BISBEE WIRE #77/OB business probs/economic stats/football jokes/homes sold near you

editor: fred miller           August 24, 2024              #77/August 24

Hello,

We had a lovely 10 day trip to Colorado to see grandson, great grandson and granddaughters, all in the Denver area and our daughter in Blackhawk, which is in the mountains about 9000' elevation. We've done this trip several times before and on the way back we always take the Colorado back roads, off I 70 which goes east west, going down south on through Paonia or Montrose or Gunnison or any number of small Colorado towns, depending. You would think during the summer there would be a lot of traffic, but nope not much unless there's some construction. It's more than delightful to have a river or a creek running alongside the road for 2030 miles while you're driving along with nobody else on the road.

Lots to do on Labor Day, the annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. Some of the events are covered below, but take a look at the excellent This Week in Bisbee, for a full accounting.

There may be more typos in this issue than others-yeah, I know that's hard to believe-but I'm using a lot of voice dictation. It's a bit erratic, but it has really helped me out. And the reason I'm using dictation is because my right arm is in a sling. A couple days after we returned I was doing some chainsaw work on some saplings across the road from my house, stumbled and fell on my right side and I now have a fractured collarbone, or clavicle as it was called in ER.. Not much pain but I'm a lefty for 4 to 6 weeks. Wah!

Although I could kvetch about the Democrats, gotta admit they put on a hell of a show last week. Very inspiring speeches of which I particularly liked Michelle Obama and my own personal heroine Gabby Gifford. So now the slog begins a really short amount of time, although I really like a truncated presidential campaign, it's a relief from the years-long media slog that we're subjected to. Next issue, I'll have some words of wisdom about a campaign for democrats against the republican party, by Michael Moore who seems to have a better understanding than many about what's needed to pull off a victory in November. I'll also have a dissection, based on a recent article in the New Yorker, of how far right conservatives have built an impressive network that has tentacles all over the United States.

fred

................​AROUND TOWN................

Main Street in old Bisbee is reopened for traffic both ways. The sidewalk in front of 28 and 30 Main St. still remains closed however. It's been about six months since the fire destroyed the two buildings and damaged others.

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BISBEE MEDIA MENTIONS

Best places to retire

https://www.msn.com/en-my/money/retirement/why-you-can-still-afford-to-retire-in-these-4-arizona-cities/ar-AA1ow6Nz

Best place to LIve

https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/2024/04/15/bisbee-best-places-to-live-in-2024-money/73329425007/

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The annual Bisbee Bloomer garden tour is August 31st 10-4.Tickets: the ten Gardens are mostly in the Warren District of Bisbee within walking distance of each other. $20 Sold at Bloomhaus on Main Street or at the High Desert Market on Tombstone Canyon. Day of the event at Bisbee Saturday Market in Vista Park. And at Eventbrite

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The 14th annual Classic Cars & Bike show sponsored by the bisbee Boys and Girls Club will be held August 31 on Arizona Street. The event starts at 10 o'clock and is free.

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The annual Blues in Bisbee festival will be held September 7 at the Warren ballpark. Go online here for tickets and more information.

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DISCUSSION OF THE DOUGLAS (and OB) AMA PLAN

The draft First Management Plan for the Douglas Groundwater Basin Active Management Area (DAMA) has been released. A meeting will be held Wednesday, August 28, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the City of Douglas City Council Chambers 425 E. 10th Street, for public discussion and input regarding the proposed plan next week.

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Charlie Gahn has passed. Although his health was not good, the long time jazz drummer was playing as late as last month with the Jazz Notables at St. Elmo's. He and his wife Gail, at one time owned Old Tymers in the recently departed Contessa's Cantina space. I was fortunate to work there many summers ago on Sundays when there was a jazz jam with some very good players dropping by to jam. Check out this short clip from that period with Charlie in full beard, biker hat, and whacking the skins. Arrangements have not been made yet, but likely there will be some peeps dropping by for a session in his memory.

...............BISBEE ECONOMY.............

ON THE STREET, THE CHURN CONTINUES...

Mike Donahue has closed Main St. Bistro and moved into the former Contessa's space. The new restaurant is name Los Hermanos. He had a soft opening this past weekend.

