shrubs Yard Clean-up Commercial and Residential

Painting

East Valley PAINTERS Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting

Irrigation

5-YEAR WARRA

Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

Voted #1

aaaActionContractingInc.com

• Sprinkler/Drip Repairs • New Installs Poly/PVC • Same Day Service

FREE Estimates

480-354-5802

ACTION CONTRACTING INC.

10% OFF

LLC

• Electrical Repair • Plumbing Repair • Dry rot and termite damage repair

Call or Text Adrian

480•376•9803 or 480•925•1418

PMB 435 • 2733 N. Power Rd. • Suite 102 • Mesa dennis@allprotrees.com

Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

Junk Removal PLUS House Cleaning

Honest & Reliable

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens ce 1999 Sin rk Wo y alit Qu , ble rda ✔ Bathrooms BSMALLMAN@Q.COM 2010, 2011 9 Quality Work Since 199 2012, “No 2013, Job Too And More!

2010, 2011 Small Man!” 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 2012, 2013, 2014 dent/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Since 1999 Ahwatukee Resident / References Affordable, Quality Work 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, ences/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor 2014 Bruce at 602.670.7038

Landscape/ Maintenance

SPRINKLER

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs!

Painting • Flooring • Electrical Handyman Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Decks • Tile • More!

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! ks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Man!” lumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More!

1999 e Sinc k Quality Wor Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job ✔ Carpentry Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry

Landscape/ Maintenance

• 20 Years Experience • 6 Year Warranty

480.345.1800 ROC 304267 • Licensed & Bonded

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality Free Estimates!

Home of the 10-Year Warranty!

480-688-4770

www.eastvalleypainters.com Family Owned & Operated Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

Now Accepting all major credit cards

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

Painting

Jose Dominguez Painting & Drywall SEE OUR AD IN DRYWALL! Quick Response to your Call!

15 Years Exp 480-266-4589 Not a licensed contractor

37

Pool Service / Repair

Public Notices

Public Notices

Juan Hernandez Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

David S. Daley D.M.D., P.C. 1600 W. Chandler Blvd. #210 Chandler, AZ 85224 480-963-0338 Our office was broken into March 22, 2020. We came into work on March 23,2020 and noticed the front door was slightly open. We entered through the back door and turned off the alarm. Unfortunately, the alarm company had no record of the breach.

Upon entering we noticed every drawer and cabinet were opened, the place was a mess. They had taken several things from our office, but the most important items were our server and 2 laptops we use for digital x-rays. Our laptops were just for x-rays and the only patient information that was stored on them was name and date of birth, however our laptops were encrypted and one was not working due to an update. Dr. David Daley, Robin Fetherston, and Meghan Toy were the response team on that day, March 23, 2020. They can be reached at 480-9630338. Since the breach we have replaced the server, installed cameras and replaced the alarm company.

We ensure that each team member has logged off every day on each computer. We are also in the process of taking out every social security number from our main computer, since most patients no longer use them for insurance identification.

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT SUMMONS CASE NUMBER: 2020-CP-23- 05688 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF GREENVILLE NINA BETH ALLEN, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Billy James Mood, Plaintiff, vs. SHAWN MICHELLE DILSAVER MOODY a/k/a SHAWN MICHELLE DILSAVER, Defendant. TO THE DEFENDANT ABOVE-NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint herein, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, or otherwise appear and defend, and to serve a copy of your answer to said Complaint upon the subscriber at his office, 32 E. Main Street, P.O. Box 315, Williamston, South Carolina, 29697, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, or otherwise appear and defend, the Plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for the relief demanded therein, and judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. s/ G. Lee Cole, Jr.____________ G. Lee Cole, Jr. SC Bar Number 100352 COX & COLE, ATTORNEYS AT LAW P.O. Box 315 Williamston, SC 29697 Tel. (864) Fax (864) 847-7895 847-9289 LeeCole@CoxandCole.com ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF Williamston, South Carolina Dated: 12/10/2020_________ Published: East Valley Tribune, Gilbert Sun News Jan. 24, 31, Feb. 7, 2021 / 35776

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

FALL SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

Roofing

Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

480-338-4011

ROC#309706

Plumbing

Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident Over 30 yrs. Experience

HYDROJETTING

480-477-8842

BOOK ONLINE! STATE48DRAINS.COM 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED ROC 3297740

PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH!

WORD SEARCH: A Dino Puzzle

Window Cleaning

Professional service since 1995

Window Cleaning $110 - One Story $150 - Two Story

Includes in & out up to 30 Panes Sun Screens Cleaned $3 each Attention to detail and tidy in your home.

(480) 584-1643

Bonded & Insured

LLC

Beat Any Price By 10% • Lifetime Warranty Water Heaters Installed - $799 Unclog Drains - $49 FREE RO UNIT w/Any WATER SOFTENER INSTALL NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 Months!!

