Mayor Phil Gordon
Talking Through the Transition
Posted on 11/18/11 by J. Seth Anderson » No Comments
Mayor-elect Greg Stanton appeared with outgoing Mayor Phil Gordon to a packed house in a free public event last night at the Herberger Theater. The event, “Phoenix in Transition” was presented by Valley Leadership as part of their Community Dialogue series and moderated by 12 News reporter Melissa Blasius.
The event was an overview of the role and vision of Mayor-Elect Greg Stanton and insights and advice from outgoing mayor Phil Gordon who has served as mayor for the past eight years. Stanton was given the opportunity to articulate his ideas and vision for Phoenix and how he would put his campaign promises into action.
Mayor Gordon was greeted with a standing ovation when he came on stage to give his opening remarks. He spoke about important accomplishments in Phoenix since he was elected, highlighting the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus and METRO Light Rail as major components of downtown’s revitalization and the regions economic strengths.
Mayor-elect Stanton was also greeted with a standing ovation when he came on stage. He thanked the volunteers for his campaign and its successes before launching into his energetic and optimistic opening statement.
“We are not just in a leadership transition,” he said, noting that Phoenix is in a transition of growth still trying to figure out who and what it wants to be. Education will be a “relentless focus” so that Phoenix can compete in the international market.
Taking the Reigns
After opening statements, Stanton and Gordon joined Blasius on stage for an open conversation. Stanton said he believes Phoenix is a well-run institution but that there are ways to make it better.
When asked how he would be different from Gordon, Stanton said that he planned to serve on regional boards like MAG and Valley Metro. “We will sink or swim as a region,” he said.
Both men agreed that the mayor plays an important role not just in Phoenix but in the state. Stanton cited the biomedical campus as an example of how the mayor of Phoenix can be out in the public making the case for such projects that benefit Arizona as a whole. Stanton also recognized that a strong downtown core benefits the entire city and the state.
With inauguration day just weeks away on January 3 the best advice Gordon offered the incoming mayor was to “get some rest,” reminding the incoming mayor that there is still a lot to do downtown that will keep him busy.
Ideas Into Action
After the conversation, Blasius spent time with Stanton one on one. She began with some lighthearted personal questions (his middle name is John; he’s left handed; drinks a lot of coffee; is in the middle of reading “Bird on Fire” and prefers to spend his free time with his children) before getting to the harder political questions posed by the audience and taken from Facebook. He answered questions about pension reform, how to keep the best and brightest in Phoenix, light rail extensions, and sustainability.
“Unless we get sustainability right, we can’t compete long term. We are a desert city and we have to do better. On my staff we will have a sustainability expert. Sustainability should permeate every decision,” he said. “We should be a leader in solar, but solar is just the beginning of the conversation.”
When asked how to bring more people downtown he answered that the people who live downtown should be included more in the decisions that affect them. “They have the best ideas,” he said. “They know what downtown needs to attract more people.” He also spoke candidly about rethinking the role and influence of the Phoenix Community Alliance and the Downtown Phoenix Partnership. “This isn’t a knock against anyone,” he said but “we need new blood in the downtown apparatus.”
Mayor-elect Stanton with Susan Copeland, Downtown Voices Chair
A Downtown Advocate
After the hour-long event, author and community activist Donna Reiner commented that Stanton is, “consistent, sincere, and understands the management of the city. He’s a different type of champion than Gordon.”
Susan Copeland, Chair of the Downtown Voices Coalition liked what he had to say about more community input regarding the needs of downtown as well as bringing in new leadership.
“We need to expand the power base. There are a lot of people who live and work downtown who have a lot of great ideas,” Copeland said.
Before leaving the Herberger Theater, Stanton mingled with the crowd in the front courtyard.
He told DPJ, “I’m not in rivalry with former mayors. I stand on their shoulders and want to build on what they’ve done. I’m going to be a relentless advocate for this community.”
You can read Mayor-elect Stanton’s First 100 Day plan here.
Mayor Phil Gordon’s 8th Annual Downtown Mixer
Posted on 10/18/11 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
Mayor Phil Gordon invites you to celebrate Downtown at the 8th Annual Downtown Mixer.
The event will celebrate the past eight years of progress in our Downtown Phoenix community, highlighting the economic position of our city’s core, as well as community efforts towards various projects and initiatives throughout Greater Downtown Phoenix.
