CITIZEN PARTICIPATION? Nobody on the phone and no "blue" cards submitted online for comments. No requests or comments from the six Council members. . . This meeting is 06:48 minutes long - it takes Kevin Christopher 3 minutes + 12 seconds to read the Final Agenda 01:52 - 05:04
Whoa! His Hizzoner totally gets the day and month wrong! (Maybe he's subconsciously wishing it were October) . . . Update: September 3rd Study Session cancelled
It's not a jailing but it's a still a threat -- one that seems completely out of place in the Land of the Free where speaking about political issues is at the top of the list of things protected by the First Amendment.
A few weeks back we wrote about how FTC chair Joe Simons -- while bizarrely complaining about Section 230 blocking his investigations, despite it never actually doing that -- was actually willing to say that Trump's executive order on social media was nonsense (though not in those words). While the FCC caved and moved forward with its nonsense exploration of Section 230, the FTC has done nothing, because there's nothing for it to actually do.
And apparently our narcissist in chief is upset about that. Politico reports that the White House has been interviewing possible replacements for Simons because they want someone who will punish Trump's mythical list of enemies among social media companies (even as those companies have bent over backwards to accommodate his nonsense) :
That doesn't mean the administration can't try to put loads of pressure on Simons.
And while I don't always agree with Simons, I would hope that he would resist the Trump administration trying to interfere in the job of an independent agency like the FTC.
The FCC has already shown that its leadership has little backbone on this front, but it would be nice if the FTC actually brushed this nonsense aside like it brushed aside the executive order."
President Trump openly admires authoritarians. It appears he believes he was being elected dictator rather than president, and has been openly bitter about his perceived lack of power ever since. The world leaders he enjoys talking to most -- Vladimir Putin, Mohammad bin Salman, Recep Erdogan -- are all notorious thugs who punish critics, dissidents, and anyone else who steps a little out of line.
Trump envies that power. He spends most of his phone time trying to impress a collection of international asshats. And he embarrasses himself (and us by proxy) when speaking about his favorite shitheels in public. Just recently, Trump spent part of his meeting with an American pastor recently freed from a Turkish prison praising the man who had put him there.
"I have to say that, to me, President Erdoğan was very good," Trump told [jailed pastor Andrew] Brunson. "And I know they had you scheduled for a long time, and you were a very innocent person, and he ultimately, after we had a few conversations, he agreed. So we appreciate that, and we appreciate the people of Turkey."
Like Erdogan, Trump appreciates at least one person in Turkey: Recep Erdogan. Those two are aligned there. They're also aligned in their desire to punish their critics, even as they preside over countries that have enshrined free speech and freedom of the press. (Yes, even Turkey has a Constitution that name-checks freedom of expression. It has been ignored for decades.) In Turkey, this hallowed right has been hollowed out, moving Turkey to the top of the "Most Journalists Jailed" list. Here in the United States, we're not quite up to jailing journalists. But we are placing them under surveillance. And in the latest free speech chilling news emerging from the Trump administration, the White House is building an "ENEMIES" list filled with journalists.
In a statement, White House spokesperson Judd Deere accused The Washington Post of "blatantly interfering with the business relationships of the Trump Organization" and demanded "it must stop." "Please be advised that we are building up a very large 'dossier' on the many false David Fahrenthold and others stories as they are a disgrace to journalism and the American people," Deere said.
This was unveiled in Farenthold's latest piece for the Washington Post, exposing the funneling of federal tax dollars to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort and other properties -- places where the president spends an inordinate amount of time. According to Farenthold's report, at least $900,000 in taxpayer funds have been spent at Trump businesses, much of it for the Secret Service agents who must accompany Trump wherever he goes. Trump heads to his own properties when away from the White House. And he does this frequently: 271 times since he took office, according to this report. It's a wonder the price tag isn't even higher, considering the Trump Organization tacks on things like daily "resort fees" and $1,300 "furniture removal charges" to the bills taxpayers are footing, The White House -- which should be fully separated from Trump's personal business ventures (as Trump promised to do shortly after being elected) -- is targeting journalists for digging into the Trump Organization and its federal "guests." It's not a jailing but it's a still a threat -- one that seems completely out of place in the Land of the Free where speaking about political issues is at the top of the list of things protected by the First Amendment. It appears Trump regrets taking the top job in a nation that shields his worst enemies from government censorship and prosecution. But there's nothing preventing him from making them miserable. And when you're someone who appears indifferent to everything -- including bad optics -- why not compile a bunch of info White House officials can hate read whenever they feel "oppressed" by the people they serve.