The building at 105 Tombstone Canyon that formally housed Bisbee Bistro has been sold and reportedly the new owner is going to offer a hamburger shop in the same space. More details in next issue issue.

Kafka has closed. The building at 31 Subway is for sale (it was just bought a year ago). However....John Allen & Co., the former head barista at Warren Peace Cafe, has bought all the equipment and will soon be opening a coffee shop  in the same location.

The building formerly housing Artemisia Foundation at 27 Main has been sold. Reportedly the new owner will open a gallery in the space.  The Warner Hotel is open as is 3/5 Main; buildings formerly vacant.

Freeport has notified the Bisbee Breakfast Club that their lease will not be renewed in 2025. BBC is looking for a new location and will announce their plans soon. If the rumor is true they will be going into Santiago's former spot in December. 

As to the future of Lowell, Freeport manager of external communications, James Telle, was quoted in a Shar Porier article in the HR that,  “Freeport expects the building (BBC) will remain unoccupied and regularly evaluated for safety." Depending on the condition of the buildings, FMI plans, "to the extent possible, to preserve the existing storefront, similar to other vacant storefronts in Lowell.”  In the same article, Telle also said that the FMI buildings in Lowell,  “are not primary to the company’s core mining reclamation purposes in greater Bisbee. Given the age and condition of some buildings in Lowell, the structures have become increasingly more expensive to maintain safely for full–time occupancy. Several structures are in deteriorating condition, and each will be evaluated.”

Go here for the entire article.

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There is significant discontent among OB business people about the lack of spending visitors this summer, the directionless marketing of the city, and the muddled layout of the tourism website discoverbisbee.com.  There seems to be some movement to bring business people together to discuss mutual problems and solutions. With addition of Karen Schumacher on the council, for the first time in a long time, there will be three business people on the council. Perhaps a more activist council will be in the offing next year. I hope so.

A step towards resolving some tourism problems would be to establish a 5-7 member Tourism Commission to guide tourism efforts and make recommendations to the council and viz center manager for implementation. The makeup could be one council liaison, 3-4 business people from throughout the city, and a couple interested residents. They could determine the kind of visitation conducive to economic success yet  preserve the quality of life for residents, set goals, outline a 3 year plan for marketing with less emphasis on 'influencers' and better use of traditional and social media, more inclusive communication with businesses, spread events throughout the whole year regulated by judicious council permitting, and revamp the website discoverbisbee.com among other things.

Visitor retention-keep um comin back!-is the backbone of successful tourism. We have the geographical, historical, art, and architectural base, that can and should be emphasized. I suggest building on the existing culinary scene so that Bisbee becomes a Food destination for people looking for restaurants serving distinctive food; the basic sustenance of visitors-and residents. That entails purposely planning to attract new restaurants as well as augment our existing culinary infrastructure. We have Poco and High Desert Market specialty food stores, a solid cheese shop, Bisbee olive oil, Patisserie Jacqui, and Killer Bee honey. We have Cafe Roka and the Copper Pig to build on as well as a many other places that are solid. There is enough room for at least one and maybe two more fine dining restaurants.

Another indication of economic problems is the number of commercial buildings for sale or vacant in OB. Currently there are 10 buildings for sale, 10 vacant or being worked on. And I may have missed a few.

Although there are differences of opinion about this situation with some saying it is the usual churn, others speculating on external influences-such as election year, interest rates, owners aging out, the fire this winter, high interest rates-and these definitely have an influence, I continue to think it is a serious enough situation that the council should become proactive and not wait and see what happens.

They could establish an economic working group within the council to begin the process of finding potential buyers. Work with realtors, experienced tourism people, bankers, larger companies, and others to figure out a campaign to entice buyers to come to Bisbee.

(I certainly am not privy to any deals or serious inquiries about any of the buildings so there may be more reason for optimism for those that have that kind of knowledge.)

The city treasurer's monthly report always reports revenue, and expenditures against what the projections were for the budget that was passed for the year. Budgets are very educated guesswork based on history and projected departmental expenditures and revenues. For the first month of the new fiscal year city sales tax revenue is up while state tax sales are down. 

