Something I heard about Tucson's entrenched leadership (growth related)

[Kabluey]

Originally Posted by Spot

Young professionals around town? What are you talking about? Tucson has almost no young professionals. Anyone with an opportunity and an education gets out of Tucson immediately after graduating. Nobody chooses to stay in this town unless they have no choice, no self-confidence, or no ambition. The few people I know who "embrace" this town are basically Hippie wanna-bees that think it's "cool" to live in a town where there is more garbage in the streets and abject poverty than many places in Mexico.

I am a young professional. There are a number of YPs in town. The picture you are perceiving is unfortunate, and exists because we are so decentralized and spread out. There is nothing to unite us. You are wrong in that there are no young professionals. And the reason you are wrong is because the community, and leaders, do not cater to YPs like they do other demographics, and have until now at least given it only lip service.

Hippie wannabes? Talk about ignorant stereotyping and hyperbole. I'm sure all those YPs at Ra, North, Sullivans, or even Danny's and the Nugget are "ALL" hippie wannabes.

I think you do agree with me however that it is unfortunate that so many U of A grads leave town after graduation. And any brain drain is too much.

The way to stem it is not with a defeatist attitude however. Nor is the solution to insult those who stick around because they may have faith in trying to improve on problems we probably can all agree exist. It's one thing to identify a problem. Sounds like you have no problem with that. It's another thing to suggest solutions. The way to stem it is for the YPs that exist here to stand up and give the community a visible ultimatum to change or stagnate.

[Kabluey]

Originally Posted by miamiman

Historically, political and business entities have both encourage unlimited growth in both Tucson and Phoenix. Back in the 1960s one of the mayors Tucson actually wanted the city to cover the entire Tucson Valley through extensive annexation. That obviously didn't happen. Before about 1970, a strong contingent of anti-growth/anti-development gained power. Since then, that group has found ways to significantly stunt Tucson's growth. The lack of diversified job growth in Tucson compared to Phoenix is what has really prohibited Tucson from growing to a city of 1 million. Tucson is showing no signs of attempting to diversify its economy, so even after the economy eventually recovers, Tucson will continue growing at a snails pace.

Thanks for the info!