Over the past several months, the mayor of the City of Mesa, Scott Smith, has repeatedly promised voters there would be a definite site identified for the proposed new Chicago Cubs spring training facility prior to a fall vote on the issue. At a Town Hall meeting in July of this year, the mayor pledged to pull the issue off the ballot if a specific site were not identified. Recent press reports, however, seem to contradict the mayor’s previous statements. A report in the Arizona Republic on August 31, 2010, quotes the mayor as saying “there is almost no chance of a definite site being on the table when Mesa voters decide to approve the Cubs project.”
While it is not a surprise to find out that yet another politician may weasel out of prior commitments to voters, this does bring into question virtually everything else involved concerning this particular deal. What about the mayor’s statements regarding the dollar amount of economic activity? What about the mayor’s assurance that costs are under control? What about the mayor’s statements that nearby residents will be afforded an opportunity to have input on the site decision? What about the mayor’s claim that there will be no new tax increases because of the Cubs deal? What about the mayor’s claim that the adjacent commercial development, dubbed “Wrigleyville West”, will contribute big bucks to city coffers?
Well, there is a good possibility the mayor meant what he said on all of these occasions: at least to the same extent he meant what he said about the site location.
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That's not what the mayor said and there is video proof to refute your statement.
ReplyDeleteWell, we were there at the Town Hall along with nearly 100 other people. The mayor said he would pull the proposition if a specific site was not determined prior to voting. Also, you may wish to check the Arizona Republic of April 1, 2010. The mayor was literally quoted as saying a site would be identified well before the election along with detailed plans, etc.
ReplyDeleteI attended the July Town Hall with Mayor Smith at the Red Mountain campus.
ReplyDeleteAt that meeting, the Mayor stated that if a location and plans for the Cubs project were not available prior to the election, that he would withdraw the funding proposition from the Nov. ballot.
Smith, there is a large group of people who were present at the meeting who I'm certain would welcome the opportunity for another Town Hall to view and discuss that video.
An E-mail with the heading CHICAGO CUBS:VOTE YES 420 was sent out by Cubs boosters on 8/15/10. This said in part, "Mayor Smith specifically stated during the town hall at Red Mountain Community College that without site disclosure details, the funding vote would be off the table." Sounds like everyone present at this meeting heard the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI recorded the town hall on video tape. Mayor Smith did not say anything about the site selection and it being a precursor to it being on the ballot.
ReplyDeleteAny email being sent around is not from the Yes on 420 committee.
We now have a list of 19 people who recall the site comments as reported here and 2 people named Smith who seem to have heard it differently.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the E-mail issue, there is only one registered Yes on 420 committee. Perhaps it is only an illegal coincidence, but it does sound as though at least one Cubs booster can be added to the list of people who agree with our posting.
Whether the Mayor pledged to pull the ballot or not, there is no way this gets passed by the voters/citizens of Mesa without a specific site involved!
ReplyDeleteWE MUST BE TOLD WHERE THIS THING IS GOING-AND IT BETTER NOT BE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD!!
Regardless of what the Mayor promised, there is no way this thing passes without the voters knowing where it's going to be built.
ReplyDeleteIt's not going in my neighborhood!