Just a little slice of what's on the ballot here. Tucson today, Arizona tomorrow.
Imma gonna guess they all FAIL because people will see
TUSD
Sales Tax
Salary Increase
TUSD Prop. 402 Largest local school district wants to allow their governing board (with community advisory committee) to do real-estate deals. Lotsa properties they could sell or lease, or exchange for something else.
Not a bad idea; it's a positive in that they might raise some $$$$...except lotta people don't think they manage their budget too well, so maybe they'll manage to fuck this up too. The crazier critics of course are out to destroy public schools in general. One half-truth opponents point to is that TUSD leased a building for $1 (one dollar). Well, $1 and in-kind donations of school supplies, plus the maintenance and utilities on a building no one was using that otherwise TUSD would have had to pay for.
Also, TUSD is a target because of ethnic studies and generally telling State Super to eat a bag of dicks.
.5% (half a percent) Sales Tax Increase for 5 (five) years for Essential Ops.
Yeah, right. Brewer got away with pushing a State Sales Tax, but Imma gonna guess a lotta people are gonna say WTF?!?!
City has cut lotsa stuff already, but I'm not sure how visible that is....yet.
BUT
Prop. 401 Amend City Charter and (wait for it.... ) Increase the salary of Mayor and Council...then peg it to what County Supes get.
The aspect of the Charter that gets the most talk is that currently Tucson has staggered elections, two years, so that the Council is not elected all at once. This costs money, but has the advantage of not getting too many crazies on the Council all at once.
The other things, well, I reckon maybe the Mayor and Council should be full-time funded jobs. It's part of the struggle to still be an folky cowtown but with a $500 million budget. Oddly, perhaps, it would also increase the management discretion of a City Manager Position.
Supporters include lotsa local heavy hitters and.....drumroll.........TEABAGGERS!!!
Against it is DFH former city councilman.
Local Legends Giant Sand.
(snake warning ml....but kids, dancing, hugging, and dogs too)
For some fun....don't know if we have enough contacts to make a difference....but it would be fun to spike the local winger radio station live stream during an interview with sustainability guru Doug Fine.
