Arizona's Own Espresso Pundit

A Not So Light Rail

I had lunch at Portland's on Central a few weeks ago and I was pleased to see that most of the construction barriers were down.  However, without the barriers, I got my first good look at that small section of post-construction Central Avenue and realized that cars aren't going to be able to cross the tracks.  I guess that should have been obvious, but I can drive across railroad tracks in other parts of downtown, and I never imagined that Central would become a the state's longest No Left Turn lane. 

I made it to my lunch at Portlands, but I had to turn right and go to third street, then turn right again and get back on Roosevelt, cross Central at the light and sneak around Trinity Church.  Portlands was empty. 

I'm starting to worry about some of my downtown lunch spots.  I oftentimes host meetings in the Renaissance building and then bring a group down to Tom's Tavern.  I sheepishly ask Mike if I can get a table for ten and he rolls his eyes and does his best to help me out.  I brought in a group of six last Friday and we had our choice of tables.  I asked him about business, and it's clear that the construction is a real problem. My friends at Honeybears on Central are struggling as well.

Now we learn from today's Republic that Jordan's, a fixture in Downtown Phoenix for 60 years, is closing.   

These businesses are independently owned.  The guy who clears your table is the same guy who has his name on the mortgage.  Isn't that one of the factors that makes a downtown great?

Sure, the city offers help in the form of signage and loans but that's not going to offset a 50% decrease in business.

Maybe light rail will be successful.  But one thing's for sure; a lot of fine people are being hurt in the process. 

No News is Good News

Here's a classic example of media bias.  The AP takes a positive story and uses it as a vehicle to rehash everything that's wrong with Iraq.  The story itself is straight forward.  An Iraqi woman won the Arab equivalent of American Idol.  That would make a nice little human interest story, but look how the Associated Press spins it. 

BAGHDAD - For four long years, life has been brutally unkind to most Iraqis, but Friday night they had one of those rare moments to focus beyond the daily violence that is swallowing their lives. One of their own took first prize in the Arab version of American Idol.

In Baghdad, a city that becomes deserted and plunges into darkness after nightfall, residents who had electricity to watch televisions celebrated with gunfire that briefly pierced the quiet just before midnight.

Wearing a turquoise evening dress, Shadha Hassoun wrapped herself with the flag of Iraq and broke into tears as fans swarmed the stage in Beirut, Lebanon, where the contest was held and broadcast live throughout the Middle East.

"Her triumph will show the world that Iraqis will still sing despite their wounds," Israa Tariq, a homemaker from Baghdad's al-Ghadeer neighborhood, said before Friday's final episode.

Dubbed the "Daughter of Mesopotamia" by her fans, Hassoun's run to the final in what is perhaps the Arab world's most watched TV entertainment program coincided with a particularly painful time in Iraq.

More than 500 people had been killed in the last six days alone.

Most of them perished in a series of horrific suicide bombings targeting busy markets and in a sectarian massacre where men were dragged out of their homes and shot execution-style.

Parting Shot

I've often thought that Bob Robb should have been the Republic's Business columnist and Jon Talton should have been a political columnist.  Robb espouses a traditional economic view and rejects Talton's view that Phoenix is built on pyramid scheme, capitalism is the enemy and Ireland is an economic Mecca. 

I don't know if it's intentional, or if there was simply a lot of subconscious pent up frustration, but in his latest column, Robb takes a very effective parting shot at Talton as he heads out the door. 

Here are excerpts from Robb's latest column.  Contrast Robb's statements with Talton's worldview in blue. 

Current conditions have Arizona's economic worrywarts working overtime.  Arizona's economy is supposedly driven by residential housing, which is in a slump.

I don't know all the reasons metro Phoenix's narrow, housing-based economy levitates decade after decade, lagging by a host of quality measures but usually at the top in job creation and construction."  Talton  March 15, 2007

Nor am I going to peddle sunshine.

Well, you don't have to shovel sunshine, and the economy is always booming. At least, that's what they tell me.  Talton, May 2005.

A slumping housing market does have an economic effect. But it is simply untrue that Arizona's economy is primarily driven by residential real estate.

Some say that Arizona's economy is driven by growth. And certainly with that kind of population growth, a lot of people are going to be employed servicing it.

People came here to get away from it all, and their numbers have created what might seem to be a perpetual motion real estate economy.  Talton January 2007

And it's not the weather, another commonly cited driver of the Arizona economy.

The competitive winds blowing from China and India have only added pressure for the state to do more than depend on hot weather and inexpensive land.  Talton February 2006

Growth certainly creates more economic opportunities. However, such opportunity has to be extant to a considerable extent to generate the growth to begin with.   The most fearful feature for Arizona's future isn't the stuff that the worrywarts fret about. It's the extent to which this fundamental is overlooked and underappreciated.

But the index shows the urgency in creating an economy that does more than rely on lower-wage jobs driven by population growth.  Talton March 13, 2007

Residential housing doesn't drive the Arizona economy now, and bioscience won't in the future.

The university and bioscience campuses, combined with light rail, give us the best shot ever to reverse decades of creeping blight and attract capital, jobs and residents. Talton  March 12, 2006

Hacked Off

From National Review On line.

Someone on Presidential hopeful John McCain's staff is going to be in trouble today. They used a well known template to create his Myspace page. The template was designed by NewsVine Founder and CEO Mike Davidson (original template is here). Davidson gave the template code away to anyone who wanted to use it, but asked that he be given credit when it was used, and told users to host their own image files.

McCain's staff used his template, but didn't give Davidson credit. Worse, he says, they use images that are on his server, meaning he has to pay for the bandwidth used from page views on McCain's site.

Davidson decided to play a small prank on the campaign this morning as retribution. Since he's in control of some of the images on the site, he replaced one that shows contact information with a statement:

Today I anounce that I have reversed my position and come out in full support of gay mariage…particularly marriage between two passionate females.

Welcome to the digital media age, Senator.

— Greg Pollowitz

Passing the Buck

I was stunned when I logged on to today's Republic and thought I saw an editorial that...gasp...was critical of Governor Napolitano.   Investigators have learned that conditions at the Arizona State Veteran Home are deplorable.  The Veteran Home is a state agency and and the title of the Republic's editorial is Buck Stops at the Top.  Hmm, could it be possible that with the election safely over, the Republic's status as cheerleader could be changing?  The article continued with promise...

The wheels are in motion to unearth what went wrong at the Arizona State Veteran Home - to track down the facts, punish the guilty and fix what went wrong.  That much is gratifying.

So where does the Republic think the buck stops?

To keep the wheels of reform moving, the director of Veterans Services must go.

Yep, that's how Truman would have handled it..."the director of Veterans Service must go."  (The passive voice is a nice touch.)

Pulling the Plug

The Republic is pulling the plug on Plugged In. 

Dear readers,

This is the last week of Plugged In.

In the reorganization of The Arizona Republic, some jobs got axed, and Plugged In was one of them. The Republic will offer other products that it feels will better serve its readers.

I will return to God’s country, I mean the West Valley, where Avondale awaits me.

I would just like you dear readers to know how much I enjoyed bringing you the latest in Arizona politics for the past three months.

That's an ignominious end to a feature which I really enjoyed.   Phil Boas saw the potential of the blogosphere early and built Plugged In from the ground up.  Nowicki took it over and Boas created a new blog called Viewpoints.  Nowicki has moved to a blog called "McCain Central."  Now, Plugged In is gone, Boas hasn't posted to Viewpoints for nearly a week and McCain's campaign is sinking fast. 

The real reason that the Republic's foray into blogging is being abandoned is, of course, financial.  The blog format that the Republic uses for Plugged In, Viewpoints and McCain Central won't support as many ads as the rest of AzCentral.  Check out the blog format and then compare it to the AzCentral format.

