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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SCAMS TO WATCH OUT FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

>>> AND A RELATIVELY MODEST COST OF LIVING INCREASE IN SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

>>> AND WE'LL HEAR HOW SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE GEARING UP FOR THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL JOINS US EACH MONTH TO ADDRESS ISSUES INVOLVING HER OFFICE.

TONIGHT OUR DISCUSSION INVOLVES RETAIL AND OTHER SCAMS THAT TARGET CONSUMERS DURING THE HOLIDAY.

WE WELCOME MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL TO "ARIZONA HORIZON" AGAIN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

TED: I WANT TO TALK ON THE SCAMS IN A SECOND.

THE VIDEO OF THIS GENTLEMAN BEING LITERALLY PUNCHED WHILE HELD BY SECURITY GUARDS, WINDS UP LOSING HIS LIFE, THE GUY WHO BEING LOOKS HE'S DOING THE PUNCHING WHILE THE OTHER IS RESTRAINED, NO CHARGES.

WHY NOT?

>> I WANTED TO REVIEW THAT ONE PERSONALLY AFTER OTHER ATTORNEYS HAD MADE IT, AND IT'S A DIFFICULT CASE, IT'S A TRAGIC CASE.

I REVIEWED THAT FROM A MULTITUDE OF ANGLES, NOT ALL OF WHICH ARE ONLINE THAT I'VE SEEN.

AND BY THE WAY, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SECURITY GUARD CASES.

THIS IS NOT ONE WHERE THEY TAKE THE MAN TO THE EDGE OF THE EVENT WHEN HE'S ON HIS KNEES.

THIS IS THE ONE WHERE SOMEBODY IS STILL UP AND SWINGING, AND WHAT WE COULD SEE FROM SOME OF THE OTHER ANGLES IS THE VICTIM, AND HE'S STILL THE VICTIM.

HE LOST HIS LIFE IN THIS, BUT HE IS A LARGE MAN, HE'S 6'5", THERE'S A SECURITY GUARD TRYING TO RESTRAIN HIM BUT HE'S FULLY THROWING PUNCHES.

PUNCHES ANOTHER PERSON AFFILIATED WITH THE SECURITY GUARDS AND IS PUNCHED AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT WHEN THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL COMES UP AND PUNCHES HIM, BUT HE'S NOT RESTRAINED AND, IN FACT, HIS GIRLFRIEND IS INTERVENING AT THAT MOMENT.

SHE'S TRYING TO WEDGE HERSELF BETWEEN THE SECURITY GUARD AND HIM AND JUMP ON THE SECURITY GUARD'S BACK.

THE PROBLEM IS THIS, IN ARIZONA WE HAVE TO SHOW THAT ONCE THEY SAY THAT THERE'S SELF-DEFENSE CLAIM OR DEFENSE OF OTHERS, WHICH IS WHAT THIS IS, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REBUT THAT TO A UNANIMOUS JURY BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.

AND THE DECISION IS MINE, BUT THE UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT THAT IS NOT GOING TO SUFFICE IN THIS CASE.

TED: IT WOULD SEEM FROM A DISTANCE, WATCHING THIS, IT'S A TROUBLING VIDEO TO WATCH HERE.

>> VERY.

TED: IT WOULD SEEM AS THOUGH HE WAS RESTRAINED ENOUGH TO WHERE THAT PARTICULAR ACTION WASN'T ENTIRELY NECESSARY.

AGAIN, THAT'S THE VISUAL, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING AND WHAT THE RESULT IS, NO CRIMINAL CONSEQUENCES, NO MANSLAUGHTER, NO NOTHING?

>> FIRST OF ALL, HE IS STILL FACING CRIMINAL CONSEQUENCES FOR GIVING INFORMATION THAT MAY NOT BE TRUE ON HIS EMPLOYMENT CARD.

SO THAT'S STILL UNDER REVIEW.

