With the deadline of last Wednesday, Tucson city officials agreed to give the Rio Nuevo board until Dec. 12 to work out a settlement, where a $25 million dispute, and possibly the other issues, are to be resolved.
Last May, Rio Nuevo filed the claim over what it considered a default by the city for not making the necessary improvements to the Tucson Convention Center. In response, the city council voted to break off mediation talks and let a judge figure it out.
Councilman Steve Kozachik said that with a new state Senate president who has made it clear he’s no fan of Rio Nuevo or Tucson, now is the time to reach an agreement, just in case he decides to reshuffle the board with members hostile to the city.
“That board and Andy Biggs aren’t going to hold us economically hostage over political gamesmanship any longer,” Kozachik said.
Biggs was out of the state Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.
Also: Guest Column: Legislature can learn a valuable lesson from Tucson’s bipartisanship
