Depends on who you talk to.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Where are they coming from, where are they moving??
Think back to the year 2008... looking at the IRS data map at the link below...
http://www.forbes.com/2010/06/04/migration-moving-wealthy-interactive-counties-map.html?preload=04015
...It appears there was plenty of out bound migration out of Mohave County.
Rather interesting map that you can click on any county to look at migration in the year 2008.
http://www.forbes.com/2010/06/04/migration-moving-wealthy-interactive-counties-map.html?preload=04015
...It appears there was plenty of out bound migration out of Mohave County.
Rather interesting map that you can click on any county to look at migration in the year 2008.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
All this hub-bub about the new AZ law...
First I'll say that this is dangerous territory for me to post about such a touchy subject but I'm going to give it a go anyway. The new Arizona law SB 1070 is drawing tons of debate, and rightly so. In my gut I believe that the law was intended to do just that... bring up a very important issue to the forefront of the national debate. I'm certainly not a legal scholar so I won't weigh in on whether or not the new law is Constitutional or not. I'll leave that to the folks that are more qualified.
What I want to do, however, is take a quick look back to what the voters of Arizona have done to try to deal with the very real problems happening in the state that are related to illegal immigration. Before I do that, for old times sake, a disclaimer...
For the record I believe in and support legal immigration and look to welcome all from foreign lands that would love an opportunity to pursue what millions of others have done in this country's history. Come one, come all. Doesn't matter to me your race, religion, orientation, or anything else as long as your intention is make sincere attempts at assimilating into this incredible melting pot and enjoying the kind of liberty that is not often found in many other areas on this planet. Basically follow the laws of the land, just like I have to... and be willing to deal with the ramifications if you choose not to follow the laws of the land, just like I have to. I have many special people in my life that come from all walks of life and various backgrounds. I listened well to the great Martin Luther King Jr.'s lesson to treat people based on the content of their character and not on the color of their skin.
Okay then let's get started. We are heading back into the year 2004 for our first stop. The voters of Arizona were asked to approve or defeat a ballot proposition dealing with identification and proof of citizenship to vote and to collect state or locally funded public benefits. It was Prop 200 and it was approved by voters with 56% of the vote. (see the voting breakdowns here)
The voters passed this proposition even though there was a lineup of heavy's that were publicly against it, including; both AZ US Senators (one is now running for reelection and has conveniently changed his tune), the then governor of the state and now current US Homeland Security Secretary, the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, the AFL-CIO, the Democrat Party, and yes even the Republican Party. What strange bedfellows were made. Still the measure passed by the voters (you know, the ones that really matter).
Of course there were many that played the race card back then. There's plenty of articles online that cry out that the proposition was racist. I'm not going to opine on that, but I voted in favor. Keep in mind that at the time the economy in 2004 was pretty darn good around these parts, but voters knew that if we were to have public safety nets that they should go to Arizonans first, second, and always if at all.
After the election results were posted a restraining order was placed on the proposition. I cannot find who filed for that order but my memory bank inside my head says it was the then governor of the state. The courts became heavily involved and it is my understanding that the proposition as it was intended is watered down, I guess to the point where nobody seems to remember the voice of the voters from six years ago. The US Supreme Court had the final say in the requirement to show valid ID to vote which they upheld (again not a legal scholar so I may not being using the correct legaleeze).
From there let us head to the election year 2006 shall we?? There were three ballot propositions dealing with illegal immigration issues that year (a fourth if you want to include one about making English the official language in the state). Propositions 100 and 102 amended the Arizona Constitution and Prop 300 that called for, once again, the requirement of proof of US citizenship for various publicly subsidized services such as in state tuition and financial assistance. Prop 100 denied bail to those charged with serious felonies that were in the US illegally, and Prop102 denied the award of punitive damages in civil court cases to persons who are in the US illegally.
The results of the election showed that each proposition passed easily with each issue gathering at least 70% of the vote. (here is a breakdown of the results but it doesn't have all the props included, but you can find some results if you are looking for them in other less official looking places)
I'll stop right here and say that I don't recall the California cities of LA or SF boycotting the state of Arizona after the voters had their say on these issues. I do remember the race card players came out to play a little but it is just too difficult to do that when 70% (or more) of the voters go a different way.
Back to it now, most of the news article that I run into regarding Prop 300 from 2006 deal with college tuition. I don't know how the then governor and the Attorney General dealt with the voters wishes to roll back public welfare benefits to illegal immigrants. I'm guessing the proposition was once again watered down to have practically zero bite.
Before we head to our last stop on how Arizona voters see the illegal immigration issue, the state legislature passed a bill in 2007 called The Legal Arizona Worker's Act -- aka The Employers Sanction Law (see more here). There was curios reaction to this bill from both sides of the political spectrum. Once again the race card players were out in force, but this time so was the business community -- aka the evil capitalist pigs (which BTW, I'm totally cool with those folks for the most part, profit is good). The bill was challenged in court but allowed and went into affect on January 1, 2008.
By the time the elections of 2008 came around a ballot proposition (Prop 202) appeared asking the voters to tone down the requirements of the bill -- on behalf of the business community basically. I'll let the following explain it...
So you'd think that all us supposedly racist voters (as the race card players call us) here in Arizona would relent and let those evil capitalists off the hook, but you'd be wrong. Prop 202 was defeated by Arizona voters fairly handily.
I'm just trying to point out the fact that voters in Arizona want solutions to ILLEGAL immigration problems. The problems range from fairly minor to completely out of control violence. The state is now broke, the economy sucks, and we simply cannot afford the public assistance programs we are offering to actual Arizonans and other US citizens. How could we possibly afford to provide welfare for non US citizens at a time like this?? Voters have been speaking out loud and clear even while elected officials remain defiant to our wishes (or simply change their tune when they are up for reelection).
