Ex-Mesa City Council Member Dave Richins Got A New Gig + A New Mission

He was in The Community Spotlight segment at this month's version of Mesa Morning Live - starting off complaining about the uncomfortable chairs, first adjusting his pants and then showing off his socks.
(Yep, this is supposed to be hilarious and entertaining)
Seriously though, Dave is doing really good things @ United Food Bank to provide real time solutions to Hunger here in Mesa. He's even managed to update the refrigeration capacity and get the place air-conditioned so it's not like being in "a slow-cooker" for the volunteers. He's also managed to partner-up with a prepared-foods charity organization for distribution to feed the hungry.
Please take a look and a listen in this brief give-and-take with Mayor John Giles who likes to grab the spotlight any time he can get it

 

The scandalous painting that helped create modern art

A moral and intellectual lesson or shock, horror and outrage? In 1863 it was all that

Published on Aug 29, 2019

Views: 43,000++

Western art followed the same rules for centuries. Until Olympia.
Become a Video Lab member! http://bit.ly/video-lab
For centuries, the art world was controlled by the Academy of Fine Arts in Paris. They dictated how art should look and had the power to make or break an artist’s career. Getting into their yearly exhibition, the Paris Salon, was like an express pass to success. But in the late 1800s, artists started to push back against the Academy’s rules, which changed the landscape of the art world forever.
To learn more about Manet’s Olympia, listen to the ArtCurious Podcast’s episode about the painting: http://www.artcuriouspodcast.com/artc...
Or read Charles Bernheimer’s “Manet's Olympia: The Figuration of Scandal”: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1773024
And if you want to learn more about Manet, the Impressionists, or just brush up on your art historical terms, check out The Oxford Companion to Western Art: https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/...
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.

U.S. 2Q GDP Grew at 2% Pace, Revised Down From 2.1%

Just the data please

Published on Aug 29, 2019

Views: 102 at time of upload to this blog

Aug.29 -- NYU Stern Professor of Economics and 2018 Nobel Laureate in Economics Paul Romer and Liz Young, director of market strategy at BNY Mellon Investment Management, examine revised second-quarter U.S. economic growth. They speak on "Bloomberg Daybreak: Americas."

Phoenix Tops Las Vegas For Gambling/Speculation In Real Estate & Housing Markets

That's the news late yesterday from Robert Shiller - great name, huh? - in the Case-Shiller June Report.
Boom-and-Bust here we go again!
Turns out that the Phoenix market is somehow inflating almost 2x greater than what is "normal".
It's very normal for rampant real estate speculation here in The East Valley.

"Latest data revealed that house price inflation is continuing to moderate . The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller house price index for 20 metro areas rose 2.1% from a year ago in June , marking the smallest rise since August 2012, after a 2.4% rise in May. This along with lower borrowing costs could provide some support to the housing market. . . "

Robert Shiller, Nobel Laureate Economist And Co-Creator Of Case-Shiller Index, Speaks About Slowing Phoenix Home Price Appreciation

By Heather van Blokland

Published: Wednesday, August 28, 2019 - 4:29pm

Updated: Wednesday, August 28, 2019 - 10:21pm

Source: https://kjzz.org/content

"Phoenix is now the top city in the country for increases in annual home prices, replacing Las Vegas.

That’s according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index update released Tuesday. Co-creator Robert J. Shiller talked about the slow rate of home price appreciation and why Phoenix is not slowing down — yet.

Across the U.S., home prices are still increasing but at a slower rate than a year ago. The just-released Case-Shiller June report shows prices rising at a rate of 2.1% compared with 6.3% a year ago. Nobel Prize winning economist Shiller talks about it. . ."

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RELATED CONTENT From Zillow:

Source: https://www.zillow.com/research/june-2019-case-shiller-25284/

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Some excerpts from KJZZ:

HEATHER VAN BLOKLAND: For Phoenix, if Phoenix tops Las Vegas now for home price gains, that means while most of the country is slowing in sales and Phoenix is not. So, what does that mean economically? Does it mean homes here are more desirable or worth more? Or there’s just not enough homes for sale to meet the demand from, say, inbound migration?

SHILLER: Well, we have been in boom years in the housing market, increasingly since 2012. Part of the reason for the boom is a sluggish supply response, when home prices go up, builders have an incentive to build more, they can make more money seller a higher priced home. In some cities, they’re boxed in. I don’t think of Phoenix as boxed in. The big part of it is speculative. It’s people hearing about prices going up and bidding prices up so that they’re kind of too high and then the enthusiasm starts to wane and then they come down. It’s not necessarily a disaster but they come down somewhat.

