Regarding the recent article on the Visitors Bureau…I would like to commend Fort McDowell for reducing their contribution to Fountain Hills Visitors Bureau to $5000. In years past they would contribute up to $90,000, we are down $85,000 – while other cities continue to receive their usual generous contributions from them.

The Fort wisely realizes that Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau continues on a downhill slide and fails to turn itself in regards to service and promotions in comparison to other cities.

If we want economic development in Fountain Hills we have to repair these obviously weak and poorly run organizations. Through the recession no staff or salaries have been cut, but we can see a list of events that are no longer promoted or funded by the Chamber, ie., Holiday Luminarias, Hash Knife Pony Express, St. Patrick’s Day, etc.

Money talks – hopefully this will get the attention of the mayor and Town Council and they will realize how inefficient these organizations are in stimulating or promoting local businesses and tourism.