News About Oro Valley
"Runaway Spending Plans"
On December 12, the Explorer published a letter about fiscal irresponsibility in Oro Valley. Read the letter here.
Swiss Company Tries to Take Over Oro Valley Business
On December 7, Inside Tucson Business published a story about how Roche is trying to take over the Board of Ventana Medical. Read the story here.
Two More Buildings to Exceed Height Limits
On December 5, the Explorer published an article about two more buildings in Oro Valley that will be allowed to exceed height limits. Read the story here.
Explorer Sold
On December 3, the Citizen published a story about the purchase of the Explorer by an out-of-state corporation. Read the story here.
"Incompetent, Spend-Happy Council"
On November 28, the Explorer published a letter from an Oro Valley resident about the "merry band of spenders" on the Town Council. Read the letter here.
Nearby Open Space and Historic Sites Enrich Real Estate Value
On November 28, the Explorer published an article about how the Pima Trails Association has been working to preserve open space in Oro Valley. Read the story here.
Vestar Projections
On November 21, the Explorer published a letter from an Oro Valley resident about how sales tax projections may have been used to convince voters to approve subsidies. Read the letter here.
Talent and Lifestyle Entice Foreign Pharmaceutical Giant to Expand in Oro Valley
On November 16, the Star published a story about how Sanofi-Aventis is expanding in Oro Valley. Read the story here.
Subsidies Produce Less Than 1/5 of Revenues Promised
On November 5, Inside Tucson Business published a story about how tax subsidies to developers have failed to produce the promised revenues. Read the story here.
Oro Valley Residents Disturbed by Construction at Oro Valley Marketplace
On November 3, KVOA aired a story about construction that starts at 3:00 a.m. at the Oro Valley Marketplace site.
Read the story here.
Oro Valley Tax Subsidies Fail to Produce Promised Results
On November 1, the Star published a story about how tax subsidies to developers have failed to produce the promised revenues. Read the story here.
Closing the Door After all the Dogs Are Out
On October 31, the Explorer published two letters from Oro Valley residents about tax subsidies and those who are fighting them.
Oro Valley Town Council Rolls for Developer
On October 25, the Star published a story about the Town Council approving a 60-foot hotel after the Planning and Zoning Commisssion denied the variance of the Town's 36' height limit. Read the story here.
Unrealistic Expectations
On October 24, the Explorer published an editorial about how tax subsidies to developers have failed to produce the promised revenues. Read the story here.
Goldwater Institute Responds to Corporate Welfare in Oro Valley
On October 24, the Goldwater Institute published a response to the report about how tax subsidies to developers have failed to produce the promised revenues. Read the story here.
Developers Fail to Fulfil Promises to Oro Valley
On October 24, the Explorer published a story about how tax subsidies to developers have failed to produce the promised revenues. Read the story here.
Oro Valley Economic Development Director Resigns
On October 4, the Star published a story about David Welsh's resignation. Read the story here.
What Happens When Municipalities Don't Offer Subsidies?
On September 25, the Star published a story about what happens when municipalities don't offer to subsidize development: it happens anyway, and at the developers' expens. Read the story here.
Retroactive?
On September 12, the Explorer published a letter from an Oro Valley citizen about the Goldwater Institute's lawsuit against the city of Phoenix. Read the letter here.
"Elected Officials Are Giving Away the Store"
On August 30, the Tucson Weekly published an editorial on Oro Valley's subsidies. Read the story here.
Former Economic Developer Says Oro Valley is Unfriendly to Small Businesses
On August 29, the Explorer published a story Brian Catts and his efforts to succeed in Oro Valley. Read the story here.
Unconstitutional Gift of Public Funds
On August 8, the Star published a story about a lawsuit against tax incentives like the $23.2 million deal that was given to Vestar to bring a Wal-Mart Supercenter to Oro Valley. Read the story here.
Be Careful With Vestar
On August 5, The Kingman Daily Miner printed a letter from Oro Valley Resident Phill Gibbs. Read the letter here.
Vestar Refuses to Answer to Citizens who Gave Them $23.2 Million in Taxes
On July 25, the Explorer published a guest opinion about Oro Valley First's efforts to get Vestar to keep its promises. Read the article here.
Citizens Need Not Pay Developer's Legal Fees
On July 5, the Star published a story about a judge's ruling that Oro Valley citizens need not pay the legal fees of the developer of a local crematorium. Read the story here.
Oro Valley First Makes Headlines
On July 4, the Explorer published a story about Oro Valley First and their campaign for independent businesses. Read the article here.
Hostile Takeover for Ventana Medical?
On July 4, the Star published a story about the legal obstacles to a Swiss company's hostile takeover of an Oro Valley company. Read the story here.
