1. Photo Radar Debate Update

Update on the special installment of our Hot Topics and Lunch series to be held Thursday, Nov. 19 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Four Points by Sheraton, 1333 S. Rural Road. The subject of the event is Photo Enforcement / Photo Radar.  Learn more or register here or by calling (480) 967-7891.

This event keeps getting bigger and bigger! We’ve learned that this will be the first time that Redflex has publicly spoken in an open discussion format about its role in photo enforcement. In fact, calls have come in from as far away as Washington, D.C., New York and California asking for details about this event.

We’ve confirmed that Jay Heiler, Director of Government Affairs with Redflex, will represent the “for” side of photo enforcement at this event. Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc. is the company that installs and maintains the cameras in Arizona and 20 other states.

Our panelist representing the “against” position is Shawn Dow, chairman of Arizona Citizens Against Photo Radar. This organization is circulating a petition throughout the state that would force photo enforcement to be put to a public vote.

Additionally, a representative from Arizona’s Department of Public Safety will be present to respond to DPS-related questions.

We expect media coverage of the event to be extensive, and KPHO Channel 5 broadcast a segment on its nightly news report on Tuesday.

At the event, our panelists will tell you everything you need to know about radar and red light photo enforcement on the Valley’s streets and highways. These experts will explore the pros and cons of this highly charged issue. Is it making us safer or putting us in harm’s way? Are accidents increasing or decreasing as a result of their presence? Learn what the program is all about, what it means to you, and whether or not you really have to pay those tickets.

We still have seats available at this event to the public but advance RSVP is requested here or to (480) 967-7891.

It’s a common enough scenario.  The mother in Target telling her young child that they can’t afford the expensive toy he/she so desperately wants.  The family that only patronizes restaurants where “kids eat free.”  The friend who chooses the used Honda over the new Lexus.  I’m sure you’ve not only seen it in others, you’ve made those decisions yourself.  In good times and in bad, very few people can afford everything they want.  We all make choices.

Sometimes those choices are easy:  the $25 steak or the $8 hamburger?  Sometimes, not so easy:  move to a cheaper apartment or try to get a second job?  And sometimes people put off those decisions by burning through their savings and borrowing on their credit cards.

And that’s where we are in Arizona.  And in Tempe.  And in Phoenix and in just about every other city in this state.

The State is facing a $2 billion budget shortfall for this fiscal year - the next seven months — with the rosiest projections showing another deficit next year.  There is absolutely no way for the State to continue all of its current programs and serve the same number of people it does today.  Raising taxes is a limited option.  Even if we could raise taxes soon enough to affect this year’s deficit, sales taxes would need to be nearly doubled to clear the deficit without cutting programs.

Tempe is predicting a shortfall of about $20 million.  It’s fortunate to still have reserves, but you can’t keep dipping into those while spending at the same rate.  Eventually the reserves will dry up, resulting in more drastic cuts at a later date.

All signs point to an economic recovery, but it’s going to be very slow; it’s much harder to climb a mountain than to fall off one.  So the debate begins.

It’s time we all started looking at all the choices and prioritize.  What are the programs and services that are absolutely necessary, whether or not they directly impact us?  What are the things that we’ve come to expect that we can do without for awhile?  What are the things we must have, and what are the things we’d just like to have?  What are the things that will cost us in the long run if we forego them today?

The Legislature will be heading into a special session, and the City Council will be discussing the budget soon.  Let us all be open about our needs, and be ready and willing to make sacrifices to get through these tough times. 

Mary Ann Miller is the President/CEO of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce

Wow!  The holidays are coming up.  Arizona is rated as having the second-worst financial crisis in the nation.  Unemployment is the highest in decades.  A large number of experienced grocery workers are job hunting because of the recent economic challenges at local chain Bashas’.  Opposite sides on the national discussion on health care all agree that rising costs are unsustainable. And this is the time the union wants to strike Fry’s and Safeway?

Folks, pick your battles!