A Textbook Case

The Republic is trying to convince parents and educators to start using the paper in the classroom.  Newspapers contain topics that are only interesting to adults written at a level that is only appropriate for children, so I'm pretty skeptical of using them as teaching tools, but that's better said in a later post.   

The subject of this post is the ad that the Republic published in order to tout its educational benefits.  Here's the ad that appeared on A11 of Monday's Republic.  The topic is basketball--which is right up there with the Trojan War in terms of educational significance--but check out the picture.  (You may have to click on the picture to enlarge it.)

The caption says "Ohio State is a top contender for the NCAA Men's Division I championship thanks in part to the play of Greg Oden, possibly the best player in college hoops."  Now, I'm not a sports guy, but I know that's not a picture of Greg Oden.  Actually, I've never heard of Greg Oden, but even I can read the word on the jersey and it looks to me like it says "Florida" in really big letters. 

So much for teaching tools. 

 

Hey, Check This Out.

I've had the opportunity to work with some really terrific folks over the nearly 20 years that I've been in politics.  Chuck Blanchard is one of the brightest.  He clerked for Justice O'Connor and then defeated an incumbent for the State Senate the same year that I was elected to the House.  (That period is technically known as the "Jurassic Period.")  The Senate was in some turmoil at the time, and the Democrats made Chuck the Majority Leader during his Freshman year.  A true Freshman as the Senate Majority Leader.  That's unheard of. 

Chuck and I don't see eye to eye on many policy issues, but he's a brilliant guy and I have a lot of respect for him.  And now he's started a blog.  What does a brilliant attorney turned politician, turned attorney blog about?  Theology of course.  Perphaps not surprisingly, Chuck and I don't see eye to eye on Theology either.  But it's a great read from a serious thinker.  Check it out.  http://aguyinthepew.blogspot.com/

No Look Pass II

Last January I wrote a post called the "No Look Pass."  That piece was in response to the political conundrum created when last November's Minimum Wage law failed to include an exemption for the Developmentally Disabled. 

The law is clear.  You can't pay workers less than minimum wage and there are no exemptions.  However, this is a politically untenable position because the developmentally disabled community is a sympathetic and visible loser. But the law can't be changed because it was created by initiative and the legislature is not allowed to create exemptions to a law that was passed by the people.  There is no legitimate solution short of changing the law at the next general election. 

However, there is an illegitimate trick that can solve the problem.  In January I predicted what would happen. 

So what's the solution?  The No Look Pass.  The agency that enforces the minimum wage law is planning to take a pass on it and the newspapers and law enforcement agencies are vowing not to look.

That's exactly what happened.  The agency charged with enforcing the statute fabricated an exemption.  Here's the Republic's take on it. 

They will not be "workers," per se. Rather, they will be "trainees," who work not for a wage but for an educational stipend.

Sure, that's the ticket.  The Industrial Commission will simply say that these folks aren't workers and the money they receive isn't wages.  The newspapers will look the other direction.  Thus the "no look pass."

The Republic continues its glowing editorial support for the Industrial Commission's slight of hand while conceding that the rule is a fabrication.

Technically, the law may say the developmentally disabled are but "trainees."

But, in fact, they are workers. Earning what they get, and gaining the gratification of a wage hard-earned in the process.

So what's wrong with that?  I answered the question in my previous post. 

So what's wrong with the No Look Pass?  The problem is that if you aren't a sympathetic character, the enforcement agency will decide not to pass and the newspapers will decide to look. 

We are a nation of laws not men.  That's not just rhetoric, it's a fundamental principle.  Your status in the legal system in based on what you do, not who you are.  But the No Look Pass allows onerous laws to continue and simply not be applied to folks who are sympathetic.  Or, conversely, they can be used to target folks who aren't sympathetic. 

I previously used the example of the disparate treatment that David Burnell Smith received from the Clean Elections Commission.  The statute states that fines for election violations shall be 10 times the amount of any violation.  But this is untenable because it would wipe out a lot of candidates.  So the CCEC has--unlawfully--provided exceptions and the newspapers don't look.  That is they don't look until they decide to look...and in Smith's case, remove him from office. 

But let's take politics out of it.  Here's a great example of selective enforcement.  You may have seen this little tidbit in the paper. 

Paradise Valley socialite Sonia Falcone plead guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of employing unauthorized immigrant workers as part of a courtroom deal that forces her to leave the United States but eliminates a potential felony conviction.

The Falcone's have a colorful past to say the least and are certainly not sympathetic characters, but step back a second and pay attention to the charges.

Under the plea bargain, those felony allegations will be dismissed. Instead, she will admit to employing several immigrants who had religious visas, but were not authorized to work in the United States. That crime is not even listed on the indictment.

The Paradise Valley Socialite is forced to leave the country because she hired illegal aliens?  Perhaps she's the only Paradise Valley resident who has done that.  If you read more closely, the guys she hired weren't even in the country illegally, but it was a violation of their Visas for them to work.  Has anyone in Arizona been forced to leave the country because they hired someone who was in the country legally but not authorized to work?  Of course not. 

This is the pernicious side of the No Look Pass.  If you are a sympathetic character--the Developmentally Disabled Community with minimum wage law, Janet Napolitano with Elections Law, someone picking up guys at Home Depot with Immigration Law--then the law doesn't apply to you. 

But if you are not a sympathetic character--Hispanic teenagers who lose their jobs because of artificially high wages, David Burnell Smith kicked out of office for campaign violations or Sonia Falcone kicked out of the country for hiring a driver in violation of his Visa restrictions--then the full weight of the law falls on you. 

The cornerstone of our legal system is that we are a nation of laws not men.  It's not who you are that gets you fired, removed from office or deported, it's what you do.  The No Look Pass is an abdication of responsibility by the regulatory agencies and their enablers at the newspapers. 

So the Republic and the Industrial Commission may think that it's really clever to wink and define workers as "trainees" and wages as "stipends" but that's not how the law works.  If you don't like the law change it.  Don't simply decide not to apply it. 

Republic Staff Assignments

I know this is inside baseball, but there have been a lot of changes at the Republic and folks have been asking me if I have any other information.  Here's the list of all the current assignments.

Update:  I'm getting a lot of email about this list.  They can be summarized thus "my gosh, that's a ton of people.  How can it take so many people to put out the paper?"

Let me add another comment.  Do you really think that AzCentral generates enough advertising revenue to support all these people?  The decline of the print edition and transition to an on-line version will inevitably be accompanied by significant layoffs. 

