Arizona
updated
10:56 a.m.
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by David Safier (TASL) For the first time in awhile, I once again don my tax-and-spend mantle tassel to praise TUSD for planning a $27 million tax override for the November ballot. Half the money is to be spent on......
Blog For Arizona - 10:56 a.m.
Now it's easier than ever to check out what's happening in the Arizona political scene. AZDonkeyFeed.com is continually updated with the latest stories from the mainstream media and the blogs. One simple URL for a fresh, daily, ad free serving......
Blog For Arizona - 10:56 a.m.
The DNCC has released the list of winners for the State Blogger Corps for this year's Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Congratulations to Tedski of Rum, Romanism and Rebellion for being selected as Arizona's keyboard-wielding Snarker in Chief. He deserves the honor for his outstanding work of covering the Grand Canyon State's legislature that is (unfortunately) still governe...
Man Eegee Latino Politico - 10:55 a.m.
By now, most people have heard how Douglas Goodyear, the man that John McCain and his campaign picked to coordinate his coronation at this fall's Republican convention, had to step aside after word got out of his lobbying ties to Myanmar's repressive regime. From Newsweek - ...[I]nvestigative ace Michael Isikoff reported that the man chosen by John McCain's presidential campaign to run this su...
Random Musings - 1:55 a.m. - 9 clicks 
(Donna Branch-Gilby) Tucson, Arizona. Last month I wrote The Tipping Point and also discussed The Tippers as the set of individuals starting to find a voice regarding their frustration with community leadership. The Tucson community is growing past the one million mark, and an increasing number of people are starting to question how about fifteen or so people (most not elected) run the pl...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - Tue 10:42 a.m. - 17 clicks
With Washington deadlocked over immigration, states and localities have stepped into the void and passed all sorts of laws and local ordinances. They say that the states are laboratories of democracy, and the results can tell us a lot. Arizona's new "enforcement only" immigration law, which mandates the use of an electronic verification system and subjects employers to the loss of their busine...
DailyKos (Arizona) - Tue 10:41 a.m. - 11 clicks
BLM is taking an important first step for monument conservation UPDATE, 5/14: In addition to the front page story in the Arizona Republic , this good news is covered in USA Today , Arizona Daily Star , Tucson Citizen , the San Diego Union-Tribune and many broadcast outlets. Also, BLM published the full protective order in today's Federal Register . TUCSON -- I'm proud to be in...
Daniel's News & Views - Tue 8:25 a.m. - 11 clicks
There is a new liberal blog starting back up again. Its my blog. I figured that I shouldn't bore you guys with all this immigration hype all the time, so I will comment mostly on Arizona Democratic Political scene and some other insane things while leaving Immigration to "Don't Believe the Hype" The link: http://www.dontbelieve.typepad.com ...
Wactivist - Tue 3:38 a.m. - 15 clicks
Mountain top removal coal mining in West Virginia TUCSON -- Amid bad news today from the Arizona Legislature on global warming pollution , the pro-coal politics in West Virginia from Dems Obama and Clinton are understandable in a Presidential primary, but still frustrating. Not surprisingly, Republican McCain also favors so-called 'clean coal', which is right now an unproven myth t...
Daniel's News & Views - Mon 9:41 p.m. - 12 clicks
Posted by: AzBlueMeanie (Thanks to tw3k for this photoshop of the On The Take Express) The press poodles for McCain over at the Arizona Daily Star continue to censor any critical reporting about the senator being on the take to......
Blog For Arizona - Mon 11:03 a.m. - 20 clicks
by David Safier There's so much to be written about the Star's series that began with Social Promotion in Tucson area schools Sunday and continued with Grade Inflation today. I'm going to limit myself to one small aspect of the......
Blog For Arizona - Mon 11:03 a.m. - 13 clicks
I wasn't going to do one of these this week, but then the McCain campaign, not waiting to be reeled in, served it up with a "reverse back somersault with 2 twists" leap directly into the bottom of the boat. Earlier this week, the McCain campaign took umbrage when Sen. Barack Obama commented that perhaps McCain has "lost his bearings." They felt that Sen. Obama was attacking Sen. McCain's age (...
Random Musings - Mon 1:17 a.m. - 15 clicks
Niche rises from sanctions law Crooks and Liars » If an Iranian Weapon Bust Turns Out Not To Be Iranian…Does Anyone Hear A Sound? What the American media isn't telling you about McCain's economic proposals American housing | Map of misery | Economist.com HBO Films: Recount Recount: New Docudrama Could Influence Election - TIME ...
