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Bloch: Where does private construction fall in ‘essential’ category?

North Scottsdale work still taking place despite governor’s orders

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About 10 days ago, Governor Ducey issued an executive order shutting down all non essential services throughout the state, including Scottsdale.

His shut down order included business and operations that were not essential.

And so I ask you folks, why does construction continue at San Artes (Scott Taylor developer), and Cavasson (Nationwide Realty developer) on Hayden Road from Princess north to just past the 101? Are these two projects essential services?

Private construction is not listed by the CDC, NIH, or DHS as essential. Does the City Council of Scottsdale believe the construction of these two projects falls into the category of essential services?

There are hundreds of workers at each project, and working very close to one another, the concept of social distancing does not exist at either of these projects. Actually at Cavasson, there are several examples of two or three or four workers on a work platform hoisted up by hydraulic lift, and they are face to face elbow to elbow --- photo attached of a work platform.

And then after 4 p.m. when finished for the day, several of these workers are at my Fry’s Grocery store a mile up the road at Thompson Peak-recognizable as they are wearing their construction green jackets.

And just down the street at Thompson Peak Park the pickle ball courts are locked down --- closed. Now in this sport for those of you who do not know, players are on opposite sides of a net perhaps 30 feet from one another. That would meet the requirement of social distancing.

And on these two construction sites the players are next to each other, breathing one another’s bad and perhaps sickly breath.

Is this another example of Scottsdale granting favor to private developers, yes the very ones who financially support the campaigns of several City Council members?

These construction projects need to be shut down, and shut down now, before these hundreds of workers infect Scottsdale, and elsewhere wherever they live.

Some on the City Council stated they wanted to move on from the referendum, deny the citizens their right to vote on the issue in November. The reason given was that we have more pressing matters, and need to address more important issues.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, move on and address this potentially more than dangerous situation on Hayden road, even if it means having to shut down “friendly” developers.

Editor’s Note: Jim Bloch is a Scottsdale resident.