Mayor Gallego

Kate Gallego is the first mayor of Phoenix in 20 years who I don't know personally. That has disadvantages and advantages. The downside: I haven't spent hours over coffee or in city hall getting tips, sharing gossip, and taking the individual's measure. On the other hand, she's pretty much a blank slate to me, which allows me to see her totally from the perspective of an outsider.

All I know is what I read in the newspapers, and from Phoenix insiders, to paraphrase Will Rogers. She's not the first woman mayor of Phoenix — that distinction goes to Margaret Hance (and Thelda Williams was interim mayor). She's young — 37. She's smart, because she went to Harvard and everyone who's been touched by crimson is smart, or so we're told. On the Council, she supported transit but, wrongly to my mind, opposed upgrades to keep the Phoenix Suns downtown. Gallago is a relative newcomer. Otherwise, she's an unknown commodity.

The last time Phoenix had such a young mayor was the four years of Paul Johnson, who was in his early thirties when he took office in 1990. It was an unhappy tenure. Phoenix was hit with its worst recession since the 1930s and most projects from a big bond issue, which had been passed in the Goddard years, had to be postponed or downsized (one being a new City Hall). How much of this had to do with Johnson's youth is debatable — he was dealt a bad hand and to many did the best he could — but his relative lack of experience hurt him. To be extra fair, Terry Goddard was an impossible act to follow.

Phoenix has a weak mayor system. In the council-manager form of government, the City Council sets policy and the city manager (the capable Ed Zuercher) implements it. Because of changes to the charter over the years, Phoenix's mayor has more power than is the case on other Arizona cities. But she's not chief executive with the Council as legislative body. No veto power. Every mayor is ultimately one vote on Council, and much of her success or disappointment depends on the coalition she can form among a majority of Council members.

Gallego will face a City Council far different than the ones that held majorities under Skip Rimsza and Phil Gordon — even Greg Stanton. Those council majorities made possible Phoenix's big leaps forward: Light rail (WBIYB), the downtown ASU campus, Phoenix Convention Center, downtown Biomedical Campus, and Sheraton convention hotel. Instead, the right-wing Krackpot "Better Call Sal" DiCiccio, his mini-me Jim Waring, and Michael Nowakowski were able to ram through several destructive measures. Two seats are open. Worst among these were killing light-rail extensions to the Paradise Valley district of Phoenix and west Camelback Road. The latter is most unfortunate, for it would have connected Grand Canyon University to the LRT system.

Otherwise, she takes over a city in sno-mo crisis. Twenty-seven percent of Phoenix ZIP codes are considered distressed. That compares with zero in Austin, Denver, Portland, San Diego, and Seattle — peer cities against which Phoenix is competing for high-end talent and capital investment. The blood-sport of rivalry against the supersized suburbs, where most of the metropolitan area's Anglo population and economic assets now reside, continues.

Phoenix has a lower percentage of adults with bachelor's degrees of above than any peer city (the same is true of the entire metro area). Median household income of $52,080 in 2017 was below the national average of $57,652 and Seattle's $79,565. Nearly 21 percent of Phoenix residents are below the poverty line, much higher than the national average or in peer cities. The city suffers disproportionately from underfunded public schools, a situation made worse by the charter-school racket.

With a population of more than 1.6 million, Phoenix is the nation's fifth-largest city. But such a large population is a cost. This is particularly true when the city lacks commensurate high ranks in education, economic crown jewels, innovation, international heft, and cultural institutions. Calcutta (Kolkata) has a population of at least 4.5 million, but nobody would call it a success. Phoenix's cost is exacerbated by 519 square miles of sprawl and warring in-city suburbs. Infrastructure is aging. Phoenix is overdue for a bond issue.

Most of all, Phoenix desperately needs to attract more capital investment, large headquarters, venture capital, and ladders up for its large low-skilled workforce. Cruising along on the magical thinking of "People keep moving here, so we must be doing well" is highly destructive.

Climate change is a clear and present danger. Gallego, who moved to Arizona in 2004, has no memory of Phoenix as a shady oasis. She may have majored in environmental studies as a Harvard undergraduate, but can she emphasize two of the city's biggest needs: planting thousands of shade trees (not palo verdes) and removing ubiquitous gravel?

All of which raises the question of whether Gallego has vision, and the combination of coalition-building and toughness to make it happen. The coming years will tell us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Ruben]

I was proud to personally know two young, successful persons who purchased condos in downtown Phoenix and were going to be my sources of "the latest lowdown" of how things were going in the new downtown phoenix.

And of all the dang things, they up and sold their places and moved to Austin, TX.

Guess they voted with their feet.

