For Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R), the federal government shut down meant one thing: it was important to do everything possible to keep the Grand Canyon open for visitors.
The federal government might have shut down, but in #Arizona, we are partnering with the Department of @Interior to keep the #GrandCanyon open. Don’t change your travel plans. Arizona is open for business and so is the Grand Canyon! pic.twitter.com/iYPoIBD6Kh
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) January 20, 2018
The closing of the Grand Canyon, even for a short period of time, can — and will — have a detrimental impact on Arizona’s economy.
That’s why Ducey partnered with the Department of Interior to transfer state funds to keep the park open.
And the best part of this whole situation?
The electronic billboard over one of the freeways.
NEW: We just completed a transfer of state funds to the Department of @Interior to continue to keep the #GrandCanyon open and to protect #Arizona from the impacts of the #GovernmentShutdown pic.twitter.com/ZMe3ykGAKl
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) January 22, 2018
And people were grateful for the move.
Thank you @dougducey I was there last time.They closed concessions & roads.Tusayan and local business stepped up. Mayor Greg Bryan and @VisitWilliams Mayor John Moore helped reopen. I don't think anyone ever got repaid. Thanks for watching out for rural Az Tourism. #azservice
— Andy Tobin (@Andy_Tobin) January 20, 2018
He even received kudos from Andy Tobin, the former Arizona State Speaker of the House, and current member of the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Thank you very much for finding a way to keep the park open. Please don't think of the Grand Canyon as a business. Our National Parks are meant to be managed for preservation, not profit.
— Alt Grand Canyon NP (@Alt_grandcanyon) January 21, 2018
Precisely.
No matter what, we get it done in Arizona.
— Honeybee Lodge (@honeybeelodge) January 21, 2018
Get ‘errrr done.
Love it, let's cut out the middleman permanently #keepAZopen4biz
— CB Leone (@CBLeone) January 21, 2018
Government efficiency? What’s that?
Not everyone was happy with how this went down, but for different reasons.
Dear governor and fellow Arizonans, please recognize that Grand Canyon is not your only national park. Two other national parks and countless monuments are closed right now, many Az families affected.
— Tara (@tarazonablast) January 21, 2018
Arizona’s other national parks include the Petrified Forest and Saguaro National Park. There are also around a dozen national monuments as well. The Grand Canyon, however, is the most popular visitor destination.
So now #AZDOT cutsie messages are political?
Bad idea.— AZvoter ⚖️ (@newprezz2012) January 22, 2018
Who does a government shutdown help except for the politicians?