The sticking point in negotiations appears to be what new employees should contribute to their health care costs.  This doesn’t impact the people who will be walking out of jobs during these tough economic times.  The argument that it will eventually lead to lowered coverage for current employees is specious.  No one has said that’s on the table, so it won’t happen during the proposed contract period.I’m afraid there won’t be a great outpouring of sympathy for people who are objecting to new hires being charged $5 per week for health coverage, when so many folks pay so much more.  But I’m sympathetic.  I’m sympathetic because the union is using its members to try to build its own reputation as a fighter on behalf of workers’ rights.  Instead, it’s putting those workers in a terrible situation.  While it doesn’t bother me at all that the union is making itself look bad, I feel for the people working at the stores.  They will be most harmed. 

Union membership has been steadily declining.  Is it any wonder when its leadership doesn’t know the difference between defending its members and throwing them under the bus?

Mary Ann Miller is the President/CEO of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce

Photo Radar - Safety or Profit?

Experts will explore the pros and cons of photo radar and red light enforcement on Arizona’s roadways at this eye-opening event. Is it making drivers safer or putting them in greater danger? Do the cameras exist to effectively reduce accidents and injuries or is it a financially motivated program?

Learn what photo enforcement is all about, what it means to you, and whether or not you really have to pay those tickets.

This highly charged issue will be discussed by Shawn Dow, Chairman of Arizona’s Citizens Against Photo Radar and a representative from Redflex, the company that installs and maintains the cameras.

 Representatives from the Tempe Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety also have been invited to participate in the discussion but are undecided as of this writing.

The cost to attend is $25 for Tempe Chamber members in advance, $30 members day of and $35 for the general public. RSVP online with the Tempe Chamber or to(480) 967-7891.

The event takes place on Thursday, Nov. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.at Four Points by Sheraton, 1333 S. Rural Rd. in Tempe.

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman

Get ready for one of our biggest and most important events of the year!

 The Tempe Chamber of Commerce and the City of Tempe are proud to present Mayor Hugh Hallman’s State of the City Address on Nov. 10 at the Buttes in Tempe.

 Attended by civic, business and political leaders of the Valley, the event features Mayor Hallman’s update on Tempe’s business, educational and social climates.

 We invite you to join us and enjoy a full plated breakfast while you engage with other community leaders during an exciting presentation by the mayor.

 Adding a new twist to the event, Mayor Hallman will foster an atmosphere of community and networking opportunities that will allow attendees to interact and learn new ways to excel in their business and personal careers.

 The State of the City Address takes place on Tuesday, November 10 from 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. at the Buttes, a Marriott Resort, 2000 Westcourt Way in Tempe.

 Registration and breakfast service begin at 7:00 a.m. and Mayor Hallman will begin his speech and presentation at 7:30 a.m.

 Advance RSVP is required. Tickets are $50 for members, $70 for the public and $500 for a table of 10. Learn more or register at http://bit.ly/82tdT or call (480) 967-7891.

 The State of the City Address is presented by Edward Jones and sponsored by Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Insight, PMT Ambulance, State Farm, US Airways, McCarthy Construction, Cox Communications, Motorola, Alphagraphics and the Tempe Republic.

We were proud to host Arizona Governor Janice K. Brewer at an informal business luncheon on Oct. 19 at the Bridgeview Condominiums at Hayden Ferry Lakeside.

Gov. Brewer, in her first informal lunch event with the chamber, addressed an audience of 30 representatives from the Tempe business community who gathered to hear her thoughts on the state’s economic environment and to offer their insights on how it can work at local levels to cultivate favorable conditions.

The governor addressed issues including protecting Arizona’s portion of federal stimulus funding, holding a special November legislative session to address underfunded agencies, working cooperatively with the state legislature to continue supporting the state’s social programs, and tax reform as she discussed her plans to balance the state budget and maintain Arizona’s fiscal integrity.

As a gateway city with more than 100,000 non-resident employees and visitors migrating to it each day, Tempe is an accurate barometer of the Valley’s economic climate. The Governor’s office recognizes the vital role that Tempe plays in the state’s overall growth and by sharing her time with its business leaders, Gov. Brewer reinforced the role that the Tempe Chamber plays in promoting a healthy economy.

Sean Donovan is the Communications Director at the Tempe Chamber of Commerce

Tempe Chamber Staff with Gov. Jan Brewer

What’s your opinion on health care reform? Do we need it? Is it a fundamental right? Should the government get involved or stay out?

Our country is engaged in a vocal - to say the least - debate about the future of health care in America. While much attention has been focused on the loudest voices, there are many factors to consider when forming your position and preparing for changes that will affect you.