SB 1070 is not the first attempt by the voters of Arizona to deal with the issues. Not by a long shot. I feel the other actions of previous elections and legislative acts were a lot less contentious but they ended up being practically thwarted by race card players and politicians in defiance of the people. SB 1070 may look more aggressive but where can the citizens of Arizona draw the line?? We tried on public benefits, we tried on employers, but now are relying on law enforcement to be involved. Not really the way I want it to go down as I understand the voices (mostly on the left) that speak to the possibility of racial profiling. I don't want that, but I also don't want NOTHING done to deal with a very expensive problem we are facing.
In recent days we come to find out that in California's penal code there is language that is pretty darn similar to what is found in SB 1070... but public leaders in CA want to boycott our state anyway. I've also read about laws in Oklahoma that were singed into law by a governor that was in the democrat party that is also similar to The Legal Arizona Worker's Act we have in Arizona. Don't remember national outcries of NBA players condemning the state of Oklahoma at all, can you??
I readily admit that I don't have the solution to make all sides happy, but it has become tiresome to be called a racist for having an Arizona residence. Most of the critics have admitted that they have not read SB 1070, including some that work directly for our current president of this great country (I doubt he has read it either).
America is a beautiful place, I'm blessed to live here and look forward to having more friendly neighbors. We must find a better way, but we also must have priorities. Tough decisions come with the territory. Time for solutions is here.
What I want to do, however, is take a quick look back to what the voters of Arizona have done to try to deal with the very real problems happening in the state that are related to illegal immigration. Before I do that, for old times sake, a disclaimer...
For the record I believe in and support legal immigration and look to welcome all from foreign lands that would love an opportunity to pursue what millions of others have done in this country's history. Come one, come all. Doesn't matter to me your race, religion, orientation, or anything else as long as your intention is make sincere attempts at assimilating into this incredible melting pot and enjoying the kind of liberty that is not often found in many other areas on this planet. Basically follow the laws of the land, just like I have to... and be willing to deal with the ramifications if you choose not to follow the laws of the land, just like I have to. I have many special people in my life that come from all walks of life and various backgrounds. I listened well to the great Martin Luther King Jr.'s lesson to treat people based on the content of their character and not on the color of their skin.
Okay then let's get started. We are heading back into the year 2004 for our first stop. The voters of Arizona were asked to approve or defeat a ballot proposition dealing with identification and proof of citizenship to vote and to collect state or locally funded public benefits. It was Prop 200 and it was approved by voters with 56% of the vote. (see the voting breakdowns here)
The voters passed this proposition even though there was a lineup of heavy's that were publicly against it, including; both AZ US Senators (one is now running for reelection and has conveniently changed his tune), the then governor of the state and now current US Homeland Security Secretary, the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, the AFL-CIO, the Democrat Party, and yes even the Republican Party. What strange bedfellows were made. Still the measure passed by the voters (you know, the ones that really matter).
Of course there were many that played the race card back then. There's plenty of articles online that cry out that the proposition was racist. I'm not going to opine on that, but I voted in favor. Keep in mind that at the time the economy in 2004 was pretty darn good around these parts, but voters knew that if we were to have public safety nets that they should go to Arizonans first, second, and always if at all.
After the election results were posted a restraining order was placed on the proposition. I cannot find who filed for that order but my memory bank inside my head says it was the then governor of the state. The courts became heavily involved and it is my understanding that the proposition as it was intended is watered down, I guess to the point where nobody seems to remember the voice of the voters from six years ago. The US Supreme Court had the final say in the requirement to show valid ID to vote which they upheld (again not a legal scholar so I may not being using the correct legaleeze).
From there let us head to the election year 2006 shall we?? There were three ballot propositions dealing with illegal immigration issues that year (a fourth if you want to include one about making English the official language in the state). Propositions 100 and 102 amended the Arizona Constitution and Prop 300 that called for, once again, the requirement of proof of US citizenship for various publicly subsidized services such as in state tuition and financial assistance. Prop 100 denied bail to those charged with serious felonies that were in the US illegally, and Prop102 denied the award of punitive damages in civil court cases to persons who are in the US illegally.
The results of the election showed that each proposition passed easily with each issue gathering at least 70% of the vote. (here is a breakdown of the results but it doesn't have all the props included, but you can find some results if you are looking for them in other less official looking places)
I'll stop right here and say that I don't recall the California cities of LA or SF boycotting the state of Arizona after the voters had their say on these issues. I do remember the race card players came out to play a little but it is just too difficult to do that when 70% (or more) of the voters go a different way.
Back to it now, most of the news article that I run into regarding Prop 300 from 2006 deal with college tuition. I don't know how the then governor and the Attorney General dealt with the voters wishes to roll back public welfare benefits to illegal immigrants. I'm guessing the proposition was once again watered down to have practically zero bite.
Before we head to our last stop on how Arizona voters see the illegal immigration issue, the state legislature passed a bill in 2007 called The Legal Arizona Worker's Act -- aka The Employers Sanction Law (see more here). There was curios reaction to this bill from both sides of the political spectrum. Once again the race card players were out in force, but this time so was the business community -- aka the evil capitalist pigs (which BTW, I'm totally cool with those folks for the most part, profit is good). The bill was challenged in court but allowed and went into affect on January 1, 2008.
By the time the elections of 2008 came around a ballot proposition (Prop 202) appeared asking the voters to tone down the requirements of the bill -- on behalf of the business community basically. I'll let the following explain it...
Proposition 202 changes current Arizona law that prohibits employers from intentionally or knowingly employing an alien who is not authorized under federal law to work in the United States. Under Proposition 202, the definition of "knowingly employ an unauthorized alien" would be changed to require actual knowledge by an owner or officer of the employer.
