🛡️ Progressive Perspectives: Examining Prop 414's True Intentions
Exploring the impact of Proposition 414 on our city's working-class residents and the challenges facing Tucson's governance.
Based on the Buckmaster show for 1/23/25 on KVOI-1030AM.
🙊 Notable quotes from the show
Border and Migration Context:
Jeff Buchanan on border crossing dynamics: "If you look at the numbers... the numbers dropped way down when President Trump was first inaugurated. That was driven by the perception for those crossing on what they thought might happen."
Context: Discussing fluctuations in border crossings based on political perceptions
City Budget and Taxation:
Paul Cunningham on post-COVID economic challenges: "Since after COVID, everything has gotten more expensive."
Context: Defending the proposed sales tax increase
Ecological Crisis:
Jeff Buchanan on Mexican wolf population: "The last overall count from Mexico shows there might be a few lone wolves... but there's not much left there."
Context: Discussing the potential extinction of Mexican wolves in Mexico
Municipal Spending Critique:
Caller Sharon on city expenditures: "I keep adding up in my head all the things that the city of Tucson is chosen to do and is not required to do: subsidizing public transit at, I think, five or $6 million a month..."
Context: Challenging the city's discretionary spending
Border Troop Deployment:
Jeff Buchanan on military border support: "My instinct will be [that troops are] doing support tasks, you know, assisting with flying people from place to place for reinforcing observation, maybe reinforcing obstacles."
Context: Explaining the potential role of 1,500 troops deployed to the border
😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾
🌵 Tucson is facing a big decision about raising taxes 💸 that would take more money from families who don't have much to spare. Some people think the city government 🏛️ is spending money on things that aren't very important 🚫 while asking everyone else to help pay for problems like drugs 💊, housing 🏠, and safety 🚓. There was a talk show 🎙️ where a city councilman and a retired military general 🎖️ discussed these issues, how they're affecting everyday lives 👫, and what's really happening to the environment 🌍, which is also in trouble 😟.
🗝️ Takeaways
🏛️ Proposition 414 proposes a controversial sales tax hike, heavily affecting low-income families.
💸 Discretionary Spending: Calls for scrutiny over city funds allocated to non-essential projects.
📉 Regressive Taxation: The sales tax disproportionately impacts the working-class and vulnerable communities.
🌳 Environmental Concerns: Discussion on ecological issues, including the plight of Mexican wolves and Arizona's wildlife challenges.
🗣️ Community Voice: Public sentiment shows frustration over city management and the need for transparent governance.
Tucson's Fiscal Fever Dream: When Democracy Meets Desperation
On a bone-chilling Thursday, January 23rd, 2025, the Buckmaster Show again peeled back the layers of Tucson's complex political landscape.
Host Bill Buckmaster, a 37-year veteran of local media, welcomed two pivotal voices:
Paul Cunningham, a Tucson City Councilman wrestling with municipal challenges
Jeff Buchanan, a retired three-star Army General turned environmental watchdog.
🏛️ Prop 414: The Sales Tax Squeeze - A Progressive's Nightmare
The Proposition that's Dividing Neighborhoods
Proposition 414 isn't just a tax increase—it's a symptom of a much deeper malaise in our municipal governance.
Cunningham presented the sales tax hike as a "comprehensive plan" to address multiple urban crises, but let's be clear: this is another example of working-class Tucsonans being asked to foot the bill for systemic failures…
… and soon, to pay for the roads in suburbia with the RTA-Next tax.
Key battleground issues include:
Fentanyl crisis response
Housing shortages
Public safety improvements
Expanded police and social services funding
The raw numbers are stark. A caller named Sharon cut to the heart of the matter, challenging the city's discretionary spending:
"I keep adding up in my head all the things that the city of Tucson has chosen to do and is not required to do: subsidizing public transit at, I think, five or $6 million a month. Doing reconstruction at Reid Park. Having a forestry department, even though the state and feds do that work, and pursuing having consultants and lawyers to do a hostile takeover of TEP [Tucson Electric Power]."
Cunningham's defense was telling. On the TEP study, he claimed they spent less than $150,000 just to investigate whether a public utility would be more cost-effective for ratepayers.
But here's the rub: this is precisely the kind of bureaucratic spending that erodes public trust.
The Economic Violence of Regressive Taxation
A sales tax is the most regressive form of taxation imaginable. It disproportionately impacts working-class and poor communities, who spend a higher percentage of their income on basic necessities.
Cunningham's justification? "Since after COVID, everything has gotten more expensive."
This is late-stage capitalist logic at its finest—ask those with the least to shoulder the burden of municipal mismanagement.
A telling moment came when another caller, Matt, captured the community's frustration:
"Until the council starts making attempts to put us back into a normal functioning city post-COVID, I really recommend that you guys consider pulling this issue off the ballot because all you're doing right now is causing literally neighbors to start fighting with each other over this, and it's not worth it."
