230 Riverside Drive New York, NY

The clue came during a close encounter with Alex Argueta.  Argueta has been hired by the landowner, Anam Inc., to promote the Willow Springs project. 

According to Argueta, Anam's Willow Springs project will bring economic prosperity to Oracle – described as a "dying community" by members of Citizens for Positive Growth and Development (CPGD), a group funded by Anam and Robson Communities, Inc.

To substantiate his commitment to save the "dying community" by building a massive bedroom community some 10 miles north of Oracle Junction, Argueta claims he has hired "MacKenzie Associates" to look after "business and economic development" for the project. 

Argueta's page (http://www.theremingtongroup.net/) lists "MacKenzie Associates" as a member of the Willow Springs "core team."  However, there is no such firm at 230 Riverside Drive in New York City -- the address given on Argueta's web page.

Calls to New York directory assistance results in the operator saying that there is no listing for "MacKenzie Associates" in New York. 

Letters sent to the firm are returned to the sender marked "no such address."

So here's the mystery – why would Argueta promise to save what CPDG calls a "dying community" by hiring an apparently fictitious firm to help him do it?

A new clue emerged October 17. 

I had driven from Oracle in to San Manuel to attend the special meeting called by Pinal County to address the water resources for Area 4-B. 

As I was getting my notebook out of my car, Alex Argueta walked by accompanied by a hydrologist in his employ. 

"Mr. Argueta," I said in greeting.

"Mr. Huntington," he replied and continued towards the conference center.

"Alex, I'm still having trouble finding your missing core team member," I said to the back of his head.

Argueta stopped and turned towards me, a puzzled look on his face. 

"You know – MacKenzie Associates, the firm you claim is responsible for business and economic development for Willow Springs.  The firm no one can find," I said.

"That's your problem," he said flatly as he turned on his heel and headed toward the meeting room. 

"My problem?" I asked.

Argueta kept walking away.

"I was wondering why the firm isn't listed in the phone book," I called out.

As Argueta continued to retreat towards the door of the meeting room he said over his shoulder, "She works for Columbia, and uses her home address as the address of the business."

"Then how come there's no one listed in the building by the name of MacKenzie?" I hollered so he could hear me.

There was no answer.  Argueta and his consultant kept walking.

So here is the new clue: the owner of the missing consulting firm is a woman, and she works for "Columbia."

Because Argueta left the meeting early, I was unable to ask follow up questions and had to go to the web. 

Since Columbia University is in New York City, I went to their web site.

A search of the Columbia University directory, revealed four people named "MacKenzie" – three are student assistants and the other teaches Nutrition and Public Health.

So here is what we can piece together about the firm hired by the promoter of Willow Springs to "save" what CPGD calls our "dying community:"

1. The consulting firm is owned by lady who teaches Nutrition and Public Health at Columbia University -- or maybe by a teaching assistant.
2. The owner lives in an apartment at 230 Riverside Drive, New York, NY. and uses that address as the address for their business.
3. The owner of the firm has cleverly disguised its existence by not listing it on the mailboxes in the building and by not having a phone number.