Word is that Arizona tourists are so pissed at our city council’s vote denouncing Arizona’s new immigration law that they’re boycotting San Diego as a tourist destination this summer, and the local Convention and Visitors Bureau is quaking in its collective sock-less loafers.  San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Michael Stetz, in Sunday’s edition, fearlessly engaged and interviewed, doubtlessly at the downtown Hooter’s or Seaport Village, a small handful of ‘Zonies who have chosen to ignore the “boycott”, but were never-the less mighty peeved.

Stetz accepted his hazard duty pay for the assignment, took a deep breath, and concluded:

Well, I’ve got a plan then. I know emotions are running high, but let’s everybody dial it a down a bit …Until after Labor Day.

Yes, emotions are running high. Just listen to the anger in the words of Michelle Caulfield, of Glendale:

“We have options.”

And here’s a seething Kimberly Ray of Tucson:

“It didn’t stop me personally from coming.”

I don’t know what they’re paying Stetz, one of the few U.T. writers who doesn’t have his head permanently planted up his ass, but  it’s clearly not enough, especially if he can capture that kind of raw emotion from everyday ‘Zonies. And it is true, as Michael states, that San Diego Con-Vis is sweating the loss of business. After all, they’ve received a whopping 35 emails  from angered ‘Zonies, enough to fill the outside smoking area three times over at the TGI Fridays on 5th. And, as the picture above attests, there are plenty of locals casually strolling the streets of Phoenix on a hot, summer afternoon. Who needs to go anywhere?

Support for the new law, which allows for local cops to demand proof of citizenship during routine stops, is strong in Arizona, and locals there are quick to point out that la policia can’t just stop anyone without probable cause. But who are they kidding? I once did a ride-along with a local S.D. traffic cop who boasted to me that he could follow a car for less than a minute and find a half a dozens reasons to pull over the driver. Plus, don’t forget, Phoenix features that phony tough-guy sheriff and publicity whore , Joe Arpaio, who’s abuses-of-power are legendary.

So lament the loss of those Arizona tourists this summer, if you must. But also remember, the next time you’re part of a 1/2 mile long caravan of cars following some crummy Dodge Caravan with Arizona tags driving 62 in the fast lane, that there will be approximately 35 fewer of those assholes on our freeways this summer.