East Valley Tribune - Chandler/Tempe January 13, 2019 by Times Media Group

THE VOICE OF THE EAST VALLEY SINCE 1891 AND WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR LOCAL REPORTING

State eyes vaping crackdown

THE SUNDAY

Tribune

PAGE 6 Chandler/Tempe Edition

INSIDE

This Week

NEWS............................... 8 Mesa to auction prime piece of pristine desert.

COMMUNITY.......... 12 Mesa recovery center collects socks for homeless.

Farmers market to debut in Mesa

EAST VALLEY

PAGE 12 Sunday, January 13, 2019

FREE ($1 OUTSIDE THE EAST VALLEY) | EastValleyTribune.com

Officer’s death renews calls for texting ban BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer

he tragic death of a police officer struck by a texting driver on the Loop 101 last week might finally convince the Arizona legislature to pass a statewide distracted driving law. Two legislators – Scottsdale Sen. John Kavanagh and Phoenix Sen. Kate Brophy McGee – are both sponsoring legislation that would make it illegal for motorists on all Arizona roads to send or receive text messages. McGee said the Jan. 8 death of Salt Riv-

er Pima-Maricopa Tribal Officer Clayton Townsend near the McDowell Road exit may serve as the “tipping point’’ to get a hands-free law approved. The following day in Queen Creek, a Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputy was struck and injured by a texting motorist. If Kavanagh and Brophy McGee convince the State Legislature to finally end its resistance to a hands-free law, Gov. Doug Ducey already said he’s prepared to sign it – ending a patchwork of laws already in existence in Tempe and 16 other cities and counties around the state. Various attempts to pass a distracted driv-

ing bill have failed for 12 consecutive years in the state Legislature, while individual cities and counties have passed regulations of their own. A Tempe police motorcycle unit supervisor, safety advocates and a Gilbert Town Council member said this pattern has left a crazy-quilt of laws that can’t help but confuse drivers as they travel from one city or county to another. Tempe is the only East Valley city with any ban. Phoenix has one, but Police Department See

TEXTING on page 9

Why a day for King? Because we never learn BY GARY NELSON Tribune Contributor

SPORTS ......................19 Chandler High coach jumps to ASU.

EVENT......................... 22

EV kids get ready to present ‘Willy Wonka’ COMMUNITY.................12 BUSINESS........................15 OPINION......................... 17 SPORTS ..........................20 GETOUT.......................... 22 CLASSIFIED.................... 27

he is too young to remember when the Klan bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham and slaughtered four little girls. Too young to remember when the Klan – again, the Klan – murdered three civil rights workers and dumped their bodies into the guts of an earthen dam in Mississippi. Too young, even, to remember that night in Memphis when a bullet ended the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and set the nation on fire. But not too young to remember June 17, 2015, when a racist shot nine people to death in a Charleston, S.C., church. Nor to remember when the president had kind words for the white supremacists whose rally in Charlottesville, Va., led to the death of a counter-protester in 2017. Nor to remember the Sabbath massacre in a Pittsburgh synagogue only this past October. See

year! Now in our 31st ARIZONA’S ING NN LONGEST- RU ! H EXPO IS ERE

MLK on page 4

(Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer)

Anti-Defamation League assistant regional director Keisha McKinnor of Tempe, holding an award the league received for its work, is president of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee, which will be sponsoring a parade in honor of the slain civil rights advocate on Jan. 21.

Wednesday, January 30th • 9am - 1pm Mesa Convention Center

201 N. Center Street | Mesa, AZ 85201

FREE!

(480) 898-6500 • (800) 959-1566 www.seniorexpos.com

Entertainm en The Dutto t by Ms. Senior ns & Arizona! Lots of Priz es and Giveaw INCLUDINGays $100 DRAW a IN Every Hour! G

No, we don’t have I shotI shot par!par! Good game, lose the lose car? the car? lose the car? lose the car? How did you to walk far! How did you to walk far! No, we don’t have I shot par! 2 THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 13, 2019 lose the lose the car? How didcar? you to walk far! Do you hear, but not understand? lose the car?

you think time to get your hearing c Do Don’t you hear, butit’snot understand? Good game, No, we don’t have I shot par! Visit us today receiveHow the FREE of char didfollowing you toand walk far! Good game, I shot par!

No, we don’t have How did you to walk far! lose the car? lose the car?

• Hearing evaluation – find out what sounds you may be missing! Don’t you Don’t think you it’s think time totime get to your gethearing your hearing checked? checked? Don’t you think it’s time toit’s get your hearing checked? Don’t you think it’s time to get your hearing checked? Don’t you thinkit’s it’s time toto getget youryour hearing checked?checked? Don’t you think time hearing • Visit Video otoscopy – it’s Don’t you think time to FREE get hearing checked? Visit us today us and today receive and receive the following the following FREE of of charge: Visit us us today and receive the following FREE ofyour charge: Visit today and receive the following FREE ofcharge: charge: your hearing loss just wax build up? Visit usistoday and receive the following FREE of charge: Visit us today and receive the following FREE of charge: So sm ® Miniscopic • Hearing • Hearing evaluation evaluation – – • Hearing evaluation – • Don’t Hearing evaluation –it’s Visit us today and receive the following FREE of charge: you think it’s time to get your hearing checked? Don’t you think time tobe get your hearing checked? • Hearing evaluation – will n • find Hearing evaluation – ™ 100% 100% 100% find out what find sounds out what you sounds may be you missing! may missing! out what sounds you may be missing! Synergy 100% • Product demonstration – find out what sounds you may be missing! 100% 100% * find out what youmay may be find out what sounds you bemissing! missing! •sounds Hearing evaluation – *

100 inv

invisible invisible invisible 100% invisible invisible invisible invisible Offering hearing aids from Hearing the ONLY American Owned every b wearing them . hear what ourhearing hearing aids aids can doaids for you! Offering Offering hearing hearing aids from aids from Hearing Hearing aids for aids for lif Offering from Offering hearing from Hearing aids for Hearing aids for Offering hearing aids from Offering hearing aids from Hearing aids for Hearing aids for and Operated Manufacturer and Offering hearing aids from Hearing aids for

* Visit us today and receive the following FREE of charge: * * wear * • Video • otoscopy Video otoscopy – – hear what our hearing aids can do for you! • Video otoscopy – find out what sounds you may be missing! •• Hearing Video otoscopy • Video otoscopy – • isVideo otoscopy ––just evaluation –hearing * one is your hearing is your loss wax loss build just up? wax up? build up?100% your hearing loss just wax build up? So osmall, ® ® So small, no one ® is your hearing loss just wax build sone m aSo lalno ,l lsmall, n, one on oo noeno ® So small,Sno Miniscopic Miniscopic your sounds hearing just wax build up? outishearing what you may be missing! Miniscopic • loss Video otoscopy – is find your loss just wax build up? ® S o s m n e ® Miniscopic Miniscopic Miniscopic * ™notice will notice will you notice are you are ™ will you are ™ w i l l n o t i c e y o u a re ™ Synergy Synergy invisible hearing loss just wax build up? will notice you are • Product • Product demonstration demonstration – – Synergy ™ •• Product demonstration – So small, no one • Video otoscopy – is your w i l l n o t i c e y o u a re ® ™ Synergy • Product demonstration – Synergy • Product demonstration – SynergyMiniscopic Product demonstration – wearing them them . . you wearing is your hearing loss just hearing wax build up? ww ethem ae.rwill them small, nowearing one™ wearing ® do forSo hear what hear our what our aids hearing can do aids for can you! you! ai rni.gnnotice gt htehm e .m . are hear what our hearing aids can do for you! Miniscopic hear what our aidsdemonstration can forfor you! hear what ourhearing hearing aids cando do for you!– Synergy •hearing Product hear what our aids can do you! will notice you are wearing them . Synergy™ • Product demonstration – hear what our hearing aids can do for you!

Offering hearing aids from Hearing aids forevery the the ONLY ONLY American American Owned Owned the ONLY American Owned every budget budget every budget the ONLY American Owned every budget the ONLY American Owned every budget the ONLY American Owned every budget the ONLY American Owned every budget the ONLY Manufacturer American Owned every budget and Operated Manufacturer and lifestyle! and Operated and Operated Manufacturer and lifestyle! and lifestyle! and Operated Manufacturer and Operated Manufacturer and lifestyle! and lifestyle! and Operated Manufacturer and lifestyle! MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED 0% FINANCING AVAILABLE HOME VISITS and Operated Manufacturer and Operated

and lifestyle! Manufacturer

and lifestyle!

MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED 0% FINANCING AVAILABLE HOME VISITS ATVISITS NOVISITS CHARGE MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED 0% FINANCING AVAILABLE HOME AT NO MOST INSURANCES MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED 0% FINANCING 0% FINANCING AVAILABLE AVAILABLE HOME HOME AT NO VISITS CHARGE ATCHARGE NO CHARGE MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED 0%ACCEPTED FINANCING AVAILABLE VISITS AT NO CHARGE MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED 0% FINANCING AVAILABLE HOME VISITS HOME AT NO CHARGE MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED 0% FINANCING AVAILABLE HOME VISITS AT NO CHARGE Mesa Peo MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED Mesa Mesa Mesa Mesa Mesa Mesa Mesa 7165 E. University Dr. 7165 E. University Dr.Mesa 7165 E. University Dr. 7165 E. 7165 University E. Dr. Dr. 7165 E. University Dr.University 7165 E. University Dr. Bldg. 17, Suite 167 7165 E. University Dr. Bldg. 17, Suite 167

7165 E. University Dr. Bldg.167 17, Suite 167 Bldg. 17, Suite

East ofBldg. Power on University 17, Bldg. Suite17, 167 Suite

167

0% FINANCING AVAILABLE HOME VISITS AT NO CHARGE Peoria Peoria Peoria Peoria Peoria PeoriaPeoria 14155 N. 83rd Ave.N. 83rd Ave. Peoria 14155 14155 N. 83rd Ave.Ave. 14155 N. 83rd Ave. 14155 N.Ave. 83rd 14155 N. 83rd Ave. 14155 N. 83rd Bldg. 7, Suite 147 Bldg. 7, Suite14155 147 N. 83rd Ave.

14155 N. Bldg. 7, Bldg. 7, Suite 147

Bldg. 7, Suite 147 Bldg. 7, Suite 147 Bldg. 17,of Suite 167 Bldg. 7, Suite 147 Bldg. 17, Suite 16717,on Bldg. 7, Suite 147 East Power on University Just North of Thunderbird Bldg. Suite 167 Bldg. 7, Suite 147 East of Power University Just North o East of Power on University Baywood Professional Square Just North of Thunderbird between Ludlow and Crocus of Power East on ofUniversity Power University on University Just North Just of Thunderbird North of Thunderbird East ofEast Power onProfessional University Just North of Thunderbird East of Power on Baywood Square Just North of Thunderbird between Ludlow and Crocus East of Power on University JustLudlow North of Thunderbird Baywood Professional Square between and Crocus Ludlo (480) 498-2210 (623) 565-9170 Baywood Professional Square between Baywood Professional Baywood Professional Square Square between Ludlow between and Ludlow Crocus and Crocus Baywood Professional Square between Ludlow and Crocus Baywood Professional Square between Ludlow and Crocus Baywood Professional Square between Ludlow and Crocus (480) 498-2210 (623) 565-9170

(623) 565-9170 (623) 565-9170 (623) 565-9170 (623) 565-9170 (623) 565-9170 (623) (623) 565-9170 32 YEARS

G IMPAIRE D RIN • EA

VING • TH SER EH

VING • TH SER E

VING • TH SER EH

32 • YEARS

YEARS

YEARS E ST . 1 98 5

E ST . 1 98 5

•

G IMPAIRE D RIN • EA

32 YEARS

32 • YEARS

E ST . 1 98 5 32 • YEARS

VING • TH SER EH

•

YEARS

R• FO

IRE D

R• FO

YEARS

E ST . 1 98 5

G IMPAIRE D RIN • EAPA IM

R• FO

YEARS

E ST . 1 98 5

G RIN EA

32 • YEARS

FREE BATTERIES

32 • YEARS

OFF

R• FO

Most 32 Insurances SAVINGS! AS A BONUS, ADVANTAGE OF THESE EXTRA SAVINGS! Accepted AS BONUS, AS Aany TAKE BONUS, ADVANTAGE OF OF EXTRA THESE SAVINGS! EXTRA SAVINGS! Limit one coupon per customer. Not TAKE valid with LimitTAKE oneTAKE coupon per customer. Not valid with any 00 AS A BONUS, ADVANTAGE OFADVANTAGE THESE EXTRA SAVINGS! AS AA BONUS, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE THESE EXTRA SAVINGS!

UP TO $500

R EA

32 32 3232

G IMPAIRE D RIN • EA

R• FO

E ST . 1 98 5

IMPAIR ED ING

G IMPAIRE D RIN • EA

• 32 • YEARS

YEARS

R FO

32 • YEARS

Most Most Most Most Accepted Insurances Most Accepted Insurances Insurances 00 InsurancesInsurances Insurances Accepted Accepted Accepted AS A BONUS, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE EXTRA SAVINGS! Accepted Accepted A BONUS, OF THESE EXTRA a set ofAS premium hearing aidsTAKE ADVANTAGE buy one, get one free hearing aid batteries

VING • TH SER EH

E ST . 1 98 5

R• FO

Most www.abchearingaids.com www.abchearingaids.com www.abchearingaids.com www.abchearingaids.com Most www.abchearingaids.com Insurances AS A BONUS, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE EXTRA SAVINGS! www.abchearingaids.com

G IMPAIRE D RIN • EA

32 • YEARS

www.abchearingaids.com

Most Insurances Accepted

R• FO

(480) 498-2210 (480) 498-2210 480-964-2386 (480) 498-2210 (480) 498-2210 (480) 498-2210 (480) 498-2210 www.abchearingaids.com

VING • TH SER EH

(480) 498-2210 www.abchearingaids.com

Just North of Thunderbird

E ST . 1 98 5

TO $500 OFF BATTERIES other offers or promotions.FREE Coupon expires next week. BATTERIES UP UP TO $500 OFF FREE 00 avary. setInvisibility of premium hearing aids buy oneNuEar. , get one free hearing aid batteries 00 00 00 UP TO $500 OFF FREE AS A BONUS, TAKE ADVANTAGE OFBATTERIES THESE EXTRA SAVING 00 *Individual results mayof is based on anatomy of the ear. © 2017 All FREE Rights Reserved. 12763-17 UP TO UP $500 TO $500 OFF OFF BATTERIES FREE BATTERIES a set premium hearing aids buy one , BATTERIES get one free hearing aid batteries UP TO $500 OFF FREE UP TO $500 OFF FREE BATTERIES 00week. other offers or promotions. Coupon expires next

Limit one coupon per customer. Not with anyhearing Limit customer. Notone valid free with any a set ofvalid premium aidsone coupon per buy one, get hearing aid batteries Limitaone per customer. Not valid with anybuy Limit one coupon customer. Not valid with a set premium a set of hearing premium aids hearing aids buy one ,,get buy one one free ,per get hearing one free aid hearing batteries aidany batteries set of premium hearing aids one , get one free hearing aid batteries acoupon set of premium hearing aids buy one get one free hearing aid batteries other offers or of promotions. Coupon expires next week. other offers or promotions. Coupon expires next week. Limit one coupon per next customer. Not00 valid with any offers or Limit one coupon per customer.expires Not validnext with any other offers or promotions. Coupon expires week. other promotions. Coupon week. coupon Limit per one customer. coupon per Not customer. valid with Not anyvalid with Limit one coupon Limit per one customer. coupon per Not customer. valid withwith Not anyvalid LimitLimit oneLimit coupon per customer. Not with anywith Limit oneany coupon per customer. Not valid with any oneone coupon pervary. customer. valid any one coupon per customer. Not valid any with any other offersvalid orNot Coupon week. other offers promotions. *Individual results may Invisibility ispromotions. based on anatomy of expires the ear.nextLimit © 2017 NuEar. AllorRights Reserved. Coupon 12763-17expires next week. other orother promotions. offers or Coupon promotions. expires Coupon next week. expires other week. other promotions. offers orCoupon promotions. expires Coupon nextnext week. expires next week. otherother offers or offers promotions. Coupon expires next week. other offers or offers promotions. Coupon expires next week. *Individual results vary. Invisibility is expires based on anatomy ofnext the ear. © 2017 NuEar. Allexpires Rights 12763-17 offers ormay promotions. Coupon next week. other offersoror promotions. Coupon week. a set of premium hearing aids buy one getReserved. one free hearin *Individual results may vary. Invisibility is based on anatomy of the ear. © 2017 NuEar. All Rights Reserved. 12763-17

UP TO $500

OFF

FREE BATTER ,

*Individual results *Individual may vary. results Invisibility vary. based Invisibility onanatomy anatomy based ofonthe anatomy ear. of©the ear.NuEar. ©©2017 © All 2017 Rights NuEar. Reserved. All Rights 12763-17 Reserved. 12763-17 *Individual results may vary. Invisibility is may based on anatomy ofis the ear. 2017 All NuEar. Rights Reserved. 12763-17 *Individual results may vary. Invisibility isis based on of the ear. with 2017 NuEar. All Rights Reserved. 12763-17 Limit one coupon per customer. Not valid any Limit one coupon per customer. N

other offers or promotions. Coupon expires next week.

other offers or promotions. Coupon

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 13, 2019

THE SUNDAY

Tribune EAST VALLEY

The East Valley Tribune is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the East Valley. To find out where you can pick up a free copy of the Tribune, please visit www.EastValleyTribune.com.

