35 minute read
Zone
Back in the saddle
/ P. 11
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE THE EAST VALLEY) | TheMesaTribune.com
EV artists displayed / P. 23
Sunday, November 7, 2021
INSIDE
This Week
TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF After its pandemic-driven “parade in reverse” last year, the annual East Valley Veterans Parade will return this week with boots on the ground, marching music in the air and spectators lining the streets.And this year the parade theme celebrates the impact of art and artists during wartime.The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, in regular format at Center Street and University Drive, Mesa, then proceed south on Center, turning west onto 1st Street and continuing to Robson. Art can inform and inspire. It can capture complicated emotions and record history from a unique viewpoint. These roles of art and artists take on added emphasis in times of war. Portrait artists have captured the faces of historic military leaders for posterity. Sculptors have created compelling monuments to important wartime turning points and history. From armed services recruitment posters to advertisements for war bonds, wartime art and artists throughout our history have created works that rallied our home front and boosted troop morale. The image of “Kilroy was Here” became synonymous with service, dedication and commitment of U.S. Armed Forces throughout WWII and the Korean War. Kilroy seemed to appear first at every combat, training or occupation operation and was the last to leave. Messages like “Uncle Sam Wants You” or “Buy War Bonds” also appeared on some iconic art that many are familiar with.
Posters during World War II were designed to instill a positive outlook, a sense of patriotism and confidence. They linked the war in trenches with the war at home and were used to encourage all Americans to help with the war effort. WWII also saw the rise of “nose art” that united and encouraged members of the Air Force. Who hasn’t seen the iconic Memphis Belle on the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress? Nose art is probably the first connection the leaps to mind. While frequently employing the image of women, nose art often consisted of ominous messages
to our enemies.In the midst of the difficulties of war, soldiers have found creative ways to express their feelings and deal with boredom, build comradery, identify/brag about home or unit and display patriotism. Using whatever materials they found on-hand, they created trench art and have turned ordinary T-wall concrete barriers into works of art and expression. T-walls became the palette of the modern war artist. Coming into prominence during the conflicts in the Middle East, these concrete barriers are used for a variety of purposes. From small walls at traffic control points to giant retaining walls to protect against deadly threats like IEDs, T-walls are an everyday sight. Their stark gray appearance is in invitation to the murals that inevitably followed.Trench art is a term used to describe objects made from the debris and by-products of modern warfare.
Often trench art was made to pass the time in a “hurry up and wait” environment.
HONORING OUR VETERANS VETERANS DAY PARADE 2021 EV Veterans Parade celebrates art in wartime Holocaust survivor is parade Grand Marshal
see PARADE page 2 TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF Capt. Alexander White, a concentration camp survivor who lost his entire family to the Nazis, is the 2021 East Valley Veterans Parade Grand Marshal. Born in 1923, in Krosno, Poland, near the Ukraine/Slovakian borders, White as a teenager lived through the liquidation of the Krosno Ghetto, then spent a year in the Luftwaffe Labor Camp and six months in the concentration camp at KrakowPlassow. In October 1944, his name appeared on a list of workers assigned to German industrialist Oskar Schindler, who was relocating his factory
from Poland to the Sudetenland to avoid advancing Soviet armies.
listed as a glazier and painter. His specialty in glazing made him a rare commodity. Upon arrival at Schindler’s factory, he was assigned to a small area of the factory to work as a glazier. White survived the last months of the Holocaust at Schindler’s camp in Bruennlitz, Sudetenland, and was liberated on the last day of the war in Europe, May 8, 1945, from the camp – as shown in the movie “Schindler’s List.” After liberation, he made his way to Germany where, in 1950 as a refugee, he earned a medical degree from the University of Munich. Soon thereafter, he immigrated to the United States. In 1953, he married Inez Libby, a Chicagoan, and joined the U.S. Army. He received a commission as a first lieutenant Cutline (Special to the Tribune) White surmises that he ended up on Schindler’s list because his profession was
The 2021 East Valley Veterans Parade will be in a traditional parade format this year, celebrating art and artists and their impact during wartime. Even simple “thank you” posters have a special meaning for those who served (Special to the Tribune) see MARSHALLS page 3
BUSINESS ............ 10
Mesa PD taking danger off the streets.
