The mayor’s leadership has helped get things done in Tucson. Jonathan Rothschild has had a hand in improving the broader economy of Tucson and the lives of individual Tucsonans.
When Jonathan Rothschild was elected Tucson’s mayor in 2011, citizens seethed over the awful condition of the streets.
Promising accountability, Rothschild persuaded voters to approve $100 million in road improvement bonds. Under his guidance our roads are getting fixed, under budget and ahead of schedule.
Four years ago, the city and the Rio Nuevo board were still fighting about who was to blame for wasting millions on failed downtown redevelopment projects. An experienced negotiator, Rothschild helped resolve the legal disputes that were plaguing Rio Nuevo.
The roads are not perfect, and the west end of downtown still languishes. But by any measure, progress is being made, thanks in large part to the mayor’s leadership.
Now seeking his second term, Rothschild, a Democrat, has no Republican opposition. The Southern Arizona Business Political Action Committee did not endorse Rothschild four years ago. But it supports him now and says he has effectively worked with the Tucson Metro Chamber to encourage economic development.
Indeed, Rothschild has succeeded in forming partnerships aimed at improving the broader economy and the lives of individual Tucsonans.
One of his first actions was to create the position of small-business advocate at City Hall. At a time when the state was still mired in the ugly politics of the SB1070 immigration law, he and other mayors on both sides of the border began working closely together to improve the regional economy.
Rothschild’s office is part of a coalition to end veteran homelessness by year-end and to increase the number of volunteer reading coaches in Tucson schools. He has walked door-to-door to encourage dropouts to return to high school.
The challenges the mayor will face in the next four years are great. To mention just a few: A huge pension fund shortfall will have to be filled; police must be given raises to bring them on par with other law-enforcement agencies; planning and development services functions,
long considered unfriendly to business, still need improvement.
Rothschild told us there are three ways to address the budget: aggressive economic development, annexation and the establishment of a yet-to-be determined revenue source. A new tax, perhaps in the form of a sales tax increase, would be dedicated to specific uses such as public safety, transit or preschools.
Any talk of taxes will be a “hard conversation, but it needs to be had,” Rothschild said. “People have to believe that if the city is given money, that it will spend it responsibly.”
With his record of competence and his ability to build coalitions, Rothschild is the right person to lead the conversation about how to face Tucson’s challenges together.
