A Slew of News From ZeroHedge

Treasury Increases Auction Sizes To Fund Soaring Deficit; Launches 2-Month Bill

While traditionally a snoozer, this morning's Treasury's refunding announcement was closely watched for details on how the US Treasury's plans to fund its soaring budget deficit in the coming quarters. And, as expected, there was one big surprise

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What Lies Beyond Capitalism And Socialism?

The status quo, in all its various forms, is dominated by incentives that strengthen the centralization of wealth and power...      

May 2, 2018 11:45 A

 

 

 

 

 

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Apple Just Turned A Net Seller Of Securities: Here Are The Profound Implications

Apple turned net sellers (purchases-sales-maturities) of marketable securities for the first time in at least three years. This has profound implications for the market.
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Moving Average Bounces Getting Weaker And Weaker: Mish Warns "Major Carnage Coming"

"Bounces off the 200-day exponential moving average lines keep getting weaker for all the major indexes... I expect all the gains back to 2007 to be wiped out. "
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Treasury Increases Auction Sizes To Fund Soaring Deficit; Launches 2-Month Bill

While traditionally a snoozer, this morning's Treasury's refunding announcement was closely watched for details on how the US Treasury's plans to fund its soaring budget deficit in the coming quarters. And, as expected, there was one big surprise
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MORE????? Go > https://www.zerohedge.com/

Kent Lyons, Sporting A New Bearded-Image Presents Mesa Downtown Portfolio Development Plans

He was sitting on-the-edge of his seat early this morning before the monthly meeting of the entire City of Mesa's Economic Development Advisory Board that started promptly at 07:30 am.
Your MesaZona blogger was one of perhaps three members of the public to attend these informative sessions.
If body language and posture can tell you anything, there are no further comments that need to be made other than to say that those members of the advisory board who did make comments were without exception enthusiastic for plans by three groups of investors who have now acquired nine commercial properties on Main Street for real estate speculation after 'cornering-the-market' in transactions last year that went mostly undisclosed.

Here's an image of a slide from today's early morning EDAB Power Point presentation showing the property acquisitions made by the willing sellers who have cashed-out after years of owning under-used and under-developed and sometimes long-vacant buildings > Will it be "Buy-and-Hold" or "Re-Hab" ???? 
The one exception other than purchase from private owners, was a deal involving a zoning change, a Memorandum of Understanding, and a development agreement with city officials for LUXURY LIVING atop a city-owned parking lot marked Found:Re instead of The Drew Street Parking Lot. 

Make that Found:Re #2, the space marked at lower-right center, where Mesa Mega-Millionaire resident and AZ Senator Bob Worsley [LD25] have teamed up with W Tim Sprague's Habitat Metro, to duplicate the Phoenix success in Portlandia by Hance Park of 'a boutique hotel' in an already existing building to do a makeover that took ten years to get done. 
That's just a reality-check, folks no matter how fast a track

City officials tried to spin on this unsolicited developer proposal that's way out-of-balance in the historic district . . . and at 15 stories it's way out-of-proportion to the existing cityscape where Kent Lyons said that the $100-Million for the Mesa Arts Center was 'just a down payment' for these three groups of investors who want to keep 'the historic vibe' and what's unique and eclectic 'to find the beauty-behind-the-stucco' . . . Go stick that somewhere!
The groups of investors who aren't just Buy-and-Hold or Wait-To-See are, according to what Kent Lyons said, looking at a faster timeline here for action on quick-returns @ 29 W Main Street, the first building acquired by Worsley that was a former bank building standing vacant for 17 years. (The owner of that property was no doubt very motivated to sell at any price offered and put on-the-table!)
Hmm. Mebbe sometime before Christmas, or just after the New Year to hedge your bets.
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What  does all this taking on risk and gambling millions here hinge on???
Clue: it's a subject that's been addressed already many times on this blog site before - a scheme by 'early-shakers' that GOT REJECTED by voters and taxpayers in the last General Election in 2016 - You all know what your MesaZona blogger has been talking about. . . However, to find out more about what Kent Lyons said, you'll have to wait until the Approved Minutes of today's EDAB Meeting are made available to the public.  
 

