For Immediate Release

December 22, 2009
For more information contact:
Eric Ruden at 520.971.0087
Tucson First at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.ChangeTucsonChamber.com

Small Businesses, Tucson Police/Fire and Tucson Tea Party to Protest
Tuesday Dec. 22nd at 3:30 to 5:30 at Historic Train Depot
Poor Business Leadership from the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Left Small Business Owner Konstantina Mahlia in the cold

Misplaced Priorities by City Council, Continue To Favor Politically Connected Over Public Safety
On Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 3:30, a group of Tucson small business owners will join the Tucson Tea Party and Tucson Police and Fire members at a protest outside the Historic Train Depot. The Depot is the home of Maynards Market, LP&G Marketing Advertising and Mahlia Collection, a small jewelry store all located at 400 North Toole Avenue. 

The demonstration is calling for change in the way the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber is managed and to bring attention to the City of Tucson’s waste of public dollars at the expense of basic services such as Police and Fire funding. These groups have come together because a safe community is good for small business and the lack of business and political leadership is damaging our community. 
 
Tucson First is an organization originally formed by a number of local small business owners that decided sitting on the sidelines was no longer an option. Eric Ruden, the group’s spokesman said, “Tucson First is about action. We came together with the help of the Tucson Tea Party organizers to make the Tucson Last Stand event come to fruition. The Last Stand event was strategically planned for the weekend early ballots arrived for Tucson City Council.” Ruden commented “We can’t help but think bringing 6000+ supporters together that weekend helped swing a few close races.”
Much attention was paid to the role of small business in Tucson the last few weeks of the council elections. A small business proclamation day the week before polls opened focused the discussion on the hostile environment experienced by the small business owners in Tucson. With over 95% of local jobs created by small business, drawing attention to their situation is critical to getting our local economy running again.
Tucson First believes that lack of leadership especially at the Tucson Chamber is the root cause of our community’s poor business attitude. “The Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has been losing membership and influence.” Ruden stated. “Last week MarketWatch ranked Tucson 95th of 101 US markets to do business in. It’s pretty bad when Tucson gets beat by Detroit.” Ruden added “Tucson First can demonstrate that with the same management for the past 32 years, the blame lies squarely at the footsteps of the Tucson Chamber of Commerce and their board.” Ruden sited membership declines, a proliferation of competing chambers and associations and lack of political influence as the Chambers legacy. “Albuquerque NM has a chamber with 5650 members, Salt Lake has 4200 business members, and the Tucson Chamber has less than 1700. The Chamber is failing miserably at getting business owners to support their efforts.”
The Police and Fire associations joined forces with Tucson First because they saw how important the business community is during the recent Proposition 200 battle. “Safe neighborhoods and security is important to small businesses. People don’t shop or buy houses if their neighborhoods aren’t perceived as safe” said Ruden. Public safety is facing major budgets and personnel cuts in the wake of the City of Tucson’s mid-year budget short fall.
The Historic Depot was chosen by both groups because the City council voted 6-0 to give free rent on top of already agreed upon subsidies to Maynards Market and LP&G Advertising and PR. “When the government takes my tax dollars to subsidies a politically connected private company I have a problem” Ruden added “When things are tough in my pest control business we scale back and work harder. It’s time our City focus on the basics like police and potholes.”
Tucson First contacted Konstantina Mahlia and learned that her neighbors at Maynards and LP&G received free rent and other perks while she was denied dedicated parking and any type of a break.  Mahlia was in contact with the Tucson Chamber of Commerce who refused to help her unless she joined their chamber and paid them $500. “The Tucson Chamber had a chance to do the right thing but focused on what’s in it for them.”
Mahlia has been very vocal in local newspapers and radio programs which has apparently angered the city real estate department. An offer in February to reduce her rent by $5 per square foot was rescinded, she feels because the city asked her to keep the story quite.
Tucson First started with 3 small business owners over breakfast and at the launch of their Change Tucson Chamber program had grown to 50+ members. Since their launch another 30 small businesses have joined their efforts.
Join Tucson First, the Tucson Tea Party and representatives of Tucson Fire and Police associations at the Historic Depot this Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 to 5:30. Over 200 protesters are expected to be in attendance. Visit www.ChangeTucsonChamber.com for more information.