The Clark Report
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News, Culture, Self Deprecating Humor
July 2008
Howdee all,

I've done a complete overhaul of my database and lost my list of folks who previously opted out of the Clark Report. So, please respond to this email and let me know if you do not want to be on the list.

So, here's the deal. The new Clark Report will be more consistent, yet not annoyingly frequent like emails from our friends in the Nigerian banking industry.

It will be brief, informative, and better looking. It will cover politics, downtown hot spot tips and even real estate tips (see below).
 
Loan Sharks and Little Fish
The Ultimate Loan Shark
There are two types of loan sharks:  those who operate illegally (see "Sopranos") and payday lenders, who operate legally in Arizona (see "Sopranos").

The payday loan operators get people on the hook for 450% interest through check cashing businesses. And state law allows them to do it!

Well, that law is going to expire next year. And because they don't have the votes in the legislature to extend this destructive law, the loan sharks are going to the ballot with a so-called "reform", which lowers the rate to 391% (can you feel the weight lifting already?).

But, here's the rub: laws put in place via ballot initiatives are "voter protected", meaning not amendable by the legislature.

So, in effect, they are trying to lock check cashing interest in place at 391% interest forever! Be very afraid.

The US military succeeded nationally in prohibiting check cashing companies from around military bases. Payday lenders prey on anybody in financial trouble, even our heroes in the military.

Go to StopPaydayLenders.org. This little group of concerned citizens (the Davids) are up against a multi-billion dollar industry (the Goliaths). They need everybody's help.
 
"Fair Districts" Lives
Now that legislative session is over, a bi-partisan group of leaders will meet to consider changes to the proposed language, which we believe will build a broad coalition of supporters for an attempt to reform our redistricting process.

At issue will be addressing concerns about how the commissioners are chosen and how to protect communities of interest, while still making more competitive districts statewide.
 
Keep an eye out for details.

How Not to Make Laws
Making Sausage
I watched in the last 12 hours of legislative session, as backers of an anti-same sex marriage amendment fought tooth and nail to get their constitutional amendment on the ballot.

Everything else that was on the calendar, including the Energy Omnibus Act, funding for community health centers and even some border enforcement measures, which the Republican leadership wanted, were killed because of this one issue.

The legislative process in the senate broke down in acrimony and accusation. Senate President and presumptive Republican Congressional nominee for Districts 8 lost control of his own chamber.

I caught a senator on the way out the door of the building, as the debate raged. She was retiring from the senate, but was leaving at that moment because she simply had to get home and had been held up in the legislature for months waiting for a budget. Further, she knew that her vote was negated by this issue.

As she strode out of the building for the last time in her long career, she said, "This is a sick and damaged place. Goodbye." What a terrible way to end your career, I thought.

My thoughts are with Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, Sen. Ken Cheuvront, Sen. Paula Aboud and others who have fought so hard on this issue for years. Keep up the fight.

The backers have made a major miscalculation, in my opinion. If you accept that they are honestly just in this because they want to permanently outlaw same sex marriage (which is difficult to believe, because it's prohibition has been upheld for years in Arizona), then they just lost many swing voters with their tactics.

If you believe that they are running this issue because they want to bring out conservative voters, there is reason to believe that they just did the opposite.  Scholars are demonstrating now that there is little evidence that initiatives bring out conservative voters in presidential election years. Indeed, they may bring out more democrats.

Still, this and other initiative issues aside, Arizona could benefit from having a branch of the Policy Consensus Initiative  permanently housed at our State Capitol. We could use a group that could instruct us on the process of consensus building, while still carrying a moral "stick" and shining a light on those who refuse to do their jobs in building policy that serves the greater good.

Cool, Hip Downtown Tips

La Piccola Cucina
New restaurants are opening along 7th St between McDowell and Thomas. This is the latest. You order from a combination of meats and sides, all presented, deli-style under glass. Then you sit and they bring you the meal.

The place is already getting very busy for lunch, because the food is simple, well done and healthy. It has a Northern Italian accent, with lots of fresh roasted veggies. The deserts are worth a shot, too.