Blog For Arizona - Sun 11:33 p.m. - 16 clicks
Have you always wanted to meet Sheriff Joe? Here is your opportunity! Sheriff Joe himself will be signing autographs for those who purchase his new book Joe's Law: America's Toughest Sheriff Takes on Illegal Immigration, Drugs, and Everything Else That Threatens America on May 31. He will be appearing at the Barnes & Nobles location at 1446 N. Litchfield Road in Goodyear from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. T...
AZNetroots - Sun 4:23 p.m. - 25 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. According to content at Barack Obama's website , Arizona Congressman and super delegate Harry Mitchell has officially endorsed Barack Obama for President. Mitchell said: I’m proud to support Barack Obama for President. Senator Obama and I worked together last year to improve care for our soldiers and veterans in the wake of the scandal at Walter Reed, and I know that, as P...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - Sun 2:01 p.m. - 21 clicks
It looks like we've got some work to do in my homestate of Arizona to give McCain a ride for his money in the upcoming presidential election. It would please me to no end to embarass him in his homestate. Today's front page of the Arizona Republic has some discouraging news about the younger voters in Arizona and their lack of recent participation in the process. ...
DailyKos (Arizona) - Sun 2:01 p.m. - 18 clicks
by David Safier I spend a lot of pixels criticizing School Boards and Superintendents and the Arizona Legislature. (Have you ever thought how many pixels had to die, how many ones and zeros were cut down in their prime, to......
Blog For Arizona - Sun 10:06 a.m. - 19 clicks
Rep. Grijalva is Chairman of the US House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands TUCSON -- Arizona conservationists and others joined with US Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and his wife Ramona Grijalva downtown this morning to support the Congressman's re-election, and his outstanding work to help people, the environment and common good. Turnout was solid and the atmosphere...
Daniel's News & Views - Sat 9:46 p.m. - 27 clicks
Connie Wilhelm, queen of urban sprawl, wants you to pay for more sprawl so rich developers can get richer and pay nothing PHOENIX -- The Governor's office has unwisely entered an unfair deal with Connie Wilhelm of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, and other developers, to let them pay zero and get off the hook on needed impact fees , while us taxpayers would be shaken...
Daniel's News & Views - Sat 9:46 p.m. - 24 clicks
...The McCain campaign is preparing its strategy for the fall, locking up the 'really creepy' vote early on...either that, or Joe Lieberman earned an MD when no one was looking (hey - he's got the time now that he doesn't have to go to any Democratic Party functions, right? :) )... From AP, via the Boston Herald - “I just want to report that this morning, I personally checked John McCain’s be...
Random Musings - Sat 3:03 a.m. - 23 clicks
Monday, May 12 - East Valley Residents are invited to join Governor Napolitano in celebration of Older Americans Month. Join her to chat over coffee, obtain new resources for senior citizens and mature workers, and to hear about her initiatives for an Aging Arizona. Place: Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd., Scottsdale. Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Contact: Governor's Offic...
Random Musings - Sat 12:23 a.m. - 28 clicks
Last week was the 5th Annniversary of Bush's idiotic "Mission Accomplished" moment. And John McCain tried defending Bush, blaming it on the Navy. This led to a considerable amount of attention on John McCain's own suggestion that we should stay in the Iraq Quagmire for 100 years. Howard Dean in particular slammed McCain for his willingness to sacrifice American soldiers for oil profits for 100 ...
DailyKos (Arizona) - Sat 12:23 a.m. - 30 clicks
Posted by: AzBlueMeanie This past Tuesday, John McCain pandered to the GOP conservative base by vowing to appoint conservative activist judges like John Roberts, Jr. and Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. McCain praised the justices as role models for......
Blog For Arizona - Fri 7:16 p.m. - 27 clicks
by David Safier I'm no expert on ELL education, and I won't play "Expert" here. I honestly don't know the best way to teach students who aren't proficient in English. But I do know the controversy that raged in Arizona......