‘A’ RATED PLUMBING REPAIR Free Estimates • Same Day Service

Submit to ecota@timespublications.com

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

APPEARANCE

Get Free notices in the Classifieds!

COUNTS

SEWER CABLE COMPREHENSIVE, FULL-SERVICE PLUMBING COMPANY

480-706-1453

Meetings/Events?

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

480-405-7099 ItsJustPlumbSmart.com Add a Background Color to Your Ad! Classifieds 480-898-6465

Find the 10 dino terms.

CRETACEOUS DIG EXTINCTION FOSSIL GEOLOGIST

JURASSIC PALAEONTOLOGY SKELETON STEGOSAURUS TREX

CB

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

38

Public Notices

CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA Commercial Water Meter Rehabilitations PH 12 PROJECT NO. CP0860P3 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until Thursday, March 4, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. All sealed bids will be received electronically at EngineeringBids@mesaaz.gov. Bids must be submitted as an unencrypted PDF attachment with a maximum size limit of 20MB. Any bid received after the time specified will be returned without any consideration.

This contract shall be for furnishing all labor, materials, transportation and services for the construction and/or installation of the following work: This project calls for the rehabilitation of fourteen (14) water meter assemblies (WMA) at nine (9) sites in the City of Mesa. The existing WMAs are within underground vaults, and are sized 3-inch, 4-inch, 6-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch. The top 1’ of the vaults along with concrete lid will be removed with the remaining vault to be abandoned in place and slurry backfilled. The existing WMAs shall be replaced with new dual 2-inch, 4-inch, 6-inch or 8-inch WMAs; and relocated above grade per the approved plans. Site work will include installation of new piping, restoration of the site and various landscaping measures to mitigate the view of the newly constructed WMAs. The Engineer’s Estimate range is $800,000 to $900,000.

For all technical, contract, bid-related, or other questions, please contact Stephanie Gishey at stephanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov.

Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified above.

Contractors desiring to submit proposals may purchase sets of the Bid Documents from ARC Document Solutions, LLC, at https://order.earc.com/arcEOC/PWELL_Main.asp?mem=29. Click on “Go” for the Public Planroom to access plans.

NOTE: In order to be placed on the Plan Holders List and to receive notifications and updates regarding this bid (such as addenda) during the bidding period, an order must be placed. The cost of each Bid Set will be no more than $20.00, which is non-refundable. Partial bid packages are not sold. You can view documents on-line (at no cost), order Bid Sets, and access the Plan Holders List on the website at the address listed above. Please verify print lead time prior to arriving for pick-up. For a list of locations nearest you, go to www.e-arc.com.

One set of the Contract Documents is also available for viewing at the City of Mesa’s Engineering Department at 20 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ. Please call 480-644-2251 prior to arriving to ensure that the documents are available for viewing.

In order for the City to consider alternate products in the bidding process, please follow Arizona Revised Statutes §34.104c.

If a pre-bid review of the site has been scheduled, details can be referenced in Project Specific Provision Section #3, titled “Pre-Bid Review of Site.”

Work shall be completed within 203 consecutive calendar days, beginning with the day following the starting date specified in the Notice to Proceed.

Bids must be submitted on the Proposal Form provided and be accompanied by the Bid Bond for not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid, payable to the City of Mesa, Arizona, or a certified or cashier's check. PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. The successful bidder will be required to execute the standard form of contract for construction within ten (10) days after formal award of contract. In addition, the successful bidder must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self-Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service).

The successful bidder, simultaneously with the execution of the Contract, will be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and the most recent ACORD® Certificate of Liability Insurance form with additional insured endorsements.

The right is hereby reserved to accept or reject any or all bids or parts thereto, to waive any informalities in any proposal and reject the bids of any persons who have been delinquent or unfaithful to any contract with the City of Mesa.

BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk

Published: East Valley Tribune Jan. 31, Feb. 7, 2021 / 35957

Public Notices

City of Mesa Public Notice City of Mesa FY 2019-20 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) Notice of 15-Day Public Comment Period January 31, 2021 – February 14, 2021 Date of Publication: January 31, 2021 Michelle Albanese, Housing & Community Development Director City of Mesa 200 S. Center St., Building 1 – Mail Stop 9870 P.O. Box 1466, Mesa, AZ 85210-1466 480-644-4546 Notice of 15-Day Public Review Period for the City of Mesa’s FY 2019/2020 Annual Performance Report (CAPER) In accordance with 24 CFR 91.05(c)(2) and subpart B of the federal regulations relative to citizen participation for Community Planning and Development Programs and applicable waivers made available to those requirements through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), a 15-day public comment period regarding the City’s draft Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) will begin on Sunday, January 31, 2021 and end on Sunday, February 14, 2021.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires the City of Mesa to submit an annual report describing its performance using federal and other resources to meet priorities and objectives set for in the City’s 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan and 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan. This report provides a review of activities carried out under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs to address the needs of low and moderate income, homeless, elderly, and disabled residents in the community during the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