Roche goes public with hostile takeover of Ventana Medical Systems
On June 29, Inside Tucson Business published the details of Roche's proposal for Ventana Medical. Read the story here.
Oro Valley Grows by 22% Since 2000
On June 28, the Douglas Dispatch published the story about the explosive growth in some Arizona communities. Read the story here.
Council Bows to the Wishes of Developers on Water Fees
On June 27, the Explorer published a story about the Oro Valley Town Council's decision to phase in increased water impact fees over several years, as the developers wanted. Read the story here.
"Developers Get What They Wanted"
On June 25, KVOA published a story about the Oro Valley Town Council's decision to phase in increased water impact fees over several years, as the developers wanted. Read the story here.
"Town Didn't Protect Our Interests"
On June 21, the Star published a story about Oro Valley residents' concerns about a new development near their home. Read the story here.
"Town Didn't Inform Us of Construction Plans"
On June 20, the Explorer published a story about Oro Valley residents' concerns about a new development near their home. Read the story here.
Oro Valley High Schools in Top 5%
On June 20, the Explorer published a story about Oro Valley's two high schools top honors in Newsweek. Read the story here.
"Elected Officials are Incompetent or Lying"
On June 17, the Star published a letter from an Oro Valley resident who questioned the judgement of the town council. Read the letter here.
"Wal-Mart Reduces Sales Tax Revenues"
On June 16, the Star published a letter from an Oro Valley resident who questioned the tax abatements for the Oro Valley Marketplace. Read the letter here.
"Cibaria is Perfect"
On June 13, the Star published a review of locally owned Cibaria Cucina Italiana. Read the letter here.
"Hard to Believe That Town Council Did Not Protect Community"
On June 8, the Star published a letter from an Oro Valley resident who questioned the judgement of the town council. Read the letter here.
Oro Valley Residents Keep up with Town Issues and Share Opinions Online
On June 7, the Star published a story about three local Web sites: Let Oro Valley Excel, The Oro Valley Watchdog, and Oro Valley First. Read the article here.
TEP Wants Oro Valley to Pay
On May 26, the Star published a story about Tucson Electric Power Company's attempt to get Oro Valley to change the law to save the company money, or get taxpayers to foot the bill for having TEP follow the law. Read the article here.
RTA Won't Pay to Bury Lines
On May 25, the Star published a story about the Regional Transportation Authority's plans, including some issues about who pays to move utility lines. "Most utility companies pay for relocation when necessary, but some utilities have agreements with certain jurisdictions and some utilities are grandfathered into newer towns, like Oro Valley, so they don't have to pay." Read the article here.
Public Parks Compete with Corporate Welfare for Tax Dollars
On May 24, the Star published a story about the bed tax in Oro Valley, 1/3 of which goes into the deep pockets of the Hilton El Conquistador Resort. Read the article here.
Oro Valley Water Table Dropping 5.6 Feet per Year
On May 24, the Star published a story about the water situation in Oro Valley. Read the article here.
Council to Educate Voters on Need for Property Tax
On May 23, the Explorer published a story about the plan for the Naranja Town Site. Read the article here.
Oro Valley Could Have Provided Important Lesson
On May 21, the Star published a story about the cost of rapid growth. Read the article here.
Oro Valley First Seeks Pledges to Avoid Oro Valley Marketplace
On May 16, the Explorer picked up on the Star's "breaking news." Read the article here.
Oro Valley First Seeks Pledges to Replace Wal-Mart
On May 14, the Star published a story about Oro Valley First. Read the article here.
Taxpayers Should be Fed up With Giveaways to Developers
On May 14, the Citizen published an opinion about tax incentives. Read the article here.
“Subsidies to retailers are wasteful and unnecessary"
On May 14, the Goldwater Institute published a white paper about tax incentives. Read the article here.
Kingman Axes Former Oro Valley Economic Development Director
On May 11, the Kingman Daily Miner published an article on Kingman's decision to fire Jeff Weir, who was unable to lure businesses to Kingman. Read the article here.
Businesses' Incentive Requests Went Too Far
On May 10, the Star published a story about Oro Valley's failed attempt to annex neighborhoods to the southwest. Read the article here.
Foothills Mall and Omni Hotel Want the Same Handouts Oro Valley Gave Others
On May 4, Inside Tucson Business published the story that the Explorer didn't quite quite get. Read the article here.
Now Your Kids Can Have Low-Wage Jobs
On April 28, the Kingman Daily Miner printed an article by Nicholas Wilbur, who employs irony to let readers know that the city's economic development director, Jeff Weir, is spending $600,000 per year of their tax money to bring them 3,000 low-wage jobs by having Vestar build a new strip mall there. Mr. Weir was formerly the economic development director in Oro Valley, where he was instrumental in the deal that gave Vestar $23.2 million in tax subsidies, resulting in many low-wage jobs in Oro Valley, including those at the soon-to-be-built Wal-Mart Supercenter. Read the article here.