VAN BLOKLAND: Then, let’s go back to Phoenix for a second which is at the top of the list for home price gains. Talk to me about the average consumer or buyer who is listening to that report. Is that good news or bad news to be at the top of this list at a time that’s rumored, at least rumored to be a pre-recessionary period? In other words, if I’m the average household, do I want to be the city with huge gains or would I prefer to be in a “steady as she goes” city right now?”

. . .

VAN BLOKLAND: From a pricing point of view and a value point of view, what’s next for Phoenix and other growing metro markets?

SHILLER: Well, I think one thing that I would add that I haven’t said is that housing over the long run has not made as good of an investment as the stock market. The housing market, I did data from 1890 to 1990. That’s 100 years. And the housing market over the whole United States was increasing something like less than 1% in real inflation corrected terms and the stock market did spectacularly better than that. So, why is that? Well, housing is something like automobiles. It wears out. Often they get torn down eventually. They’re out of style. They have defects. They don’t last forever. So, why would one think that housing is such a good investment compared to companies that are trying to advance their investors’ interests? . . .

Download mp3 (18.46 MB)

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RELATED CONTENT:

ETFs to Buy as Americans' Confidence Nears 19-Year High

Go here to see more > Nasdaq

Department of Defense Contracts Valued at $7 Million or Above

AIR FORCE

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $500,000,000, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity single award contract for Qatar Emiri Air Force (QAEF) F-15QA aircrew and maintenance training.  This contract will provide F-15QA aircrew and maintenance training to support the QEAF.  Work will be performed at St. Louis, Missouri, and moving to Qatar in 2021 and is expected to be completed August 2026.  This is a sole-source requirement as the Boeing Co. has been country-designated as the sole-source provider for the F-15QA program, including F-15QA specific training, under the QEAF Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case QA-D-TAH.  FMS funds in the amount of $262,147,569 are being obligated at the time of award.  The Air Force Installation Contracting Agency/338th Specialized Contracting Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA3002-19-D-A007).

Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana, has been awarded a $47,959,610 delivery order (FA8504-19-F-0018) to previously awarded contract FA8504-17-D-0002 for C-130J propulsion long-term sustainment.  This order provides funding for Option II.  The total cumulative face value of the contract is $47,959,610.  Work will be performed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and other various locations supporting C-130J propulsion long-term sustainment and is expected to be completed when the last engines are delivered.  Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $47,959,610 are being obligated at the time of award.  The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity.

ARMY
The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $33,581,477 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for non-recurring engineering design activities for integrating the Improved Turbine Engine into the AH-64E Apache helicopter.  Bids were solicited via the internet with one received.  Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2022.  
Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $10,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award.  U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-19-C-0054).

NAVY

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $349,014,465 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for Phase 2 of the Maritime Strike Tomahawk Rapid Deployment Capability for completion of the Phase 1 design and integration efforts as well as test and evaluation.  Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (69.3%); Dallas, Texas (6.6%); Boulder, Colorado (5.8%); Walled Lake, Michigan (3.9%); Englewood, Colorado (2.7%); Bristol, Pennsylvania (2.5%); North Logan, Utah (1.9%); Suwanee, Georgia (0.6%); and various locations within the U.S. (6.7%), and is expected to be completed in February 2023.  Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $44,577,180 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0079).

FLIR Surveillance Inc., Wilsonville, Oregon, was awarded a $92,875,276 firm-fixed-price contract for repair and refurbishment and logistics support.  One bid was solicited with one bid received.  Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 29, 2024.  U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W909MY-19-D-0016).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Noble Supply and Logistics,* Rockland, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $90,000,000 firm-fixed-price bridge contract for facilities maintenance, repair and operations items. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a 15-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is the Southeast Region Zone 2 of the U.S., with a Nov. 28, 2020, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contract activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE8E3-19-D-0010).