REPUBLIC / AZCENTRAL.COM INFORMATION CENTER
  Ward Bushee -- Vice President/News & Editor
  Randy Lovely -- Executive Editor
  Nicole Carroll -- Managing Editor / Features & Innovation
  John Leach -- Managing Editor / News & Digital Media
  Michael Roberts -- Senior Director / Training and Staff Development
  Mark Hiland -- Director / Training and Staff Development
  Brian Berlinski -- Financial Analyst
  Kim Meader -- Administrative Assistant
  Barbara VanDenburgh -- Administrative Assistant
  Teclo Garcia -- Editor on Special Assignment
  FIRST AMENDMENT CENTER
  Keira Nothaft -- Director
  National/International Issues Team
  Kristen DelGuzzi -- Content Manager
  Open -- Washington reporter
  Mike Madden -- Washington (GNS) reporter
  Dan Nowicki -- McCain/politics reporter
  Daniel Gonzalez -- Immigration reporter
  Sean Holstege -- Border/Homeland Security reporter
  Chris Hawley -- Mexico City reporter
  Western Issues Team
  Kristina Justin -- Content Manager
  Catherine Reagor -- Real Estate/Growth reporter
  Glen Creno -- Real Estate/residential reporter
  Shaun McKinnon -- Water management reporter
  Corinne Purtill -- Environment reporter
  Angela Pancrazio -- Boomer issues and G.A. reporter
  State Issues Team
  David Fritze -- Content Manager
  Pat Kossan -- K-12 education reporter
  Anne Ryman -- Higher education reporter
  Robert Anglen -- F.O.I/G.A. Reporter
  Dennis Wagner -- State G.A./Investigative and storytelling reporter
  Open -- Transportation reporter
  Page One Team
  Josh Susong -- Platform Manager
  Chris Fiscus -- Platform Manager
  Andrew Long -- Graphic artist
  Eric Dick -- Copy editor
  LOCAL/COMMUNITY CENTER
  Jeff Dozbaba -- Director
  Valley & State Team
  John D'Anna -- Content Manager
  Julie Morris -- Night Content Manager
  Karen Kurtz -- Weekend Content Manager
  Lori Baker -- Education Content Coordinator
  Capitol Team
  Tom Spratt -- Content Manager
  Matt Benson -- Governor's office reporter
  Mary Jo Pitzl -- Legislature reporter
  Amanda Crawford -- State agencies reporter
  Yvonne Wingett -- County (Sun-Thu) reporter
  Rotating Capitol reporter
  Phoenix Team
  Maureen West -- Content Manager
  Elvia Diaz -- Assistant Content Coordinator
  Greg Hilliard -- Print Platform Coordinator
  Victor Barajas -- Online Platform Coordinator
  Jahna Berry -- Downtown Phoenix-airport reporter
  Casey Newton -- Phoenix city hall reporter
  Michael Clancy -- Phoenix neighborhoods reporter
  Connie Sexton -- Phoenix neighborhoods reporter
  Linda Helser -- Phoenix neighborhoods (PT) reporter
  Sadie Jo Smokey -- Phoenix mobile reporter
  Betty Reid -- Phoenix schools reporter
  Open -- Information Specialist
  Mesa Team
  Dan Shearer -- Content Manager
  Dave Niebergall -- Print Platform Manager
  Jacki Shoyeb -- Online Platform Coordinator
  Gary Nelson -- Mesa city hall reporter
  Art Thomason -- East Mesa neighborhoods reporter
  Jim Walsh -- West Mesa neighborhoods reporter
  JJ Hensley -- Mesa mobile reporter
  Josh Kelley -- Mesa schools reporter
  Senta Scarborough -- Mesa public safety reporter
  Jeremy Cluff -- Information specialist
  Tempe Team
  Alia Rau -- Content Manager
  Jim Wambold -- Print Platform Coordinator
  Jacki Shoyeb -- Online Platform Coordinator
  Katie Nelson -- Tempe city hall reporter
  William Hermann -- ASU/South Scottsdale mobile reporter
  Eugene Scott -- Tempe public safety reporter
  Betty Beard -- Southeast Valley regional business reporter
  Open -- Information Specialist -- News By You (East Valley and
Scottsdale)
  Chandler Team
  Mike Stephens -- Content Manager
  Jim Wambold -- Print Platform Coordinator
  Jacki Shoyeb -- Online Platform Coordinator
  Edythe Jensen -- Chandler city hall reporter
  Sarah Muench -- Chandler mobile reporter
  Open -- Chandler public safety reporter
  Ray Parker -- Chandler schools reporter
  Luci Scott -- Chandler/Tempe/Ahwatukee business reporter
  Kerry Fehr-Snyder -- Southeast Valley regional transportation
(Sun-Thu) reporter
  Ahwatukee Team
  Cathy Creno -- Content Manager
  Jim Wambold -- Print Platform Coordinator
  Jacki Shoyeb -- Online Platform Coordinator
  Colleen Sparks -- Ahwatukee neighborhoods reporter
  Weldon Johnson -- Ahwatukee mobile reporter
  Open -- Ahwatukee schools reporter
  Gilbert Team
  Jim Fickess -- Content Manager
  Jim Thomas -- Print Platform Coordinator
  Jeff Carr -- Online Platform Coordinator
  Mike Walbert -- Gilbert city hall reporter
  Lars Jacoby -- Gilbert mobile reporter
  Dianna Nanez -- Gilbert neighborhoods reporter
  Doug Carroll -- Gilbert schools reporter
  David van den Berg -- Gilbert business reporter
  Lynh Bui -- Queen Creek/San Tan monthly reporter (Tue-Sat)
  Stephanie Eib -- Information specialist
  Scottsdale Team
  Jim Gold -- Content Manager
  Steve Yozwiak -- Assistant Content Manager
  Dale Hajek -- Print Platform Coordinator
  Victor Barajas -- Online Platform Coordinator
  Leslie Wright -- Scottsdale city hall reporter
  Diana Balazs -- Northeast Valley regional cities reporter
  Dolores Tropiano -- Northeast Valley regional cities (Tue-Sat)
reporter
  Michael Ferraresi -- Scottsdale mobile reporter
  Jane Larson -- Scottsdale transportation reporter
  Carol Sowers -- Scottsdale public safety reporter
  Peter Corbett -- Scottsdale tourism reporter
  Ofelia Madrid -- Scottsdale schools reporter
  Angelique Soenarie -- Northeast Valley tribal economic development
reporter
  Kate Nolan -- Northeast Valley regional health reporter
  Deb Bingham -- Information specialist
  Southwest Valley Team
  Venita James -- General Manager and Editor
  Debora Britz -- Content Manager
  Dennis Godfrey -- Print Platform Coordinator
  Sky Schaudt -- Online Platform Coordinator
  Kelly Carr -- Buckeye city hall reporter
  David Madrid -- Avondale city hall reporter
  Jessica Coomes -- Goodyear city hall reporter
  Annemarie Moody -- Southwest Valley mobile reporter
  Elias Arnold -- Southwest Valley public safety (Sun-Thu) reporter
  Open -- Southwest Valley schools reporter
  Brenda Windahl -- Information specialist
  Glendale Team
  Venita James -- General Manager and Editor
  Vinton Supplee -- Content Manager
  Eddie Diaz -- Print Platform Coordinator
  Sky Schaudt -- Online Plaftform Coordinator
  Carrie Watters -- Glendale city hall reporter
  Maura Halpern -- Glendale mobile reporter
  Eugene Mulero -- Glendale schools reporter
  Scott Wong -- Northwest Valley regional business reporter
  Brent Whiting -- Northwest Valley public safety reporter
  Marilyn Reid -- Information specialist
  Surprise Team
  Venita James -- General Manager and Editor
  Pat Flannery -- Content Manager
  Eddie Diaz -- Print Platform Coordinator
  Sky Schaudt -- Online Plaftform Coordinator
  Tony Lombardo -- Surprise city hall reporter
  SherryAnne Rubiano -- Surprise mobile reporter
  Open -- Surprise schools reporter
  Erin Zlomek -- Surprise business reporter
  Open -- Information specialist -- News By You (Phoenix and West
Valley)
  Peoria Team
  Venita James -- General Manager and Editor
  Mel Melendez -- Content Manager