SPORTS ................ 19
Sequoia’s Lily Godwin giving her all on field.
COMMUNITY ............................... 13 BUSINESS ..................................... 15 OPINION .. ..................................... 17 SPORTS ........................................ 19 GET OUT ...................................... 21 PUZZLES ...................................... 22 CLASSIFIED ................................. 23
Zone 1
Mesa to hire more cops, firefighters
BY TOM SCANLON
Tribune Managing Editor
The way things are going, perhaps the signs at the Mesa city limits should have a footnote:
“Welcome to Mesa: Please Apply Within!” From accountant to water resources officer, the city has scores of openings in nearly every department.
And the biggest push for new blood will be made by the police and fire departments.
Unlike its counterpart Phoenix – where an assistant police chief said staff shortages may force the department to pass on some calls for a uniformed officer – the Mesa Police Department is close to fully staffed, though that depends on how new recruits work out. But the city is giving the green light to hire even more cops as well as firefighters.
According to Sgt. Charles Trapani, Mesa PD Members of Mesa Police Academy Class No. 49, which graduated Friday, go through workouts. New sales tax projections show the city can support even more police officers and firefighters. (City of Mesa) has 440 civilian staff members of a budgeted total of 493 and 846 officers – 32 more than the budgeted total of 814.
“The positions over the budgeted positions routinely fill vacant positions due to attrition, i.e. retirements, resignations,” Trapani said.
seePOLICE page 3
Mesa struggling to get a climate footing
BY TOM SCANLON
Tribune Managing Editor
Prince Charles last week urged world leaders at a UN climate change summit to take “a warlike footing.”
But while Mesa leaders are sounding battle cries with their Climate Action Plan, their footing seems tentative, if not slipping, as the city's carbon footprint may be expanding.
Residents who “try to be green” and separate recycling material from garbage are dumbfounded – expressing disbelief on social media – to see both bins being dumped in the same city trucks.
According to city data, Mesa is recycling only 2.3 percent of what it picks up from residents, far below the current goal of 21 percent – and far lower than the city’s long-term goal of diverting 90 percent of its garbage.
Meanwhile, Mesa City Council has approved one massive, carbon-producing industrial project after another.
After lining up the likes of Facebook and RagingWire/NTT data centers and sprawling industrial parks that are flipping Mesa’s desert landscape, the Mesa Economic Development team scored several national awards, including a silver award at the national Economic Development Council conference and two Golden Prospector awards from the Arizona Association for Economic Development.
The Tribune asked Jabjiniak if Economic Development factors in energy and water usage, traffic and other environmental factors when negotiating with large employers and developers. He did not respond.
seeCLIMATE page 6
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And, he noted, “The recruits in the (training) academy are not fully-trained solo officers yet.”
“Also, several of the recruits in the academy may resign prior to completion,” he added. “From the academy through field training it is approximately 18 months before officers in training are solo officers able to fill an actual budgeted position in patrol.” Phoenix, with a population of 1.6 million, has funding for 3,125 sworn positions but only 2,776 filled.
While the state’s largest city struggles to hand out badges, the third-largest plans a major expansion of emergency responders. Mesa’s population is 504,000, about one-third of Phoenix’s.
At a recent study session, City Council enthusiastically embraced a plan to boost the city’s police and fire ranks.
The increases are made possible by a voter-approved sales tax targeted for public safety.
In 2019, the city projected it could hire 45 more sales-tax-funded firefighters; new projections show funding for 36 more firefighters, on top of the 45 initially projected. And instead of 65 police officers, as projected in 2019, the city now has funding for nearly double that many – 117 more cops.
The new positions will take public safety budgets even higher.
The Mesa Fire and Medical Department budget has grown from $81 million in 2017-18 to $142 million this year – a 75 percent leap.
In the same period, the Mesa Police Department’s budget has jumped from $196 million to $256 million – a 30 percent bump.
Public safety bonds, also approved by voters, and general city funds also contribute to paying for salaries, benefits and equipment of emergency responders.
“This is great,” Councilman David Luna said when the new numbers were unveiled.
