editor: fred miller April, 16 2023 #53/April/2023
Hello,
We are getting another Dollar General store. I haven't seen the paper, but apparently they have purchased the building and land where Hair Connection and Nick Night have their businesses. It seems that the building will be raised an a new one erected on the site. Not sure if they will keep the old site also, they don't own it.
Cafe Royale and bar is open 9am-8 pm Tuesday-Sunday. Crepes and eggs bennie in a uptown sleek setting. The curved bar is quite impressive. Got some neon going on.
After a period of relative stability, the city manger, Steve Pauken, has his eye on the District 2 Supe job. That means, yes...once again a Bisbee city manager search coming later this year! Oh boy.
If you are a courtroom junkie tune in on Tuesday KGUN 1:30 for the AG suit against the Supes. Below for more info.
This is a long one, but lotsa stuff going on. I missed putting in some events cause they passed me by as I have been sick, as has Anita. We're had a bronchial cold/cough for three weeks. Both on the mend now. That stuff lasts for a time several peeps have told me. Charlieparker is doing well.
fred
...............BISBEE STUFF................
IF YOU ARE ON AHCCCS, REINROLL NOW!
Anyone who no longer meets Arizona’s Medicaid and KidsCare (Children’s Medicaid or CHIP) requirements could lose their health insurance as early as April 1, 2023. Arizona’s Medicaid agency — the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) — estimates that nearly 600,000 people in the state will lose Medicaid coverage during the unwinding period. Half of those people will lose their insurance because they are no longer eligible for Medicaid, but the other half will lose coverage because they don’t respond to state requests for their current contact information.
This has occurred because the federal government declared that the Public Health Emergency (PHE),is over as of May,2023. There will no longer be automatic renewals as of April 1, 2023. If you are receiving those services, it is imperative that you You or someone in your household could lose Medicaid or KidsCare as soon as April 1, 2023. Make sure you update your contact information with AHCCCS
To sum up:
Automatic Medicaid renewals are ending as the COVID-19 public health emergency sunsets. This process is called the unwinding.
Arizona’s Medicaid agency — the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) — will start reviewing cases for eligibility. If you or a family member no longer qualify for Medicaid or KidsCare, you could lose coverage as soon as April 1, 2023.
Make sure AHCCCS has your current contact information. Otherwise, you could lose your health insurance. If you lose Medicaid during the unwinding, you have options that might include choosing a plan on the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
The bottom line. Automatic Medicaid renewals in Arizona end on March 31, 2023, and nearly 600,000 people in the state could lose their health insurance. Several other states will do the same. The entire purge, which is completely legal, will take place over a year.
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LOOKIN FOR A NEW CITY MANAGER? PAUKEN EXPLORING RUN FOR DISTRICT 2 SUPE
Bisbee City Manager Steve Pauken has been exploring a run for Cochise County District 2 Supervisor.The seat is currently occupied by Ann English. He has made no decision as yet, but seems likely he will give it a go because he filed a statement of interest on March 31. This poses some questions....
How much time should a new manager spend with the outgoing manager? none? one month? two months?
If manager Pauken retires at the end of the year which seems likely. when is the appropriate time to begin looking for a new manager? Now? August? October?
Where to look? Internally? County? State? National?
Dean of Students at Bisbee High School and Ward 2 councilperson, Joni Giacomino, filed a statement of interest on February 13, announcing her intention to vie for the same job. ..... OTHER EARLY ELECTION MENTIONS All three Supe seats are up for election in 2024. In addition to the two filing for District 2, there are three statements of interest filed for District 1 including current seat holder Tom Crosby, 2 R's, 1 D. And there have been two filings for District 3, the seat now held by Peggy Judd, both R's. County Administrator Richard Karwaczka is among three people-all R's, who announced they will be vying Superior Court Judge Div 4 as Tim Dickerson has announced his retirement. Karwaczka has been the county administrator for two years. Statements of Interest do not always result in a campaign, but allows potential candidates to solicit signatures. <><> BISBEE MENTIONS
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https://news.azpm.org/p/newsfeature/2023/4/13/215616-cochise-county-residents-debate-paying-for-a-new-jail/ < https://nomadlawyer.org/the-08-coolest-ghost-towns-in-arizona/
<><> AT THE MINING MUSEUM The Museum is transitioning to electronic communication and adding a new newsletter. Go here for info and sub: https://bisbeemuseum.org/
Photography Walking Tour of Bisbee with Photographer Boyd Nicholl April 22, 2023, 3:30 pm-4:30 pm. Go here for tix: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/photography-walking-tour-of-bisbee-tickets-
<><> BIRDHOUSE PREVIEW AND ARTIST RECEPTION Artists have been working for the past 2 months, creating their version of a “Birdhouse”. Birdhouses will be displayed in shop windows in Old Bisbee from April 20th to 30th. Auction will take place on Rally Up website April 20-30. <><> AT THE SCIENCE CENTER....
