By Phil Riske | Managing Editor
(Editor’s note: Fifth in a series of articles reviewing the 2014 news stories published by Rose Law Group Reporter that were most read and gained momentum during the rest of the year.)
Despite spurts of development, the state’s economy was “stagnant, slow, subpar,” as one economist described it. Furor over proposed solar taxes continued to boil. Pinal County focused on transportation projects.
Lead story
Nearly half of Arizonans polled said believed the state was headed in the wrong direction. The Behavior Research Center poll said 45 percent of the 700 Arizonans surveyed felt the state is being led in the wrong direction.
*******
Economy/real estate
A forecast was made Arizona employers would hire just 53,500 new workers in 2014. That meant the number of Arizonans working at the end of this year would be just 2.1 percent higher than it was at the beginning, It’s the same slow growth rate the state has recorded for the past two years.
There was a lack of any meaningful housing recovery. Given what the economy went through over the past few years, consumers were reluctant to use revolving debt, mainly credit card debt.
Seventy new home communities had opened in the Phoenix Metro area, and one analyst said that even though buyers are interested, they’re not able to get the keys because they didn’t’ have the cash.
Phoenix ranked 15th for projected home-price appreciation.
Eight years after construction of a hotel near Chandler Fashion Center halted abruptly, a proposal to replace the six-story concrete eyesore was submitted. Like the failed Elevation Chandler project, the new proposal included a hotel and called for high-density housing, retail and office space.
A major General Plan amendment was filed by Taylor Morrison Homes, which sought to take a 48.8-acre property where Greasewood Flat still stands to make way for a master-planned housing subdivision in Scottsdale.
Glendale considered selling city property to save or make money as the city had “picked to the bone” its operating costs.
*******
Government/politics
State lawmakers voted to scrap what had been Child Protective Services and replace it with an entirely new state agency. The move came after years of complaints about how the agency has been handling complaints of abuse and neglect.
A plan Republican gubernatorial hopefuls Ken Bennett and state Sen. Al Melvin to eliminate the state income tax got a chilly reception from Governor Brewer.
*******
Solar energy
Hundreds Of “solar seniors” rallied at the State Capitol to protest the Arizona Department of Revenue’s intention to impose a new solar property tax on leased rooftop solar systems.
*******
Pinal County
At more than 1.7 million square feet, the size and layout of the proposed PhoenixMart sourcing center was too big to meet current Casa Grande codes, and the city decided to outsource an analysis of the building plans to ensure the massive structure is safe.
The Casa Grande City Council approved a resolution supporting national retailer Tractor Supply Company’s bid to establish Foreign-Trade Zone status for a distribution center it hoped to build. More than 200 jobs would be created initially.
After months of negotiations with the town of Florence and gaining approval by voters in a special election, Johnson Utilities owner George Johnson stopped all negotiations to sell his company to Florence.
Transportation
The Arizona Department of Transportation said it wants a $35 million federal grant to help study Interstate 11, the proposed highway link between Phoenix and Las Vegas. The request is part of a $70 million effort from the state to secure federal transportation money.
The State Transportation Board recommended the Arizona Department of Transportation put the State Route 347 grade separation crossing over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks in Maricopa in its Five-Year Plan to fund.
Of the three potential routes being considered by the Arizona Department of Transportation for a possible commuter rail service, the line that passes through Casa Grande, also known as the “Green Alternative,” lacked support.
Construction crews were keeping a feverish pace in trying to complete Phase 1 of the Hunt Highway Expansion Project. The first phase was over halfway finished.
Sports
Baseball Hall of Famer Tony La Russa just couldn’t sit still, and the Arizona Diamondbacks could no longer be patient. The two sides started talking in May and quickly realized how much they need one another and consummated a relationship with La Russa being hired as the Diamondbacks’ chief baseball officer.
Medical Marijuana
Reflecting growing national acceptance of cannabis, a bipartisan coalition of House members voted to restrict the Drug Enforcement Administration from using funds to go after medical marijuana operations that are legal under state laws. (Editor’s note: How Arizona representatives voted: YES-Barber, Grijalva, Kirkpatrick, Pastor, Schweikert, Sinema; NO-Franks, Gosar, Salmon.
Meanwhile, a pro-medical marijuana veterans group said they’ve been “double-crossed” by Sen. Kimberly Yee after the Phoenix Republican claimed she made no promise to support legislation the veterans desired. But the Arizona Veterans Assistance Committee filed paperwork Thursday to terminate a recall petition against Yee.