“All good news,” Mayor John Giles added.
City Manager Chris Brady said residents are supporting the police with their credit cards.
“The performance of the economy is doing so well we’ve been able to add a tremendous amount of new positions,” Brady said.
He brought up the possibility of looking at a bond for two more fire stations, noting a new fire station “should be opening soon” and another one in southeast Mesa Members of Mesa Police Academy Class No. 49, which graduated Friday, go through workouts.
(Special to the Tribune)
“is under design.”
According to Dep. Fire Chief Forrest Smith, Station 221 “is in Eastmark and the operational date is still pending – possibly by the beginning of or within the first few days of November.”
Assistant Police Chief Dan Butler noted the department “had massive growth” around 2000 but many of those officers are retiring or planning to leave soon. “In 2020 we had 61 people leave...I have 41 vacancies in patrol; but I have 81 people in the pipeline ready to go,” Butler said. “We probably won’t be flush where we want to be for a good six to eight months.”
Butler noted that unlike other cities, a recent ASU survey showed the city’s population is appreciative of the police “Our cops know they are supported,” Assistant Police Chief Dan Butler told Mesa City seePOLICE page 4 Council.
THE MESA TRIBUNE | NOVEMBER 7, 2021
New cops, firefighters must pass tough process
TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
So you want to be a cop or police officer? The good news: Mesa is looking for both – with starting pay nearing $60,000.
The bad news: It’s a long, arduous process. For Mesa Fire Department newbies, the process began in March.
Applicants who scored at least 77 percent on a written exam were invited to first interviews.
Applicants who scored a 70 or better on the first interviews were invited to a voluntary “intern orientation” over two weekends, candidates were required to submit national EMT or paramedic certification.
After reference checks, Mesa made offers June 11.
For the chosen, the Mesa 21-2 Academy started in September.
The “trainees” must keep up with a rigorous, 14-week program. “Firefighter-recruit is a trainee class used to prepare incumbents for performing public safety work involving the protection of life and property and the delivery of Fire and Medical Department programs,” according to job posting information. “Preparation involves training in fire suppression, EMS (Emergency Medical Services), and emergency and non-emergency incident response. A Firefighter-recruit must demonstrate the ability to use fire suppression and emergency medical services skills in accordance with department standards, as well as engage in fire code enforcement, public education and Mesa Fire and Medical Department recruits must pass a rigorous academy, where they learn lifesaving and firefighting skills. (Mesa Fire Department)
station and equipment maintenance activities prior to academy graduation.” Mesa firefighter-recruits are hired at a pay level of $48,235, which rises to $50,773 after successful completion of the academy.
The Mesa Police Department pays recruits a minimum of $59,446 – with quite an opportunity to advance in salary. “Our topped-out officers bring home $83,865,” said Det. Brandi George, a Mesa PD spokeswoman.
And rookie cops have a potential $3,500 bonus (half paid after 30 days of hire and the other half after completing the academy). Would-be cops don’t need certifications, like firefighters, but “Because of the confidential, sensitive nature of information handled, successful completion of a background investigation and polygraph is required.”
Chosen candidates who pass the lie-test “will be required to pass a pre-employment medical physical, psychological test battery, and drug screening.”
Those who make it through interviews and testing are hired as recruits. “A police officer recruit attends the Mesa Police Department Academy to learn and perform the responsibilities of an entrylevel Arizona peace officer, which include interacting with a culturally and socially diverse population, employing discretion in solving problems, maintaining public order, preventing crime, enforcing laws and ordinances, conducting investigations, making arrests, issuing summonses/citations and warnings, and assisting the public.”
Those who make it through the academy get on-the-job training to learn some of the tasks outlined in the police officer job description:
“Operates a patrol vehicle... pursues offenders by patrol vehicle and on foot, stops offenders, subdues resisting offenders using force where appropriate, including deadly force, and arrests offenders. Searches persons, places, and things…
“Performs crowd and riot control activities. Issues summonses. Maintains proficiency in operating a variety of law enforcement tools including weapons, vehicles and computers. Observes criminal behavior, and conducts law enforcement investigations...administers first aid to sick and injured persons for a wide variety of illnesses and injuries…”
Those who think that’s a bit much but still want to be serving the law might consider a career as a police dispatcher.
