The fliers and ballots have been mailed, the news conferences and rallies have taken place.

On Tuesday, Tempe voters will decide whether the city should allow the development of an entertainment district that will include an arena for the Arizona Coyotes on land west of Town Lake.

Signs for and against the development have been part of the Tempe landscape for weeks.

Four former mayors as well as Mayor Corey Woods have spoken in favor of the project as has the Tempe City Council, which gave its approval months ago.

A state senator from Tempe who is the minority leader in the upper house of the Arizona Legislature has spoken out against the development, joining a former council member and others in the community who question the leadership of the NHL franchise and whether it’s the proper way to develop the land.

At issue is this:

Tempe voters, by early ballots or on Election Day, will have the final say when they vote on three ballot propositions to approve or reject the Tempe Entertainment District, which will include a new home for the Arizona Coyotes and a variety of commercial, residential and entertainment components.

Proponents say it is a good deal for the city as it will develop and clean up a site with a project that will help the community financially and  provide other benefits.

Opponents say it is not a good deal - that the city is giving too much away to the Coyotes, who are moving on from a deal they struck with Glendale years ago. There are better uses for the land that would be more economically beneficial for the city, according to  Tempe 1st, a group that has campaigned against the project.

Some of the voices for and against:

 “This project is a win for Tempe. The city ensured that there would be no cost or risk to the city, while also benefiting from the thousands of jobs, hundreds of millions in revenues and billions in spending this project will bring.” – Former Mayor Harry Mitchell

“What is disappointing is that some ‘prominent’ Tempe citizens have bought into this ‘big lie,’ and I see it tearing our community apart." "I’ve felt good about the direction we’re going and why we’re going there. This is not the case here.” - Ron Pies, former Tempe community services director and a former Kyrene school district governing board member

“Not one dime of public money is at risk to develop a project that will create nearly 7,000 sustainable, good-paying jobs and bring a massive financial windfall for our city to help fund municipal services into the future such as affordable housing, park improvements, public safety, emergency medical response and more.” – Former Mayor Neil Giuliano

“I was on the council for two terms during this whole discussion. We built the (request for) proposal just to attract one response, and that was the Coyotes.” “This is David and Goliath.” – Former Tempe Councilmember Lauren Kuby.

Tempe “drove a hard bargain that uses private sector dollars for the greater good.” - Former Mayor Hugh Hallman

“We will not be harassed into silence by a Las Vegas billionaire looking to profit from exploiting us.” Dawn Penich-Thacker, Tempe 1^st.

 Where they agree:

Both sides are encouraging Tempe voters to cast ballots on the propositions before polls close on Tuesday, May 16.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.