BORDERLAND BIODiV
As a process of building a new backyard at the Science Center they are going to document the environment with a survey of the area . You can help with a few of your hours:
Friday, April 28, 10:00-2:00, 519 Melody Lane
Go here for more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bisbee-backyard-bio-blitz-tickets-602738425857 ........... HELP BUILD STUFF The Science Center Mobile Lab could use a few volunteers that like to build things. This summer the Lab focus is on teaching students about hydrology, ground water, and water conservation. More info here: amie@bisbeesciencelab.org ...........
STEM SUMMER CAMP
We are excited to support the Early College Department in offering STEM summer camps for young lifelong learners, grades 6 - 12, in our community. This email features the upcoming summer camps. Registration for all camps opens on Monday, April 3. You can register your young lifelong learner with us by calling, visiting our office, or online.
These camps are taught by college instructors and will introduce your child to some of the many programs taught at Cochise College. or call 520-515-5492 here Register online
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BRING SOME/GET SOME AT THE 4/22 SATURDAY MARKET
Earth Day is Saturday, April 22. Bring you old and unused clothes and stuff to the Market to recycle. Bring some, get some. 9am-1pm at the Bisbee Saturday Market. Free.
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GARDENING CLASS
Bisbee Senior Center
April 24th 1:00 pm
Facilitator: Jan Groth, Master Gardner
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Arbor Day at the Saturday Market 4/29/23
The Copper Queen Library and The Friends will be at the market 9am-1pm with tote bags, free books, seeds, membership forms, copper library cards, and more! Come celebrate the trees and all they give to us.
Become a member (and get your name in the newsletter!) friendsofthecopperqueenlibrary.org. learn more about the organization, see the event calendar,
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SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS
It is fire season, get an alert when trouble is coming! Cochise County residents can sign up for the alert system by visiting https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/?RegionId=1341
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FIREWISE MAY 6!
Volunteers Wanted! You Can Volunteer! Yes, You!
On Saturday, May 6th, there will be a Wildfire Preparedness Day on an overgrown property below Castle Rock to demonstrate what fire wise principles look like in action.
We’re seeking a dozen volunteers to help us weed whack, clip, lop, and rake for a couple of hours. We also need volunteers to staff an information table.If you cannot help in person but are willing to loan us tools, we promise to take good care of them. We need: rakes, string trimmers, loppers, and a powered pole saw or chainsaw. More info here: https://www.facebook.com/oldbisbeefirewise
As an incentive to jump into fuels reduction work, Bisbee's Public Works department will be picking up green waste in the weeks following May 6th. They ask that we bag leaves and debris, bundle limbs (6' or less) if possible, and leave the green waste at the curb.
They are seeking high-visibility properties willing to host Sparky signs. Interested in displaying one at your home or business? obfirewise@gmail.com
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I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE SCREAM IT'S AN OLD FASHIONED ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Copper Queen Library's summer reading program kick off. Check it out for the Panther band, a clown or two and hula hoops....and Ice Cream!
Friday May 12
12-2:00
519 Melody Lane <><>
Naco Wellness
San Jose Organic Community Garden Party and Fundraiser
Naco, Sonora (transportation provided) June 4, 3:00-7:00
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FREE AZ TRAVEL GUIDE
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KBRP GETS GEETUS
The Bisbee Radio Project, Inc (KBRP) has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the Endowment for the Arts held at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA). This grant is dedicated to strengthening KBRP's connection with the community. It could mean improving access to our streaming signal, developing the ability to broadcast remotely, and increasing our coverage of local news, arts and civic affairs. They are always open to feedback and suggestions from our listeners. If you have an idea to share, or wish to become a KBRP member or volunteer please contact us at bisbeekbrp@gmail.com or 520-432-1400.
