OPINION
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 12, 2021
Re�lections on a dark day’s 20th anniversary BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist
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wenty years. Two decades. 7,300 days. Time enough to encompass a youthful lifespan; time enough to grow up, grow tired, grow old. Many of us have done all three. For 2,977 victims on September 11, 2001, time stopped and eternity beckoned. For the 19 terrorist hijackers who thought they would become martyrs, History now regards them as murderers. For the “masterminds,” there has been manipulation of our justice system. Pretrial hearings for Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and four other alleged 9/11 plotters just opened at Guantanamo Bay Sept. 7 of this year. For the elites who offered legal aid to the “masterminds,” there is an insistence on constitutional rights for enemy com-
batants, but an unwillingness to extend the same to lawful citizens. For common-sense Americans, there was no confusion between patriotism and favoritism, nor between survival or suicide. For George W. Bush, it was a shock that he put in historical context: “The Pearl Harbor of the 21st Century took place today.” For the Bush Administration, clarity of purpose was modi�ied by the muddle of multiculturalism; thus the “War on Terror,” rather the “War on Islamic Terror.” For “Of�icial Washington,” there was an initial imperative to remember the �irst role of government: protection of its citizens. Sadly, it didn’t last. For “Bureaucratic Washington,” a subsequent, unfortunate imperative: expanding the role of government – more agencies, more spending, more bureaucrats – leading to less protection of citizens. For “Political Washington,” initial unity, soon sacri�iced on the altar of ambition.
In its place, a strange type of unanimity. At the behest of major �inancial institutions, agribusiness, and multinational corporations, “establishment” of�iceholders basked in media adulation by claiming that we could not stem the �low of illegals across our southern border. These same of�iceholders still use the poll-tested phrase, “We must secure the border!” But the fact that such sloganeering endures while de�initive action has come in �its, starts, and now a full stop, simply reinforces the reality that elected of�icials view this as a political problem to be managed instead of a national security threat to be removed. And what of our national security apparatus? Apparently in�luenced by politics and culture, it seems that the notion of “victory” has been replaced by “virtue signaling.” From the outset of our military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, we tried to achieve two very differ-
ent goals at the same time: destruction and reconstruction. Because the terror threat was not eliminated, our military shifted its focus to force protection. As we took up occupation of both countries, that changed our military posture from offensive to defensive, putting targets on the backs of our warriors, and insuring stalemate in the best of situations. As just witnessed, the occupation of Afghanistan ended in calamity. Joe Biden ordered our military to leave and left Americans behind in the process. Now, that same Joe Biden has spoken at 9/11 ceremonies in New York City, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon. It is problematic that the Commander-in-Chief who ordered us to �lee tried to extol the virtues of our “land of the free.” It all but insures that his successor – or Mr. Biden himself – will one day say, “The 9/11 of the 2020’s took place today.” If Joe can remember it. ■
strate continued optimism. Two of the biggest, successful masterplanned communities in the Valley are ones we’re helping develop near both edges of the current metropolitan area – Alamar in Avondale and Eastmark in Mesa. In today’s West Valley, there’s been an explosion of jobs and investment, largely in industrial projects along the new 303 Freeway in Avondale, Goodyear and Glendale. Some of the biggest names in America are investing there, creating a plentiful cupboard of jobs that was “but a wish” on the drawing board during the Valley’s previous boom cycle. At Eastmark, we’ve co-developed one of the fastest-selling communities in the United States; this speaks to the incredible investment coming to the East Valley. We recently announced that Facebook is buying nearly 400 acres from us for approximately three million square feet of new development. That’s not a typo. Three
million square feet of investment is about the size of Scottsdale Fashion Square. Investments such as these employ thousands to build, operate and maintain not to mention the resulting corporate footprint and tax revenues that bene�it host communities. Workers from the entry level to the well-heeled need places to live. Continued housing demand results. Values don’t lose velocity. Simply put, the smart plans Arizona policy makers implemented following the state’s Great Recession are now paying off bigtime in jobs and investment dividends. Of course, there are other factors too, ranging from surging crime in other states to unfavorable tax and regulatory environments. Arizona’s development community has continued to do an outstanding job of building excellent communities de�ined by a true sense of place. That’s why we have been investing near-
ly $100 million per year in Arizona for the past decade and recently partnered with D.R. Horton Homes to pay the Arizona State Land Department $245.5 million to buy 2,800 acres to the east of our Eastmark project in Mesa. We’re eager to continue investing in the future of this state. We hope that gives every homeowner con�idence that, unlike the past, increased home values are not �leeting gains but a stable asset in Phoenix’s evolution from a “trading post” community, to one known for our lasting, dynamic commerce and a quality of life second to few. John Bradley is president-Arizona Land & Development at Brook�ield Residential, Arizona’s largest developer of master-planned communities, including the 2,800-acre �irst phase of Superstition Vistas in Apache Junction. Reach him at John.Bradley@brook�ieldpropertiesdevelopment.com. ■
Sound policies paying big dividends for Arizona BY JOHN BRADLEY Tribune Guest Writer
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t’s been said the Phoenix area is one of the world’s largest trading posts. That’s not meant as an insult to one of the country’s best places to live, merely that the area has been more of a crossroads rather than a robust commerce center drawing major investments and jobs. Fortunately, this is changing. And it’s terribly relevant to an important water cooler discussion happening in of�ices, kitchens and social media across the state: how long can the state’s real estate boom continue? Critically, it has created substantial new wealth for homeowners in the midst of a pandemic, but also reintroduced fear in local residents who saw how fast it could slip away just over a decade ago with the Great Recession. I’d like to use two examples that demon-
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Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com