Visitor center/aka tourism...Bed Tax revenue is at 16% or double projections for this point in the year. This is revenue collected in May, submitted to the state in June, and distributed to the city in July. Expenses are at 13.5% with some large one-time costs paid for the year. This leaves a net revenue over expense of $7,500. This fund has a $356,000 fund balance left over from previous years.

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BUILDINGS FOR SALE

The following  commercial buildings are for sale. (data from online listings such as LoopNet, Century 21, Xome, etc)

11 Howell Copper Queen Hotel  $12,500,000 (operating till sold)

1 Howell (formerly Santiagos/hotel San Ramon-operating till sold}) $1,670,000

31 Subway (formerly Black Sheep & Kafkas) $528,850

2 Main (The Table et al, (operating till sold) $1,800,000

35 Main Cafe Roka  $1,675,000 (operating till sold)

61 Main The Grand $3,000,000 (operating till sold)

69 Main Acacia(building not business) listed as Palace Livery) $800,000

81 Main (formerly Finders/Keepers) $599,000

15 Brewery (formerly stock exchange) $1,750,000

79 Main (formerly Art Home) $625,000

11 W. Hwy 92 (new bldg) $2,264,143

1 Cochise Row-storage compound $3,800,000

37 OK St. $1,299,000

595 E. Romero Rd  Double P (operating till sold) $595,000

400 Arizona St. $299,000

3702 S. Wilson Rd  $400,000 (mobile home lots on 55 acres)

Vacant/being worked on:

55 Subway/American Legion Bar

12 Main Bisbee Review building

50 Brewery (next to the parlor)

26 Main Letson Loft work being done

28 Main demolished

30 Main demolished

74 Main

105 Tombstone Canyon

88 Main (maybe used for storage, an eyesore for many years)

Together, this is about 30% of the available commercial buildings in OB business district.

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U HAUL

One of the imprecise ways to gauge housing movement is to check U Haul stats. But there isn't data specific to Bisbee since U-Haul does not currently have a rental equipment location in Bisbee's city limits. The nearest U-Haul rental sites are in Sierra Vista and Douglas. I asked and U Haul sent me, stats for those two cities, which account for the bulk of their Cochise County rental sites (and these cities are where new Bisbee residents would be asked to drop off their one-way U-Haul equipment). While this certainly is not definitive information, it gives some idea about where people are coming from and dropping off their trailers. And some of those people are coming to Bisbee.

The origin state/city rankings below are for Sierra Vista and Douglas as the destinations (i.e. drop-off locations) and are pulled from one-way U-Haul truck customer transactions with a date range of Jan. 1, 2024 through today.

Destination: Sierra Vista and Douglas (Cochise County rental locations)

Origin states one-way U-Haul movers are coming from in 2024

1. Arizona (in-state moves)

2. Texas

3. California

4. Colorado

5. New Mexico

Origin cities one-way U-Haul movers are coming from in 2024

1. Tucson

2. Phoenix

3. El Paso, TX

4. Yuma

5. Green Valley

Another measurement, and one I rely on extensively, is to look at the sales tax reports from the AZ Dept. of revenue (ADOR). This is a more direct overview of looking at the economy

HOUSE SALES

(From and article in AZ Central)

"The homebuying and selling process is changing. ...homebuyers and sellers must now navigate new ways of paying real estate agents to close sales.

Rules from the$418 million National Association of Realtors settlement, which deals with real estate agent commissions and what buyers must do to hire a Realtor, go into effect Aug. 17.

The 5% to 6% commission sellers typically paid, which included a share for the buyer's agent, is gone. Now, buyers must sign a contract to hire an agent before seeing a house. That contract will include what the buyer will pay the agent and the duration of the contract. The buyer can later negotiate for the seller to pay their agent's commission."..............

(From realtor.com) In June 2024, the median listing home price in Bisbee, AZ was $334K, trending up 6% year-over-year. The median listing home price per square foot was $216. The median home sold price was $257K.

The July report is very similar as the past five years with nine houses sold in July. Prices have fluctuated some, but basically homes sold during the month totaled $2 million to $2.5 million; not a lot of change historically.

Currently they list 305 homes for sale-but there are several commercial buildings and empty lots included in the total. They list 8 places for rent.