  Eddie Diaz -- Print Platform Coordinator
  Sky Schaudt -- Online Plaftform Coordinator
  Cecelia Chan -- Peoria city hall reporter
  Laura Houston -- Peoria mobile reporter
  Meghan Moravcik -- Peoria schools reporter
  Charles Kelly -- Peoria business reporter
  NEWS NOW CENTER
  Abe Kwok -- Director
  Action Team
  Kristin Go -- Content Manager
  John Faherty -- Story of the day reporter
  Judi Villa -- Story of the day/justice issues reporter
  Bob Golfen -- Story of the day/commuting reporter
  Michael Kiefer -- Story of the day/courts reporter
  Lindsey Collom -- Story of the day/public safety (Tue-Sat) reporter
  News Online Team
  Lisa De Forest -- News Online Manager
  Laurie Merrill -- Producer (PT)
  Ralph Zubiate -- Producer
  ASU Multimedia Program
  Aric Johnson -- Content Manager
  BUSINESS CENTER
  Kathy Tulumello -- Director
  Robin Phillips -- 25-39 Online Manager
  Hal Mattern -- Online / Biz Buzz reporter
  Marcia Gaysue -- Information specialist -- News by You
  Economy Team
  Tina May -- Content Manager
  Ken Alltucker -- Biotech / health reporter
  Mark Shaffer -- Energy / telecom reporter
  Max Jarman -- Major companies reporter
  Chad Graham -- Economy reporter
  Jodie Snyder -- Government business / immigration reporter
  Consumer Team
  Ginger Richardson -- Content Manager
  Dawn Gilbertson -- Airlines / US Airways reporter
  Open -- Retail / commercial RE reporter
  Stephanie Paterik -- Tourism / gaming reporter
  Russ Wiles -- Investing / personal finance reporter
  Andrew Johnson -- Entrepreneurs reporter
  Magazine Team
  Christina Leonard -- Content Manager
  David Proffitt -- Platform Coordinator
  John McLean -- Information specialist
  SPORTS CENTER
  Mark Faller -- Director
  Dan Bickley -- columnist
  Paola Boivin -- columnist
  Bob Young -- Heat Index columnist
  Pros Team
  Jay Dieffenbach -- Content Manager
  Royce Martin -- Online Platform Coordinator
  Nick Piecoro -- Diamondbacks reporter
  Paul Coro -- Suns reporter
  Kent Somers -- Cardinals reporter
  Jim Gintonio -- Coyotes reporter
  Joe Reaves -- Baseball reporter
  Colleges/Events Team
  Dave Lumia -- Content Manager
  John Davis -- Golf reporter
  Jeff Metcalfe -- ASU football reporter
  Norm Frauenheim -- ASU basketball reporter
  Doug Haller -- Major events reporter
  Bob McManaman --Major events/GA reporter
  Open -- Information Specialist -- News By You
  Preps Team
  Tom Blodgett -- Content Manager
  Dave Vest -- Print Platform Coordinator
  Cameron Eickmeyer -- Online Platform Coordinator
  Don Ketchum -- Phoenix preps reporter
  Mark Armijo -- Phoenix/Scottsdale preps reporter
  Richard Obert -- Scottsdale preps reporter
  Tim Tyers -- East Valley preps reporter
  Odeen Domingo -- East Valley preps reporter
  Jose Garcia -- West Valley preps reporter
  Jason Skoda -- West Valley preps reporter
  Ralph Chiappetta -- Information specialist
  Katie Hallen -- Information specialist
  Nino Gonzales -- Scoretaker
  Kimberly Dedes -- Scoretaker (PT)
  Karissa Ramirez -- Scoretaker (PT)
  Jeff Wendt -- Scoretaker (PT)
  Harv Jaffe -- Scoretaker (PT)
  Open -- Scoretaker (PT)
  Open -- Scoretaker (PT)
  25-39 Team
  Todd Kelly -- Online Platform Coordinator
  Randy Brickley -- Online producer
  Aldei Gregoire -- Weekend/night on-line producer
  Daniel Conroy -- Weekend/night on-line producer
  Copy Desk Team
  Jim Bohannon -- Print Platform Manager
  Paul Barrett -- copy editor
  Chris Van Der Beek -- copy editor
  Larry Crowley -- copy editor
  Justin Silverstein -- copy editor
  Tyler Williams -- copy editor
  Jack Legg -- copy editor
  Jean Sarmiento -- copy editor
  Rickey Kishbaugh -- Information specialist -- Agate
  Scott Henry -- Information specialist -- Agate (PT)
  Open -- Information specialist -- Agate (PT)
  ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
  Director -- Nicole Carroll (managing editor)
  25-39 Team
  Stacy Sullivan -- Platform Manager
  Ashley Farmer -- Entertainment Home Page Coordinator
  Dawn DeChristina -- Producer
  Rose Tring -- Producer -- News By You (PT)
  Open -- Producer (PT)
  Amanda Anderson -- Information specialist -- News By You
  Kevin Murphy -- Music Coordinator
  Larry Rodgers -- Music reporter
  Yvette Armendariz -- Kids Coordinator
  Karina Bland -- Busy Mom reporter
  Style Team
  Laura Trujillo -- Platform Manager
  Kelly Ettenborough -- Style/Home Print Platform Manager
  Carrie Wheeler -- Style/Home Online Platform Coordinator
  Linda Vachata -- Style/Home Content Coordinator
  Ginger Murphy -- Fashion reporter
  Erica Sagon -- Fashion reporter
  Megan Finnerty -- Fashion reporter
  Sue Doerfler -- Home reporter
  Jaimee Rose -- Home reporter
  Mignon Gould -- Information specialist
  Jennifer Johnson -- Dining Content Manager
  Karen Fernau -- Food reporter
  Howard Seftel -- Dining columnist
  Mary Beth Faller -- Dining/home reporter (PT)
  Cindy Miller -- AZ Society/Arrowhead Magazine Coordinator
  Michelle Jacoby -- AZ Magazine Coordinator
  Lifestyle Team
  Marian Frank -- Platform Manager
  Scott Craven -- Lifestyle manager/reporter
  Connie Midey -- Health/fitness reporter
  Susan Felt -- Boomer/lifestyle reporter
  Sonja Haller -- Simple AZ Living reporter
  Lisa Nicita -- Story of the day/buzz reporter
  Richard Ruelas -- People/profiles reporter
  Jill Cassidy -- Travel Content Manager
  John Stanley -- Travel/outdoors reporter
  Events Team
  Tamera Thornton -- Platform Manager
  Bill Goodykoontz -- Culture/Arts manager/reporter
  Bill Muller -- Movie columnist
  Randy Cordova -- Pop culture/TV reporter
  Richard Nilsen -- Symphony/visual arts reporter
  Kyle Lawson -- Theater reporter
  Kerry Lengel -- 25-39 Arts and Entertainment reporter
  Zada Blayton -- Events Content Manager
  Kathy Murillo -- Phoenix events reporter
  Barbara Yost -- Scottsdale events reporter
  Michael Senft -- West Valley events reporter
  Geri Koeppel -- East Valley events reporter
  Srianthi Perera -- East Valley events reporter
  Bobby Boos -- Culture/arts producer
  Suzanne Lambert -- Events producer
  Copy Desk
  Hank Hughes -- Content Manager
  Sylvia Cody -- Copy editor
  Martin Dolan -- Copy editor
  Marcia Hammond -- Copy editor
  Stuart Jenkins -- Copy editor
  Gary Olmstead -- Copy editor
  Phil Hennessy -- Copy editor
  Mike Smith -- Copy editor
  Penny Walker -- Copy editor
  Features Design Team
  Tricia Reinhold -- Features Design Manager
  Celine Hacche -- Photo/Video Coordinator
  Elizabeth Thompkins -- Photo/Video Coordinator
  Elaine Gonzales -- Photo/Video Coordinator
  Jessica Dell -- Information specialist -- Photo/Video
  Wes Johnson -- Photographer/videographer
  Mark Lipczynski -- Photographer/videographer
  Jill Richards -- Photographer/videographer
  Scott Trimble -- Photographer/videographer
  Open -- Arizona Woman art director
  David Imes-- AZ Society art director
  Paula Gunter -- Arrowhead art director
  Patti Valdez -- BizAZ/Yes Style art director
  Pamela Norman -- AZ Magazine art director
  Ron Dungan -- Designer/artist
  Amy Grimes -- Designer/artist
  Andrea Heser -- Designer/artist
  JoAnne Izumi -- Designer/artist