ACTUALLY WE'VE ASKED THE POLICE TO DO MORE INVESTIGATION, BUT FROM THE OTHER ANGLE WHAT WE COULD SEE IS HE WAS STILL IN THE FIGHT AT THE TIME THAT THAT SECURITY GUARD CAME IN AND THE ONE THAT WAS TRYING TO HOLD ONTO HIM DID NOT HAVE HIM SECURED.

TED: LAST QUESTION ON THIS, COUPLE LAST QUESTIONS ON THIS, THE ATTORNEY FOR THE FAMILY CALLS YOUR DECISION LUDICROUS, AND SAYS IT CALLS INTO QUESTION THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROSECUTORS, BETWEEN POLICE AND SECURITY GUARDS.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> WELL, WHAT I WOULD RESPOND TO THAT IS THE INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTING THE FAMILY IS SOMEONE WHO WORKS AS A DEFENSE COUNSEL, IF HE WERE REPRESENTING THIS INDIVIDUAL WHO THREW THE PUNCH, I'M SURE WE WOULD GET QUITE A DIFFERENT STATEMENT BECAUSE HE'S VERY AWARE OF THE SELF-DEFENSE LAWS IN ARIZONA, AND IT IS VERY HARD TO OVERCOME THAT, WHEN SOMEBODY IS IN THE FIGHT.

TED: THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION ON THIS POINT.

WE'RE FINDING OUT -- THE "ARIZONA REPUBLIC" DID A DEEP DIVE ON THIS GUY.

>> THEY DID.

TED: WE SAW THROWING THE PUNCH, HE'S GOT A TROUBLING BACKGROUND.

DOES THAT BACKGROUND FACTOR INTO YOUR DECISION?

>> YES AND NO.

FACTORS IN THE SENSE I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PERSON I'M MAKING A DECISION ON, BUT I ALSO HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION IS IT LIKELY THAT ANY OF THAT WILL COME INTO TRIAL?

AND ABSENT IT BE RELEVANT IN SOME PARTICULAR WAY, IT'S NOT GOING TO COME INTO TRIAL.

THERE WAS NOTHING ABOUT HIS BACKGROUND THAT MADE ME THINK THAT ANY OF THAT WOULD BE ADMISSIBLE AT TRIAL.

SO THE JURY WOULD NOT HEAR THAT.

TED: ALL RIGHT, SOMETHING ELSE BEFORE WE GET TO RETAIL SCAMS.

ROAD RAGE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S ALSO BEEN IN THE HEADLINES HERE, AND WHY DOES IT -- FIRST OF ALL, ARE WE SEEING MORE VIOLENT ROAD RAGE, I GUESS REDUNDANT, INCIDENTS OUT THERE, AND HALF THE TIME, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A CHILD IN EITHER OR BOTH VEHICLES.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> YOU KNOW, WE DON'T TRACK CRIMES BY ROAD RAGE VERSUS OTHER TYPES OF ASSAULT OR MURDER, BUT ANECDOTALLY, I CAN TELL YOU WE'RE SEEING MORE OF THAT.

YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE'RE SEEING KIDS IN THE CARS.

WE HAD THE TEMPE CASE, NOT TOO LONG AGO, WHERE THE CHILD FILMED HIS FATHER GETTING SHOT, AND THE PERSON WHO DID THE SHOOTING HAD HIS DAUGHTER IN THE CAR.

JUST THIS WEEKEND, WE HAD AN 8-YEAR-OLD KILLED.

TED: SO HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT PROSECUTING OR LOOKING AT PROSECUTING SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

HOW DO YOU PROVE OR DISPROVE SELF-DEFENSE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IN THE TEMPE CASE, WE FILED CHARGES IN THAT SITUATION, AND THE GRAND JURY DID NOT INDICT.

I THINK BECAUSE NEITHER PARTY HAD COMPLETELY CLEAN HANDS IN THAT.

