This Too Shall Pass

I don't like to make predictions because they are usually, you know...wrong.  But it looks to me like Tucson's disastrous Prop. 200 is going to pass.

Proposition 200 is known as the "garbage fee" initiative. But that's a ruse.  Proposition 200 is about water really.

"Many people in this town have been trying to get them (city officials) to do something about water and population growth for 40 years and they have never taken a stand," says the author of Prop 200, John Kromko.

Everybody who is anybody opposes Prop 200.  To their credit, a bipartisan group of elected officials, policy wonks, both newspapers and business interests have stepped up to oppose the initiative.  I was at a meeting in Tucson last week that included Corporation Commissioners Mundell, Mayes and Pierce.  They had made a special trip to Tucson to hold a press conference opposing the initiative. 

While I was in town, I heard commercials against the initiative on the radio...that's when I knew it was going to pass.  The Disclaimer at the end of the commercials said they were paid for by the Southern Arizona Home Builders, the Realtors and Jim Click.  That's a great group of sponsors and I for one would be likely to oppose an issue if I knew that they were opposing it.  But I'm probably not typical of a majority of Tucson voters.  They are likely to hear those disclaimers and do the opposite.

However, there is one thing that think I do share with Tucson voters--a sense of frustration with the way the city has grown.  I lived in Tucson for nearly 25 years--from Outer Limits Preschool to the UA.  I still think it's a great town, but when I go back, I always notice that the growth is so, well, random.

I think Tucsonans are desperate to do something about growth and that there is a lot of pent up frustration.  I for one would like to have a few minutes in a dark alley with the guy who allegedly times the traffic lights.  How many times have I sat at the light at Beverley and Grant, only to sit again at the light at Swan and Grant?  And whose idea was it to close every freeway exit at the same time.  That was brilliant.   And don't get me started on drainage.  I used to live on Columbus and during monsoon season, we would sit in lawn chairs and watch people go down the street in canoes. 

So the people of Tucson finally have a chance to send a message.  It's the wrong message, but I think they are going to send it anyway. 

Comments

[x4mr]

I have good news. It won't pass. While different, the forces somewhat parallel the transportation thing awhile back.

The same forces seeking to pass the transportation are behind the demise of this piece. They will succeed.

Just like you, I can also be wrong, but I think I have it on this one.

[Timothy]

The linked articles told me nothing about the initiative, so offer this: Random growth is good growth. Shows freedom and entrepreneurship. And respect for private property. Above all it Irritates Central Planners. God Bless America.

[ron]

The point of this blog was? I am with Timothy; your link didn't tell me anymore than what you said.

If I knew Click and friends were opposed and I lived in Tucson, I would be voting for it!

The point really is this: the citizens of this state at every level have learned than when the 'leaders' they have elected elect not to lead; the citizenary will go the intiative process and force leaders to take their head of the sand and, in this case, also out of the hands of the pockets of developers.

[SonoranSam]

As an ex-Tucsonan I have mixed emotions about this measure too. My displeasure rests in part with the fact that it deals with repealing a garbage fee. A bunch of Democrats were elected to the council on a promise to repeal this fee. They reneged. Call me a crazy liberal, but I have this silly idea that a promise made ought to be a promise kept.

I agree with Greg's general premise that city government in the Naked Pueblo is broken.

On the other hand (we liberals always have an other hand to consider), it's absurdly over-reaching in efforts to deal with some laudable goals. One of them is this silly notion that you shouldn't build stucco forests unless you have adequate water - and the people who create costs by building hiddle of nowhere should pay the associated costs....something the desert rapists fought for years.

For Greg and his friends, all I have to tell you is that this measure was written and pushed by - wait for it -

John Kromko. That oughta get you going.

PS - I think Prop. 200 will get enough support to give a bad case of runs to the ruling class, but I don't think it will pass.

[Travis]

Geez SS - Desert Rapists??????????

Are you wearing pink right now?

[vet66]

Someone else who should be ashamed is whoever was in charge of naming streets in the ole pueblo. Talk about the chaos theory.

Development is out of control in Tucson. Having moved from California some 15 years ago I am not dismayed that Tucson and it's environs are taking on the same look of cookie cutter houses like the not-so-golden-state.

Note to local government: do any of you know what a budget is? Government should be small and not a self-fulfilling work project growing exponentially requiring a commensurate amount of money to support it's continuing growth/tax cycle.

The housing bubble burst predictably reminding me of the Savings and Loan debacle a couple of decades ago. Now we are stuck with over-assessed homes supporting a budget deficit.

Speaking of bond issues, the education community is out of the bond business for awhile. I walk into Office Max and there is a display front and center beseeching customers to adopt a school. Seems the teachers are buying their own supplies and need help. What we need is an audit of the bloated bureaucracy of school managment.

[vet66]

correction; I am DISMAYED at unrestricted growth. I had a muscle spasm of some sort!