  Craig Kurtz -- Designer/artist
  Francine Loinaz -- Designer/artist
  Kee Rash -- Designer/artist
  Claudia Saavedra -- Designer/artist (3 shifts)
  Audrey Tate -- Designer/artist
  Open -- Designer/artist
  COMMUNITY CONVERSATION CENTER
  Ken Western -- Director
  Phil Boas -- Editorial Page Editor
  Jennifer Dokes -- Assistant Editorial Page Editor/Daily
  Richard de Uriarte -- Assistant Editorial Page Editor/Phoenix
  Bob Schuster -- Assistant Editorial Page Editor/East Valley
  Robert Leger -- Assistant Editorial Page Editor/Scottsdale
  Joel Nilsson -- Assistant Editorial Page Editor/West Valley
  Linda Valdez -- Editorial writer
  Kathleen Ingley -- Editorial writer
  Doug MacEachern -- Editorial writer
  Joanna Allhands -- Editorial writer
  Cindy Hernandez -- Editorial writer
  Monica Alonzo-Dunsmoor -- Editorial writer
  Robert Robb -- Editorial columnist
  Steve Benson -- Cartoonist
  Joe Garcia -- Community Conversation Manager
  Ed Perkins -- Online Platform Coordinator
  Ed Montini -- General Interest columnist
  Clay Thompson -- General Interest columnist
  Laurie Roberts -- General Interest columnist
  Penny Nichols -- Information specialist -- downtown
  Kymberly Levesque -- Information specialist -- community
  Katie DeBenedetto -- Information specialist -- community
  OPERATIONS (VISUAL) CENTER
  Tracy Collins -- Director
  Night Copy Desk Team
  Chad Snow -- Content Manager
  Jodie Lau -- Assistant Content Coordinator
  Melissa Galbraith -- Assistant Content Coordinator
  Al Williams -- Copy editor
  Hugh Cox -- Copy editor
  Tom Nichols -- Copy editor
  Dan Kincaid -- Copy editor
  Leah Trinidad -- Copy editor
  Jean Novotny -- Copy editor
  Kelly Walton -- Copy editor
  Mary Williams -- Copy editor
  Caryn Jenkins -- Copy editor (PT)
  Richard Casey -- Copy editor
  Stewart Smith -- Copy editor
  Jill Schehovic -- Copy editor
  Alexis Doyle -- Copy editor
  Lily Yan -- Copy editor
  Ashley Macha -- Information specialist (PT)
  Open -- Information specialist (PT)
  Community Copy Desk Team
  Dave Neibergall -- Content Manager
  Lee Shappell -- Assistant Content Coordinator
  Tom Journey -- Copy editor
  Greg Beihl -- Copy editor
  Dan Pie -- Copy editor
  Pat Underwood -- Copy editor
  Ron Rinehart -- Copy editor
  Gail Baker -- Copy editor
  Bob Crawford -- Copy editor (PT)
  Ron Porter -- Copy editor
  Jerry McElfresh -- Copy editor (PT)
  Bud Vandersnick -- Copy editor
  Jay Watrous -- Copy editor
  News Design Team
  Bill Pliske -- News Design Manager
  Keri Hegre -- A section designer/artist
  Chris George -- A section designer/artist
  Benjamin Hegre -- A section designer/artist
  Amy Hartman -- Valley & State section designer/artist
  Rick Konopka -- Valley & State section designer/artist
  PJ Erickson -- Valley & State section designer/artist
  Dan Kempton -- Valley & State section designer/artist
  Ayrel Clark -- Business/Viewpoints section designer/artist
  Claudia Saavedra -- Business/Viewpoints section designer/artist (2
shifts)
  Tony Bustos -- Business/Viewpoints section designer/artist
  Luke Knox -- Sports section designer/artist
  Diane Pettiti -- Sports section designer/artist
  Joey Kirk -- Sports section designer/artist
  Mark Waters -- Sports section designer/artist
  Community Design Team
  Jason Kieffer -- Platform Manager
  Chuck Henrikson -- Community designer/artist
  John Hutchinson -- Community designer/artist
  Paige Crutchmer -- Community designer/artist
  Danny Garcia -- Community designer/artist
  Terry Beahm -- Community designer/artist
  Terry Cornelius -- Community designer/artist
  Melissa Gates -- Community designer/artist
  Jason Owsley -- Community designer/artist
  Vic Vogel -- Community designer/artist
  Diana Payan -- Community designer/artist
  Jeanne Hernandez -- Community designer/artist
  Carlos Espinosa -- Community designer/artist (PT)
  Preetha Mehandran -- Community designer/artist (PT)
  Photo Team
  Mike Meister -- Content Manager
  Carlos Chavez -- Assistant Content Manager
  Emmanuel Lozano -- Assistant Content Manager
  Jim Carreno -- Video producer
  Dave Seibert -- Video producer
  Brian Kotwasinski -- Video producer
  Randy Reid -- Phoenix photo coordinator
  Charlie Light -- Phoenix photographer/videographer
  Suzanne Starr -- Phoenix photographer/videographer
  Mike Ging -- West Valley photo coordinator
  John Severson -- West Valley photographer/videographer
  Michael Schennum -- West Valley photographer/videographer
  Mike Rynearson -- Scottsdale photo coordinator
  Tom Tingle -- Scottsdale photographer/videographer
  Russell Gates -- East Valley photo coordinator
  Sherri Buzby -- East Valley photographer/videographer (PT)
  Nick Oza -- East Valley photographer/videographer
  David Wallace -- East Valley photographer/videographer
  Michael Chow -- Photographer/videographer
  David Kadlubowski -- Photographer/videographer
  Pat Shannahan -- Photographer/videographer
  Cheryl Evans -- Photographer/videographer (PT)
  Rob Schumacher -- Photographer/videographer
  Jack Kurtz -- Photographer/videographer
  Christine Keith -- Photographer/videographer (PT)
  Catherine Jun -- Photographer/videographer
  Deirdre Hamill -- Photographer/videographer
  Mark Henle -- Photographer/videographer
  Technology Team
  Pete Watters -- Technology Manager
  Karen Outland -- Technology Editor
  Jo Durazo -- Information specialist - technology (PT)
  Photo Services Team
  Mike Dornbier -- Content Coordinator
  Dave Seal -- Imaging Editor
  Cyndi Reeves -- Imaging Editor (PT)
  Elena Rohan -- Imaging Editor
  Coryne Payne -- Imaging Editor
  Kelley Karnes -- Imaging Editor
  DIGITAL MEDIA CENTER
  Michelle Savoy -- Director
  Angel Rodriguez -- Home Page Manager
  Louie Villalobos -- Night Home Page Coordinator
  Mark Lauffer -- Weekend Home Page Manager
  Maria Loven -- LaVoz Coordinator
  Theresa Cano -- Night producer
  Stephen Harding -- Night producer
  Open -- Weekend producer
  DATA CENTER
  Cherrill Crosby -- Director
  Donna Coletta -- Library Manager
  Joanne Dawson -- Reference librarian
  Paula Stevens -- Reference librarian
  Nancy Hall -- Permissions coordinator
  Judy Hensel -- Database indexer
  Sherry Dupre -- Database indexer
  Elizabeth Smith-Devine -- Database indexer
  Alyson Star -- Photo indexer
  Ryan Konig -- Data reporter
  Matt Dempsey -- Data reporter
  Open -- Database developer
  Jana Aguirre -- Listings Coordinator
  Sarah Wells -- Information specialist -- calendar
  Amy Young -- Information specialist -- calendar
  Erica Reed -- Information specialist -- calendar
  Open -- Information specialist -- calendar
  Open -- Information specialist -- calendar
  Diane Wells -- Copy editor
  Heather Wells -- Copy editor
  Dave Campbell -- Copy editor
  CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER
  Kim Meader -- Administrative assistant
  Barbara VanDenburgh -- Administrative assistant
  Daniel Garcia -- Customer service coordinator
  Lura Madison -- Customer service assistant (PT)
  Beth Duckett -- Customer service assistant
  Rachel Quattrini -- Customer service assistant
   

