John_Hook's Blog

Does anyone believe this cryptosporidium outbreak in the pools is something new?  We're just testing every pool and water park in the valley. far beyond what had been done in the past. People probably came down with a stomach virus and thought it was something they ate.  Now we learn crypto has been present in pools for years.... only now we're hypersensitive about it and testing for it.

A well placed source has provided a glimpse into the dirty City of Phoenix Pools situation.  The public was told only what the city wanted released. But there's more to the story.  For starters, once the infected pool was identified, the city should have stopped life guards from going to other pools potentially infecting them.  My source also tells me the contamination (blamed on a dirty diaper by the mayor) could very well have come from life guards who tubed on the Salt River.  I've also learned that when people started getting sick... there was never any test done for cryptosporidium.  We got information - just not all the information.

I certainly don't think cracking down on illegal immigrants in Mesa was Chief Gascon's idea.  My sense is city leaders (who he serves at the pleasure of) didn't like the idea that Joe Arpaio was making Mesa look soft on immigration.  So they told the Chief, we've got to show voters in our city, we're serious about illegal immigration.  We're seeing a united front by Mayor Smith and the chief, but I think Gascon was forced to go a direction, he might not have on his own.

If public officials want Arpaio to cool it when it comes to illegal immigration .... maybe they should try ignoring him. Arpaio loves a good conflict.  I'm a bit surprised Chief Gascon is standing up to him.  The conflict gives Arpaio even more press, more headlines and reminds voters he's the only one going hard on illegal immigration (which is still wildly popular with voters).  Civic leaders may not know it, but by confronting Arpaio, they're playing right into his hands.

Governor Napolitano is the latest pol to take on Sheriff Joe.  She says "To the extent that the sheriff is using state money to fund sweeps that were causing trepidation in the immigrant community, that state money will no longer be available."  

There are three reasons why this is happening now. One, to reign Arpaio in on his tough policies dealing with illegal immigrants. Two, to try to show that while Arpaio's methods are popular with voters, they may not be the best public policy.  And three, to help Dan Saban beat Arpaio in the fall election.  Try as they might, Arpaio is still winning the public relations battle, because the public is demanding action on illegal immigration. But keep an eye on public polls that do show a growing number of voters who are dissatisfied with Arpaio.  For any politician, negatives can spell big trouble.

What was Reverend Adelir Antonio de Carli thinking?  He's has been missing since April 20, when he lifted off from the Brazilian port city of Paranagua, strapped to 1,000 party balloons. No kidding!  He vanished over the Atlantic clutching his cluster of balloons more than a week ago. Act of faith. Maybe. Playing the odds - certainly not.  He was trying to break a record for the most hour's flying with balloons. Brilliant!  Although equipped with flotation equipment, a satellite phone and GPS - he was at the mercy of mother nature.  And he lost.  All the faith in the world couldn't overcome sheer stupidity.  The search for him has been called off.

Strong reaction to the four floating orbs in the sky over the valley again illustrates that we as humans, desperately want to believe we are not alone in the vast universe.  I, for one, believe there are certainly other life forms out there in the great beyond.  If you consider every star you see is basically a sun, many of them certainly have planets spinning around them, it would seem likely that something approaching earth exists elsewhere.  I just don't believe we have been visited.... yet! And as long as the alien visitors don't want to annihilate us.... I welcome them. Now that would be a lead story!

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon has picked a fight he can't win. Criticising Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crackdown on illegal immigration, even asking the FBI to investigate Arpaio's tactics.  True, Arpaio knows a good publicity stunt when he sees one, true he grandstands, but on this issue, his tough approach is exactly what the public is demanding.  A poll by ASU at the end of February showed nearly 80-percent support tough measures for dealing with illegal immigration. Arpaio's critics are going after him, but on this issue, when 8 out of 10 people want tough enforcement , the Sheriff is on safe political ground.