BISBEE WIRE #95
- fred
- Aug 17
- 16 min read
editor: fred miller June 30, 2025 #95/June 2025 |
Hello,Them clouds look promising! Some sky water would be welcome to cool things out. The weather has clearly not stopped the firehose of information; it continues to pour upon us. I capture a bit of it below. Anita had lower back surgery three weeks ago, lots of technical stuff but basically put some screws and a couple rods in, took out a bit of bone that was pressing on nerves, and other stuff way too complicated to get into. (Well, since you've demanded details... she had lumbar Arthrodesis posterior single interspace; posterior segmental instrumentation (rods, hooks, and sublaminar wires); Laminectomy with decompression of spinal cord or cauda equina; Laminectomy with decompression of nerve roots). Some last minute delays by our insurance had us ticked off, but finally got the ok for surgery one day before it took place, and in fact the delay pushed her surgery day back one day. Too early to see how successful, the surgeon thought maybe 60% or so pain relief. We're hoping more. She is recovering well, began walking up the block and now is walking a couple times of day around the block. Soon will be walking by herself with a minder. So that's done. We were fortunate to have her oldest daughter stay for several days and help out when she came home from her 4 day hospital stay. And as a send off to her surgery, late last month we hosted a b-day weekend for her, all the kids, some of the grandkids, and one great grandson came from afar. A lil get together at the house for friends, dinner at the Copper Pig. A very enjoyable time. I'm a lucky guy who married into a wonderful family.I'm supporting Deja Foxx in the CD-7 primary. Adelita Grijalva is the heavy favorite, Daniel Hernandez is a no vote for sure. Foxx is a first timer longshot running an interesting social media/in person campaign and has attracted lots of national press. The dems badly need new blood with lived experience and a populist outlook. I think Foxx can galvanize the party in the coming years. She is just introducing herself and is light on policy discussion, but that will come. She had some savvy words, worth reading, after the confrontation at the pride gathering, (see below).Lotsa Bisbee economic news that I'll get to next time. Hope all is well in your world. Check out my two fave organizations in the parade on the 4th; the Bisbee Foundation will be trundling along a cool car handing out fans and KBRP peeps will be walking around the cute lil radio 'float'. In this trying times, I hope you have some good fireworks going on in your life. fred
................AROUND TOWN................ HOLIDAY GARBAGE COLLECTION...more info at 520 432-6000Thursday collection moved to WednesdayFriday collection moved to Thursday..........JULY 4TH ACTIVITIES8 am...Coaster Races (note Tombstone Canyon/Main will be closed from 7 am-9am.)11 am...Parade in Warren/ Bisbee Rd to Arizona St. 11 am. noon...Drilling and Mucking Brewery GulchDusk...Fireworks (set off the top of the tailings in Warren. Best view is from Vista Park.).............PUBLIC COMMENTS OPEN UNTIL JULY 3 FOR 30 MAIN ST. PLANOne of the sites of the Valentine night fire last year, 30 Main St. is now owned by the city/taxpayers. Their plan, according to city housing director Melissa Hartman, is to remove asbestos and ‘encapsulated paint’. They have already spent $163,790 to stabilize the walls, and remove bricks and other debris.Because of the asbestos, the EPA and ADEQ are involved and so the city is required to seek public input on the project. Anyone interested can contact Ms. Hartman at (520) 335-5693 or mhartman@bisbeeaz.gov. The deadline for input is July 3. City Manager Steve Pauken and Mayor Ken Budge have publicly said they want to build a one story visitor center on the site. Their desire is evidenced in a $400,000 capital project line in the Visitor Center budget for FY 25-26. While not official, their ideas have already been questioned by some OB merchants. I've also raised several questions in past issues, such as... Is this the best use for the Visitor Center Fund? Is a visitor center passé? Can a building be built for only $400k? Are other options considered? If there is a visitor center why not lease on Main St. rather than the expense of a new building? Why not use strategically place kiosks? Can the viz center fund underwrite some events?++++++++FREE ADMISSION FOR RESIDENTS AT ARTEMISIA IN JULYThe Artemizia Foundation at 818 Tombstone will be closed for construction from June 26 through July 4. After reopening admission will be free to local residents (with ID) July 5 - August 10. If you haven't been, go. Some very cool stuff. including The Beatles: Pop, Power & Persona: Saturday July 12, 2025 from 1pm - 4pm in Gallery 818. "...Pop, Power & Persona offers a fresh lens on a familiar phenomenon. This is not just a celebration of The Beatles’ music, but a critical inquiry into how icons are made, unmade, and eternally remade."July 12th – August 10th. Go here for more infoBEATLES AT ARTEMIZIA++++++++JAZZ NOTABLES KICKIN IT AT ST. ELMO |
