Sal DiCiccio is a masterful politician. In the time he has been in office, he has managed to convince many middle class workers and retirees that other middle class workers and retirees are the reason our city’s economy has tanked, our budget has been squeezed, and our groceries are now taxed. It’s genius, really. When …
Read MoreThe continuation of the food tax is the least of Phoenix’s worries. The Great Recession along with Arizona’s housing bust ensured we’d feel the pain of an economy dependent on growth for many, many years. Though the Mayor is getting a lot of flack for a broken campaign promise, the reality is we were misled …
Read MorePhoenix residents are ticked off and for good reason. $78,000 ain’t chump change, especially in this economy. But the city manager’s pay raise is about more than just money. It’s about priorities. After all, city employees are still taking pay cuts and furlough days. City residents are still paying for an emergency food tax. And …
Read MoreIf you’re old enough, you may remember this infamous Willie Horton ad from the 1988 presidential election between George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis. Many people credited this ad for helping Bush turn the conversation in the campaign and win the presidency. And as attack ads go, this one was definitely one of the best. …
Read MoreShe was walking home from a friend’s house that night with another teenager, a boy who lived in her neighborhood. She was 14; he was 16. The two were acquaintances and had been at the friend’s house with several other teens. No doubt, this girl assumed she was safe. But without warning and in the …
Read MoreThe world stands with bated breath, anxiously awaiting the results of Sheriff Arpaio’s investigation into the authenticity of President Obama’s birth certificate. Or at least that’s what Mr. Arpaio would like to believe. For the vast majority of Americans, this issue was put to rest a long time ago, but for the tea party extremists, …
Read MoreIn today’s Arizona Republic, columnist E.J. Montini admits he politicized the death of Glendale Police Officer Bradley Jones. Why? To call out all the politicians who characterize police officers and firefighters as heroes when they die in the line of duty and leaches when debating wages and benefits. This past spring I wrote an article …
Read MoreRobert Robb, an AZ Republic editorial writer, recently wrote an op-ed piece in favor of ending the privatization of city transportation services. That’s not exactly a shocking premise except when one considers the source, Robert Robb, a strict conservative who extols the role of smaller government. More astounding still was the fact that Mr. Robb …
Read MoreAccording to Arizona’s former U.S. Democratic Senator Dennis DeConcini, private prisons like Corrections Corp of America are the gold standard in inmate care. His words, in a recent editorial for the Arizona Republic, paint a rosy picture of private prisons, describing CCA as offering a cost-effective means to provide “humane treatment” without sacrificing “safety, quality …
Read MorePay raises during a recession. Union bosses in control. What’s going on at City Hall? According to Phoenix mayoral candidates Peggy Neely, Wes Gullett and Jennifer Wright, the unions are in control, and our city is under siege. Our cops are overpaid and underworked. We have fat to trim, but we can’t because the council …
Read MoreMy last blog post, “Heroes or Leeches,” stirred up a lot of emotion and lively responses from many individuals. I posted several comments, but there was one comment I did not post until today because I felt I must address the inaccuracies of the remarks first. I’m referring to the response by Wesley Harris, a …
Read MoreOver the last year, I’ve listened as certain council members and other Phoenix residents have claimed wages for our public safety workers are too high. I’ve read the letters to the editor lambasting pension benefits as well as the op-ed pieces claiming payroll is outrageously excessive. I find it all less than amusing and highly …
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