Globe/Miami: is the economy there deteriorating? (Phoenix, Safford: unemployment rate, elementary school)

[ArizonaBear]

I may be relocating to the Globe /Miami area in a year or two..............is the economy there still imploding? Last time I was out that way (a few weeks ago) it felt like a 'depression'.

Note to Moderators: wrong Forum; please move my post.

[AzDreamer]

Below is a link where you can see the unemployment rate for a county for any month. Data is available for September 2008.

The Gila county unemployment rate has gone up from 4.2% to 6.6% since September 2007. For comparison, Maricopa county has gone up from 3.2% to 5.3%.

The price of copper probably has a big impact on the Gila county economy. It's way down now from where it's been the last three years.

Map: LA

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by AzDreamer

Below is a link where you can see the unemployment rate for a county for any month. Data is available for September 2008.

The Gila county unemployment rate has gone up from 4.2% to 6.6% since September 2007. For comparison, Maricopa county has gone up from 3.2% to 5.3%.

The price of copper probably has a big impact on the Gila county economy. It's way down now from where it's been the last three years.

Map: LA

The copper mine thing had me wondering as well. I stopped in an auto parts store there and despite BHP (?) being there--------the mining outfit basically brought in its own people hence bypassing the 'local talent'.

Back in 1998 Globe seemed much more alive--------now, it is showing signs of being a ghost town. Many empty storefronts along Broad St, etc.

[thegirlinaz]

It isn't looking good as far as the mine goes..

News : Freeport announces production cutbacks at Safford, Morenci - Eastern Arizona Courier

[AzDreamer]

Pollution from mines and smelters would be enough to keep me away. Even if the health risk is only imagined the effect on property values would be real.

From today's Arizona Republic...

The air outside two schools 80 miles east of Phoenix is thought to contain high levels of known toxicants, according to a USA Today analysis of data from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The data indicate that in recent years, both sulfuric acid and arsenic were routinely emitted into the air near Miami-area schools during the course of operations at a local copper smelter.

Sulfuric acid can cause respiratory problems, and arsenic is a carcinogen. But whether the air near Las Lomas Elementary School and Miami High School actually poses a health risk is uncertain.

Air near 2 Ariz. schools of concern

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by AzDreamer

Pollution from mines and smelters would be enough to keep me away. Even if the health risk is only imagined the effect on property values would be real.

From today's Arizona Republic...

The air outside two schools 80 miles east of Phoenix is thought to contain high levels of known toxicants, according to a USA Today analysis of data from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The data indicate that in recent years, both sulfuric acid and arsenic were routinely emitted into the air near Miami-area schools during the course of operations at a local copper smelter.

Sulfuric acid can cause respiratory problems, and arsenic is a carcinogen. But whether the air near Las Lomas Elementary School and Miami High School actually poses a health risk is uncertain.

Air near 2 Ariz. schools of concern

Wowza!

Your link just answered a huge question for me-----------methinks I need to back out of moving to the Globe/Miami area.

EDIT: in all fairness the acid rain problems were 40-50 years ago.........I doubt the EPA would stand for that sort of pollution today.

The part in the article concerning the concrete deterioration now explains why so many of the steps in especially Miami are bad even by '4 season' back east standards.