Clifton needs to pursue environmentally sound opportunities
for the area to attract business and industry that will best “fit”
our community and its natural resources without destroying
or irrecoverably changing them. Industries focusing on natural
resources such as alternative energy resource development and
technology solutions like commercial software applications and
web design are all business ventures that could be successful in
Clifton which would be locally based and owned and along with an
aggressive economical development plan with progressive thinkers
with an emphasis on tourism could possibly be the answers.

Unfortunately apathy plays a part. “This is the way it has always
been, and I can’t change it, so be it. We get along.” Simple
things like trash cans along the streets, to collapsing structures,
to seeing people do the wrong thing while the town’s leadership
stands by silently. We can have economic development for
Clifton and Greenlee County, but first we must end the division
that has fractured the unity of our area so we can all work
together to grow our town and county into a stronger, healthier
and happier place to live where we all can thrive and prosper.

Rarely does the Town and County work together forging a union
that would benefit Clifton and the County as a whole. The Town’s
and County’s leadership are the very people that are accountable for
the current climate of apathy. One only has to conclude that a Town
and County coalition is merely a pipe dream. Without an aggressive
revitalization stance by the Clifton Town Council and Greenlee County,
Clifton present will continue its slide into just another Podunk wide
spot on US Highway 191, regardless of how historic and beautiful it is.

The last question that comes to mind, what is to become of Clifton?

Every business and resident in Clifton is dependent to some
degree on the Morenci mining complex. Declining or dying towns
sometimes don’t have the energy, or the will, to come together
as a whole, even to mourn its passing. Clifton has lost its bank,
its grocery stores and its shoe shop. What comes next is only
a prediction, but when the Clifton Unified Schools close, we
might as well write Clifton’s obituary, stick a fork in it, it’s done!
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