Greatest Movie Speeches

I love the smell of Napalm in the morning.  Check out these clips of the greatest movie speeches.  You won't find Meg Ryan or any chick stuff.  This is definately a guy thing. 

Is this a Surprise?

WASHINGTON A new report finds that about one-third of the people living in the nation's capital are functionally illiterate.

Does that surprise you?  Dude, watch C-Span for like 20 minutes.

Talton Gone, Ruelas, Madrid Reassigned

Republic "Business" columnist Jon Talton has resigned.

This is a note to tell you that I’ll be leaving the Arizona Republic within the next two weeks. My column is being eliminated as part of the reorganization from a print and online newspaper to an Information Center. I chose not to accept other opportunities that the company offered. As a result, Susan and I will be leaving Phoenix soon to chase our next adventures.

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that the five Republic columnists--Talton, Roberts, Ruelas, Montini and Thompson--were vying for three slots.  I predicted that Talton wouldn't make the cut and I assumed that Thompson would retire.  I was half right.  Talton is gone and Ruelas accepted a position as a feature writer. 

David Madrid's tenure at Plugged In was short lived and he's being reassigned as well.

Talton was miscast from the beginning.  His three columns ("Phoenix sucks move to Denver", "Globalization and Hyper-capitalism will take your job" and "Phoenix is a pyramid scheme organized by the Real-Estate Industrial Complex) would have been fine as commentary on the Daily Kos, but they were inappropriate for the Business Columnist at the state's paper of record. 

I wish Jon luck in his future endeavors.  Maybe he can move to Denver and recycle his old "Phoenix Sucks Move to Denver" columns.  The Denver Chamber of Commerce will be thrilled. 

 

Sexing it Up

I the previous post, I referred to Sunday the Viewpoints piece that Tim McGuire wrote about the future of the newspaper industry.  McGuire is the Chair of Business Journalism at ASU's Journalism school.  That's the group that puts together the State Press and trains the journalists of tomorrow. 

McGuire weaves a theme that resonates with journalists into his article...we are different.  Gathering news isn't like making burgers or fixing pipes.  We are part of a higher calling. 

Here's a good example.

No matter how much you enjoy beating up the print media, and no matter how many times the newspaper industry shoots itself in the foot with plagiarism, fabrication and conflict-of-interest scandals, for the past 50 years, American newspapers have been our newsgathering stalwarts.

It is newspapers that uncover scandals like the one at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It is newspapers that have been out front on social change, repeatedly holding government accountable and attempting to avoid celebrity obsession.

"Newsgathering Stalwarts?"  That was Sunday, but this is Monday.  Here's the cover of Monday's State Press.

It's still technically winter, but that didn't stop record-high, summer-like temperatures from heating up spring break in the Valley.

Here's the Caption for the picture.  HEATWAVE: English senior Jenna Schaeffer lies by the pool at her Tempe home Sunday afternoon.

Her Tempe home?  This woman's not even on campus.  But I'm sure Mr. McGuire is telling his students how Western Civilization will collapse if they don't continue in the Journalistic Priesthood.

All Aboard!

Sunday's Viewpoints section had an interesting story about the decline of the newspaper industry "Writing off Newspapers is Premature, Irresponsible."

The article was written by Tim McGuire who retired from the Minneapolis Star Tribune in 2002.  McGuire writes from experience.  The "Strib" as it is known in the Blogosphere is one of the weakest and most biased major papers in the country.  In fact, McClatchy just sold the Strib...and it didn't work out so well. 

McClatchy Co. swung to a $279.3 million loss in the fourth quarter as it sold its largest newspaper, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and faced further weakening in the advertising market.

McGuire tries address industry critics like myself. 

Critics lament declining circulation and a dramatic loss of advertising, especially classified ads. They scold the newspaper industry for an assortment of sins, including the failure to recognize the digital revolution, journalistic self-indulgence, greedy harvesting of profits and arrogance.

Hmm, Arrogant, self-indulgent, greedy?  That may be true, but that's not my issue with the newspaper industry...after all, I'm trying to become a lawyer.  The issue is arrogance combined with bias.

McGuire then appeals to the glorious past in an effort to shore up the future. 

No matter how much you enjoy beating up the print media, and no matter how many times the newspaper industry shoots itself in the foot with plagiarism, fabrication and conflict-of-interest scandals, for the past 50 years, American newspapers have been our newsgathering stalwarts.

It is newspapers that uncover scandals like the one at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It is newspapers that have been out front on social change, repeatedly holding government accountable and attempting to avoid celebrity obsession.

It reminds me of this letter that the Passenger Rail Corporation sent to the nation's travel agents announcing the formation of Amtrak.

That's a great sentence isn't it..."Amtrak" sent a "letter" to "travel agents."  If you are in college today, the previous sentence makes about as much sense as "President Garfield rode a carriage to the tannery."

Here's the letter. 

NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION
April 28,1971

Dear Travel Agent:

A new era in America rail travel is beginning, and we want you to be a vital part of it.

That's why we're sending you the enclosed poster - - to introduce you and your clients to AMTRAK, America's first nationwide passenger rail system,chartered by Congress as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to operate intercity passenger trains throughout the United States starting May 1, 1971. (You've heard us called "Railpax" until now, but our new name and service mark have been created to express the dynamic changes that are already underway.)

You'll soon see the new service mark emblazoned on AMTRAK trains across the country and on new railway uniforms,tickets,baggage checks, timetables and other informational material.

It's the symbol of many wonderful improvements to come - - not all of them overnight,but gradually and steadily - - on our nation's revitalized passenger railroads.

It's also the symbol of the new thinking we're giving to the role of the travel agent in building domestic travel. We know how important travel agents are, and while we're still busy gathering our perfessional staff together, we're giving serious study to how your role in America rail travel can be broadened significantly. We very much appreciate your patience during this transition period and you'll hear from us soon.

In the meantime,let your clients know that you are ready to serve them with all their domestic travel needs. Display the AMTRAK emblem. We're going to make you proud that you did.


Sincerely,
David W. Kendall
Chairman of the Board

I May be Small, But at Least I'm not Fast

I'm back On-line.  Here's our Canyon Group Shot.  My son is next to me on the left.  He was born during my first term in the House and folks still ask me how he's doing.  He'll be taller than me in about a week.  That's David Schweikert on the right.  It doesn't bother me that he beat me out of the Canyon by about an hour.  I'm used to that.  But it does bother me that his WIFE beat me out of the Canyon by about an hour.   

No Wi-Fi at Phantom Ranch

I'm hiking the Grand Canyon this weekend.  So I won't be posting again until Sunday.

Major Changes at the Republic

Espresso Pundit readers know that the newspaper industry is in a steep decline.  Circulation is down at all the major daily newspapers as readers migrate to cable and the web.  Profits are still high, but the costs are rising, advertising rates are plunging while classified ads are being replaced by ebay, Craigslist and the Audotrader.

The industry has responded by cutting costs and recognizing that the web is the future.  The print edition is no longer the primary focus, yet the business model and cost structure are designed to deliver a 3 pound bundle of paper on 400,000 door steps 365 days a year.  The concept has become obsolete, but inertia keeps the process going. 

In its latest cost-cutting effort, the Republic is experimenting with a redesigned paper that will appear on Mondays.  Last week I broke the story that the Republic is planning to abandon the Valley and State section. 

