It’s nice when the world complies with my wishes – when people finally see things my way. It’s why I appreciated my editor asking if I wanted to dust off a tired past concept for this column: “New Year’s Resolutions for Other People.”
It saves me from re-inventing the wheel while saving me from any messy self-examination. It’s a win-win for my propensity to half-ass my way to a win. So, on with the all-important business of letting my self-importance convince me I need to tell other people how to run their lives.
Resolution No. 1: Arizona should make a resolution to grow more slowly. Our booming population growth post-pandemic led to booming housing prices – specifically, they went “boom” in the faces of first-time homebuyers. This has cooled a bit. According to the Phoenix Business Journal, more than a third of the Valley’s luxury homes sold in 2025 took a price cut.
Resolution No. 2: To hold off a Blue Tide in 2026, Republicans need to resolve to learn something from a (gasp!) Democrat. Namely, Ruben Gallego. He got elected to the U.S. Senate by using economic-people-speak and admitting things weren’t economically perfect under Joe Biden. With the Dems planning to inject millions into legislative races in states like Arizona, the No. 1 talking point for the GOP needs to be the “A-word” – affordability. However, I don’t know how many Republicans are capable of saying anything President Trump does is wrong.
Resolution No. 3: Speaking of affordability, the minimum wage for Arizona workers increased to $15.15/hour starting January 1. While I’m not interested in debating the merits of Keynesian and Neoclassical schools of economic thought, I would like some of the young folks (who are now making more than my dad did during a large part of his career) to resolve to honor my request for a cheese-free Big Mac. I have lactose issues, after all.
Resolution No. 4: GOP candidates need to resolve to stop seeking President Donald Trump’s endorsement… if there’s someone in the race who’s already received it. Consider the race for Arizona governor. Karrin Taylor Robson is running and has Trump’s endorsement. Andy Biggs is also running and also has it. What are voters supposed to make of that? It’s like endorsing nobody. David Schweikert is the refreshing outlier in the race as the 100-percent Trump-endorsement-free candidate.
Resolution No. 5: Arizona law enforcement leadership needs to resolve to not throw the border-and-immigration-security baby out with the ICE-y bathwater. Though it angers some activists, Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller told me on KTAR’s The AZ Political Podcast that he’s working directly with ICE in a task force – sharing intel to lock up drug smugglers, human traffickers and those committing crimes against children. In other words, prosecuting criminal behavior we wouldn’t tolerate in any American. Why should they get a pass because “evil ICE” might play a part in locking them up?
I’d add a Resolution No. 6 – asking anti-school-choice politicians to stop pretending that ESAs cost more than district public schools to fund – but it’s too big a part of their election bag o’ tricks to let go. So, it’s my resolution to point out that truth as often as possible.
There. I got one in for me.
Jim Sharpe is the host of Arizona’s Morning News on KTAR-FM 92.3 (weekdays 5-9 a.m.). Visit ktar.com to find more information about his on-air work.