Address  original price/List price/sale price

202 Park Av.  150k/100k/$100,000

608 Arizona St $126,000

224A Tombstone      $165,000

207 F. Huachuca Ln $187k/$184k/$178,000

186 Quality Hill        $345k/$345k/$340,000

732 Tombstone         $359k/$345k/$345,000

130 Opera Dr.           $359k/$359k/$355,000

512 Vista                    $450k/$450k/$400,000

115 Zacatecas            $450k/$450k/$400,000

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BUILDING PERMITS

These stats come from the city clerks office. A total of 48 residential permits generated $973,523 this month, the most in several years. Work was the usual; remodeling, upgrading, new roofs, new ac splits, and more. There were several permits for more than $50,000.

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SALES TAX  (This report is for actual spending in May)

The spending in May was mixed with the 5% bed tax bringing i about $3500 more than last month; $24k/$18.5k. The 3.5% regular hotel tax was also up, about $5000. Restaurant/bar taxes were down about $9,000. Go figure. Retail was also down about $16,000. Food for home consumption was down about $10,000, and internet sales taxes were up a bit and continued to grow over the past four months.

LODGING TAXES

Lodging taxes continue to outpace previous years by several thousands of dollars indicating both increased visitation and inflation. For instance July 24 bed taxes were $24,112 but in July 23 & 22  taxes were only about $16,000.

Restaurant/bar taxes were the lowest since September of 2023.

Retail sales have fluctuated the first two quarters this year, but are definitely more than the same quarters in 2023.

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The following data was taken from Cochise Economy website. There is a wealth of monthly, yearly data on their site and is a good place to get an idea of the scope of the economic activity in various towns and the county.

BORDER CROSSINGS

PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

At the  Naco Port of Entry, pedestrian crossings into the United States were down 1.4% in 2023. That followed annual growth of 30.1% in 2021 and 41.4% in 2022 (after declines of 37.2% in 2019 and 38.1% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). Despite strong increases in 2021 and 2022, pedestrian crossings through the Naco port in 2023 remained down 10.4% from 2019. Pedestrian crossings at the Naco port in 2023 totaled 85,585.

VEHICLE PASSENGER CROSSINGS

Vehicle passenger crossings at the Naco port were up 9.6% in 2023, after climbing 22.5% in 2021 and 34.5% in 2022 (that was after a COVID-related decline of 41.8% in 2020). Vehicle passenger crossings through the Naco port in 2023 were up 5.1% from pre-COVID. Vehicle passenger crossings at the Naco port in 2023 totaled 615,911.

BANK DEPOSITS

IIn 1994 there were $64,912,000 in deposits.

In 2000 there were$66,086,000

In 2010 there were $84,640,000

In 2020 there were $91,500,00 in deposits.

In 2021 there were $102,104,000

In 2022 there were $111,869,000

In 2023 there were $99,982,000

NATIONAL PARK VISITOR COUNTS

Chiricahua National Monument visits were up 2.0% in 2023, following growth of 14.9% in 2022 and 19.2% in 2021 (after a COVID decline of 26.1% in 2020). Overall, visits to Chiricahua National Monument were up 3.2% from 2019 through 2023.

Visits to Coronado National Memorial were up 7.5% in 2023 following an increase of 1.2% in 2022. Coronado National Memorial was the only exception to the COVID-related drop in 2020 and rebound of 2021, with an overall increase in annual visitors of 19.9% in 2020 (the first year of the pandemic) followed by a decline of 16.9% in 2021. From 2019 through 2023, visits to Coronado National Memorial were up 7.5%.

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ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

Kazoku LLC

38 Wolverine

David and Magdalena Danforth

Mascel Handmade LLC

2nd Main St.

Anahi Sanchez

Old Bisbee Clothing LLC

1008 Hwy 92

Todd Conklin

..............COCHISE COUNTY................

CROSBY & JUDD TAKE THE FIFTH; LEGAL FEES PAID BY TAXPAYERS

Supervisors Tom Crosby who squeaked out a primary win, and Peggy Judd who did not run for office, were in court this past week invoking their fifth amendment rights in a case brought by American Oversight about access to public records. According to HR reporter Terri Jo Neff the suit, "...alleges county officials failed to respond in a timely manner to six public records requests submitted by the group between November 2022 and October 2023."

