Tucson City Council Election is Important

Corruption in Government


I am amazed by the mistakes made by those in governance that might be construed as corruption by the less forgiving or possibly the more discerning.

The focus of government has been a bit wider than our founders had envisioned, leaving the people with less rights than the our original countrymen with all those free resources. Population pressure has reduced our property rights to a travesty defined by HOAS, zoning laws and ordinances. Apparently, monies collected by the government goes to keep the municipal necessities like police, water, fire, health and keeping the roads open. These departments in some cases have grown beyond the basic functions not defined by the Arizona Constitution or city charters.

During boom times, these excess functions were easily funded yet commitments were not sunset or phased out in case of an economic downturn. The debt load for Tucson ballooned to $1,200,000,000 due and payable through 2035. Tax collections are down, yet the borrowing proposals are still seriously considered.

Is excessive borrowing and spending corruption? This is a red flag, a warning of the follies of letting short term politicians indebt taxpayers. Some projects are built like the downtown fire station, a beautiful functional building. Other projects are planned and graded and never built, yet the debt remains. Other projects are not worth the money spent but the debt remains. Of course, there is no money for other projects because of the huge debt service owed. A few short term politicians tied up a huge chunk of Tucson's prosperity for years to come with little to show for it except a few well padded moneylenders, consultants and developers. Parking lots stand empty while they feverishly build more parking garages.

The sad thing about this is that Tucson actually needs a new museum to add to the tourist attractions. The ineptness and corruption ripped off the citizens. A funding instrument called a Certificate of Participation is available to borrow huge sums without the annoyance of a bond election. The City of Tucson has over $200,000,000 in COPS and the money is long gone but the debt lingers. I think the Arizona Legislature should institute a ban on these COPS, because it subverts the intent of the bond election law. Another problem is the 'bundling' used by the RTA to pass a blanket bond issue featuring wildly unpopular pork items sandwiched in with vote getting proposals. I suggest that each proposal be voted on in turn, but the bulk of these projects can be done by private enterprise rather than keeping an army of roadbuilders on the payroll all the time. Since the RTA is short of money, we need to revote on the proposals, one at a time. The RTA also stated in election literature that they were responsible for moving utilities for all RTA projects, but now they want the city to pay for that very expensive work when the city is bankrupt. We can be taxed twice for the same work, evidently.

An investigation into bidding practices, cost overruns, and the chain of command leading to disbursements of funding must be undertaken. Vicious cost overruns are what sunk so many of the Rio Nuevo projects, where accountability was lax. What happened to performance bonds? Don't contractors sign to perform a job for a defined amount? How much chance did actual bidders have of landing contracts if they bid actual cost plus a profit?

There's a skunk under the porch, folks. I am waiting for Attorney General Tom Horne to smell it.

I think the skunk had skunklets. Tucson Water is already in debt for almost half a billion dollars, yet spending for the streetcar demands a rate hike for the users, who will pay $10,000,000 to move water lines for a streetcar. The RTA is millions in the hole, yet plans to borrow funds to meet deadlines are actually being considered, which would cost about $40,000,000 in interest, paid out of sales taxes. The roads would get none of this interest money. What a waste. Why not prorate the spending? Of course the favored contractors don't want this slower, smaller feed into their coffers. So hire smaller contractors on shorter term contracts. What is the hurry? The taxpayers cannot afford more debt.

I think the problem goes beyond power and influence into the realm of what can be done to assist the City of Tucson to get through this recession that remains in effect despite what the economic pundits say. The cronyism, patronage and outrageous financial commissions and debt load have made Tucson into a difficult place to do business.

A Tea Party Anyone?

RTA Spending Plan

What is wrong with the RTA Spending Plan?


The current estimated cost of all the projects must be made. The projected income from the half cent sales tax must be made. The two figures must be compared. The termination date of the RTA must be discussed as a reality deadline and not something that will get even more money eventually. This RTA thing should be finished at the sunset date: this means any debt and the projects.

It is obvious that paper compliance is more important than the reality of what revenue the RTA is expected to generate and what the community can afford from these tax monies. Going in debt because 'scheduled' projects are projected to cost so much more than will actually be generated is both costly and foolish.

Poor planning.

Practicality would indicate that a spending pattern based on what is actually generated per month would be adopted. Just starting a project with no funds to finish it is not "compliance" with what the voters thought they were getting; it is a waste of money. Voters need to revote on the RTA. Why is this illusory 'compliance' so important? Could they lose their revenue stream due to nonperformance?

Since they are non compliant, perhaps voters should decide how this remaining RTA money should be spent. The RTA people want to go into debt, which would add $35 million to the cost of these projects they just want to get started on. Taxpayers cannot afford any more public debt that ties up future revenue streams in debt service. The cities need more ready cash from local taxes, not more encumbrances that suck a 35% profit out of local taxpayers, reducing the value of the tax dollar to 66%. Moneylenders will walk away with $35 million out of this community. We cannot afford this just to hurry up and get started.

Reduce the scope of projects. Focus on the project with the most safety concerns or focus on funding sidewalks, bike paths, bus pullouts and all those things that actually benefit the citizens. How about a nice bike path that could be used for the Bicycle Tour and others and then by the locals? This would be a tourist draw, useful for locals and affordable, according to actual RTA revenue, not borrowed cash that ties up cash for years to come. A nice safe Tour track winding all around Tucson would be a boon to the community.

What I am really saying here is that the RTA projects need to be rethought now, not after the RTA borrows and squanders $135 million in tax money, leaving behind an interminable debt. We never voted to give away a third of the money to moneylenders. We voted for the money to be spent on the projects. Since they obviously cannot afford to complete all the projects, let's forget them and start over. Take it to the voters in the next election. In the meantime, slow the spending and collect the funds as they come in. No more borrowing. Contract only for what funding actually exists.

Come up with some projects that would benefit the community, bring in seasonal tourism, open up small business zoning, and encourage the use of bicycles and buses around town. Revamp the bus system by creating bus centers in shopping malls and near medical facilities and the University. Repair existing roads. Stop the RTA from wasting money on beginning projects they don't have the money to finish.

I call for a forensic audit of the RTA planning and spending. The RTA appears to be following the same reasoning and actions that the Rio Nuevo boondoggle followed. The Tucson City Council and Pima County need to revisit the RTA election promises and get started on a logical action plan that does not further indebt the taxpayers.

According to Councilman Steve Kozachik, the planned borrowing by the RTA will result in $50 million of taxpayer money going to moneylenders for interest. The new fire station cost $38 million, just to give you an idea of what this borrowing is costing the Tucson community. You can add the new fire station and the new parking garage downtown as an example of what $50 million taxpayer dollars will buy. The city of Tucson cannot afford to lose $50 million just because the RTA is behind schedule.

We need a revote on the RTA projects because not enough money will be generated to pay for them and they are behind schedule. The hierarchy of the RTA has also said that a $9 million project that now will cost $22 million is what the voters wanted. Their callous attitudes towards cost overruns and taxpayer money is blatantly obvious.

I call for an audit and a commitment to deny further cost overruns on RTA projects. If bidders cannot meet their bid, then call in their bond and get somebody else.

Support Governor Walker!

Thoughts on the Hassle in Wisconsin

I retired from a career as a public school teacher and thus may some say I am biased. I am perhaps more knowledgeable because of the time spent on duty, not biased.

Being a teacher brings with it more responsibilities than meets first perusal. You have to be there in lieu of guardianship and you are legally responsible for those students. You have temporary custody of them. Being a teacher is a complex job, much of which has nothing to do with the actual curriculum you are charged to teach.

Are teachers paid enough? May I ask if prices are too high? Is it the same question?

Frankly, I am embarrassed by the actions of many teachers in Wisconsin. They even want to be paid for demonstrating. Some are apparently collecting phony doctors notes excusing them to get a sick day when they were not sick. These doctors should lose their license and teachers who claim the phony sick leave should be fired. What are these 'teachers' teaching the students? That it is ok to commit fraud for a cause? That it is ok to demand that you join a union if you want to work? You have to join my gang or you can't work here.

The unions are fighting the end of this forced servitude. The unions will lose money when people have a choice on whether to join a union or not. How much are union dues? How much was lost in the new contract? What is the difference? Maybe the teachers can exercise their right to free choice on what organizations will collect dues from their paychecks and save money that way. It's all about freedom from being forced to give money to an organization. The unions are afraid to lose this money: they might lose their jobs. These teachers who are demonstrating are attempting to force union membership on everyone else. They already conceded that they would pay more of their own pensions and benefits.

