Cronkite Header

Cronkite News has moved to a new home at cronkitenews.azpbs.org. Use this site to search archives from 2011 to May 2015. You can search the new site for current stories.

Printer encouraging businesses to take on SB 1062 through signs

Email this story
Print this story

PHOENIX – Scott Koehler’s feelings on SB 1062 are no secret to those passing his printing business on North Central Avenue.

“Governor Brewer Veto SB 1062 / Bad For Business Bad for Arizona,” reads a banner covering much of the north side of FastSigns on Central.

Now he’s helping other businesses chime in, producing more than 1,800 signs that read “Open For Business To Everyone!”

Koehler said business owners are snapping them up as fast as his team can make them.

“I’m glad that people are really excited about it, supporting it and getting on board because the whole objective is we want Governor Brewer to see the outcry from the business community against the bill,” he said. “Hopefully she’ll see that and veto the bill.”

Stacy Louis, owner of Stacy’s at Melrose, a bar and dance club displaying three of the signs, said SB 1062 takes him back to the civil rights battles of the ’60s.

“I just saw so much hatred and so much fighting to get equal rights for people,” he said.

Louis said he’s also worried that Arizona tourism would suffer if the bill becomes law.

“Arizona is a pretty nice destination for a lot of gay and lesbian people, and I think this may dissuade them from coming here,” he said.

Koehler said his signs help send a message to the nation.

“The more signs that are out there, the more people that are outside of the state are going to see that a couple people in the Legislature that decided to push a bill through are not the voice of the entire state of Arizona,” he said.

Phoenix resident Teresa Dendy dropped by Koehler’s shop to pick up one of the signs even though she doesn’t own a business.

“Not everyone here agrees with this bill,” she said. “Some of us are outraged and embarrassed.”