So you'd think that all us supposedly racist voters (as the race card players call us) here in Arizona would relent and let those evil capitalists off the hook, but you'd be wrong. Prop 202 was defeated by Arizona voters fairly handily.
I'm just trying to point out the fact that voters in Arizona want solutions to ILLEGAL immigration problems. The problems range from fairly minor to completely out of control violence. The state is now broke, the economy sucks, and we simply cannot afford the public assistance programs we are offering to actual Arizonans and other US citizens. How could we possibly afford to provide welfare for non US citizens at a time like this?? Voters have been speaking out loud and clear even while elected officials remain defiant to our wishes (or simply change their tune when they are up for reelection).
SB 1070 is not the first attempt by the voters of Arizona to deal with the issues. Not by a long shot. I feel the other actions of previous elections and legislative acts were a lot less contentious but they ended up being practically thwarted by race card players and politicians in defiance of the people. SB 1070 may look more aggressive but where can the citizens of Arizona draw the line?? We tried on public benefits, we tried on employers, but now are relying on law enforcement to be involved. Not really the way I want it to go down as I understand the voices (mostly on the left) that speak to the possibility of racial profiling. I don't want that, but I also don't want NOTHING done to deal with a very expensive problem we are facing.
In recent days we come to find out that in California's penal code there is language that is pretty darn similar to what is found in SB 1070... but public leaders in CA want to boycott our state anyway. I've also read about laws in Oklahoma that were singed into law by a governor that was in the democrat party that is also similar to The Legal Arizona Worker's Act we have in Arizona. Don't remember national outcries of NBA players condemning the state of Oklahoma at all, can you??
I readily admit that I don't have the solution to make all sides happy, but it has become tiresome to be called a racist for having an Arizona residence. Most of the critics have admitted that they have not read SB 1070, including some that work directly for our current president of this great country (I doubt he has read it either).
America is a beautiful place, I'm blessed to live here and look forward to having more friendly neighbors. We must find a better way, but we also must have priorities. Tough decisions come with the territory. Time for solutions is here.
Sunday, May 09, 2010
When the vacation is over...
... I'll post some photo's on my blog. Yep, Cabo was great again this year (and no I did not fall for another time share, yay for me!!).
Sunday, April 11, 2010
As seen on the local webz...
Read it here...
With great awe I read about city debates and meetings. We read about the bickering, whining, moaning and groaning of elected officials and agencies. These all seem to want growth, but no one wants to be held responsible for the lack thereof.
Is Kingman not a marketable city whereby no elected official or agency wants to take initiative in selling our city to outside businesses? Instead, every week we are reading about another business closure. These businesses are hard to replace and the jobs even harder.
Is our only city revenue-generating business the bed tax? Wal-Mart? But don't touch this money because it is allocated funding for capital improvement projects! Improve what? Where? We have heard from the mayor, City Council, Chamber of Commerce, Airport Authority. None of these agencies of people claim responsibility and do not want the growth initiative in their court. Every month that passes and our city remains unmarketed is a loss of revenue.
The gamut has run full circle and isn't it ironic that the only commission (EDMC) that wants to be where the buck stops has not enough funding to move forward to sell our city.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Not really the owner?? No biggie...
I'll say one thing for the housing market meltdown, it has made for some crazy creativity...
Doesn't have to mean that it is always positive creativity.
DELTONA -- A Volusia County man was arrested for allegedly filing phony court papers claiming ownership of several foreclosed homes.
Volusia County investigators say Andrew Brown, 29, took down the "for sale" signs at a home on Shadow Ridge Drive, changed the locks, and moved in.
Authorities did not uncover Brown's scam until a real state agent who had been contracted to sell another foreclosed home in Deltona reported that someone was living in the home.
Investigators discovered Brown filed phony liens and default notices on at least four homes.
He was charged with burglary, grand theft and criminal mischief.
Doesn't have to mean that it is always positive creativity.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
So why try, right??
Couple of noteworthy quotes from the latest City Council meeting...
First of all for the most part I like outgoing councilman Deering. I have nothing personal against the man or the councilman, I just disagree with him at times (like with the two quotes above).
Some months ago I stopped posting economic development activities that other communities are doing during even these trying times (the national economy). If I searched today for such community efforts, no doubt I'd find plenty to share and it is easy to understand why. Many local communities clearly understand the need to compete for new business opportunities, i.e. new opportunities for new tax revenues. But these 'other' communities are not sitting around and waiting out the bad times in the hopes of attracting new opportunities when, or if, things get all rosy on the national economic scene.
I'm currently doing business in another area of the US southwest... a community that banded together a couple of years ago to ensure a better business opportunity within the community. Has it worked?? Well the results are mixed but to a person that I've talked to in this new area where I'm doing a pretty brisk business, they've all said that without the efforts things would be a total mess right now (in other words, I wouldn't be doing business here).
Really, it is not difficult, just go ahead and search the interwebz for articles on business competition between states right now. Oh... it's on. I know of at least three western states that are courting enterprises in California (in comparison Arizona is not really one of those either... for shame).
It is safe to say that if states are competing against each other for new opportunity... local communities are in it to win it as well.
Maybe Mr. Deering made the right call to decide not to run for reelection at this time. Kingman certainly needs leaders that want to compete for better opportunities for this community. If Mr. Deering or any other community leader is unwilling to move Kingman forward, hopefully the voters will elect some leaders that are willing to take a shot at increasing employment opportunity, business opportunity, and community improvement.
I've always heard the age old adage that the rising tide will raise all boats... but if the tide doesn't come back for what might be an extended period of time... why not get some folks together and drag the boat out to where the water level is high enough to get on with the sailing?? I want leaders that are willing to do the heavy lifting.
"We all would love to see big things happen in Kingman; but the economy - it's not just here, it's everywhere," Deering said. "I don't know this commission, or any commission right now, is going to change the economic outlook of Kingman, other than time itself."