I call for law and order. The teachers should go back to work or face immediate termination. The cowardly legislators who fled their responsibilities should return and face the budgetary problems. The governor does not want to lay off teachers but the union would prefer layoffs to this new agreement that cuts off mandatory union membership. I never liked mandatory union membership, having worked under it in California. All it generated was a few puffed up individuals going to conferences on money I was forced to contribute. And of course, the union I was forced to join made very public political choices that were against my own political beliefs. The teachers of Wisconsin would be better off without this expensive yoke around their necks. The unions cost too much money.

Part of my hassle about unions, is the lack of responsibility for any consideration of the long term results of any demands they make. If they can get some craven public servant to agree to outrageous demands that are unsustainable, they believe they are successful. Success in the short term that decimates long term practicality is not success: it is irresponsible. If the current union bosses set up huge pensions and cheap benefits for themselves with minimal personal donations, Bell California comes to mind.  Clawbacks!

The public servant who agrees to an unsustainable pension plan should be sued for stupidity. I see these people gain public office, run up the public debt, agree to DOA pension plans, and let the unions run the government like their own cash cow. I do believe the situation in Wisconsin is a microcosm of the problems in our nation today.

I was looking over a federal grant application and noted that the 'affiliated unions' for the proposed project must be listed and guaranteed. All this in Arizona, a right to work state. Why must the Feds guarantee union control of all jobs using federal money? Who set that up? The federal money is derived from federal taxes paid from Arizona, so why does the federal government have the right to tell us how to spend the funding?

It's probably obvious by now that I do not support the anti-government demonstrators. They are anti-government and pro-union and I do not want a union takeover of any state government. Take a look at the states: union demands, pension problems, debt and insolvency. Does that sound like the automakers? Does that sound like we need to support Governor Walker of Wisconsin? Yes it does.

Creating Wealth and Paying Off Gambling Debts

I don't know what all the Dodd/Frank regulation is, but I do know that investors have been gulled into thinking the subprime slippery interest rate mortgages were well documented legitimate loans made by a morally responsible lender. Something needs to be done, like a reorganization of the regulatory apparatus first as the new rules are implemented. Possibly the regulatory problems are related to the structure and hierarchy of the departments, which has apparently fallen victim to incompetency or bribery or indifference to what actions would produce positive results for the economy. What was the true mission of the regulators?

Tax reform should be accomplished in conjunction with this new regulation. Tax those 'investments' that throw the money back and forth way up above that never hit the ground in the form of jobs. Derivatives, mortgage securities, credit default swaps and the like should be taxed at an extremely high rate due to the damage done to the economy and the rise in unemployment. Regulation of them should demand transparency and extensive documentation every time they are sold or insured, like a performance audit of every component.

Reform of the institutionalized government agencies is necessary to implement Rep. Paul Ryan's suggestion that the government must be downsized. Downsizing will not take place without reform of the structure of the bureaucracy. It is interesting that President Obama and Rep. Paul Ryan made the same suggestion, coming at it from other directions. This is an opportunity for bipartisanship.

A down-sizing of the debt load needs to be a focus, by whatever means necessary.

Due to the world situation, cutbacks to the military seem unwise. A reduction in spending can occur as the two wars wind down, but our military is vital to our continued existence and should not be downsized. Full numbers military plus more high tech R&D. Tech is not a replacement for sheer numbers. Expensive, yes. Our military should cut out waste and frivolity.

The space program should be funded for the R&D and jobs and the possibility of lucrative mining ventures on the moon and asteroids. Public and private investment in interplanetary research is integral to world security and international cooperation in this research is needed now. Military outposts in space are crucial.

Long range planning must confront the possible futures of a closed world with a population explosion and increasingly scarce resources and the painful need for sustainability planning in a finite space. Not that infinite space exists, but there is more next door, complete with exploitable resources and presumably no competition other than among ourselves. I hope the USA stakes claim to the best ore deposits but it won't happen if we don't fund more exploration, manned and unmanned. Stuck here or out there exploring, these are the choices.

Create more wealth with more material resources. Colonize the local habitats, then aim for the stars. Any other vision turns us to dust.

                                           TUCSON EQUINOX 2010