How would you attract quality jobs to Maricopa - A new approach

[Chunk]

Ok, since we cant have a civil discussion, this is an idea that I have that will hopefully work out well for everyone.

I sent the following email to info@carldiedrich.com and christian@price4mayor.com

Hello,


As a concerned voter trying to inform myself, I would like to ask you the following question:


How would you attract quality jobs and business to Maricopa?


My wife works in the valley, and myself I work from home remotely for a company in California.  As it stands now, there is really no hope to replace our middle class wages (approx 50k / year) with anything locally.  If either one of us lost our job, we would have to commute to the valley most likely.  I know that there is no overnight solution, but I am just wondering what you plan to do to bring those higher paying jobs closer to home.


Your responses will be publically displayed on the forum at Maricopa360.com.  I will also lock the thread so that no discussion by supporters of either group can cause an issue until either I hear from both of you, or one week has elapsed (by 11:59 pm 2/11/12).  I dont need the minutia, just the high level overview.  I'm sure that my situation is not unique and I think it is a major part of most peoples voting decision.


I look forward to hearing from you both, and thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Yes, the thread is locked.  I will publish the candidates responses if I recieve any along with the date and time the email was recieved.

[Chunk]

[Chunk]

[Chunk]

I would like to thank both candidates for participating, and I sincerely appreciate the ability to be able to present both points of view to the public on this forum.  I will now open the thread up for discussion.

[Thomasmagnum]

Just my initial .02
He is planning on building out infratstructure to support additional passenger rail service via Amtrak. This at time when interstate rail passengers are declining more and more every year, and the hefty federal subsidies that keep Amtrak financially viable are in ever incresing jeopardy.
I can't see the logic in that in the least.

[mia]

Both responses are well thought out. Gives me something base a decision on. I would hope a few additional questions can get a response from both candidates. Thanks to Carl and Christian.

[Marty]

Thomas, the city has long talked about moving the Amtrak station west to the Estrella Gin site, which the council just approved a business park feasibility study on this past week.  Some look at the Amtrak station as a panacea of growth opportunities.  Amtrak, itself, is starting to increase passenger capacity and undergoing a new marketing/branding effort to re-kindle the "travel by train" spirit that still exists for the casual and economic-minded traveler. 

I see his response to be in the same zip code as Carl's with regards to the developing the Amtrak station.  It is a grossly under-utilized economic driver.

I do enjoy the rail spur discussion.  That is a major missed opportunity right now.  UPRR has in the past stated no more spurs but if we have people/staff/elected officials that are willing to break UPRR's "paradigm" about rail spurs it can open new doors. 

It also dove tails with the Phoenix Mart project as rail shipping to the west coast will be utilized and surely there is some type of "trickle down" market related to this project that we can chase and make a nice niche for ourselves.

Both candidates have good ideas and responses as Mia indicated.

Just my initial .02
He is planning on building out infratstructure to support additional passenger rail service via Amtrak. This at time when interstate rail passengers are declining more and more every year, and the hefty federal subsidies that keep Amtrak financially viable are in ever incresing jeopardy.
I can't see the logic in that in the least.

[Chunk]

Both responses are well thought out. Gives me something base a decision on. I would hope a few additional questions can get a response from both candidates. Thanks to Carl and Christian.

I think to be fair that maybe a Price supporter should start the same type of thread. Same format and rules. Maybe a question about something else so we can get the broadest view on their positions. Thank you again to both for participating.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

[Fat Girl]

Both responses are well thought out...and indeed gives food for thought...

One more proactive and expedient with quick returns...

The other slower speed start up with less immediate return, but benefits down the road...


I would like to see another thread like this also...written discourse is easier to compare and review...less open to "spin"

Thanks to both candidates indeed

[Thomasmagnum]

Thomas, the city has long talked about moving the Amtrak station west to the Estrella Gin site, which the council just approved a business park feasibility study on this past week.  Some look at the Amtrak station as a panacea of growth opportunities.  Amtrak, itself, is starting to increase passenger capacity and undergoing a new marketing/branding effort to re-kindle the "travel by train" spirit that still exists for the casual and economic-minded traveler. 

I see his response to be in the same zip code as Carl's with regards to the developing the Amtrak station.  It is a grossly under-utilized economic driver.

I do enjoy the rail spur discussion.  That is a major missed opportunity right now.  UPRR has in the past stated no more spurs but if we have people/staff/elected officials that are willing to break UPRR's "paradigm" about rail spurs it can open new doors. 

It also dove tails with the Phoenix Mart project as rail shipping to the west coast will be utilized and surely there is some type of "trickle down" market related to this project that we can chase and make a nice niche for ourselves.

Both candidates have good ideas and responses as Mia indicated.

I am not saying its a mistake to move the train station. That makes the most sense actually, but I believe only becuase it literally cuts the town in half when the trains have to stop. Moving the station and investing in that area with the main goal being increased tourist driven train traffic is a foolish gamble banking mostly on the viability of Amtrak as the main driving economic force.

As I said previously the large federal subsidies that Amtrak receives and NEEDS to continue operation have become rather controversial. With many elected officals outwardly questioning how much bang for the buck the Fed. Gov't. is actually getting here. Especially in a time of ecenomic trouble and with budget slashing taking place.

Amtrak has been talking about its revitalization since most of us here were children. It hasn't happened yet... and even if it does happen I think you have to agree its not going to be an overnight surge in people deciding to ride the rails rather than fly. Its really not that much cheaper and it takes far more time. I myself just priced a cross-county trip via rail. From here to NY for me, my wife, and two children. The best fare I found was riding in regular seats costing $750 and taking three days if everything was on time... for the same 3-day to get there trip,  to have a box to ourselves would have cost nearly $3500 round trip for a space the size of a walk-in closet. Couple that with the fact that freight trains have right of way on nearly all tracks in the country since the rails themselves are owned and maintained by the the freight companies- causing generally long delays over any given trip... and you have few incentives for increased rail travel with exception of it being novelty.

[Desert Dweller]

There would be some benefit for Maricopa if Amtrak were to increase ridership but it would be small.  I doubt that someone is going to take a train to Maricopa as a tourist destination.  It may be a way point for the Phoenix metro area but that's about it.  You could expect a little hotel revenue for an overnight stay and some transportation revenue for folks to get to Phoenix.  That's about it.

There are exceptions but for the most part people ride Amtrak because 1) they are afraid to fly, or 2) they can't afford to fly.  It's a lot like the demographic of people who ride the Greyhound bus.

[Tigg]

There are exceptions but for the most part people ride Amtrak because ...2) they can't afford to fly. 

Train travel is often more expensive than flying.

[Thomasmagnum]

Exactly!
See my example above...

[KendoPt4]

I think its because they know its mainly people who can't fly but have to get somewhere, lol

[Blue Tick]

We do need alternate routes into to Phoenix to expand and create jobs within the city. The rail spur for Amtrak would be beneficial if it were a rail spur for commerce and warehousing, in as much as Casa Grande does with loading/unloading of freight shipped via train into Phoenix. But something needs to happen quickly to generate tax money to operate the city, before it is placed upon homeowners.