It's a great place, that will be even greater when the summer ends and you can sit out side on the garden patio. However, you have to suspend disbelief a little as cars flash by on 7th St. at umpteen thousand miles per hour, just next to the patio.

Cool, Hip Daytrip
OK, its not downtown, but it's a great quick trip. Lake Watson is really a reservoir, but the rounded granite rock formations border the lake and pop out of middle of the lake like giant geological, frozen bubbles.

You can rent a canoe for $20 and hang around on the lake at a sizzling 85 degrees. See www.prescottoutdoors.com. I'm not endorsing this company, as I have not used them yet. But they were very informative and the canoes and kayaks were in good shape.

If you don't like the water, there is a great hiking trail around the lake that takes you through a swampy riparian area and under massive old oak trees.

Podcasts for Your Urbane Coffee House Experience
As I was sitting around a lot waiting for the legislature to finish business, I had some time to find some new podcasts. I'm a big fan of this digital manifestation a great old oral tradition.  Here are two that I recommend:

The Moth Podcast This is live story tellers in front of an audience. No reading from books. But it revives good story telling tradition. Podcasts range from 7 to 15 minutes, so they are great for the doctor's office.

KCRW's "Today's Top Tune" KCRW is a public station in LA, which specializes in music that you won't hear on commercial radio, yet which is not so artsy that you can't relate. We really need a station like this in Phoenix. I hear that there is movement afoot. Keep an eye out!

Real Estate in Phoenix

Real Estate?

Yes. I am now a licensed agent with John Hall and associates.

No. Stop laughing.

This is actually a great time to do that. It's a buyer's market and I've got the scoop on lots of downtown deals.

But before you call Sheriff Joe to report me for harassment, here is my promise:

This Clark Report is primarily designed for political and cultural information. Real estate news and links are at the bottom, where you can scroll down and look only if you want. I hate pushy people, and I don't want to be one.

Still, I like to let you know what's going on because Phoenix is a dynamic, growing place and we get to make it better every time we fix up an old house or improve a neighborhood. I want to be part of that, and I hope you will join me.

A Buyer's Market

Everybody is watching for when the market will bottom out. However, the reality is that that the market is different at different prices and regions. For instance, homes that were listed too high at $300,000 are now closer to $200,000 and are starting to sell faster every day. The top end of the market (over $400,000) is likely to stay stagnant for much longer. This is a good time to look for a starter home.

Further, when the listing prices and the sales prices are closer together, it means that the market is a little healthier. People are not asking for unreasonable profits.

As you'll see in the chart below, the median price of new listings stayed pretty close to the median sold price from 2001 to late 2005.  Sellers of homes in the Phoenix area were realistic about listing their homes.  Until late 2005.  The market went wild in 2005 and home sellers thought prices would continue to climb 5% every month.  But the market peaked in July & August 2005 and sales prices flattened and then dropped.  New list prices did not.  It took home sellers about two years to catch up to reality.  Now median new list prices are once again in line with median sold prices.

Phoenix Market
Analysis with help of Leif Swanson of John Hall & Associates.
 
Homes Sweet Homes

Here's proof that there are good sized homes for under $200,000. It has a lot of plusses:  price, location (near light rail), a pool, heated spa, new roof, new A/C, copper plumbing, 2-car carport, big back yard.

 6660 N. 20th Ave, Phoenix

 Here's another house. It's cute, no?

<insert Picture>

And here's a third one. You want to buy it!

<insert picture>

And, as always, I respect your right not to be bothered with anoying spam email. If you would like to be removed from my email list, please just send me a note along with a digital coupon for $100 worth of unleaded fuel. Thanks!

Sincerely,
 

Ken Clark
K. E. Clark Independent Consulting
Realtor logo  Equal Housing  John Hall Logo
In This Issue
Loan Sharks and Little Fish
"Fair Districts" Lives
How Not to Make Laws
Cool, Hip Downtown Tips
Homes Sweet Homes
Sites I Like
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