THE PERSON WHO WAS SHOT, GOT OUT OF HIS CAR, AND WAS COMING TOWARD THE SHOOTER AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

IN MOST CASES, AND THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A BONE I HAVE TO PICK WITH THE MEDIA, THEY COVER THAT BECAUSE IT'S THE EXCEPTION, BUT THE RULE IS, IN MOST CASES, WE ARE ABLE TO SHOW THAT IT IS NOT SELF-DEFENSE, AND WE DO CHARGE IT.

TED: REAL QUICKLY, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SHOW?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO PROVE?

>> WE HAVE TO SHOW THAT THEY EITHER INTENTIONALLY PLACED A PERSON IN FEAR FOR THEIR LIFE, OR MAYBE THEY FIRED A WEAPON, OR MAYBE THERE IS A DEATH, LIKE WE HAD TWO DEATHS THIS WEEKEND.

THEN WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT IT'S NOT SELF-DEFENSE.

A LOT OF THESE CASES ARE CAUGHT ON VIDEO AS WELL, SO WE CAN SHOW WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED, BUT THE TEMPE CASE, LIKE I SAID, NEITHER PARTY HAD COMPLETELY CLEAN HANDS.

THAT WAS THE PROBLEM THE GRAND JURY HAD WITH IT.

TED: RETAIL AND GIFT CARDS -- I KNEW WE WOULD GET TO IT SOONER OR LATER.

ARE THEY ALWAYS A BIGGIE?

ARE WE SEEING MORE?

SEEING LESS?

HOW DOES THE INTERNET, HOW DOES SOCIAL MEDIA, EVERYTHING WITH DIGITAL, PLAY INTO ALL THIS?

>> THE OTHER THING I WOULD ADD IS A.I.

IS MAKING THINGS MUCH MORE REALISTIC LOOKING TO PEOPLE.

SO IT'S MUCH EASIER TO SCAM THEM.

WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE MORE INCREASE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

SO GIFT CARDS, PEOPLE NEED TO BE WARE BEE THAT, IF THEY'RE PICKING THEM OUT OFF OF A DISPLAY, THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF TAMPERING.

ALSO BEST IF IT'S A STORE THAT WILL GIVE YOU A SECONDARY P.I.N.

NUMBER AT REGISTER WHEN YOU CHECK OUT.

OTHERWISE, SOMEBODY COULD HAVE RECORDED THAT NUMBER AND THE MONEY YOU PUT ON IT WILL BE GONE BEFORE YOU GIVE THE GIFT.

TED: HOW OFTEN ARE WE SEEING THESE THINGS?

>> I KNOW ONE GROCERY STORE IN ARIZONA IS REIMBURSING PEOPLE WHO SUFFER A LOSS, AND THEY'RE PAYING A MILLION DOLLARS A MONTH AS AN EXAMPLE.

TED: THAT'S GIFT CARDS.

AS FAR AS RETAIL STUFF AND AS FAR AS THE INTERNET IS CONCERNED AND GIVING OUT INFORMATION.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING AND WHAT DO YOU WATCH FOR?

>> YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES CRYPTOCURRENCY, ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES PAYING WITH GIFT CARDS, THINGS THAT INVOLVE PAYING THROUGH AN APP SUCH AS AN APP THAT YOU CAN TRANSFER MONEY THROUGH OR A BANK TRANSFER, THOSE ARE THE FASTEST WAYS WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE LOSE MONEY.

I WOULD SAY IS THIS, GO WITH THE GUT INSTINCT, IF IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT, DON'T DO IT.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, TALK TO A FRIEND, SEE WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT IT, BUT NO LEGITIMATE COMPANY IS GOING TO CALL AND SAY GIVE ME YOUR BANK CARD NUMBER, YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER, DON'T DO IT.

TED: WHEN THEY ASK FOR BIRTH DATE, WHEN THEY ASK FOR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, THAT SHOULD BE RAISING ALL RED FLAGS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

DON'T GIVE THAT INFORMATION, DRIVER'S LICENSE, ET CETERA.