"This town has always had some plans. Otherwise, we wouldn't have had the 17-percent growth during the boom that we had," he said. "It's unfair to say we didn't have a plan. Kingman was developing, it was growing, and things were nice and rosy when the economy was good."
First of all for the most part I like outgoing councilman Deering. I have nothing personal against the man or the councilman, I just disagree with him at times (like with the two quotes above).
Some months ago I stopped posting economic development activities that other communities are doing during even these trying times (the national economy). If I searched today for such community efforts, no doubt I'd find plenty to share and it is easy to understand why. Many local communities clearly understand the need to compete for new business opportunities, i.e. new opportunities for new tax revenues. But these 'other' communities are not sitting around and waiting out the bad times in the hopes of attracting new opportunities when, or if, things get all rosy on the national economic scene.
I'm currently doing business in another area of the US southwest... a community that banded together a couple of years ago to ensure a better business opportunity within the community. Has it worked?? Well the results are mixed but to a person that I've talked to in this new area where I'm doing a pretty brisk business, they've all said that without the efforts things would be a total mess right now (in other words, I wouldn't be doing business here).
Really, it is not difficult, just go ahead and search the interwebz for articles on business competition between states right now. Oh... it's on. I know of at least three western states that are courting enterprises in California (in comparison Arizona is not really one of those either... for shame).
It is safe to say that if states are competing against each other for new opportunity... local communities are in it to win it as well.
Maybe Mr. Deering made the right call to decide not to run for reelection at this time. Kingman certainly needs leaders that want to compete for better opportunities for this community. If Mr. Deering or any other community leader is unwilling to move Kingman forward, hopefully the voters will elect some leaders that are willing to take a shot at increasing employment opportunity, business opportunity, and community improvement.
I've always heard the age old adage that the rising tide will raise all boats... but if the tide doesn't come back for what might be an extended period of time... why not get some folks together and drag the boat out to where the water level is high enough to get on with the sailing?? I want leaders that are willing to do the heavy lifting.
Local comment of the day...
Posted: Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Article comment by: Bert Garcia
I beg to differ with you, Ray Lyons did not lose the election at all. My highly esteemed friend Ray moves on alongside three (3) others to the run-offs in May. Being a military person, I am used to making it a point to familiarize myself with my home election issues, to find out who is running for office, and to cast my ballot through the mail on time. With all due respect in addition to reading it in the Kingman Daily Miner Newspaper you could have attended the different forums where the candidates addressed the issues to the best of their ability. I personally attended two (2) of their presentations at the Elks Lodge and at the Community College where it was televised to be shown at a later time, Dick Anderson took the extra step to send me a post card in the mail to let me know where he stands on the issues, also local TV station aired the Community College Forum in the community 3 or 4 times. Erin Cochran was gracious enough to personally speak me about the clean city issues at length and even made a point to walk with me where unauthorized dump sites are located in a five (5) mile area in my neighborhood. As a volunteer driver during election day, I gladly provided a ride to a voter to and from the polling place. Finally, I must say that where there is a will to exercise your right to vote, there is a way to cast your ballot. So please cast your vote in May for the City Council Elections.
Article comment by: Bert Garcia
I beg to differ with you, Ray Lyons did not lose the election at all. My highly esteemed friend Ray moves on alongside three (3) others to the run-offs in May. Being a military person, I am used to making it a point to familiarize myself with my home election issues, to find out who is running for office, and to cast my ballot through the mail on time. With all due respect in addition to reading it in the Kingman Daily Miner Newspaper you could have attended the different forums where the candidates addressed the issues to the best of their ability. I personally attended two (2) of their presentations at the Elks Lodge and at the Community College where it was televised to be shown at a later time, Dick Anderson took the extra step to send me a post card in the mail to let me know where he stands on the issues, also local TV station aired the Community College Forum in the community 3 or 4 times. Erin Cochran was gracious enough to personally speak me about the clean city issues at length and even made a point to walk with me where unauthorized dump sites are located in a five (5) mile area in my neighborhood. As a volunteer driver during election day, I gladly provided a ride to a voter to and from the polling place. Finally, I must say that where there is a will to exercise your right to vote, there is a way to cast your ballot. So please cast your vote in May for the City Council Elections.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Green jobs job fair...
Received the following from Facebook today...
Also, here's a link to the press release on this event.
Check it out, check it outers.
- RENEWABLE ENERGY INFORMATION FAIR
Are you interested in a career in the renewable energy industry?
Come find out about Training and Green Career Opportunities.
March 17, 2010 11:00 AM until 8:00 PM
Kingman High School - 4182 North Bank Street
Mohave and La Paz Counties anticipate major renewable energy
projects in our region and are preparing for the many jobs associated
with these facilities. This fair will help you prepare to apply and/or
train for jobs in renewable energy construction and operations. The
application process for training will include eligibility determination
and a series of assessments.
Find out more at one of the ninety minute orientation sessions beginning at 11:30 AM, 2:00 PM or 5:30 PM. Capacity is limited to 550 per session.
Complete a CAREER PLACEMENT INVENTORY online at: www.co.mohave.az.us/energycareers, print it out and bring it to the fair. This will help us place you in a career pathway and/or funded training.
Check it out, check it outers.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Polls are closed...
Now that the polls are closed I'm watching the Mohave County website for the results of today's election in Kingman. I will post the results when they are available.
As of 7:10pm there are no reported results on the website.
As of 9:21pm... nothing on the Mohave County website.
As of 10:16pm... these are the results for the city council race...