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Governor Hobbs' Office of Boards & Commissions now has a list of current vacancies. This can be found below the notices and above the Frequently Asked Questions on this page: https://bc.azgovernor.gov/. Serving on official boards is an excellent opportunity to make an impact on the issues you care about the most.
...............THE COUNCIL................
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2023, AT 7:00 PM 915 S. TOVREAVILLE ROAD
Background here: http://www.bisbeeaz.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04182023-437
AGENDA
GENERAL BUSINESS:
1. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Subject to availability of funds.
2. Approval of the Consent Agenda
Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Session of Mayor and Council held on April 4, 2023.
Approval of the Appointment of Amparo Gonzalez to the Airport Advisory Commission with a waiver for number of commissions currently served
Approval of the Appointment of Amparo Gonzalez to the Committee on Disability Issues.
Approval of the Appointment of Cathe Wright to the Committee on Disability Issues.
Approval of the Appointment of Bob deKruyff to the Streets & Infrastructure Committee.
Approval of a Special Event Liquor License Application submitted by Submitted by Easterseals Blake foundation for an event to be held at 99 Arizona street (Warren Ballpark) Bisbee, Arizona on Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 12:00pm (Noon) to 8:00pm, Dina Scalone; Applicant.
Ashlee Coronado, City Clerk (Waiting on Second Page of Application)
Approval of a Liquor License Application for the Bisbee Hatchet House Located at 34B Brewery Avenue, Bisbee, Arizona; Kenneth Robert Naico, Applicant.
NEW BUSINESS
Frank Davis, Design Review Board Council Liaison/ Ex-Officio
4. Presentation of the City of Bisbee’s Annual Audit Report for the Year Ended June 30, 2022 by Jennifer Frank, CPA, Hinton Burdick.
Keri Bagley, Finance Director
5. Discussion and Possible Approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Bisbee and Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization for paving services.
Stephen Pauken, City Manager
6. Discussion and Possible approval to allocate ARPA funds to paint the Exterior of the Police Station.
Matthew Gurney, Public Works Director
7. City Manager's Report:
WORK SESSION THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2023 1:00 PM 915 S. TOVREAVILLE ROAD,
Discussion of the necessity of Through the Fence Agreements at the Municipal Airport and its impact on federal funding for capital improvements and entitlements.
Stephen Pauken, City Manager
...............THE SUPES................
Attorney General vs Cochise County Board of Supervisors and Recorder...stream it! Tuesday, 4/18 at 1:30 p.m KGUN has been permitted by the Court to livestream their proceedings on Tuesday (channel 9, an ABC station). courtroom 683 on the 6th floor of the Pima County Superior Court, located at 110 W. Congress. ...... The Supes have a work session scheduled Monday with their attorney Tim LaSota to talk about and maybe make a decision about, the AG lawsuit. It is executive session so no public discussion. <><> A Superior Court decision awarded plaintiffs SOS Fontes and the AARA a total of $36,193.64 for the case concerning Supes Judd and Crosby's refusal to certify our election results back in late November.