Times Media Group:

1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219 Tempe, Arizona, 85282

CONTACT INFORMATION Main number: 480-898-6500 | Advertising: 480-898-5624 Circulation service: 480-898-5641

Publisher: Steve T. Strickbine Vice President: Michael Hiatt ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT

Senior Account Sales: Ryan Brown | 480-898-6482 | rbrown@timespublications.com Local Advertising Sales: Chris Ross | 480-898-5649 | cross@timespublications.com Woody Rogers | 480-898-5622 | wrogers@timespublications.com Classifieds/Inside Sales: Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@evtrib.com TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@evtrib.com Advertising Office Manager: Lori Dionisio | 480-898-6309 | ldionisio@evtrib.com Director of National Advertising: Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@evtrib.com NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor: Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5647 | pmaryniak@timespublications.com Managing Editor: Lee Shappell 480-898-6825 | lshappell@timespublications.com Reporters: Wayne Schutsky| 480-898-6533 | wschutsky@timespublications.com Jim Walsh | 480-898-5639 | jwalsh@timespublications.com Cecilla Chan | 480-898-5613 | cchan@timespublications.com Sports Editor: Zach Alvira | 480-898-5630 zalvira@timespublications.com Get Out Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski | 480-641-4518 christina@timespublications.com Photographer: Kimberly Carrillo | kcarillo@timespublications.com Pablo Robles |Probles@timespublications.com Designer: Ruth Carlton | rcarlton@timespublications.com Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 production@timespublications.com Circulation Director: Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@evtrib.com East Valley Tribune is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, and for subscription information, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegatedmedia.com.

NEWS

Income taxes, water two big issues facing Legislature

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ov. Doug Ducey and state lawmakers begin the new legislative session with a deadline to act – and soon – on two issues crucial to Arizona residents. The more pressing one is to get sufficient votes for a drought contingency plan crafted by various interests to deal with the problem of declining water supplies coming out of the Colorado River. Most significant in the deal is a requirement for Arizona to leave some of the water to which it would otherwise be entitled inside Lake Mead. That is designed to keep lake levels from dipping below a certain point when Arizona would otherwise lose its allocation. To do that, however, means someone who normally gets Colorado River water will not. Some of that would be made up with purchases of water rights from tribes. Ducey has committed to putting up $35 million. And there also are plans – though not yet fully funded – to allow Pinal County farmers to replace some of what they will not get from the Central Arizona Project with groundwater from new wells. But there is not yet actual legislation for lawmakers to consider. And there already has been some balking among various interests who question their cuts, as well as issues raised about whether cities should be able to take and bank water they do not need. Brenda Burman, commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, has given all the affected states to come up with and ratify an acceptable plan by Jan. 31 or she will begin the process of having one imposed by the federal government. One complicating factor, though, has been the partial federal shutdown, meaning certain federal officials are unavailable to answer questions about what might or might not be acceptable. The other pressing issue doesn’t have a Jan. 31 deadline. But it is something lawmakers and the governor need to resolve soon so Arizonans can start preparing their state income taxes. In late 2017 President Trump signed a law to reduce federal income tax rates for individuals as well as a boost in the standard deduction. But it also eliminated or curtailed various itemized deductions and subtractions that lower the taxable income and, by extension, the amount owed. This is significant because Arizona is a “piggy-back’’ state, using the federally

(Special to the Tribune)

East Valley legislators and their counterparts will be back at work Monday, Jan. 14, as a new session begins with speeches from the governor and other state officials.

adjusted gross income figure as the starting point for preparing state returns. Arizona’s deductions generally mirror what’s allowed under federal law to make tax preparation simple. Ducey wants Arizona to alter its tax code to “conform’’ to the federal changes. But disallowing those state deductions would increase what Arizonans owe the state this year by at least $170 million. That is proving unpopular with many lawmakers, led by J.D. Mesnard. The current House speaker and soon-to-be chairman of the Senate Finance Committee said there is little sentiment for the federal tax cut to become a windfall for Arizona. If legislators do not approve it, current Arizona deductions remain despite the change in federal law. Education is again expected to take center stage at the Capitol. Last year lawmakers approved Gov. Doug Ducey’s plan designed to boost average teacher pay by 20 percent by 2020 over 2016 levels. But that law did not provide additional dollars specifically for salary hikes for non-teaching staff. And questions – and a lawsuit – remain about whether the state is meeting its legal obligations to provide full funding not only for classroom activities but also the capital needs. Lawmakers did agree to renew the current 0.6-cent sales tax for education beyond its current 2020 expiration date. But the approval by voters earlier this year of a ban on sales taxes on services on any new taxes opens the question of whether some things now taxed, like restaurant service, will be exempt, cutting into the revenues. Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-Snowflake, who chairs the Senate Education Committee,

is looking at a new ballot measure that would not just clarify that issue but add another 0.4 cents, boosting funding for education by an additional $400 million a year. There also is some sentiment to revisit the plan to hike income taxes on the top 1 percent of wage earners. A plan to do that was knocked off last year’s ballot after the Arizona Supreme Court said the legally required description did not fully inform petition signers of the full effect of the change. There also is some pressure on lawmakers to revisit the statutes that allow forprofit entities to operate charter schools amid questions of whether there needs to be better financial and academic oversight for these operations that are technically public schools which get state aid. It also remains to be seen whether supporters of vouchers of state tax dollars to allow students to attend private and parochial schools will be back this session with a new plan following the defeat at the ballot in November of a proposal to remove restrictions on who is eligible. Gov. Doug Ducey will again try to get lawmakers to approve a comprehensive plan last year he said would prevent mass shootings, with the keystone being a proposal to let judges take guns from some people considered “dangerous.’’ That plan, dubbed Severe Threat Order of Protection, would set up procedures to allow not just police but family members and others to seek a court order to have law enforcement take an individual’s weapons while he or she is locked up for up to 21 days for a mental evaluation. Ducey contends that kind of law could have prevented some of the mass shootings that have occurred elsewhere. Legislators called it too broad.

NEWS 4

MLK

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 13, 2019

from page 1

You don’t have to be old to remember when America’s simmering caldron of racist and religious hatred has spat forth yet another sickening atrocity. All you have to do is read the headlines. And so, Keisha McKinnor, born in the very year of King’s assassination, decided to pick up the banner of human dignity and fly it high over the once-segregated East Valley. The East Valley, segregated? Why, yes – that’s why the Mesa Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee, of which McKinnor is president, operates out of a tiny old house in a part of town that used to be set aside only for blacks and Hispanics. The Alston House, where Mesa’s first black doctor lived and worked, is the wellspring of activity for an MLK committee that McKinnor is hoping to reorganize into a year-round presence in the community. McKinnor wasn’t born into this sort of activism. But then, in a way she was, growing up in a racially polarized Chicago where people of one color learned early in life that it wasn’t wise to cross into the other color’s part of town after dark. That – and the sometimes subtle personal reminders she received along life’s course that racism is not yet dead in America – eventually led her out of the

Mesa seeks parade help Mesa honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) annually with a parade in downtown Mesa. Parade organizers need volunteers for a variety of duties for the parade on MLK Day Monday, Jan. 21 between 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help with parade staging and de-staging areas and parade route management. You must be at least 18 years of age or 16 if accompanied by a parent or guardian. If you are interested in volunteering, here is the sign-up link: www.signupgenius. com/go/20F0449AFA829A0FC1mlkjr. Mesa’s MLK Parade begins at 11 a.m. and takes place along Center Street between MLK Way and First Street. The celebration will include Mesa City Councilmembers, marching bands, community leaders and organizations.

(Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer )

Mesa civil rights leader John Goodie stands before the Alston House, where Mesa’s first Black doctor lived and worked and an anchor for an MLK committee’s activities.

business world and onto the front lines of the war against hatred. The Tempe resident migrated from a career in corporate philanthropy with PetSmart to the civil rights field in 2015. That’s when she began working for the Anti-Defamation League, for which she now serves as assistant regional director of the Arizona branch. The organization was founded in 1913 to fight anti-Semitism but over the years has addressed wider issues of civil rights. McKinnor got involved in the King committee when that organization contacted ADL for help in organizing its 2018 commemoration. For now, the committee has actually pared back its programming, focusing primarily on the Jan. 21 parade in downtown Mesa. A community breakfast that the group used to sponsor has gone by the wayside. But more is coming. “We decided last year we were going to put a halt to some of the activities until we regroup and restructure and work on our mission and sustainability for the organization,” McKinnor said. “It is extremely important that we do events like this not just on his birthday but do programming all year long that is going to speak to the life and legacy of Dr. King.” That’s important, she said, because of America’s penchant for historical amnesia. She said she recently spoke with a group of young people at Arizona State University and while most of them said they were familiar with King, few could describe his life and work. The matter takes on special urgency, McKinnor said, in today’s political environment.

“The racial tensions in our country – I think it’s going backwards,” she said. “There are lots of people that have been emboldened to speak and act with hatred. That’s not acceptable. It should not be acceptable today.” One symptom of that: In early December the Arizona branch of the Anti-Defamation league reported an “alarming and disturbing” increase in swastikas found around the state. Typically, one is reported per month in Arizona; by Dec. 11 there already had been six. Carlos Galindo-Elvira, the league’s regional director, told KTAR News that the group recorded 26 anti-Semitic incidents in Arizona in 2017, compared with 10 the previous year.

Other MLK events

“We never want a swastika to be normalized,” Galindo-Elvira said. “It is a hate symbol. It represents a horrific period in world history.” In addition to widely publicized episodes of one-on-one racism, civil libertarians have been alarmed by official efforts to roll back protections that were codified in the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act. In December, for example, Betsy DeVos, the U.S. secretary of education, abolished guidelines that the Obama administration had issued to address the disproportionate punishment of nonwhite schoolchildren. In other areas, phony claims of voter fraud have been used in efforts to keep minority voters away from the polls. McKinnor believes there always has been a strong current of resistance to the civil rights victories that sprang from the movement in the 1950s and ’60s. That was partly reflected in opposition to the King holiday itself. Arizona voters rejected the holiday in 1990, only to change their minds two years later in the face of a national boycott and the loss of a previously scheduled Super Bowl. Mesa voters approved a paid King holiday for city workers in 1992, but the margin of victory was only 1,190 out of more than 74,500 ballots cast. To McKinnor, the fragility of American freedoms speaks to the need for constant vigilance. “With the climate our country is in, we need to continue to fight for our rights and not take anything for granted,” she said.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be observed in the East Valley on Jan. 21. But some events planned in conjunction with the holiday in the region will be held next weekend. CHANDLER Chandler’s annual Celebration of Unity includes these events: Klezmer Musical Fest, noon-5 p.m. today (Jan. 13), East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N. Alma School Road. Musical performances, food and lectures on Jewish life. Multicultural Festival, downtown, 2-9 p.m. Jan. 19. International Film Festival begins at 7 p.m. at the Chandler Public Library. Candlelight vigil, 4-6 p.m. Jan. 20, downtown stage. GILBERT Gilbert Cares, an organization that refurbishes homes for low-income residents, will sponsor a “Character-building project” in King’s memory Jan. 19-26. Volunteers will offer services such as exterior painting, landscaping, minor repairs and accessibility modifications for eligible homeowners. The organization is seeking help from professional tradesmen and in-kind donations of materials. Information: www.gilbertcares.org

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 13, 2019

Your money deserves more.

Take advantage of limited-time CD specials.

% 3.00% 2.65% 3.50 60-Month CD 30-Month CD 18-Month CD APY1

APY1

Apply online at www.bmoharris.com/CDoffer Call 1-800-546-6101 or visit a branch

1. $5,000 minimum opening deposit required. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of January 11, 2019 and is subject to change at any time. For current rate information, contact your banker or call 1-800-546-6101. IRS contributions apply to IRAs. Early withdrawal penalties may apply. Banking products and services are subject to bank and credit approval. BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC

NEWS 6

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 13, 2019

Lawmakers target tough approach on vaping BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

alling the current law fatally flawed and ineffective, a veteran lawmaker wants the state to impose far more restrictions on access to vaping products by teens. Legislation introduced by Rep. Heather Carter, R-Cave Creek, would for the first time ever regulate as tobacco both the devices used as well as the inserts that carry the liquids that deliver the nicotine. That, in turn, would subject everyone from manufacturers to retailers – and users – to the same laws that now make it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone younger than 18. It also would give the go-ahead to the Attorney General’s Office, which now runs “sting’’ operations on retailers to see if they’re checking for ID on cigarette purchases, the power to do the same when someone is selling vaping devices and liquid refills. Carter’s proposal, SB 1009, is aimed solely at preventing teen use of vaping devices. But lawmakers also will consider a different attack on vaping that would affect adults. HB 2024, crafted by Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, would add vaping to existing laws that prohibit smoking in public areas, including offices, bars, restaurants, stores, theaters and the common areas of hotels and apartments. Hundreds of kids in East Valley middle

and high schools have been caught up in vaping. “There has been a noticeable increase of vaping occurring with our students this year, both on campus and off campus,” Gilbert Public Schools warned parents last year. “This is not exclusive to GPS; it is occurring on campuses everywhere in our area, state and nationwide.” At a forum sponsored by the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce last June, two area superintendents – Kevin Mendivil of Tempe Union and Jan Vesely of Kyrene – said vaping had become an enormous problem. While Mesa and Chandler, like all districts, forbid all forms of tobacco use, it is unclear if they have taken any special measures to curb vaping among their students. Vesely said principals alerted her last spring that vaping was a growing problem at middle schools and that they were spending an inordinate amount of time patrolling bathrooms to crack down on vapers. She said vaping students were intimidating the non-vaping students, threatening them with violence if they reported their activity. Kavanagh’s approach requires a hurdle that Carter doesn’t have to worry about. The original Smoke Free Arizona Act was approved by voters in 2006. That means it can be amended only if he can get three-fourths of both the House and Senate – meaning 45 representatives and 23 senators – to approve.

products pose no risk,’’ she said. Add to that the ease of purchase, not just as stores but even on the internet. That, in turn, has boosted teen use in Arizona alone, with surveys of high schoolers showing that the use within the past month went from 17 percent in 2016 to 26 percent last year. “ E s s e n t i a l l y, e-cigarettes, vapes, e-pens or whatever else you want to call them, have become the training wheels to develop future smokers,’’ she said. (Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services) State Rep. Heather Carter at a news conference last week discussed her bill The heart of the and its stringent measures aimed at curbing vaping among young people, a problem, Carter major problem in East Valley school districts. said, is that 2013 law which created Carter said she wants to focus on what a definition of “vapor products’’ with the she sees as the real problem of vaping intent of making them off-limits. devices, originally marketed as a way to “The law was obsolete before it was help adults quit smoking, rapidly becom- passed,’’ she said, saying that’s why she ing popular among teens. opposed it at the time. “Due to slick hyper-marketing camShe said that statute failed to account paigns, most students think that these See VAPING on page 7

Vaping issue clouds drug numbers for Mesa schools BY JASON STONE Tribune Staff Writer

esa Public School district administrators and school principals are trying to get a handle on sorting out the drug users from the tobacco smokers when it comes to vaping. Administrators all across the country are dealing with today’s unique problem: When a student is caught vaping, how do they know what’s in the electronic pen? That was an issue discussed before the holiday break during a presentation about the district’s latest statistics for drug and alcohol offenses. “Sometimes there are illegal substances in the substance being vaped,” said Helen Hollands, a district spokeswoman. “That’s a very difficult thing to test for and prove.”

But apparently, it’s now possible. The district’s lawyer, Tom Pickrell, told the governing board a $2 swab has been developed to test the liquid portion of the instrument for drugs. “I know that our high schools want to start to use it,” Pickrell said. “That is the best response to vaping. If we do the swabbing, and it’s positive for drugs, we’ll just turn it over to the SRO and treat it as a potential drug violation.” Schools want to know what’s in the vape pens so they can determine if it’s a tobacco or drug violation. It also determines whether a student receives either a tobacco or drug citation from the City of Mesa along with the schools’ discipline. “I do think we have opportunities to do better about educating students about the impact, and I do have concerns about the

number of students using wax pens and vapes,” Assistant Superintendent Holly Williams said, adding: “Our inability to tell what’s in them is an area we need to look at. If we can’t determine whether it’s a drug for sure of the student is not impaired, we treat it as a tobacco violation, and they earn some sort of discipline consequence based on a tobacco violation.” Williams presented the first semester’s drug and alcohol incident reports, which detailed a handful of high schools, junior highs and secondary schools showing big improvements and others on pace for a bad year. Among the improving schools, Westwood High School has recorded only 32 violations so far this year after racking up 86 all of last year. Skyline High has cut its

incidents from 55 to 18, while Dobson High has totaled 18 so far after stockpiling 51 last year. The smaller Crossroads Focus School has had only one violation this year after amassing six last year. Of the junior highs, Rhodes has been cut from 42 to 11, Carson has dropped from 29 to eight, and Fremont has busted only two students so far this year after 17 all of last year. On the negative side, one high school, two junior highs and two secondary schools are on pace to shatter last year’s totals. Red Mountain High already has 29 violations after having only 27 all of last year. “Red Mountain noticeably is more offenses this year,” Williams said. “But those offenses do include some vaping See

DRUGS on page 7

NEWS

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 13, 2019

VAPING

from page 6

for changes in technology from what were originally e-cigarettes to high-tech vaping devices, even to the point that questions remain whether it’s OK to sell the devices to teens separate from the nicotineinfused inserts. What SB 1009 would do is expand existing laws that regulate tobacco sales to include all types of “electronic smoking devices’’ as well as “any component, part or accessory of the device, whether or not sold separately.’’ Carter said that not only covers retail sales but also should do away with the ability of people to order these devices online where age cannot be checked. A press conference last week to provide details of the legislation also included a self-proclaimed “mea culpa’’ from Will Humble, the former director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. “Years ago, when e-cigarettes were brand new, I really thought the product had a chance of actually being a public health benefit by giving active adult smokers a pathway off their tobacco addiction and transitioning to a tobacco-free life,’’ he said. “I could not have been more wrong.’’ Humble, now executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, said he believes the devices provide “no public health benefit that I can tell.’’ More to the point, he said, has been the unanticipated attractiveness of the devices to teens.

DRUGS

from page 6

numbers.” Kino Junior High is on pace for almost 60, which would be about a third more than last year, while East Valley Academy could more than double last year’s total of 20 if the current pace holds in the second semester. The first semester numbers were collected with about two weeks to go in the term. They include students who were busted for a first offense possession of drug and alcohol or who have been referred to the district’s drug intervention program, the LEED Program. “In some cases, they may be tied to a different kind of violation if a principal has seen the need for a student to participate in our intervention program, maybe because of trouble with vaping or we even have some parents who request this information for their children because they’re struggling at home,” Williams said. “So maybe they haven’t necessarily had a violation that we caught them for, but their parents have said we really want them to participate in the program. So, we

“It’s a huge public health threat by addicting an entire generation of young people to nicotine products,’’ Humble said. And he said many of these devices have nicotine levels far higher than anyone would get from tobacco products themselves. “So these young minds are being hardwired right now to these nicotine products through electronic cigarettes,’’ he said. “It’s impairing their ability to learn at schools,’’ Humble continued. “It’s interrupting their classroom and it’s addicting our kids.’’ Humble said much of the blame can be laid at the feet of the U.S. Food and Drug Admnistration, which he said has been slow in regulating these devices. Humble said as far as he is concerned, they should be classified by federal authorities as “nicotine delivery devices,’’ a move he said that even could require that they be sold by prescription only. The FDA, for its part, has been slow at addressing the issue. It took Commissioner Scott Gottlieb until last year to say he was reconsidering his agency’s views about the health benefits of e-cigarettes as a method of helping adults to quit after seeing data that showed a sharp spike in teen vaping. At this point the agency has announced an intent to ban the sale of flavored vaping liquids from convenience stores and gas stations, though that has yet to take effect. make it available for them.” In addition to the vaping issue, Williams told the board it’s hard to make sense of some of the district’s drug numbers. It shows ninth-graders as the age group most likely to get caught. But that could also be because older kids know how to hide it better, she said. “There are significant changes in lifestyle for ninth-graders, if you think about just the transition from a smaller junior high to a large high school that has much more freedom, much more independent time,” Williams said. “There are more opportunities for students to make poor choices. “And often time if you catch one student, you catch four. Because they’ve been somewhere together doing this, and they tend to share names.” Williams told the board it would be worth the district’s time to institute more drug education for eighth- and ninth-graders to drive the point home about drug abuse consequences. Superintendent Ember Conley said even that’s not early enough. “My opinion in there is that it actually needs to start in sixth grade,” Conley said. “That’s what research is saying how far we have to go back down.”

A-1 Golf Carts

SUN LAKES, AZ

STOP IN AND CHECK OUT THE

NEW E-Z-GO’S! ASK ABOUT THE NEW E-Z-GO ‘LITHIUM’ POWERED CART

2019 E-Z-GO RXV ELiTE

2019 E-Z-GO LX

2019 E-Z-GO L6

0% FINANCING AVAILABLE When you purchase a NEW E-Z-GO!* Finance offers only available at participating E-Z-GO dealers. Approval, rates, applicable fees, and terms provided are based on credit worthiness. Offers only available in 50 U.S. states and District of Columbia. Financing offers void where prohibited. Finance terms are also available for pre-owned E-Z-GO products. Please see your local E-Z-GO Authorized Dealer for details.

25820 S. Arizona Ave. • Sun Lakes, AZ 85248 480.895.2000 • www.A1GolfCarts.com

NEWS 8

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 13, 2019

Mesa to auction prime piece of pristine desert BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer

ity officials plan to auction 132 acres of pristine desert in northeast Mesa for what they say could become another Las Sendas. The city bought the large piece of scenic land around Thomas and Recker roads 20 years ago for a district park after voters approved a $4 million bond issue. But the land has sat vacant since 1998, and Mesa City Council last week authorized the administration to auction off the swath of undulating, pristine, saguarostudded land. The move didn’t sit well with former City Council candidate and Red Mountain Ranch resident Verl Farnsworth – who accused the city of betraying a promise to residents that the property would become a park someday. He also wondered if the city wasn’t underestimating the parcel’s value. He disputed the city’s appraisal of $15.6 million, claiming he has seen a city document that valued the parcel at $25 million. City officials denied such a document exists. Farnsworth said signs on the property for years have identified it as the site of a future district park.

(Special to the Tribune)

During a city council meeting last week, Mesa resident and former candidate Verl Farnsworth ripped officials’ plan to auction 132 acres of pristine desert.

“We have always anticipated that this would be a quality of life improvement to our neighborhood,’’ Farnsworth said. “It’s a beautiful piece of property in the desert. They are doing this without one bit of input.’’ Mesa Mayor John Giles agreed with Farnsworth about the property’s beauty, saying he envisions a residential development similar to Las Sendas that would accentuate the area’s natural appeal and not a standard tract home development. But Giles reached a different conclusion, saying it is very unlikely the land will ever

become a huge park if it has sat vacant for 20 years. “It’s very beautiful desert with rolling hills and saguaros. For all of those reasons, it’s a very valuable piece of property for custom homes,’’ he said. “The beauty of this area is going to be preserved. “Letting this property sit unused is not very responsible,’’ Giles said. Vice Mayor Dave Luna, who defeated Farnsworth in last year’s election, said residents told him that they would prefer a residential community on the property rather than a commercial development. He said the auction process allows the City Council to decide to block a sale if the auction is won by a developer whose goals differ fron the city’s. The city plans to post the land sale on its website on Jan. 16 and hold the auction March 7. The bidding entrance fee is $250,000. Escrow would open on March 11 and the council would subsequently approve a purchase contract with a successful bidder. Any final plans for development would need to go through the usual zoning process. “We’ve had a variety of developers come to us and ask us about selling the land,’’ City Manager Chris Brady said. “We’ve

held it for 20 years. It’s a very expensive piece of property for a lift station. Here’s an asset of the city that is non-productive.’’ Brady said it would make sense to dedicate $4 million from any land sale to parkrelated purposes, in deference to the original intent of voters. He said the land never made even the short list internally of park sites under consideration. While northeast Mesa residents enjoy the open space, they would prefer residential development over commercial development, Luna said. “It’s more of a trial to see if there is interest in the development community,” Luna said. “Nothing is set in stone before we have a developer.’’ He said a district park would be very expensive, likely costing about $30 million to build. Giles noted that the Tonto National Forest is located nearby, providing other outdoor recreational options. If the property were to become a park, it would feature open space, such as Maricopa County’s Usery Mountain Regional Park. But Farnsworth said Usery Park is about 12 miles from Red Mountain Ranch, a far less convenient arrangement than the Mesa property located across Recker Road.

