OPINION

Re�lections on a dark day’s 20th anniversary

BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

Twenty 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 combatants, 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 Apparently in�luenced by politics and culture, it seems that the notion of “victory” has been replaced by “virtue signaling.”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. ■

Sound policies paying big dividends for Arizona

BY JOHN BRADLEY Tribune Guest Writer

It’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 demonstrate 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 nearly $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�ieldproper-

tiesdevelopment.com. ■

Got News?

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

was held 24 hours before a SRP Board committee vote. Many SRP customers are likely still in the dark about this gas expansion proposal and its potential impacts.

The full SRP Board is expected to vote on the proposed construction of 16 gas units at a cost of almost $1 billion to SRP customers on Sept. 13 – only three weeks after SRP management recommended this move, and with numerous and signi�icant details still lacking.

Although many of us can’t relate to spending that amount of money, we are familiar with the bene�its of scrutinizing, getting input, and deliberating before making a major expenditure. SRP needs to approach this decision like you and I would approach a major purchase. After all, it is our money.

Diane E. Brown is the executive director of the Arizona PIRG Education Fund, an organization that conducts research and advocacy on issues in the public interest. Reach her at dbrown@arizona-

pirg.org. ■

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES AND SUDOKU from Page 37

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TheMesaTribune.com

@EVTNow /EVTNow

New Mtn View swim coaches making dramatic impact on team

BY JAKE HEDEBY Tribune Staff Writer

Coaches come from every walk of life. In the professional ranks, many are former players while others worked from low-level employees to the top.

In high school there is no formula. They could be a teacher or a parent. Sometimes, veteran coaches �lock to programs ready for a change of pace. In Mountain View’s case, that’s what they got in Jack Giles, who took over the program this season.

What the Toros also received in Giles is a veteran with numerous state titles under his belt as a coach. His knowledge and impact are already being felt by both the girls’ and boys’ teams, and it’s shown in the number of athletes Mountain View has this year.

“The squads go from 60-80 normally every year,” Giles said.

Giles coached Arcadia to three straight state championships from 1991-93. In 1993, the Titans scored a whopping 350 points, 21 points higher than the runnerup that year at the 4A level. He was most recently the head coach at Dobson High School, where he spent the last six years attempting to rebuild the Mustang program.

But while at Dobson, the roster dissipated. He’s always wanted to coach a high volume of swimmers, something Dobson unfortunately could no longer provide. Mountain View, however, could.

So, when the job with the Toros opened, he knew he had to apply. He was hired.

“I knew we would have this wide spectrum of kids,” Giles said before pointing out a 6-foot-4 freshman swimmer for Mountain View. “Look at him.”

Giles’ roster is littered with talent this season, especially on the girls’ side with senior Emma Becker.

Becker has already won multiple state titles in her swimming career at Mountain View. This year, though, she is aiming higher. That includes securing a scholarship to swim at the next level. But that has, at times, interrupted her practice schedule with Mountain View.

Giles has been forced to work around her recruiting trips early on this season. Wednesday, Sept. 10, Becker was absent from practice because she was on a college visit. But Giles understands that comes with talented swimmers. He keeps his mantra of coaching the same, whether everyone is in attendance or not.

“I talked to them about it today,” Giles said. “Their experience over the next three weeks with Emma’s recruitment trips is very important. It leaves opportunity for everyone else.”

Mountain View is no stranger to success in

the pool. The legacy many former Toros leave extends wellbeyond the last few years. Breeja Larson is a prime example of the level of talent that comes out of the program. An Olympic swimmer, she has helped train Becker this season, who told her she has her sights set on breaking her record time of just over 1 minute in the breaststroke. Swimmers who hold themselves to lofty goals are part of the reason Giles took on the job at Mountain View. He wanted the responsibility of helping them Mountain View seniors Emma Becker and Charlie Trejo, are reach that next level. But he part of Mountain View’s swim program. (Pablo Robles/Tri- knows not every swimmer bune Sta ) has an exact vision for what they plan to do with the sport beyond high school. That’s why he treats all swimmers the same and holds them to the same level of accountability. It is bene�icial for not only those like Becker, who aims to compete at the Division I college level next year, but for those such as senior Charlie Trejo, who isn’t sure of the value swimming holds in his future. “(Giles) knows a lot about swimming, and it’s not just about grinding this year like it has been in previous years,” Trejo said. “With him, it’s been more working on technique.”

The culture Giles wants to bring to the Mountain View program is stern, but fair. He’s an old-school coach. It’s something he’s proud of.

But he also ties in some of his own philosophies to make his coaching style his own. That’s what he hopes will make the biggest impact on this year’s group of Mountain View swimmers and for those who come into the program down the road.

“We’ve tried to keep them happy, so we’re not coming in and cracking the whip on them,” Giles said. “Try to be accommodating when we can. I want their parents and the people who are going to see them swim at the end of the year to instantly recognize that that’s not the same swimmer that started in August.”

Giles knows he wouldn’t be able to lead all the Mountain View swimmers on his own. In his eyes, reinforcements were a requirement, and he brought in heavy artillery to get it done.

Bradley Tandy represented South Africa in the Rio and Tokyo Games. While he has only been with the Mountain View program about a week, he already recognizes the culture Giles is putting into place.

“They train well, and there’s a lot of attention to detail,” said Tandy, who hopes his experience will help Mountain View swimmers understand the importance of preparing every day as if they are racing. “The transition from training to racing is where they start losing it. The jitters, your family is in the stands, it’s a common occurrence.”

Tandy’s presence, along with Giles’ championship experience, has already helped Mountain View’s swimmers. While Trejo remains unsure of his own college plans, he believes their presence will make a dramatic impact on his teammates who do have goals of competing at the next level.

He said the intensity and determination from Giles and Tandy have already rubbed off on his team.

“These people work their whole lives,” Trejo said, “to be able to see that is pretty amazing.” ■