CANDIDATE -- # of votes -- Percentage
ANDERSON, DICK -- 797 -- 47.36%
COCHRAN, ERIN -- 711 -- 42.25%
LYONS, RAY -- 711 -- 42.25%
MOSSBERG, ALLEN -- 811 -- 48.19%
WATSON, JANET -- 962 -- 57.16%
Write-in Votes -- 345 -- 20.50%
Another crappy turnout in number of voters. Out of the 16,189 registered voters, only 1,683 bothered voting in the primary.
As it looks and as I understand it, the results tonight indicate that Janet Watson has retained her seat on the council... and the remaining two seats will be decided in the general election later on in May of this year (Anderson, Cochran, Lyons, and Mossberg will be in the final run-off).
View all results here
I would have liked to have been surprised tonight, but instead am a bit disappointed.
As of 7:10pm there are no reported results on the website.
As of 9:21pm... nothing on the Mohave County website.
As of 10:16pm... these are the results for the city council race...
CANDIDATE -- # of votes -- Percentage
ANDERSON, DICK -- 797 -- 47.36%
COCHRAN, ERIN -- 711 -- 42.25%
LYONS, RAY -- 711 -- 42.25%
MOSSBERG, ALLEN -- 811 -- 48.19%
WATSON, JANET -- 962 -- 57.16%
Write-in Votes -- 345 -- 20.50%
Another crappy turnout in number of voters. Out of the 16,189 registered voters, only 1,683 bothered voting in the primary.
As it looks and as I understand it, the results tonight indicate that Janet Watson has retained her seat on the council... and the remaining two seats will be decided in the general election later on in May of this year (Anderson, Cochran, Lyons, and Mossberg will be in the final run-off).
View all results here
I would have liked to have been surprised tonight, but instead am a bit disappointed.
Polls are open!!
Folks, if you live in Kingman don't forget that today is election day. Six fellow neighbors are on the ticket for city council seats and the community needs to hear from you (one candidate for mayor).
This time around I wish we could vote for five of the candidates for council, but we can only choose three. The only candidate that I wouldn't vote for is the one that stated in a city council meeting that she wouldn't want her neighbor to have a windmill in their own backyard. Now that isn't the only reason, but I've watched that particular candidate for some years now botch property rights issues here in Kingman.
I'm rather impressed with a couple of particular candidates, and hope that they've done all the work needed to get the vote out -- cause they will need it.
And still, I find no particular weaknesses to the other three candidates for council. A very interesting choice as to who to vote for awaits Kingman voters today.
Good luck to all the candidates on this day.
This time around I wish we could vote for five of the candidates for council, but we can only choose three. The only candidate that I wouldn't vote for is the one that stated in a city council meeting that she wouldn't want her neighbor to have a windmill in their own backyard. Now that isn't the only reason, but I've watched that particular candidate for some years now botch property rights issues here in Kingman.
I'm rather impressed with a couple of particular candidates, and hope that they've done all the work needed to get the vote out -- cause they will need it.
And still, I find no particular weaknesses to the other three candidates for council. A very interesting choice as to who to vote for awaits Kingman voters today.
Good luck to all the candidates on this day.
Friday, March 05, 2010
As seen on the webz...
From this link, this comment...
Congress opened their windows and threw out 50 tons of bread crumbs, encouraging (in every way they could) people who couldn’t afford real estate to to buy real estate. They succeeded in attracting lots and lots of pigeons, but when you artificially attract pigeons, you artificially attract the hawks that eat the pigeons too. I don’t really blame the pigeons, or the hawks. I blame the morons in Congress who fiddled with the mortgage market in the first place, and did it for purely political reasons.
RBMN on March 4, 2010 at 9:48 PM
Congress opened their windows and threw out 50 tons of bread crumbs, encouraging (in every way they could) people who couldn’t afford real estate to to buy real estate. They succeeded in attracting lots and lots of pigeons, but when you artificially attract pigeons, you artificially attract the hawks that eat the pigeons too. I don’t really blame the pigeons, or the hawks. I blame the morons in Congress who fiddled with the mortgage market in the first place, and did it for purely political reasons.
RBMN on March 4, 2010 at 9:48 PM
Friday, February 26, 2010
Local quote of the day...
From the comments at this link...
Posted: Friday, February 26, 2010
Article comment by: Allodial Title
This county is out of control. I moved here 2 years ago. Back east when I needed a permit to have more than allotted animals on my property, I went to the City office, paid my 25 dollars and was given a permit. But here in Mohave County, not so simple. You need a use permit, 300 plus dollars if you just want to own more than 4 dogs. 500 plus if you plan on breeding and selling, because now your commercial. They also then inform you that you must send a letter to your neighbors, and if they have a problem with it, you will be turned down. Now what the county doesn't tell you is that if they turn down your request, you will never see the money you put out just to ask permission. But they will tell you that you can try again in a year. They must think of the residents of this county as stupid. Why would I give them another 500 dollars, when they turned me down the first time? Our rights have so eroded that an unelected bureaucrat in the county government believes that he has the authority, the right and power to tell me if I can stick a shovel in my ground. Mohave County residents, it's time to take our land, and our constitutional right to own land back from this county.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tyrrany In Mohave County, AZ
The following video was done yesterday during the arrest of one of our local residents at the Mohave County Administration building prior to the Board of Supervisors meeting.
Seemingly less answers while more questions raised as our County Manager Ron Walker tells an attendee after the arrest that not only are weapons not allowed in the building but the American Flag is not allowed to be brought into the building either since it is a "banner or a plaque". Tyranny in Mohave County, or a man blinded by his own arrogance? Is it me or does he sound like he is making it up as he goes along?
Judge for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M63k9GEBis
Seemingly less answers while more questions raised as our County Manager Ron Walker tells an attendee after the arrest that not only are weapons not allowed in the building but the American Flag is not allowed to be brought into the building either since it is a "banner or a plaque". Tyranny in Mohave County, or a man blinded by his own arrogance? Is it me or does he sound like he is making it up as he goes along?
