BEA News: U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, April 2020 The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has issued the following news release today: The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $49.4 billion in April, up $7.1 billion from $42.3 billion in March, revised. April exports were $151.3 billion, $38.9 billion less than March exports. April imports were $200.7 billion, $31.8 billion less than March imports. The full text of the release on BEA's website can be found at: www.bea.gov/news/2020/us-international-trade-goods-and-services-april-2020 ________________________________________________________________________________ EMBARGOED UNTIL RELEASE AT 8:30 A.M. EDT, THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020 CB 20-81  BEA 20-25 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, April 2020 The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $49.4 billion in April, up $7.1 billion from $42.3 billion in March, revised. U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Deficit Deficit: $49.4 Billion +16.7%° Exports: $151.3 Billion -20.5%° Imports: $200.7 Billion -13.7%° Next release: July 2, 2020 (°) Statistical significance is not applicable or not measurable. Data adjusted for seasonality but not price changes Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, June 4, 2020 Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact on April 2020 International Trade in Goods and Services The declines in exports and imports that continued in April were, in part, due to the impact of COVID-19, as many businesses were operating at limited capacity or ceased operations completely, and the movement of travelers across borders was restricted. The full economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be quantified in the trade statistics for April because the impacts are generally embedded in source data and cannot be separately identified. The Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis have monitored data quality and determined estimates in this release meet publication standards. For more information on the impact of COVID-19 on the statistics, see the frequently asked questions on goods from the Census Bureau and on services from BEA. Exports, Imports, and Balance (exhibit 1) April exports were $151.3 billion, $38.9 billion less than March exports. April imports were $200.7 billion, $31.8 billion less than March imports. The April increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $5.8 billion to $71.8 billion and a decrease in the services surplus of $1.3 billion to $22.4 billion.

PRESS RELEASE | High Ozone Pollution Advisory Effective June 4, 2020 In The Phoenix Area

QUESTION: Is the Arizona Department of Air Quality doing its job as the state agency for 
protecting and enhancing public health and the environment of Arizona, under the Environmental Quality Act of 1986, when the Arizona State Legislature established ADEQ in 1987 ???
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The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is issuing a High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for ozone effective June 4, 2020, in the Phoenix area. ADEQ recommends that people limit outdoor activity while the HPA is in effect, especially children and adults with respiratory problems. Ground level ozone forms when two types of pollutants—volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)—react in sunlight. These pollutants come primarily from automobiles, but also from other sources including industries, power plants, and products, such as solvents and paints. Generally, the highest levels of ozone occur in the afternoon. Check the Hourly Air Quality Forecast on the Air Arizona Mobile App Health Impacts People most vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution include children, older adults, adults exercising outdoors, people with heart or lung disease and those suffering from asthma and bronchitis. Exposure can increase the number and severity of asthma attacks, cause or aggravate bronchitis or other lung disease and reduce the body’s ability to fight infection. Symptoms may include itchy eyes, nose, and throat, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain and upper respiratory issues. Please help reduce ozone by doing one or more of the following: Drive as little as possible Re-fuel your vehicle in the evening Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines, if possible Use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers – delay big painting projects Make sure containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals and other solvents are sealed properly to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air Be Air Aware! Stay informed and be a part of the ADEQ air quality challenge. Together we can make a difference to improve air quality for everyone in Arizona by following three simple steps. | Learn More > BACKGROUND High Pollution Advisory (HPA) | Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is forecast to exceed the federal health standard. Health Watch (HW) | Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is forecast to approach the federal health standard. Particulate Matter Fact Sheet | View > Ozone Fact Sheet | View >   FIND THE FORECAST ADEQ Hourly Air Quality Forecast |View > Text or Email Alerts | Subscribe >  Air Arizona Mobile App | Learn More > Apple iTunes > Google Play > CONTACTS Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) | Provides hourly forecasts for air quality in certain areas of the state and issues HPAs or HWs when the appropriate conditions exist. View Website > Public Information Officer | 602-771-2215 (office) | 602-540-8072 (cell) | Email > Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD) | Regulatory agency for air quality in Maricopa County. View Website > Bob Huhn, Public Information Officer | 602-506-6713 (office) | 602-526-7307 (cell) | Email > Valley Metro | Eco-friendly public transit options to residents of greater Phoenix and Maricopa County. View Website > Susan Tierney, Communications Manager | 602-523-6004 (office) | Email > About ADEQ Under the Environmental Quality Act of 1986, the Arizona State Legislature established the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in 1987 as the state agency for protecting and enhancing public health and the environment of Arizona. For more information, visit azdeq.gov.

The New Suburbia?

Dear Suburban Alliance subscriber   Suburban renewal is the new black. Thanks to the ripple effects of Covid-19, suburban villages and workplaces are being viewed with new interest and enthusiasm. Even Bernard Salt has had an epiphany (see his article in the Weekend Australian here). The Suburban Alliance has invested in the legitimacy of suburban employment and suburban renewal, long before it was fashionable. As a result, The Suburban Alliance is now regarded as the market leader in our region in terms of suburban development advocacy. But we are not patting ourselves on the back – we are doubling down. Here are some initiatives that will be of interest:

The New Suburbia    A Suburban Alliance study of masterplanned communities earlier in this year has been converted into a series of 4 infomercials, which are about to saturate social media channels (Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter).    View Video Here

We’re particularly excited with this initiative because it will reach so many more people than a dry research report. The research busts many myths about greenfield development. You are seeing this video in advance of the market release tomorrow. Please let us know your thoughts. Parts two, three and four focus on sustainability, social infrastructure, and families. They will be released at weekly intervals following the first video tomorrow.

