BISBEE WIRE #96

editor: fred miller             July 13, 2025        #96/July 2025

Hello,I neglected to give credit to Mandi Depke for last issue photo of KBRP parking lot party. Thanks Mandi.  You can see some of her work hereJuly 15 is the primary election for Congressional District 7. I really hope you turn out to vote if you haven't. And if you do VOTE for Deja Foxx! The youngest person running, she is 25, has been running a sophisticated social media campaign that I believe is a harbinger of future campaigns. According to the latest campaign finance reports, while trailing in fundraising, she has raised a respectable $600k most all of that total from small donations. This article is a good read, with detailed info about her campaign.     The recent finance reporting deadline is from April 1 to June 25. Daniel Hernandez raised the most dough, clearly the corporate choice, $655k bringing him close to a mil overall with only about $37k on hand for the finish. Adelita Grijalva raised $835k, clearly the established dems candidate, and has about $125k left and then Foxx who has about $100k left for the final push and clearly the choice of younger voters. Two other candidates did not bother to file reports, likely because they didn't raise enough money.    The repubs in general have not supported their candidates rightly seeing that a repub run in CD-7 is a loser since it is so heavily dem registered. They have declared less than $200k between the three candidates. Since the IRS relaxed rules for churches-pastors can now talk politics from the pulpit-something the evangelist wing has been pining for, it is time to promote regulations taxing church owners  non-church use property. I'm looking at the latter day saints with 1.7 million acres and worth an estimated $293 billion, and the catholic church which has decentralized ownership but estimated to own a million acres and $40 billion. Lots of tax dough could be generated to offset those tax breaks for billionaires. Maybe I'll send this idea to DOGE.Anita continues to get stronger, walks around the block two and sometimes three times a day, got a good bill of health from the doc, and will begin the long process of rebuilding her back muscles.  Thanks for sending the healing vibes. Charlieparker get almost nightly walks in the desert courtesy of our neighbor Deb C. and that is soooo helpful; a tired dog is a glorious thing. fred 