You can see the Notables most every third Sunday of the month from 2-5 at Elmos. Next gig is July 20. ++++++++++++UGLY FRACAS AT DEMS CANDIDATE MEETAt a democratic CD7 candidate meeting during Pride weekend, local activist Carol Park asked a question of candidate Daniel Hernandez about the Palestine/Israel ongoing war. His sister Alma Hernandez-not a candidate, currently a house representative (LD-20), immediately responded by screaming at Park, a brief shouting match ensued when A. Hernandez approached Park. Part of the spat was caught on camera until Daniel Hernandez grabbed the phone and threw it to the floor (owner of the phone) or put it on the table (D. Hernandez). The person began filming again and once again the phone was blocked by Hernandez. Park was asked to leave, Alma and Conseula Hernandez (LD-21) left and continued arguing outside the meeting room. The Hernandez family are zealous supporters of the government of Israel. And in fact they have sometimes echoed the extreme right's position that any criticism of the actions of the Israel government is antisemitism which is not only wrong but harmful.Adelita Grijalva and Deja Foxx, the other main candidates for the position were present, but unfortunately Grijalva left while Foxx talked about public service to constituents. Here was her response.+++++++++DEJA FOXX, CANDIDATE FOR CD-7 VISITS BISBEEThe youngest challenger for a congressional seat visited Bisbee last week. About 75 peeps showed up at the Jonquil Motel backyard to hear what she had to say. Ms. Foxx is enjoying several feature articles in national media. Here and here and another in the New York Times. Go here for helping out her campaign.++++++++++++BLUES FEST CANCELLEDThe EasterSeal Blake foundation announce the cancellation of this year’s Blues in Bisbee music festival. From their pr..."While we’ve worked tirelessly to sustain this beloved tradition, we’ve faced a significant decline in both corporate and community sponsorships. Like many festivals across the country, we’re navigating a challenging economic landscape that has made it increasingly difficult for small, community-based events to thrive.Blues in Bisbee has been more than a music event—it’s been a celebration of compassion, connection, and community impact. With over 2,500 attendees annually, the festival has injected more than $300,000 into Bisbee’s local economy in a single weekend, while raising critical support for Easterseals Blake Foundation and Bisbee Coalition for the Homeless.We are actively working to build new partnerships and bring this festival back stronger than ever. If you’re interested in helping us revive Blues in Bisbee, please reach out—because the Blues belong in Bisbee, and we’re not giving up. All purchased tickets have been refunded through Eventbrite. Vendors have also been be fully refunded. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@bluesinbisbee.com. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.+++++++++++BLUES, BLUEGRASS, AND COUNTRY BAR CRAWL SCHEDULED ON BLUES FEST WEEKEND, SEPT 27, 28Gretchen Bonaduce is stepping into the void left by the cancellation of the blues fest. She is organizing a bar crawl. More info here++++++++++SHPO DECIDES FATE OF WARREN HISTORIC DESIGNATIONThe State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will be considering the second application for the Warren district for historic status. If Warren is approved at the July 25 meeting, the application will be forwarded to Washington DC for possible recommendation to the National Register of Historic Places. A total of 777 dwellings and vacant lots were included in the survey sent to the State. The process cost the City $14,800 in addition to a $20,ooo grant from the state, as well as the time and effort from many volunteers over the past eleven years who put in the time to categorize buildings in the Warren district.(from an article in the HR)+++++++HILLCREST BUILDING FAILS TO SELLAfter cleaning up the asbestos and lead based paint, thanks for a $500k grant from the EPA, the City put the former hospital/apt building on the market with a deadline of June 2 for bids. No bids were received. City planter Melissa Hartman said that they are mulling over what to do next. She speculated that the lack of response was possibly because of tariffs raising the cost of materials and the lack of State tax credits for rural counties.(from an article in the HR)+++++++++APS ASKS FOR ANOTHER RATE HIKEAPS' latest request would bump the average residential customer's monthly bill by about $20. New rates, if approved, would become effective in mid-2026 at the earliest. They have also asked for annual automatic cost bumps. If allowed this would bring residents a 38% increase in electricity in four years. Often taxpayers in other states are tasked with paying for AI development in the future. Maybe there is an AI server farm in the future somewhere nearby? APS has asked for and received the following increases:
2022...asked for 13.6%, received 8%2023...received 8%2024...asked for 13.6%, received 8%2025...asked for 14%, decision in 2026+++++++++++KBRP PARKING LOT PARTY SUCCESSAbout 100 people turned out for a Sunday afternoon of music by Beca Reyes/Danielle Panther, and the Avant Coast Guard-Brian Mullins, Adam Smolen, and Lisle Ellis. The event was a neighborhood party, low key fundraiser, and membership booster for the station. Thanks for coming and if you didn't, you'll get another chance in the Fall.
