by Matthew Holloway | Apr 18, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The “Yes for Glendale” campaign, supporting passage of Propositions 401 and 402, is countering the narrative of Worker Power, the political arm of the California-based labor union UniteHere. “Yes for Glendale” is seeking to address what it calls “false rhetoric.”
According to campaign Chairman and VAI Resort President and CEO Grant Fisher, “The facts are on our side. These out-of-state activists can try to mislead Glendale voters, but we’re separating fact from fiction. The truth is that by voting YES on Propositions 401 and 402 upholding the Glendale City Council’s multiple unanimous approvals of the VAI Resort’s zoning, Glendale voters will be ushering in a transformational resort development that will generate more than 2,000 new jobs and more than $2 billion in new tax revenues for community services like public safety, while at the same time telling a California labor union that its self-serving political agenda isn’t welcome here.”
The campaign published a brief set of fact checks in a press release addressing a series of claims allegedly made by Worker Power.
“FALSE CLAIM: By voting no, Glendale can preserve the real estate for a park or green space. (Source: Arguments submitted by opponents of Proposition 401, including Councilmember Lupe Conchas, for the publicity pamphlet; opponents’ campaign literature.)
FACT: This space was never going to be a park. The sliver of land located to the east of the VAI Resort that is being fought by Worker Power is an area zoned for ‘Development,’ not zoned for parks.
Back in 2007, a prior developer planned to develop it as a mix of a restaurant, a public market, retail shops, urban gardens, an art facility and housing for artists-in-residence, as well as parking. The City’s General Plan Map calls out its proposed use in 2007, referring to it as ‘Parks and Open Spaces,’ but it has NEVER been used for that purpose. The City of Glendale never developed it as a park or as an open green space. While it was once used for agriculture, it has been an undeveloped dirt lot with no grass, shade trees, or seating areas for over 10 years.
FALSE CLAIM: The VAI Resort will use too much water. (Source: Phoenix Business Journal, July 28, 2023)
FACT: The current developers of VAI Resort have dramatically reduced the amount of water the project will use since taking over construction and operations in 2022. The resort is anticipated to reduce its water usage by 50% when compared to its previous zoning. Moreover, the resort will use 80% less water than the farmland that once occupied the same site.
FALSE CLAIM: The City of Glendale has extended VAI Resort an overly generous tax incentive. (Source: Phoenix Business Journal, July 28, 2023; argument submitted by Hector Jaramillo for publicity pamphlet.)
FACT: A tax incentive known as a Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) was included in a package between Glendale and the original developers, not the current developers. There is no GPLET between VAI Resort and the City of Glendale, and the current developers have informed the city they are not pursuing one. (Source: Phoenix Business Journal, June 26, 2024.)”
Fisher added, “VAI Resort will be a world-class destination for Glendale that will create jobs, generate billions in new revenues for core city services, and be environmentally responsible. Vote YES on Propositions 401 and 402 to make this project a reality and send these out-of-state activists back to California.”
As previously reported by AZ Free News, the Yes for Glendale campaign launched officially in early April and has already found support from prominent West Valley leaders such as Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, Maricopa County Supervisor Debbie Lesko, and Speaker of the House Steve Montenegro.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Jonathan Eberle | Apr 7, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
A new campaign, Yes for Glendale, has been launched in support of Propositions 401 and 402, two measures set to appear on the May 20 mail-in ballot. The propositions concern land use and zoning changes necessary for the completion of VAI Resort, a large-scale hospitality and entertainment project expected to generate over 2,000 jobs and contribute more than $2 billion in tax revenues.
Proposition 401 involves reclassifying a 10-acre parcel of land designated for VAI Resort’s corporate office to a “Corporate Commerce Center.” Proposition 402 amends the resort’s zoning plan to integrate this corporate office space within the broader project. Both measures were previously approved twice by the Glendale City Council.
Supporters argue that these changes will provide significant economic benefits, including job creation and increased tax revenues for local services. The campaign, chaired by VAI Resort President and CEO Grant Fisher, emphasizes the project’s potential to transform Glendale’s economy and entertainment landscape.
Despite receiving unanimous approval from the City Council, the measures were referred to the ballot by Worker Power, the political arm of UniteHere Local 11, a California-based labor organization. The group has raised concerns about labor conditions and worker representation within the project.
Proponents of the propositions contend that out-of-state activists are attempting to derail a beneficial project for Glendale. Fisher framed the opposition as a broader effort to impose policies that could negatively impact Arizona’s business environment.
The campaign has garnered support from numerous local leaders, including Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, Maricopa County Supervisor Debbie Lesko, and Speaker of the House Steve Montenegro, along with law enforcement and business organizations.
With Glendale voters set to decide the future of these land use changes, the debate is expected to continue over the coming weeks. More information on the Yes for Glendale campaign is available at yesforglendale.com.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 4, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers is enthusiastically supporting two upcoming ballot propositions for the city, which are set to be voted on in the May 20th special election.
The two propositions, Props 401 and 402, would reportedly affirm the Glendale City Council’s approval of a phase in the development of the VAI Resort near State Farm Stadium off the Loop 101.
Weiers, who with the unanimous support of the council has long been a proponent of the resort, said in a statement, “The VAI Resort project represents our city’s next step forward. This development will strengthen our economy, provide thousands of jobs, and increase city revenues to improve police, fire, infrastructure, and more.” He added, “The zoning amendments are necessary for the project’s success, and I encourage you to vote yes on Propositions 401 and 402. It is inappropriate to have an out-of-state union parachuting into our city to try to determine our future and attempt to cap our productivity.”
As previously reported by AZ Free News, the VAI Resort, along with other high profile developments in Glendale’s hospitality industry, have been challenged by a California special interest group that suffered a severe setback in the November election with the defeat of Proposition 499. The proposed ballot measure would have mandated “hotel and event center workers receive a $20.00 per hour minimum wage (increases annually), service charge payments and premium pay to be enforced by a newly created city department of labor responsible for investigating employer violations involving payment of wages, reporting, recordkeeping, and overtime requirements.”
According to Weiers, the same organization that brought Prop 499, the California-based group Worker Power, known to be affiliated with the labor union UniteHere, has unleashed activists to oppose the new propositions.
Worker Power has also led opposition to pro-immigration enforcement legislation in Arizona as recently as February. During the 2024 Presidential election, the group canvassed in Glendale to support Democrats Kamala Harris and Senator Ruben Gallego.
Proposition 401 and 402 Campaign Chairman Grant Fisher lauded the support from Weiers and the City Council saying, “Throughout the process to make the dream of VAI Resort a reality, there has been no greater champion for Glendale’s economic health than Mayor Weiers. We are proud to have Mayor Weiers as part of our coalition to bring thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars in new economic activity to Glendale, and we look forward to celebrating a win with him in May.”
The two propositions are largely administrative in nature, with 401 approving the unanimous City Council approval of a general plan amendment to allow the development of the VAI Resort and 402 confirming the unanimous zoning approval.
“Supporting this initiative means supporting a brighter, more prosperous future for Glendale. Let’s make the right choice. Please join me in voting YES on Propositions 401 and 402 on your mail-in ballot and send it in by May 13. Together, let’s say YES for Glendale!” Weiers told voters.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
