Gilbert Watch received the following information from Tracy Langston relating to some Mesa Planning meetings. Three meetings have already taken place. There is a meeting Thursday, April 4, and two more will occur next week. Please see details below for contact information if you would like to attend.
“Big changes are in the works for Mesa. It’s important to have a voice in those changes.
“Mesa is currently undergoing citizen input to its general plan, which will be developed over the next year and voted on by Mesa residents in November of 2014. The Mayor and City Council have a plan to add high-density urban areas, reduce automobile traffic, and increase Mesa’s population by over 200,000. See “This is My Mesa” website for a glimpse into their vision of the future: Mesa, Past, Present and Future.
The city is also working to extend the light rail to Gilbert Road and has said it is willing to use eminent domain to force property owners to give up their land for light rail. Check out: 23 Light-rail Land Deals in Mesa are Stalled.
If you want to have input into Mesa’s future, you need to attend these meetings and participate in the suggestions on This is My Mesa. (VOTE!) It is helpful to familiarize yourself with the website and plans before the meetings.
Remember to be polite, ask for definitions of terms you are unfamiliar with, question them if you see areas where government control pushes out the free market, and if funding is unclear, respectfully demand that they tell you where the money is coming from. Be professional but firm and don’t let your questions be ignored, dismissed, or evaded.
If you do attend a meeting and have concerns about the direction the city is going, please contact P.J. O’Malley at pjomal@aol.com to get involved. Upcoming meetings:
- April 4 – 6:30 pm Fiesta Village Meeting
Crescent Crown Distributing – 1640 W. Broadway - April 10 – 6:30 pm Superstition Gateway Village Meeting
Superstition Springs Elementary – 7125 E. Monterey - April 11 – 6:30 pm Desert Uplands Village Meeting
Falcon Hill Elementary – 1645 N. Sterling St.”
In Liberty!
Tracy Langston
herffie@yahoo.com