The Dealmaker: 2/5/2019

Anti-arena group drops referendum on Phoenix Suns arena funding.(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents the Phoenix Suns.) “An attempt to send the controversial $230 million Phoenix Suns arena renovation deal to the voters is dead… City officials said they will proceed with the Suns deal as planned.” More on the bow out and the Talking Stick Resort Arena renovation deal in AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2UH3A2Y

Can ‘Opportunity Zones’ lift up America’s struggling towns? Excellent ‘chance,’ answers Dan Gauthier, Rose Law Group transactional attorney handling many O-Zone investments. “Will the zones function as they are meant to on paper — helping struggling communities — or will they merely be a windfall for the wealthy?” Policy wonks, developers, investors, and even a singer-songwriter Legend are among those providing insight in this Wharton School report. • Commenting for RLGR, Dan Gauthier sheds light on how O-Zones “offer a chance to close [the prosperity] gap” that exists between many communities. —> http://bit.ly/2SdAw6m

Long-delayed development near Camelback Ranch expected to start soon. (Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Mattamy Homes building a community at Camelback Ranch.) Twelve years after plans were sprung for a spring training facility with “hundreds of acres of commercial and residential development,” Camelback Ranch “may soon, finally, become what Glendale had hoped it would be [‘or something like it’].” YourValley traces the long road it’s taken to get there, down a Ballpark Boulevard of delayed development dreams, due mostly to an economic nightmare known as the Great Recession. http://bit.ly/2SudHKS

Former Sen. Jeff Flake joins Taylor Morrison board. “Flake joins seven other members of the board of directors and will serve on the Nominating and Governance Committee as an independent director.” The announcement — featuring remarks from new board member Flake as well as from Chairman and CEO Sheryl Palmer — in AZ Business Magazine. http://bit.ly/2MR1smq

North Phoenix neighbors oppose plans for assisted-living facility. With the Tatum Blvd. “set to experience several changes over the coming year,” the proposed “demolition of the New Vision Center for Spiritual Living to build a four-story, 160 unit assisted-living community” has some nearby residents “concerned the project might heighten existing community strains and pose new issues.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2UFTUFG

New six-story tower in central Tucson will feature rooftop dining. Called “Chroma Complex,” the “nearly 83,000-square-foot development will” also “have 24 rental townhouses on Camino Miramonte and 18 market-rate apartments in the tower.” A Chroma Complex rundown, with renderings showcasing its “rooftop dining option,” at Arizona Daily Star. http://bit.ly/2StiNab

Pollack: 2019 still looks like a positive year. And while housing “remains an issue,” The Monday Morning Quarterback expresses confidence that it won’t “be a drag on the economy going forward.” Data ‘Snapshots’ —> U.S.: Employment • Consumer Confidence & Sentiment • Manufacturing • Construction Spending • Housing. AZ: Sky Harbor – Enplanements & Deplanements • Home Prices • Office & Industrial – Greater Phoenix. http://bit.ly/2BnMq2S

Recruitment Part Deux: Paradise Valley seeks new town manager. PV Independent brings us up to speed on the latest news concerning Town Council’s “future town manager recruitment process.” http://bit.ly/2DcZJTQ

LISTEN: Mayor Alex Barber talks vacation rentals, unique challenges Jerome faces with growth. Mayor Barber talks with CV Bugle “about vacation rentals, infrastructure,” and other “issues facing” Jerome. It is a quirkily humorous interview — e.g., “Town tradition typically dictates that the person with the most votes gets to be mayor.” — which has earned it the honor of being, coincidentally enough, Dealmaker’s “Most Quirkily Humorous Interview of the Day.” http://bit.ly/2TzlKTU

A libertarian litigator dons the judge’s robes. “Clint Bolick, a co-founder of the Institute for Justice, was for years one of the libertarian movement’s most successful trial lawyers.” Now, he sits on the Arizona Supreme Court. Reason takes a look at how the “libertarian litigator,” has “already distinguished himself as a justice”— and not just because of his tat. http://bit.ly/2SdsgTE

CA bills could give marijuana companies a legal boost; ‘time is ripe,’ says Laura Bianchi, Rose Law Group partner and director of Cannabis Department. “Unfriendly banks, high taxes and black-market competitors are some of the obstacles that licensed cannabis companies say hold them back… California lawmakers want to give them a hand.” SacBee • Laura Bianchi: “It’s time to remove the unfair burdens from the shoulders of cannabis business owners, giving them the right to typical business tax deductions and exemptions and access to banking and other business services.” http://bit.ly/2REvnPC 

Cameron’s $5M + deals of the day – http://bit.ly/2TwxZRi

As a supplement to the Dealmaker, we thought you might enjoy these articles!

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