I’m really shocked by all the back-and-forth I’m seeing and the hatred between both sides. I know someone had to lose, but it was a shocking upset, and everyone knows the Padres had the better team than those crappy old Dodgers.
Anyone else ready for the election to be over? The uncertainty was exhausting, no matter how you wanted it to end. But sadly, it won’t really end. We will just transition to a different uncertainty of what will happen next.
Yes, elections have consequences, but there is one thing I would like to point out about our great country. They talk about how we have a “peaceful transition of power.” However, I would like to point out that in our country, the power is “given” to our government by we the people, so perhaps we should call it a “peaceful transition of responsibility.”
It is too early to tell how closely legislation will reflect campaign promises. The extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, set to expire at the end of 2025, would seem certain to be extended. Other tax proposals like cutting corporate rates to 15% and ending tax on tips and Social Security are still big question marks. I will tell you, though, if they stop taxing tips, we are going to revise all of our commission schedules to be called tips and I’m buying iPads with a box for 5%, 6% or 7% to check out with on all of our deal closings.
In 2022, Warren Buffett wrote that in his 80 years of investing, he had “yet to see a time when it made sense to make a long-term bet against America.” I think that is still the case today.
Nick’s Numbers
Happy Holidays to all. This month’s chart echoes Don’s comments about America. We still have the strongest and fastest-growing economy in the Western world.
If you would like an analysis of your properties’ value or discuss what you should be doing concerning interest rates or inflation and their impacts on your business, tenants, or property, I’d be happy to talk. (Nick Zech, 858-232-2100, nzech@cdccommerical.com).
OK, so here are the Bah Humbugs!
Although voters rejected a one-percentage-point sales tax increase for the county and separately for the City of San Diego, voters did approve a full percentage-point increase in Escondido, San Marcos, and Lemon Grove. At 8.75%, they join Solana Beach and Del Mar.
Early in November the Escondido City Council quietly passed a first-in-the-county ordinance. It is called a Vacancy Ordinance. In short, if you have a vacant space (yes 400 sf or 400,000 sf) for more than 30 days, you must register it with the city, with a one-time registration fee of $1,042, and then pay $3,432 per year, along with a number of other stipulations (including providing a security plan for that space). If you don’t believe me, you can read it in detail here: Read the Vacancy Ordinance
If you wish to discuss it more or register your concern or complaint, I suggest reaching out to the Director of Economic Development,
Jennifer Schoeneck
Jennifer.Schoeneck@escondido.gov
Office: 760.839.4587
California Bans the Sale of Fluorescent Lighting
Starting January 1, 2025, fluorescent lighting and bulbs will be banned from sale in the state of California. Businesses will have to retrofit all their light fixtures to LED. LED is more efficient, and the fixtures and bulbs last much longer.
Business owners will see an immediate savings of around 60% on the lighting costs. However, there will be a cost to retrofit all the fixtures to LED that will have to be paid upfront. Your power company may offer a rebate program that may cover the entire cost of the retrofit.
I love Christmas. It has always been far and away my favorite holiday. For me, Christmas has always been the holiday of gratitude, even more than Thanksgiving. Surrounded by loved ones, nurtured by traditions, and sandwiched between the glories and disappointments of the year that is past and the hopes and challenges of the year to come.
We at CDC Commercial would like to wish you all a Happy Holiday and hope you see a light at the end of the tunnel and that it is more than just Rudolph’s red nose. Hope you enjoy the story…
They may not have sorted out how Santa’s reindeer can fly, but scientists say there is an optical explanation for just how beneficial it is that Rudolph’s nose burns red and bright. Reporting in the journal Frontiers for Young Minds, a Dartmouth anthropology professor says that Arctic reindeer are (at least among mammals) uniquely qualified to see ultraviolet light – a useful trait in the darker winter months when the sun is low on the horizon and emits more UV light than usual. The reflective tissue in their eyes turns a deep blue to help them see in the dark. The problem is, fog extinguishes this hue, reports Phys.org. Rudloph’s glowing red nose, then, solves this conundrum when it’s time to steer Santa’s sleigh through the fog. Unfortunately, that red nose comes with an unfortunate side effect.
Because reindeer’s noses are so vascular, a glowing one would likely cause excessive heat loss with potential for hypothermia. “It is therefore imperative for children to provide high-calorie foods to help Rudolph replenish his energetic reserves on Christmas Eve,” the anthropologist advises. While he adds that the frequency of fog is on the decline thanks to climate change, kids can still help the reindeer’s odds by providing chocolate chip cookies in case Santa’s team encounters any on the big night, reports Red Orbit. Another hypothesis floating around is that Rudolph’s nose is infected – and thus inflamed – with parasites. “Such contrasting hypotheses invite testing,” reports the PLoS Ecology blog. “It is hoped that future research on the optical properties of Arctic light and fog will shed, dare I say, new light on the extraordinary biology and sensory ecology of reindeer.”