The two were being deposed as part of the discovery phase of litigation. The  trial is to begin February 10.

In addition to the legal advice by the county attorney's office the taxpayers are also paying for two private attorneys for Judd and Crosby.

A lengthy article explaining the process in the HR by reporter Terri Jo Neff is here

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JUDD TO TAKE AG PLEA?

There's offer on the table apparently, to supervisor Peggy Judd from the attorney generals office. As yet the terms of offer have not been publicly disclosed. But it's not a secret that Judd has been struggling to raise money to pay for legal bills. Stay tuned.

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DISTRICT 2 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE SAYS COCHISE COLLEGE CLOSING

The repub candidate, (and party switcher) Kathleen Gomez is trying to drum up interest in a meeting of a group that she founded. Gomez wants people to attend the next meeting of The Concerned Conservative Citizens of Cochise County (CCCCC), on Aug. 24 in Douglas where JD Rottweiler and Abe Villareal, a dean at the Douglas campus, will answer questions about the school. Rottweiler has denied any plans to close the campus.

Go here for the article.

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AIR FORCE WANTS TO EXPAND OPERATION IN COCHISE COUNTY

The air force want to expand training sites that would allow for several questionable environment practices. They want to "...to modify the airspace available, times of use, lower training altitudes for supersonic flights, permit the use of chaff which scrambles radar, and the release of flares during sorties." according to an article in the HR.

To review the proposed changes, visit the website: https://www.arizonaregionalairspaceeis.com/overview-of-proposed-action/summary-of-alternatives-by-airspace/tombstone-moa/

Public comments through Oct. 9. Submit them at:  https://www.arizonaregionalairspaceeis.com/comments/

...............THE LEGE................

In the next few months I'll be looking at the many propositions on the November ballot. Some are on for sure, some are being litigated as to language or veracity or legality. Without a doubt the last lege was the most cowardly in many years. More later.

But in one memorable decision about giving voters the choice of whether to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right in November, the state’s Supreme Court has ruled that informational pamphlets sent to all voters can use the phrase “unborn human being” to refer to embryos or fetuses.

The court said Wednesday that the language “substantially complies” with impartiality requirements, backing the majority-Republican legislative council that drafted the language. Two justices dissented. The ruling noted that the phrase is used in existing legislation but did not explain the justices’ thinking in further detail. A full opinion will be released later, the ruling said.

...............EVERYTHING ELSE................

ARIZONA'S GOSAR BIG SPENDER ON TAXPAYER DOUGH

Like many preachers who don't practice what they preach, the extreme right winger Paul Gosar rails against 'government bloat' and wasteful spending. But....Paul Gosar is the highest spender on travel according to Open Secrets and the Moonlight Foundation. The very loose accounting for travel does not even detail where travel occurred for the mandatory reporting. Kinda like a slush fund.

According to CNN, "A review conducted by the nonpartisan watchdog Moonlight Foundation of the self-described fiscal conservative’s spending shows he has spent more taxpayer dollars on travel than any other member of the House over the past five years – an unusual amount of money spent by a rank-and-file member who has served in the minority for part of that time and has built a scant record of legislative accomplishments.

The analysis of his spending, reviewed by CNN, raises serious questions about the nature of the expenses since congressional rules do not require lawmakers to disclose anything more than the most basic of details: The amount, the date and the expense’s category. Gosar’s office denies misusing taxpayer dollars.

Since 2016, Gosar has spent nearly $1 million in taxpayer dollars on travel – the most in the entire 435-member House – as he has traveled to events in Florida, Colorado, Texas and Europe, among other places, according to congressional records. Members in neighboring Arizona districts that are roughly the same size spent about 40% of that amount in that time frame, the records show."

 Go here for details of spenders

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VETERANS, YOUR EX-COMMANDER IN CHIEF

Trump says Medal of Freedom "equivalent" to and "much better" than Medal of Honor, sparking backlash from veterans(CBS News)

Former President Donald Trump received an immediate backlash Thursday when he said the Presidential Medal of Freedom he awarded to Dr. Miriam Adelson, the widow of Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson, was "equivalent" and "much better" than the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award for bravery in combat. The Adelson's total contributions to Republicans totaled more than $218 million between 2019 and 2020, according to OpenSecrets, which tracks money in politics.