Now, I'm back to cal's drive throughs and the freak show that is on display in the New Times.

[Cal Lash]

Buena Suerte

[Ruben]

Concerning the new mayor: I don't like career politicians. I strongly dislike career politician couples. I realize they are divorced, however, these two, Kate and Ruben will haunt the state for decades. Too bad.

P.S.

Benghazi hearings - Distract the sheeple for two years while mischief is done during the distraction. Check. Job accomplished.

Mueller investigation - Distract the sheeple for two years while mischief is done during the distraction. Check. Job accomplished.

I'm so tired of this so called two party system. May both parties and all their followers burn in hell.

[Cal Lash]

Ruben
Inhale deeply, eat, sleep, when you wake up:

https://www.lmtonline.com/technology/businessinsider/article/This-nuclear-explosion-simulator-shows-where-12217796.php

https://consortiumnews.com/2019/03/24/empire-of-chaos-in-hybrid-war-overdrive/

[ὀστρακισμός]

I wrote-off all of the mayoral candidates after the debates that took place in late 2018.

The question "would you accept refugees?"

A silly question was met with equally silly answers.

It seems the mayoral candidates have never walked the streets of Phoenix - especially the downtown core. We obviously can't take care of our own Phoenicians who are in desperate condition, but still they want to care for the poor of the world.

You're the mayor of Phoenix - act appropriately.

We live in an age of virtue signaling - where ironically faux-virtue carries more weight than true virtue and the California-ization of Arizona continues.

But really, you know why I'm posting. It isn't because of some crazy lefty Mayor. It's because over the last 2+ years you and most of the folks here have been living in an alternate reality. I want to see if you've broken out.

Really though, chances are you haven't. You've been living a lie for more than two years - its difficult to break the conditioning. Are these still desperate hours? Are the walls closing in on Trump? Is this the "beginning of the end of the Trump Administration?"

Please, do tell. Do post. Those of us living in reality want to let you out of the insane asylum - but first you have to take your medicine.

[Joe Schallan]

Gallego has been here only 15 years, and that is concerning. So is the snoot factor from having a Harvard degree. (One of the greatest services rendered to the American republic would be the CLOSING DOWN of Harvard. But ain't gonna happen.)

Repeat with me: Elitism is un-American.

The cheap housing - call center jobs feedback loop is one Phoenix desperately needs to break.

So, Kate....

[Cal Lash]

Reality: The world is not White!

[Cal Lash]

Note: The Tempe Library will be closed April 1, 2019 in honor of Cesar Chavez.

[Rogue Columnist]

Let's stay on topic, please.

[Cal Lash]

De acuredo.
Lo Siento.
IMHO
The white elitist was a bad choice.
Reminds me of Saint Janet flying to Salt Lake shortly after she won an LDS Arizona election.
However my 320 square foot home on wheels and i are out of the Phoenix City limits in the great Sonoran desert. Whats left if it.

[Cal Lash]

The mayor's contest had the appearance of a capitalist vs a socialist. There a lot of private enterprise folks out there that would do away with tax supported fire department ambulance and para medic reponse teams.
No matter who is mayor, nor the technology, i do not believe Phoenix will ever be a "Mega" city. But die in the throes of a flaming solar heat.
Thats all the "Good News" from Cactus Ed and his pal, Cal.

[Cal Lash]

Related side bar. Elected Democrat Arizona Senator just voted with the GOP against that down town Brooklynite alleged communist.

[Jerry McKenzie]

Sinema has sold out cal.

Gallegos has many challenges ahead, let’s hope she has the brains and political savvy to navigate the city council and unions. Her opponent made a big mistake taking Republican money and adverts. The union support hurt too — who gets a pension anymore? Not us out on the economy, and the pension bubble may drag the city down.

[Cal Lash]

Pensions are possible given Good "Honest" fund managers and proper contributions from the employees and employers. And private companies are not allowed to deny earned pensions by "claiming" bankruptcy.
The Police/Fire "Drop program" was a good idea for retaining competent investigators but was ill concieved and administered and should have been separate from the normal retirement plan.
As i recall i gave this advise to a Drop Program originator in 77 and/or 89.

I don't think Sinema sold out. She is trying to survive in a GOP-LDS arena.
I seem to recall she left the church boys chior practice. a long time ago.

[DoggieCombover]

Ah, the purity doctrine/litmus test never gets old, a couple of votes that aren't perfect in the eye of the beholder and Sinema has "sold out." Exactly the view that will get Trump re-elected. At least the Dems won't get to shoot themselves in the foot in the Senate race for McCain's old seat by nominating another can't-win candidate like they did for governor.