I was listening to Tucson's classical radio station today, and heard a story that I simply had to share. Unfortunately I can't find it at the Arizona Public Media website, so I searched and found another reference.
More below the orange fluff, but if you want the quick summary, basically the politicans and businesses are shocked and dismayed that wealthy Mexicans don't want to do business in Arizona!
Phoenix has been forced to send down a group to Mexico City in order to establish trade. Here's an excerpt from the linked article:
The delegation's agenda on Thursday included a meeting with Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Affairs, as well as a meeting with the Mexican airline Volaris to discuss possible new flights to connect Phoenix and Mexican cities.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said one goal of the trade mission is to undo the perception that Arizona is unwelcoming to neighbors from the south.
"By passing 1070 and some of the other more divisive laws, we sent a message that we didn't embrace the diversity, we didn't welcome it," Stanton said. "A lot of very wealthy Mexicans voted with their feet to go to San Antonio and other locations to do their shopping. Shopping and short-term tourism is big business."
The radio piece had some additional information. As I could not find a transcript, I'll have to paraphrase:
- The Mexicans said that the law made them uncomfortable. Even if they weren't bringing it up explicitly, they were always thinking about it and so would not go to AZ.
- The AZ politicians say that the political climate with respect to this issue has changed. I guess that's a mix between the loss of moolah and the poor showing that the Republicans had with the Latino vote.
Oh, well. I guess the above signals possible steps in the correct direction, although I cannot understand why we went in the wrong one.
Just had to share!
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Tired of politics? Need to escape? Try one of my Greek mythology based novels, either the story of Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus or a trilogy about Niobe, whose children were murdered by the gods - or were they? or one of the first examples of civil disobedience, Antigone and Creon. Or, if you like mysteries and/or Jane Austen, treat yourself to
The Highbury Murders: A Mystery Set in the Village of Jane Austen’s Emma.