As the new year begins, I want to renew my commitment to YOU, as your public servant, that I will continue to fight for what is right. The people of Pima County deserve nothing less.
Whether by your vote, through email, over the phone, or during the Call to the Audience portion of Board meetings, you have sent a message and I have heard you. Your voices inspire me. They inspire me to renew my pledge to continue to fight crony capitalism, and expose waste, fraud, and taxpayer dollar abuse.
Amazing opportunities
The economy is growing across the country thanks to the hard work of our president. As one of the poorest metropolitan areas in the country, Pima County has nowhere to go but up. With the right leadership the opportunities are endless. We must band together and force the old style bureaucrats to step aside and make way for those opportunities.
Every day, we see Pima County residents doing the impossible with nothing. Many of them are growing their businesses despite the business-unfriendly atmosphere. They do all of it while competing with others who enjoy the benefits of knowing the “right” people in government.
New and old obstacles
The start of the Arizona Legislative session is fast approaching. Already we are hearing from legislators that lobbyists are hard at work to make our lives more difficult through more regulation and increased taxes. Based on my communications with lawmakers, it has become clear that the county’s lobbyists are working for bureaucrats rather than you.
One lawmaker recently advised in an email: “A Pima delegation is making the rounds trying to get a bill sponsor for a bill the (sic) would make it possible for less than a unanimous vote on the BOS for a sales tax for roads.”
Not only will I continue to fight for you here, I pledge to fight for you up at the Capitol. To that end, we will be holding town halls to inform you about activity on both the county and state levels. We will be working with the Arizona People’s Lobbyist and other organizations to fight against the passage of bad bills and for the passage of good bills.
My office will be working with groups offering trainings and other resources to Pima County residents, who want to join the fight against the crony-capitalist-serving legislators.
One of the first issues we hope to address is the tax situation created by the Tax cuts passed by Congress last year. An article in the Arizona Republic explains the issue best:
Federal tax reform has been a huge win for residents of the Grand Canyon State.
Less than a year after implementation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Arizonans are already enjoying higher take-home pay, wage increases, bonuses and job creation.
Yet, while taxpayers are benefiting from the reduction in federal taxes, Arizona taxpayers face the prospect of an increase in state income taxes unless the governor and Legislature act to prevent it.
The old obstacles appear rooted in a corrupt system that benefits only a few. From regulatory barriers to market, to trying to compete with businesses that receive taxpayer dollars through “deals” like the Rio Nuevo TIF district, Pima County’s unconnected small business owners are at a distinct disadvantage.
The fight is winnable
I wouldn’t being doing what I do, if I didn’t think the fight was winnable. With your help we can break some of these obstacles down.
Residents have sent shock waves through the County’s administrative offices by making phone calls, sending emails and speaking truth to power during the Call to the Audience portion of Board of Supervisors’ meetings. It is time to topple the House of Cards Chuck Huckelberry and a majority of the supervisors have built. Your voice might be the voice that finally sends the crony capitalist structure sailing to the ground.
Please consider attending one of the upcoming town halls to learn how you can join the fight. We will be notifying you of the dates in the near future.
Thank you for your support.
I wish you a Healthy and Happy New Year.
Ally