        ...............AROUND TOWN................         TRUMP BUTT UGLY TARIFFS (TBUT) RAISES COST OF BISBEE FIREWORKS This year’s fireworks, although the same as last year, cost $10,850, an 8.5% increase of $850 due to trump’s tariffs with China. The fireworks are paid from a city council fireworks fund. According to Bisbee Fire Chief Jim Richardson the display included 449 aerial shells and 1,350 basin effects.The fireworks were sent aloft from  #7 stock pile in Warren just above Vista Park.info from H-R article+++++++++=MY MISTAKE..TRAILER PARK NEITHER NEW NOR AFFORDABLELast issue I mentioned a new affordable trailer park, I picked up the info from a generic news release. I should have checked it out a bit.  Alert readers sent me additional info that reveals it is neither affordable, not particularly well kept up.   According to Dina and Jaimie Herrington of Cochise Tenants Union…“The new owners took over the old Seilings Mobile Home Park in 2021.They did a lot of cosmetic changes to some very old trailers, without making critical structural and infrastructure repairs, they then resold them at outrageous prices, requiring large down payments - without telling buyers that the trailers were too old to move if they chose to relocate. In addition, they failed to make repairs that were clearly their responsibility.”They went on to detail other problems including unsafe working conditions, problems with payments, delayed repairs, and high turnover. "I'm not sure if they changed the requirements to move in, but in 2022 the requirements were that tenants make three times (monthly) what their monthly rent would be. The lower rents started around $600."++++++++++WILDFIRE NEAR BISBEE 100% CONTAINED A lightening strike cause fire burned 10 acres near a Juniper Flats camping area. The fire was 100% contained and is now extinguished.++++++++++NO STINKING FEEDLOT?Might be a never will be. The two parcels (1,052 acres) that Mr. Ramón Bojórquez had under contract for his feedlot in McNeal are now back on the market for $900,000. The feedlot proposal faced huge opposition after it was announced, and Bojórquez never filed for a special use permit. ++++++++++STOP MOPING!...THIS IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO DONOTHINGISMThursday 17, 'Good Trouble Lives On' national protest coming to a city near you. The title comes from late civil rights fighter John Lewis admonition. Sites for demonstration ...Grassy Park in Bisbee 5:00-7:00 (contact  tucsonplugsin@gmail.com)  and...Vets park in Sierra Vista 5:30-7:00(contact earthpicks@gmail.com)...Douglas near vets park at hwy 80/191 contact fronteriza@tutamail.com     Indivisible has launched One Million Rising. This summer and fall, they plan to train one million people in strategic non-cooperation, plus the basics of community organizing and campaign design. You could be one of those million.Sign up for the One Million Rising virtual sessions on July 16, July 30, and August 13 to join 1,000,000+ Americans training to lead the fight against fascism!++++++++++++BILLBOARD PROMOTES BISBEE?A marketing billboard on I-10 East near the Benson exit is promoting Bisbee...and the two people who run tourism for the city.  According to an article in the HR, viz center manager Heather Andrews said,  “This creative direction was intentional and rooted in a broader tourism strategy for 2025/2026,” Andrews said in an email. “By showcasing the real people (Janet and I) who welcome and assist our visitors each day, the billboard and the overall campaign not only promote Bisbee as a destination, but as one that offers a personal and welcoming experience — and that’s precisely what sets successful tourism efforts apart.”TOURISM STRATEGY  Billboard esthetics aside, (reflections on glasses/a nono, the word 'discover' unnecessary, script font/a nono) it is unclear what the city's tourism strategy she alludes to is. No strategy has ever been articulated. It is seemingly scattershot; a few billboards with differing messages, a reliance on clickbait sites for online promotion, a website that is not particularly welcoming and easy to navigate, and magazine ad placements.  This reflects an approach that lacks a fundamental misunderstanding of whom we should be seeking to convince to visit Bisbee.    It is easy to criticize tourism efforts but very difficult to put all the elements in place for a successful strategy. I get that! In the past 30 years of my experience in Bisbee there has only been one 4 year period 2016-2020 where a coherent marketing strategy has existed. And that was with a few years of concentrated effort by many people to research, formulate, articulate, and execute.   That was because the business sector, through Better Bisbee and then the Chamber, initiated the effort and got involved in a productive way. The iBisbee econ dev committee was the vehicle through which the work was refined and formulated, and then suggested to the council which then adopted it. The strategy was based on solid research, many experienced opinions, an extensive examination of the then-current conditions that yielded fact based proposals and a way forward.   It had favorable results in that it attracted people to Bisbee, build on successes, and had united the private and public sectors around tourism efforts. The city through the viz center manager issued factual data; monthly reports on social media, visitation, media articles, and more.    underpinning that strategy was the understanding that any tourism marketing must always keep residents' needs for a livable city foremost.      Since post pandemic, tourism efforts have been lacking coherency. The budget for advertising in the viz center budget has barely increased over the past several years, while the visitor center fund has grown substantially due to a 5% bed tax instituted a few  years ago. It seems as if the city manager is the only person that Ms. Andrews reports to and there is very little oversight on the city's tourism efforts; no tourism committee, no business group, no non-profit group.   Because more than half the city's budget for services to residents is directly or indirectly related to tourism and many businesses rely on visitation, there is going to scrutiny of efforts to promote Bisbee. And given the drop in revenue/taxes the first half of this year/last half of the fiscal year (see sales tax below) there will be increased scrutiny of city marketing efforts. Legitimate evaluation, criticism, and suggestions about tourism efforts are not personal to Ms. Andrews and, aside from a few snarky comments on fb, there is no vendetta or attempts to oust her that I know of. There is some frustration however with her efforts.   I believe Ms. Andrews is doing the best she can. She has had little direction from the city council other than Ms. Schumacher voicing concerns about content and direction, and seemingly gets contradictory advice from individual business owners. Unfortunately she does not have a background-graphics or marketing, for the work she is doing; she is still learning on the job. There seems to be some confusion between marketing and advertising. She has also not helped herself because of some major mistakes in personnel judgement including hiring her husband without disclosing their relationship.   The goal is to get people here.  The basis of a successful marketing strategy, has not changed in the past two decades; the main assets to promote are architectural, historical, arts/culture, environment. The focus for marketing should be to potential visitors with interest in those areas. Discovering Bisbee is what they do once they are here.   And that is what should be done. ++++++++++BISBEE PARKS USER FEES DECREASE & INCREASEThe council approved Parks and Recreation Committee suggested rate charges for use of city facilities for events. Non-commercial user rates dropped from $35 to $25, commercial user rates were increased from $65 to $120. The city pool building rates increased from $65 to $100. The fee for setting up “no parking” signs at events was increased from $1.50 per sign, to $5 per sign.+++++++++MAKE MONEY/DO GOOD HELPING AT THE COUNTY FAIR(I received this note from Sandy Arevalos board member for the Cochise County fair. She is seeking help in organizing and oversee several departments.)