Game On! This Year's Campaign Race for Elections To The Mesa City Council

This just might be a thrilling and exciting time for voters here in the fastest-growing city in America to exercise YOUR RIGHT-TO-VOTE to get the government you want, or at least determine the outcomes on who gains - or retains - elected office in City Hall to occupy 4 out of 7 seats.    
If it is a break-through year for more diverse, inclusive, open, transparent and accountable government that's up to YOU.

No doubt about it > Here in Mesa we have a problem: very few citizens are actively interested or engaged in a representative democracy.
Some don't even care who's there in the line-up of new candidates who will join the old incumbents that aren't in the running this time around - Mark Freeman and Jeremy Whittaker seen at the far left.
The guy at the center, Mayor John Giles, is not up for election with two more years to go.
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Blogger Note:
District 4 Councilmember Chris Glover, the youngest person ever to get elected to a seat on the Mesa City Council at the tender age of 23 four years ago, perhaps 'jumped-the-gun' at the starting line too early on last year, came out last year with an endorsement for Jake Brown, his second-cousin.
It's a good example of the old-time political machine that's exercised monopoly control over government here for generations.
Do we really want any more of that NOW?
The moribund neglected downtown district Glover has represented for the last four years has not marked much progress or reached new milestones on his four-way watch in public office, even three years after the extension of Valley Metro Light Rail service through the Central Business District, while millions of dollars have been invested outside The Old Donut-Hole for economic development in Districts 2, 4, 5 and 6 for the expansion of boombergs into what was sub-urbia that emptied the heart out of the central city core. 
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OFFICIAL LINK:
http://www.mesaaz.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/election-information/primary-election
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Primary Election - August 28, 2018
On April 2, 2018, the Mesa City Council adopted Resolution 11103 calling a Primary Election for August 28, 2018. This resolution outlines the purpose of the elections, designates the deadline for voter registration and establishes the times that polls will be open.

> The Primary election ballot will include candidates for Councilmember in Districts 3, 4, 5, and 6.

> The successful candidate for District 3 will take office following Council’s adoption of the canvass of election.
> The successful candidates for Districts 4, 5, and 6 will take office on or after the first Monday in January 2019.
> Any Mesa resident that is seeking to become a candidate at the 2018 Primary Election and to have his/her name printed on the official ballot must file with the City Clerk's Office, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days before the Primary Election, (April 30, 2018 through May 30, 2018), a nomination paper, qualified nomination petitions and a financial disclosure statement covering the previous 12-month period. 
> Candidate packets containing the necessary paperwork are available at the City Clerk's Office, 20 E. Main Street, Suite 150. 
> In accordance with the City Charter, if a candidate for District Councilmember receives at the Primary Election the number of votes constituting a majority of all the valid ballots cast for the office of Councilmember in that District, that candidate will be declared elected without running at the General Election.

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Key Primary Election Dates First day to request an early ballot 05/27/2018 Voter registration cutoff 07/30/2018 Early voting begins 08/01/2018 Last day to request an early ballot by mail 08/17/2018 Early voting in person ends 08/24/2018 ELECTION DAY 08/28/2018

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Candidates (information coming soon)
Early Voting Locations and Hours (information coming soon)
Sample Ballot Notice (information coming soon)
Sample Ballots are available online at www.maricopa.vote
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FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ON THIS UPCOMING PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION, there's probably none better than BallotPedia

Next city council election‎: ‎August 28, 2018

Next mayoral election‎: ‎2020

Municipal elections in Mesa, Arizona (2018) - Ballotpedia

https://ballotpedia.org/Municipal_elections_in_Mesa,_Arizona_(2018)

The city of Mesa, Arizona, will hold general elections for city council on November 6, 2018. The primary is on August 28, 2018. The deadline for candidates to file to run in this election is May 30, 2018.

Elections

• Candidates
• Campaign finance
• Additional elections on the ballot

Note: Ballotpedia staff will add the candidate list for this election after it is published by a local or state election office.