Blog For Arizona - Fri 7:16 p.m. - 23 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. Eric Sagara had a Citizen front page piece yesterday, Home foreclosures up 430% . He gets the percentage by comparing 4Q07 to 4Q06, and apparently the data come from RealtyTrac . Eric's piece is well written and quotes several elected officials. Tucson's economy is, uh, well, such that the destructive impact of the foreclosures is amplified. Betty Beard has an article i...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - Fri 2:22 p.m. - 25 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. The Drinking Liberally and GOP Cigar group met last night at the Shanty for some conversation and introductions. The attendees matched my anticipation, i.e., in general those who believe that elected officials should represent the people that elected them. Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll, State Legislator Steve Farley, and Oro Valley Council member Salette Latas attended....
Sustainability, Equity, Development - Fri 2:22 p.m. - 20 clicks
by David Safier Today's Daily Fitz in the Star. (Noteworthy: Great party/event last night, linking Drinking Liberally and Smoking Conservatively. About 70 people there (a "conservative estimate," in honor of the right wing attendees), a mixture of Ds, Rs, Is......
Blog For Arizona - Fri 2:21 p.m. - 31 clicks
Kids' future is our future TUCSON -- As a community leader and part of my job as Ecologist and SW PEER Director, I was an invited expert guest speaker today and spoke with public school students in LD29 . We talked for over an hour mostly about energy, nature, fairness, responsibility and leading for change in Arizona and the world. These students live in tough neighborhoods, much like m...
Daniel's News & Views - Fri 2:20 p.m. - 22 clicks
McCain money man, Tempe-based developer Steve Betts PRESCOTT -- First it was John McCain 's political favors involving national public land and Don Diamond in Pima County. Arizona conservationists have known about and fought McCain's scams for years. But now there is new national news about McCain pushing National Forest land deals to benefit rich Scottsdale doctor and public lands ...
Daniel's News & Views - Fri 10:32 a.m. - 31 clicks
Apparently, John Shadegg realizes that after not supporting Harry Mitchell's modern G.I. Bill (288 cosponsors and counting, but no Shadegg), he has some bridges to repair with the veterans in his district. Too bad for him (and for his veteran constituents) that his attempt to do that was all sizzle and no steak. Thanks to PolitickerAZ for the heads-up on this one... On Thursday, t...
Random Musings - Fri 1:57 a.m. - 23 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. I'd rather die with a pair than spend the rest of my life as a coward. I've attended a couple of the GOP cigar events and had a great time at both. In what I think is a first, the Democrat Drinking Liberally group and the GOP Cigar group are converging at the Shanty this evening for political discussions and dialog. I have no idea how the event is organized, but I plan to...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - Thu 11:09 a.m. - 20 clicks
I've spent the last 8 Wednesday evenings in the company of more than 20 (mostly) fellow Scottsdale residents who were interested in learning more about the functions of their city's goverment. We were taking a course offered by the city, Scottsdale City Government 101 (webpage here ). Meeting at various locations throughout the city (Granite Reef Senior Center, One Civic Center, Witzeman Buildi...
Random Musings - Thu 11:09 a.m. - 29 clicks
Know when to fold 'em TUCSON -- I voted for Sen. Barack Obama and have been actively supporting his campaign for President. I'm glad to see him starting to pull away after winning North Carolina and coming very close in Indiana. I also agree with Obama's classy statements that when and if Hillary Clinton drops out of the race is entirely up to her. She has earned that respect and ri...
Daniel's News & Views - Thu 11:08 a.m. - 25 clicks
No sale TUCSON -- As you may have noticed, there are no ads on my blog. I'm proud of that. I get solicitations all the time, but don't consider them. To me, it's best to stay free of advertising to keep commercialism out for a truly free and independent political blog. I have no problem with bloggers who feature ads, that's their choice. It's just not my style. My readers deserve an ...
Daniel's News & Views - Thu 5:16 a.m. - 17 clicks
Think Progress » Gore: It Is ‘Obscene’ That Bush Has Dismissed ‘George Washington’s 200-Plus Year Prohibition On Torture’ McCain continues to shift with the wind - The Carpetbagger Report Gene Dios - Don Clark's Big Lie About Roland Carnaby TheHill.com - Superdelegates say, we will decide Arizona's solar aspirations in peril | csmonitor.com ...
Blog For Arizona - Wed 11:09 p.m. - 30 clicks
Some may have seen the guest opinion in today's Tucson Citizen announcing the Drinking Liberally / Smoking Conservatively Summit this Thursday starting at 6pm at the Shanty on 4th Avenue and 9th Street: Partisanship has acquired a bad name of......