The plaintiffs had also won the 100% hand count lawsuit proposed by Judd and Crosby back in early November. $30,715.00 was paid for Lisa Marra's defense and $88,616.74 went to the defense of the AARA & a voter of Cochise County. So far, county taxpayers have paid $155,135 in legal fees and about $19,000 in security costs just for these three cases. This does not include the hearing for the AG yet. .......... Thanks to an astute reader, who requested anonymity, that provided the timeline below and tracks this stuff as well as all legal expenses. TIMELINE OF COCHISE COUNTY ELECTION-RELATED EVENTS A) 10/24/22 – Judd & Crosby vote to pursue unlawful 100% expanded hand count of ballots, promising no additional cost to taxpayers [minutes & videos] 10/31/22 – lawsuit opposing hand count filed by AARA/Stephani Stephenson—hearing 11/4/22, ruling 11/7/22, plaintiffs won. [docs] Cost to taxpayers almost $120,000 ($30,715 + $88,617) Fee for BOS’ attorney, Brian Blehm, ($10,000) paid by unknown source [doc] 11/9/22 – Recorder Stevens starts illegal hand count, stopped by letter—contempt of court threat [doc] 11/10/22 – letter from Brian McIntyre to all attorneys re: illegal actions of hand count, citing statutes [doc] B) 11/14/22 – Violation of Open Meeting Law (gathering of quorum to conduct county business) Judd & Crosby file lawsuit against Elections Director Lisa Marra, personally as well as in her official capacity, in an effort to get her to conduct illegal hand count [docs] Lawsuit withdrawn 11/16/22. Lisa Marra's resignation (1/24/23) is direct result of this lawsuit & ongoing harassment [doc] Recorder David Stevens to assume some or all of Lisa’s responsibilities C) 11/28/22 – Judd & Crosby refuse to certify (canvass) election results by last date mandated by AZ law Two lawsuits filed—one by SOS office & the other by AARA/Stephani Stephenson [docs] 11/29/22 – letter from Terry Goddard & Rick Romley asking for criminal investigation [doc] 12/1/22 – Hearing in court re: canvass of elections—later Judd finally certifies with Chair English; Crosby does not attend the meeting so never certified election results [docs, minutes & video] Judd & Crosby cost taxpayers $36,193.64 (LEGAL COSTS TOTAL TO DATE = $155,525) D) 12/2/22 – letter from State Elections Director Kori Lorick to then-Attorney General Mark Brnovich and County Attorney Brian McIntyre to investigate Crosby and Judd and hold them accountable [doc] 1/30/23 – follow-up letter from Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to Attorney General Kris Mayes and County Attorney Brian McIntyre to investigate Crosby and Judd. [doc] 2/7/23 – County Attorney McIntyre responds to letter from SOS office, expressing willingness to cooperate. [doc] E) 1/24/23 – Letter of resignation (constructive discharge) from Elections Director Lisa Marra, 15 days’ notice [doc] – Reasons: 1. Aforementioned lawsuit (writ of mandamus) ordering her to conduct 100% hand count 2. Refusal of Board to pay attorney’s fees incurred by Ms. Marra’s attorneys ($30,715) 3. Board’s proposal to reorganize election duties—transferring them from her to Stevens 4. Board’s disparaging remarks in public meetings and in the press 2/8/23 – Marra’s last day as Elections Director F) 2/17/23 – email from Sup. Judd outlining her issues with election process, including pdf of Yuma County IGA [doc], with Recorder overseeing elections. 2/23/23 – Work Session re: election security, fraud, etc. [minutes & video] G) 2/23/23 – AZ AG’s 1st letter re: 3 OML violations (4/5/22, 7/26/22 & 11/22 Marra lawsuit) [doc] H) 2/27/23 – letter from AZ SG re: concerns about delegating election duties to Stevens [doc] 2/28/23 – Board delegates election duties to Stevens Agenda includes Crosby’s version, board votes on Stevens’ version [minutes & video] I) 3/1/23 – AZ AG’s 2nd OML letter re: 2 additional violations (2/23/23 work session & 2/18/23 Reg. BOS meeting) – response for both letters due 3/15/23 [doc] 3/10/23 – BOS responds to both letters from AG re: all 5 OML violations [doc] J) 3/7/23 – AZ AG files lawsuit re: transferring election duties to Stevens [doc] K) 3/10/23 – Elections Director position posted on county website by Stevens. Asks for political affiliation [doc] 3/20/23 – Corrected to omit question [doc] L) 3/15/23 – Rep. Grijalva letter to US AG Merrick Garland [doc] M) 4/6/23 – AG files motion for preliminary injunction—hearing 4/18/23 at 1:30pm in Pima County Superior Court, Tucson
...............THE ECONOMY................
AIR B&B PERMITS
I interpret the aim of the permits is to continue opportunities for a land owner or manager to rent their space according to these established guidelines that ensure a safe rental for visitors, while informing neighbors of what is going on in their neighborhood with an appropriate person responsible and available for any queries that might arise.