There are about 11 departments that take in entries and at least two superintendents are needed (who would be in charge of that department), and volunteers/helpers to assist them with setup with the  exhibits as they are entered. The departments are; Hobbies, Domestic Arts, Fine Arts, Vegetables, Fruits, Nuts and Herbs(that is grouped), Floriculture, Field Crops & Apiary, Perishable Foods and Canned Foods. The county fair is September 25-28, Thursday -Sunday but the jobs of the superintendent and volunteers begin 2-3 days before that and when taking in the entries for each department. The hours are about 8-10 for 2 days. There will be compensation for them also. If anyone is interested in these positions they can contact me via email or our office at the fairgrounds, 520-364-3819 for more information. There will also be a meeting with anyone interested the first part of August.+++++++++++MORE MINERAL EXPLORATION NEAR BISBEE Intrepid Corp.has obtained four additional leases for The Corral Copper Property, an advanced exploration and development opportunity in Cochise County, Arizona. Corral is located 15 miles east of the famous mining town of Tombstone and 22 miles north of the historical Bisbee mining camp Go here for details.++++++++++CLASSIC CAR SHOW LABOR DAYThe Boys and Girls Club will host their annual car show on August 30, during labor day weekend. Arizona Street is closed off, prolly be a food truck, maybe some music, and cars, lotsa cars. It is fascinating to see how much cars have changed in design over the years. Today's cars are often difficult, for me, to tell one from another, but those classic cars are immediately recognizable. It's a wonderful community event. Go here for more information and event registration if you want to show off your ride. 

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

IT MAY BE SOLD!Santiagos/hotel Ramon is under contract to Gretchen Bonaduce. The listing price was $1,6500,000. If the deal goes through, she would likely  move Cornucopia Café into the old Santiago’s spot. Because...14 MAIN FOR SALEMs. Bonaduce and business partner Kevin Kautzky, have put 14 Main st up for sale for $735,000. business+apt upstairs+building. If someone came along and wanted to rent the space, it also might be considered. The listing is here+++++++++++BALLPARK BREWING FOR SALEMaybe you are in the market for a brewery, maybe you need a building too, and maybe a going business; in case you are looking, Ballpark Brewing in Warren is for sale for $495,000. Just shy of two years of operations have got the Bisbee's well known Vertrees brothers begging off to spend more time with their families. Contact broker, Eliza Adams for details (518) 755-3562. The business will remain open until sold. The listing is here++++++++++NEW BIZ IN WARREN COMINGSarah Prochnau, owner of Bitchin Pickins in the gulch, has purchased the Welcome to Warren adobes on Bisbee Rd. Her second store will open in the fall with architectural salvage, outdoor yard things, and generally bigger antiques/collectibles/cool stuff that she can't fit into her current store. The busy Ms. Prochnau is also involved in pirates' weekend in August as well as the Home Tour on T-day weekend. ++++++++WTF? A CORPORATE GHOST TOURUS Ghost Adventures is a new tour in town. As of last week they did not have a Bisbee business license. They operate 150 ghost tours and haunted houses throughout the US and have nine tours in Arizona in addition to Bisbee; Scottsdale, Mesa, Flagstaff, Glendale, Phoenix, Sedona, Tempe, Tombstone, Tucson.  In only three years too! A cursory google search turned up this;   Lance Zaal, is the president and founder of US Ghost Adventures.Although Zaal had begun his ghost tour business in 2012, it floundered for several years until 2021 when he began to grow the number of tours and locations,including paying $1.8 million for the famous Lizzie Borden house. “Legal Issues: Lance Zaal and US Ghost Adventures have faced some legal and civil scrutiny, with some critics questioning the ethics of the business practices. The Salem News reported on a case involving Zaal and his tour operations, and the legal battle is ongoing” There have been several contested copyright court cases.    They are trying to muscle in on the territory of the homegrown Old Bisbee Ghost Tours, that has operated for almost two decades under the guidance of owner Renee Harper.    USGA...Just the kind of business we need.+++++++++ HOUSE SALESBisbee at times seems to be unpredictable for house sales, but other times like the last couple of months, it tends to mimic what is going on nationally. And that is a glut of houses on the market because of interest rates remaining high, sellers with big expectations, and buyers driving harder bargains or sitting on their cash. I don't have the stats, but I would bet some dough that many sales in Bisbee are cash rather than mortgage, and outsiders rather than from within the county. One of these days I may have to bite the bullet and fork over the geetus and get the full MLS monthly reports.   Commercial activity, other than what I mentioned, remains slow with many buildings on the market for a year or longer.    Here's your residential sales action around town. As you can see the original ask is almost always significantly higher than the sale price and sales have been in all parts of Bisbee. Depending on the listing company there are about 115-130 homes for sale in Bisbee currently.(Much thanks to local realtor and good guy, Bob Klein, for providing me with the raw sales data for many years.)Address                        Original Price/Listing Price/Sold Price

