On March 21, 2016, Gilt Edge Marketing released a study indicating that Tucson is ranked number 25 in their list of top soccer markets in America.  How did we get here?  What can we do, as a community, to capitalize on this?

 

 

With two partners, Greg Foster owns and operates FC Tucson Events ("FC Tucson"). FC Tucson produces and promotes Major League Soccer Preseason in Tucson, the Desert Diamond Cup and various other professional soccer events. FC Tucson also owns and operates a soccer club competing in the United Soccer Leagues' Premier Development League and Women’s Premier Soccer League. Mr. Foster is General Counsel for FC Tucson and also leads new business development, sponsorship sales, and community and government relations.

 

Mr. Foster spearheaded FC Tucson's efforts to collaborate with Pima County in the development of world class soccer infrastructure in southern Arizona. To date, Pima County has built a soccer specific stadium and six field training center at Kino Sports Complex. Mr. Foster also helped design and negotiate a multi-year Pima County and Visit Tucson sponsorship of Major League Soccer preseason in Tucson.

 

Mr. Foster has also created partnerships between FC Tucson and many of Tucson's leading private companies and non-profit organizations. These partnerships have been beneficial to the growth of youth, amateur and professional soccer in southern Arizona.

 

Before founding FC Tucson, Mr. Foster was a shareholder in Karp & Weiss, an AV rated law firm in Tucson, Arizona. Mr. Foster practiced in the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury and criminal defense. Since forming FC Tucson, Mr. Foster transitioned from a shareholder to Of Counsel for Karp & Weiss.

Our time during this meeting was primarily spent learning about the four charities we previously selected to receive proceeds from the 2016 Tucson Classics Car Show. We then voted to determine which two charities would receive the 20% proceed gifts. If you missed the meeting, let me summarize what I learned about the four charities.

You all will receive an email from BILL MOORE later this week announcing the results of RCOT voting.

 

We had only two birthdays today. Happy Birthday to CHRIS EDWARDS and FONDA INSLEY, enjoy your special day!

 

I noticed we had 8 RCOT members sitting at a second raised table in the meeting room. These were the members TEAM ROGUE, the winning TCCS ticket sales team from last season. All were served a steak lunch by members of the TCCS Leadership Team. Thanks TEAM ROGUE for a job well done!

 

Have a great week and enjoyable weekend!

 

 

“Honest politician” may not be an oxymoron, but it’s fair to say most people view office-holders as below average on the occupational honor continuum. Is it possible for elected officials to abide by, or be held to, all parts of the 4-Way Test?

 

Legislation - and bureaucracy - have become so complex that one has to search long and hard to find action that is fair to all concerned, let alone beneficial to all. Interstate highways arguably benefit everyone, but it’s hard to dispute that some people benefit much more than others. National defense benefits all, but there is wide disagreement as to the level (if any) at which more spending produces zero incremental benefit.

 

Almost every piece of legislation applies to less than the entire populace. Government funding often comes from a different subset of the citizenry than benefits from the expenditure of those funds. Earmarks are great for a few, but scarcely beneficial to all.

 

Here's a challenge: which of the following, alone or in any combination, will be considered by everyone (or even nearly everyone) as fair:

 

income tax

property tax

sales tax

bed tax

excise tax

value added tax

user fee

fuel tax

utility tax

capital gains tax

estate tax

import duty

application fee

registration fee

license fee

recovery fee

 

Other than a very broad picture of fairness and benefit, including calling some enactments as equivalent to others, there are substantial arguments that parts two and four of the 4-Way Test can't readily apply to politicians and their actions.

 

While politicians develop some deep friendships, goodwill building is not typically associated with campaigning and legislative negotiation. And overblown “friendships” with special interests and lobbyists may result in decidedly non-beneficial outcomes for most Americans.

 

Goodwill with other countries is a worthy goal – up until our national security is compromised. At such a point, our goodwill has to trump that of the other country.

 

This all leaves us with part one of the 4-Way Test, which may be the place to focus in action by politicians and are judgment of that action.

 

Your representatives can’t reveal everything, every time. National defense secrets are an obvious example. But not conveying such information is not a violation of the truth. Saying “no comment” or “I can neither confirm nor deny” are not dishonest. But overstating benefits of a measure, inaccurate minimizing of the costs of a program, and knowingly misrepresenting the beliefs of an opponent – these are violations of the truth.

 

Citizens have a right to expect, and should insist upon, the truth from our elected officials. Perhaps that is the best we can aspire to, as a nation, in applying the 4-Way Test to the world of politics.

 

In the closest vote we have had since we started the Final Four concept; the following organizations will split 50% of the 2016 TCCS net proceeds.

 

In alphabetical order:

 

JTED 20%

YOTO 20%

The Gap 5%

The Haven 5%

 

Thank you for your support and participation.

 

The Grants Committee