Deception and Taxes
On April 24, the Explorer printed two letters from citizens concerned about Oro Valley's fiscal irresponsibility.Read the letters here.
Oro Valley Resident Warns Kingman Residents About Vestar
On April 23, the Kingman Daily Miner printed a letter from an Oro Valley resident warning Kingman residents about Vestar. Read the letter here.
Closing the Barn Doors
On April 18, the Explorer printed a story about the Oro Valley Town Council's newfound concerns over giving away tax dollars to developers. Only 15% of developable commercial land remains in Oro Valley, which has given away over $50 million in tax incentives already. Read the story here.
Oro Valley May Lose $22 Million by 2008
On April 18, the Explorer printed a story about the debate in the Oro Valley Town Council over how extravagant to make the new Naranja Town Center park complex. The park may cost $164 million to build, and would require using bond money and property taxes. Read the story here.
Council Debates Extravagance
On April 18, the Explorer printed a story about the debate in the Oro Valley Town Council over how extravagant to make the new Naranja Town Center park complex. The park may cost $164 million to build, and would require using bond money and property taxes. Read the story here.
"Many Oro Valley Citizens Did Not Trust Vestar"
On Arpil 7, the Star printed a letter in response to the story about the groundbreaking at the Oro Valley Marketplace. Read the letter here.
“(Northsiders) don’t have a choice. We’re all going to be one big community like Phoenix is. It will be hard to tell where one community starts and the other one stops.”
On April 4, the Explorer printed a story about Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO), and their vision for growth, growth, and still more growth. TREO receives $50,000 per year of Oro Valley taxpayers' money. Read the story here.
Marketplace Ceremony Draws Protest
On March 29, the Star printed a story about the groundbreaking at the Oro Valley Marketplace. Read the story here.
Water Impact Fees
On March 29, the Star printed a story about the proposed increases in water impact fees up to 2,657%. Vestar, developer of the Oro Valley Marketplace, is exempt from these fee increases. Read the story here.
Despite protesters, Wal-Mart coming to Oro Valley
On March 28, the Explorer printed a story about the groundbreaking at the Oro Valley Marketplace. Read the story here.
Oro Valley Residents Decry Developers
On March 28, the Explorer printed a letter from a local resident unhappy about town leaders' refusal to hold developers accountable. Read the letters here.
Oro Valley Residents Decry Marketplace
On March 26, Inside Tucson Business printed a story about the groundbreaking at the Oro Valley Marketplace. Read the story here.
Neighbors Protest New Wal*Mart
On March 21, KVOA aired a story about the groundbreaking at the Oro Valley Marketplace in which Dave Malin of Vestar promises that the revenues from the mall "will fund police, fire, parks, and make the Naraja Town Site a reality." (The Oro Valley Marketplace is projected to generate an average $6.5 million per year in tax revenue. The Naraja Town Site is projected to cost at least $151 million if it is built right away, plus $2.5 million per year in maintenance. See "Bond Election and Property Tax Ahead?" below.) Read the story here.
View the video clip.
Citizens Comment on the Oro Valley Marketplace
On March 21, the Explorer printed four letters from citizens concerned about the Oro Valley Marketplace and its announced tenants. Read the letters here.
Bond Election and Property Tax Ahead?
On March 15, the Arizona Daily Star printed a story about the Naranja Town Site. Read the story here.
"Oro Valley is disappointed in the box-store, strip-mall reality "
On March 8, the Explorer printed a letter about the Oro Valley Marketplace. Read the letter here.
"It's a terrible loss."
On March 8, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune printed a story about a project of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory in Tucson to track light pollution. "The artificial illumination interferes with astronomical observations, waylays animal migrations, and - some scientists suggest - could even affect human health." Read the story here.
Vestar Fishing for Tax Dollars in Kingman
On March 5, the Daily Miner broke the story about Vestar's closed-door meetings with Kingman city officials in an attempt to get the same kind of tax giveaway they've received from Oro Valley and elswhere. There's lots of good information and good reporting. Read the story here.
Town Pays $23 Million To Get A Wal-Mart
On March 4, Sprawl-Busters published an analysis of the situation in Oro Valley. There's lots of good information. Read the story here.
940 New Hotel Rooms Springing Up in Oro Valley
On February 27, the Star ran an article about a new hotel/condo complex in Oro Valley, and mentions two others, but doesn't menetion the Embassy Suites (see below). Read the story here.
300-Room Embassy Suites Hotel with Water Park Planned in Oro Valley
On February 21, the CoStar Group Realty Information Web site ran an article about the planned 300-room Embassy Suites Hotel at Tangerine and Oracle. "Final approval discussions are focused on height restrictions for the new hotel. The Northwest Medical Center building, across the street from this project, was restricted to a maximum height of 75 feet with setbacks when it was built last year. The proposed hotel will offer a water-slide park..." presumably with a view of the Wal*Mart Supercenter. Read the story here.
Oro Valley Residents Comment on Wal*Mart and Developers
On February 21, the Explorer ran two letters from Oro Valley residents discussing the new Wal*Mart Supercenter and developers in Oro Valley. Read the story here.
"Yet another chain...offering bland, uninspired 'Italian' cuisine"
On February 15, the Tucson Weekly ran a review of Carrabba's Italian Grill in Oro Valley.Read the review here.
Meanwhile, at Locally Owned Gyros, the Falafel is Fab!
On February 15, the Star ran an article on the newly opened Gyros Cafe in Oro Valley. Read the story here.
More Oro Valley Residents Comment on the Oro Valley Marketplace
On February 14, the Explorer ran two letters from Oro Valley residents dismayed over the tax deal given to Vestar and its subsequent choice of a Wal*Mart Supercenter for the anchor store at its promised "upscale, unique lifestyle center," Oro Valley Marketplace. Read the letters here.
How Can Wal*Mart Compete if Oro Valley Doesn't Subsidize Them?
On February 8, the Tucson Weekly commented on Vestar's announced tenants for the Oro Valley Marketplace. Read the story here.
Oro Valley Residents Comment on the Oro Valley Marketplace
On February 7, the Explorer ran two letters from Oro Valley residents dismayed over the tax deal given to Vestar and its subsequent choice of a Wal*Mart Supercenter for the anchor store after its promises of “upscale boutiques” and “fine restaurants” at Oro Valley Marketplace. Read the story here.
We Were Fooled
On February 2, the Star ran a comment from a reader who voted for the Vestar subsidy and now feels fooled. Read the story here.
Fewer Than 10% of Oro Valley Residents Wanted a Wal*Mart
On February 1, the Star ran an article about residents' reactions to the announced tenants at the Oro Valley Marketplace. The article notes that "In a Vestar survey of residents that ran from Dec. 1, 2004, to March 15, 2005, out of 398 votes for department stores, 36 of those votes went to putting in a Wal-Mart SuperCenter." Read the story here.
Oro Valley Marketplace a Giant Disappointment
On February 1, the Star ran a letter from an Oro Valley resident regarding the announced tenants at the Oro Valley Marketplace. Read the story here.
For more opinions by Phil Richardson, see The Oro Valley Watchdog.
Oro Valley Residents Deserve Better
On January 31, the Explorer ran a letter from an Oro Valley resident outraged over the tax deal given to Vestar and its subsequent choice of a Wal*Mart Supercenter for the anchor store after its promises of “unique” merchants at Oro Valley Marketplace. Read the story here.
For more opinions by Art Segal, see Let Oro Valley Excel.
Mercado Del Rio Car Wash Uses Recycled Water
On January 31, the Explorer ran a story about the Mercado Del Rio Car Wash and its use of recycled water. (Plus, they offer wireless Internet access and espresso while you wait!) It remains to be seen whether the car wash proposed for the Oro Valley Marketplace will be required to meet the same environmental standards. Read the story here.
Oro Valley Marketplace Tenants Not 'Extraordinary'
On January 25, the Star ran a story about Oro Valley residents' reactions to the announced Phase 1 tenants at the Oro Valley Marketplace. Read the story here.
What Did Albertson's Know and When Did They Know It?
On January 24, just after the opening of Oro Valley's Wal*Mart Neighborhood Market, and one day before Vestar announced that a Wal*Mart Supercenter would be opening in Oro Valley, the Star ran a story about Oro Valley's only Albertson's decision to close. Read the story here.
Chandler Residents Successfully Thwart Vestar's Plans
On January 4, the Arizona Republic ran an article about a group of Chandler residents who successfully fought Vestar's planned Wal*Mart Supercenter in their community. Read the story here.
Local Merchants Feel the Squeeze From Big Chains
On December 28, 2006, the Star ran an article on the problems that locally owned businesses have competing with chain stores. Read the story here.
Local Restaurant Feels the Squeeze, Too
On December 28, 2006, the Weekly ran a review of a local Oro Valley restaurant with much better food and service than the chains, but fewer customers. Read the story here.
Arizonans Need to Fight Even Harder for Our Future
On December 7, 2006, the Weekly ran an opinion piece on the future of open space. Read the story here.
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