Blog For Arizona - Wed 11:09 p.m. - 26 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. One might expect Republican Tim Bee to associate with other Republicans. I wrote about the Steve Forbes Fundraiser Bee held at McMahon’s Steakhouse April 18. Steve supports the flat tax (I can get behind a modified version properly implemented that eliminates outrageous loopholes for the ultra rich) as well as the privatization of social security (properly understood a total ...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - Wed 10:01 p.m. - 20 clicks
Tim Nelson is formally announcing his campaign to unseat incumbent Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas Thursday morning at 11am at the Old City Hall in Phoenix (by the western steps facing the plaza). You are all invited. Although there has been a tremendous outpouring of support for Tim, beating Andrew Thomas will require a lot of resources. So Tim is issuing a challenge to Democr...
AZNetroots - Wed 7:21 p.m. - 22 clicks
by David Safier (Here are parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.) After reading over Lujan's explanation of HB2816 in last night's post a few times, I was ready to blast him for dancing around the issue I raised.......
Blog For Arizona - Wed 4:13 p.m. - 27 clicks
True American patriot Jim Hightower TUCSON -- This Thursday evening, the Pima County Democrats are bringing America's #1 populist to town, Jim Hightower . You don't want to miss this. Jim is very funny. I've worked with him before in support of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. Jim will discuss and sign his latest book: Swim Against the Current, E...
Daniel's News & Views - Wed 11:23 a.m. - 19 clicks
The best job of local journalism is not being done by any of the local journals; it’s being done by blogger Matt Foraker over at Sustainability, Equity, Development. The latest installment (Tuesday, May 6) of his devastating analysis of the Rio Nuevo disaster can be read here. I particularly relish this paragraph: I've never met Greg or Hecker, but the cloth alarm is screaming. I have met Sn...
The Data Port - Wed 11:23 a.m. - 24 clicks
Badly. Badly, that is, for a town whose drivers are beginning to whine about the high cost of gasoline. Well, I’m sorry---okay, not very--- but didn’t you see it coming before you bought your wheels? Never had an inkling? Oh. We’re all stuck with the choices we made until we can trade down or get our Albatross Eight paid for; but that doesn’t mean we are helpless. I regularly ride the Ina Road,...
The Data Port - Wed 11:23 a.m. - 28 clicks
In a protest against the way that the House Democratic leadership's handling a the upcoming Iraq War supplemental spending bill (it's going directly to floor consideration, bypassing an Appropriations Committee markup session), House Republicans are using quorum calls, motions to reconsider votes, and motions to adjourn. So far (the session is still ongoing; there will be more dilatory tactics by...
Random Musings - May 6 - 26 clicks
by David Safier (Here are parts 1, 2 and 3) (Note: I plan to use a blogger's prerogative in my posts on Cyber Schools to jump to conclusions before I know the whole story. As I continue blogging on the......
Blog For Arizona - May 6 - 30 clicks
by David Safier (Here are parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.) I emailed State Representative David Lujan (D-Phoenix) about HB2816, since he is the only Democratic sponsor of the bill, and said I would give him a chance to......
Blog For Arizona - May 6 - 33 clicks
by David Safier (Here are parts 1, 2, 3 and 4.) "Six-point-four million? Safier is making this big deal about six-point-four million? I know that sounds like a lot, but as a percent of the state budget . . ."......
Blog For Arizona - May 6 - 36 clicks
Democrats Prepare Sell-Out on Telecom Immunity: House Leaders to Give White House a Blank Check to Spy on Americans Clinton In 2005: 'I Agree With McCain' On Long-Term Iraq Presence - Politics on The Huffington Post Fiscal Pressures Lead Some States to Free Inmates Early ...
Blog For Arizona - May 6 - 28 clicks
Solar power on a rooftop in Pima County TUCSON -- The US government boosted the Investment Tax Credit from 10 percent to 30 percent for solar systems in 2006, meaning that 30 percent of the cost of building and installing a system is returned to the investor in the form of a tax credit. But that rate is set to expire at the end of 2008. That scenario worries many political, business, and...
Daniel's News & Views - May 6 - 22 clicks
Biodiesel power is one 'clean car' solution TUCSON -- When not on my bike or walking, I love our clean car, an efficient yet powerful VW TDI that runs on B100 biodiesel. So I'm glad to pass along good news that today in Phoenix the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council approved adoption of a final rule to implement a California Low Emission Vehicle “Clean Car” program in Arizona by a ...