TED: DO YOU SEE IT THIS TIME YEAR OR PRETTY MUCH YEARAROUND?

>> IT'S YEARAROUND, ESPECIALLY THE GIFT CARDS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BUYING THOSE.

TED: I THINK THE GIFT CARD THING, YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, YOU SEE THEM ON THE CAROUSELS, WHO KNOWS WHAT YOU'RE GETTING THERE, AND CAN YOU TAKE THEM TO THE SELF-HELP, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AREA OR THE CASHIER AND JUST SAY GIVE ME ANOTHER NUMBER HERE?

>> SOME BUSINESSES HAVE A TWO-STEP PROCESS, SO YOU GET IT OFF THE CAROUSEL, BUT THERE'S A P.I.N.

NUMBER THAT HAS TO BE PROVIDED AT THE REGISTER TO MAKE THAT ACTIVATED, AND THAT WAY IF SOMEBODY HAS TAKEN IT OFF THE CAROUSEL AND RECORDED THE NUMBER, THEY WON'T HAVE THE P.I.N.

NUMBER.

THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE SAFE.

TED: RACHEL MITCHELL, MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

TED: THANK YOU.

.

TED: THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS KNOWN AS COLA IS SET TO INCREASE BY 2.8% IN 2026, A TOUCH MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

NOWHERE NEAR THE INCREASES WHEN INFLATION WAS MUCH HIGHER.

JAY SPECTOR IS HERE TO TELL US AND TELL US ABOUT THIS.

IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE AT LEAST, 2.5 LAST YEAR?

>> 2.5, 2.6 LAST YEAR.

TED: 2.8 THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF INFLATION, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

CORRECT.

YOU'VE SEEN -- IN PAST, DURING THE COVID TIME FRAME, WE HAD INCREASES OF NORTH OF 5%.

ONE YEAR WE HAD 8.3%, AND THAT'S DUE TO THIRD QUARTER NUMBERS THAT THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION USES TO PEG FUTURE INCREASES TO SOCIAL SECURITY.

TED: SO 2.8%, MAYBE AVERAGES OUT TO $56 A MONTH.

IT'S NOT BAD, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO PAY FOR A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON, IS THERE?

>> BETWEEN 50 TO $60 A MONTH, BUT YOU HAVE TO THINK MEDICARE INCREASES ARE MORE THAN THAT.

MOST RETIREES ARE NOT GOING TO SEE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE TO THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY, AND IT'S REALLY NOT MEANT TO PROVIDE A HUGE INCREASE, IT'S SUPPOSED TO HELP WITH THE RISING COST OF GOODS, BUT MOST RETIREES' COST OF LIVING IS MUCH HIGHER THAN WHAT KIND OF THE AVERAGE AMERICANS' COST OF LIVING IS.

TED: IF IT WAS MUCH HIGHER LAST YEAR, 2.8% INCREASE IS NOT GOING TO KEEP THE HEAD MORE ABOVE WATER, IS IT?

>> NOT AT ALL.

YOU GOT RISING INFLATION IN FOOD, IN MEDICAL SERVICES, PRESCRIPTIONS AND SO FORTH, AND THAT'S GOING TO COMPLETELY ERODE WHAT THOSE RETIREES ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR COMING UP.

TED: ARE THOSE THINGS INCREASING MORE THAN 2.8%?

>> ABSOLUTELY THEY'RE INCREASING.

FOR RETIREES THEY ARE INCREASING MORE AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL.

RETIREES RUN ON FIXED INCOME.

TED: FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOME, WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?

DO THE BEST YOU CAN?

>> OBVIOUSLY, DO THE BEST YOU CAN, AS FAR AS 50, $60 A MONTH, WHAT DO YOU ADVISE?

>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD.

THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOP SUPPLEMENTAL PLANS TO SEE IF THEY CAN REDUCE THE COST OF THEIR MEDICAL COVERAGE.

