Tempe, We’re Gaining Momentum—Keep Fighting the General Business License!

Thank you to everyone who’s joined the fight against Tempe’s proposed General Business License! Our petition is nearing 100 signatures, and your voices are resonating. On Thursday, May 22, 2025, I spoke at the Tempe City Council meeting, urging the rejection of this fee and red tape that would burden nearly 30,000 small businesses and nonprofits, like Keep Tempe Beautiful, Kiwanis Club of Tempe, and Tempe Sister Cities. Watch the speech here: https://youtu.be/eiRkb-CaHS8.

Public comments are 4:1 against this plan, showing Tempe’s business community stands united. My op-eds in the Tempe Tribune and Wrangler News Independent detail why this license is a burden, not a benefit. It risks privacy for home-based and minority-owned businesses, adds administrative hurdles for solopreneurs and ASU entrepreneurs, and could cost more to enforce than the $150,000 it might raise, especially with Tempe’s $20M budget shortfall. A voluntary, no-cost database would better connect businesses without stifling our economy.

The fight continues! Sign the petition to show the City Council we demand better: [https://www.change.org/p/reject-tempe-business-license-initiative/]. Join us at the July 1, 2025, City Council meeting—wear red to show unity—and let’s protect Tempe’s small businesses and nonprofits. Share this update and the op-eds with your network to keep the momentum going. Together, we can ensure Tempe remains a business-friendly city!