861 Seiling Loop          25k/6k/$6,000208 N. Cleveland         60k/60k/$50,0003-A Clawson                189,900/180,900/$105,000125 San Jose Dr.          205k/$109,000215 Center                  150k/150k/$140,000304 O’Harra Av            140k/140k/$145,000204 Park Av.                 175k/$150,000316 B st.                      165k/165k/$175,000114 B St.                      165k/165k/$175,000103 Clawson                 230k/230k/$180,000312-A Arizona               185k/185k/$210,000507 Bisbee Rd.            229k/229k/$225,000123 San Jose Dr.         269k/244k/$236,00011 Black Knob             265k/239k/$237,500221 Brewery Av.          359k/279,500k/$248,000315 16^th Terrace          305k/$297,500500 Santa Cruz Dr.      325k/$298,000207 13^th Terrace          315k/$298,0001415 Calle De Jardin   329k/329k/$310,000400 Hovland                339k/339k/$330,000515 Tombstone Cyn    344,900k/344,900k/$335,000405 Powell St.             359k/359k/$349,3009 Spring Cny                425kk/400k/$388,000210 Opera Dr.             $498,000............BUILDING PERMITSLots of construction going. The last two months have seen about $1,650,000 worth of work being completed. May residential permits were only 25 but were bumped by a $300k residence within a building. Commercial activity continues to be kind of droopy with 14 permits totaling about $440,000 the past two months. ...............SALES TAX DATA REVEAL SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN REVENUEThe end of the 24/25 fiscal year illustrated what some businesses have been experiencing; a drop in revenue this year compared to last year. And most of it has been the first half of this year/last half of the fiscal year.   It is clear from the data that the economy has contracted somewhat. It also was clear that residents were buying more groceries for home consumption this year, a 4% increase. Retail sales dropped a bit 2.3% while internet sales dropped a whopping 11.6%.    Tentative conclusions, always risky, but here are a few. Bed tax revenue dropped almost 10% from last year, that could indicate visitors are cutting back on travel, which was not predicted last year, although it now is for the remainder of this year. It could also mean that the city's marketing efforts are not competitive with other travel destinations and visitors are simply going to other places.  I think though that the biggest possibility, is the chaos and uncertainty that the trump administration has introduced since the beginning of the year. It is not only difficult for states, counties, and cities to forecast spending, that also goes for individuals. Some stats are beginning to show slower job growth as well as price increases due to tariffs. There are many indications on the horizon that seems, economically speaking, that it will get worse, and that does not bode good as we move into the new fiscal year. June bed tax sales tailed off in June to $20,175. For the fiscal year bed tax 5% total was $279,011, a -9.5% drop from last year (from $308,423 to $279,011)Regular hotel tax brought in $14,428 to end the year at $205,0083.This was a -6.9% drop from last year ( $219,414 to $205,083)Restaurant and Bar sales were substantially less in June, $39,565 and ended the year at $519,334. This was a -4.4% drop from last year ($543,241 to $519.334 Retail taxes  also dipped in June to $109, 602 a $5k drop from may. End of the year was $1,379,850. This was a -2.3 % drop from last year (1,411,996 to $1,379,850)Groceries for home consumption dropped $9k over May to $50,803 and year total was $630,775. This was a +4% increase from $606,679 to $630,775Internet sales taxes showed increases in both May and June. The total for the year was $346,406. However there was also a decrease over last year of -11.6% indicating a pull back on spending ($346,406 from $392,001).ARTICLES OF INCORPORATIONBisbee Veterinary Services11 Ocotillo St.Nicole Finch...Fade Inn63 B OK St.Sean Faden...Roots to Walls5396 West Hidden TrailAli Zigerelli...Jam 1 LLC932 W. Finale St.C. DeSpainBisbee Jewelry and Minerals46 Main St.Terrance Klole

