Axios Phoenix

August 09, 2022
Happy Tuesday!
- Today's weather: There's a 30% chance of thunderstorms in the late afternoon, and a high of 101 during the day.
Situational awareness: Cox Enterprises is acquiring Axios in a $525 million deal.
- Our day-to-day operations won't change, and the deal is expected to increase Axios' investments in local journalism in Phoenix and other markets.
Today's newsletter is 893 words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Business getting break on equipment taxes
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
Companies will get a break on the personal property taxes they pay on equipment, which members of the business community hope will help spur economic development and attract major manufacturers to Arizona.
- Personal property is defined as non-real estate property, including machinery, computers, farm equipment and restaurant ovens.
Driving the news: Gov. Doug Ducey signed House Bill 2822 in March, which achieved a years-long goal of Arizona's business community to reduce the state's personal property tax burden.
Why it's important: Arizona is becoming an increasingly competitive destination for high-tech manufacturers such as Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
- Chris Camacho, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, says the savings will be considerable to high-tech manufacturers, which sometimes invest more than $1 billion in their facilities.
- Camacho tells Axios Phoenix that it's difficult to determine the effect of the state's personal property tax rate because companies often don't explain why they passed up Arizona for another market.
- Chad Heinrich, who leads the Arizona chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, says the lower tax burden will encourage smaller businesses to buy new equipment as well.
Of note: The law isn't retroactive, so companies won't get a break on equipment they already own.
By the numbers: Arizona is expected to lose $23.4 million in tax revenue this fiscal year as a result of the law, according to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
2. 🌿 Arizona's 6th "C" is cannabis

The first Trulieve dispensary opened last week on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix with buy-one-get-one deals, a proclamation from Mayor Kate Gallego and ribbon cutting by state Rep. Jen Longdon (D).
- The dispensary's premier location, political embrace and out-the-door line illustrated marijuana's appeal and its evolving public perception in Arizona.
State of play: Florida-based Trulieve acquired Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. of Tempe last year.
- Harvest was Arizona's largest marijuana retailer and the now-combined company is the world's largest.
- Harvest dispensaries in Arizona will be rebranded in the coming months.
Why it matters: Cannabis became a big industry in Arizona almost overnight after recreational sales began in late January 2021. Out-of-state companies, like Trulieve, are eager to capitalize on the new market.
Flashback: Arizona voters overwhelmingly approved recreational marijuana use in November 2020 after rejecting it just four years earlier.
By the numbers: Marijuana sales averaged about $89 million per month in the six months prior to the start of recreational sales, when only medical sales could occur.
- The average monthly sales in the six months after recreational weed was legalized topped $167 million, according to cannabis market researcher Headset.
- The state collected about $308.5 million in marijuana taxes between Jan. 2021 and May 2022, according to the Arizona Department of Revenue.
Yes, but: Sales are down compared with this time last year.
- March 2021 saw the highest monthly revenue at $178.6 million. Last month's sales hit only about $149 million.
3. 🤔 Where are all the D-backs fans?


Attendance at Diamondbacks games is down more than 25% compared with 2019.
Zoom out: Attendance is down for most MLB teams, representing a league-wide decrease of 6.4%, Axios Sports' Jeff Tracy reported last month.
- This will be the league's fifth consecutive non-pandemic-restricted season with declining attendance.
- Season-ticket sales are down 10% this year, to which MLB chief revenue officer Noah Garden attributes much of the decline, per Sportico.
Zoom in: The Diamondbacks are having yet another forgettable season.
- The team has a 49-59 record and is 26 games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
⚾ Jessica here: I went to the D-backs game on Sunday and could not believe how few people were there.
- Attendance tapped out at 20,644 — about 43% of Chase Field's capacity, according to ESPN.
4. Chips and salsa: An extra side of news
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
🗳 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will travel to Arizona to campaign for GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake. (The Hill)
⚖️ Leading figures in the so-called audit of the election in Maricopa County are part of a probe into alleged illegal access of voting machines in Michigan. (12 News)
🏫 Arizona schools have more than 2,000 teacher vacancies to start the new school year. (ABC 15)
🏀 Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi will miss the remainder of the season with a quad injury. (Yahoo! Sports)
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5. The trendiest bar in the East Valley
Photos: Jessica Boehm/Axios
Espiritu Cocktails + Comida is here to prove this is no longer your grandma's downtown Mesa.
- The Mexican cocktail bar opened earlier this year and is elevating the reputation of the once-sleepy East Valley.
State of play: While downtown Mesa has welcomed several breweries and restaurants in the past few years, Espiritu is the first high-end cocktail bar, which is attracting a new clientele to the city once called "America's most conservative."
The intrigue: Espiritu has garnered social media attention for its very Instagrammable decor and drink options.
- Trendy doesn't always translate to good, but in this case it does.
👋 Jessica here: The cocktail list is extensive. Here are three of the best ones I've tried so far.
- ☠️ Los Caidos ($20): Mezcal and rum combined with coconut, lime and pineapple juices and served in a skull mug sprayed with aromatic bitters to resemble blood.
- 🍹 Lichi Lychee Lee-Chee ($15): Described as a "lil mix of China, Mexico and Nicaragua," this drink is made with smoky mezcal, spicy ginger and — you guessed it — lychee.
- 🏴☠️ El Pirata Chingon ($16): Barrel-aged rum, pineapple liqueur and orange bitters served over a giant ice cube imprinted with the bar's fish logo.
😢 Jeremy is mourning the death of David McCullough, one of America's greatest historians, and considers his biographies of John Adams and Harry Truman to be among the best history books he's ever read.
😬 Jessica is not ready for "Better Call Saul" to end.
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