Hidden Agendas and Budget Sleight of Hand
Cunningham revealed some interesting budget gymnastics.
The city has actually been reducing personnel over time, citing challenges in hiring and state background checks. The sales tax is pitched as a solution to these staffing challenges.
But let's be real: this is about more than just staffing. It's about a fundamental reimagining of municipal services. The prop promises to:
Improve data communication between social work, court, and police systems
Expand 911 operator capacity
Increase police officers and equipment
Internal critique: More surveillance and policing, or genuine community support?
🐺 Jeff Buchanan: Ecological Warfare and Border Realities
Border Deployment: Military Theater or Actual Solution?
With his extensive military background, Buchanan offered a nuanced view of the 1,500 troops being deployed to the border. Drawing from his experience commanding 6,000 troops along the Southwest border, he suggested the mission would be largely supportive:
"My instinct will be [that troops are] doing support tasks, you know, assisting with flying people from place to place for reinforcing observation, maybe reinforcing obstacles."
The general revealed a fascinating insight into border crossing dynamics:
"If you look at the numbers... the numbers dropped way down when President Trump was first inaugurated. That was driven by the perception for those crossing on what they thought might happen."
The Ecological Apocalypse: Mexican Wolves on the Brink
Perhaps the most heart-wrenching segment involved the potential extinction of Mexican wolves in Mexico. Buchanan's matter-of-fact delivery masked a profound ecological tragedy:
"The last overall count from Mexico shows there might be a few lone wolves... but there's not much left there."
Conservation efforts depend on a delicate balance of interagency cooperation and local engagement. Buchanan described an innovative approach with ranchers:
Paying $200 to move cattle carcasses
Using range riders to manage wolf interactions
Proactive communication to prevent conflict
Drought and Wildlife: A Precarious Ecosystem
Arizona's environmental challenges are reaching crisis levels. Buchanan detailed:
Trout hatcheries reducing biomass
Declining deer populations
An unexpected ecological disruptor: feral horses (900% over sustainable levels)
Conclusion: The Thin Line Between Governance and Survival
The Buckmaster Show continues to be a critical platform for understanding Tucson's complex narratives. These conversations reveal the human stories behind policy—stories of survival, resistance, and incremental change.
The desert whispers its secrets, and we're here to amplify them.
Call to Action
Progressive Tucsonans, we must:
Critically examine Prop 414's true intentions
Demand transparent, equitable municipal spending
Support ecological conservation efforts
Challenge regressive taxation models
The struggle continues.
👥 People Mentioned:
Primary Guests
Bill Buckmaster
Role: Radio show host
Station: KVOI 1030
Notable quote about himself: "15 years starting the 15th year and 37th year in Tucson radio and TV"
Paul Cunningham
Role: Tucson City Councilman
Key focus: Prop 414 (sales tax increase)
Context: Defending city spending and proposed tax measure
Jeff Buchanan
Roles:
Retired Three-Star Army General
Arizona Game and Fish Commission Member
Former border troops commander
Memorable background: Commanded 6,000 troops on the Southwest border, four tours in Iraq, one in Afghanistan
Political Figures
Governor Katie Hobbs
Mentioned in the context of the State of the State address
Cunningham notes: "She touched on the Arizona promise... outlined a plan about increasing pay for correctional officers and police officers"
Ted Maxwell
Role: Arizona Department of Transportation Board Representative for Southern Arizona
Known for: Close friendship with Paul Cunningham despite political differences
Quote about their relationship: "Ted Maxwell is one of my closest friends who I disagree with the most" - Paul Cunningham
Governor Doug Ducey (Previous Governor)
Mentioned in passing, noted for traditional State of the State visits to Tucson
Governor Jan Brewer (Previous Governor)
Similarly mentioned, part of the traditional gubernatorial State of the State address history
Other Notable Mentions
Chad Kazmar
Role: Tucson Police Chief
Mentioned as an upcoming guest on the next day's show
Dylan Smith
Role: TucsonCentinel.com journalist
Mentioned as co-media host for an upcoming show
Callers
Sharon
Caller challenging city spending
Provided detailed critique of municipal expenditures
Matt
Caller opposing Prop 414
Argued the proposition is dividing the community
Contextual Insights
The transcript reveals a microcosm of Arizona's complex political landscape—a blend of border politics, ecological conservation, municipal governance, and community tensions. The conversations, while seemingly local, reflect broader national debates about resource allocation, environmental protection, and the role of government in addressing systemic challenges.
The listener is invited to look beyond surface-level discussions and examine the deeper structural issues that shape these narratives: How do economic pressures impact municipal decision-making? What are the real human costs of border policies? How do we balance ecological conservation with economic development?
The desert tells stories of survival, resistance, and ongoing negotiation—if only we listen carefully enough.
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