As of April 12 there were 70 Short Term Rental (SRT) Permits granted by the City. A cursory look at airbnb.comthree months out for midweek dates in July revealed 129 homes available. That total includes rooms, apts, bungalows, and houses. It is likely that there are about 90-110 stand alone rentals available. That would mean there are about 20-40 rentals that do not have a permit. These are rough figures, but seemingly in the ballpark.(Any SRT, with the exception of hotel or Inn rooms, are obligated to have a permit.)
A short term rental is required by city regulation to inform their neighbors that they are in fact hosting a short term rental, as well contact info on the rental. If you have an SRT next door or across the street and you and have not been notified, it is a violation and that info should be sent to the City clerk who will route it to the appropriate person. acoronado@bisbeeaz.gov.
The majority of the permitted dwellings were in Old Bisbee, more than one on a street noted below;
2 on Baily Hill,
3 on Brewery Av
3 on Clawson AV
2 on Garden AV
2 on Main St
4 on OK St.
6 on Opera Dr.
3 on Quality Hill
2 on Taylor
5 on Temby
13 on Tombstone Cyn
2 on Wood Cyn
In Warren:
3 on Hovland St
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COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS FOR SALE
....1A Cochise Row $6,000,000. The Storage Compound is a Mini Storage & Multi-Unit Industrial property located in the city of Bisbee, Arizona. This single story facility consists of 56,850 rentable square feet of storage and industrial space.
The property sits on 7.04 acres and has room for future expansion.
....31 Subway St. $450,000 (Kafka cofee building)
....15 Brewery $1,995,000 (Stock Exchange bldg)
....8 S. Naco Rd. $895,000
....69 Main $800,0000 (Acacia building)
....27 Main $690,000 (former Artemizia)
....2 Main $2,450,000 (Convention Center)
....600 Romero $675,000 (double P Roadhouse)
...1094 Hwy W. 92 $694,000 (funeral home)
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HOME SALES
There were six sales totaling $1,293,500. It is the lowest total sales since early 2020. It also is the seventh straight month of single digit house sales.
Address List/Sale
644 Tombstone Cny $100,000/$90000
607 Santa Cruz Dr. $159,000/$155,000
20 Lowell Av/ $179,000
522 Ruppe $255,000/$244,500
522 Camino De Nevada $280,000/$265,000
306 Mill Rd $375,000/$360,000
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BUILDING PERMITS
There were 20 residential permits totaling $211,051, including one permit for new home construction for $94k. There were three commercial permits for $21,600.
March residential permit totals, if the new home permit were excluded, would be the lowest since October 2021. Commercial activity continues to be anemic.
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SALES TAXES
March sales taxes (January actual sales, and not adjusted for inflation). The inflation rate in December 2021 was 7.0%, in December 2022 it was 6.5%)
Fiscal year to date sales taxes indicate a significant drop from the same period last year, not all attributable to inflation.
The 5% bed tax was the highest $26,446, it has been in the past seven months. However compared with the same nine month in period in July 2021-March 2022, receipts were down $36,000+ ($237,879/$201,327)
Regular hotel taxes were up, $18,795, the most in the past seven months. However compared with the same nine month in period in July 2021-March 2022, receipts were down $38,000+, ($182,364/$144,359)
Bar/restaurant taxes were up substantially, $50,174, the best in seven months. Comparing this year’s total $360,067 with the same period last year $294,035, the first nine months are running almost $66k ahead. (This discrepancy between lodging down and restaurant/bar up, may be attributable to restaurants changing their hours to reflect additional days of operation this year and new restaurants/food trucks now operating. And the effects of inflation this year.
Retail tax dropped to $95,356, about $4k below last month and the second lowest in the past seven months. For the nine month comparison with last year, this year retail is down about $10,000.
Groceries for home consumption for the nine month comparison period with last year has increased substantially this year, $71,000+ ($426,745/$355,641).
Internet sales also rose about $30,000+ this year compared to last, ($209,453/$178,740)
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ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION The Rabey Agency 447 Crestview Dr. Ernestina Rabey Ramon Garcia Amy Burkert Design LLC 127 Clawson Amy Burkert Sunflower Medicine 725 B Warren Ave. Cynthia Anderson Fair Wind LLC 3847 S. Towner Alison and Brett Van Gorp
NEW BIZZES
Scents & Spirituality
Crystals, Incense, Readings and more
67 Main St
Pyewacket's
herb, mushroom, and more magikal store
885 Highway 92
...............THE LEGE................