> Latina Boulevard Produce LLC,* Cheektowaga, New York, has been awarded a maximum $49,353,705 firm-fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for fresh fruits and vegetables. This was a competitive acquisition with four responses received. This is a 54-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is New York, with a Feb. 27, 2024, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Air Force and Department of Agriculture schools and reservations. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-19-D-P346).
The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a maximum $27,000,000 undefinitized contractual action delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-0LB9) against a five-year base contract (SPRPA1-14-D-002U) with one five-year option period for E-6B repair. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Location of performance is Oklahoma, with a March 1, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Other contracts can be viewed click here

Viewing 1 - 20 of 807

Jobs in Arizona requiring security clearance

Find more > https://www.clearancejobs.com/jobs/arizona

From Forbes: Places To Retire 2019 > Follow Your Passions

At a certain stage in life commonly called "Retirement" in the American lexicon that's usually after you've been "working" all your life - whatever your age - you might select not to stay-in-place for one reason or another.
Your MesaZona blogger really has no idea exactly what the word retirement means other than buying a set of four new rubber tires for a car.

For others it's fraught with making a choice: finding a new place to move to and to start a new life of what's called "leisure."
On August 27th Forbes published a new list to follow your PASSIONS in retirement - if that includes playing golf, then this list is for you.  There are seven passions in it with no mental link to The Seven Deadly Sins, intended or otherwise
https://www.forbes.com/sites/williampbarrett/2019/08/27       
Great Places To Follow Your Passions
In Retirement In 2019 
by contributing writer William P. Barrett, who states he covers personal finance, taxes, retirement, nonprofits & scandals
"Want to be happy in retirement? Then cultivate relationships and spend more money on leisure activities—at least that’s what new academic research (as well as common sense) suggests.
To help you with the leisure part, Forbes presents its 2019 list of 25 great places to pursue seven retirement passions:
(1) arts
(2) fine dining
(3) lifelong learning
(4) volunteering
(5) outdoor activities on water
(6) outdoor activities on land
(7) golf  (in its own category)
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Most are recommended for multiple passions and two—Seattle and Austin, Texas—excel in all seven categories. Our picks are spread across 21 states in all four continental time zones.

 

While our flagship Best Places To Retire list highlights locations that offer the best retirement value for the buck, our passions list doesn’t disqualify places simply because they’ve got high costs or taxes.

Athens, Georgia, our most affordable passions pick, has a median home price of just $178,000, while San Francisco, our most expensive, has a median home price of $1.36 million.
Although high costs (or high taxes) won’t keep a city from making this new list, we do take into account such practical quality of life factors as air quality, crime, doctor availability and how walkable and bikeable a city is.
You can read more about our selection method here.
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The only location here in Arizona
CHANDLER

Great for volunteering, outdoor land activities and golf

POPULATION: 235,000

MEDIAN HOME PRICE: $317,000

This Phoenix suburb, named for Arizona’s first veterinary surgeon, offers myriad outdoor activities, including 185 golf courses in the region. There’s a low serious crime rate, a good economy and a high rate of volunteering. With an elevation of 1,200 feet, the city is very bikeable, although not all that walkable. There is no state income tax on Social Security earnings and no state estate/inheritance. The sate income tax rate tops out at just 4.54% on a married couple’s taxable income above $317,900.

On the downside, the number of doctors per capita is below the national average and the air quality is poor. Cost of living is 23% above the national average.

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Other cities small and large that make the Follow Your Passions list include New York City, both Portland, Maine and Portland, Oregon, Seattle and Salt Lake City, and others.

For a comparison with Mesa [500,000+ population] there's Boston, quite different.

 

BOSTON

Great for arts, fine dining, lifelong learning, volunteering and outdoor water and land activities

POPULATION: 685,000

MEDIAN HOME PRICE: $604,000

This buzzy historic coastal state capital city of 685,000 offers a wealth of cultural. and educational activities. Not too surprising, considering there are more than 50 area colleges. Boston has good air quality, abundant doctors per capita, and a good economy. At an elevation of 140 feet, the city, named for an English town, is both highly walkable and bikeable. The top state income tax rate is only 5% and there’s no state income tax on Social Security earnings.

On the negative side, there’s a state estate tax and a higher than average serious crime rate. But the big downside is the cost of living: 82% above the national average.

 

            

Yesterday's News: Regular Mesa City Council Meeting Mon 26 Aug 2019

Believe it or not, silver-throated Kevin Christopher (the City's Public Information Officer) gets an early call to read out-loud what's left on the Consent Agenda.
He starts at 03:19 and goes on to rattle-off about thirty items, finishing his fast-read at 09:28.
The mayor notes that three blue comment cards have been submitted . . .
NOW THE MEETING GETS INTERESTING >
Take a look and listen
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Published on Aug 26, 2019
14 views
Running Time: 31:16

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