Photo by +++++++++++BISBEE MEDIA MENTIONS Lowell Bisbee Women's Club https://www.arizonahighways.com/classroom/bisbee-womans-club We be Uropeen https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/trip-ideas/arizona/skip-europe-try-this-attraction-instead-az Quirkiesthttps://www.worldatlas.com/cities/this-is-arizona-s-quirkiest-little-town.htmlUniquehttps://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2025/06/30/why-this-small-town-was-named-the-quirkiest-in-arizona/84321133007/?utm_+++++++++++++ NEW MOBILE HOME PARK A newly established Mobile Home Park in Bisbee, AZ, is now open, offering affordable living solutions for individuals, families, and retirees seeking a peaceful desert lifestyle. The community offers both Affordable Mobile Homes for Rent in Bisbee, AZ and Manufactured Homes for Sale in Bisbee, AZ. Located at 808 W Sieling Loop, Parc Bisbee also provides full RV Hookups. ++++++++VIZ CENTER GETS PHOENIX MAG NODBisbee Visitor Center was the one of the recipients of the Phoenix magazine Arizona Travel Awards for 2025. The 25 awards in different categories broken into 'small' and 'large' markets such as best attraction, best golf course. It's not exactly a sham but close. One would think that a legit contest, and not some marketing scheme that a recipient could leverage, would not charge an entry fee. According to the website "$80 for first entry; $65 for second and third entries; $50 for all additional entries. Fees are nonrefundable, even if an entry is determined to be ineligible." (I did email them asking how many entries they received for the visitor center category; no answer) The awards read like an 'independent' travel site has announced them via a press release and referring to a very basic website with category winners, click on an award and there is a photo with no info. Instead of a pic of the Bisbee Visitor Center award there was a generic photo of Main st. And then two weeks later the mag was published with the awards in a bit more detail. When the awardees were featured in the magazine, there was more detail and a pic of all winners...cept for the Bisbee Visitor Center. Go here for all the 'wieners'.) +++++++++++MALANGA GONEThe pugnacious, raspy voiced criminal defense attorney Ralph Malanga has died. He often took on cases others shunned and was fierce in defense of his clients. A blunt guy, I often swapped insults with him at Roka about the law and his cases. Oneofakind.
..............COCHISE COUNTY................ NO TLC FOR TCSo an elected supervisor that ignores the county attorneys many warnings that what he was doing was illegal but does it anyway, gets indicted for doing something illegal, hires one or two lawyers, then demands the county taxpayers pay for his lawyer because he needs the money to defend himself for ignoring legal advice. Chutzpah ain't the word for Tom Crosby. In addition to his personal situation, he has voted for hiring other attorneys to defend the county and supervisors in various other election related matter. He literally has cost the county thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. Hopefully he is going to trial soon. And gets convicted.
...............THE LEGE................ The legislature finally passed a budget after several weeks of dicking around. House and Senate republicans couldn't come to an understanding just how much to screw taxpayers. The Senate, who had been negotiating with gov Hobbs won. CEBV newsletter has the complete rundown. Go here++++++++(and here for this from same)DEMOCRATS BILIOUS BAILOUT for BILLIONAIRE BASEBALL OWNERAnother great look for democrats....Eighteen of the House’s 27 Democratic lawmakers voted YES on HB2704. This bill, which will divert $500 million in tax dollars over 30 years from the state of Arizona and its counties and cities to subsidize a billionaire-owned, highly lucrative sports franchise, could not have advanced without their support. What could that dough be used for along the border? In Bisbee, Douglas, Yuma.... If you had hopes that the governor would veto this insane waste of taxpayer dollars, we’re sorry to report that she signed the bill on Friday. Her office pushed hard for the giveaway, even negotiating the amendments that got the bill across the finish line.Both LD-21 reps, Consuelo Hernandez and Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton voted for it. Give em a piece of your mind! CH...https://www.azleg.gov/emailazleg/?legislatorId=2313SSH...https://www.azleg.gov/emailazleg/?legislatorId=2338Consuelo Hernandez hopefully will be challenged in the next election by someone who is not a DINO. The Hernandez family, Anna reps LD-20, and Daniel is a former legislator and now running-and hopefully losing-for CD-7, are ardent zionists. They fully support the Israel government.