THEY HAVE TO BE KEEN SHOPPERS AND KEENLY AWARE OF WHAT THEIR EXPENSES ARE AND SEE WHERE THEY CAN CUT EXPENSES IF FUNDS AREN'T STRETCHED AS THEY WERE BEFORE.

BIGGEST THING FOR RETIREES IS GET A HANDLE ON WHERE MEDICAL INSURANCES, SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE AND SEE IF THEY CAN SHOP THAT AROUND FOR BETTER COVERAGE.

TED: IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS OFTEN NEGLECTED OR NOT PUT ON TOP SHELF WITH RETIREES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PEOPLE HAVE A SET IT AND FORGET IT ATTITUDE.

THIS IS WHAT I'M PAYING FOR MEDICARE INSURANCE.

LET ME SEE WHAT THE OTHER BENEFITS ARE OUT THERE.

DO I REDUCE BENEFITS, INCREASE BENEFITS TO SAVE REDUCES?

TED: THERE WAS TALK AMONG THOSE IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, MAYBE PERHAPS LOOKING AT PRIVATIZING SOCIAL SECURITY.

WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE MEDICARE ISSUES AS WELL THAT ARE OUT THERE.

THE SOLVENCY OF BOTH OF THESE PROMISE, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> I DON'T REALLY SEE THAT SOCIAL SECURITY IS GOING TO GO BANKRUPT.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IS THAT ABOUT 75 TO 80% OF PAYCHECK PAYROLL TAXES COVERS SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

SO UNLESS CONGRESS ACTS BY THE MID 30s, IN ABOUT 10 YEARS, ACTS TO INCREASE THE AGE OF THE BENEFIT AGE WHICH IS RIGHT NOW 67 FOR FULL RETIREMENT AGE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, IF THEY REDUCE BENEFITS UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ANOTHER OPTION THEY HAVE.

THEY HAVE OTHER WAYS TO INCREASE THE PAYROLL TAX OR INCREASE THE LIMIT THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

TED: ARE YOU EXPECTING ANY OF THOSE THINGS, ESPECIALLY RISING FOR INCREASING THE AGE FOR FULL RETIREMENT?

>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE GOVERNMENT -- WE'RE FACING ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN POTENTIALLY IN JANUARY, AND IT'S ALL OVER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND SUBSIDIES FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR INCREASES IN THEIR OWN HEALTH INSURANCE.

IT'S A CAN THEY KEEP KICKING DOWN THE STREET.

TED: THE COLA INCREASE WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION WITH, HOW MUCH DOES THAT IMPACT THE ECONOMY?

DO YOU SEE IT RIPPLING IN OTHER AREAS?

>> YOU'RE SEEING THE INCREASE IN EXPENSES RETIREES HAVE, FOOD, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, MEDICAL INSURANCE, EXPENSES, PROPERTY TAXES GOING UP AT A HIGHER CLIP, 6 TO 8% HIGHER THAN THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE THEY'RE GETTING IN SOCIAL SECURITY.

TED: SO THOSE WHO ARE RETIRED RIGHT NOW AND WE'LL BE SEEING THE 50 TO $60 AVERAGE INCREASE, WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE?

>> LIKE ANYBODY PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT, THEY NEED TO GET A HANDLE WHAT THE BUDGET IS.

ONCE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT DEBTS AND CREDITS ARE, WHAT INCOME IS COMING IN AND GOING OUT ON A MONTHLY BASIS, THEY CAN MAKE APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS.

WHAT LEVEL DO THEY HAVE MEDICAL COVERAGE, WHAT ARE THE OTHER EXPENSES?

IF YOU HAVE A CABLE OR SATELLITE DISH BILL, CAN YOU GO TO A LOWER LEVEL TO SAVE DOLLARS EACH MONTH?

GET A HANDLE ON WHAT YOUR BUDGET IS FIRST BEFORE YOU MAKE THE DECISIONS.

