Biased Public Input Leads to Unbalanced Recovery in Mesa, Arizona's Fiesta District

Public input is a valuable and necessary contribution to public administration tasks, and incorporating this input is a best practice in the industry. But what happens when public input does not support the best interests of a city and its population? The revitalization planning of Mesa, Arizona’s Fiesta District is an example of this dilemma. This paper outlines the District’s life cycle and factors leading to its current situation. It examines the City’s revitalization plans and explores public and private sector progress toward revitalization. Recommendations – including policy changes, master planning, and transportation planning – are offered along with supporting evidence that could help the City of Mesa take the next steps forward in the area’s revitalization.