There have been 1630 bills, memorials and resolutions introduced. Hobbs has so far vetoed 48 bills and signed 40.( Go here for every bill Gov. Hobbs has vetoed: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/every-bill-arizona-governor-katie-hobbs-vetoed-so-far-and-why-15984959)
Although rebpubs control both houses by a single vote, they have controlled every bill that gets a vote. Consequently there have been a wish list of repugnant ideas from the them. Including...
.....a very unhealhy focus on children's genitals, efforts to stop teachers from teaching many subjects, banning content in books, fear mongering about gay people, several efforts to thwart residents from casting votes and passing initiatives and ranked choice voting, repealing charter cities of 500k or more, curtailing abortion...to name a few.
Send an email, make a call. Short sweet phone role..."Hello, I am a constituent of xxxx, and I oppose efforts to ban ranked choice voting. I hope xxxx will oppose those efforts also." end. Right below is where to find who reps you.
FIND EMAILS AND PHONE NUMBERS HERE
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This is lightly edited from CEBV The Weekly..https://www.cebv.us/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
We could write an entire newsletter about any one piece of news from the past 7 days. Instead, let’s recap:
The House expelled Liz Harris (R-13) — not because she’s a conspiracy theorist and serial liar (many state lawmakers are), but because she refused to be a "team player," because her wild accusations embarrassed Republican leadership by accusing them of taking bribes from Mexican drug cartels, and because she put her purple-district seat (and thus partisan control of the House) at risk.
Both the House and Senate recessed until Tuesday, April 25, to give time for the process for replacing Harris to play out. The LD’s Precinct Committee members will recommend three replacements to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, which will name one of those three to serve the rest of Harris’s term. We’re not surprised. It’s easier to go on vacation than pretend to be bipartisan because you don’t have a majority.
Raquel Terán (D-26) resigned from the state Senate to run for Congress, leaving another vacant seat which will be filled using the same process.
The Finance Advisory Committee, an advisory panel of economists, presented the dire but expected news that Arizona has no money: this year’s one-time surplus will be completely gone next year, and once the 2021 tax cuts are factored in, “net growth is negative.” Rumblings of a bipartisan budget have begun. Gov. Hobbs has been meeting regularly with House Speaker Toma and Senate President Petersen to negotiate. Hobbs told press she's "optimistic" on real progress and described meetings as moving “close" to agreement. Toma is echoing that optimism. And Petersen assures us everyone is working in good faith. (It’s easier to agree on how to spend money when there isn’t any! What happens between now and April 25 is critical. We don’t mean the roughly 110 bills we’re still tracking, which will remain alive until session ends. A lot of those are culture-war nonsense; we’re not worried, as Gov. Hobbs is ready with her veto stamp. But a handful, including the 10 ballot referrals still lurking in the fog of secrecy that surrounds budget negotiations, could become leverage in a grubby backroom budget deal. That’s the real issue: our budget, and by extension, our future. To put it bluntly, Arizona is in a pickle. Our $1.8 billion projected one-time revenue surplus is about to evaporate into nothing. The massive, permanent tax cuts Republican lawmakers passed in 2021 are compounding the crisis to the tune of another $2 billion per year in lost revenues. The spiraling costs from Republican lawmakers’ beloved universal ESA voucher program are now approaching a half-billion dollars per year, much of that unbudgeted, with no end in sight. And this is the party of fiscal responsibility? It's often been said that when you’re in a hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging. Our lawmakers must stop cutting taxes, hit pause on the wildly irresponsible ESA voucher program, and find some new sources of revenue. To fail is to accept Arizona’s future as another Mississippi, dirt poor and forever mired at the bottom. If you have 15 minutes: Contact your senator and representatives with your budget asks: stop cutting taxes, hit pause on the wildly irresponsible ESA voucher program, and find some new sources of revenue. If you have 30 minutes: Also contact the governor’s office and House and Senate leaders.