 

New Break-Through In The Rise of Mesa's Innovation District: They're Back!

Ever since the box-office big screen success of "Jurassic Park" that seems like eons of time ago, it turns out that those oversized predators who ruled The Planet ages ago are more than a short-lived phenomenon after extinction. Here in The Old Donut-Hole today re-inventing itself as an "Innovation District" there's  at least one gigantic creature busting through the walls of one local landmark that's morphed from the site of the original City Hall on Macdonald Street into the Arizona Museum of Natural History.
Some real bones and skeletons of these prehistoric creatures are on display inside the halls - but this man-made replica busting through the walls on Pepper Place will get unveiled today.
Distinguished guests include the mayor and city manager.
(Image was captured yesterday before the fabricated creature got a cover)   
Today is the Day! Our #FreetheDinosaur celebration is today outside the museum at 11 A.M! You are invited! http://fal.cn/4nPc 

Join us 11 AM, May 1st for the unveiling of Acrocanthosaurus, a 38-foot long hunter who lived 110 million years ago!

She appears to be breaking out of the museum! @MayorGiles @MesaCityManager @MesaDistrict4 & our Dir. Tom Wilson will speak at the #FreeEvent ! #Mesa #Arizona #dinopic.twitter.com/MpvSkrML7V

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RELATED CONTENT:

Mesa’s Natural History Museum Plans To Replicate "A Dino Break-Out"

by BJ Alderman, Tribune Contributor Jun 27, 2017

"Many a prisoner held in the Mesa Territorial Jail, now on display at the Arizona Natural History Museum, spent long hours imagining how they could break through the strap iron barriers that confined them.

Mesa citizens need to prepare themselves for a different kind of break from the museum: an escaping dinosaur crashing through the brick wall at Pepper Place and McDonald.

A life-sized Acrocanthosaurus would have measured 38 feet from snout to tail tip and weighed over 6 tons. . .

Staff at the museum  “determined the probable coloration” of the dinosaur, said director Tom Wilson, “based on factors such as sexual attraction and predator/prey relationship.”

Acrocanthosaurus translates into “high-spined lizard” and the model was based on the museum’s replica of an actual one in its collection.

The museum last month sent a request for proposals all over the world to identify the artist to create this exciting addition to downtown Mesa. . . the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) will meet in Phoenix in the summer of 2018, with the kickoff taking place in Mesa.

“We are expecting 5,000 attendees from all over the country and from around the world,” he said, adding that with luck, the museum’s celebration of the great dino breakout will be enjoyed by AAM visitors if everything goes according to plan. . . "

Link > http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/get_out/mesa-s-natural-history-museum-plans-to-replicate-a-dino/article_784262ca-5aa2-11e7-bade-2fa30e95f6aa.html

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H2O | The Seasonal Drought Outlook

. . . drought intensification and expansion was noted in southwestern Texas, broad areas across the middle of the Four Corners States into adjacent Nevada and California . . .
Source: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/sdo_summary.php 

(Click on image to enlarge)

PDF Version of Seasonal Drought Outlook Graphic

Latest Seasonal Assessment - Drought coverage decreased slightly during the past four weeks, but within the drought areas, there were noteworthy changes in intensity. There was fairly broad expansion of D4 (exceptional intensity . . .   Climate Prediction Center: Seasonal Drought Outlook www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov › Expert Assessments › Drought Information United States Seasonal Drought Outlook Graphic - click on image to enlarge. (Click on ... Latest Seasonal Assessment - Drought coverage decreased slightly during the past four weeks, but within the drought areas, there were noteworthy changes in intensity. ... Next Seasonal Outlook issued: May 17, 2018 at 8:30 AM EDT.   [PDF]US Seasonal Drought Outlook - Climate Prediction Center - NOAA www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/seasonal_drought.pdf http://go.usa.gov/3eZ73. Author: Rich Tinker. NOAA/NWS/NCEP/Climate Prediction Center. Drought Tendency During the Valid Period. Valid for April 19 - July 31, 2018. Released April 19, 2018. Depicts large-scale trends based on subjectively derived probabilities guided by short- and long-range statistical and dynamical ...   Climate Prediction Center: Seasonal Drought Outlook Discussion www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov › Expert Assessments › Drought Information Tools used in the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook (SDO) included the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) temperature and precipitation outlooks for May through July 2018 (MJJ), various short- and medium-range forecasts and models such as the 7-day quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) totals from the Weather ...

