Republicans, Lacking Ideas for Budget, Engage in Smoke and Mirror Tactics

Pima County Democratic Party Chair Jeff Rogers in response to the baseless claims made by the Tea Partiers and Republican candidates today issues the following statement:

“The Republican City Council candidates are engaged in a campaign of smoke and mirrors. Republican City Council candidates have claimed that the US Department of Homeland Security was denied their request to lease the space currently being used downtown by the Museum of Contemporary Art. Republicans went on to claim that the Tucson Police Department was denied a similar request. The fact of the matter is, MOCA’s bid was the only one made. Former Chief of Police Richard Miranda stated in Thursday’s Arizona Daily Star that “although the police initially proposed moving into the fire station into 2006, the plan was put on hold because the city could not afford to pay for both a new crime lab and the extensive renovations it would take to make the fire building appropriate for police.” Miranda also stated, “There is no truth to the rumor that the Department of Homeland Security made an offer to purchase or lease the building.” So the City Council did the responsible thing and leased the building, bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in much-needed revenue to the city, while making sure that a prime piece of downtown real estate does not sit vacant.

"Making the story all the more interesting is that the Republican candidates for City Council are making these baseless claims about “sweetheart deals” with Rio Nuevo – after Steve Kozachik sought a true sweetheart deal and Ben Beuhler-Garcia botched downtown redevelopment.

"In 2003, while president of the Fox Theater board, Beuhler-Garcia sold the former City Council and the taxpayers a bill of goods. He promised the public that the theater would be renovated at a cost of $3.5 to $5 million and that it wouldn’t require a taxpayer subsidy. In reality the renovation cost taxpayers $14 million and still requires a subsidy. Part of this was a loan that would be paid back to the city’s general fund and used to pay for a new crime lab. The city is still waiting on that money. Beuhler-Garcia led a major arts project downtown, allowed it to come in 300% over budget and then left the taxpayers holding the bag. Instead of remaining committed to repaying the debt, he bailed on both the Fox and on the city’s effort to construct the TPD crime lab. Why doesn’t he step up and fix the mess he created far greater in scope than the focus of his protest today?

"Fellow Republican City Council candidate Steve Kozachik tried for a sweetheart deal but failed. Just prior to running for office he solicited Nina Trasoff’s staff for a job building and then running the proposed downtown arena. He was asking for a no-bid sweetheart-deal that would go around the normal bidding process. When he didn’t get this no-bid contract, he decided to throw his hat in the ring to unseat Trasoff.

"Kozachik and Beuhler-Garcia’s prior involvement with Rio Nuevo shows a disturbing proclivity toward backroom deals, misinformation and sticking it to the taxpayer. Now they have the audacity to suggest it would be better to leave a key piece of city property vacant than to bring more visitors downtown, import more tourism dollars and generate additional sales tax revenues needed for public safety, parks and roads.

"But I understand why they make these outrageous claims. When asked how they will pay for the $300 million unfunded mandate Prop 200, the answer they give is "I’m not going to go there." If I didn’t have an answer to the most important question facing our city, I’d try to keep changing the subject, too.

"At least John Justice, the Rush Limbaugh of Tucson, has a plan to pay for Prop 200. He would cut off money for park maintenance, eliminate KIDCO after school programs, and completely eliminate arts, enrichment and conservation programs. Although the shock jock’s drastic cuts still wouldn’t close the $51 - $67 million annual hole that Prop 200 would create in the budget, at least he’s stated where he stands. Absent any ideas from Kozachik or Beuhler-Garcia for how they would legitimately cover the cost of this $60 million unfunded mandate, are we to assume that the John Justice plan is their plan as well?”

###