........TRUMP WATCH.......... THE EMASCULATED SENATE & THE BUDGET BILLThere is simply too much to cover for this huge transfer of wealth from poor and working people to rich people. The trump toadies preen and pontificate while life saving programs are truncated or removed and trump threatens anyone who doesn't agree with him.The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office today said the tax cuts in the budget reconciliation bill the Republican senators are trying to pass will increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion over the next ten years despite the $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other programs over the same period. from https://substack.com/@hrichardsonFor extended comments....If you are a policy junkie, go hereIf you are a detailed budget junkie go hereA relatively complete NYT analysis of the senate bill go here+++++++++++ TRUMP GIVES IRAN PERMISSION TO IRAN TO BOMB US BASE(From a transcript released by the white house of a press conference at the NATO summit June 25.)Donald Trump00:06:14-00:06:37 (23 sec)...And hopefully, that hardware is going to be made in America because we have the best hardware in the world. You saw that, where 14 missiles were shot at us the other day. (talking about Iran)Donald Trump00:06:37-00:07:04 (26 sec)And uh, they were very nice. They gave us warning. They said we're going to shoot them. Is 1:00, OK? I said it's fine. And everybody was emptied off the base so they couldn't get hurt except for the gunners. They call them the gunners. And uh, out of 14 high end missiles that were shot at the base in Qatar, all 14, as you know, were shot down by our equipment.Donald Trump00:07:04-00:07:30 (27 sec)Amazing stuff. Amazing that they can do that. It's like shooting a bullet with a bullet. It's the same thing if you think about it. 14 out of 14.++++++++++++KEEPING TRACK OF TRUMP ADMIN ACTIVITIESAll info in this blurb comes from Wired Magazine
REGULATORY CHANGESThis site provides background information and status updates on a curated selection of significant regulatory and deregulatory changes made by the Trump administration. This tracker allows you to monitor new, delayed, and repealed rules, notable guidance and policy revocations, executive actions, and important court battles across key policy areas such as environmental, health, labor, and more. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/tracking-regulatory-changes-in-the-second-trump-administration/WORKFORCE CHANGES TRACKERThis interactive map tracks changes to US federal government funding, workforce, and policy across the country, documenting things like mass worker firings, hiring freezes, funding cuts, and lease terminations. The tool also shows places where funding has subsequently been unfrozen, federal workers have been rehired or may be, or the federal government has added a new service or benefit.https://theimpactproject.org/the-impact-map/US DISAPPEARED TRACKER The tracker crucially follows each individual’s status, noting whether they are in ICE custody, have been released temporarily or permanently, have been deported, have “self-deported,” or have died in ICE custody. The tool also lists how many days their ordeal has continued.ICE FLIGHT TRACKINGTom Cartwright is a retired JP Morgan executive who uses flight monitoring data from around the country to track ICE Air deportation flights, return flights, and flights within the US.Go hereTRUMP LITIGATION TRACKERS The law and policy publications Just Security and Lawfare each offer databases that track lawsuits challenging Trump administration initiatives. The tools include case names, docket numbers, and jurisdictions, as well as the executive action being challenged and the status of the litigation.+++++++++++ANALYSIS OF IRAN/ISRAEL WAR(written before the US bombing)This is one of the most succinct and knowledgable articles/interviews about the current situation with Iran and Israel. Go here for the entire interview at Popular Information with Joe Cirincione, a non-proliferation expert who has studied Iran for decades."Netanyahu is using the same playbook that he, and neoconservatives in the United States, used in 2002 and 2003 to convince the American public to go to war with Iraq. They are claiming that military action is necessary before the smoking gun becomes a mushroom cloud. It wasn't true then, and it's not true now. But it's the justification for a war they want to wage for other reasons, and those other reasons are to overthrow the rule of Ayatollah Khamenei and the Muslim clerics. This is a regime change war. And if there was any doubt, the expanded target set that Israel has developed over the past six days indicates that. It very quickly moved from an initial set of targets on the nuclear facilities and some of the military officials to a widespread campaign of political assassination through bombing and destruction of political, economic and even cultural targets. This is clearly aimed at destabilizing and overthrowing the regime."