Where: The Duce 525 S. Central Ave (map)
When: Friday, October 21, 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Entertainment: Special Performances by Arizona’s Lady Gaga as well as the Hot Birds and the Chili sauce
Transportation/Parking: The Duce is transporting guests in their vintage bus to and from the north side of City Hall beginning at 4:15 p.m. Light Rail to Central Ave/Washington St. station, walk five blocks south. Limited valet parking is also available.
Health Sciences Education Building Begins Construction
Posted on 10/29/10 by DPJ Staff » 1 Comment
via The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Mayor Gordon at the groundbreaking ceremony
The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix began construction today on the Health Sciences Education Building at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus (PBC), located at 600 E. Van Buren St. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Councilman Michael Johnson and Stuart Flynn, M.D., Dean of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix moved the first dirt in the construction of the $129-million building, that will allow expansion of the medical education facilities.
“Even in a treacherously down economy, our city has remained committed to forging ahead when it comes to attracting bioscience research jobs, education jobs, and creating new doctors who will save lives,” said Mayor Gordon. “This building and our partnership with the university embodies the collaborative spirit that has made our success possible. When the Health Sciences building opens and we’re graduating 120 new doctors a year, we’ll look back on this day as a landmark.”
The College of Medicine – Phoenix anchors the PBC and currently hosts 168 medical students, admitting 48 per year, with the completion of this building the college will be able to grow its class size to 120 students per year to meet the demand of Arizona’s growing population.
“Today highlights the city’s commitment to building a knowledge-based economy in bioscience research and education,” said Dr. Flynn. “Located on the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, this building embodies the collaborative environment where current and future doctors will learn side-by-side with pharmacists, nurses and allied health workers to advance science and improve patient care.”
“This is an important milestone; it marks our significant effort to create jobs and build a brighter future in our community though health care and scientific education,” said Councilman Johnson, in whose district the building is located. “Once this building is complete, all three state universities will have a presence in Downtown Phoenix.”
Also on the Phoenix Biomedical Campus are the UA College of Pharmacy and the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, the headquarters of the Translational Genomics Research Institute and International Genomics Consortium and the Arizona Biomedical Collaborative building.
DPR Construction and Sundt Construction will jointly build the new six-story, 264,000-square-foot facility, scheduled for completion in summer 2012. The building was designed by CO Architects and Ayers Saint Gross.
You’re Invited to the State of Downtown
Posted on 10/29/10 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
Mayor Phil Gordon invites you to paint Downtown Red and celebrate all that Downtown has to offer at the 7th annual State of Downtown event.
Gordon, whose longtime focus on Downtown progress warrants this annual event aside from his State of the City address, will provide an update on the economic outlook of our city core, as well as key attendees in on various projects and initiatives currently underway throughout Downtown Phoenix.
Come out for your Downtown update, but stay to enjoy samples of the some of the best restaurants in the Downtown area and musical talent from the Phoenix Symphony, as well as one of Phoenix’s best local bands, The Sugar Thieves.
Oh, one other point of interest: the first issue of DPJ magazine debuts at the event! Swing by to get your copy.
Date: Thursday, November 4, 2010
Time: 5 to 7 p.m.
Location: CityScape, 1 E. Washington St.
Get there: METRO Light Rail is recommended (stations at Central/Washington and 1st Ave/Jefferson). Paid parking is available at CityScape and nearby parking garages.
Remember: No City funds were used for this event!
Downtown Beat | Mayor Gordon Joins EPA Advisory Committee
Posted on 9/08/10 by Si Robins » No Comments
Mayor Gordon appointed to EPA advisory committee
Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon was recently appointed to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Local Government Advisory Committee, representing mayors across the U.S.
The EPA’s Local Government Advisory Committee provides advice and recommendations to its administrator, assists in developing a stronger partnership with local governments and helps build state and local capacity to deliver environmental services and programs. The mayor’s two-year term began on August 30.
MMDNA turns two
The Midtown Museum District Neighborhood Association is turning 2 years old on Wednesday, September 15 at 6:30 p.m. A celebration will be held at the Fairfield Inn and Suites (2520 N. Central Ave.) in Midtown Phoenix. Come enjoy light refreshments and hear keynote speaker Councilman Tom Simplot.
Windsor, Churn coming to Uptown
Postino’s Craig DeMarco just can’t stay busy enough, so he’s opening two new concepts on the Postino on Central block north of Camelback Road. Churn, an artisan ice cream house featuring pastries and coffee, will pair up next door to Windsor, an “all-American” restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The side-by-side concepts, scheduled to open in November, were recently penned on Arizona Republic food critic Howard Seftel’s “10 most anticipated new restaurants for 2010-11.”