No academy, for dispatchers, who learn “through a structured on-the-job training program tailored to each individual’s experience, or lack of, in the areas of answering 911 calls and dispatching police services.”
Duties include: receiving calls from the public, evaluating the calls for proper action and initiating police response by obtaining information.
Mesa’s starting salary for dispatchers is $46,876.82.
For information on these and other city of Mesa jobs, visit governmentjobs.
com/careers/mesaaz. ■
POLICE from page 3
force. “Our cops know they are supported,” he said.
That public perception, he added, has officers from other cities considering coming here:
“The word’s out on Mesa PD.” “Our starting pay for a police officer is better than just about anyone else in the entire state,” Butler said. A raw, off-the-street Mesa police officer recruit with no experience starts at just under $60,000.
And there’s another enticement: Butler said new officers qualify for a $3,500 bonus.
Council isn’t shy about the public safety hiring plans. “It’s important we continue to update the citizens,” Councilman Kevin Thompson said. “They’re the ones that voted to implement a self-imposed sales tax for public safety.”
Luna agreed with that, adding, “The additional staff is certainly going to be a benefit to our city.”
Luna had advice for those who want to support Mesa PD: “Buy local.”
“Ditto,” Councilwoman Julie Spilsbury seconded.
Both stressed the need for shopping locally and enhancing the city’s revenue base that supports the city’s public safety investment.
And the mayor said he looks forward to discussions about potential bonds for more fire and police stations.
“We have to stay ahead of our growth,” said Giles. ■
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The Tribune also asked several City Council members how they respond to criticism that they favor large-scale development over the climate and qualityof-life concerns of residents.
“The quality of life of our residents is a priority, and I always carefully monitor the processes and consider all different aspects of developments and public input before casting my vote,” Councilman Mark Freeman responded. “I encourage all residents to contact my office should they have questions, comments or concerns about any project.”
Vice Mayor Jenn Duff, who voted against the Facebook data center, responded, “The quality of life of our residents is a priority, and I haven’t shied away from voicing my opinions and concerns on issues that potentially threaten our natural resources.”
Councilman Kevin Thompson, who represents the booming District 6 that has become “Data Center Alley,” declined to answer.
Atop an extraordinary pace of largescale development, the city continues to pile recyclable material onto garbage dumps. More than two years after a fire at a contractor’s plant, Mesa apparently has no agreement in place to stop dumping paper, cardboard boxes, plastic, bottles and other materials that could be recycled.
At the Sept. 24 study session, according to the meeting minutes, Scott Bouchie, director of the city Environmental Management and Sustainability Department, told City Council “recycling remains a challenge.”
He said a study is being done on “how a transfer station and recycling facility can help the utility financially and environmentally while mitigating risk”
“We’re dependent on the private sector to take things we collect,” he said Oct. 14.
And there is still no solution on the horizon. “We’ll be back in the first quarter of next year with an update,” he said, adding he hopes the city can eventually “control our own destiny on the recycling side.”
Councilwoman Julie Spilsbury asked Bouchie to explain the program.
“I’ve been noticing on social media people are really confused about recycling. And I realized I don’t know what we’re doing,” she said with a chuckle. A chart provided by the city shows a drastic fall-off in what Mesa recycles. (City of Mesa)
“I sense people’s frustration: They’re seeing all the barrels being dumped in the same place,” she added.
Bouchie said the city is continuing to buy recycling bins for residents as replacements.
“We are still recycling,” he said. “We do have a contract with one local contractor. Unfortunately, they don’t have capacity.... There isn’t the capacity in the East Valley to handle everyone’s (recyclable) material.”
But, he added, “I’ve had multiple meetings this week looking at short- and longterm” recycling options.
Bouchie declined the Tribune’s request to provide details on his meetings. When asked if she was satisfied with Bouchie’s answers, Spilsbury said, “I understand how it can be upsetting to learn about changes to the trash and recycling collection. The city has been transparent about the staffing issue and its impact on Mesa’s recycling program.
“We appreciate the patience of our residents as we navigate through this challenge.”
