Local opinion: A brilliant plan to monetize our desert treasures

and analysis of the writer:

Utah Senator Mike Lee’s enthusiastic support of privatizing federal lands to reduce our national debt is truly brilliant and inspiring. And here in Southern Arizona, we have the perfect laboratory to test this audacious fiscal strategy.

Consider the untapped potential of Saguaro National Park. Why not carve out a modest 10% of its 92,000 acres — just 9,200 acres — and convert it into premium desert real estate? Those towering saguaros have been freeloading on federal land for decades, contributing nothing to our GDP while tourists snap photos and scientists conduct research. Time to put them to work.

The environmental impact would be negligible. The park currently hosts over 2 million saguaro cacti, so removing 200,000 would leave us with 1.9 million — nearly two for every resident of greater Tucson. That’s practically an embarrassment of riches. Future generations will thank us for this restrained approach to development.

We could apply the same logic to Sabino Canyon’s 2,900 acres, selling off 300 one-acre parcels. Naturally, we’d maintain our environmental credentials by keeping the existing roads and hiking trails open to the public. Nothing enhances a wilderness experience quite like glimpsing a Mediterranean-style villa through the palo verde trees.

Our commitment to ecological sensitivity would be uncompromising. Apart from Tucson Electric Power’s essential 75-to-85-foot transmission towers carrying 138 kilovolts of electricity — a modest industrial accent to complement the desert landscape —we’d require TEP to bury all other power lines. This demonstrates our dedication to preserving the area’s natural beauty while accommodating modern conveniences.

The financial projections are compelling. These prime lots would command premium prices, probably averaging $500,000 each, generating nearly $5 billion in revenue. This windfall would completely fund that $1.2 billion Raytheon Patriot missile contract announced recently, with substantial funds remaining for more pressing national priorities.

Specifically, we could provide each of America’s 900 billionaires with annual tax breaks exceeding $500,000 a year for the next decade. This targeted relief would surely trickle down to benefit ordinary Americans, as wealthy individuals historically demonstrate their commitment to reinvesting in their communities.

Critics might argue that we’re liquidating irreplaceable national assets for short-term gain. They’ll claim these lands were preserved for future generations, that the Sonoran Desert represents a unique ecosystem requiring millennia to develop, or that tourism revenue from intact wilderness exceeds one-time development profits. Such arguments reflect an outdated mindset that prioritizes intangible values over measurable economic returns.

Consider the broader implications. Once we’ve successfully monetized Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon, we could expand the program nationwide. Yellowstone’s geothermal features would make excellent spa resorts. The Grand Canyon’s rim properties offer unparalleled views for luxury hotels. Yosemite’s granite cliffs provide perfect backdrops for exclusive mountain retreats.

The beauty of this approach lies in its democratic nature. Instead of restricting these natural wonders to hiking enthusiasts and camping families, we’d make them accessible to affluent Americans who can afford to live among them permanently. Property owners would have a vested interest in maintaining the landscape’s aesthetic appeal, ensuring far better stewardship than government bureaucrats could provide.

Local contractors would benefit enormously from the construction boom. New residents would shop at our stores, dine at our restaurants, and send their children to our schools. The property tax revenue alone would transform Pima County’s budget situation overnight.

Some might worry about losing our desert heritage, but progress requires sacrifice. Our ancestors cleared forests for farmland and dammed rivers for electricity. We’re simply applying that same pioneering spirit to fiscal responsibility. It’s what “Making America Great Again” is all about!

The proposal deserves serious consideration from practical Arizonans who understand that sentimentality doesn’t balance budgets. I suspect, based on the ratios that appear in the Letters to the Editor, that roughly 20% of the Star’s readership recognizes the wisdom of converting our underutilized federal lands into productive assets that serve America’s economic interests.

Sometimes the most obvious solutions are the best ones.