"A federal judge slapped a hold on a Trump administration rule that allows health-care providers to refuse services to LGBTQ people on religious grounds.
In a preliminary injunction issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington said the administration failed to consider how the rule would affect access to care, given “substantial evidence” that it would cause LGBTQ patients “to fear discrimination at the hands of religiously affiliated providers.”
Last month, a federal judge in New York blocked the elimination of discrimination protections “on the basis of sex” for transgender people.
Zhong Shanshan is known as the “Lone Wolf.” - there's an explanation for that in a report late today: he has worked in construction, journalism, drug making and bottled water.
Those last two endeavors have made him one of the world’s richest people, but he’s rarely quoted in the press, isn’t involved in politics and his business interests aren’t entwined with other rich families, such as the property tycoons. Hence the nickname
Nongfu’s IPO is catapulting Zhong among China’s richest
Family members and employees are sharing some of the riches
Based on the HK$21.50 ($2.77) pricing, Zhong’s 84% post-IPO stake in Nongfu is valued at $26 billion, putting his net worth at $38 billion. That would make him China’s third-richest man, behind Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s Jack Ma and Tencent Holdings Ltd.’s Pony Ma, according to theBloomberg Billionaires Index.
“Often, the founders will put together these structures to name shareholders ahead of an IPO, or they might offer grants to long-time employees to reward them for sticking around to build the business with them,” said Clifford Ng, a partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Hong Kong. “It’s a fairly common practice in China, and you see it more in family-owned businesses who have had long-term employees.”
JOINING THE 3-COMMA CLUB
Wealth Creation
The IPO market has long been an important source of wealth creation in China, but it has been turbocharged this year, even with the coronavirus pandemic. In the six months through June, at least 24 people became billionaires from new listings on Chinese exchanges. Last week saw another three members enter the three-comma club as companies on Shenzhen’s ChiNext tech board started trading with no limits.The country is also seeing a boom in the merely rich. China added 158,000 millionairesin just one year, taking the number to more than 4.4 million -- the most after the U.S., according to Credit Suisse Group AG’s 2019 wealth report. . . . For Zhong, who founded Nongfu’s predecessor in 1996, the rise to riches wasn’t obvious. His schooling was interrupted during China’s cultural revolution and he worked an assortment of jobs before finding bottled water. Nongfu has also become a major producer of soft drinks, with about 40% of its 2019 revenue coming from products including teas, flavored vitamin drinks and juices. A growing focus on healthy living and rising incomes mean Nongfu’s natural mineral water drinks will do better than other types of drinking water in coming years, . . ." -- according to Kevin Kim, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.
Your MesaZona blogger's 'mission' is NOT to cover Mesa . . . There are more than a few uncomfortable facts to uncover THE AGENDA (Printed on 08.25.2020) Audit, Finance and Enterprise Committee City of Mesa Meeting Agenda - Final Mesa Council Chambers 57 East First Street Jennifer Duff - Chairperson Mark Freeman David Luna Christopher Brady - Ex Officio
8:00 AM Virtual Platform Thursday, August 27, 2020
Start 08:17 > End 09:33 Roll Call 1 Items from citizens presentThere were no items from citizens present
The agenda was available only ________________________________________________________________________ 2 Presentations: Item 2-b 20-0834 Hear a presentation and discuss the City’s fiscal year 2019-20 sales tax revenue Item 2-a
City of Mesa Transaction Privilege (Sales) Tax FY 2019/20 Review Audit, Finance & Enterprise Committee August 27, 2020 ______________________________________________________________________ > City of Mesa – Unemployment Rate 17% (Page 7) > City of Mesa – City of Mesa Utility Bills – Total Past Due Amount $4,000,000 (Page 8) ______________________________________________________________________