           ..............COCHISE COUNTY................      THE NEW JAIL STAYS IN BISBEE....IF VOTERS AGREE IN NOVEMBERWhether it was from pressure from county residents, particularly from Bisbee, and/or fiscal sanity,  the supes voted 2-1, with Antenori dissenting, to build a new jail on the existing site....if voters approve the revised jail district proposal that will be on the November ballot. Many residents spoke in favor of Bisbee and a significant number supported the jail site through electronic means. Mayor Ken Budge and Councilperson Pete Skinner both wrote detailed letters with factual arguments for keeping the jail in Bisbee that received wide dissemination. Budge in particular has been to many meetings keeping Bisbee in the mix.    This is an important issue for the long term economic health of Bisbee. If the jail would be located elsewhere, county attorney offices and the courts would move closer to the jail-just to mitigate expenses and time. While there has never been an economic analysis of the financial impact of the jail to Bisbee, it would be substantial. In addition to the direct spending for the jail and county attorney offices, indirect spending from defense attorneys, judges, prisoner’s families, witnesses, county officials and administration workers for food, shopping, gas, overnights and more would be substantial. ++++++++++CROSBY REQUEST FOR $300,000 FOR PERSONAL ATTORNEY FEES...was met with wild laughter...Unfortunately that was not the case. They two supes kicked the can down the road.  

(Ali Morse provided some of the information for this blurb. And a more comprehensive article by Jen Fifield is here.)Supervisor Tom Crosby has asked that taxpayers pay $300,000 for his personal attorneys to defend him from ignoring legal advice from the County Attorney.   In an executive session July 10, the supes (Gomez & Antenori, Crosby absent due to conflict of interest) voted to have their outside attorney (Mick Rusing) send a letter to the county's insurance company ACIP (AZ Counties Insurance Pool), accompanied by Crosby's Notice of Claim for $300,000.    Deja Vu all over again...ACIP's Exec. Dir. (Bill Hardy) at a meeting on October 24, 2022  told then supervisors (Crosby, Judd, English) that they would not be covered by ACIP insurance if they chose to ignore the county attorney's legal advice.  Recording HERE and minutes HERE. An excerpt from the minutes :

Mr. Bill Hardy, Arizona Counties Insurance Pool (ACIP), stated that insurance is a mechanism for the unknown. Attempting to go against the County Attorney’s opinion is an intentional act. It would be improper to expect other counties to pay attorneybills for that sort of action. The County would not have insurance to count on; ACIP would not hire an attorney to defend them. In his experience, there will be lawsuits

Crosby has not publicly disclosed the amount of funds he raised from Give Send Go pleas for money. His trial is supposed to be scheduled September 22 and if found guilty, would be a convicted felon...and be kicked out of office.    Crosby has admitted in legal documents, according to Herald Review reporter Terri Jo Neff, "...that he's not yet spent $300,000 in legal fees. He's just saying it could get to that much if he goes to trial. So ...we don't know what he's really paid to date."