Critics call Mesa hotel deal ‘corporate welfare’ BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer

land deal approved by the Mesa City Council last week that will allow the construction of a second hotel near Sloan Park and help the city maximize Cactus League revenues was ripped as “corporate welfare” by several critics, including a council member. A Courtyard Marriott will join the Sheraton hotel near the Cactus League’s newest and largest stadium, the scene of a high number of sellouts as rabid Chicago Cubs fans make their annual spring pilgrimage to Mesa. But land deal was still attacked by Councilmember Jeremy Whittaker and former council candidate Verl Farnsworth as an example of “corporate welfare,’’ after an appraisal estimated the land’s value was $360,000, not the $300,000 agreed to by the city. “I am not a fan of corporate welfare,’’ said Whittaker, casting the only “no” vote

in the 6-1 decision. “We should be selling it for $360,000, not $300,000.’’ Whittaker said that using a deal’s economic impact to justify a subsidy or a price reduction is a catch-all that could be applied to virtually any economic activity. “What really bothers me is this idea of economic impact,’’ he said. “This whole economic impact study is just bogus.’’ Farnsworth, who was defeated by Vice Mayor Dave Luna in the District 5 council election last year, made a similar argument. “We ask that this deal stands on its own two feet, not on the backs of the taxpayers,’’ Farnworth said. But Mayor John Giles fired back, noting that the hotel is expected to generate nearly $200,000 a year in bed taxes, with this additional revenue more than compensating for any discount on the sale of a small piece of land with no parking available. “This is a business decision on the part of Mesa,’’ Giles said. “The highest and best use

of this property is a hotel. It’s a very lucrative development for the City of Mesa.’’ The deal is considered a step toward the realization of the “Wrigleyville West’’ dream that motivated Mesa voters to approve the $84 million stadium in 2010. It calls for Mesa to sell about 12,000 feet of land to BCY Limited Partnership, which shares the same ownership as the Sheraton. The four-story hotel will include 125 rooms, a bar, a restaurant, a fitness room and 16,000 feet of retail space. Mesa’s hand was forced by threats that the Cubs, historically among the league’s biggest draws, would move to Naples, Fla. if the vote failed to authorize the new complex, which also includes new practice fields and a vastly expanded clubhouse for rehabilitation and training. Hohokam Park, the Cubs’ former home, was renovated and became the home of the Oakland Athletics. Mesa historically has coveted more high-quality hotel rooms, hoping to convince Cubs fans visiting from throughout

the Midwest to stay in Mesa, rather than staying in Scottsdale or Tempe and merely driving to Mesa for the game. Sloan Park, and rebuilt Riverview Park next door, are arguably one of Mesa’s most successful redevelopment projects. Both have been very popular and served as a new gateway into northwest Mesa, with a strategic location near the loops 101 and 202. Mesa also benefited from excellent timing, like a power hitter holding back before launching a hanging slider for a long home run. The Cubs opened another chapter in baseball folklore when they won their first World Series in 108 years by defeating the Cleveland Indians in 2016. Mesa officials said the new hotel will not only help the Cubs, but also assist the development of a major office park expected to draw high-paying jobs to the city. “The city is not in the business of owning remnant, undevelopable pieces of property,’’ Giles said. “I think it would be fiscally irresponsible to not go forward.’’

NEWS

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 13, 2019

TEXTING

from page 1

spokesman Sgt. Tommy Thompson said, “It is challenging to enforce due to the wording of the ordinance. It is only illegal to use your phone to specifically ‘send or receive a written message while the motor vehicle is in motion.’ All other distracting uses of a phone while driving are not covered by the ordinance. “Cases have been lost because the violator will come to court stating they were just checking for a missed call, using navigation, checking a Facebook posting,” he added, reporting that only 27 citations were issued in 2017. Beyond the patchwork of texting bans, victims like Townsend continue to suffer preventable deaths and injuries that could have been avoided if a driver simply would have put down their phone and concentrate on the complex mental task of operating a motor vehicle safely. Townsend, the father of a 10-monthold son, never had a chance, according to a state Department of Public Safety press (Special to the Tribune) release, reporting: “A witness told detec- Salt River Pima-Maricopa Tribal Officer Clayton Townsend, killed by a texting driver on the Loop 101 tives that the driver of the black passen- last week, leaves behind a wife and 10-month-old son. ger car was looking down at his phone The DPS said that driver Jerry on suspicion of manslaughter, aggravated just before crossing oversuffer two traffic lanes Do you from? Sanstead, 40, of Scottsdale, was arrested assault with a deadly weapon and endanand then striking the officer.’’

germent. Before Sanstead was released on a $100,000 bail, the prosecutor told the court there were no skid marks leading to the officer’s vehicle. “We should make a definitive statement right now that this is phenomenally dangerous,’’ said former Sen. Steve Farley, who was rebuffed repeatedly when he sponsored a variety of distracted driving laws during his career in the legislature. “This is not an R vs. D thing,’’ said Farley, a Tucson Democrat who lost in the Democratic primary in his bid for governor and is now running for mayor. “This is a non-partisan thing to keep the roads safe.’’ Farley and others concerned about distracted driving were sickened – but not surprised – by Townsend’s death, saying it’s almost inevitable that someone will get hurt with so many people distracted by their cell phones while behind the wheel. They said that an officer’s death is bound to get more attention, but every day people with far lower profiles are injured in texting-related crashes. “I would ask them, how many more people have to die’’ before a state distract-

Shoulder Pain Knee Pain Neck Pain Elbow Pain Hip Pain Back Pain Wrist Pain Hand Pain "I can't believe how much different my hip feels! With one treatment I went from daily pain and I wasn't even Foot Pain able to ride my horse. Now, after treatment and rehab with Dr. Traum, I'm able to walk with no pain and I'm back on my horse enjoying the trails and desert sunsets. Thanks to 3D Integrated Medical I have my life back." Ankle Pain -Debbie S.

See

TEXTING on page 10

3D Intergrated Medical Will Help You Get Your Life Back Without Surgery

There are many new advancements in

Stem Cell Therapy

Is it right for you?

Come join Dr. Traum as he discusses the different options of and find out the facts.

Regenerative Medicine

Free lunch Seminar on Stem Cell Therapy Tempe Public Library on Mon., Jan. 14th, 12 PM 3DReserve Integrated Medical 2135upcoming E Southernseminar! Ave, Ste A your seat at-our 1 on 1 No Cost, No Pressure Consultation:

3dintegratedmedical.com

TAKE ACTION NOW!

SEATING IS LIMITED

480-252-8714 CALL OR TEXT ANYTIME TO RSVP

3dintegratedmedical.com/seminar-schedule

TEXTING

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 13, 2019

from page 9

ed driving law gets passed, Farley said. Brophy McGee said she is still finalizing details of her bill. But she said the time has come for state action. “You get to the point where you want the state to set policy,” she said. “There have been so many high-profile tragedies. People are fed up, they’re done.’’ Kavanagh, who will be sworn in as a representative for District 23 on Monday, Jan. 14, said he plans to reintroduce a bill he sponsored as a senator in 2017 and that never even got a hearing. Kavanagh said his bill received opposition from members of both parties. “Basically you had some libertarianminded Republicans who believed the existing laws against distracted driving already covered that kind of behavior,” he said. Kavanagh said that some Democrats also opposed the bill because they thought texting while driving is so common that a ban could be used by police officers as a pretext to pull over minority drivers. Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, said he always has supported measures to deter distracted driving – even though speeding, reckless driving and impaired driving statistically cause more fatal crashes. “I’ve been pushing for a long time about distracted driving,’’ Gutier said. “I became convinced years ago that I wish we had an ordinance.’’ Brendan Lyons, executive director of Look Save a Life in Tucson, said the patchwork of 17 municipal and county bans varies. Hands-free laws make it illegal to touch a cell phone while driving. Tempe has a hands-free ordinance with secondary enforcement only – meaning an officer must notice some other violation – such as weaving in a lane or making an illegal turn – before they can write a ticket under the ordinance. “It’s heart-wrenching because it could have been prevented,’’ Lyons said about Townsend’s death. “We had an opportunity the last time an officer was killed.’’ He was referring to the death of DPS Officer Tim Huffman, who was killed in 2013 when he was struck on a freeway near Yuma by the driver of an empty fuel tanker who was staring at pornography on Facebook. Townsend’s family subsequently testified for a distracted driving law, but the bill still failed. “Because of the state’s failure to act, this is why I encourage local jurisdictions to

(Special to the Tribune)

Jerry Sanstead, 40, was released on $100,000 bond following his first court appearance on involuntary manslaughter and other charges in connection with the traffic death of a tribal officer on the Loop 101.

act,’’ Lyons said. Gilbert has sponsored driving safety campaigns in the past but does not have a specific town ordinance barring distracted driving. “We haven’t thought about it or talked about it,” Vice Mayor Eddie Cook said. He said the Gilbert police don’t have enough data linking texting or cell phone use to collisions that would justify requesting an ordinance. “Honestly from my perspective this should be done at the state level and not a city or town,” Gilbert Councilwoman

“This is an area where we would like a statewide law because of the confusion of a driver crossing jurisdictional boundaries,’’ Giles said. “We don’t want to confuse people. We want to help people obey the law.’’ Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane said the council in that city considered a ban four or five years ago, but decided against it for a number of reasons – including “because of a lack of ability to enforce it.” “We found at the time that in communities that have it, there is no enforcement,” Lane said.

