Lee Sonnichsen called his history of the Old Pueblo Tucson: Life and Times of an American City. The title was meant to be a little ironic, as Tucson’s strange and colorful history is hardly typical. Tucsonans generally take great pride in what we regard as the specialness of our city, even when it frustrates us.
Of course, residents of most cities regard their town as special, and every community has civic boosters who try to sell tourists and investors on the local charms. What makes Tucson different is that the folks who have positioned themselves as our civic boosters seem to genuinely dislike our city. They may say that they do not, perhaps they even believe that they do not but their words and actions say otherwise.
The latest example comes from Mike Varney, who recently parachuted into our fair city from the famously soulless conurbation of Las Vegas to lead the Tucson Metro Chamber. Last week, Varney started a bit of a chingazo by proposing that Tucson dump the nickname “Old Pueblo.”
This has been tried before without effect. The silly names “Sunshine Factory” and “Optics Valley” are remembered only because they never caught on. Nicknames happen organically. When I was in basic training, folks called me “Pretzel.” One of the drill sergeants called me “Ice Cream” after a character from Sgt. Rock. I would have preferred it if the latter caught on, but that is not the way these things work. Perhaps this is why Chuck Huckleberry was quoted being dismissive of the whole thing in the Star.
What matters is the attitude behind this. My Uncle Kiko might have put it best when he said “Their real problem isn’t with ‘Old.’ Its with ‘Pueblo.'” He is not the only Tucsonan who recognizes that this debate harkens back to the same sentiments that drove the Chamber of Commerce and its allies in the Sunshine Climate Club to point to the Mexican-American community as the chief obstacle to Tucson’s progress as a city, a notion that culminated in the destruction of the greater part of Barrio Viejo in the 1960s and 70s.
But it might not be fair to say this is about race. The truth is that the current leadership at the Chamber regards Tucsonans in general with sneering contempt. Those of us who have had the dubious privilege of being party to their candid conversations are aware that our friends and neighbors are considered ignorant bumpkins who need to get out of the way. Former State Senator Frank Antenori may well have been criticized for his scornful comments about Tucsonans, but he was actually saying in public what many leaders of the organized business community say in private.
Varney’s own contempt manifested himself a few weeks ago after the City Council rejected the El Rio location for a Grand Canyon University campus. Varney responded by firing off an insulting press release which impugned the motives of the Council and showed a remarkable level of ignorance of the city’s history and role of our elected leadership. He seemed annoyed that community concerns about controversial economic development initiatives were at all indulged in a public discussion.
Tucson needs a vigorous public debate about its economic development future, but it is only going to happen if the organized business community starts treating Tucsonans, and by extension, our elected leaders, with respect. Part of this respect is acknowledging that Tucson is a unique place with special problems and values that we hold dear as a community. A productive discussion without such respect is impossible. Attacking our city’s nickname smacks of dismissing Tucsonans themselves as our chief problem as a community, and this is not the way to get to where we want to go.
Little or nothing has been heard from Varney since he came out with his rebranding proposal. Perhaps someone had a chat with him and told him to quiet down. This could be a good sign, as it may be an indication that he is listening to someone in the community. If it is, this is certainly something he should be doing more often.
This article appears in Jul 25-31, 2013.
I enjoyed and agreed with just about every word of this Guest Commentary regarding the Tucson Metro Chamber and its leader, Mike Varney, except for the end.
Varney did not go silent. His attack on Tucson continued in his opinion piece in Inside Tucson Business, July 12, 2013, where he wrote, “Politics and special interest groups sometime make it hard for opportunity to bloom.”
The Tucson Metro Chamber was referred to as one of Tucson’s “tribal leaders” and the great American Psychologist, Abraham Maslow was grossly misused my Varney in this article.
Mike Varney is all about opportunities for individuals to “prosper” regardless of the cost to our neighborhoods and our identity. To him, neighborhood associations are special interest groups that are in the way, and elected officials, who actually are our tribal leaders, should only care about one special interest group: the Tucson Metro Chamber.
Maslow did not see prosperity as the height of his pyramid, self actualization, as Varney claims. Prosperity goes with ego and self esteem needs. In fact, many examples of people considered to be examples of self actualization lived simply while serving and helping others.