Here In Mesa: Turner Ranches Water and Sanitation Company To Be Acquired by Global Water Resources Inc

More acquisitions coming, according to this media release. . . Given the Arizona Corporation Commission’s desire for consolidation of the highly-fragmented water utility industry in Arizona and their new policy guidelines that support and incent such consolidation, the stage is well set for additional acquisitions

Global Water Resources to Acquire Turner Ranches Water and Sanitation Company

Blogger Note: Disclaimer
Global Water Resources Inc. published this content on 26 April 2018 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 26 April 2018 14:43:03 UTC

April 26, 2018 8:33 AM  Global Water Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: GWRS) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Turner Ranches Water and Sanitation Company, a non-potable irrigation water utility in Mesa, Arizona.

The acquisition will add 960 residential irrigation customers and approximately seven square miles of service area, including services to three golf courses. It is also anticipated to add nearly $1 million in revenue. Global Water expects to close the acquisition in the second quarter of 2018.
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GLOBAL WATER RES RG (GWRS)

Intraday

3 Month

6 Month

1 Year

Last: $9.29 Change: +0.01 % Change: +0.11% Volume: 2K Open: $9.24 Previous Close: $9.28 Low: $9.21 High: $9.34 Market Cap: 182.37M Shares Outs.: 19.63M EPS: $0.23 P/E Ratio: 40.39 Dividend: 0.28 Yield: N/A 52 Week Low: $8.40 52 Week High: $10.00 Quote delayed at least 20 mins.

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“This accretive acquisition will expand our footprint in Maricopa County, the fastest growing county in the Nation according to U.S. Census Bureau,” said Ron Fleming, CEO of Global Water. “Turner Ranches will be the second purchase, post-recession, in our declared strategy of again pursuing water utility acquisitions. We believe our focus on consolidating, improving and automating water utility assets will greatly benefit the customers of Turner Ranches, and we look forward to serving these new communities.”
Ronny and Judy Lopez have been a part of Turner Ranches since 1978 and became sole owners in 2012. “We’ve enjoyed working with the Global Water team in completing this transaction,” commented the Lopezes. “We believe they will continue to provide quality customer service, along with strong technical, financial, and managerial expertise for the benefit of the community.”
Turner Ranches has several CAPEX projects that are currently ongoing to upgrade its infrastructure, which Global Water will complete. Turner Ranches recently completed a rate case, setting new rates for the utility effective September 19, 2016.
“Given the Arizona Corporation Commission’s desire for consolidation of the highly-fragmented water utility industry in Arizona and their new policy guidelines that support and incent such consolidation, the stage is well set for additional acquisitions,” added Fleming.
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Blogger Note: TURNER RANCHES WATER AND SANITATION COMPANY v. ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION

Court of Appeals of Arizona,Division 1, Department C.

TURNER RANCHES WATER AND SANITATION COMPANY, Appellant, v. The ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION, an Agency of the State of Arizona, Appellee.

No. 1 CA-CC 98-0002.