Judge for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M63k9GEBis
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
How banks are making big bucks on foreclosures
I was alerted to the video link below a few days ago and if you are interested in a bit of short sale and foreclosure scenarios that will make your blood boil... you may want to click on the link and give it a view.
Video Marketing and Mortgage News Designed for Mortgage and Real Estate Sales
Basically we are talking about big banks making big bucks off of foreclosed and distressed property... with tax payer dollars. Yep, the government is giving big bucks to banks while our property values suffer. Just watch the video.
Video Marketing and Mortgage News Designed for Mortgage and Real Estate Sales
Basically we are talking about big banks making big bucks off of foreclosed and distressed property... with tax payer dollars. Yep, the government is giving big bucks to banks while our property values suffer. Just watch the video.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
it's a hot and bitter cup we are sipping....
Most of you have heard or read something about the county's latest fiasco, brewing like cowboy coffee on an open fire pit. The issue specific is whether or not the county's assumed oral policy prohibiting the disbursement of brochures and pamphlets by the general public on county property is in violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It is an oral policy, not written and no one knows who or when they accepted it, since never written it was never officially adopted and is left up to the county officials to act upon based upon their individual interpretations of AZ Statute 11 Art 410 which states:
11-410. Use of county resources or employees to influence elections; prohibition
A. A county shall not use its personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or other resources for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections. Notwithstanding this section, a county may distribute informational reports on a proposed bond election as provided in section 35-454. Nothing in this section precludes a county from reporting on official actions of the county board of supervisors.
B. Employees of a county shall not use the authority of their positions to influence the vote or political activities of any subordinate employee.
C. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as denying the civil and political liberties of any employee as guaranteed by the United States and Arizona Constitutions.
The salt added to the grounds of this brew is that a local resident, citizen and taxpayer was prohibited from dispersing his materials made that reflected the voting record of Senator John McCain prior and during the McCain Town Hall held in Kingman, Arizona, November 13, 2009, in the public owned county administration building. Luca Zanna was predominately ignored during the McCain Town Hall as he politely kept his hand raised for over 45 minutes in request to speak. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gOxD39_--g But Luca Zanna is not one to be ignored. He persisted until John McCain himself handed Mr. Zanna his microphone to address him with. Luca Zanna is very dynamic to be sure and can appear to be quite exuberant, but he is also one of the most respectful and sincere people I have known since living here. Impassioned sure, terrorist------NOT. As he and Buster Johnson have related to me, once he was asked to stop passing out his materials and told that he was in violation of the county rules, he politely and respectfully stopped. (Do you hear the striking of the match.)
As most of you know Buster Johnson is the county Board of Supervisor for District 3. What some of you may not know is that Buster Johnson is the Chairman of the Republican Central Committee. It was through his party affiliations and work as Chair that he was able to convince Senator John McCain and his staff that Mohave County should be the site of a scheduled Town Hall event and in doing so brought the event here as a public service opportunity we have been long denied. And it was as the Chair he was approached by one of Senator McCain's security guards paid for by our tax dollars, to tell Mr. Zanna and others to stop passing out their materials, "for security reasons" on the publicly owned property. And yes, he is the same security guard taking pictures of Luca Zanna during the McCain Town Hall in the video. (Just the back log for the campfire.)
In his quest for answers from the county as to just what is this policy, where is it posted, who does it apply to, are you sure it even exists......Mr. Zanna approached several county officials by phone call, email and in person. Yet his emails and questions were unanswered. Even when the county attorney revealed that they had just always fallen back on AZ 11art 410 and everyone had agreed that this is how they would do it, no one could explain or show Mr. Zanna where the county residents had ever participated in this decision. If it isn't written down, then how could they have approved it? If it isn't written down then how does anyone know when someone or party is in compliance or non-compliance? How do you know it is even in compliance with the State Statute itself? Since the county could not or would not answer his probes, he addressed the Board of Supervisors in an open meeting, yet still the same results. (Ignite the kindling now.)
What followed next was a production on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVhy0hlfdfM reflecting how Mr. Zanna was starting to feel about being ignored. And he submitted a couple of letters to the local media. BOS Tom Sockwell felt he was being personally attacked and responded with an article in the Daily Miner of his own, http://kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=35736&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=73&S=1 Mr. Zanna started getting attention, the issue was being brought out, still no answers though to some very relevant questions. (We got smoke!)
The economy is slow, news is slow. We don't have much going on in Mayberry these days. People are out of work, out of money and don't have much to do but read the paper and the Internet, watch TV and youtube and they have the time to get involved in local affairs. The Daily Miner and other media venues have picked up on Mr. Zanna's plight. Support for his stance is growing. And the fact that the government is responsible for people being out of work and out of money and out of answers and out of patience is making us all irritable. Now there is a recall petition for Mr. Sockwell and a possible complaint to the State Attorney General. (We got flames!)
Ron Walker decided it was time for him to join the name calling, http://kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&subsectionID=73&articleID=36024, which like Supervisor Sockwell's retort, just added more heat to the pot just starting to boil. Oh yeah right we were making coffee. The county still needs a written definition of how AZ Stat. 11 Art. 410 will be followed and the written guidelines there of printed out for the public. But who wants to work that out while we all are too busy fueling the fire? (Uh, Ron Walker is the County Manager who is in charge of directing staff to put such definitions and guidelines down on paper to be reviewed and adopted by public approval via the representation there of, our Board of Supervisors.)
Maybe if our county representatives and officials had taken the time they have had writing articles to openly degrade private citizens to sit down with Mr. Zanna and discuss his genuine concerns reasonably over a cup of coffee something would have been resolved by now. Instead we have a media frenzy that makes Mohave County politics shine like the Dukes of Hazzard on steroids. And we are still out of work and out of money and wondering why the developments that could change things for us locally are continuing to locate their projects to the southern counties of the State. What we need is a fresh pot of coffee!
