Is there reason for Las Vegas to be envious of Phoenix?

"In the early 1980s, Phoenix suffered from insecurity. A dry insecurity, but insecurity nonetheless," writes Michael Squires of VegasInc.com, who looks at the changes that ASU helped set in motion over the last decade in Phoenix and how it has helped grow the small city into one of national caliber.

"Both cities are limping through the Great Recession with high unemployment, foreclosures and slowing growth. But the sentiment continues to crop up when Phoenix lands a big score, as it did this year with Intel announcing it will invest $5 billion in a new manufacturing facility, adding to the chipmaker’s 10,000 jobs in the Valley of the Sun. Or when Las Vegans head to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix or Scottsdale to see a specialist or have surgery. Or when, after visiting, they ask why Las Vegas doesn’t have a real zoo or a world-class museum on par with the Heard or even one decent water park.

"Yes, Phoenix envy is out there. The question is: Is Phoenix worthy of our envy?"

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