Gov. Katie Hobbs: engage@az.gov • 602-542-4331 • Facebook • Twitter
Senate Majority Leader Warren Petersen (R-14): wpetersen@azleg.gov • 602-926-4136 • Facebook • Twitter
Senate Minority Leader Mitzi Epstein (D-12): mepstein@azleg.gov • 602-926-4870 • Facebook • Twitter
House Majority Leader Ben Toma (R-27): btoma@azleg.gov • 602-926-3298 • Facebook • Twitter
House Minority Leader Andrés Cano (D-20): acano@azleg.gov • 602-926-3027 • Facebook • Twitter If you have 45 minutes: Also write a Letter to the Editor about the state budget. Visit our LTE Hub for templates, messaging advice, submission links and more 2023 Session Timeline Legislative majority leadership can change bill deadlines at any point. The budget deadline, however, is set in stone because it is tied to the state’s fiscal year. Saturday, 4/22 100th Day of Session (the end goal; will definitely be changed) Friday, 6/30 Last day to pass a budget before the government shuts down Use our website. Civic Engagement Beyond Voting’s website features tons of resources, including a RTS training video that’s 5 minutes well spent. Attend our Happy Hours. This week’s Zoom RTS Happy Hour is a spectacular don’t-miss: we’re featuring Nebraska state senator and “happy warrior” Megan Hunt. As always, we’ll also have legislative info and Q&A with Melinda. We’ll meet every Sunday at 4 PM through the end of session; sign up in advance here. Follow our social media. Our most timely updates are posted on Twitter. Subscribe. Enter your email address below to have the entire text of these updates emailed to you. (This is driven by Substack, separately from our CEBV emails. Those will still exist: as always, they’ll contain additional information and calls to action, along with a link to the content here.)
...............EVERYTHING ELSE................
REPORT AMAZON SCAMS If you receive communication — a call, text, or email — that you think may not be from Amazon, please report it to us at amazon.com/reportascam <><> WHEN DOES FOOD GO BAD? https://www.nytimes.com/article/expiration-dates.html?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20230414&instance_id=90162&nl= <><> HOW GET RID OF OUTDATED ELECTRONICS https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/spring-cleaning-pro-tip-recycle-tech-and-gadgets-you-dont-use-anymore/?ftag=CAD4dc88c8 <><>
DEUCY'S LEGACY
Arizona had the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the nation over three years, according to a research analysis published in March in the medical-science journal The Lancet.
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How Peeps are made:
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1000 DOLPHIN FINS
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BEST FLIGHT SEARCH ENGINES
............... WORD...............
WARNING: Do not read the first poem if you are upset by the sacrilegious!
I didn't want to deprive you of my annual Easter poem although I missed it by a week.
Sometime During Eternity . . .
Sometime during eternity some guys show up and one of them who shows up real late is a kind of carpenter from some square-type place like Galilee and he starts wailing and claiming he is hip to who made heaven and earth and that the cat who really laid it on us is his Dad And moreover he adds It’s all writ down on some scroll-type parchments which some henchmen leave lying around the Dead Sea somewheres a long time ago and which you won’t even find for a coupla thousand years or so or at least for nineteen hundred and fortyseven of them to be exact and even then nobody really believes them or me for that matter You’re hot they tell him And they cool him They stretch him on the Tree to cool And everybody after that is always making models of this Tree with Him hung up and always crooning His name and calling Him to come down and sit in on their combo as if he is the king cat who’s got to blow or they can’t quite make it Only he don’t come down from His Tree Him just hang there on His Tree looking real Petered out and real cool and also according to a roundup of late world news from the usual unreliable sources real dead
Lawrence Ferlinghetti, “Sometime During Eternity...” from Coney Island of the Mind. Copyright © 1958 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. ........ “PITY THE NATION”
Pity the nation whose people are sheep And whose shepherds mislead them
Pity the nation whose leaders are liars Whose sages are silenced And whose bigots haunt the airwaves
Pity the nation that raises not its voice Except to praise conquerors And acclaim the bully as hero And aims to rule the world By force and by torture
Pity the nation that knows No other language but its own And no other culture but its own
Pity the nation whose breath is money And sleeps the sleep of the too well fed
Pity the nation oh pity the people who allow their rights to erode and their freedoms to be washed away
My country, tears of thee Sweet land of liberty!
In 2007, Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti wrote the poem "Pity the Nation", inspired by Kahlil Gibran's poem of the same title first published in 1933.