Arizona Boycotts May Be Hurting The Wrong People

Boycotts may be hurting the wrong people.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has created a task force to try to persuade cities to end their boycotts against the state.

Brewer said those cities are only sacrificing Arizona’s economy.

“When I say shame on, you say Brewer – shame on – Brewer!” a protester shouted.

For weeks now, protestors have taken to the streets, calling for boycotts and a repeal of Senate Bill 1070.

“We will stop it here, it is not going to spread throughout this country,” Alfredo Gutierrez, Arizona Boycott Committee Chairman, said. “If it takes devastating the economy of the state, we will do so.”

Ever since Brewer signed Senate Bill 1070 at the State Capitol, cities across the country – including El Paso – have boycotted the state of Arizona. But a former Arizona Attorney General says, it is not going to help.

“If people don’t come here, the tourism industry – hotels, restaurants – that’s a lot of people who we’re trying to help that probably will be tossed out of work on this,” Grant Woods, former Arizona Attorney General, said. “I don’t really get that, I don’t think it will work.”

Boycotts are already making a dent in the State’s economy. So far, Arizona has lost an estimated $90 million.

In the heart of Central Phoenix, locally-owned Portland’s Cafe Royale has thrived for the past 9 years. But owner Dillon Bethge says, his restaurant is hurting.

“We’re the ones paying for this political battle being played out across the country,” Bethge said.

With fewer companies holding conventions Downtown, Bethge is expecting a slow summer.

“If the big groups fall away, then that could be a big portion of our business, maybe up to 25 percent,” Bethge said.

As a business owner, Bethge says, it is discouraging to hear people in outside cities, like El Paso, negatively viewing Arizona.

“It could very well be that it hurts the state enough they [lawmakers] might change their mind,” Bethge said. “But there seems to be a good ground-swell of people who are for the bill, so I can’t say one way or another.”

The one thing protestors and business owners agree on – until the federal government steps in, this immigration issue will remain unsolved.