Play the video above to see these stories on AZ Illustrated Politics for Friday, May 9:
Host Jim Nintzel sat down with Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik, local business advocate Miguel Ortega and Arizona Daily Star political reporter Joe Ferguson to talk about the week’s politics. Among the topics discussed:
CLASH WITH POLICE UNION:** Kozachik has been in a war of words with the Tucson Police Officers Association over the city’s policy of allowing police officers to sell back unused sick leave to the city as a form in increased compensation. The practice is especially controversial when it comes to officers who use it in the final years of their work with the city and thereby boost their pensions. Kozachik said City Attorney Mike Rankin agrees that the pension issue violates state law and added that he would continue to push to see the policy changed. Ferguson said the other council members don’t want to discuss the issue until next year. Ortega said that council members frequently avoid any changes that would negatively impact police officers.
BUS FARES: Tucson City Manager Richard Miranda called for an increase in bus fares in his initial budget proposal, but in in a subsequent presentation to the Tucson City Council, he eliminated the idea. Ferguson said that council members are generally reluctant to increase fares because bus riders bring political pressure against fare hikes. Kozachik said he was sensitive to concerns from bus riders and Ortega said that many people who ride the bus can’t afford increases.
FUTURE OF BROADWAY BOULEVARD: The Tucson City Council this week advised a citizens committee studying the future of Broadway Boulevard between downtown and Country Club Road that they should consider all options. Ferguson said that residents and businesses along Broadway are concerned about the impact of a potential widening, but if the city does not agree to do at least six lanes, it could lose funding from Pima County and the Regional Transportation Authority, which would likely kill the project altogether. Kozachik said he didn’t think the city would agree to a project that eliminated the funding from the county and the RTA, but added that neither body had officially said that they would pull funding if the city went with a four-lane option.
AZ Illustrated Politics is produced by Jim Nintzel. Contact him at jnintzel@azpm.org.
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