Kendrick Wilson

"Try something. If it fails, admit it frankly, and try something else. But above all, try something."
-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Tucson's current downtown is not vibrant by any means. Empty storefronts, tattoo and wig shops, and panhandlers seem to be about all one can find along Congress Street nowadays. Some areas of downtown see limited amounts of liveliness, but generally only during regular business hours, or during scheduled events. It's quite a sad sight when compared to lively downtowns like those of San Diego, San Francisco or Portland.

Tucsonans went to the ballot box in 1999, and more than 60 percent of them said it was time for things to change in downtown Tucson. They approved Proposition 400, the Rio Nuevo project, which included plans for an aquarium, museum complex, IMAX theater, planetarium, hotel and shopping center. Unfortunately, in 2001, Tucsonans managed to elect two city council members who are committed to defeating the plan. Council Member Fred Ronstadt (R-Ward 6) was the loudest voice against the plan as it was put before voters. Council Member Kathleen Dunbar (R-Ward 3) was in the state Legislature at the time, and she was so angry with the city for proposing the project that she threatened that "the state will never talk to you again."

Without good leadership, Rio Nuevo is sure to fail, and Tucson's downtown is sure to further deteriorate. The city is painfully lacking in good leadership nowadays, and much controversy surrounds the proposed aquarium.

The Sonoran Sea Aquarium, as it would be called, would focus on the Sea of Cortez, to which Tucson is the closest U.S. city, and the Colorado River. Neither the Sea of Cortez nor the Colorado River is currently represented by aquariums. This aquarium would be educational in its emphasis - no dolphin shows, but maybe an occasional squid thrown to a shark for enrichment.

Some species that would be represented by the Sonoran Sea Aquarium would be the only ones of their kind held in captivity. A strong conservation message would be apparent to visitors as well.

Donald Thomson, a UA marine biology professor, said opportunities for research, field trips and internships for marine biology students would greatly expand with a new aquarium in Tucson. "We don't have anything on that scale here at the UA," he said.

Opportunities for educating the public about the oceans and marine conservation are one of the aquarium's biggest assets. "Personally, I don't see why we didn't do this sooner. We have many facilities for educating people about desert plants, wildlife and local history, but Arizona has nothing to educate people about marine life," Thomson added.

But, as is usually the case, this isn't about what is best for the community - it's about business. And the business aspect of this looks a little frightening at the moment. Ocean Journey, a new aquarium in Denver, recently filed for bankruptcy, causing the mayor and Council to become hesitant to pursue an aquarium in Tucson.

Call me old-fashioned, but what happened to our community's leadership? Tucson's downtown is in dire straits, and the time has come to try something. The voters have spoken, and they want Rio Nuevo to move forward. City officials haven't given the aquarium a chance.

Ann VerSteeg, a psychology sophomore, said she wishes the city would move forward with the aquarium. "It's a great idea. There are great opportunities for people to learn about the ocean, and to get to know the Rio Nuevo district. That area has the potential to be a beautiful part of Tucson if only the city would pay more attention to it."

Republican Mayor Bob Walkup warned: "It is conceivable that the aquarium's time has come and gone." Translation - he lacks the leadership skills to make the aquarium a success despite what has happened in Denver.

VerSteeg isn't so certain that the aquarium would fail. "Anything dealing with water is exciting for people in the desert, so I think it would be a big success," she added.

Andrew Mcfarren, a pre-business sophomore also believes an aquarium could be a success in Tucson. "An aquarium would be great for Tucson. Denver and Tucson are two different places. The city is not comparing apples to apples."

For the sake of the fish whose only hope for eluding extinction may be a captive life in a Tucson aquarium, for the southside children who may never travel to the coast, and for Tucson's crumbling downtown, the city must not back out of this project.