Mesa’s recycling is also still reeling from a fire that burned down a Republic Services recycling facility in 2019. Prior to Goals and Mesa’s current “carbon footprint” were presented at a series of pubic meetings on the city’s new Climate Action Plan. (City of Mesa) the fire, the city was diverting a fifth of its refuse collection to recycling plants.
A contract with United Fibers remains in effect, but the contractor will only accept up to six tons of materials. Mesa generates more than 30 tons, leaving a massive shortfall.
Though the sub-3 percent “blue barrel” recycling rate (cardboard, paper and paperboard, packaging, glass and plastic) for October was nearly eight times lower than the city’s current goals, at least it was higher than most of 2020, when the city stopped its recycling program. When the program resumed early this year, the city’s recycling rate climbed to nearly 5 percent in March before falling in recent months. At the mid-October study session, Bouchie also blamed “staffing problems” for recycling and garbage being combined. “Since the pandemic, we’ve seen a 10 percent increase in what we’re picking up,” he noted. Four months ago, Mesa City Council unanimously passed a Climate Action Plan, with “aspirational goals” of getting rid of 90 percent of garbage, cutting the city’s carbon footprint in half by 2030 and using exclusively renewable energy by 2050. The plans were hashed out over several meetings. “I don’t know how attainable those goals are. I hope they are,” Mayor John Giles commented during one study session. In an interview with the Tribune, Giles stressed, “The big part of the plan is community engagement.” That has been happening over the last two months of meetings, first at neighborhoods around the city, more recently during online meetings. The six-week program started Oct. 13, with energy, followed by heat mitigation Oct. 20, air quality Oct. 27 and water stewardship Nov. 3.
Bill Jabjiniak, leader of Mesa’s award-winning Economic Development department, declined to answer Tribune questions about weighing climate factors and large-scale projects. (Tribune
THE MESA TRIBUNE | NOVEMBER 7, 2021
Bell Bank Park construction charging ahead
BY TOM SCANLON
Tribune Managing Editor
City Council approvals? Check. Sports leagues lined up? Check. Naming agreement? Big check.
Bell Bank Park – previously known as Legacy Sports Park – added another “check” last week, when Mesa City Council approved shifting money to accelerate the completion of State Route 24 between Ellsworth and Williams Field roads.
That is crucial for Bell Bank/Legacy, which is being built at Ellsworth and Williams Field.
The City Council agreement with ADOT pushes up that portion of SR24 to a March 19 completion date. The full project extending to Ironwood Drive is scheduled for completion in August.
Being built on 330 acres of former county land that Mesa is annexing, Bell Bank Park “Legacy Sports Park” is a multi-use sports and recreation facility in booming southeast Mesa. The sports facility is across Ellsworth from the south end of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airport.
The Legacy team is lining up national and local leagues for soccer, baseball, volleyball and pickleball tournaments. The facility also will host dance and cheerleading camps and concerts.
According to agenda information for the special meeting at which the new timeline was approved, “A development agreement between the City and the Legacy Group currently exists through which the city of Mesa has agreed to contribute up to $1.5 million towards the construction of a portion of Williams Field Road.”
The Legacy Group asked for $1.2 million to “be redirected to the SR 24 Project to expedite the completion and opening of SR 24 from Ellsworth Road to Williams Field Road by March 19, 2022.
“This will allow an additional access point to accommodate vehicular traffic for the many events they have scheduled in the spring of 2022.” Mesa City Council approved shifting funds to accelerate the construction of State Route 24 near Williams Field Road, to accommodate sporting events at the new Bell Bank Park. (City of Mesa)
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Another money shift of $300,000 will help the new park in the short term with local traffic.
According to the council report, “The city is constructing the intersection at Ellsworth and Williams Field roads to reduce traffic restrictions and provide access to developments such as Gateway East at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and Legacy Sports Park. The intersection is scheduled to be completed in April 2021.