“ Honestly from my perspective this should be done at the state level and not a city or town, it’s very difficult for our residents in our state to know what they are supposed to be doing as they cross boundaries.” - Gilbert Councilwoman Brigette Peterson Brigette Peterson said. “It’s very difficult for our residents in our state to know what they are supposed to be doing as they cross boundaries.” Mesa Mayor John Giles said the city is not considering a distracted driving law, “but that’s not to say that we are not very aware and very concerned about the problem.’’ Giles said a statewide law makes more sense than a hodge-podge of local laws and that he hopes the legislature reacts to Townsend’s death and addresses the problem.

“One thing we have tried to stay awat from is creating an environment where every city has different laws,” he said. “On something like this, which is at the very least regional in its application, it is difficult to say, ‘Let’s have 91 different ordinances.’” Townsend’s death comes only two weeks before the annual Arizona defensive driving summit on Jan. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wesley Bolin Plaza, in front of the state Capitol. “I am in favor of any reasonable means to get people to focus on the task of driv-

ing,’’ said Jeremy Bethancourt, a safety engineer who is coordinating the summit. While texting behind the wheel is extraordinarily dangerous, it is not the only act with an electronic device that distracts the attention of drivers, said Tempe Sgt. Steve Carbajal, who has devoted most of his 21-year career to traffic enforcement. “I really feel that distracted driving is the new impaired driving, if not worse,’’ Carbajal said. “You don’t have to be 21 to own a cell phone and be distracted.’’ He said a driver going 40 mph who takes his or her eyes off the road for five seconds covers about the length of a football field without looking at the road. Carbajal said Tempe police are always trying to educate people about the ordinance, especially the large number of visitors who live in other cities, but work in Tempe, attend Arizona State University, or come to Tempe for a special event. Tempe’s slogan is “don’t text and drive, it can wait,’’ he said. “If it’s that important, pull over.’’ Carbajal said it can be difficult for an officer to distinguish between the driving behavior of an impaired driver and a distracted driver, with the same symptoms present for both. “It’s socially OK to get in a car with someone who is texting and driving and not OK to get in a car with someone who is drinking and driving. It’s the same thing,’’ Carbajal said. He said motorcycle officers will notice 85 to 90 percent of drivers doing something with their cell phones while stopped at red lights. He said the most common excuse he hears from drivers is that they were doing something related to the music playing in their car, such as changing a song on their phone. All of these excuses are trifling when compared with the responsibility to operate a four-ton motor vehicle safely, not only for your own safety but for the safety of others, Carbajal said. “I guess the emotion that comes to mind is sadness,’’ he said, when asked how he reacted to Townsend’s death. “I’ve told so many people their loved ones have died in a crash.’’ -Cecilia Chan and Wayne Schutsky contributed to this report.

GOT NEWS?

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

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 13, 2019

3D Integrated Medical Guaranteed Results with Dr. Ed Traum’s Physical Medicine Techniques! Corrective Exercises

Chiropractic Adjustments

Your local dental expert weekly column For years we have depended on dentures and bridges to replace missing teeth. And for those of you that have dentures you understand how difficult it is to speak, eat, and even smile with dentures. Implants can fix this. On this page I hope to help make implants easier to understand and what we can do with them. In the past, for one or two missing teeth you would get a bridge, which involves the grinding away of good tooth structure. Implants can fix this. This illustration demonstrates the difference between a bridge and implant. A dental implant is a titanium screw that is placed in your mouth that holds a crown or a denture in place. This has changed the lives of many of our patients at Mesa Dental. We no longer have to rely on adhesives or suction to hold dentures. We no longer have to grind good teeth down to stubs to replace a tooth. The process involves minimal discomfort and downtime. Most patients have no discomfort during or after the procedure.

Physical Medicine

Regenerative Medicine

Q: Have you ever wondered why you still have pain? A: The problem is often not where you feel the pain. It takes a skilled physician to find the underlying cause and treat it correctly.

Dr. Ed Traum & Dr. Pam Traum

Services include a holistic approach based on sound medical knowledge and years of experience. The Physicians at 3D Integrated Medical has been providing this high level quality chiropractic health care in Tempe, Arizona since 1998.

FREE Meal Seminars at Tempe Public Library on January 14th, 2019 12 Noon “Stem Cell”

6 PM “Fitness, Diet and Nutrition” (480) 456-3703 • 3DINTEGRATEDMEDICAL.COM Most major insurances accepted 2135 E Southern Ave, Ste B • Tempe, AZ 85282 (Just off the 101 & 60 interchange)

At Mesa Dental we know how frustrating dentures can be. Generally we can get the upper dentures somewhat comfortable with the suction of the pallet. For some dentures, upper and lowers, can just be very uncomfortable. Dr. Chase Davis can place implants and a denture that stays in. We offer many options for implant-retained dentures including: hybrid dentures, all on 4 dentures, and locator-supported dentures. All have different costs, pros and cons. Come in for a complimentary exam to evaluate your case and have Dr. Davis answer you questions. Another reason implants are a great option for tooth replacement is it holds the bone in the jaw. As you remove teeth the supporting bone is lost. This has 2 major consequences. 1. You lose supporting bone for teeth surrounding the tooth that was lost. This can cause sensitivity issues, loose teeth and esthetic concerns. 2. It makes our cheeks ‘sink in’ and make us age more as you can see in the picture below. Implants have revolutionized the way we replace teeth. Implants help retain the bone and bone loss is minimal was the implant is placed and stable. If you are thinking about implants please call us today.

Smile

Love Your

Again Implants and Dentures starting at

199

E Southern Ave E Hampton Ave

Lowe’s US 60 Fwy

1423 S Higley Rd #101 • Mesa, AZ 85206 (Between US 60 & Southern, across from Lowe’s)

mesadental.com | 480.568.1179

S Higley Rd

There are three parts to the implant: the titanium implant screw that is placed, the abutment, which holds the crown onto the implant and then the crown. On the side there is another illustration that shows how closely the implant replicates our real teeth and the three parts of the implant.

COMMUNITY

Community EastValleyTribune.com

@EVTNow

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 13, 2019

For more community news visit eastvalleytribune.com

/EVTNow

Farmers market to fill big downtown Mesa void BY JASON STONE Tribune Staff Writer

he City of Mesa has wanted to revive a downtown farmers market for years. The owners of a successful downtown sandwich shop have wanted to create one. That confluence is now coming together as the Mesa Farmers Market and Flea, which debuts Saturday, Jan. 19, at Pioneer Park in downtown Mesa. “It’s actually funny,” said Kelsey Strothers, co-organizer of the market with her husband, Jim Bob. “We met with the mayor’s office and some of the people there to say, ‘Hey, we want to put on a farmers’ market.’ And they said, ‘We are literally putting out an RFP for a farmers’ market right now.’” They’re all hoping that serendipitous moment is the beginning of a successful, long-running weekly community event. Starting this Saturday, the market will

(Kimberly Carrillo/Tribune Staff Photographer)

Kelsey and Jim Bob Strothers, owners of the popular Worth Takeaway sandwhich shop in downtown Mesa, are about to realize their dream of giving Mesa a farmers market, which will open next Saturday at Pioneer Park downtown.

run each week at Pioneer Park at 526 E. Main St., near Mesa Drive, from 8 a.m.

to 1 p.m. The market will include about 30

booths of local growers, food vendors, artists, home goods, apparel and other craftsmen. But unlike most farmers’ markets that pop up in random parking lots, this one will be in a park setting with familyfriendly events and live music. That should be good news to Mesa residents who flooded city officials with requests for one during its “Imagine Mesa” campaign in 2017. Jeff Robbins, a Mesa management assistant in the City Manager’s office, said the creation of a farmers’ market to rival those in nearby communities was among the top responses out of 10,000 they received. “We really took that and ran with that,” Robbins said. It’s Mesa’s latest attempt at establishing a farmers’ market presence. Previously, a market moved around from places such as near Mesa Amphitheater and the Mesa City Plaza building on Main Street, but See