+++++++++TRUMP & CHRISTIAN NATIONALISTS ATTACK THE MINDRobert Reich Go here for more info.Dictators have always understood that their most powerful enemy is an educated public. Slaveholders prohibited enslaved people from learning to read. The Third Reich burned books. The Khmer Rouge banned music. Stalin and Pinochet censored the media.Today, I see five key facets to Trump’s authoritarian attack on the American mind:1. Rewrite history: Trump is forcing schools to whitewash slavery and segregation, cover up the genocide of Native Americans, and erase the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Authoritarians know that if they can make us forget how brave activists fought for change in the past, they can stop us from seeking change in the future.2. Gut education: Trump is trying to abolish the Department of Education, cut funding for K-12 public schools, and bully universities into backing his agenda. As a professor, I know firsthand how education empowers young people’s minds. We can’t have a functioning democracy if people cannot think critically, and that’s why authoritarians replace education with indoctrination.3. Dismantle science: By freezing university research grants and attacking agencies like the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and Centers for Disease Control, Trump is putting all of us at risk. Why is he so afraid of science? Because science acknowledges objective facts, and authoritarians must convince people that they are more powerful than facts.4. Suppress the media: From suing ABC and CBS News to threatening to strip network broadcast licenses to defunding public broadcasting, Trump is trying to control everything Americans see and read — because in order to consolidate power, authoritarians must never be questioned.5. Attack the arts: The arts exist to provoke, challenge, and help us see beyond ourselves. So it’s no surprise that Trump is attacking the National Endowment for the Arts, the Smithsonian, and the Kennedy Center. To limit art is to limit free expression — a crucial step in silencing anyone who dissents through creativity.From Robert Reich’s Inequality Media Civic Action
RESOURCESThis site covers political activity in the state. https://www.reddit.com/r/AZAdvocacyHub/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email...........This site lists ways that you can participate in various events or tasks from home. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jxO8g7q9VO3ZMAABcrvR7PMyX4Yl6dgIYhD3eRTKk1M/edit?gid=0#gid=0...........
...............EVERYTHING ELSE................ WHERE THE US GETS SOME PRODUCTS This site details from what country the US gets certain products. For instance the US gets 99% of live pigs from Canada! Who knew? 97% of baby carriages come from China, 59% of Tungsten comes from Boliva, and lots more. This site will tell you what percent of specific products come from what countries. Plug in a product not listed and it will show the % and country. +++++++++ CONSUMER REPORTS ZOOM: WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT RISING HOME INSURANCE COSTS 9 a.m. PT, Monday, June 30, for a Consumer Reports discussion on how consumers can best navigate the increasingly challenging home insurance market, and what we can do together to address rising costs. Please RSVP. +++++++++ FENTANYL FACTSFentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid. It’s medically used as a pain reliever, but it’s also trafficked illegally. Fentanyl is roughly 50 times more potent than heroin. A dose of 2 milligrams — the size of 10 to 15 grains of table salt — can cause a fatal overdose in the average-sized American.
From USA Facts, an excellent site without a bias.+++++++++HOW TO FIND AN IP ADDRESSThere are sites that remain hidden rather than reveal the origin. If so, this short article can help you find where that nastiness is coming from. Go here+++++++++++++SAVE DOUGH ON CAR RENTALS WITH THE HALF HOUR HACK How it works: Instead of automatically booking your pickup time to be on the hour — say, 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. or 6 p.m. — ask for a second quote for the half hour before or after your original time — 9:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.
Why it works: Certain car rental brands will price their rentals lower on the half hour than on the hour. The rental companies are constantly re-shopping each other’s rates and adjusting their pricing to try to get a leg up on the competition. They know that some portion of customers will choose to pick up and/or drop off on the half-hour, and in those cases, by offering lower prices, they will win more business.
So the next time you need a rental car, ask us for two quotes — one on the hour and one on the half hour. It won’t cost you a dime to put in the extra quote request and you might just save a bundle.(from Auto Slash) ++++++++++ SUNSCREENS This is a good site to evaluate sun screens that you may use. Go here ++++++++ GOT BIRD VIDS This is the real thing. Go here https://www.instagram.com/mark.smith.photography
.............. WORD............... DIGS... Andy Biggs is Kari Lake in trousers.
Trump often speaks from the Offal office++++++++++++Scraping the bottom of the barrel with these ponderisms (courtesy of RC)-I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.-If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons? -Can you cry under water? -How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?-How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage? -If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?-Why are you IN a movie, but you’re ON TV?-Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway-Why is “bra" singular and "panties" plural?-Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?-If olive oil is made from olives, corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from? (Ask Diddy Combs?)
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