++++++++++THE DOMINO EFFECT OF LOSING AN ARMY PROGRAMThe Army’s Electronic Proving Ground (EPG) is on the chopping block. It is as an integral part of  the U.S. Army’s Electronic Warfare systems testing facility and range at Fort Huachuca.  Earlier this year, the trump administration offered buyouts in many governmental departments including the military services. EPG was one and about 50 of the 150 members took the buyout. Then the army ordered a cut of 55% to EPG budget. However in response to intense public pressure from Arizona’s congressional delegation, read Senators. Kelly and Gallego, the cut was reduced to 44%. That would reduce the number of employees to about 50 and that almost makes the program nonfunctional. Kelly has put in language to the National Defense Authorization Act that may or may not inhibit closure. No guarantees given the neutered congress, they'll vote whatever the way the wind is blowing from trumpie.   The fear is that if the EPG is shut down along with ongoing lawsuits over environmental issues-particularly water, then perhaps the Fort itself might be closed because of an ongoing rectification of the army through the Base Alignment and Closure. Historically the Fort was developed to support EPG.This information is taken from an extensive article in the Herald Review, by managing editor Matt Hickman.++++++++++++

HORSES BE GONE AT THE FORT, BUT HORSES ASS IS STILL IN DCAnd on top of that... They be putting the nags out to pasture. The Army is doing away with horse units — referred to as Military Working Equid (MWE) — at five military installations  including Ft. Huachuca. B Troop 4th U.S. Cavalry (Memorial) often makes an appearance at various Army and civilian functions. Go here for more. Be not dismayed though, they have preserved one horse's ass for secretary of defense.

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

PRIVATE SCHOOL ESA ACCOUNTS DOUBLE IN TWO YEARS New records from the Arizona Department of Education reveal that $444 million in taxpayer money is sitting unused in Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) — a sharp increase from previous years and a troubling sign of limited transparency and oversight in the state’s universal school voucher program. ...There are 117,334 ESA accounts, which is a 95% increase from 2023....The program has nearly doubled in two years, but the account balances are up 143% over that same time. (From the Fourth Estate. Go here for the article.)+++++++++VETO RECORD!The good Guv Hobbs has signed a record 174 vetoes. Some telling stats;-1854 pieces of legislation introduced; 1250 by repubs and 604 by dems;-10, the number of dem bills that even made it to the Guv;-429 the number of repub bills that went to the GovMany dem bills did not even get a committee hearing as all the committee heads were repubs appointed by repubs. These resolutions, that were bills jury-rigged to bypass the Guv, will be sent to the voters in 2026

-a cap local municipal sales taxes on groceries. 

-classification of drug cartels as terrorist organizations 

 -prohibit the state from taxing drivers based on the number of miles drivenOne of the more odious pieces of legislation passed, with the help of 18 democrats, was to give a billionaire owner of the Diamondbacks $500 mil in sales taxes in the next 30 years for 'stadium improvements". Both legislators for LD -21 voted for it. 

In the past several months 70+ people have donated various amounts of their hard earned, or maybe illicitly earned, dough. Thank you! I'm very appreciative of any donation that supports my work with the Wire. Use the QR code for Zelle with my email bisbeewire@gmail.com or send a check made out to fred miller, 39 Hazzard, 85603. Thank you.                           

                  ........TRUMP DUMP........                     A new billboard at Grand Avenue thoroughfare between 10th and 11th avenues from artist Karen Fiorito is the latest in her trumpie series. In this Phoenix New Times article, She says, "“Not only for our own morale, camaraderie and feeling connected to others that we’re not alone, but humor is one of the most powerful weapons when it comes to dictators.” She has displayed pieces deriding Trump as "Liar-in-Chief" and "Putin’s Puppet" and his former campaign ally, Elon Musk, as "Twitler." More of her billboards here and other work here+++++++++++++THERE IS THE PLAN AND THERE IS THE EXECUTION OF THE PLANMuch of the ICE budget is going toward creation of a national police force. Beau Hodai, an investigative journalist, has begun the first of a multipart series on the draft policy proposals, created by a Project 2025 subgroup called the Border Security Workgroup, for the Trump administration. This is the first part of their series. Just as starters with the $170,000,000,000 DHS has said that ICE will be larger than the FBI with more than 30,000 agents. Some 100,000 or more detention beds. This is concentration camp stuff. ..............

