Businesses unite against the expensive recall campaign

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I received this press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS

February 6, 2010

Pam Sutherland, 520-548-1451

June Webb-Vignery, 520-299-1257

 

 

BUSINESSES UNITE AGAINST THE EXPENSIVE RECALL CAMPAIGN

 

TUCSON—The bi-partisan “Oppose the Expensive Recall” committee launched this week to combat the proposed recall of Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup and City Councilors Regina Romero and Karin Uhlich.

 

“Times are tough and we are all in this together – let’s stop shooting at each other and instead work toward solutions to our economic crisis,” said Pam Sutherland, a local business attorney and partner in Downtown’s successful Ice House Lofts project.  “The misguided and harmful recall campaign needs to be terminated immediately,” Sutherland stated, “It’s dividing our community at a time when we need to be pulling together.”

 

Republican educator June Webb-Vignery focused on the waste of money and energy that the recall would require:  “We should be using our scarce funds for our core programs, not paying for another election.”  Cost estimates for the recall election vary from $400,000 – $800,000 – at a time when the City of Tucson is in a budget deficit of approximately $32,000,000.

 

The Mayor and City Councilors have been working to ease the pain for Tucson business owners and spur economic development for the city. 

 

  • All have held numerous town halls, roundtables, and other meetings with businesses across Tucson to maintain open communication and seek input;
  • Mayor and Council demanded changes to the Land use Code (LUC) with changes to sign codes and parking requirements (this effort has been on-going since last spring);
  • Councilmembers Regina Romero and Karin Uhlich spearheaded changes to the city’s procurement policies to favor locally-owned businesses; 
  • Romero has shepherded protected developer rights, saving developers fees and time;
  • Mayor Walkup has called for reform to the City Charter and annexation of unincorporated areas so that Tucson and Southern Arizona may have its share of the tax revenue generated from that area;  and
  • Under the current city council’s stewardship, the city has been awarded $22,000,000 in Neighborhood Stabilization Program II funds to purchase and renovate foreclosed-upon homes for low-income home buyers which will have the added effect of increasing jobs in the building sector.

 

What our economy needs right now is the best of ALL our efforts.  Political stability is vital to our economic recovery.  Campaign season is over.  The voters have spoken.  It is time to end the political shenanigans and focus on the work ahead.

 

 

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