11-410. Use of county resources or employees to influence elections; prohibition
A. A county shall not use its personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or other resources for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections. Notwithstanding this section, a county may distribute informational reports on a proposed bond election as provided in section 35-454. Nothing in this section precludes a county from reporting on official actions of the county board of supervisors.
B. Employees of a county shall not use the authority of their positions to influence the vote or political activities of any subordinate employee.
C. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as denying the civil and political liberties of any employee as guaranteed by the United States and Arizona Constitutions.
The salt added to the grounds of this brew is that a local resident, citizen and taxpayer was prohibited from dispersing his materials made that reflected the voting record of Senator John McCain prior and during the McCain Town Hall held in Kingman, Arizona, November 13, 2009, in the public owned county administration building. Luca Zanna was predominately ignored during the McCain Town Hall as he politely kept his hand raised for over 45 minutes in request to speak. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gOxD39_--g But Luca Zanna is not one to be ignored. He persisted until John McCain himself handed Mr. Zanna his microphone to address him with. Luca Zanna is very dynamic to be sure and can appear to be quite exuberant, but he is also one of the most respectful and sincere people I have known since living here. Impassioned sure, terrorist------NOT. As he and Buster Johnson have related to me, once he was asked to stop passing out his materials and told that he was in violation of the county rules, he politely and respectfully stopped. (Do you hear the striking of the match.)
As most of you know Buster Johnson is the county Board of Supervisor for District 3. What some of you may not know is that Buster Johnson is the Chairman of the Republican Central Committee. It was through his party affiliations and work as Chair that he was able to convince Senator John McCain and his staff that Mohave County should be the site of a scheduled Town Hall event and in doing so brought the event here as a public service opportunity we have been long denied. And it was as the Chair he was approached by one of Senator McCain's security guards paid for by our tax dollars, to tell Mr. Zanna and others to stop passing out their materials, "for security reasons" on the publicly owned property. And yes, he is the same security guard taking pictures of Luca Zanna during the McCain Town Hall in the video. (Just the back log for the campfire.)
In his quest for answers from the county as to just what is this policy, where is it posted, who does it apply to, are you sure it even exists......Mr. Zanna approached several county officials by phone call, email and in person. Yet his emails and questions were unanswered. Even when the county attorney revealed that they had just always fallen back on AZ 11art 410 and everyone had agreed that this is how they would do it, no one could explain or show Mr. Zanna where the county residents had ever participated in this decision. If it isn't written down, then how could they have approved it? If it isn't written down then how does anyone know when someone or party is in compliance or non-compliance? How do you know it is even in compliance with the State Statute itself? Since the county could not or would not answer his probes, he addressed the Board of Supervisors in an open meeting, yet still the same results. (Ignite the kindling now.)
What followed next was a production on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVhy0hlfdfM reflecting how Mr. Zanna was starting to feel about being ignored. And he submitted a couple of letters to the local media. BOS Tom Sockwell felt he was being personally attacked and responded with an article in the Daily Miner of his own, http://kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=35736&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=73&S=1 Mr. Zanna started getting attention, the issue was being brought out, still no answers though to some very relevant questions. (We got smoke!)
The economy is slow, news is slow. We don't have much going on in Mayberry these days. People are out of work, out of money and don't have much to do but read the paper and the Internet, watch TV and youtube and they have the time to get involved in local affairs. The Daily Miner and other media venues have picked up on Mr. Zanna's plight. Support for his stance is growing. And the fact that the government is responsible for people being out of work and out of money and out of answers and out of patience is making us all irritable. Now there is a recall petition for Mr. Sockwell and a possible complaint to the State Attorney General. (We got flames!)
Ron Walker decided it was time for him to join the name calling, http://kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&subsectionID=73&articleID=36024, which like Supervisor Sockwell's retort, just added more heat to the pot just starting to boil. Oh yeah right we were making coffee. The county still needs a written definition of how AZ Stat. 11 Art. 410 will be followed and the written guidelines there of printed out for the public. But who wants to work that out while we all are too busy fueling the fire? (Uh, Ron Walker is the County Manager who is in charge of directing staff to put such definitions and guidelines down on paper to be reviewed and adopted by public approval via the representation there of, our Board of Supervisors.)
Maybe if our county representatives and officials had taken the time they have had writing articles to openly degrade private citizens to sit down with Mr. Zanna and discuss his genuine concerns reasonably over a cup of coffee something would have been resolved by now. Instead we have a media frenzy that makes Mohave County politics shine like the Dukes of Hazzard on steroids. And we are still out of work and out of money and wondering why the developments that could change things for us locally are continuing to locate their projects to the southern counties of the State. What we need is a fresh pot of coffee!
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Poll added for City Council...
Look over to the right there on the sidebar and cast your 'choice' for only one of the candidates currently running for Kingman's City Council.
If you want, please comment below for reasons you are supporting the one candidate in this poll.
I know that come election time voters will be allowed to choose three candidates on the official ballot, what MOCO readers want to know is why you think one particular choice is the best for the future of Kingman.
If you want, please comment below for reasons you are supporting the one candidate in this poll.
I know that come election time voters will be allowed to choose three candidates on the official ballot, what MOCO readers want to know is why you think one particular choice is the best for the future of Kingman.
just an update...
It seems that the program that managed the comments here at MOCO is no longer, and this has caused me to changed providers (actually back to the Blogger platform). And as a result... all of the comments that the many nice folks have left here at MOCO are gone.
So what are you waiting for?? Leave some comments.
So what are you waiting for?? Leave some comments.
