Rio Nuevo Money

The Arizona Daily Star reports that a heavily amended Rio Nuevo bill passed and Tucson will receive $600,000,000 more money to revitalize old downtown on top of the original $125,000,000. An additional 12 years was added to the duration of the Rio Nuevo deal, which obligates and earmarks $600,000,000 more MATCHING FUNDS out of the budget until 2025, for a total of $725,000,000 that could balloon to $925,000,000 out of the Tucson budget. Them that has, gets, I’m guessing.

Now, I’m hoping that social services in Tucson remain funded and maybe expanded as need arises. It would be bad news if the homeless took to hanging around downtown instead of nimby. What about low income housing downtown? Should the maids and gardeners be forced to ride the bus while the elite live next door to where they work? What about grocery shopping? Shall we see an upsurgence in traffic to existing grocers or are you creating a situation in which people must have cars in order to purchase daily needs or must ride the bus to the store and backpack goods into their abode?

Infrastructure downtown? That needs to be addressed in order to accommodate any high density project. What are the costs of revamping the sewer, water, electric and gas infrastructure? Are high density projects too expensive? The MLK apartments are scaling back on the number of units to 66. What happens to the other residents currently living there?

It is interesting that this legislative Rio Nuevo extension of a 10 year voter approved measure did not require further voter approval even though the matching funds required out of the city budget are a form of taxation, public money diverted to an earmarked project. So now the legislature made sure the people of Tucson are obligated to contribute $725,000,000 to augment the $725,000,000 tax rebate earmarked to be spent on old downtown. This is $1,450,000,000 to be spent on revitalizing downtown. I suggest a study on downtown properties. What are they charging for rent? If they are keeping people out with unworthy rents, they should be willing to lower their sights a little in order to get a viable deal.

Interesting businesses attract tourists. Tour buses circulate tourists. Tourists want shopping and local history and reasonable accommodations. We need a cultural center, museum and outdoor arena for concerts and an outdoor flea market type shopping area featuring goods from around the world but Latin America, local artists and UA student art featured. Did you see the crowds associated with the gem and mineral shows? We went to most of them and encountered many people buying and looking and enjoying themselves. Leave open spaces where gem show vendors and others could set up and attract customers. Traveling art shows, chili cookoffs, the possibilities are endless. Bring the fair back to town!

I’m talking about public buildings, not subsidized housing or parking garages to benefit law bending developers who don’t want to follow the rules. I’m talking about a reasonable place for people to enjoy themselves without having to spend too much money. I’m talking about eclectic shopping and eating and traveling shows setting up right next door, keeping the people interested.

How about a nice new bus station connecting with the city bus system and convenient to Convento and the new flea market shopping area and adjoining traveling show setup areas. This bus station would be a dandy, with a 24 hour fast food joint inside, seating, telephones and bus connections all over the city and Davis Monthan. Shuttle service to Phoenix, etc. This parking thing is totally out of control. Every driver is now requiring 100 square feet of reserved space wherever they go, whenever they go. Of course parking is a problem but the problem derives from people’s attitudes and the lack of public transportation and proximity of necessary stores.

Let’s put that CAP recharge right over here downtown in the Santa Cruz. Dump it in the ground and let it recharge and mingle with reclaimed water. We could have a park and riparian area near the old Convento and museum setup. People are interested in food, shopping, events, displays, competitive prices and a variety of goods. High end condos will not attract more free market money after the initial investment. If the city fathers and mothers want increased tax revenue, then subsidize high end real estate. If they want a free market stimulation, then invest in public buildings and have open air markets with cheap rents for small businesses, shopping and food service and collect your taxes there. Open air markets are cheap to build and maintain and have a charm lacking in the defunct mall.

Avoid the subsidy of private projects or spending money that benefits these projects unless public aspects are enhanced also. We need to work together to build projects that provide amusements and cultural activities for the people. I support the UA science center and the Museum Convento complex with the stipulation that the museum gift shop be superlative in high end arts and crafts, a world class desert botanical garden free for the viewing and a bookstore specializing in western history, ecology and mineral resources will be included.

I could envision a terminal for the passenger railroad from Mexico if one existed! We should explore this possibility in contact with local representatives in Nogales and Hermosillo. This would vastly benefit downtown businesses and put Tucson on the map as a true international city, with air and rail transportation to Mexico. Mexican rail could make money if they transported tourists to the interesting places, particularly the new international port in Guaymas.

This money should not be wasted on bureaucracy or private projects. The people are paying for this and they deserve a return on their money.