Phil Gordon, crime stats and The Wire

Sorry this post is kind of inside baseball (and I mean inside my own head). I read this article in today's Arizona Republic about dropping crime rates and the strategies used to accomplish them.

Do any of you watch The Wire on HBO? I cannot help but see the parallels between our mayor and the fictional one in Baltimore. A big story line in the Wire is about "juking" the crime stats, the mayor that wants to be governor and chasing down a serial killer (a fictional one on The Wire, no actually fictional on the show). They even look alike:

If you are not already watching the show, it is too late the last episode is next week. I am so sad...

City of Phoenix facing big cuts... (Good Job Phil)

Good job Phil... We just passed a tax increase to pay for more police and fire, but we are facing huge cuts in city services and staff. Here is the article. I cannot help but think that this is pure incompetence. The simple fact is that a growing city like Phoenix should never have staff cuts. The worst case scenario for a well run and growing city should be a hiring freeze. The reason for this is the need to keep a balanced ratio of residents to city employees (for trash pickup, road maintenance, police, fire, graffiti control etc). People will continue to move to Phoenix at the same rate, but now not only will the city not add new employees thus falling behind the demand for basic services, but they will compound the problem by eliminating positions.

I have spent a lot of time around municipal finances in Arizona and there is almost never a reason for these sorts of cut backs except mismanagement. The only cities that are really in danger are those that are built out (like Tempe or have structure funding problems like Mesa), but Tempe is not having the problem because of good planning by making sure revenue streams were built up while their state shared revenue declined. At one point, Tempe (I have not checked lately) held huge reserves collected during good times to get them through these types of downturns. What is your excuse Phoenix?

Phoenix’s state shared revenue will continue to grow. Leaders in Phoenix (or voters) have not made dumb structural decisions like Mesa (like not a having a property tax). One culprit that immediately comes to my mind are the huge give backs given to retailers (or this one) to get them to locate in the city. Here is the problem: Wal-Mart will move here regardless, stop giving them tax money.

This whole thing is frustrating and unacceptable. Note to the Mayor: Please run for John Shadegg's seat (as a Republican).

Here is more information on state shared revenue:
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/briefs/Senate/STATE%20SHARED%20REVENUES.pdf
http://www.azleague.org/pdf/07shared_revenue.pdf

The Mayor Might Want to Run for Higher Office, Duh...

The fact that the Arizona Republic can write this article as though it were news is funny. Yes, we know the Mayor has higher aspirations... Good reporting guys, way to dig the big news.

Judicial Watch Goes After the Mayor (Judicial Watch is High)

I do not know how many of you remember Judicial Watch, but they are the guys that did their best to bring down Bill Clinton over every unfounded half truth they could dig up. Now they are going after the Mayor (Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon) with a similar frivolous lawsuit.

Let me get this straight, the Mayor figured out a way to fix a problem without legislation. He did it by striking a compromise between two groups and now he is being sued for it? This is precisely the sort of thing a city mayor should do. Isn't it ironic that they filed their complaint with Sheriff Joe...

I happen to be very familiar with the area that they are complaining about, I was there yesterday to buy paint. I have been there many times over the past few years (it is the busiest Home Depot in Phoenix). Two years ago there were 40 to 50 day laborers near Thomas Road looking for work, now there are almost none. I drove by there this morning for good measure and I did not see a single day laborer.

I won't even get into the issue of whether they should be there, but it certainly seems that the lawsuit is off base. If the anti-immigration people were a little more based in the real world, they would realize that day laborers are in demand and they will not go away just because they want them to. The best solution is to provide a day labor center, but either way they are not at the Home Depot on Thomas anymore...

Can't We Come Up With a Better Process?

Here is an article from the Arizona Republic about Maupin's attempt to get on the ballot. It seems to me that legislation needs to be enacted to create a more transparent process for this. Being to late to change the ballot should not be a valid reason in my mind. If Maupin did collect enough signatures, he should be on the ballot, period. There should be an expedited process for these sorts of things in the interest of fairness.

Perhaps the state could certify circulators, so campaigns could know who is qualified. It just seems like there has to be a better system.

Mayor Phil "Lieberman" Gordon Dodges Bullet

The Arizona Republic has this article about Jarrett Maupin being kept off the ballot for insufficient signatures. I don't think Maupin has a realistic chance to defeat the Mayor, but he could cause embarrassment. There are a lot of Democrats who would vote for anyone but the mayor. The Mayor and his people want to rack up a huge victory in the Phoenix as a stepping stone to the governor's office. So, essentially Maupin is more a political problem than a threat.

Having said that, let me say to anyone that has a problem with the Mayor's people playing hardball with the signatures, tough and welcome to politics. As the saying goes, "Politics ain't beanbag."

No one would have a problem disqualifying a stupid ballot initiative or a Republican candidate in this manner. This is about having an organization that can collect enough signatures to keep it free of challenge. I have run signature collecting operations for various races and it is a lot of work to check every signature collector and signature, but it is what you do. I do not have sympathy for people that cannot follow the rules.

The simple fact is the Mayor has good campaign people. We need more like them in the Democratic Party, even if I don't like him as a candidate.

Phil Gordon: Most Annoying Campaign Site Ever

I am making a point of checking out candidate sites. Today I decided to take a look at Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon's campaign site and I have to say (and I swear I am not biased because I think he is a sellout), it is the one of worst sites I have seen. It is difficult to use and confusing.

I see where they were trying to go. There are a lot of cool features like signing up for txt messages from the campaign. The problem is ill-conceived flash overkill. There are too many bells and whistles and not enough information.

I could not find a single page on what he intends to do in his second term. What a big crappy mess...

Checkout the mess http://www.philgordon.org/

Phil Gordon: Arizona's Joe Lieberman

I have written about his before, but what is Phil Gordon thinking? This is the latest article outlining his questionable behavior. I think this quote sums up what is wrong with Phil:

"Mayor Gordon is an opportunist," said Dan O'Neil, state coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America. "He should change his ways, or join the other party."

Sadly, I think Phil just wants to be elected and will do anything to make sure it happens. Well, Joe, ah I mean Phil, there will be hard times when you run for Governor... Just remember that we told you so.