It’s amazing how such good things and bad things can happen in one week. First, the bad.

How sadly pathetic is the city of Tucson becoming? The four city council members who succeeded in firing City Manager Mike Hein April 7 were seen celebrating their victory the next day with high-fives at Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., luncheon speech. 

Council members Karin Uhlich, Regina Romero, Steve Leal and Shirley Scott may have managed to stumble and bumble their way into being a majority to get rid of Hein, but what’s a victory that shows no leadership or direction. Not to mention the irresponsibility of such incredibly bad timing just as the city is going into budget deliberations.

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Tucson is dying. One need look no further than the 600 layoff notices issued to teachers in the Tucson Unified School District — also April 7 — for proof the city is losing population. Though some families are simply pulling their children from TUSD schools.  

With the loss of population, Tucson is losing representation on a state level relative to Phoenix. After the 2010 census the only question will be whether Tucson loses one or two legislative districts. 

Fortunately for this region, there are some positives for the future.

Contrary to what many in the business community might believe, the council members aren’t stupid or inept. It’s their plan. They’re succeeding in making the business community irrelevant. 

Up & Comers coming

Now to a positive. The nomination period for this year’s Up & Comers ended April 9 and, although, we hurried things along this year, we received plenty of nominations. We’re gathering them together and, with the help of some previous honorees, Inside Tucson Business will present a special section April 27 honoring nine new Up & Comers who are making a positive difference in our region.

 Dialing around

Is it my imagination or are the pitches on radio commercials getting a little more intense — and maybe containing a little less truthiness — with apologies to Steven Colbert — these days.

• There’s the mortgage guy who breathlessly tells us mortgage rates might never be this low again and imploring us that “now’s the time to lock in that mortgage rate” because they’re going to bounce back. Trouble is, he’s been saying that for months. And anyone who took his advice six months ago is probably kicking themselves for believing him then. So why should any of us believe him now?

• With the income tax deadline coming up Wednesday (April 15), there’s the company that wants us to be comforted in knowing our tax payment has been made electronically. And they’ll only charge us a $3.95 “convenience fee.” The good folks at the Internal Revenue Service say that so long as an envelope is postmarked April 15 that’s good enough for them. Other benefits; it costs only 42 cents and lets me keep my money a day or two longer.

 E-mail comments for publication to editor@azbiz.com. Contact David Hatfield at dhatfield@azbiz.com or (520) 295-4237.