Cecilia Chan

Tempe

Managing Editor at Gilbert Sun News

Senior Reporter at Times Media Group

Reporter at Ahwatukee Foothills News

Articles

Group unveils upbeat plans for downtown Mesa

1 day ago | themesatribune.com | Cecilia Chan

Easier and more convenient parking, a new mobile information kiosk to connect patrons to businesses and more free family events are some of the priorities for a nonprofit group tasked with promoting Mesa’s original square mile downtown. The Downtown Mesa Association was formed in 1985 to help create a thriving downtown in an area from University Drive to Broadway Road and Country Club to Mesa drives.
Mesa Arts Center store closing worries artists who need a venue

4 days ago | themesatribune.com | Cecilia Chan

For 15 years local artisans have showcased and sold their paintings, pottery, jewelry, ceramics and other works out of The Store at Mesa Arts Center downtown. The Store, however, will close its doors May 30 due to dropping sales. A percentage of the sales has funded the gallery’s operations. “Devastated,” was mix-media artist Debra McKee’s reaction upon learning of the news. “I’ve been in The Store since it opened 15 years ago,” said McKee, a full-time artist for the past 40 years.
Freeman touts Mesa’s feats, challenges

5 days ago | themesatribune.com | Cecilia Chan

Mayor Mark Freeman is focusing his priorities on public safety and water during his term, building upon the foundation left by one of his grandfathers who helped found Mesa. Freeman, who served eight years on the council before assuming the mayoral seat in January, touted all the good in Mesa and what’s ahead for the future in his first State of the City address last week. “Mesa’s roots run deep,” Freeman told a full audience at the Mesa Convention Center.
Mesa grapples with cost of sheltering the homeless

1 week ago | themesatribune.com | Cecilia Chan

Mesa anticipates paying less than what it does now to shelter the homeless in its Off the Streets Program when the city-owned Sunaire with 64 rooms opens next March near Main Street and Power Road. The city in 2023 purchased the former Grand Hotel near Main Street and Power Road and it is currently undergoing renovation. The purchase and renovation were funded by federal pandemic-relief dollars.
Mesa grapples with cost of sheltering the homeless

1 week ago | eastvalleytribune.com | Cecilia Chan

Mesa anticipates paying less than what it does now to shelter the homeless in its Off the Streets Program when the city-owned Sunaire with 64 rooms opens next March near Main Street and Power Road. The city in 2023 purchased the former Grand Hotel near Main Street and Power Road and it is currently undergoing renovation. The purchase and renovation were funded by federal pandemic-relief dollars.
Mesa seeks more funding to help heat-stressed people

1 week ago | themesatribune.com | Cecilia Chan

Mesa is gearing up for the approaching intense summer temperatures as it saw an increase in heat-related deaths last year. The city Community Services Department in its budget presentation recently asked for one-time funding of $89,800 in the upcoming budget year to fund services for the heat relief program. Last year 65 people died from summer heat in Mesa, an increase from 51 the year before, according to the department.
Courts’ DEI rulings render Mesa Public Schools debate moot

1 week ago | themesatribune.com | Cecilia Chan

Mesa Public Schools officially promised the U.S. Department of Education that it’s not engaging in unlawful diversity, equity and inclusion – or DEI – practices in order to keep receiving federal dollars. But that pledge may be moot as three different federal judges in other states have since separately blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to withhold school funds for so-called DEI violations.
Report puts Mesa park rangers under fire

1 week ago | themesatribune.com | Cecilia Chan

Three city park rangers were accused of going rogue and roughing up transients, shaking people down for drugs and having sex on the job, according to a Mesa Police report. The rangers allegedly called themselves the “Goon Squad” and even had their own “goon patch.”“The City of Mesa holds its employees to the highest standards of conduct and has zero tolerance for this type of misconduct,” City Manager Chris Brady said in a statement last week.
Report puts Mesa park rangers under fire

1 week ago | eastvalleytribune.com | Cecilia Chan

Three city park rangers were accused of going rogue and roughing up transients, shaking people down for drugs and having sex on the job, according to a Mesa Police report. The rangers allegedly called themselves the “Goon Squad” and even had their own “goon patch.”“The City of Mesa holds its employees to the highest standards of conduct and has zero tolerance for this type of misconduct,” City Manager Chris Brady said in a statement last week.
Violent crimes have increased over 5 years in Mesa

2 weeks ago | themesatribune.com | Cecilia Chan

Violent crimes in Mesa have seen a steady uptick for the past five years, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s tracking system. DPS serves as the coordinating agency for the Arizona Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which collects data from participating law enforcement agenciesViolent crimes, which includes murder, aggravated assault, robbery and sexual assaults, tallied 2,467 cases in Mesa last year –a 7.82% increase from 2023, DPS reported.