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Tucson business has been controversial for a long time. Business owners in Tucson complain that city officials are hostile to business and the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce is ineffective in helping business succeed (Lopez 18 December 2009). Tucson has ranked at the bottom of the list in both state and national surveys of places to do business (MarketWatch 18 December 2009). A group of local business people has even organized a move to force changes in the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce leadership (Higgins & DeSimone 20 December 2009).
This is nothing new. Everyone has an opinion about doing business in Tucson, and those opinions are overwhelmingly negative. Some people blame the city council, others point to the Chamber of Commerce, while others blame local business owners themselves.
The arguing and acrimony itself now undermines Tucson’s economy. As jobs become increasingly scarce more people will likely consider starting businesses to generate income. Tucson is no longer the only game in town, and people considering establishing businesses are looking to other towns in the Tucson Metro area. Things are a lot calmer in Oro Valley, Marana, and Green Valley, and each of these cities has a more inviting business climate than Tucson.
If nearby towns begin attracting businesses that would otherwise make their home in Tucson the long term results could be disastrous. In economic terms, wealth would be migrating from the city center to the outlying areas – essentially the same thing that happened to big cities half a century ago because of suburbs, freeways, and cheap gasoline. A decade or two of wealth and business leaving Tucson could make the city look something like the inner city ghettos of the 1950’s and 60’s.
The solution? There may not be one. Maybe business and political players in Tucson are so polarized that there can be no compromises or accommodation. Perhaps the only thing that can bring movement is victory of one side and failure of the other. Tucson might have to fail so spectacularly that there are no doubts that new ideas and radical changes are required.
References
Higgins, J. & DeSimone, C. (20 December 2009). Status quo of Tucson chamber of commerce needs to be changed. Inside Tucson Business. Opinion. Retrieved from: http://azbiz.com/articles/2009/12/20/opinion/columnists/doc4b2bae58de9
Lopez, H. (18 December 2009). City's dismal business ranking rooted in leadership failure. Arizona Star Net. Retrieved from: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/biz-opinions/322706
MarketWatch (18 December 2009). MarketWatch survey: Tucson near bottom of best business cities. Arizona Star Net. Retrived from: http://www.azstarnet.com/business/321796