Car Wars: Dueling opinions on Loop 202

Following the comments by three East Valley Mayors that the final Loop 202 construction is a genuine need and, as a regional issue, shouldn't be left to the folks of Ahwaukee Foothills to debate, three opinions appeared in the AZ Republic. One supports the Mayors' views, one tells them to "butt out" and a third questions whether it's not a larger, systemic problem with transportation.

1. East Valley Mayors are correct on the issue:

Three Southeast Valley mayors have waded into the discussion about the proposed South Mountain Freeway, urging the Arizona Department of Transportation to build it along Pecos Road.

We imagine Ahwatukee Foothills residents would prefer that Chandler Mayor Boyd Dunn, Gilbert Mayor Steve Berman and Mesa Mayor Keno Hawker had stayed out of the matter. Yet the mayors are correct in pointing out that it's an issue of regional import.

Homeowners in the detached Phoenix village have been battling for months against the growing likelihood of the last leg of Loop 202 etching the south border of their community. After being lulled into complacency when the freeway, on the books since 1985, had not been built, it seems a cruel twist that - surprise! - ADOT really does intend to build it.

2. East Valley Mayors have "no credibility" and should "butt out" of the issue:

Mayors Keno Hawker, Steve Berman and Boyd Dunn of Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler, respectively, offer their advice to Ahwatukee and southwest communities on the long-contentious South Mountain 202 freeway link.

None of these men is renowned for exhibiting esteemed leadership in his own community. Mesa leads with red ink hemorrhaging since 2000 with draconian service cuts. Gilbert can't come to a reasonable compromise on fire protection for county islands within its municipal boundaries, a prima facie health and safety requirement for government. Chandler can't manage reasonable esprit de corps within its council, mayor, city manager form of government, instead acting like neighborhood brats in a turf game.

Since you guys can't manage your own "houses" with purpose and accomplishment, "butt out" of our area problem with the South Mountain Freeway. If we need your advice, we'll ask.

3. We're all in this together and who's really at fault:

If an Ahwatukee Foothills resident drives a car, does he or she have the moral high ground to fight a freeway? If anyone in this Valley, for that matter, drives a car, isn't that person a part of the problem we're all facing? In the interest of full disclosure, yes, the editorial "we" at The Ahwatukee Republic drive cars. We are in this with everyone.

As the saga of where and whether to build the South Mountain Freeway continues, maybe the planning process needs to be studied for a larger lesson than who's at fault.

Ah, nothing like a good issue of eminent domain to unify the community...