And speaking of CONCENTRATION CAMPSLook closely on the billboard and you will see a snapping alligator. That is in reference to the almost completed facility, nicked named Alligator Alcatraz by trumpie sycophant Laura Loonie. No matter what the name, it is a concentration camp. Go here for a detailed historical look at plans for 'holding' camps. 

+++++++++++++GOV DATA IS/WILL BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY TRUMP CUTSBusinesses, investors, foreign governments, and citizens have to have accurate data to make decision. With the recent cuts and more to come, the usually reliable data flow is threatened.From a Bloomberg article 6/10, likely paywalled)"...Experts say economic data is mostly still reliable, but the trend is troublesome. At the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which produces some of the nation’s marquee numbers on inflation and employment, funding has slumped about 20% since 2010 in real terms, and Trump’s fiscal 2026 budget proposal would shave an additional 8% from both its purse and personnel. Those reductions will force the BLS to concentrate on data deemed most important by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (run by Russell Vough.the overseer of Project 2025). Separately the bureau decided some months ago to stop certain data collection and production for its consumer and producer price indexes.....The Department of Government Efficiency says it's canceled almost 12,000 contracts and hundreds of thousands of government workers have departed, leaving agencies gutted and holes in others, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau."++++++++++SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF THE TBUB (TRUMP’S BUTT UGLY BILL)The NYT set out 33 yes/no questions to answer to see how TBUB will affect you. Go here for the entire questionnaire. Some of the many takeaways.Do you take the standard tax deduction?If Yes…You would get a bonus. The 2017 law that roughly doubled the standard deduction was set to expire this year. This bill permanently extends that increase and adds $750 ($1,500 for couples) in 2025. The increased deduction will be adjusted for inflation every year thereafter. The bill also permanently eliminates various deductions available to those who itemize their tax returns.If No.. The bill makes the former a more attractive option. The 2017 law that roughly doubled the standard deduction was set to expire this year. This bill permanently extends that increase and adds $750 ($1,500 for couples) in 2025. The increased deduction will be adjusted for inflation every year thereafter.Are you 65 or older?If Yes…You could get a bonus. The bill creates a tax deduction of $6,000 for seniors from 2025 through 2028. The deduction decreases for those who earn more than $75,000 a year ($150,000 for couples). This tax break is available for those who take the standard deduction as well as those who itemize their returns.If No.. This doesn’t affect you directly.Do you pay interest on a mortgage?If Yes…The deduction limit remains more restrictive.The bill permanently lowers the amount of mortgage interest you can deduct to $750,000 in home mortgage debt. It excludes interest on home equity, but allows mortgage insurance premiums to be deducted like interest.If No.. This doesn’t affect you directly.Do you donate to charity?If Yes…You could get a tax break.The bill lets you write off up to $1,000 of your donations ($2,000 for couples) starting in 2026, even if you take the standard deduction. (Currently, you have to itemize in order to deduct donations from your taxes.)  Higher-earning individuals have to donate more to qualify.If No.. This doesn’t affect you directly.Do you earn more than $500,000 a year?If Yes…You could be saved from paying more taxes. A rule in the 2017 tax law spared many wealthier households like yours from having to pay the alternative minimum tax, meant to prevent you from using credits and deductions to avoid taxes. That rule is set to expire this year, and the bill permanently extends it.If No… This doesn’t affect you directly.Do you own a business?If Yes…You could get a tax break. The 2017 law allowed many business owners to deduct up to 20 percent of their business income through the end of this year. The bill makes that deduction permanent.If No.. This doesn’t affect you directly.Do you have children?If Yes…You get to keep your tax credit and get a bonus.  The bill permanently extends and adds to the child tax credit, totaling $2,200 per child by next year, and adjusts it for inflation thereafter. The credit was scheduled to revert to $1,000 per child at the end of this year.  A new restriction: At least one parent has to have a Social Security number in order to claim the credit — currently, only the child needs one.If No.. This doesn’t affect you directly.Are you on Medicaid (ACCESS in AZ)?If Yes…You could lose access  Currently, no proof of work is required to receive Medicaid. The bill requires, by the end of 2026, most adults who do not have children younger than 14 to document 80 hours of work, volunteering or training per month to receive Medicaid. Recipients are also required to prove eligibility to their state twice a year instead of once.  The Congressional Budget Office estimated that about 5 million more Americans would become uninsured by 2034 because of the new work requirement.If No.. This doesn’t affect you directly.Do you have health insurance under Obamacare?If Yes… You could lose coverage.  The bill imposes more rules to qualify, including additional paperwork. It also blocks many legal immigrants from coverage. If you maintain coverage, you may have to pay for a larger share of your care.If No.. This doesn’t affect you directly.Are you planning to make energy-efficient home improvements?If Yes…You have less time to take advantage of tax breaks. The bill ends tax credits for rooftop solar, geothermal heat pumps and other energy-efficient home devices at the end of 2025.If No.. This doesn’t affect you directly.Are you an immigrant who sends money abroad to friends or family?If Yes… Cash-related payments will be taxed. Under the bill, cash, money orders and cashier’s checks that are sent abroad, known as remittances, will be taxed at 1 percent starting in 2026. This applies to citizens too, but there are some exceptions on this tax, like if the money was funded by a U.S.-issued debit or credit card, or if it was withdrawn from a certain type of bank account.If No ... This doesn’t affect you directly