I am glad that this Guest Commentary stood up to the Tucson Metro Chamber. The writer was too kind, though, and should have pointed out that the Metro Chamber does not represent all businesses in Tucson: witness the Hispanic Chamber among others.
The problem is that my kids can’t get a decent job here. One has moved to another City and the other will stay but she wishes she didn’t have too. I have been here for 47 years and I used to be proud of my city. Not any more. With the Progressive/Liberal City Council and the makeup of Tucson we are doomed to failure. We are just a notch above Detroit but not much.
Two questions: Where is the Rio Nuevo money and I hope you all have a great Trolley ride (whenever that’s done!). Corruption and misguided priorities.
Give Varney a break!
Since he took on the job at the Chamber, we have seen him work his tail off! As a member of the business community for more than twenty years and a resident of Tucson since 1969, it is about time we got somebody in a position of leadership that would like to see something better for this city. Varney’s predecessor managed to shrink the membership in half while he was at the helm, and I wont recount all of the stifling politics, (Walkup, Walker et al) that got this city where it is now… …about the same as it was when I went to the U of A about twenty years ago.
Mike Varney is attempting to work with other leaders in the community, Rothschild, TREO, Tucson Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (who by the way finally has a new name now too!) in an effort to bring more companies, more visitors and more money to the businesses in Tucson. I am currently on two committees with the Chamber, have worked for the Convention and Visitors Bureau and just completed the Greater Tucson Leadership class so I have some experience with the current issues of Tucson today.
I realize that many of our residents like Tucson the way it is, especially if they don’t own a business or their income does not rely on tourism. But, there are many ways to keep our great city in the minds of others as a growing and flourishing community with a lot to offer young educated graduates, companies that will come and stay in Tucson and opportunities for everyone to experience something new and something good. Maybe we shouldn’t change our name, but we definitely need some revamping and that’s what he is trying to do.
I recommend that those who are concerned about Mike Varney’s perceived view of Tucson and our residents, go and speak with him at one of the many complimentary breakfasts he hosts so he can talk with you, our membership and those who might think about joining again.
Personally, I have seen this guy on a steady uphill battle and he is making some ground. Not afraid to work, get out into the community, provide some ideas about growth and opportunity and basically do the job he WAS HIRED TO DO.
Let’s try not to sit back, keep complaining about any new ideas and get old in the Old Pueblo while we make no progress….it is a waste of a beautiful city with a lot to offer. If only anyone else knew…
Get off Varney’s back. He’s entitled to his opinion. The author of this commentary certainly is. He was hired for his opinion. The jury is still out on Varney and he is well aware of it.
I’m just so glad to be rid of Jack Camper, Jonathan Walker, Rick whoever, and Tom Moulton.
Varney’s so-called attitude about Tucson residents being bumpkins is correct weather he has that attitude or not. Look at who gets elected in this town as proof of that.
Being a bigot comes easily to but me I had to strain to make the connection between the word Pueblo and ‘Hispanic racism’. Even after having been told of the connection for the first time.
Why is everything on this page in italics?
Big Apple, Bean Town, Windy City, Sin City, Mile High City, Emerald City, The Valley (seems only newscasters in Phoenix use it).
Those are the only other city nicknames I can think of off the top of my head.
Does it matter to others what our nickname is?
I like the Old Pueblo and probably use it in conversation once or twice a week.
I never used the other two.
Let people who want to use it, use it.
Time to think about other things to make Tucson work.
Tucson will feed off the boom in Sonora from the extraction industries and factories.Having a person that is uncomfortable with the word Pueblo running the business community is just stupid.
yesBob, Varney wasn’t hired for his opinion, he was hired to provide leadership. His attempt to dump “Old Pueblo” showed a complete lack of leadership.
Let’s also not forget that the infamous ‘Sunshine Climate Club’ was also responsible for getting rid of the hard ‘c’ in the pronunciation of our fair city’s name because it was also ‘too ethnic’. ¡Viva TuCsón – Viva El ‘Old Pueblo’!
The simple fact that the leader of the Tucson Chamber of Commerce is from Las Vegas tells you all you need to know.
Varney hates Tucson and wants to turn it into Las Vegas or Phoenix or something similar. We wish he would go back home and leave us alone.