Daniel's News & Views - May 6 - 21 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. Remember, in the world of cloth, it's about absorbing, like the horror movie The Blob . After showing the Congress Street Stakeholders the door, cloth meisters SALC and TREO "took over" the existing non-profit Tucson Downtown Alliance to create the Downtown Tucson Partnership. Why? The cloth are like the Borg . You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Recalcitran...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - May 6 - 8 clicks
"It's like Hitler just invaded France," said a source in the moderate wing of the Pima County Republican Party of Joe Higgin's likely primary challenge of Ann Day for Supervisor in District 1. That's not just Godwin's law in effect;......
Blog For Arizona - May 5 - 26 clicks
CBS Poll: Support For Obama Rebounds, In Wake Of Controversy Over Former Pastor, Illinois Senator Builds Lead Over McCain, Clinton - CBS News Answer Desk: Gas tax 'holiday' a bad idea - Answer desk- msnbc.com HowStuffWorks - The Beltway for Beginners Clinton Camp Considering Nuclear Option To Overtake Delegate Lead - Politics on The Huffington Post Black Box Voting : 5-4-08: On...
Blog For Arizona - May 5 - 23 clicks
by David Safier (For background on this post, link to Part 1 and Part 2 of this series.) Last Tuesday, 800 Charter Cyber School advocates gathered in Phoenix to demand, "Don't cut our funding!" There has been a move afoot,......
Blog For Arizona - May 5 - 24 clicks
This land is your land. Stop the HIRA tax rip-off. TUCSON -- During these tough economic times, two public-interest legal actions to protect working people were filed this week in Tucson and Denver. In the federal court filings, the plaintiffs detail how the U.S. Forest Service is exceeding the scope of its legal authority by charging fees that violate several provisions of the Federal Land...
Daniel's News & Views - May 5 - 6 clicks
by David Safier An interesting article in CNN/Money: IBM Launches Effort to Address Shortage of Hispanic Students in Technology Careers. This program, if it's more than just talk, can have an important impact on Arizona and other areas with large......
Blog For Arizona - May 5 - 25 clicks
Henri Bisson of BLM's DC office UPDATE, 5/9: BLM is finally getting ready to move. More news on it here likely next week. Check back. TUCSON -- Despite a public promise to better protect the Sonoran Desert National Monument from off-road vehicle abuse, the US Bureau of Land Management's Washington DC office has been sitting on a proposed protective order from Arizona BLM staff for f...
Daniel's News & Views - May 5 - 10 clicks
Mr. Huckelberry: I got wind of your latest memo on election security [pdf download] by reading about it in a Tucson Citizen article. Given that you mentioned my name in the memo, I would have expected to receive a courtesy......
Blog For Arizona - May 5 - 21 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. The instant I saw the headline about Gabrielle Giffords, D-AZ, ranking first in expenditures for the use of franked mailings to her constituents, I knew that certain blogs would be all over it, in particular Sonoran Alliance (link to the right), which did not disappoint. The reader can read the article and the link, but for purposes here, let's just say the practice is mo...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - May 5 - 6 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. As above, so below. Like human beings, systems of human beings can exhibit collective consciousness remarkably similar to those of individuals, and we often recoil or develop pathologies based on past traumas. Undiscussed so far (here) but embedded in the Tucson psyche is the Christmas of 1970. Newcomers may find it difficult to believe there was a time when Tucson's downto...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - May 4 - 12 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. May 4, 2008. Derek Tidball, combat veteran and Independent candidate for Arizona’s 8th U.S. Congressional District, has registered with the F.E.C as an official candidate in the race. Mr. Tidball’s campaign committee, Tidball For Congress, has surpassed $5,000 in donations. Tidball For Congress has also registered with the F.E.C, and will make its initial financial disclosure ...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - May 4 - 11 clicks
The Colorado Plateau needs less dirty coal, not more NEW YORK -- Representatives of Diné Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment met this week with executives from Sithe Global to challenge the proposed Desert Rock coal plant in the four corners region. The State of New Mexico, Governor Bill Richardson and many others also oppose and are fighting the Desert Rock coal proposal. ...