               .............. WORD...............             Four word or less reviews of movies circa 2003 in the now defunct Style Invitational section of the Washington Post. read um carefully lest you miss the clever punz... ‘Last Tango in Paris’: For butter or worse”; “‘The Crying Game’: Male’s in the chick”.  “I Am Curious (Yellow)”: It was meaty (ocher). “S.W.A.T.”: C.W.A.P. “The Sound of Music”: DOA, dear.  “Love Story”: Sorry! “Cast Away”: Man overbored. “Analyze This”: Okay, it’s awful. Satisfied?“The Untouchables”: The lowest cast.“Fargo”: Forgo. “To Have and Have Not”: Has not.“Oliver”: Please, sir, no more! “The Odd Couple”: I smell Oscar!“Cheers”: Booze.“The Sting”: Where is its death?“On the Waterfront”: Long snore, man.“Annie”: Get your gun.“Oh, God”: Dog, ho!“Moby-Dick”: Call me fishmeal.“Signs”: Do not enter.“Camelot”: Let it be forgot.“Girl, Interrupted”: Boy, Interminable!“Being There”: Leaving early.“Annie Hall”: Blah-de-dah. “Conan the Barbarian”: I’m groping for words. “Twelve Angry Men”: Make that thirteen. “The Da Vinci Code”: 16-18-5-4-9-3-20-1-2-12-5 20-18-9-16-5.“Groundhog Day”: Same old same old.“Jaws”: Box office poisson.“Animal Farm”: Ewe.“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”: No bang, dou-bly chitty. “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”: Two out of three! “Babe”: On’t-day o-gay.“I, Claudius”: It, tedius. “Don’t Drink the Water”: Drink the Kool-Aid. “Ben-Hur”: Loved Ben, hated Hur.“Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever”: Critic: Head vs. wall. “Gigli”: Reagli, reagli unappeagli.“The Day After”: A-bomb.“Rashomon”: Four stories, zero sense.“Shampoo”: Genuine poo.“Casablanca”: Don’t play it, Sam.“Star Wars”: Stay far, far away.“Moulin Rouge”: Merde she wrote.“Lord of the Rings”: Small men, big sets.“The Shoes of the Fisherman”: Smelt.“The Great Gatsby”: F— Scott Fitzgerald. “Shampoo”: Much hairdo about nothing.“Flirting With Disaster”: Flirting?“Auntie Mame”: Maim Auntie!