“However, Legacy Sports Park has scheduled a soft opening for Dec. 17 and it has become necessary to accelerate construction of the intersection to meet
traffic demands.” Speeding up construction will allow left turns at the intersection by mid-December. According to ADOT, the second of five planned phases for SR24 began in the fall of 2020. The 5 miles of new freeway extending from Ellsworth Road to Ironwood Drive “follows the completion of Phase I in 2014, which opened the segment of freeway between SR 202 (Loop 202/Santan Freeway) and Ellsworth Road.” More construction of SR24 south of Ironwood Drive is planned but still requires funding approval. ■
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES AND SUDOKU from Page 22
THE MESA TRIBUNE | NOVEMBER 7, 2021
Police ‘summer project’ takes drugs off streets
BY TOM SCANLON
Tribune Managing Editor
Fentanyl, a cheap synthetic opioid, is now the top killer of Americans who die by drug overdose.
Often put in blue pills to mimic the prescription drug oxycodone (or the branded OxyContin), fentanyl now kills twice as many as heroin, according to the most recent figures provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
In Mesa, a three-month push seized more than 80,000 fentanyl pills.
Illegal drugs were behind many of the crimes targeted by the Mesa Police Department’s “Operation Summer Project.”
According to Sgt. Charles Trapani, “The main goal of the Operation Summer Project was to reduce violent crime within the city of Mesa.” He said over a three-month period, police used “a high-visibility enforcement model...focused on violent crime.”
While police arrested several men charged with deadly assault, they also made some big drug busts, keeping thousands of fentanyl pills from being sold to teenagers and young adults.
Amy Neville has a name for drug dealers: murderers. Her son Alex died after using the social media app Snapchat to buy pills laced with fentanyl.
Alex died June 23, 2020. “We were in California,” his mother, a Mesa native, said. “He was born here, then we lived in California.”
She returned to the East Valley after her son’s death.
Amy Neville has been active in going to meetings such as the recent Mesa Prevention Alliance event to warn parents about the dangers of drugs and social media, which she said can be a lethal mix.
Amy said Alex was an excellent student (“his teachers loved him”) but curious about drugs.
“He was very interested in how drugs would alter his mind since he was 7,” she said. “He came home from a drug prevention day at school saying, ‘This is interesting; tell me more.’”
Two days before his death, the teenager shared with his parents that he started taking what he thought was oxycodone.
“I just wanted to try oxy,” he told his parents. “I don’t know why, but these pills have a hold on me.”
He said he didn’t have any pills left and agreed to get help.
While waiting for a call back from a treatment center, Amy went to check on Alex – and found him dead, after apparently taking one last pill he had hidden.
“Six weeks later, I was having lunch with a friend of his and said, ‘Do you know where he got (the pills).’ He said yeah, and gave me (the dealer’s) Snapchat information,” Amy said.
“This guy I found out killed somebody before Alex and somebody after Alex.”
In Mesa over the last three months, police officers seized more than 80,000 fentanyl pills. On Sept. 17, after informants told them of a drug spot at the Sandal Ridge apartments, officers swooped in at 645 N. Country Club Drive near University Avenue – “a high crime and drug area,” according to the arrest record – and arAlex Neville, born and raised in Mesa, died in California after buying a rested Abdul Brofentanyl-laced pill online. Fentanyl is the top killer of Americans who ner, 42.overdose on drugs. (Special to the Tribune) After arresting him, police found a recording telling a woman to “hide everything or I’ll kill you.” “Everything” included more than $15,000 in cash, methamphetamines, cocaine and 6,000 blue pills. “I know it to be a common trend of illegal pills containing fentanyl stamped with ‘M30’ to mimic the appearance of the narcotic pills Percocet,” Officer Brandon Liniger wrote in his arrest report. While Liniger questioned Broner in the apartment, “the defendant’s phone was continually going off with subjects asking to buy drugs,” according to the report. Also on Sept. 17, Officer Andrew Tafoya arrested Jesus Manuel Barcelo in a Walmart parking lot on Baseline Road.
According to the arrest document, an informant made a series of buys from Barcelo in that parking lot, including the purchase of 2,000 “M30 fentanyl pills,” paying $4,500, or only $2.50 per pill. (A smaller purchase of 100 pills cost $3.50 per pill.)
According to Tafoya’s report, he admitted to selling the drugs, saying he was out of work and “trying to get back on my feet.” He has previous drug sales convictions.
