Saturday, August 16, 2008

Bad News On State Land Initiative

The Az Republic reports that the Secretary of State, Jan Brewer has rejected thousands of signatures, hopefully, only for the time being. The initiative which would have saved most of Arroyo Grande, plus hundreds of thousands of other state lands, will not be on the Nov. ballot.

Click here
to read the August 16 Arizona Republic article.

Kudos To Amanda Jacob, Oro Valley Economic Specialist

Our friend John Musolf points out that kudos should go to Amanda Jacob, Oro Valley Economic Specialist.

On August 13, 2008 at a Town Council study session, town economic specialist, Amanda Jacob, presented a recommended “Shop Oro Valley Campaign."


• Supporting Oro Valley Businesses
• Retaining Oro Valley Businesses
• Promote increases in the sales taxes for Oro Valley
• Decrease sales tax leakage to surrounding areas


One of the excellent recommendations was having Oro Valley businesses give discounts to shoppers. Another excellent recommendation was monthly or quarterly drawings for cash, gift certificates or other items. Some of the low cost ways suggested to promote local shopping:


•Send postcards to Oro Valley residents with a holiday message in November 2008 (cost $2200)
•Send inserts (similar to postcards) in utility bill mailings (no cost listed)
•Place 17 advertisements in Explorer Newspaper in 2008/2009 for local shopping at a discount cost of $10,200.


One point Ms. Jacob failed to note is this: Anytime any sales tax is collected at the Oro Valley Marketplace, Vestar will pocket almost half of this revenue. Although sales tax revenue also goes back to the developers at Steam Pump Village and Oracle Crossing, it is to a lesser extent. So-----while we support Ms. Jacob's proposal, we would encourage all our bloggers shop where Oro Valley keeps the full 2% of the sales tax.

LOVE is On The Air: August 16, 2008

Click on the picture to the Zeeman's blogcast of some of our blog postings and blogger comments for the week ended August 16, 2008: