Quote:
Originally Posted by dtnphx
If we don't talk about mostly great weather, what are we going to say? We have a great, functional State government? No. We have an accepting immigration policy? No. We pay competitive wages like other cities our size? No. We have generations-old families that support the arts organizations like they do in other cities? No.
We is what we is. For companies to move their headquarters here, they are looking at quality of life issues for the families of the executives and that's why for the most part we don't have many corporate headquarters here. If they want to move a call center here, all they give a fuck about is how cheap it is to pay people and how to avoid high corporate taxes.
Put two and two together and you get your answer. On the flip-side: It's fucking beautiful out today.  |
Our "low tax, more business" politicians should be thinking about developing additional assets that we can tout. I am just saying that it's tiring to hear everyone all the time tout the weather as if that's enough to maintain Phoenix as a competitive location for conventions, new white collar businesses, and an increasingly educated workforce. Yes, it's 70 degrees here in January, but it's 70 in LA, it's 70 in Miami, it'll be 70 in Houston and Dallas in a couple days.... What do we have over those cities that can be used to lure more industry? We are sorely lacking and it shows in our skyline and the fact that the need for this proposed hotel is being questioned.
We don't have to be what we are. We shouldn't be complacent. There's just an unsettling level of complacency and smugness with the status quo that a city and state that is trying to developing an identity shouldn't have. Places should be trying to constantly evolve. Too many people here just resign themselves and say, "well at least you don't have to shovel sunshine." We need to move beyond that mentality. Yes, it's beautiful today. It was beautiful yesterday and the day before that and the week before that. It will be beautiful tomorrow, the day after that, and it'll probably be gorgeous a week from now. But what do we have to offer beyond that? What goals are we even working toward using as future assets? I don't really see any.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rocksteady
Not that I want Arizona to be anything like Texas, but that state does a great job touting their business climate and is doing a great job at luring new industry to relocate. Look at Austins growth, which they can now claim as a tourist destination even though a decade ago it never was. And even Dallas. Just an example of two red states with two red governments but one doing an amazing job touting itself and another that doesn't seem to care much.
|
Exactly. Texas has a reputation of being a solid red state, full of social and fiscal conservatism, but unlike Arizona, they have something to show for it. They are constantly blasting forward like a tank to strengthen and grow their economy. There is no lethargy, no complacency, and they are certainly not constantly shouting how much better the weather is than in Chicago or New York in a desperate hope to attract employers. If you look at the projects that are in the works for Austin, Houston, Dallas, and even San Antonio, you will see that they are constantly moving forward and innovating. Arizona, meanwhile, is just floating in the middle of a pool, every now and then sinking underneath the surface, hurriedly trying to regain the momentum of just floating aimlessly. It's just sad.
Prev
That's all I can say for now.
Linear Mode
