Our opinion piece two weeks ago about the business sector taking an active role in the election process, took on a life of its own. The Pima County Democratic Party put out a press release painting the article as extremist, right-wing activism, saying:

“Tucson is a progressive city. It cares about its people and its environment, inviting business to the table but refusing to let them buy the table and hog it for themselves. Tucsonans aren’t going to stand for the ranters to rule.” 

The Tea Party group shot back and the Arizona Daily Star picked up the entire saga.

Print this story Email this story Post a Comment ADVERTISEMENT

We’d like to thank all of the above for giving a couple local radio talkshow hosts such great material. Our motto is “If we’re taking flak, we’re over the target.”

You’ll note the article didn’t mention political parties or candidates. We didn’t call for the head of a Democrat and we didn’t put forth a Republican savior. Tucson’s issues supersede politics. But years of ineffective political leadership from both parties has delivered us smack dab at the edge of a big cliff. The absence of a true small business voice has led this community to some ruinous decisions. 

The American Dream

Most people want a good job that pays the bills and leaves some money left for the retirement fund. They want to leave their job, help the kids with the homework and sit down to a quiet family dinner. People want to raise their children in a safe community that shares their values. We all want a home, neighborhood and city to be proud of. For most people the American Dream is simple.  

The reality is that this American Dream is funded by small business. More than 90 percent of Tucson’s private sector jobs are created by small business. The priorities of our small businesses and of local families are importantly interwoven. You want to talk about social justice and progressive politics – how about putting people to work? What’s good for families in Tucson is a healthy business environment that includes lower taxes, an even-handed and expedient  development review process, low crime rates and transparent government. Healthy families need a local government that views small business as an important asset to a healthy community.

Sadly, instead of creating a system that benefits us all, our local politicos make it easy for a select few. These preferred Players run the show. 

Who is the Player?

The Player knows which political butts to kiss and who to write the campaign checks to. The Player gets their projects through quicker, they get rent discounts, street lights, public art, artist lofts, $1 building leases and underpasses designed to accommodate their properties. The Player gets light rail stops, their land purchased for public projects, old fire stations for modern museums. Their development projects include payouts to artist groups or youth centers. The Players take bed tax dollars and pass them to nonprofits without a second thought to their private stakeholders. The Player acts as a consultant one day and casts the key vote on the panel that decides how to spend your tax money the next. The Player knows the game so well they stack the deck, count the cards and watch the suckers fall by the way side.

Economic recovery cannot and will not happen without a measurable uptick in good old American entrepreneurial spirit. Does Tucson welcome that spirit? Do we as a community go above and beyond to lay out the welcome mat? Is our taxing and regulatory environment geared to encourage the risk taker?

So what is the average business owner or citizen to do?  As we move through early ballot season of this year’s local elections, look very carefully at the candidates and the incumbents. Have our incumbents helped to create a playing field that serves the Player or the small business community?  Have you seen your city council taking their photo ops with the Players? Have Players benefited above and beyond the average small business owners? 

The Age of the Players has grown full circle under the Rio Nuevo mess. The electorate is now aware of the back room deals and the voters can connect the dots and are asking tough questions. Your time to make a decision is upon us. Early ballots were mailed out last week and polls be open Nov. 3. Get the facts, research the candidate’s propositions. Wake Up Tucson, look at the direction of our community and do your part.

Contact Joe Higgins at joe@joehigginsinc.com or Chris DiSimone at provenpartners@comcast.net. They’re the hosts of “Wake Up Tucson,” which airs 6 - 7 a.m. weekdays on The Voice KVOI 1030-AM. Information about the show is online at WakeUpTucson.net