Daniel's News & Views - May 3 - 8 clicks
Buddhist temple in Thailand PHOENIX -- Doing my part to help the Arizona economy , here's a restaurant review. While in the capital tonight, I went for a walk and found the Thai Hut , a relatively new family owned spot just north of downtown at 101 E. McDowell Rd. I had Pad Ped with three stars, a spicy chicken dish. It was quite good. Spicy enough to make my lips hot and tingly, but ...
Daniel's News & Views - May 3 - 6 clicks
Child badly injured in ATV wreck FLAGSTAFF -- Off-road vehicle related injuries are on the rise in northern Arizona, much like the rest of the nation, and sadly, children are often the victims. From the Arizona Daily Sun: 'Children as young as 2 have been admitted at FMC for ATV accidents, Ashland said. 'One doctor says a child too young to drive a car shouldn't be allowed to operate an ...
Daniel's News & Views - May 3 - 9 clicks
There are probably about two people who missed it and are out of town and haven't heard and also happen to care a whit, but Tucson's two domestic violence organizations have merged and unveiled the new organization identity on Thursday morning: (clicking on the link brings you to the full size image and the home of one of the parent orgs) I like this name and logo a lot. I think the researc...
m2powered - May 2 - 7 clicks
Poaching is unethical KINGMAN -- The Arizona Game and Fish Commission was right to recently fine and revoke the privileges of three Utah residents for spotlighting wildlife (black-tailed jackrabbits), littering, and hunting without a license on the Arizona Strip. During their April meeting, the commission revoked the individual hunting, trapping, and fishing privileges of Stephen Holt ,...
Daniel's News & Views - May 2 - 7 clicks
Wednesday, May 7 - The launch party for AZ School Works , Jason Williams' (former candidate for AZ Superintendent of Public Instruction) new PAC. About the organization: "AZ School Works is a Political Action Committee (PAC) which will promote fiscal responsibility for Arizona’s public schools by informing the electorate of our State’s current priorities, practices and financial management in ...
Random Musings - May 2 - 8 clicks
A view from Oracle AZ, a Tucson-region community in AZCD1 TUCSON -- I got an invite today to a May 23 fund-raiser event from the Howard Shanker for Congress campaign in Flagstaff, and they asked me to help promote. Shanker is a progressive Democrat I support who is running for Arizona CD1, which covers a huge part of the state, including parts of Pinal County north of Tucson. Pleas...
Daniel's News & Views - May 2 - 7 clicks
I have had my differences with Mayor Phil Gordon, particularly when it comes to his endorsements of Andy Thomas, John McCain and Jim Weiers. In the Arizona Republic today, there is an article about an effort to recall the Gordon. Recalls are tough to pull off, even if you know what you are doing. The guys heading up this effort don't... Note to American Citizens United , if you think you n...
A Democrat's Lament - May 2 - 6 clicks
Unite! TUCSON -- I and thousands celebrated May Day with positive force yesterday on the south side and downtown at the Reclaiming Our Rights! rally. A large group of over 1200 people marched up 6th Avenue and celebrated at Armory Park to call for better treatment of workers and immigrants. Most in the crowd were young students, which was great to see. It gave me a lot of hope for the gro...
Daniel's News & Views - May 2 - 6 clicks
There was this article about a report on deficiencies at Maricopa County Hospital. I know the knee jerk reaction of many will be that government cannot do anything right (you know you are thinking it my right-wing friends). Here is the reality of the situation: Maricopa is wildly underfunded. I have written previously about how the state takes the federal funding intended to reimburse th...
A Democrat's Lament - May 2 - 8 clicks
There have been some recent developments to report regarding the situation at the Miller Road Treatment Facility (MRTF) in Scottsdale. The facility was shut down in January due to a failure that resulted in the introduction of contaminated water into the drinking water supply to nearly 5000 customers of Arizona American Water Company (AAWC) in PV and Scottsdale. One development was reported in...
Random Musings - May 2 - 8 clicks
...but that's not really their goal... :)) In yesterday's post on Harry Mitchell's Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, I commented on how Bob Lord, John Shadegg's opponent for the CD3 seat, is probably very grateful for Shadegg's disrespect for our nation's (and his district's) veterans. Now, we have another situation where an elected official and likely future candidate for higher office is probably gratefu...
Random Musings - May 1 - 9 clicks
Published Wednesday, April 30, 2008 in Southeast Valley Opinions of the Arizona Republic as “ASU’s new transit policy not very eco-friendly.” If you’re Arizona State University, how do you celebrate Earth Day? You send out a Parking and Transit newsletter with a top story entitled, “ASU U-Pass expands to include light rail; Students to continue receiving U-Pass [...]...
