‘The Koz’ Puts the SmackDown on the Viceroy of Tucson, ‘Payday’ Paton

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The wannabe tinhorn dictator of Tucson, Jonathan "Payday" Paton, appointed Viceroy of Tucson by our colonial overlords in the state of Maricopa, wants to "debate" — not an elected official or politiclan mind you, but rather Jeff Rogers, chair of the Pima County Democratic Party. Political notebook:

Former Republican state Sen. Jonathan Paton challenged local Democratic Party chairman Jeff Rogers to a debate about Rio Nuevo.

The Democrats portrayed the Rio Nuevo board, on which Paton sits, alongside Republican mayoral candidate Rick Grinnell, as a do-nothing board – which got Paton's hackles all busy.

Rogers, who is seldom at a loss for a sharp retort, declined to take the bait. "I'm not an expert on Rio Nuevo," he demurred, suggesting Republican Councilman Steve Kozachik fill in for him, since Kozachik has also raised questions about the board's efficacy.

Great idea. Interesting that the Arizona Daily Star failed to report this press release from Council Member Steve Kozachik from Saturday in its reporting. I guess the Star wants to protect its media darling, "Payday" Paton. http://lyris.tucsonaz.gov:81/read/attachment/2018008/2/Media+Release+10-1-11.pdf (.pdf file):

Late Friday afternoon, the Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District filed a notice of intent to sue the taxpayers of this area. The name on the suit is the City of Tucson. The people paying any settlement are you, the taxpayers.

Let's be very clear about a few facts:

1. There are two forensic audits in progress that will identify whether or not there was criminal wrong doing in past Rio Nuevo financial affairs.
2. There is a FBI investigation in progress that will identify whether or not there was criminal wrong doing in past Rio Nuevo financial affairs.
3. There was an Auditor General report issued last year that identified "gross financial mismanagement" in past Rio Nuevo financial affairs.

Every one of those audits and investigations are warranted and necessary. Let them finish. Let the guilty parties be identified.

But the taxpayers of the City of Tucson are not the guilty parties.

Let's also be very clear about what the Rio Nuevo Board has, or has not, spent your money on since it was appointed by the Governor and State Legislature early last year:

1. Spent – Hundreds of thousands of dollars on attorney fees
2. Spent – Their current budget has over $900,000 earmarked for "Administrative Fees"
3. Has not spent – Zero on rehabilitation of capital needs to the Tucson Convention Center
4. Has not spent – Zero on any project related to revitalization of downtown
5. Have not spent – refused to pay local sub contractors for work they performed on the east
entry of the TCC

Let's also be very clear about where they have invested their time and efforts:

1. Threatened shut-down of the Rialto Theatre
2. Threatened shut-down of the Fox Theatre
3. Involved in litigation now with Garfield Traub
4. Accused their own Bond Agent of withholding information related to Bond revenues
5. …and now a lawsuit for $47,000,000 against the taxpayers of the City of Tucson

Adopted 2012 City of Tucson Budget:

– Parks and Recreation: $55,197,910 – shall we shut down all of our parks to pay Rio Nuevo?
– Tucson Police: $150,038,470 – shall we lay off nearly a third of our police force to pay Rio Nuevo?
– Tucson Fire: $72,193,670 – shall we shut down over half of our fire department to pay Rio Nuevo?
– Budget, Internal Audit, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology and Procurement: $48,362,920 – how about if we just eliminate all support services and let the City operate on auto-pilot so this Legislature/Governor appointed Rio Nuevo Board can sue the taxpayers?

Make no mistake: The legacy of Rio Nuevo is one of financial mismanagement that needs to be investigated. The taxpayers deserve to see those who have broken the law punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Make no mistake: The lawsuit filed by Rio Nuevo does nothing to advance that cause and is yet another waste of taxpayer money that only funds attorneys. It reflects a total disregard for the greater good of our community by appointed officials who have successfully kept the legacy of Rio Nuevo alive and well in our community since early 2010.

"The Koz" just put the SmackDown on the Viceroy of Tucson, "Payday" Paton. This is why this media darling prefers to shoot off his big mouth to his enablers in the media rather than engage in any serious debate with someone he knows will wipe the floor with him in a debate.