MARKET on page 13

Mesa homeless census slated as recovery center collects socks Tribune News Staff

ust because the holidays are over doesn’t mean there aren’t people who need some help. That’s why Footprints to Recovery, a Mesa medical detox center, is continuing until the end of January a “Socks of Love” drive that it started before Thanksgiving. Staffers at Footprints to Recovery are halfway toward their goal of collecting 10,000 pairs of socks that they are packaging in gift bags with a snack and a handwritten note and distributing to area homeless shelters as well as locations where many street people are living. “Socks are the least donated but most needed item in homeless shelters,” said Footprints spokeswoman Stephanie Ballard. “This is special to us, as we’re also involving current clients in the initiative as a way to give back – which has deemed to be a meaningful part of their recovery.” Among the staffers who are packaging the socks are clinicians Chad Metz and Danielle Japenga, outreach specialist Cari Vanderby, nurse Kayla Dong and behav-

(Special to the Tribune)

Helping to make “Socks of Love” at Footprints to Recovery in Mesa are, from left, clinician Shannon Radcliffe, nurse Amy Campbell and nursing Director Jordana Wayne.

ioral health technician Kishanna Jackson. In addition, Footprints to Recovery

clients and alumni are helping to process incoming donations and coordinate their

delivery. Footprints is one of a network of five drug-and-alcohol-treatment centers across the country with a 24/7 hotline that answers questions and provides support. Socks can be dropped off at the 24/7 Footprints to Recovery Center, 1132 S. Oakland St., Mesa. There’s also another way to get the socks to the center, Ballard said: “We’ve had many individuals from the community purchase socks on Amazon and send directly to us.” Meanwhile, the City of Mesa is seeking volunteers to help participate in the county’s 2019 Point-in-Time Homeless Street County 5 a.m.-noon Jan. 22. The annual census gives city and county officials a way to “better understand how many individuals are experiencing homelessness in our community and be better equipped to meet their needs.” Volunteers will meet at Salvation Army, Building 3, 241 E. Sixth St. for an orientation at 5:15 a.m. before being sent to See

SOCKS on page 13

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 13, 2019

MARKET

from page 12

it eventually fizzled out. Current city staff don’t even remember the last time the city hosted one. “I’m not quite sure why they stopped operating, but it’s been a little while,” Robbins said. “The city felt strongly that they wanted to have a farmers’ market presence. So, it put out a request for proposals since that was something we were already passionate about.” That passion extends to the Strotherses, two Evergreen District residents who own Worth Takeaway at 218 W. Main St. They have turned the sandwich shop, which is about a mile from Pioneer Park, into a huge success in less than three years. The couple will celebrate the restaurant’s third birthday next month, not long after the Phoenix New Times named it the Best Sandwich Shop in the Valley. Kelsey said the company’s quick success has been a combination of hard work and luck. “It’s really organic the way it happened,” she said. “We opened in a community that was, no pun intended, really hungry for new things without having to drive to Phoenix or Gilbert.” The couple has lived in Mesa for eight years and said they wanted to give back to the close-knit downtown community by opening up a market designed for families who weren’t only interested in buying fresh foods but also wanted a place to gather. “Our goal was to create some fun culture in the area and provide another option for entertainment and dining,” said Kelsey, 32, who grew up in Gilbert and earned a degree in dietetics at ASU. Kelsey and 41-year-old Jim Bob, a native of Texas, opened up a pop-up Christmas market behind their sandwich shop last year, which sparked their idea for a full-fledged farmers’ market. “We just thought it would be a great event for people instead of having to drive away from Mesa to go to a farmers’ market,” Kelsey said. Robbins said the Strotherses’ plan was

SOCKS

COMMUNITY

from page 12

their project locations at 5:30 a.m. The count includes a brief survey to identify some of the characteristics of people experiencing homelessness in our community. Cities, such as Mesa, that receive federal

(Special to the Tribune)

Patrons of the new farmers market opening next Saturday at Pioneer Park will also be able to visit the iconic locomotive that has become one of the city’s most notable landmarks.

exactly what the city was looking to establish. “We did a lot of research in the market – what works, what drives traffic,” Robbins said. “We wanted to create an event with multiple activities. People can go and have an experience at a farmers’ market.” That includes a fresh and healthy eating experience. With state requirements calling for Mesa to beef up its fresh food options in the downtown area, the city is hoping to bring the Double Up Food Bucks Arizona program to the market by next year. That program allows recipients to receive $1 in Arizona grown fruits and vegetables for every $1 they spend with their SNAP cards. The market is also giving the city some regular scheduled entertainment options on the calendar, which they hope will spark more interest in a revived downtown. “We want a vibrant, active urban lifestyle in downtown Mesa, and that means able to have movability and walkability,” Robbins said. “When you bring the food to downtown, everybody needs the food to live. If you can make that convenient

and accessibility and give that option, that creates desirability and movability.” Pioneer Park’s recent $7.9 million renovation has made the quarter-acre park the perfect place to hold the event, Robbins said. The improvements unveiled in December 2017 included a splash pad with a 15-foot water wall, a treehouse-style playground, basketball courts, new restrooms and a Historic Engine 2355 Steam Locomotive. “It’s really a fantastic location,” Robbins said. “It really checks off a lot of the boxes for the needs. And it’s an attractive environment for people to go.” In one of the grassy areas, organizers are setting up a small stage for musical acts to entertain shoppers. Of course, paying the bands is one of the costs to put on the event. The organizers’ private LLC is paying for the majority of the cost to put on the market. “Essentially, it’s a business for us,” Kelsey said. “We personally felt passionately about operating it as a business and operating it from the standpoint we thought would be the most successful.” The agreement between the Strotherses and the city calls for a lease of $100 a week to use the park and the electrical

boxes on site. Startup costs for organizers include branding and marketing the event and building a website. There are also costs for tent and canopy rentals, vehicles for moving equipment, storage considerations and the bands that will play the live music. Plus, somebody has to pay for the electricity that they’ll be using each week. Vendors will pay a small undetermined fee to be a part of the action, but Strothers said the company is investing its own money upfront to get it going. “We really won’t be paid back at first,” Strothers said. “It will take time.” The term of the lease is for three years. Initial plans call for it to run year-round, although the city is only expecting the spring and fall seasons for now. Strothers said organizers will “play it by ear” for the first summer to see if it’s worth opening in the July heat. The process of approving vendor applications is still ongoing since the group has only three months to prepare for opening day after October’s city approval. Those interested in becoming a vendor can apply on a vendor form at MesaFarmersMarketAndFlea.com.

funding for homeless assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are required to conduct an annual comprehensive count to help local governments and nonprofits allocate resources necessary to meet the needs of the homeless population. Volunteers, who must be 16 or older, will be deployed in groups of three or four

to count and interview homeless individuals and their families in various parts of Mesa. A mandatory volunteer training session prior will be held Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 5:30 p.m. at Salvation Army, Building 3, 241 E. Sixth St. To register, visit mesaaz.gov/ PITCount. The city also is seeking donations of hy-

giene/care packages to be given out during the Point-In-Time Count. Suggested items for the care packages include socks, ChapStick, combs, Kleenex, Band-Aid adhesive bandages, hand warmers and waterless shampoo. Donations will be accepted until Tuesday, Jan. 15, at Mesa Main Library, 64 E. First St., and in the lobby of Mesa City Plaza, 20.

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

PROBLEM.

Now there’s miraDry®

SOLUTION.

• Immediate results that last • Dramatic reduction of underarm sweat • Non-invasive, in-office procedure with minimal to no downtime • FDA cleared • Toxin-free, no need for endless treatments • No need for ineffective antiperspirants

Call Dr. Hiatt at 480-844-1410 to schedule your appointment!

PLASTIC SURGERY OF Tummy • Breast • Face • Ears • Nose • Eyelids Male Breast Removal • Liposuction • Laser Hair Removal Mommy Makeover • Underarm Sweat Solutions

All injections are administered by Dr. Hiatt Botox • Juvederm • Voluma

call for a complimentary consultation

(480) 844-1410

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 13, 2019

NOW OPEN

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES AND SUDOKU

Sun Life Center for Women

from Page 24

Birth Control Prenatal Postpartum Onsite Ultrasound Menopause Incontinence Robotic Surgery

phone (480) 307-9477 CHANDLER OFF I CE 480-307-9477 655 S. Dobson Rd. #201 Delivering at Dignity Chandler Regional We accept most insurance plans including AHCCCS & Medicare. If you are uninsured, ask about our sliding fee discount.

4540 E. Baseline Rd., Ste 117 Mesa, Arizona 85206 | DRHIATT.COM

SunLifeFamilyHealth.org

Patient’s Choice Award Recipient

CALL ME FOR GREAT RATES!

2019 SPRING TRAINING SUNDAY FEB

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

COL

1:10

SEA

LAD

CWS

1:10

MIL

12:10

CIN

OAK

CIN

MIL

TEX

LAA

ARI

CLE

MARCH

CLE

LAA