Next Steps • Continue to monitor • Sales tax revenue and economic trends • Shopping behavior • Business closures/re-openings • Stimulus & unemployment benefits • Return to the AF&E Committee in January 2021 with an update _________________________________________________________________________ Item 2-b 20-0835 Hear a presentation and discuss the Utility Enterprise Fund forecast
City of Mesa FY 2020/21 Utility Enterprise Fund Forecast Audit, Finance & Enterprise Committee August 27, 2020 Presented by: Brian A. Ritschel – Management & Budget Assistant Director Chris Olvey – Management & Budget Forecast Coordinator
What’s included in the forecast? > Sources (Revenue) Forecasting • The City’s forecasting approach to utility revenues includes statistical analysis and collaboration with Departments • Statistical software is applied in house to analyze the correlation between economic trends and the City’s utility sources • Relevant economic indicators are considered, such as population growth, along with reviewing historical trends in account growth and consumption/usage • Mesa specific factors are applied such as economic development activities, additional large customers, etc. • Impact of pandemic on utilities 3 > Uses (Expense) Forecasting
• Departments provide specific forecasts for large budget items where costs can fluctuate over time, including water commodity purchases, water and wastewater treatment plant chemicals, and solid waste tipping fees
• Debt service payments are included in the Utility Enterprise Fund forecast, where funds are transferred according to utility debt service schedules
• Other departmental operating expenses, such as, step pay increases, salary benchmark study, and General Fund contribution. 4 > Financial Principles • Balanced net sources and uses
• 20% or higher reserve fund balance
• Rate adjustments that are predictable and smoothed throughout the forecast
• Equity between residential and non-residential rates
• Affordable utility services 5 > Rate Adjustment History 6 > *FY 19/20 Effective date shifted from July to March/April 9 As of 08/17/2020
FY 20/21
FY 21/22
FY 22/23
FY 23/24
FY 24/25 FY 25/26 Projected Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast WATER $596,627 ($1,048,693) ($205,484) $3,935,297 $1,237,726 $2,764,980 WASTEWATER ($12,984,174) ($10,092,584) ($8,207,513) ($8,515,511) ($6,908,221) ($5,422,729)
SOLID WASTE $4,028,650 $1,904,900 $3,175,091 $2,272,961 $4,473,500 $5,591,629 ELECTRIC $1,526,727 $574,495 $310,320 ($288,041) $44,675 ($203,048)
NATURAL GAS $2,310,474 $4,995 ($311,780) ($476,115) $536,357 $979,911
DISTRICT COOLING ($251,566) ($110,159) ($156,107) ($150,469) ($238,691) ($390,925)
TOTAL NET SOURCES AND USES ($4,773,261) ($8,767,045) ($5,395,474) ($3,221,879) ($854,653) $3,319,819
Beginning Reserve Balance $135,470,845 $130,697,584 $121,930,539 $116,535,065 $113,313,186 $112,458,533 Ending Reserve Balance $130,697,584 $121,930,539 $116,535,065 $113,313,186 $112,458,533 $115,778,352 Ending Reserve Balance Percent* 31.7% 28.7% 26.5% 25.1% 24.1% 24.1% *As a % of Next Fiscal Year's Expenditures
Next Steps • Finalize FY 20/21 rate recommendations with the utility departments
• Present to the AF&E Committee the rate recommendations for FY 20/21 and a forecast that balances the financial principles. Schedule for FY 2020/21 Utility Rates Adjustment Recommendation Sept 3 – AF&E Committee Discussion of Utility Rates Sept 21 – City Council Action on Notice of Intent Oct 1 – City Council Discussion of Utility Rates Nov 16 – Introduce Utility Rate Resolutions & Ordinances Dec 1 – City Council Action on Utility Rates ________________________________________________________________________3 Adjournment ________________________________________________________________________ THE APPROVED MINUTES Virtual Platform Thursday, August 27, 2020 8:00 AM Audit, Finance and Enterprise Committee 08:17 - 09:33 a.m. Jennifer Duff - Chairperson Mark Freeman David Luna Christopher Brady - Ex Officio
Roll Call Chairperson Duff called the meeting to order with all members present at 8:17 a.m. Committee members participated in the meeting through a virtual format.
1 Items from citizens present. There were no items from citizens present.
2 Presentations 2-a Hear a presentation and discuss the City’s fiscal year 2019-20 sales tax revenue. Presentation and discussion only; no formal action taken by the Committee. 2-b Hear a presentation and discuss the Utility Enterprise Fund forecast. Presentation and discussion only; no formal action taken by the Committee.
3 Adjournment Without objection, the meeting adjourned at 9:33 a.m. ________________________________________________________________________________
