City dignitaries make parodies of themselves at 4th Avenue celebration

OPINION: They don’t see it

By Steve Kozachik, special to Inside Tucson Business
Published on Friday, August 21, 2009

In the course of developing our downtown region, it has far too often been the case that the playing field on which ‘winners’ have emerged has been anything but level. We have seen a cascade of land swaps, development agreements skewed in favor of those who have stepped into the political fray with fundraising events in support of incumbents, and rent and lease deals cut on behalf of agencies and businesses with whom our elected officials have personal and campaign affiliations.

Far too often we have seen sweetheart deals at taxpayer expense, developed away from the view of public scrutiny and in a manner that leaves those who are struggling to survive the difficult economic times wondering how they are to compete with what is clearly a game of picking the winners by those in office or highly placed staff.

The clear language of Tucson’s city charter states all construction contracts are to be awarded through “competitive sealed bidding” and that “any officer” who contracts for construction in violation of the rules “shall be removed from office.”

And yet if one looks at recent development agreements you will find language declaring a public emergency, or awards based on the chosen winner having performed other work in the downtown area and thus being ‘uniquely qualified’ for the award. These pivots away from the requirement for competitive sealed bids certainly appear to be creative techniques used to ensure a preferred result.

But when governing officials have an agenda, they’re not about to let the city charter get in the way. For example, Councilwoman Nina Trasoff recently suggested balancing the budget deficit on the back of the local pornography ‘industry.’ The plan was set aside based on the legal opinion she could not select out a particular class of commercial establishment for uneven tax treatment. The solution was seemingly found in shifting that proposed tax from porn shops to the hotel and tourism industry instead.

This is simply inflicting the same penalty on our hoteliers that was originally proposed for adult book stores — a bed tax that flies in the face of the city charter section that states “all taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of property within the corporate limits.”

All lodging accommodations fall under the “Commercial Establishment” land use class. So do automotive repair shops, financial service providers, child care facilities, and more. Why the added tax on beds and not an additional tax of the same amount on the rest of the establishments that fall within that “class”?

Within the City of Tucson there are competent and energetic small business operators. What they need to succeed is to be allowed to compete in the marketplace according to a single set of rules.

During my 21 years awarding and managing contracts of various sorts for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics on the University of Arizona campus, I have yet to encounter a vendor who was afraid to compete for work. What I do find, though, is disgust that filters through the business community at a process that leaves some seated in a higher chair at the same table – if they have a seat at all.

What I find is disgust at the failure on the part of our elected officials for their continued actions that drive a stake through the heart of some in our private sector, thus leaving others at a competitive advantage. Our sales tax base is hemorrhaging, “space available” and “for lease” signs can be seen in every corner of our city.

Last week we saw elected “dignitaries” riding the trolley through the newly opened Fourth Avenue Underpass blissfully ignoring that it came in $20 million over budget. It is emblematic and our elected officials make a parody of themselves by such carrying on – and yet there is little else to ‘celebrate’ when it comes to the vitality of our private sector and the development of our community.

We need to level the playing field. Stop running our private sector out of town through the imposition of unfair and unwise taxes and fees.

Contact Steve Kozachik, candidate for Tucson City Council in Ward 6, through his website www.votestevek.com or (520) 784-2101.