On Monday, Republic Editor Ward Bushee provided a front page explanation of the changes. 

Bushee's article reads like it was written by the Marketing Department in a Dilbert strip, so I thought it would be appropriate for me to translate it for you.  Bushee is in blue and my translation is in black below.

Starting next week, look for fresh, streamlined Monday print edition

I know you are rushed on Mondays, so I'll make this quick.

Hello?  Is this mic on?

We have been working for many months to create the kind of Arizona Republic that will fit your busy life on the busiest day of the week.

Circulation is in free fall because no one bothers to read the paper and we were thinking that if we made the articles really short, you still won't read them, but it will cost a lot less to print it.

Next Monday, you will find a Republic that is quicker with news and richer with essential information.

Dude, the articles are going to be really short.  (That's actually a great line.  The next time my kids need to turn in a 5 page paper but they only have enough stuff for one or two pages, I'm going to have them tell the teacher that their paper is "richer with essential information.")

The front section will be reported, edited and designed for busy people like yourself.

We are going to use AP stories, student reporters and Indian copy editors.  Real Indians, like from India.  We are going to email the stories to them and they are going to assemble the paper and email it back.  They work for, like $5 a day and these Union guys are killing me. 

The Sports and Living sections also will be edited for readers who want an express lane to the news

The articles are going to be really short.

but who need their favorite sections to be the destinations they can return to when they feel less rushed.

We are keeping the Dillard's ads.

Here are some things you will find new on March 19:

• Front section: The main news will include more reports from the nation and world,

We are going to get a ton of stuff off the wire.  Sure, you read it all On-line yesterday, but this is really cheap. 

crafted into a carefully edited format that will also include local and business news, weather and opinion pages.

"Carefully edited" is going to be important because the student reporters keep using "like" instead of "said."  As, in "The Governor was all like she's going to veto that bill on account of Jim Waring sponsored it."  Of course, the Indian guys keep using funny words like "behaviour, labour, whilst and learnt."  And, by the way, what's a "lorry."

A quick and forward-looking format will address the top regional and state stories.

Have I mentioned that the articles are going to be really short?

Business pages will set the table for the workweek

We are dumping Talton...

and focus on consumer needs. 

...and running endless stories about people who save money by clipping coupons and cutting their own hair. 

A new Opinions page will set the local agenda for the week ahead

Set the local agenda?  OK, we're kidding, we haven't set the local agenda since, like the Carter Administration...before talk radio, Fox News, Rush and the blogosphere.   Of course, we got rid of Mecham which was cool. 

and introduce some bright new ways for you to be heard in the community conversation.

We are replacing the editorials with letters to the editor and My Turn Columns.  After all, they are free and aren't as likely tick off advertisers.  But don't tell Linda Valdez, she may leave for a high paying job as a...OK, who am I kidding, she's not going anywhere. 

• Sports: Arizona's most complete look at weekend sports results and analysis will be expanded to include more insider and behind-the-scenes information from our beat reporters and columnists on the Suns, Diamondbacks, Cardinals and Coyotes, as well as the ASU Sun Devils and Arizona Wildcats.

People still read sports, so we are keeping the Sports page intact.    

• Simple Arizona Living: Your new Living section will read like a magazine in its elegant content and style.

Hey, did you hear that Britney Spears didn't wear panties last week and then she shaved her head?

Simple Arizona Living will be devoted to helping you plan the week ahead. Among the features will be advice on ways to save money, get organized and bring some ease into your life. Comics and TV listings, a favorite destination for many readers, will be included in the section.

This section will be exactly like the business section except the articles will be longer and written for a higher grade level.  Notice that none of these "features" involve "news." 

• Classified: Classified and cars.com will be included in one section for your convenience.

Craigslist is free and searchable while our ads are expensive and hard to use throwbacks to the day when we had a monopoly and if you wanted to sell your lawnmower or advertise your yard sale, you had to call us and pay $25 for three lousy lines of fine print and sure, you could complain about it, but what were you going to do, put up a sign on the phone pole by your house?  But all that is gone now and the only people who read classified ads in an actual newspaper are the people in Sun City who are looking for a good deal on a used respirator, and our ads are still expensive and not searchable, so we decided to at least put them all in one section. 

We are grateful to hundreds of our readers who participated in surveys and discussions as we developed our new concept. Look for it each Monday, starting next week.

Please, Please, Please, don't cancel your subscription

- Ward Bushee, Editor

Ward Bushee, Community Conversation Enhancement Facilitator

Closing the Circle

Where does East meet West?  So called "scientists" claim the world is round, but most of the roads I see are flat.  Political scientists claim the political spectrum is linear, and indeed, it looks like a straight line, but it too is round.  I have discovered where the ends meet. 

Former State Treasurer Carol Springer is a great example of the Republican end of the spectrum.  She's conservative to the point of being Libertarian on fiscal issues and that Libertarian bent leads her to be adamantly pro choice on the social issues.   What happens if you step into hyperspace and reach into the dark beyond Carol Springer?  You will grab a hand coming from the other side of the spectrum.  That hand belongs to Phoenix Democratic Senator Ken Cheuvront.  Cheuvront and Springer are indistinguishable on the issues.

Here's a great example of Cheuvront's handiwork.  I think it's great when a Democrat puts the economic development wing of the Republican Party to shame with comments like this one about the new CityNorth Project. 

The $100 million dollar giveaway will allow this project to move forward, while other viable retail developments will not be built in the area because they will not be able to compete with the city subsidy.

Over the last two years, I have unsuccessfully tried to pass legislation that would create a financial penalty for municipalities in the Phoenix metropolitan area that give tax incentives to retail projects.

What Was Your First Clue?

I thought this was an interesting story.

A former sailor was arrested Wednesday for allegedly releasing classified information that ended up in the hands of a suspected terrorism financier.

Hassan Abujihaad, 31, of Phoenix, was arrested there on charges of supporting terrorism with an intent to kill U.S. citizens and transmitting classified information to unauthorized people.

The guy's name used to be Paul Hall.  We don't really know when he changed it, but it's pretty clear that someone in the story is not too bright. 

Can you imagine going to the Navy recruiter's office and saying that your name was Paul Hall but that you have changed it to Abujihaad and you would really like to get a job on a war ship?

Conversely, if your name is Paul Hall and you have this great Navy job that gives you access to all sorts of information that you can supply to your friends at Al Qaeda in furtherance of the Jihad, do you think it's a good idea to change your name to Abujihaad?

Newfangled Technology

My new house has cable, which is nice.  My wife says that the old house had cable, but it was just the local broadcast channels plus TBS.  That's one step below "basic" cable...I think it was called "primitive" cable.  The new cable has music stations and I noticed that they have the three main genres...Rock, Classic Rock and Arena Rock.  I may like cable. 

Republic to Abandon "Valley and State"

The Republic is experimenting with the elimination of the Valley and State section.  Starting this Monday and continuing on each subsequent Monday, the Valley and State section will be absorbed into the A section.  There will still be local coverage as well as editorials, but the format will be similar to the Trib.  They will all be in the first section. 

The True Legacy of the Plame Affair

The Washington Post raises a key point to take away from the Plame/Wilson affair.

Mr. Wilson was embraced by many because he was early in publicly charging that the Bush administration had "twisted," if not invented, facts in making the case for war against Iraq. In conversations with journalists or in a July 6, 2003, op-ed, he claimed to have debunked evidence that Iraq was seeking uranium from Niger; suggested that he had been dispatched by Mr. Cheney to look into the matter; and alleged that his report had circulated at the highest levels of the administration.

