9OYS Continuing Coverage
Dog fight: CEO and local lawmaker at odds over greyhounds and steroids
-
Councilman Steve Kozachik and Tucson Greyhound Park CEO Tom Taylor don't see eye to eye when it comes to the greyhounds. So he's taking his fight back to South Tucson. Video by kgun9.com
video -
South Tucson City Manager Enrique Serna applauds the Tucson City Council's decision. He says it's unlikely South Tucson's ban will be changed.
Reporter: Marcelino Benito
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Call it a good ole fashioned dog fight. Councilman Steve Kozachik and Tucson Greyhound Park CEO Tom Taylor don't see eye to eye when it comes to the greyhounds.
"He said he wants to shut down Tucson Greyhound Park," Taylor said. "Now it's personal. Now I take offense to it."
Kozachik agrees. Sort of.
"I would like to see the state shut down dog racing," Kozachik said. "But there is nothing personal between me or anyone else at the race track."
Kozachik says it's about stopping animal abuse. It's why the Tucson City Council voted to outlaw greyhound steroid injections inside city limits. While 9OYSs investigation on those injections may have helped get the rest of the council on Kozachik's side, Taylor believes the ward 6 councilman has a personal vendetta against his business.
"He's trying to blindly drive a truck full of dynamite into Greyhound Park to blow it up," said Taylor.
After last night's vote, Taylor pledges to no longer skirt the law. He plans to take the fight to South Tucson, where the ban originally passed. But South Tucson City Manager Enrique Serna says not so fast.
9OYS reporter Marcelino Benito asked Serna how easily that might be done. He replied, "Not easily. In fact, unless he's got some kind of magician attorney, unless he goes to state legislature to reverse protecting the animals."
9OYS confirmed with the South Tucson's city clerk 195 signatures are required to put the question back on the ballot. Benito asked Kozachik if he believes this has a shot. He replied, "Well anything has a shot. The U of A has a shot at going to the Rose Bowl this year, but I hope our shot is better than his at winning this."
The city of South Tucson tells 9OYS they applaud the Tucson's City Council's decision. They are optimistic that Taylor will now respect the laws of South Tucson.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.