An electronic copy of the CAPER will also be available for review at the same time and may be found on the City’s Housing and Revitalization website at: https://www.mesaaz.gov/residents/communitydevelopment/plans-amendments-reports Comments regarding the City’s draft CAPER may be submitted by the general public. Comments should be submitted by mail or hand delivery to: The City of Mesa, Housing and Community Development Division, Attn: Michelle Albanese, Housing & Community Development Director, 200 S. Center Street, Bldg. 1 – Mail Stop 9870, P.O. Box 1466, Mesa, AZ 852101466; or, by e-mail to CommunityRevitalization@mesaaz.gov.

All comments must be received no later than 11:59 pm on Sunday, February 14, 2021 to be considered.

(January 31, 2021 East Valley Tribune) 35849

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

39

Public Notices

Public Notices

CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Consultant for the following:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking qualified Consultants for the following:

POLICE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS BUILDING RENOVATION PROJECT NO. CP0204

Fire Exhaust System The City of Mesa is seeking qualified Consultants to provide design services and/or construction administration services for: Direct-Source Vehicle Exhaust Capture System Design. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

Direct-Source Vehicle Exhaust Capture System Design. The City of Mesa Fire and Medical Department has been awarded a Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant to retro-fit up to 16 fire stations with a direct-source vehicle capture system. Diesel exhaust exposures contribute to increasing rates of occupational cancer in the fire service industry. A direct-source capture system protects firefighters from exposure and meets best practices recommended by regulatory agencies, such as The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

A Pre-Submittal Conference will not be held.

Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this RFQ (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, assure that contract decisions are made in public and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below.

RFQ Lists. This RFQ is available on the City’s website at http://mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/architectural-engineering-design-opportunities.

The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter that contains current company/firm contact information including a valid phone number and email address, plus a maximum of 8 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov by 2:00PM on Thursday, February 11, 2021. Maximum file size shall not exceed 20MB. SOQ’s that are unable to be opened by City staff will not be considered for award. Submitters may request a single opportunity to verify that a test email and attachment are received and can be opened by City staff. Test emails must be sent to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer.

Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered and activated in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/ vendor-self-service).

Questions. Questions pertaining to the Consultant selection process or contract issues should be directed to Michele Davila of the Engineering Department at Michele.Davila@mesaaz.gov

ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune Jan. 24, 31, 2021 / 347xx

BETH HUNING City Engineer

The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Consultant to provide design services for the Police Department Headquarters Building Renovation Project. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

The following is a summary of the project. The required tasks will be reviewed with the selected Design Consultant and defined to meet the needs of the project as part of the contract scoping.

This project consists of providing updated programming documents, schematic drawings (including presentation boards and renderings), final construction drawings, and potential construction inspection services for a completely renovated police headquarters building located at 130 North Robson in Mesa, AZ. The goal of this project is to provide an effective and efficient use of the headquarters facility for all pertinent Police functions. The consultant may also need to assist with public meetings, City Council meetings, Citizen Advisory/Committee meetings, Design Review Board meetings, and other coordination efforts.

The scope of this project includes: 1) A review and adjustment to the space planning study that was completed for the city on 7/16/18, see attachment.

2) The demolition of the entire interior space of this structure, excluding the jail area.

3) The remodeling of the entire 102,356 sf of the interior of this structure.

4) The city may include other miscellaneous improvements at the site, as needed.

It is anticipated that this project will be delivered utilizing the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method. The total budget for this project is approximately $30M to $40M including design and construction. The city anticipates commencing construction in early 2022.

A electronic Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on Thursday, February 18th at 10:00am through Microsoft Teams. At this meeting, City staff will discuss the scope of work and general contract issues and respond to questions from the attendees. Attendance at the pre-submittal conference is not mandatory and all interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether or not they attend the conference. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre-Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference. In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other information published from the Pre-Submittal Conference. Any parties interested in attending the Pre-Submittal Conference should request a meeting invitation from Stephanie Gishey (Stephanie.Gishey@mesaaz.gov).

Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below.

RFQ Lists. This RFQ is available on the City’s website at http://mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/architectural-engineering-design-opportunities.

The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy of the Statement of Qualifications in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov by February 25, 2021 by 2 pm. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer.

Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered and activated in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service).

Questions. Questions pertaining to the Consultant selection process or contract issues should be directed to Stephanie Gishey of the Engineering Department at stephnanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov.

BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen, City Clerk

Published: East Valley Tribune Jan. 24, 31, 2021 / 347xxx

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 31, 2021

40

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