Monday, February 01, 2010
January Listings Report (2010)
You bet, it sure has been awhile since I posted a listings report... or any report for that matter. Have to say that I've been a bit busy to faithfully produce such reports, but at least I have continued to track the data. I've also decided to slim down the listing reports to some degree (basically won't be offering the previous months data in order to save me some time).
So what have you missed over the last couple of months?? In a nutshell... prices continue to slide (yet sellers still haven't totally figured that out) and sales activity has picked up the pace. Yep... pretty much like it was all of last calendar year.
I owe you a couple of other reports... I will be doing the January sales report later this month and in the next few days I'll probably get the annual report out.
So without further ado... the disclaimer...
Disclaimer... all data compiled for this report comes from the WARDEX Data Exchange and does not include any sales activity from outside that resource. All research is done only on single family homes and there is no inclusion of modular homes, commercial properties, or vacant land. The geographical area researched includes; all areas within the boundaries of the city of Kingman, north Kingman, the Hualapai Mountain area, and the Valle Vista subdivisions. Click here to see maps of the included area's.
See you weren't really missing out on anything here... the only stat that jumps out at me is the fact that half of the new listings were of the foreclosed on variety. The largest such invasion by the banks by percentage since I've been keeping track. Human sellers, I guess, have tired.
And even though the inventory of active listings is down as compared to years past, it hasn't meant the end of the issues surrounding excess inventory... at least not yet.
And here it is just a slaughter by the banks. Banks control the clear majority of the action in this local real estate market. Basically... nothing to see here, move along now... move along.
Year over year data listings/pending contracts
The average price of a newly listed unit for sale was way down in January of 2010... lower than it has ever been according to the records I have kept and we should expect it to continue to be the case as long as banks are putting up half the new listings every month (banks really get the idea of competition and are definitely motivated to sell). It's just down to the question of how low can they go in regards to prices.
No promises, but I hope to get back on the horse (so to speak) and get these reports out on a once again consistent basis. Stay tuned.
So what have you missed over the last couple of months?? In a nutshell... prices continue to slide (yet sellers still haven't totally figured that out) and sales activity has picked up the pace. Yep... pretty much like it was all of last calendar year.
I owe you a couple of other reports... I will be doing the January sales report later this month and in the next few days I'll probably get the annual report out.
So without further ado... the disclaimer...
Disclaimer... all data compiled for this report comes from the WARDEX Data Exchange and does not include any sales activity from outside that resource. All research is done only on single family homes and there is no inclusion of modular homes, commercial properties, or vacant land. The geographical area researched includes; all areas within the boundaries of the city of Kingman, north Kingman, the Hualapai Mountain area, and the Valle Vista subdivisions. Click here to see maps of the included area's.
Data tables for all new listings tracked in the month of January 2010
| Item | Total Units |
|---|---|
| Total Listings On Market | 373 |
| Total Listings Listed as Foreclosed | 76 |
| Item | Month of January |
|---|---|
| New Listings Total | 92 |
| New Listings Listed as Foreclosed | 46 |
| Average Asking Price Per Unit | $119,212 |
| Median Asking Price | $99,900 |
| Average Asking Price Per Square Foot | $78 |
| Units Re-Listed | 10 |
| Units Already Under Contract | 22 |
| Item | Month of January |
|---|---|
| Living Area Square Footage | 1,536 |
| Bedrooms | 3.04 |
| Bathrooms | 1.98 |
| Garage | 1.65 |
| Year Built | 1992 |
| Item | Lowest | Highest |
| Listings | $23,900 | $375,000 |
See you weren't really missing out on anything here... the only stat that jumps out at me is the fact that half of the new listings were of the foreclosed on variety. The largest such invasion by the banks by percentage since I've been keeping track. Human sellers, I guess, have tired.
And even though the inventory of active listings is down as compared to years past, it hasn't meant the end of the issues surrounding excess inventory... at least not yet.
Data tables for all new Units under contract tracked in the month of January 2010
| Item | Total Units |
|---|---|
| Total Units Under Contract | 114 |
| Total Contracts Listed as Foreclosed | 57 |
| Item | Month of January |
|---|---|
| New Contracts Total | 67 |
| New Contracts Listed as Foreclosed | 42 |
| Average Marketing Price Per Unit | $99,588 |
| Median Marketing Price | $74,450 |
| Average Marketing Price Per Square Foot | $65 |
| Days on Market to Acquire a Contract | 134 |
| Average Marketing Price Reduction | $14,597 |
| Item | Month of January |
|---|---|
| Living Area Square Footage | 1,539 |
| Bedrooms | 3 |
| Bathrooms | 2.07 |
| Garage | 1.7 |
| Year Built | 1992 |
| Item | Lowest | Highest |
| Listings | $19,900 | $424,900 |
And here it is just a slaughter by the banks. Banks control the clear majority of the action in this local real estate market. Basically... nothing to see here, move along now... move along.
Year over year data listings/pending contracts
| Item | UP/DOWN | unit/dollar amount | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Listings | DOWN | 125 | (25%) |
| New Listings January | UP | 2 | 2% |
| Average Price per New Listing | DOWN | $55,928 | (32%) |
| Median List Price | DOWN | $35,000 | (26%) |
| Item | UP/DOWN | unit/dollar amount | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Pending Contracts | UP | 26 | 30% |
| New Contracts for January | UP | 12 | 22% |
| Average Marketing Price per Unit | DOWN | $31,860 | (24%) |
| Median Marketing Price | DOWN | $27,500 | (26%) |
The average price of a newly listed unit for sale was way down in January of 2010... lower than it has ever been according to the records I have kept and we should expect it to continue to be the case as long as banks are putting up half the new listings every month (banks really get the idea of competition and are definitely motivated to sell). It's just down to the question of how low can they go in regards to prices.
No promises, but I hope to get back on the horse (so to speak) and get these reports out on a once again consistent basis. Stay tuned.
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