Pre Budget Submission   Our prebudget submission to the State Government investigated 25 years of housing price movements and eight years’ worth of state budgets, demonstrating that suburban areas of SEQ – while being tasked with accommodating the bulk of growth – receive the least financial support. You may have noticed a story in The Courier Mail recently reporting on the submission.   View Submission Here

AZCIR welcomes investigative reporting fellow Sam Kmack

Friends of AZCIR, I’m pleased to introduce you to AZCIR’s newest staff member, Sam Kmack, who started this week as a full time investigative reporter. He’s a graduate from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California, where he most recently served as an editor for the university’s student-lead newsroom, Annenberg Media. In 2019 he worked on The Beacon Project, USC’s award-winning student investigative reporting team, covering topics such as the admissions scandal and inequities in disability accommodations for the SAT.  SAM KMACK | AZCIR Twitter: @KmackSam Instagram: kmacksam Email: sam.kmack@azcir.org Phone: 602.730.2895 Kmack joins AZCIR for a yearlong fellowship funded in part by the Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship, a program launched in 2019 to help fund and train emerging journalists on issues such as the First Amendment and media ethics.  I’m thrilled to have Sam join our staff and hope you’ll share in my excitement by welcoming him to AZCIR. Since he’s also new to our state, I hope you’ll send him a note to say hello, share a tip or follow him on social media. Thanks, as always, for following our work. Stay safe and healthy. Cheers, Brandon Quester Executive Director and Editor Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting SUPPORT AZCIR Share Tweet Visit

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Smart Growth America: FormBased Codes Award 2020 For Better More Equitable Communities

That doesn't appear to be the case here Downtown Mesa.
Jeff McVay, Manager for Downtown Transformation wants the Mesa City Council to approve a deviation in the city's form-based zoning code - forced by a developer.

At Smart Growth America, we acknowledge that many people—especially black Americans—are hurting right now.  Please read this statement from our president & CEO about the most recent senseless deaths and the decades of systemic racism that preceded them. The most urgent task for all of us is immediate justice for the families and communities of the recently slain and protection of the right to peaceful protest. Our other important work does continue, however, and this recognition of exemplary local efforts to build better, more equitable communities is rooted in our fundamental commitment to ensuring that everyone can safely live in a neighborhood that is healthy, prosperous, and resilient. WHAT AWARD WINNING ZONING LOOKS LIKE The 2020 Richard H. Driehaus Form-Based Codes Award winners Two very different communities are taking home the 2020 Driehaus Award this year for their form-based zoning codes.  Hartford, CT, a post-industrial legacy city trying to bring new life to the community, did the challenging work of writing a new, citywide code from scratch. Rancho Cucamonga, CA, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains (about 30 miles east of Los Angeles), worked with Sargent Town Planning to write the Etiwanda Heights Neighborhood Plan and Code to create a new neighborhood while conserving much of the natural environment. Join us for a webinar at 2pm ET on Tuesday, June 23 to hear leaders from the winning communities discuss how their code was developed and the lessons they learned along the way. The differences in these two communities demonstrate the versatility and wide applicability of form-based zoning.  Unlike conventional zoning which focuses on what happens inside of buildings, form-based codes focus on the look and feel of buildings and public spaces to create coherent, people-scaled places. In addition to the aesthetic benefits, modern form-based codes can promote equity and inclusion, support the fiscal health of a community, and provide a roadmap for future growth that benefits everyone. “We are thrilled that the jury selected codes from two very different communities, demonstrating that good form-based codes can create great places in many different settings,” said Marta Goldsmith, director of the Form-Based Codes Institute of Smart Growth America. Read the full post and register for the webinar to learn more about each of this year's award winning zoning codes.

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Northeast Mesa Estate In Citrus Groves Sells For $2.82M (Mesa mansion with 11 bathrooms )

$2,821,700

Jason and Kimberly Coleman purchased a 10,522-square-foot mansion with an elevator in Mesa’s Oasis Citrus Groves community.

The sprawling estate comes with nine bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. The home features a recording studio, a theater room and a finished basement.

This $2.82 million Mesa estate, sold by Tim and Laura Markison, features a recording studio. Jason and Kimberly Coleman were the buyers. (Photo: Courtesy of Brandon Smith)

Grounds of the 4.57-acre estate include a stadium-lit grass field and an RV garage that holds up to 11 vehicles. The property has a tennis court, batting cage and a separate 3,750-square foot guest house.

Tim and Laura Markison sold the home. Tim Markison is the founder and CEO of Athalonz LLC, a Mesa-based sports technology company.

Source: AZ Central o1 June 2020

Researched by Ebony Day of The Arizona Republic and The Information Market.