Arizona Could Become the Gateway to the Americas

Trade, Tourists, and Warm Welcomes Are Already Bringing Mexico and the Southwest Closer Together

Arizona and Mexico, separated at birth? Panelists at a Zócalo/Azteca event at the Heard Museum in Phoenix didn’t go that far. But in a wide-ranging conversation about Mexico’s economic rise and the opportunities it creates for Arizona and the U.S. Southwest, it became apparent that Arizona and Mexico have a lot in common—including bad reputations that represent significant barriers to achieving greater prosperity together.

The moderator, New York Times Phoenix bureau chief Fernanda Santos, took particular note of the reputational problems. And the three panelists—two from Arizona (Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton …