Pinal County manager blasts Goldwater motion against RTA tax. (Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents a coalition of property and business owners throughout Pinal County working to bring new transportation infrastructure to the county.) The Goldwater Institute has “filed a motion to prevent Pinal County from collecting Proposition 417’s transportation excise tax.” GI accuses the county of “attempting to change the law after the election.” And what does County Manager Greg Stanley think of the institute’s charge? Two words: “Fake news.” http://bit.ly/2oIKafw
Incorporation hopes for 100,000+ residents shattered by Shea Homes. “The Vote San Tan Valley Steering Committee today announced that hopes to allow residents to vote on whether or not to make San Tan Valley a municipality were derailed by a surprise announcement from Shea Homes stating that, as a declarant, they would not give permission to the effort, in effect terminating the democratic process.” Details at SanTanValley.com. http://bit.ly/2FiiKYo
Amazon’s latest incursion in housing has a familiar ring to it. Builder’s John McManus on how “[h]ome technology’s troika — Alphabet, Amazon, and Apple — see homes, communities as a networked distribution platform for products and services like home security.” http://bit.ly/2ozTByL
Some compromise in property tax, GPLET bill. “The Arizona House of Representatives approved 58-0 a bill adding some new reforms to property tax breaks that cities offer to developers and businesses. House Bill 2126 ended up being a compromise measure between fiscal conservatives, real estate groups and cities over Government Property Lease Excise Taxes, reports PBJ. More this “GPLET Compromise” in Rose Law Group Reporter. http://bit.ly/2FMWGTp
Arizona housing market prices are rising, but still not recovered from recession. “ [H]omes in the Arizona market are still on average worth 16 percent lower than they were almost 12 years ago. Those findings come from a report by CoreLogic looking at state by state and national market recovery.” But are Arizona’s market conditions anything to freak out over? Find out in PBJ. http://bit.ly/2GXlxDm
Salary needed to buy a home in 15 large metros. “SmartAsset crunched the numbers and found that residents in three big cities would need to make more than $110,000 to afford a home.” Fortunately, Phoenix wasn’t one of those three cities. See how much scratch Phoenicians need to make per year to afford a home, in Builder. http://bit.ly/2FeGywd
Most expensive home sales in Phoenix. Arizona Foothills Magazine has the “top home sales from the past week (2.19.18 – 2.25.18), during which combined sales totaled “over $20 million,” the EXACTLY THE SAME as the previous week. Among the home features included in this installment: A 900+ bottle wine room, a 12 car garage, 7 bedrooms, and 1 piece of super-expensive patio furniture (Brown Jordan?) that appears to be going up in flames. http://bit.ly/2FdlYMP
Maricopa home sales. “An extensive list of sales data (PDF) for homes sold — February 2016 through February 2018, from subdivisions Acacia Crossings to Villages at Rancho El Dorado — in Rose Law Group Reporter (courtesy of InMaricopa). http://bit.ly/2F9YWD9
Flagstaff zoning commission endorses Mill Town height increase, rent byroom. “[P&Z] unanimously approved a set of permits that will allow the Mill Town mixed use student housing development to exceed the height maximum allowed in the zoning district [i.e., 65 feet] and to rent by the bedroom instead of by the unit.” But, unlike the 591-bed Hub that came before it, this “massive,” 1,221-bedroom, proposed project from Vintage Partners isn’t facing nearly as much pushback. Arizona Daily Sun. http://bit.ly/2oLt9l7
Glendale City Council agrees: No property tax increase. “Councilmembers agreed the total amount to be collected if the city raised property taxes would not be worth the possible questions of citizens.” The Glendale Star reports, however, that the “decision by council included a change to city policy where council would revisit the discussion every year…” http://bit.ly/2Fa2DJb
EIGHTY-SIXED SUSSEX SEEKS STAY – Tempe ‘squatter’ isn’t taking eviction order lying down, seeks time to appeal decision. “A Superior Court judge in February gave Steve Sussex 30 days to vacate the parcel of land, a site that contains both a historic adobe house and enough vehicles and debris to give it the look of a junkyard.” With the March 15 “deadline to vacate” fast approaching, Sussex has filed motion that “asks for a stay until the judge’s ruling is appealed.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2GUCNt1
Unruly gatherings: Paradise Valley seeks stricter ordinance. “Examining the practices of Arizona’s three collegiate towns — Flagstaff, Tempe and Tucson — the Town of Paradise Valley has set its sights on implementing an ordinance to address unruly gatherings.” It would include the possibility of steep fees and fines, plus a “scarlet letter” posted to any property whose occupants violate the proposed ordinance. http://bit.ly/2F8bC1t
Airbnb generates $11.5 million for Arizona in tax revenue in 2017. “Not only did Airbnb generate money for the state, its hosts brought in some money last year, too. In Arizona, Airbnb hosts earned a combined $94.9 million while housing more than 646,000 guests…” More on Airbnb’s big bucks for Arizona in PBJ. http://bit.ly/2oJcE8Y
Pete Bolton earns NAIOP Arizona’s Award of Excellence. “Pete Bolton, who mentored generations of commercial real estate professionals and managed four companies, will be honored with the Award of Excellence at the Best of NAIOP on March 22 at the Camelback Inn.” President and CEO of NAIOP Arizona, Suzanne Kinney: “Pete has left his mark on the commercial real estate industry and beyond. This award is intended to recognize his many contributions.” AZRE. http://bit.ly/2F9yJ7R
A LAFFERTY MATTER – Phoenix businessman and mayoral candidate hopes to fuel downtown growth. “We have about 12,000 people that live downtown, and we should have 30,000 people just based on population, so we’re way behind,” says Phoenix businessman Michael Lafferty. Downtown Devil reports that the “former Republican” turned “registered Independent” will “run his campaign as a ‘Phoenician first.’ ” READ ON:http://bit.ly/2t8u30l
Glendale building code changes expected in near future. <— Which is something that “staff had been recommending” — “updated codes that reflect safer practices and instill new technology, [and that allow] the city to maintain good standing with the property insurance rating industry.” The Glendale Star. http://bit.ly/2oFkcKA
Fire sale. “To offset budget cuts, businesses can now buy ad space on Mesa firetrucks — signaling a trend some consumer watchdogs say is cause for alarm.” Over what? “Mesa fire-trucks driving around the city with Under Armour ads on the sides, or ads for dispensaries”? Not quite. As PHOENIX magazine points out: “Actually, what the department will allow on the trucks is tame.” http://bit.ly/2HYoSDm
How proposed Florence biogas plant will work. “Biogas refers to generating electrical power from treated sewage, food and farm waste.” How the new plant “next to the town’s south wastewater treatment” will pull that off — “transforming waste into wealth” — while at the same time, not adding to the “area’s odor or noise” — in Florence Reminder. http://bit.ly/2HXxXwr
As a supplement to the Dealmaker, we thought you might enjoy these articles!
DRIVERLESS PERMITS – Gov. Ducey: Self-driving cars allowed on Arizona roads without human behind the wheel[VIDEO]; future ‘mainstream mode of transportation,’ says Rose Law Group Cybersecurity, Privacy and Emerging Technologies Chairman, Troy Roberts.“Gov. Doug Ducey on Thursday… issued a new executive order that makes it clear the robot cars don’t need a driver behind the wheel if they follow all the traditional traffic laws and rules for cars and drivers.” Troy Roberts: “Governor’s Ducey’s encouragement of AV technology development in Arizona demonstrates foresight and capable leadership, as AV technology experts and others foresee the technology advancing road safety, the economy, and human growth generally.” MORE HERE: http://bit.ly/2oCDn7W
Governor Ducey Forms Arizona Cybersecurity Team; Governor’s office grasps importance of emerging technology and adaptation, says Troy Roberts, Rose Law Group Chairman of Cybersecurity. “Governor Doug Ducey today issued an executive order to create the Arizona Cybersecurity Team (ACT), a diverse team of experts from state, local, and federal government, the private sector, and higher education to work together to protect Arizonans from a cyber attack.” Troy Roberts: “Consistent with other technology development in Arizona related to public well-being and economic development, the Arizona Cybersecurity Team is another example how the Governor’s office grasps the importance of emerging technology and adapting to a changing world.” http://bit.ly/2Fjq4mv
Tech billionaire, ordered to reopen public beach, appeals to supremecourt. Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla “has been battling California regulators and environmental advocates for years over access to” a beach “that can only be reached by a private road across Khosla’s property.” Lawyers in the case say that a “ruling against” Khosla “will throw private property rights in California into disarray.” What about wider repercussions? The Guardian. http://bit.ly/2tcBbsA
No foul, but some harm, says UA basketball coach Sean Miller. In Thursday’s announcement, Sean Miller said that “he will remain the head coach of the Arizona Wildcats, and strongly denied the ESPN report that alleged wiretaps have him discussing a $100,000 payment… to secure the signing of Deandre Ayton.” Desert Swarm has the coach’s complete statement. (Also available with a click: “ESPN stands by its original story on Miller,” in DEADSPIN. And “Sean Miller returns to lead Arizona Wildcats with backing of UA, Regents” from Arizona Daily Star.) http://bit.ly/2F90LA2
What can you record in your own home? Arizona porn laws explained. Yesterday’s Dealmaker had an AZCentral piece on why the “sellers of a $2.2M Paradise Valley house don’t have to disclose home’s porn past.” Today, AZCentral looks a little closer at Arizona law, which “seems to ban every aspect of filming porn… Except it doesn’t.” http://bit.ly/2oEe71b
Tucsonan Bauserman ousted from Trump administration for ‘birther,’ anti-Muslim posts. “A series of conspiracy posts, along with reported anti-Muslim and anti-LGBT comments, have cost a Tucson political activist her job in the Trump administration. Christine Bauserman resigned from the Interior Department on Wednesday, with officials saying her posts were ‘inappropriate and unacceptable.’ ” TucsonSentinel.com. http://bit.ly/2GYdMx0
Democrats push against the silence on gun controls in Arizona. “Arizona’s Democratic legislators have pleaded with their Republican colleagues to do something, anything, to make sure such a mass shooting never happens again. Those pleas, in the form of daily speeches on the Senate floor, have mostly been met with silence” — “mostly,” because there have been some Republican responses, such as “it’s not guns that are to blame, it’s ‘the darkness of a human soul.’ ” Arizona Capitol Times. http://bit.ly/2tb9Ozc
Senate passes redistricting overhaul. In what Democrats say was “politically motivated” Republicans state senators on Wednesday “approved a resolution… that would overhaul the membership of the state body responsible for redrawing Arizona’s legislative and congressional district boundaries.” But it will be up to voters to “approve the plan.” Arizona Capitol Times. http://bit.ly/2oFmwBi
[IN-DEPTH] Havasupai children write letters to Trump, asking for end to canyon mining.“Tribal members fear their future will be in jeopardy if Energy Fuels Inc. gets its way. The company owns a uranium mine that sits a few miles off the South Rim entrance to Grand Canyon National Park… The [letter-writing] campaign is ‘an adolescent plea with the president to not gamble with their future,’ one tribal member said.” Cronkite News. http://bit.ly/2oFmKs8
Arizona water managers disagree on how to prevent a shortage on the Colorado River.Allow water users to skip delivery? Stick with existing programs? “Arizona officials are calling for new conservation measures on the Colorado River that would protect water levels in Lake Mead from the effects of a relentless drought across the Southwest. But the push to use less water has revealed differences in the way water managers view conservation.” AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2taT2QG
‘U.S. News & World Report’ ranks Iowa as “Best State,” Lousiana as worst. What about Arizona? The rankings “draw on thousands of data points,” including “health care and education,” “a state’s economy, the opportunity andquality of life it offers people,” “infrastructure,” “public safety and the fiscal stability of state government.” http://bit.ly/2F5C3F4
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