Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public commenters urge council to act on 287(g), oppose ICE task force and press for action on Falcon Field noise
Summary
Speakers at public comment urged the council to place 287(g) on the agenda to protect students, warned that ICE enforcement could harm Mesa's Asian business community and tourism, and described rising flight‑school activity at Falcon Field with noise and lead‑fuel concerns.
Several public commenters used the Dec. 8 meeting to press the council on distinct community issues: placing policy 287(g) on a future agenda to protect students, rejecting an ICE task force because of potential economic and community harm, and addressing increased flight‑school activity at Falcon Field that residents say is noisy and uses leaded fuel.
Jason Smithson, a District 4 resident and parent of a child with special needs, urged the council to place "2 87 g" on the agenda next month and take a public vote. "2 87 g cuts students off from counseling, food programs, after school support, early interventions, and special education services," Smithson said, arguing the policy undermines trust between families and schools and disproportionately affects vulnerable students.
Reggie Braun told the council he is Asian and warned that increased ICE detentions of Asian residents could damage commerce and tourism; he urged the council to reject creation of a task force entailing immigration enforcement. "You can keep $1,200,000,000 here in Mesa, or you can have a task force. You can't have both," Braun said, framing the issue as an economic risk to the city's Asian business district.
Gus Palmisano described a sharp increase in flight‑school activity at Falcon Field that he said has tripled training flights over neighborhoods, beginning very early in the morning and sometimes continuing late into the evening. He raised health concerns, saying some aircraft use leaded fuel that could expose neighborhoods and schools to toxic exhaust. "The planes are always there," Palmisano said. "These aircraft use leaded fuel and are spewing toxic exhaust over our neighborhoods." He asked the council to consider the health, safety and economic consequences and to engage with pilots and operators.
Council members did not take immediate action on these public requests at the Dec. 8 meeting; the mayor acknowledged the comments and reminded speakers of follow-up opportunities, including placing items on future agendas where appropriate.
