it will be interesting to see if his brilliant marketing ideas pay off. also had to chuckle a bit at him saying "buying the arena is not on his radar now". i could nto help but think, why in the world would he tie himself to teh area given the teams historic issues.
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If I do not come back avenge my death
Top Glendale administrators, including interim City Manager Horatio Skeete, signed off on improper transfers from a city fund to help make ends meet, according to more than three years of records reviewed by The Arizona Republic.
An internal audit this past summer turned up the wrongdoing and showed that the Glendale City Council and an oversight board often were kept in the dark or told about transfers after the fact, and with few details.
In all, $6million in transfers over the past three years will impact a tight Glendale budget as city officials must repay at least part of the improperly tapped funds.
The records, which include internal e-mails, provide insight on who was involved in the transfers. None of the e-mails about the transfers included now-retired City Manager Ed Beasley, but Skeete recently told the council final decisions always rested with Beasley.
The paper trail shows that Skeete, who as a deputy and assistant city manager oversaw the departments involved in the transfers, was kept apprised of the moving money and gave his nod to some of the transfers. The city’s budget, finance and human resources heads were all in the loop.
Something always seemed to be missing at Westgate City Center, Glendale’s signature entertainment and shopping district: critical mass.
The crowds from nearby sports venues and a movie theater were sporadic, not reliable enough to fill Westgate’s restaurants, bars and concert events on a regular basis.
That could all change Thursday, when Tanger Outlets Westgate opens nearly 85 stores. The mall will be a critical third anchor, along with Jobing.com Arena and University of Phoenix Stadium, for the Westgate complex. Up to 5 million shoppers will go to Tanger each year, according to the mall owner’s projections.
My wife was really excited that another large outlet mall is going to be opening in the PHX area, and less than 5 mins from my parents place too.
I am certain that there will be finally the amount of traffic that they initially projected. Every time we're there it's busy in that Westgate area, and not on game days.
Joyce Clark @clarkjv
received a call from Glendale's Interim City Manager Horatio Skeete. He has just signed the docs for the lease mgmt agree w Hockey Ptnrs.
Joyce Clark @clarkjv
received a call from Glendale's Interim City Manager Horatio Skeete. He has just signed the docs for the lease mgmt agree w Hockey Ptnrs.
Something always seemed to be missing at Westgate City Center, Glendale’s signature entertainment and shopping district: critical mass.
The crowds from nearby sports venues and a movie theater were sporadic, not reliable enough to fill Westgate’s restaurants, bars and concert events on a regular basis.
That could all change Thursday, when Tanger Outlets Westgate opens nearly 85 stores. The mall will be a critical third anchor, along with Jobing.com Arena and University of Phoenix Stadium, for the Westgate complex. Up to 5 million shoppers will go to Tanger each year, according to the mall owner’s projections.
I've been to Tanger, and it's busy but Westgate is dead as a doornail.. no residual traffic at all.
That's not why they're cutting anything and these cuts would take place AND payments would need to be made regardless.
The issue for Glendale isn't as much the Coyotes as it is Camelback Ranch.. they owe more than the Arena on that ballpark!
The more you know..
Today is a good day!
It all comes down to this: less money allocated for necessary public services, more for subsidzing professional sports franchises... no matter how you look at it.
Glendale has the biggest circus of municipal politicians in the history of anything. It's a joke where their priorities lay. I'd be pissed with this deal, even if I was a Coyotes fan and a Glendale resident.
Oh well, you reap what you sow. I hope if Jobing.com Arena burns down, they don't complain about the lack of people trying to put it out.
