Comment Archives: stories: Opinion: Guest Commentary: Last 30 Days
Re: “Guest Commentary”
What exactly are Mayor Rothchild and Regina Romero hiding? We already know they have been dealing with this issue for one year. Romero admitted this much to the AZ Daily Star. Why the secrecy? Why not release these public records and let the voters, the taxpayers of Tucson decide if our elected officials are serving our interests of if they need to be removed from office? Very simple math here folks. We want to review the public records, that's all. What is the City Council hiding?
Re: “Guest Commentary”
It should be concerning to all constituents within city limits that the Mayor and Council operated regarding this plan in a manner that usurps the tenets of democracy: it was driven by mostly one person (that we know of), it trampled on community input, it was false and misleading (some golf courses being preferred), it tried to pit groups against others (lip service to community cohesion), it patently continues to falsely state that GCU will bring many jobs to our sector (they bring in their own people), and no mention that there is an attempt at the State Legislature that GCU will get a tax-exempt status while slurping up all kinds of city services that we have to absorb. It is further insultive that the very site offered up for sacrifice is the very symbol of what makes Tucson the dynamic community that it is: a strong, proud collective of leaders who stand up for what is right, and that is what the Baldenegros are all about! It was extremely disrespectful of Romero and others to treat as expendable a community that is strongly Mexican American.
Re: “Guest Commentary”
Sal and his wonderful family have been around Tucson for a long time. They are well respected in our community and beyond. I can say the same for Raul and Regina; Jonathan wants to improve our city but was wrong in this case. @ Steve, you need to show a little bit of respect for your elders or weren't you taught that as a child? We all know that politicians are human and make mistakes, as we sometimes do our selves. Maybe we can find another location for the GCU campus that's acceptable to them. This shouldn't be a dead issue for the City of Tucson and as a "Progressive" lot we need to do not only what is right but also what needs to be done.
Re: “Guest Commentary”
What does this have to do with Raul Grijalva? He's too busy getting drunk right now and so he's chosen not to be a part of this issue. We are asking for public records from the City of Tucson, as City residents and taxpayers. That is the issue here.
Re: “Guest Commentary”
I thought that the El Rio for the People movement fought to create a community center. I did not know they also fought to maintain the golf course??? Let's face it, the author and his father will always hate Regina and anyone even closely associated with Raul Grijalva.
Re: “Guest Commentary”
Why not release those records detailing the relationship between TREO and the City of Tucson?
Closed door, "self-appointed clique" decision-making style politics and politicians have got to go!
Re: “Guest Commentary”
Does Salomón think if you assert something passionately enough, you don't need to provide evidence?
Among the many claims being made here is this whopper: "Grand Canyon University, via TREO (Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities Inc.), was a vehicle to destroy El Rio and its historical memory and the political activism it represents.
If this sinister speculation were really so, the situation would be a genuine scandal. And I don't doubt that Mr. Baldenegro really believes it. There are probably dozens of people on the west side that imagine similarly sinister forces behind the recent El Rio proposal. But if he's intent on persuading a crowd larger than his circle of friends, he's going to need to put some evidence behind his claims.
How does Salomón know "Romero got one person to attack El Rio golfers at a City Council meeting...?" Because he states this as a fact. He says "the real agenda" behind the GCU proposal "is to do to the westside what was done to the downtown barrios in the 1960s." If he's so confident about this theory, where are the facts to support it? (Lemme guess, the Big Bad City of Tucson is hiding them all?)
And who, anyway, appointed Salomón spokesman of the "West Side?" Last I checked, thousands of people live on the west side. Most of those who voted in the last election, voted for Mayor Rothschild and Council Member Romero. And most probably would be happy to again.
Re: “Guest Commentary”
So this golf course must be maintained in perpetuity as a symbol of a political movement? Ludicrous
Re: “Guest Commentary”
Excellent light shed on this debacle. I can't wait to see what is revealed when the public records are released. Karen has truely been a disappointment. Thank you Richard and Steve, who by the way, are privy to much of the "hidden" agenda voted against what is turning out to be political suicide for the Ward 1 office and Mayor.
Re: “Guest Commentary”
another example of the people that represent us NOT representing us and not even knowing the "heart" of the city.
Re: “Guest Commentary”
Sal Baldenegro articulates well the important historical perspective of why the fight to save over 100 acres of public green space is so important. The Mayor put the sale of El Rio on the agenda on Monday for the council to vote on Tuesday, hoping to rush this deal through before the public knew what was happening, but the Barrio Hollywood Neighborhood Association and concerned citizens like Sal, the golfers, Tucson Clean and Beautiful, and about a dozen other neighborhood association residents rose up and killed this bad deal. We must make sure that our public land is taken off the auction block for good. Now the question is: what is the city trying to hide by refusing to release public documents?
Re: “Guest Commentary”
We honored our war dead this Memorial Day weekend, flew Old Glory proudly & rejoiced that our Democracy remains strong! Meanwhile, here in Arizona our liberties are under attack by the same people that we elected to run our beautiful state's government. Governor Janice K. Brewer remains beholden to the private prison industry & she insists on another term even though the Arizona Constitution forbids it. Attorney General Tom Horne thinks that he's above the law: he too aims to remain in office after being found guilty of a misdemeanor; he ascended to his office by violating our campaign finance laws & has engaged in inappropriate relationships. Superintendant of Public Instruction John Huppenthal won't help our dying & under funded schools but is pushing for vouchers to further erode the public school system & didn't lift a finger to defend T.U.S.D.'s MAS program. Maricopa County's Sheriff Joe Arpaio allows prisoners to be murdered by his prison staff & is found guilty of racially profiling Hispanics, but doesn't blink an eye in shame for his actions. The Arizona Legislature incorrectly believes that we sent them to the capitol to fight the Federal Government, cut funding for Planned Parenthood, destroy public education, pass laws to restrict local governments, try to minimize union influence in the workplace, raid any funds they like to balance the budget, etc. Oh how wonderful it is to be part of this grand republic in a sea of Democracy called the U.S.A. Veterans like myself wonder if we truly live in Arizona or in the Land of OZ?
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Re: “Guest Commentary”
It was an executive session item, so no public discussion could take place. It was placed before the deadline for agenda items by Rothschild. Fimbres and Kozachik voted no, it wasn't unanimous. If people paid attention, the mentioned negotiations, which means more likely an offer was made - which would be a term sheet. By whom is the question? When was it made? Who discussed this and when? I hope when the public records are revealed, it will show the fraud and waste involved, as well as the deception by those on the City Council who voted for this.