A bipartisan investigation by the Senate intelligence committee subsequently established that all of these claims were false --

Let's not forget that Wilson's original charges were proven to be lies.   Additionally, Valerie Plame wasn't a covert operative so there was no underlying crime, and Richard Armitage (not Rove, Cheney, Bush or Libby) leaked her name to Robert Novak. 

The long-term result of the case will be the degree to which the newspapers have eroded the compromise that was struck in the wake of the Pentagon Papers case.  For nearly 40 years prosecutors have been unwilling to confront newspapers that print confidential information. 

In the Plame case, the New York Times insisted that Attorney General John Ashcroft appoint an Independent Counsel to investigate the leak of Plame's name.  But the Times never seemed to realize that the information was not only leaked BY someone, but it was also leaked TO someone.  The Times was shocked when the Independent Counsel began issuing subpoenas to reporters.

It's a crime to leak secret information to reporters, but the government has been reluctant to prosecute.  Now that reporters have been subpoenaed and a Times Reporter has spent time in jail for contempt of court, the government reluctance is gone. 

That's the legacy to remember.  Wilson is a liar and the New York Times is run by fools.  The big winner is John Ashcroft and those who wish to have a chilling effect on the mainstream media. 

That's a legacy that I can live with. 

Court Tosses Tax Credit Challenge

This just in from the Institute for Justice.

Phoenix—Just two days after hearing oral arguments, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge today threw out a legal challenge to Arizona’s new corporate tax credit program.  The Institute for Justice and its Arizona Chapter defended the program on behalf of families of modest means who are eligible for private school scholarships thanks to the program.

“This is a huge victory for Arizona schoolchildren and provides legal momentum for all of the state’s school choice programs, including the new scholarships for children with disabilities and foster children,” said Tim Keller, executive director of the Institute for Justice Arizona Chapter, which is also defending the special needs and foster child programs from a legal challenge filed by many of the same school choice opponents.

In Green v. Garriott, the Honorable Janet E. Barton held that the program is completely consistent with the Arizona Constitution and the landmark 1999 Kotterman decision upholding a similar tax credit for individual taxpayers and likewise rejecting a challenge to school choice based on Arizona’s Blaine Amendments. 

And the court went further, rejecting a challenge based on the Arizona Constitution’s education provisions as inconsistent with Arizona Supreme Court rulings.  Opponents had relied on a ruling against school choice by the Florida Supreme Court, but Judge Barton’s ruling shows that Arizona law does not support the invalid reasoning of the Florida court.

The same claims lie at the heart of opponents’ legal challenge to the scholarship programs for special needs and foster children.  In January, the Arizona Supreme Court declined to hear a legal challenge to those programs.  Opponents filed a new lawsuit in trial court last month.

“This is a complete vindication of the constitutionality of school choice in Arizona,” said Chip Mellor, IJ’s president and general counsel.  “After so many losses in court, it’s time for opponents to stop their legal campaign against empowering parents to choose the best school for their children.”

IJ successfully defended the individual tax credit program in Kotterman, and is again defending the program from a federal lawsuit.  A federal judged dismissed that case, Winn v. Hibbs, and upheld the program in March 2005, and opponents appealed.

Visit www.ij.org/schoolchoice for more information on school choice litigation in Arizona and elsewhere.

McCain Wants Independents in CA Primary

Via Captain's Quarters.

Sen. John McCain's campaign is mounting a stealth effort to change Republican presidential nomination rules in California to allow independents to vote in the Feb. 5 primary, party and campaign officials in the state have told The Washington Times.

The impact could be huge -- and potentially damaging to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, currently the most acceptable to traditional-values voters among the three top-tier Republican presidential candidates.

The People Will Rise Up...

If the Legislative process is a scalpel, the initiative process is an ax.  Purists will, of course, prefer the scalpel, however there comes a point where people who don't have access to the scalpel, or who think that the scalpel is inadequate will resort to the ax.  If the Legislature continues to refuse to make surgical adjustments to the state budget, they may face an ax. 

I've often said that you can't out bid the Spending Lobby.  Governor Hull, the business community and quite a few Republican Legislators supported a sales tax increase to fund education in 2000.  What result?  The Education Establishment and their media enablers never wavered from their accusations that the Legislature was "starving the beast." 

Folks have noticed the lack of fiscal discipline in state houses across the country.  Here's the Wall Street Journal's take on Arizona. 

Like many governors, Arizona Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano faced a looming budget shortfall -- $1 billion in her case -- when she took office in 2003. Now, thanks to strong economic growth, surging sales-tax revenue and low unemployment, the state has $650 million in reserves. For fiscal year 2008, Ms. Napolitano has proposed a $10.4 billion budget that calls for a 6.9% increase in spending on top of the 18% increase last year.

The extra money allows Ms. Napolitano to put tens of millions of dollars toward her priorities: pay raises for teachers, 12% more for state universities, and $60 million for projects to train and attract high-tech workers and businesses. "Somewhere out there is the next Microsoft," Ms. Napolitano said. "I'd just as soon that it be in Phoenix or Tucson."

Depending on your politics, you may read those two paragraphs and think that Arizona is heading in the right direction, or the wrong direction.  But one thing is certain, the Spending Lobby is playing a dangerous game.  They are firmly in charge of the state budget process, the budget continues to rise dramatically. and property tax valuations have skyrocketed.  High property tax valuations and the high taxes that accompany them were somewhat palatable when people could sell their house in 24 hours.  But they are less so when houses sit on the market month after month.

Indeed, some folks are rising up. 

Greg-

Our recent press release is in the attachment and will give you a basic idea of what we are doing and who is working with us.  We are drafting language that will accomplish all our goals and will require more than one initiative due to the single subject rule.  And, we are meeting with potential stakeholders to join us in our effort.  Since we are eliminating classes of property which will significantly reduce commercial property taxes, the business community is an ally.

Because so many of us are former Californians we are strictly sticking to California's Prop 13.  We're doing this for two reasons:  There is great familiarity with what it is and it has a proven 28 year track record of success.

We are building a database of people who would like to receive email updates on Prop 13 Arizona along with those who may be interested in volunteering with us in some capacity.  You can sign up by emailing us at Info@Prop13Arizona. Our web site is not up yet but will be found at www.Prop13Arizona.com.

Our property tax system is broken.  It worked okay when property valuations increased by a few percentage points a year.  When the tax code changed to make real estate investments more competitive with equity markets, interest rates went to record lows, and mortgage companies loosened their requirements, the speculators showed up and prices went through the proverbial roof.  Property owners were on the receiving end of valuation notices with huge increases.  Had taxing districts reduced their rates accordingly, the system would have remained sustainable.  But I'm not aware of a single taxing district that lowered its rate to spare us the resulting unaffordable property tax bills.  They all had the opportunity to do the right thing and none of them did it.  So, we must change the system with Prop 13 Arizona.

I would sure appreciate your spreading the word on Prop 13 Arizona.

Sincerely,
Lynne Weaver

This is Refreshing

Here's an interesting article.

A judge signaled Monday that she will likely dismiss a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a new law that created a tax break for business donations for private school tuition grants.

Judge Janet Barton of Maricopa County Superior Court held a hearing on motions by the state and the tax break's supporters to dismiss the lawsuit. It was filed Sept. 19 by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Arizona School Boards Association.

Barton opened and closed the hearing by saying she felt her hands were tied, at least in part, by a 1999 ruling in which the Arizona Supreme Court upheld a similar tax credit for donations by individuals.

"But it does seem to me I simply do not have the ability or the power to disregard the Supreme Court opinions that I believe are on point," she said. "Nor do I have the ability to tell the Arizona Supreme Court that I think they got it wrong."

Wow, the Superior Court judge isn't going to ignore the Supreme Court or tell the Court that it was wrong even when the ACLU asks her to.  Cool. 

A Cool Guy and Great Cause