TED: YOU KIND OF ANSWERED THIS ALREADY, FOR THOSE PLANNING TO RETIRE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, SAME ADVICE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

GET A HANDLE ON WHAT YOUR BUDGET IS.

FUTURE INCOME SCENARIO LOOKS LIKE TO PLAN TO RETIRE WHEN YOU WANT TO AND HAVE THE RESOURCES TO LIVE THE LIFESTYLE YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED TO.

TED: LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO, WHAT QUESTION DO YOU GET MOST FROM FOLKS WHO ARE RETIRED OR PLANNING TO RETIRE?

>> I GET THE BUDGET QUESTION.

WE'RE SPENDING X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS EACH MONTH, HOW DO I CONVERT MY PORTFOLIO INTO AN INCOME GENERATING PORTFOLIO TO LIVE THE WAY WE'RE LIVING?

HOW DO I DO THAT.

TED: JAY SPECTOR, EVERVEST FOUNDING PARTNER, GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

YOU, TOO.

.

TED: THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON IS UPON US, AND ONE ARIZONA ORGANIZATION IS FOCUSING ON HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AROUND THE STATE WITH A GOAL OF ENCOURAGING CUSTOMERS TO DO THEIR SHOPPING WITHIN ARIZONA COMMUNITIES.

THE ORGANIZATION IS CALLED LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA, AND KIMBER LANNING IS THE CEO AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

THIS IS YOUR BABY.

HOW DID THIS GET STARTED AND HOW LONG AGO?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I FOUNDED THE ORGANIZATION 23 YEARS AGO.

TED: WOW!

>> REALLY BECAUSE I WANTED LOCAL BUSINESSES TO HAVE A VOICE, TO HAVE A SEAT AT TABLE, AND I DIDN'T IMAGINE AT THAT TIME THAT WE'D GO TO BUILD THE LARGEST LOCAL BUSINESS COALITION IN THE COUNTRY, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE.

PEOPLE HAVE MOVED FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND A LOT OF TIMES THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEY BEHAVE AID IN TOTAL LOCALIZED MANNER, AND WE NEED TO WORK HARD IN ARIZONA TO CONNECT TO THOSE PEOPLE TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

TED: OVER THE YEARS, TALK ABOUT WHERE THINGS STARTED AND WHERE THINGS ARE NOW?

>> ONE STATISTIC I LOVE TO SHARE IS WE HAD TWO CHAIN RESTAURANTS FOR EVERY ONE LOCAL RESTAURANT, TODAY THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.

TODAY WE HAVE TWO LOCAL RESTAURANTS FOR EVERY ONE CHAIN RESTAURANT.

THERE ARE MANY, MANY WAYS TO POINT TO HAVING A STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY.

PEOPLE NEED TO REMEMBER THE MORE YOU SUPPORT THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, IT KEEPS DOLLARS CIRCULATING HERE AT HOME.

TED: THREE TIMES THE MONEY YOU SPEND IS AS FAR AS CIRCULATING AROUND AND ACCELERATING?

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ONLINE WITH A BIG CORPORATION THAT IS FAR AWAY, THAT MONEY GETS EXTRACTED AND DOESN'T COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES.

IF YOU SUPPORT A LOCAL BUSINESS, OFTENTIMES THEY HAVE A LOCAL BOOKKEEPER, LOCAL WEB DESIGNER, GRAPHIC DESIGN FIRM THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOGO THEY HAVE.

THAT KEEPS DOLLARS CIRCULATING.

IT'S A POWERFUL THING.

TED: HOLIDAY MESSAGE IS SKIP THE PREDICTABLE AND GIVE LOCAL.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT?

>> SO MANY GREAT DEALS TO BE HAD.

SO WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TRY THEIR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

A GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE WILDERNESS BREWING, BUY $100 GIFT CARD, YOU GET A $25 ONE.

ONE KID WOULDN'T LOVE A SKATEBOARD.

