"86 percent of formal complaint cases were never investigated clearly reveals the public is at risk in Maricopa County. The question is whether never investigated deposition of cases cleared through 'exceptional means' creates a clear and present danger that will bring about substantive evils the State of Arizona has a right to prevent. An indictment of Arpaio by residents of Maricopa County on the failed police policy of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is clearly justified," said Jon Garrido who added, "all we need is an Arizona Attorney General with conjones."

Jon Garrido vehemently stated, "If Goddard can not protect us as Arizona Attorney General, Goddard should resign. If Goddard does not resign, Democrats should not vote for him for Governor in 2010. Democrats need to look for another candidate to support for Governor of Arizona. We should seek another candidate not only for Governor but we also should support a candidate for Arizona Attorney General who is not afraid to stop the malfeasance of Joe Arpaio allowing criminals to walk away free. I think Clint Bolick, director of the Goldwater Institute's Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation, would make an excellent Arizona Attorney General."

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office clears too many cases without arrest said Clint Bolick to highlight "serious malfeasance" in the Sheriff's Office to detail those cases cleared through "exceptional means."

"This is a ticking time bomb for the people of Maricopa County," Bolick said. "Not only are people not arrested in these cases, no one is looking for them."

Sheriff's officials point to those statistics as evidence of quality police work, but Bolick said it could easily be the result of clearing too many cases through exception instead of arrest.

"We can't say, no one can say, what the reality of the situation is," he said.

To illustrate the point, Bolick uses the case of Abigail Brown. Bolick says, "If detectives had done more than a cursory investigation of Brown's case in 2001, the suspects could have faced trial."

Bolick added, "When Brown, now 23 and living out of state, began working with local attorneys in 2007 to force sheriff's investigators to reopen the case, detectives were able to identify witnesses and suspects. But by the time the case reached prosecutors at the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, only a few weeks were left before the statute of limitations would set in. Prosecutors doubted a jury would convict the suspects of statutory rape 6 years after the alleged assault, particularly because the charges come with a lengthy mandatory sentence."

"It could have been done the first time around, if investigators had done more work," said Thomas Loquvam, an attorney working with Brown.

Bolick said the Goldwater Institute was using the issue to push for legislation that would amend crime statutes so law enforcement agencies have to designate those cases cleared by arrest and those cleared by exception.

The Arpaio policy of using limited resources for maximum visibility has a indirect adverse impact on Maricopa County as a place to live

Throughout our history, each generation made sacrifices to better the lives of the next generation. Part of the American dream has included passing on to your children hope for the future and the possibility of prosperity.

Yet, as Americans watch their jobs, savings and quality of life diminish during this very real and very serious economic downturn, many wonder: What will the future bring?

Arizona's blueprint for Arizona's future does not offer a prescription for long term growth and prosperity. Rather, by allowing unbridled selective police enforcement, it represents a clear and present danger to the law and order of Maricopa County with broad ramifications to the public security of Maricopa County residents.

To put it into perspective, Maricopa County Sheriff failed police enforcement policies have a direct impact on the economic development and specifically on the creation of jobs in Maricopa County. Without job creation, the burden of this police enforcement excess will be borne by our children, and they will bear the cost of this through a dollar that is diminished in value or through higher taxes. So the money they might use to send their children to college, or buy a house, or live a better lifestyle will be eliminated or significantly reduced.

It is true the current state of the economy is stark and the simple fact remains Arizona has inherited a substantial and significant economic challenge. Spending is needed in the short term to stabilize our financial systems and help our economy recover. But the recession will not last forever, and our budget should not spend as if it will.

As families sit at their kitchen tables to assess their own priorities, jobs take on a much more significance becoming the basis for success. Jobs need to be created not jeopardized.
 

Our goal and our shared responsibility must be to pass on the same opportunity for growth and prosperity to the next generation our generation received.

Arizona's economic efforts lagging

The 17-month-old recession may have jump started economic development efforts across the country; however, Arizona appears to be in slow motion.

From Ohio to New Mexico, states have been shocked into realizing their tax structures are not bringing in enough revenue to cover expenses, their economies aren't diversified enough and it's time to look for industries that can help them weather future downturns, say national economic development experts.

Competition is intense: There are about 12,000 economic development organizations in the country chasing about 1,200 projects, especially in the solar and renewable energy fields, said Angelos Angelou, an Austin economic development consultant. States need to act fast, he said.

Unfortunately, Arizona appears to be back in the pack, said Angelou and others who appeared at three Greater Phoenix Economic Council "Convening the Community" forums held since early April.

"Arizona does not seem to be making it on anyone's list," Angelou said. "Other states are taking full armor and tanks and battleships to target economic development. Your state seems to be shooting at targets with a rifle and a shotgun."

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis determined in 2007, Arizona was the state most dependent on retail businesses for job creation and the second most dependent on construction jobs. Both of those sectors were hurt by the recession, leaving the state's tax revenues hurting.

The Legislature had to close a shortfall of at least $2 billion in the current fiscal year and faces a deficit of about $3 billion next year. Schools and universities have taken a big hit.

Angelou said Arizona has a good chance of landing more solar manufacturers as it's located next to the country's largest solar market, California, but with a friendlier business climate.

"Every solar manufacturer looking for a site between now and 2012 is targeting California, not Arizona," he said.

Some content from Politico, Washington Post, NY Times & the FBI.