Make Democracy Work - May 1 - 9 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. Liza posted Race and the Swiftboating of Obama over six weeks ago, and back then, she placed her focus on the GOP as those writing the script. At the time I thought: 1) the Democrats could not possibly be stupid enough to give the nomination to HRC, and 2) The GOP would defer the carnage until Obama got the nomination. A John Dixon piece reinforces Liza's remarks as well...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - May 1 - 6 clicks
Hi everybody, my name is Josh and I am Tim Nelson's campaign manager. Tim Nelson is committed to running the most intensive grassroots campaign Maricopa County has ever seen. We have already started up our volunteer phone banks. Tim has been getting great support from people all over the county. Some of it has been financial, but most important have been those who are willing to...
AZNetroots - May 1 - 9 clicks
Congressman Harry Mitchell's H.R. 5740 , the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, while garnering widespread support among his colleagues (250 cosponsors and counting), but it's creating an interesting dichotomy among the Republican members of AZ's Congressional delegation. [Note: Congressman Mitchell's blog entry about the bill, in The Hill, is here .] On the one hand, we ...
Random Musings - May 1 - 5 clicks
City Manager Mike Hein should take personal charge of reforming TPD's poor treatment of bicyclists TUCSON -- The failure of police to protect bicyclists has cost our region the 'platinum bike friendly' rating. Given the stepped-up police harassment of cyclists, Tucson is lucky to stay at 'gold' for at least the next four years. The police and platinum promoters didn't listen to the...
Daniel's News & Views - Apr 30 - 9 clicks
Edit to add info on LD18 candidate Joe Brown below... Scottsdale update (info courtesy the Scottsdale City Clerk's elections webpage ) - In news that should surprise no one who follows the goings-on in Scottsdale, Tom Giller, the driving force behind Height and Density, the anti-Hanover Project political committee, has filed candidate committee paperwork with the Scottsdale City Clerk's off...
Random Musings - Apr 30 - 6 clicks
Outgoing TUSD superintendent Roger Pfeuffer (rear) loses his fight to close schools TUCSON -- The Tucson Unified School District board decided tonight to not close any of the four elementary schools -- Ochoa, Rogers, Corbett and Wrightstown -- that had been proposed for closure by the superintendent. I just returned from the standing room only meeting, and as a community activist and TUSD p...
Daniel's News & Views - Apr 29 - 6 clicks
Last month the Federal Reserve stepped in with $30 billion in tax payer money to bail out the failing Bear Sterns investment bank . The argument was that Bear Stearns was "too big to fail." As part of the deal, J.P. Morgan Chase, a major Wall Street bank, will buy Bear Stearns for a bargain-basement price, paying $2 a share for an institution that still plays a central role in executing financi...
AZNetroots - Apr 29 - 6 clicks
Tucson: March: 8:00am Southgate Shopping Center (I-10 and 6th Avenue) Rally: 11:30am Armory Park (220 S. 5th Avenue) Stop the Raids and Deportations Legalization for All Stop the Border Deaths Stop the War Education, Healthcare, Housing and Jobs for All, Stop the Prison Building Stop the Free Trade Agreements Stop the Militarization of our Society More venues across the country ...
Man Eegee Latino Politico - Apr 29 - 10 clicks
APS lobbyist Marty Shultz wants to raise your taxes to further subsidize urban sprawl TUCSON -- Recently some Maricopa County developers, corporations and other big money men are saying Arizona should raise our already high sales taxes to pay for more roads. I say no, and so should you. The road tax would push sales taxes close to 10% in Pima County, and over 10% in at least one metro ...
Daniel's News & Views - Apr 29 - 8 clicks
This year's race for Maricopa County Attorney is shaping up to be a big one if the money raised is any indication. Tim Nelson, who is supported by the Governor, has raised $140,000 in two months while Andy has raised about $210,000. Traditionally, Maricopa County races tend to be low dollar affairs, so this is unusual. I am unhappy to say that Gerald Richard has only raised about $3,000. If h...
A Democrat's Lament - Apr 29 - 4 clicks
That is the new mantra at the Arizona State Legislature. Last week the state legislature passed a receivership bill for the Phoenix Roosevelt school district, this after showing significant gains by local leadership and management, the Republicans in the state legislature would like to take over the localized control and put it in the hands of [...]...
