Arizona Governor Pulls Incentives for Nike Plant Over Shoe Controversy

Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced on Twitter that he was ordering the Arizona Commerce Authority to “withdraw all financial incentive dollars under their discretion” for Nike, which had just announced the opening of a manufacturing plant in the Phoenix metro area. Nike recently canceled the release of a shoe that featured an American flag designed by Betsy Ross on the back, allegedly because former NFL player and social activist Colin Kaepernick asked them to. Kaepernick, a brand ambassador for Nike, told the company that the old design of the flag was representative of the era of slavery. That flag has also been appropriated by white supremacists, according to the New York Times. On Twitter, Ducey criticized the decision, saying “words cannot express my disappointment” and noting that he was embarrassed for Nike. “Instead of celebrating American history the week of our nation’s independence, Nike...has bowed to the current onslaught of political correctness and historical revisionism...Nike has made its decision, and now we’re making ours. Arizona’s economy is doing just fine without Nike,” he tweeted. In the community of Goodyear, where the plant was to be based, local officials agreed to waive up to $1 million in plan review and permit fees, as well as reimburse the company another $1 million for the 500 jobs they created. (The mayor later said she stood by the local incentives.) Nike’s plans call for the company to invest over $180 million in the new plant, and Goodyear had estimated that the plant would bring in $7.7 million in direct revenue for the city.  [AZ Central; The Hill; ABC 15]

PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS | A new Texas law will allow legislators to conceal their emails and other forms of communications from the public in what some say is an attempt to shield themselves from scrutiny as they prepare to redraw the state’s voting maps. Written by two Republican legislators, Rep. Charlie Geren and Sen. Kelly Hancock, the bill was described as a routine update to legislative record storage designed to “to protect the public’s interest in the proper performance of the deliberative and policymaking responsibilities of the legislature.” But those involved in the legal challenge to the state’s 2011 maps, in which emails from state lawmakers were used by plaintiffs who said the maps were intentionally racially gerrymandered, said the motive was much darker. “This is very clearly an attempt to hide communications about redistricting from any future court review. Normally, Texas legislators have only had two options: lie or tell the truth about their motives. The new bill is an attempt to create a third option, which is hide the evidence,” said Nina Perales, an attorney on the case. The bill passed with little resistance and close to no testimony, save from one person, Wendy Woodland of the Texas Library Association. “It makes such a monumental change to how official legislative records are managed, impacting public access. We never got an understanding of why this is necessary,” Woodland said. [Dallas News; Texas Standard] 

GUN BAN | The city council of Richmond, Virginia approved a ban on weapons within the boundaries of city property and parks in response to the deadly shooting that took place in a government building in Virginia Beach. Some on the council, however, said the policy represents nothing more than political “grandstanding,” as it is unlikely that the Republican-controlled Virginia General Assembly, which meets in Richmond, will allow the city to institute the proposal. Councilmember Reva Trammell also tried to push the vote until September. “I have 26,000 people in my district and they should have a voice. They should be able to speak about this,” Trammell said. Richmond’s Police Chief, William Smith, spoke in favor of the ban. “We are somewhat behind the times in that we are an open, easily accessible administration,” Smith said. Following the vote, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney released a statement  that the city is “ready and willing” to implement gun regulations. "Now it’s time to take this momentum across the street and hold our commonwealth’s elected representatives accountable for protecting our children and families. Leaders in the City of Richmond proved tonight they have the spine to act. Now the ball is in the General Assembly’s court,” he said. [WTVR; NBC 12]

MAYOR RESIGNS | The mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania, resigned this week after pleading guilty to three federal charges, including bribery, conspiracy, and extortion. The FBI raided Scranton City Hall in January, in connection to accusations that Mayor Bill Courtright had threatened businesses with “economic harm” if they did not support his campaign. Courtright now faces up to 35 years in prison and $750,000 worth of fines. Councilman Pat Rogan will be acting mayor, assuring residents that “there won't be any changes to city services, to residents. Police are still going to be working. Our firehouse will be staffed. Garbage will be picked up, so the residents aren't going to see any change.” Councilman Wayne Evans said that this was sad news for the city, however. “I know that if the mayor did something wrong, he'll face those charges and something will happen, and I'm sure justice will prevail but that doesn't mean that anyone should be happy about what happened here today,” said Evans. [PoliticsPA.com; WNEP]

HARVARD FELLOWSHIP | Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has been offered a fellowship at Harvard, prompting outcry from those who see him as partially responsible for the Flint water crisis. Snyder, a Republican, was governor from 2011 to 2018. When Flint residents began complaining about the safety of their water in 2014, officials in his administration originally dismissed their claims. Snyder has not been indicted on criminal charges, but he has been named in several civil suits, and his electronic communications have been requested by the prosecutorial team that is working on new criminal charges. Snyder has denied any wrongdoing but his appointment to the fellowship prompted a backlash on social media. “It was a betrayal. It almost seems he is being awarded,” said one Flint resident who is a recent Harvard graduate. Harvard officials responded by saying, “the abject failures of governance that caused such terrible harm to residents of Flint raise profound questions about public policy and administration, and especially about the interaction of racial injustice and public-sector decision making. When Governor Snyder is here, he will undoubtedly face hard questions from students and others about his actions and inactions regarding the situation in Flint.” [Boston Globe; CNN]