Tucson is officially on the map. Not for anything gorgeous like our weather or saguaro. Nor for anything unique or even inane, like our javelina or multi-million-dollar trolley.
We’ve instead joined the ranks of notorious places plagued by senseless violence.
The sunny Saturday Safeway shooting that left six dead and several wounded—with U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot through the brain—made sure of that.
We’re right up there with Columbine and Waco.
To be fair, Tucson did have a running start as a hotbed of hatred due to last summer’s SB 1070 brouhaha. Angry protests and flag burning set the stage for something to snap.
We just didn’t yet know his name.
Suspected shooter Jared Lee Loughner is now surrounded by a slate of speculation on what makes him tick. The only thing we know for sure is that anyone who opens at a Safeway has to have a clock that is more than a bit off.
In addition to shattering dozens of lives, the shooting shattered many myths to which we might have been clinging for a sense of security and sanity.
We’ll start with the victims. Even some people who do not agree with Giffords’ politics agree on another fact—she actually cared. The shooting proved assassination attempts are not specifically reserved for greedy, ratty or smarmy politicians, or even judges with whom the shooter has a beef.
Victim U.S. District Judge John Roll had been on the scene to visit Giffords at her community event.
Others on hand were average Tucsonans, like you and me, either hoping to meet the congresswoman or out for their usual grocery run.
The shooting’s location shatters another myth. We expect high crime to seethe from the seedier pockets of Tucson, or even downtown after dark, but not a northwest-side neighborhood nestled near the foothills at Oracle and Ina roads.
The area is instead generally known for quiet retired folks and shops that include a Whole Foods mart and a chichi Chico’s—not a place where buying asparagus on the weekend can get you killed.
Often referred to as a big city with a small town feel, Tucson’s cute little motto has also now gone down the tubes. The small-town citizen is supposed to leave his doors unlocked and his arms open wide. He’s the type ready to help his fellow man, or woman, by changing a tire, repairing a roof or even walking a dog if the owner is under the weather — not open fire on his fellow with a Glock.
Welcome to the big time.
One of the reasons I moved out of New York City was the pervading sense of doom the city could not shake loose after Sept. 11.
Increased security measures, meant to make people feel safer, also served to increase the paranoia. Cops stocked subway stations and street corners in droves, responding to the latest bomb scare or a report that someone who looked suspicious might have sneezed.
Tucson simply does not have enough money or manpower to take the same kind of measures. Even if it did, such measures would not make much of a difference when there’s always a chance of a loose cannon striking at any random moment and any random time and place.
Even on a sunny Saturday at Safeway.
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Ryn Gargulinski, aka Rynski, is a writer, artist, performer and poet. Her radio show airs every Wednesday and her column appears every Friday. See more writing and art from RYNdustries at ryngargulinski.com and rynski.etsy.com.
This article appears in Jan 13-19, 2011.
What do you mean by “multi-million-dollar trolley,” and why is it “inane?” If you’re talking about Tucson’s modern streetcar project, to call it a “trolley” is to, whether deliberately or not, to mislead readers completely—something, last I checked, the Weekly ain’t in the habit of. Tucson’s streetcar is is no more of a “trolly” than it is a stagecoach, a buggy or a bus. I understand this is not the article’s subject, but it should be corrected nonetheless. Why? Because it’s false.
Some groups deliberately use the “trolly” reference in order to focus negative attention on the project. Sadly, this tactic is how lies become memes. (Have you heard that our President is a Muslim?)
Anyway, the city isn’t spending millions on a trolley. And it’s not cool for the Weekly to be suggesting otherwise.
I didn’t see anything about a trolley but I didn’t like this article at all. It was very doom and gloom “plagued by senseless violence” “myth shattering” and “seething” high crime, “cute little motto” “down the tubes” and more.
Do you think tragedy doesn’t happen anywhere? Waco isn’t all that big you know it has nothing to do with the size of a city but having the bad luck that a crazy person located there.
Maybe September 11 defines NY in your eyes, but longtime, lifelong and native Tucsonans have years and decades of experiences here that truly defines our City in our eyes. I think instead of our cute little motto going down the tubes I think we lived up to the motto.
Finally – TW – in light of the events could you change my handle for me but keep my posting history? call me “on the money” instead 😉
hi lk,
apologies if the transportation-related vehicle reference offended you. guess i’m not up on the pc lingo for streetcar it seems.
thanks for comment.
hello former b-eye, perhaps new on the money,
thanks for your input. glad to know that not everyone agrees with me – that would certainly make for a gloom and doom outlook well beyond 500 words or so.
i also applaud you for keeping the faith, a positive outlook and sharing the POV from a native tucsonan. appreciate it.
i don’t blame you for not liking the column – i did not like writing it – but i did want to share my own thoughts on the tragedy and how it changed my perspective as a tucson resident.
i am not saying the shooting now defines tucson, just like nyc is defined by much more than sept. 11. but i am saying that it puts tucson in a whole different category for me. sadly, as you pointed out, a category over which no one has control when it involves the loose cannon.
thanks again for input.
Three years ago, I moved here from Prescott, where I’d lived for 15 years. It had become a place with all the problems of a big city, but none of the benefits. I spent high school in Phoenix, so that was out of the question. To this day, I only go there under duress.
Then I found Tucson. And for the first time in almost a half-century of existence, I also found a sense of community. I understand now why people find the concept so appealing. It’s a town with a lot of diversity, due in large part to the University. I love the fact that I can get on a city bus, and hear three different languages spoken.
It’s probably one of the few places left in this country where a grocery store clerk, and a planetary scientist can have differing political views, and still remain friends.
I’ve no doubt that the days ahead will be rough, but I’m unwilling to give up what I’ve found.
I think I’ll stay.
hey louis wu,
thanks for adding your take on tucson and pointing out some of the VERY positive things about the city. again, i am glad to see not everyone is jaded as i can be – hahaha.
never been to prescott – after your input, i won’t put it on my list of places to visit anytime soon.
so glad you found a cozy place to call home. tucson does have some wonderful things going for it.