Mesa Officials Change Course on Location of Cubs Training Facility

Contrary to what was promised to taxpayers a few months ago, it now appears the City of Mesa does not intend to reveal a specific location for the proposed new Chicago Cubs spring training project prior to ballots being cast on the matter by voters in the November election. The latest announcements indicate that a city-wide search for a location is underway and there may not be a final selection in time for taxpayers to know where the development will be or what the finished project may look like. This directly contradicts the mayor’s statements on April 1 of this year when he stated there would be definite location and pictures and plans well before the fall election.

So, now it would seem the city will ask voters to approve the spending of tens of millions of dollars without knowledge of any details concerning the issue. This is the equivalent of a real estate developer asking for an approval of a huge shopping center prior to letting anyone know what neighborhood will be impacted and without revealing any design features. The blanks will simply be filled in later. This has never happened elsewhere in Arizona.