Decided: September 21, 1999

 

Source: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/az-court-of-appeals/1039504.html
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About Global Water Resources
Source: https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/global-water-resources-to-acquire-turner-ranches-water-and-sanitation-company-20180426-01067
Global Water Resources, Inc. is a leading water resource management company that owns and operates nine utility companies which provide water, wastewater, and recycled water services. The company's service areas are located primarily in growth corridors around metropolitan Phoenix. Global Water recycles nearly 1 billion gallons of water annually. To learn more, visit www.gwresources.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain forward-looking statements which reflect the Company's expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve a number of assumptions, risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning, future net income growth, our strategy, acquisition plans, our dividend policy, trends relating to population growth, active connections, regulated revenue, housing permit projections, and other statements that are not historical facts as well as statements identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", or the negative of these terms, or other words of similar meaning. These statements are based on our current beliefs or expectations and are inherently subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in political, economic, business, market, regulatory, and other factors. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which reflect management's views as of the date hereof. Factors that may affect future results are disclosed under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which are available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
This includes, but is not limited to, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 which was filed with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Company Contact:

Michael J. Liebman
SVP and CFO
Tel (480) 999-5104
mike.liebman@gwresources.com

 

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RELATED:

Central Arizona Project Water Allocation: Environmental Impact Statement

https://books.google.com/books?id=FB0zAQAAMAAJ

1982

The Turner Ranches Water and Sanitation Company is a private corporation owned and operated by Toups Corporation and a franchised water utility. The Turner Ranches service area is an agricultural area that also includes the Leisure World development. Turner Ranches is a bonafide applicant for CAP water. Residents ...

WIFA awards $1.4 million loan to Alpine DWID for purchase of Turner ...

www.wmicentral.com/.../article_45fb97d9-9009-5a0d-b577-143eb37d5c96.html

Jun 29, 2009 - The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona awarded a $1.4 million loan to Alpine Domestic Water Improvement District for the purchase of Turner Ranches Water and Sanitation Company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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HARD-TO-SWALLOW: Mayor John Giles Eats His Own Words

In just another "JIVIN' WITH GILES" episode - this one not here in his hometown he once said was just like the amusing comedy Television Fiction Mayberry RFD - we are so blessed too see and read about the mayor in a report today when just last year he over-stated publicly that ...except for aircraft carriers we get everything from cities.
DUH.
What's he really trying to talk about? ...
Mebbe more highways for land holdings to create wealth and more fortunes in real estate here in The New Zion they call Phx/The East Valley . . .  it's growing fast ya know
(Image note: the black-eye was never explained in public)
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Fixing Infrastructure When the Feds Won't Help

Local transportation and utility projects could sure use federal assistance. But these mayors are going it alone.

by John Surico 10:12 AM ET 26 April 2018 in City Lab

"When the Trump administration released its long-awaited infrastructure plan in February, one of the loudest voices of dissent came from mayors. That was no surprise: The legislation called upon cities to prove that they can cough up 80 percent of the costs for federally funded infrastructure projects, before the feds picked up the remaining 20 percent. In effect, only $200 billion of the $1.5 trillion total would actually come from Washington, and only after a round of cuts to existing infrastructure programs. With so little support from Uncle Sam, it seemed barely defensible as a federal “plan.” . . .

In New York, Virginia, and New Jersey, public-private partnerships have brought in banks and private firms to help pay for bridge and road repairs.

Mid-sized cities are playing ball, too.

Their solutions to national issues was the topic of a policy forum last week at New York University that brought together four mayors from mid-size cities across the U.S.: Peter Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana; Nan Whaley of Dayton, Ohio; John Giles of Mesa, Arizona; and Toni Harp of New Haven, Connecticut. Their cities represent a mix of economic challenges and political proclivities (Giles is a Republican; the rest are Democrats), but they all share at least one thing: a growing list of infrastructure needs, which have become a ballooning financial burden for cities in recent years.

TALKIN ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT? Nah...Giles is just catching up with reality after standing on the sidelines for way too many years being a cheerleader.

....and Hypocrisy of Hypocrisy,  where he butts up a cohort of close friends who oppose innovative and affordable housing any way they can, he has the balls to make this statement: ". . . Now we have a pretty good foothold, so every mile or so along the light rail corridor, we have affordable housing projects.”

That was accomplished despite Giles and his 'friends-and-family' and undisclosed business associations and political hacks and cronies in/out of state government

READ MORE if U want to in the underlinked link above

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About the Author

John Surico is a freelance journalist and researcher who covers New York City transit for VICE and frequently contributes to the New York Times. He is based in Queens, NY