Utah is hovering at just over 4% unemployment. It seems the economic crisis skipped over their state and landed in Nevada, Arizona and California. How did they do it? Here’s a hint; it took leadership and years of planning. Utah leaders embarked on a multi year project, Envision Utah. The Southern Arizona Leadership Council brought in organizers of the Envision Utah program about a year ago. A crowd of about 500 heard how Utah navigated through the wide variety of interests to come out with a comprehensive plan that would set their state on the path to prosperity for the next Read More
Men’s Heath gave Tucson and F as one of the drunkest cities in America. Read the findings and the full report at this months issue of the magazine. Read More
COLORADO SPRINGS — This tax-averse city is about to learn what it looks and feels like when budget cuts slash services most Americans consider part of the urban fabric.
More than a third of the streetlights in Colorado Springs will go dark Monday. The police helicopters are for sale on the Internet. The city is dumping firefighting jobs, a vice team, burglary investigators, beat cops — dozens of police and fire positions will go Read More
The names have been changed (sort of) to protect the innocent - or in this case guilty. Read the soap opera story we all know too well, by x4mr - HERE. Bravo! Read More
City of Tucson 2009 Audited Financial Statements
“Breaking out the green eyeshades”
The FY 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) was recently released. I have been working my way through the 170+ pages of dense financial reports. A couple of items may be of interest.
Let’s give credit where credit is due.
The City of Tucson has been awarded the “Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting” for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR for FY 2008. Tucson’s CAFR has been adjudicated by its peers as Read More
Top 10 Reasons To Come to Tucson
Ten – You can feel the sun on your toes in February! Sandals, shorts and sunglasses - pick up free sunscreen at the Visitor’s Center!
Nine – Golf! There are ____ golf courses in the Tucson valley – play them all! – get a free Mulligan from me!
Eight – The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum! The views, the animals, the gift shop and the incredibly good restaurants. The javalinas are Read More
Although annexing the affluent, unincorporated foothill neighborhoods would certainly improve Tucson’s financial means, it won’t be an easy task:
Bob: Annexation isn’t going to happen
Editorial
Inside Tucson Business
Aug. 14, 2006
Poor Mayor Bob Walkup. He’s feeling lonely these days as the only elected Republican at City Hall. That must be the reason behind his newly launched attempt to extend Tucson’s city limits out to take in the Catalina Foothills and Casas Adobes. That is after the city gets done annexing as much of the booming southeast side Read More
Giffords’ re-election bid could be hurt by Obama backlash
WASHINGTON - As President Barack Obama and Democratic congressional leaders scramble to find a new message after a string of election defeats, Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords appears increasingly vulnerable for her loyalty to the White House.
Just four months ago, the two-term Democrat looked so secure in her re-election that her district was rated solidly Read More
September 5, 2008) Ruth Evans believes that part of the responsibility of a chamber of commerce is to educate local and state legislators with regard to how their decisions have an impact on business.
Evans, a recipient of the California Chamber of Commerce 2008 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award, practices what she preaches as she helped lead the Greater Fresno Area Chamber in recent years back to relevancy in the community where she has spent much of her life.
Large corporations have governmental affairs people, who are able to spend time getting their message out, but small businesses don’t really have the time or resources to do the same, Evans said. So in 2005, with the help of some prominent chamber of commerce officials and local leaders, she took a little time after her day job — she has owned her own full service human Read More
Mayor Bob, is his State of the City Address showed a movie about the city’s use of new techology. A source deep inside City Hall sent us this image of Mayor Bob’s using the new technology. If he gets 20% of the pro-business things he proposed done, the entire city will be amazed.
Get it done, Bobby. And soon. For all our sakes. Read More