We invite you to join us this Thursday to hear what the experts have to say. A panel discussion followed by audience Q+A will teach you what you need to know about its possible ramifications and how they will impact your life, your pocketbook and your business.

Our expert panel is composed of Ruth Ann Lawsick, Region VII Vice President for the National Association of Health Underwriters; Connie Tucker, Asst. Medical Director of Mt. Park Health Center; and Michelle Pabis, Director of Government Relations at Scottsdale Healthcare. The event will feature a series of questions moderated by Kristine Kassel, President of Benefits by Design.

Tickets include lunch and are $25 for members in advance or $30 day of and $35 for the general public. Register online here, to (480) 967-7891, or at www.tempechamber.org. Hot Topics and Lunch is sponsored by M&I Bank.

The forum takes place this Thursday, Oct. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.at the Fiesta Resort Conference Center, 2100 S. Priest Dr. in Tempe.

Sean Donovan is the Communications Director at the Tempe Chamber of Commerce

Our 2009 State of the Schools Address was an incredibly informative and exciting event! We learned so much from our amazing panelists and soon will be sharing with you their ideas on how to improve our educational community.

With the addition of Tempe Channel 11’s coverage of the event, the day’s messages and information will be available on several televised broadcasts and here on our blog after they air in mid-October.

We want to extend our gratitude to our sponsors who made this important event possible. Thanks to our presenting sponsor Ed Options; our silver sponsors Alphagraphics, Children’s Dental Village and Tempe Schools Credit Union; and our bronze sponsors Arredondo and Arredondo Insurance, Motorola, Rio Salado College and State Farm.

And of course, a heartfelt thank you to our moderator Margaret Garcia-Dugan, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction with the Arizona Department of Education and our event panelists Tempe Elementary School District Superintendent Dr. Arthur Tate; Kyrene School District Superintendent Dr. David Schauer; Tempe Union High School District Superintendent Steve Adolph; Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Maricopa Community College District Dr. Maria Harper-Marinick; founder and CEO of Pinnacle Education Dr. Mike Matwick; and Vice President for University Student Initiatives at ASU Dr. James Rund.

Sean Donovan is the Communications Director at the Tempe Chamber of Commerce

Okay, I’ll admit that my staff gave me my own box of red pens because I like to edit documents.  It’s true that I have been called the queen of the hyphen.  Yes, someone once told me she never saw anyone work so hard not to end a sentence in a preposition in a Christmas letter.  Throw in the fact that I have always scored higher on the math portion of exams and you will understand why the meaningless use of statistics just drives me nuts!

Statistics - raw numbers, averages, percentages - have no meaning without context.  Two perfect examples came to my desk this week.  The first was a poll of association members asking how much they budgeted for staff training in the aggregate.  There was no cross referencing for the staff size.  So if I spend $5k and you spend $2k, which of us invests more in staff training?

Who knows?!

If I have 10 FTEs, I’m spending $500 per person.  Without knowing if you have three FTEs or 12, I have no basis of comparison.

The second was an article comparing the per-capita-income growth in various metro areas.  Once again, we may be comparing apples to oranges.  After all, the per-capita income of my household is much higher than someone bringing home the same paycheck to her two young children.  Perhaps the study took demographics into account - an influx of retirees or a baby boom in an area will skew results - but it was never mentioned in the article.  Instead, people will assume we’re doing much worse than other areas.

Put me down as another vote for more math education.

Mary Ann Miller is the President/CEO of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce

THE BUSINESS ADVOCATE OCTOBER ISSUE AVAILABLE

The October edition of The Business Advocate is available on our website. Each issue features business and community news, legislative and political developments impacting your business, special Tempe Chamber offers, information on upcoming seminars, workshops and events and much more.

I’ve also posted our October calendar of events online to make your scheduling life less hectic.

Highlights of the latest edition include:

Local Position Statement Released

Annual Report

Details On Our New “Doing Business With the Government” Seminar Series

Sun Devil Kickoff Exclusive Photos

Ribbon Cuttings and Member Spotlights

Win a HDTV!

Calendar of Committee Meetings and Events

Exclusive Offers for Tempe Chamber Members

Sean Donovan is the Communications Director at the Tempe Chamber of Commerce.