............... WORD...............

FOOTBALL PRESEASON

FOR THE GUYS IN THE FUN HOUSE, FOOTBALL FANS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SEASON, AND LOVERS OF JOKES THAT IMPUGN ahem THE SMARTS OF SOME PLAYERS

(Tip of my pork pie to long time RC supporter who sends me a lot of humorous stuff...likely cause he lives in Alaska and has to keep his spirits up somehow.)

Ohio State 's Urban Meyer on one of his players: "He doesn't know the meaning of the word fear. In fact, I just saw his grades and he doesn't know the meaning of a lot of words.”

Why do Auburn fans wear orange? So they can dress that way for the game on Saturday, go hunting on Sunday, and pick up trash on Monday.

What does the average Alabama player get on his SATs? Drool.

How many Michigan State freshmen football players does it take to change a light bulb?

None. That's a sophomore course.

How did the Michigan football player die from drinking milk?

The cow fell on him.

Two ASU football players were walking in the woods. One of them said, "Look, a dead bird." The other looked up in the sky and said,"Where?"

What do you say to a Florida State University football player dressed in a three-piece suit?

"Will the defendant please rise."

If three Rutgers football players are in the same car, who is driving?

The police officer.

How can you tell if a Clemson football player has a girlfriend?

There's tobacco juice on both sides of the pickup truck.

What do you get when you put 32 Arkansas cheerleaders in one room?

A full set of teeth.

University of Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh is only going to dress half of his players for the game this week; the other half will have to dress themselves.

How is the Kansas football team like an opossum?

They play dead at home and get killed on the road.

Why did the Arizona State linebacker steal a police car?

He saw "911" on the side and thought it was a Porsche.

How do you get a former University of Miami football player off your porch?

Pay him for the pizza.

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble the football"   - John Heisman

"I make my practices real hard because if a player is a quitter, I want him to quit in practice, not in a game." – Bear Bryant / Alabama

"It isn't necessary to see a good tackle, you can hear it!” - Knute Rockne / Notre Dame

"At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money, and we don't have any." – Erik Russell / Georgia Southern

"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it."  -  Lou Holtz / Arkansas - Notre Dame

"When you win, nothing hurts. -  Joe Namath / Alabama

"A school without football is in danger of deteriorating into a medieval study hall.   -  Frank Leahy / Notre Dame

"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the shit kicked out of you."  -  Woody Hayes / Ohio State

"I don't expect to win enough games to be put on NCAA probation.  I just want to win enough to warrant an investigation."  -  Bob Devaney / Nebraska

"In Alabama, an atheist is someone who doesn't believe in Bear Bryant."

-  Wally Butts / Georgia

"I never graduated from Iowa.  But I was only there for two terms - Truman's and Eisenhower's."  –  Alex Karras / Iowa

"My advice to defensive players is to take the shortest route to the ball, and arrive in a bad humor.”  -  Bowden Wyatt / Tennessee

"I could have been a Rhodes Scholar except for my grades."  - Duffy Daugherty / Michigan State

"Always remember Goliath was a 40 point favorite over David."- Shug Jordan / Auburn

"I asked Darrell Royal, the coach of the Texas Longhorns, why he didn't recruit me ."  He said,"Well, Walt, we took a look at you, and you weren't any good.   -  Walt Garrison / Oklahoma State

"Son, you've got a good engine, but your hands aren't on the steering wheel."  -  Bobby Bowden / Florida State

"Football is NOT a contact sport, it is a collision sport.  Dancing IS a contact sport."  -  Duffy Daugherty / Michigan State

After USC lost 51-0 to Notre Dame, his post-game message to his team was, "All those who need showers, take them."  -  John McKay / USC

"If lessons are learned in defeat, our team is getting a great education.”

-  Murray Warmath / Minnesota

"The only qualifications for a lineman are to be big and dumb.  To be a back, you only have to be dumb."  -  Knute Rockne / Notre Dame

"We didn't tackle well today, but we made up for it by not blocking."

-  John McKay / USC

"I've found that prayers work best when you have big players."  -  Knute Rockne / Notre Dame