More Questions Than Answers

People lined up almost 24 hours before the speech.  Some wanted answers.  Most just wanted to see the president. 

People wanted to know how this administration is going to help stave off a snowballing foreclosure epidemic here in the Valley as well as across the country. 

Unfortunately, we were left with more questions than answers.

Barack spoke for 22 minutes, before a packed crowd, telling the American people about his administration’s new initiative called the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan.  

Unfortunately, as we found out for ourselves, what this “plan” entails, there were more questions than answers as Barack said that people who did the “right” thing and were “responsible” would be helped and those who were taking advantage of the hot housing market, or being unscrupulous could not share in his “plan.”

This led to Gaydos and I hotly debating on the air, how do you know who was truly “unscrupulous” and those who suffered from just plain bad luck would go into foreclosure in a better economy? 

People called and emailed me asking if they qualified for Barack’s “plan.”  I wish I knew.

Maybe you can decide.  Here are some predicaments people are in right here in the Valley.  Would you give them a bailout?

This is our situation, as of right now both my wife and i can make our payments.  we are about 70k upside down in our house.  in may, my wife will no longer be working due to the birth of our baby, cutting our income in half.  also, I will be taking a new job in the next month cutting my pay by 20%.  do you think we qualify?

Shaun, Mesa

My husband, sister & I bought a house in September, 2007. In January, 2009 I applied with my current mortgage company to re-finance just the amount we owe so we could get a lower interest rate. We didn’t want extra money to pay off bills or take a vacation. We put down almost 50% of the cost of our house when we bought it for $205,000. When the appraisal was done for the re-fi it was valued at $107,000, almost 50% less! That means we have to equity and the company would not let us re- finance.
What can people like us expect?

GG, Phoenix

Hey Mac & Gaydos, you were saying if the house next door forecloses we could get help.  What about our situation?
 
In 2007, we had a buyer for our house valued at $215K.
We bought a bigger house at $315K because our family grew.
Our buyer backed out of the deal after we had already signed on our new house.
Our old house is now lucky if it will get $125K in today’s market.  To further insult, the house next door will foreclose; the owner moved out and abandoned the property.
We can’t sell our old house and we can’t give it away.  Nobody will qualify, nobody wants it either, and it’s a small 2 bedroom.  Most are looking for 3 bedrooms.
We pay our mortgages on time every month, but last year, I was layed off from work in July.  I just barely started working again Feb 9 at more than $5 less per hour.  It was very hard to make the mortgages each month, but I took money out and we have been vacation renting out to cover some of the mortgages, but 1.)  It’s no longer our primary residence.  2.) The value did plummet but 3.)  We qualified for both houses in 2007, even with the buyer backing out, so how do we prove hardship now that I am working?   Think about how much more we could stimulate the economy if we didn’t have a second house to pay for.  We want a pool, a kitchen remodel, and an Arizona room… We could put people to work!!! 
 
Do you think we will get a bailout?

Lisa, Goodyear

Gut Check Time…

Mac

Nothing says “Welcome to Phoenix, Mr. President” like a gift from the heart - Or should I say a gift from the foot…..
 
It’s not every day the President of the United States of America comes to the Valley.  It’s too bad we gave him such a lame gift as he arrived in Phoenix.  Nothing says Phoenix, Arizona better than a washed up NBA player’s dirty sneaker.  I am calling this ShoeGate.  Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon gave Obama a size 23 sneaker personally autographed by Shaquille O’Neal.  How proud we all must be….We really couldn’t come up with something better to give him as a gift?
 
I’m surprised we didn’t give Obama something worse…Maybe a no-name Coyote hockey players smelly skate…Maybe a used tissue that Kurt Warner blew his nose with on the sidelines during the Super Bowl….Maybe  pink underwear taken right off the bottom of an actual inmate in Joe Arpaio’s tent city! 

I don’t know what stinks more….Shaq’s shoe, or the fact that Gordon gave Shaq’s shoe as a present to Obama.  Why give that to the President?  Shaq has nothing to do with Arizona!  He’s been here for less than a year and it goes without saying that trading for him has been an absolute disaster for the Suns.  How bad is Shaq these days??  During a charity 1-on-1 game last year, Shaq was soundly defeated by the surprisingly athletic Regis Philbin.  I TEASE! If Shaq would attack the rim with the same fervor in which he attacks the buffet table, the Suns would be in much better shape in the play-off race.  I TEASE!

This is the fourth time Gordon has embarrassed himself and our state by going out to Sky Harbor.  The first three times he made a spectacle of himself at the Cardinals rallies.  Anyway….What’s done is done.  I can’t say I’m shocked that the good Mayor has gone 4 for 4 in embarrassing us all on a national stage…..

A few other thoughts popped into my mind while watching ShoeGate:

Was it just me or was Shaq’s shoe bigger than Airforce One?

Was it just me or did I hear Obama say he was going to take Shaq’s shoe back to Washington so his daughters could use it as a bed to sleep in…?

Was it just me or did Barack Obama have to check the shoe through baggage claim because it would not fit in the overhead compartment…?

Was it just me or was I the only one hoping Phil Gordon would get inside Shaq’s shoe and disappear into the night’s sky on the way back to DC with Obama…?

Was it just me or would I be wrong in hoping Obama puts that size 23 on and kicks Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid into orbit…?
 
And finally, is it just me or is this HOW I ROLL?!
 