SpidelBlog - Apr 28 - 16 clicks
Tucson, AZ. The map shown here is not perfect, showing the parking lot across from El Charro as included (no), but it is a close enough illustration of the Rio Nuevo district, minus sprout eastward to capture taxes from the El Con and Park Place Malls. Those in the know examining the situation would turn their noses. Let's discuss Rio Nuevo for the first half of 2007, a beacon of productivit...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - Apr 27 - 7 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. The Citizen has a story on Arizona’s funding reduction for its three universities as a means to help balance its budget, a well documented phenomenon across the country in the last thirty years. University presidents tend to be rather sharp individuals, so the administrations of the University of Arizona, Arizona State, and Northern Arizona University anticipated the develo...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - Apr 26 - 6 clicks
A Maricopa County Superior Court Judge sided with the developers of the Hanover Project, ruling that the political committee that was formed to force a referendum on the Scottsdale City Council's approval of the project was not a legal committee. The judge's ruling hinged on the claim by the developer's attorneys that the group in question, Height and Density, didn't state that it opposed the pr...
Random Musings - Apr 26 - 6 clicks
This last week Gerald Richard, former Director of Legal Services for the Phoenix Police Department, announced his candidacy for Maricopa County Attorney. His announcement, seen in full below, highlighted his career of public service and key endorsements of Law Enforcement personnel including Former Phoenix Police Chief Dennis Garrett and Buckeye Police Chief Dan Saban. Download File ...
SpidelBlog - Apr 26 - 15 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. The Star has an article noting that County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry has released the proposed FY 2009 budget. His 28-page letter presents summary information, but for the detail one has to go the actual budget page that offers links to the details. Keep in mind that the city's revenue is primarily sales tax, while the county's is primarily property taxes, a far mor...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - Apr 25 - 6 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. Well, apparently Daniel Scarpinato found enough to concede that the Tim Bee campaign was officially clueless about a 30-second advertisement produced by school district boards and aired on television throughout Arizona's Eighth Congressional District, where Bee is challenging incumbent Democrat Gabrielle Giffords. When blogs and press cried foul, the ad was pulled. The D...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - Apr 25 - 6 clicks
This post will tick off the blindly ideological talking heads at the Goldwater Institute, ALEC, and the like, and will certainly rouse the ire of their elected water carriers like Jeff Flake, but there are *many* governmental functions that are utterly necessary but that the private sector cannot be relied up to perform. The latest example? Troops that have served their tours of duty in Iraq can...
Random Musings - Apr 24 - 6 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. Naturally the reader can find these easily, but I considered it useful to call attention to the web sites of those in the upcoming elections covered by this blog. Please consult other blogs for material on the other districts. When I say a candidate or official does not have a campaign web site, it obviously means as of the time of this story. Corrections are most welcome if I...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - Apr 24 - 6 clicks
This week, participants young and old have been working with master mariachi instructors to perfect their playing. Starting this evening, the performances begin, which are a real treat to the area. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Participant Showcase Thursday April 24, 2008 - TCC Arena - 7:00pm - $10 Admission, under 16 free Schedule of Performers 7:00 - 7:13 Mariachi Agu...
Man Eegee Latino Politico - Apr 24 - 8 clicks
The University of Arizona. Dissertations provide ample opportunity for a student to get a hefty dose of academic humility. Body sensations accompany the sudden realization that one has no idea what one is saying while in front of another who is quite clear that one has no idea. They are nice about it, delivering the message in soft statements designed to nurture hope and preserve enthusiasm....
Sustainability, Equity, Development - Apr 24 - 6 clicks
Tucson, Arizona. The City has published a detailed version of its budget recommendations for FY 2009 and FY 2010. Italics mean that the material is directly from the document. The reader can easily verify at the prior link. The Non-Departmental category contains program budgets that cannot be associated with any specific department. These programs are Outside Agencies, General Expense, and...
Sustainability, Equity, Development - Apr 23 - 7 clicks
PolitickerAZ has the results of a recent CD5 poll comparing Congressman Harry Mitchell to two of the Republican candidates trying to unseat him, former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert and former state representative Laura Knaperek. (Marty at Wactivist.com and Zelph at AZNetRoots already have their takes on the info, at the links) According to the PolitickerAZ story, in head-to...
Random Musings - Apr 23 - 6 clicks
