Forbes - 24/7 Wall St. - Wallethub 2017 Ratings
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8/23/2017
A 2017 survey published by Forbes Magazine finds that Tucson is the 8TH WORST CITY IN THE NATION FOR JOBS AND JOB CREATION. Scottsdale, Chandler and Gilbert in the Phoenix metro area conversely placed in the top 10 cities nationwide for job growth.
The good news doesn't stop there. According to 2017 article in the Arizona Star, which was following up on research posted on AZ Central, a website for investors has decided that Tucson is the 28th worst city in the United States. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, analysis and commentary website 24/7 Wall St. says that its identified America's 50 worst cities to live. The website made its determination based on crime rates, employment growth, access to restaurants and attractions, educational attainment and housing affordability. TUCSON, THE ARTICLE SAYS, IS ONE OF THE ONLY CITIES IN THE SOUTHWEST THAT RANKS AMONG THE WORST PLACES TO LIVE. "The city’s poverty rate of 25.2% is far higher than the national poverty rate of 14.7 percent," the article says, adding that Tucson's economy has also grown slower than most other cities' in recent years. Also factoring into the rankings is the fact that Tucson has one of the highest property crime rates in the country.
There there are the annual Wallethub comparisons of cities which in 2017 ranked Tucson 486 out of the top 500 cities in the US in terms of economic, political and social/cultural health and resiliency. In the same analysis, Tucson ranked in last place among America's largest cities, coming in at 62 out of 62. Tucson has ranked at or very near bottom since Wallethub started publishing their city comparison surveys.
There is a tremendous disconnect between these rating agencies (and all other published indices of health and well-being) and what Tucson City Hall and public officials are claiming about Tucson. Tucson is simply the worst performing city in the Southwest. The Tucson residential housing market is sputtering and is not expected to reach pre-crash levels until 2025 - 2030 according to Case-Schiller, placing it in last place among cities in the Southwest. The commercial real estate market is faring little better.
You have to wonder how problems can be addressed when city officials refuse to publicly announce that there are serious long-standing problems. There are no public discussions or invitations to outside talent to help Tucson really look at itself take steps forward. Everything is white-washed. It's the land of make-believe here. Tucson should be a destination city not a trap to avoid. The political and social culture here has not changed and kept up with the rest of the nation. If anything, Tucson is in the worst shape that it has ever been in - 1/4th of it's population living at or below the Federal poverty level. WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? They are thinking that if they stick their heads in the sand that their problems will go away. Denial rules the day in Tucson.
Sam | Catalina Foothills, AZ