 
Gaydos

Flying High On Your Dollar

President Obama is flying into town tonight, and will speak in Mesa on Wednesday about how his “Recovery and Re-Investment” plan will create jobs, offer stimulus money to the financial sector and cauterize the hemorrhaging in the mortgage industry… 

In fact, it may even find a cure for baldness and help the Suns go to the championship.   Okay, so I am being facetious, but if you listen to the hysterical rhetoric coming out of D.C. the past couple of months, there are more elected political heroes who sound like Billy Mays trying desperately to sell one more tub of Oxy Clean.

As soon as the President’s appearance was announced, people started lining up to buy a ticket to see the President speak at Dobson High School in Mesa.  Thousands of people gathered, some overnight, for a chance to buy a ticket. 

I don’t have a problem with people wanting to see the President, but there is an irony to Barack’s Magic Bus Stimulus tour…

Remember how many CEO’s were requested to show up for excoriation from Congress for wasting the tax payers’ money after the first stimulus package didn’t rescue our economy?  Remember how Congress made it a finely honed point to make examples of their lavish lifestyles including flying in private jets?  Remember how some of those companies were shamed into selling their corporate jets (which, their companies paid for with their own profits, not with taxpayers’ money.  Too bad no one in Congress pointed that out)?

So why are we so accepting (or maybe we’re oblivious?) that for the past two weeks, our own President has been flying across the country, drumming up support for his stimulus bill?

Ask a co-worker about a fat-cat CEO flying in a private jet and you’ll probably see someone throw a mini-tantrum about how unfair, elitist and irresponsible it is given the current economic climate, but in the past two weeks, Obama has visited Elkhart, Indiana, Chicago, Illinois, Fort, Meyers, Florida, Denver, Colorado and Phoenix. He’s taken Air Force One.  And that costs money; more specifically, tax payers’ money. 

If you’re not familiar with what happens and all the ancillary parts of a Presidential excursion when he travels via Air Force One, here are some bullet points:

• There are two State-of-the-Art Boeing 747s that cost you $650 million dollars.
• Two C-5 jets carry his limo, a fully outfitted ambulance and sometimes a helicopter.
• Also dozens of Secret Service agents as well as their vehicles are flown into the town.

But no one shames or even questions the Obama Administration for wasting our money to take day trips for what is simply a photo-op in a section of the country where the economy has hit hard.

At least the CEO fat cats actually use their jets to do what business does: make money, not waste it.

Mac

“NBA All-Star Weekend”

If it’s not one thing, it’s another here in The Valley… and I love it! This is coming from someone that just moved from Los Angeles by the way. Since moving to the Valley there’s been a litany of special events, as well as interesting news cycles, all of which have made living here (to steal a line from Gaydos) faaannntasstic.

I’ve gone to Diamond Backs games, Cardinals games, and most recently the Suns vs. Spurs game. Was really hoping the Spurs would lose – whatever you’d consider the opposite of a Spurs fan, that’d be me. It’s been a special time, and year.

Now I have two more events to look forward to: Tonight’s NBA Jam Session, and the upcoming Suns vs. Lakers game. Yes, I’m a Lakers fan – I make no apologies. KTAR treats its employees very well, and it’s a pleasure to be part of this dynamic. I worked at a station in LA, and went to ZERO special events and ZERO ball games… perhaps I wasn’t stuck up enough to get in.

There are several things in the news to make us angry: The Stimulus Package is supposed to be voted on today (without public approval or oversight), the 9 year old may not face any punishment for what appears to be a premeditated double-homicide, a woman with no job and $50k in debt willingly had 14 children, and Arizona’s Collegiate Programs and Schools are severely suffering… but, as I’ve stated in a previous blog, I’ll remain optimistic, hope for the best – prepare for the worst, and not succumb to living in “fear of the times.”

That’s what tonight’s NBA Jam Session is all about. Sure it’s Friday the 13th, but I’m in no way a triskaidekaphobic, and plan on having fun and getting away. In dire times we need personal stimulus programs; we need to have fun and enjoy ourselves outside of the nonsense life throws at us day in, and day out.

That being said, if you plan on being there, I’ll be wearing a Lakers shirt… feel free to say hello (or rip me for being a Lakers fan). If you’re not going to be there, have a great weekend despite the Economy!

Producer SEAN

“Every Once In Awhile”

I had the pleasure of attending the Phoenix Symphony last Saturday night.  It was spectacular.  Living in the Valley of the Sun, we are extremely fortunate to have access to a cultural and musical experience.

Now I know what you’re thinking:  I don’t go for that stuff, it’s so long and boring.  Only stuffy people who own cocktail dresses and cufflinks go to a symphony.  Give me Lil’ Wayne over a horn section any day! I’ll go see the Foo Fighters before watching something called a “Cantata!”  Give me Muse, over some guy with a baton!  “Emo” is better than a concerto!  And what is an oboe, anyway? 

You’re truly missing out. 

First of all, this ain’t your grandma’s symphony anymore.  Sure, there are the stuffy people that drink things called “gimlets” and have handkerchief squares sticking out of the suit jacket pockets, but I was also pleased to see young people dressed casually and comfortably. 

And, more importantly, they were there to enjoy the music, unlike a Scottsdale party where you go to see and be seen.  You attended the symphony to witness the true power and influence of music written over 400 hundred years ago (and pieces from the 20th and 21st century as well) that still can move, inspire and evoke.  Talk about standing the test of time.

There are many things to enjoy in the Valley.  Sure, we live in a resort town and have access to many outdoor activities and festivals, but every once in awhile, go indoors and support a group of people who have dedicated their lives to continuing a long tradition of brining Classical music to the masses.  Okay, so it’s not the Super Bowl, or the FBR, but Bach really ain’t bad. 

Support your local symphony, even if it’s only every once in awhile.

Mac