Statistics from Operation Summer Project included: • 645 arrests (317 adult felony, 321 adult misdemeanor, three juvenile felony, four juvenile misdemeanor) • 32,800 grams of methamphetamine seized, street value of $180,700 • 84,603 fentanyl pills seized, street value of $846,000 • 1,784 grams of cocaine seized, street value of $142,700 • 136 DUI arrests (alcohol) • 33 DUI arrest (drugs) • 73 firearms seized
A few of the arrests:
Rickey Cheney, 54 was arrested for armed robbery, aggravated assault and third degree burglary after allegedly robbing a customer at a convenience store near Higley Road and Southern Avenue, then assaulting a second victim at a home two blocks away.
Frankie Miranda, 30, was arrested for aggravated assault, warrants and weapons charges after allegedly shooting a victim near Dobson and McKellips roads.
Marc Garcia, 38, was arrested for aggravated assault and weapons charges when officers saw him waving a large knife as he chased two men near Country Club Drive and Main Street downtown. ■
GOT NEWS?
THE MESA TRIBUNE | NOVEMBER 7, 2021
Former Gilbert mayor back as EV Partnership chief
TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
John Lewis is back in the saddle. After leading the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' mission in Cambodia for three years, the former Gilbert mayor will return in January as president/ CEO of the PHX East Valley Partnership.
He is replacing the man who replaced him – former Maricopa County supervisor and community leader Denny Barney, who is stepping down to pursue his own business ventures.
When Barney was asked to replace Lewis after he answered his church’s call to serve, Barney said he would give the EVP job a try for three years and then decide what to do when Lewis returned.
“Denny has done a phenomenal job and we are sorry to see him step down,” said Adam Deguire, interim vice president in Arizona State University’s Office of Government & Community Engagement and the Partnership’s chairman. “The good news is that talent in our region runs deep.” EVP is a nonprofit organization of East Valley businesses, education and community leaders that works for betterment of the region’s economy and quality of life.
Founded 39 years ago as a cooperative effort among Apache Junction, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek and Tempe – along with Maricopa and Pinal counties and Gila and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian communities – it has grown in size and stature. Former Gilbert Mayor John Lewis, left, is returning to the post of president of the PHX East Valley Partnership, replacing Denny Barney, who replaced Lewis when the former mayor answered his church's call to head a mission in Cambodia. (Special to the Tribune)
Lewis served two terms as Gilbert’s mayor between 2009 and 2016 and is credited with leading the development of its downtown district and guiding the town through some of its most traumatic events this century – including the cold-blooded murder of Gilbert Police Lt. Eric Shuhandler in 2010 and a Nazis sympathizer’s murder-suicide that claimed the lives of four people, including a baby, in 2012. Lewis became EVP president in 2016 but stepped down in 2018 to take on the mission.
“I’m thrilled to be back and look forward to working with a progressive group of leaders to continue to move our region forward,” he said.
During his tenure at EVP, Lewis played an integral role in making the region a mecca for business, establishing a mentoring program for small business owners and creating a fertile environment for entrepreneurs. He also worked with regional officials and Arizona Tech Investors to catalyze economic growth by raising awareness of angel investing and enhancing access to early-stage funding for East Valley tech startup companies.
Barney looked back at his leadership of EVP as “one of the most significant and productive times in the region’s history.”
The PHX East Valley has grown exponentially and now boasts a population of 1.6 million and a labor force of more than 717,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
“Because of its talented and highly educated workforce and favorable quality of life, the area also continues to be a magnet for new businesses and entrepreneurial ventures, particularly in the aerospace and aviation, manufacturing, technology, financial services and health care industries,” a spokeswoman for EVP said.
Under Barney’s leadership, EVP advocated for transportation, education and other critical issues, and engaged more municipal, business, education and community leaders in the organization.
“As a sixth-generation PHX East Valley resident and a longtime business owner, I have had a front-row seat watching the region grow and mature,” Barney said. “It has been the honor of my life to give back to the organization and the community I love.”
Barney balanced his duties at the Partnership with his role as principal of Arcus Private Capital Solutions, a specialized realty investment and finance company. He will continue to participate on Partnership as a board member. ■