THERE ARE SO MANY LOCAL CHOICES FOR KEEPING THE DOLLARS LOCAL, AND YOU GET GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE.

TED: HOW IMPORTANT IS THE HOLIDAY SEASON, THIS TIME OF YEAR, TO A LOCAL AND/OR SMALL BUSINESS?

>> WELL, REMEMBER THAT LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE NOT A MONOLITH.

FOR OUR RETAILERS AND RESTAURANTS, IT'S EVERYTHING.

I MEAN SO MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES COUNT ON THE HOLIDAY SEASON TO PROP THEM UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR SUMMER MONTHS HERE IN ARIZONA, OUR RESTAURANTS ARE EXPERIENCING OUR SUMMER USED TO BE THREE MONTHS.

IT IS NOW SIX MONTHS.

TED: YEAH.

>> SO A LOT OF TIMES WHEN FOLKS ARE JUST TOO HOT, TOO EXHAUSTED TO GO OUT.

THAT IMPACTS ALL OF US.

SO THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE ARE STOCKING UP AND WE ARE COUNTING ON COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME ON OUT.

TED: YES, AND YOU SAY WE ARE, YOU'RE A LOCAL BUSINESS, YOU'VE BEEN A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER FOR A LONG TIME.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

38 YEARS, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK MAKES LOCAL FIRST WORKCY KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH.

I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO GO THROUGH A REALLY DIFFICULT SUMMER, WHERE I SELL A PRODUCT THAT MELTS IN THE SUMMERTIME, YOU GOT TO KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR THAT.

BUT ABSOLUTELY.

LOCAL BUSINESSES TAKE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF FORMS, AND THE MORE WE CAN SUPPORT OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, THE MORE THEY IN TURN KEEP DOLLARS WITH OTHER ENTERPRISES LIKE BUSINESS SERVICE PROVIDERS.

>> NOW WE CAN GO TO YOUR WEBSITE AND FIND A LIST OF FOLKS INVOLVED.

LOCALLY OWNED AND RUN BUSINESSES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS AND VARIETY OF SECTORS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE A DIRECTORY WITH 6,000 BUSINESSES.

SHOP LOCAL FIRST AZ.COM, AND YOU CAN SEARCH BY -- FOR THOSE PEOPLE WATCHING FROM AROUND THE STATE, WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, A TEAM IN TUCSON, FLAGSTAFF, PAYSON, WHEREVER YOU ARE HEADED, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR YOU.

TED: I KNOW YOU EMPHASIZE THINGS LIKE EXPERIENCES, NOT INSTEAD OF THINGS BUT ALONG WITH THINGS.

DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN, THAT'S AN EXPERIENCE, YOU CAN GIVE AS A GIFT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE PHOENIX ZOO.

THE PHOENIX ART MUSEUM MEMBERSHIPS.

WE HAVE THINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INTO FITNESS.

WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM SKATEBOARDING TO PILATES, YOGA STUDIOS, TO SOUL SPORTS RUNNING.

IT DEPENDS WHAT KIND OF PERSON YOU HAVE IN YOUR FAMILY.

WE TRULY HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

TED: GIVING LOCAL.

WE TALKED ABOUT GIFT CARDS EARLIER, BUT GIVING LOCAL GIFT CARDS, BIG DEAL?

>> IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.

GIFT CARDS ARE THE WAY TO GO.

I'M AMAZED HOW MANY GREAT SPECIALS THERE ARE.

MOSTLY BUY ONE, GET ONE, I MENTIONED WILDERNESS BREWING HAS A GREAT DEAL OUT IF YOU BUY $100 GIFT CARD, YOU GET A $20 BONUS CARD.

TED: WHERE DO YOU GO, ON THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY, WE'RE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THAT.

WHERE DO YOU GO AND WHAT DO YOU SEE?

A DROPDOWN LIST, RIGHT?

>> DIRECTORY THAT IS EASY TO SEARCH, SHOP LOCAL AZ.COM.

>> THANK YOU AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.