Earlier today, Tucson City Councilwoman Regina Romero sent this out to Ward 1 constituents and posted this on her Facebook page:
Dear Tucson Constituents and Friends,
My fellow colleagues and I have been receiving lots of input from the community regarding the Occupy Tucson protestors that have been camping in Downtown Tucson.
I have read the Occupy Tucson Declaration and support them in concept and action. This week I will propose that:
* Mayor and Council request a moratorium on ticketing protestors in Veinte de Agosto Park
* City of Tucson Parks and Recreation staff waive permitting fees and curfews for Occupy Tucson protestors at Veinte de Agosto Park.
* Occupy Tucson participants respect any and all traditional and permitted events that are taking place in City of Tucson parks.
* City staff explore investing certain public funds into local credit unions, and moving away from larger financial institutions where feasible.
I understand the frustrations of Occupy Wall Street protesters everywhere on a deeply personal level. The excesses of our financial institutions have been the driving force behind this economic recession, the worst our country has seen since the great depression. Many Americans are unemployed and underemployed, and scores of workers are finding themselves without healthcare coverage and the economic security enjoyed by generations past. Income inequality in our nation continues to grow, homes are being foreclosed upon in record numbers, and the opportunity for social mobility within our country has diminished. This squeeze on middle-class working families has led to wealth disparities unseen in decades, and the challenge is even more pronounced among communities of color, which have taken the hardest hit during the housing crisis.
I am calling for a moratorium on issuing citations because the ongoing and indefinite burden of TPD and City Court expenses on taxpayers to police this peaceful protest is not in the best interest of the City of Tucson. Since the genesis of this local movement, we have been spending thousands of dollars to cite and release Occupy Tucson protestors. Our TPD overtime expenses since the demonstration began have topped $83,000, and collective costs including regular time are nearing the $100,000 mark. This does not consider the court costs that taxpayers will come to bear in order to bring the 500 plus citations to trial in City courts, nor the potential booking expenses for physical arrests should the imposition of park curfews come to such extremes.
The steps I have described here allows the community an opportunity and a space to make their voices heard, and emphasizes what we can do to make substantive changes in our own backyard.
This article appears in Nov 10-16, 2011.
I am SOOOO glad I voted for this Lady! She’s smart, speaks the truth and stands up for justice!
azreb, Sarah Palin called, one of her loons escaped and she’s calling you home for the evening…
These people are breaking the law. Make them pay their fines and move on or if they can’t pay let them due their time at the jail. They need to be protesting in Washington D C where the real problem started and continues. Being nasty dirty bums that destroy other peoples property is not the American way. If we want to use the ramada we have to call the city and get a permit.
If they had a proper bring up they would know that if you don’t earn it you don’t get it and if you don’t understand what I just said I will make a little easier. Get a job and work for it and if you don’t want to do that let your mommy and daddy support you because we the people have ourselves to support.
rrow, seems your as bright as she is, how come you are not down where the OWS are, are you afraid you might get mugged. I can see why this city is in the shape it is in with stupid voters like you, or are you an illegal
Ms. Romero has submitted a very sensible plan. The Tucson housing market and employment market have been in the toilet a very long time, and it doesn’t seem that will be changing soon. I have visited Occupy Tucson and found it peaceful, organized and welcoming. What they’ve done with donations is absolutely remarkable! I also support their protest. Many are homeless and in desperate need. With winter coming they’ll need more support for food and shelter–not to be kicked out of the park. I’m grateful that I have a home and am able to pay bills, and have a hard time reading such heartless, cruel, mean-spirited comments.
I think that some of the citizens of our city are drinking Kool Aid, or they are on crack, The OWS protesters would mug you in a heartbeat, and they call them peaceful, what a crock
I unfortunately live in her ward. I have never voted for her and I never will, She is an idiot and those who vote for her are idiots..
Funny, I’ve been down to the Occupy site multiple time and have never yet been mugged, threatened or endangered in any way. So can anyone provide any examples of violence from Tucson Occupiers? If not, the claims from azreb above are just uninformed hyperbole from someone sucking their own brand of Kool Aid.
With the newly elected Democrats for Mayor and Council this City will continue going downhill. Look around you. This is the Detroit of the southwest.
there has to be an end to the BS, Tax payers paid for the park, it is a city park not a camp ground, and the protester really don’t know what hey are protesting, they are just coping Washington to get the selves on TV. It’s time to stop the BS, and get a job.
This is the same stupid woman who voted to give $10,000 to kids to teach them how to graffitti!!!!
I fully support the “Occupy” movement and the peaceful protest against runaway corporate greed, the loss of our good jobs and earning power, and the systematic destruction of the middle class. I agree that we are wasting our time harassing and ticketing protesters. Almost all of the fines will never be paid, so what’s the point? We have a serious problem with violent crime here in Tucson, and wasting our police resources to ticket people for a petty crime (staying in the park after curfew) is a waste of our limited resources.
This whole statement pretty much sums up the stupidy;
“I fully support the “Occupy” movement and the peaceful protest against runaway corporate greed, the loss of our good jobs and earning power, and the systematic destruction of the middle class. I agree that we are wasting our time harassing and ticketing protesters. Almost all of the fines will never be paid, so what’s the point? We have a serious problem with violent crime here in Tucson, and wasting our police resources to ticket people for a petty crime (staying in the park after curfew) is a waste of our limited resources.”
Corporate greed is the whole problem…lol The problem is you don’t have to have a IQ to vote. So people vote poor choices like Romero into office. She is a perfect example of the problem today. People in political office that cause the problems then blame everyone else. But if there are people stupid enough to believe them and keep re-electing them, people deserve the outcome that they get.
“Almost all the fine will not be paid, so whats the point?” you know what… if they can’t pay them sentence them to community service. That would be harder for them anyway since it may have some resemblance to a real job.
figurers, liberal dems dont want to enforce laws, they only enforce laws they like, I agree that Tucson is becoming the detroit of the west, people, look around, to their cities run by the dems, they are all going under. wont be long before Tucson will be the next to fall
Fletcher, do yourself a favor, google OWS and read before you spout yoiur nonsense, for you to say their has been no crime committed while these idiots protest tells me you dont get out much, or tell it to the family members who have suffered because of the crime these idiots committed, maybe if your family memeber was raped by these idiots, i wonder if you would still support them, you would, cause you are an idiot like them
it’s time for a recall on this moron, and throw the park losers in jail if there breaking the law, an arrest report on these losers will look great when they are trying to get a job, oh sorry they don’t want a job they want to live off us working people,,
This is the classiest thing I’ve seen any Tucson Councilperson do since moving here.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Councilperson Romero!
From the comments below, it appears that the miniscule right-wing conspiracy here in Tucson (that loves to show up and haunt on-line comment sections) really, really hates the idea of an ACTUAL outbreak of democracy being supported by the City Council.
How amusing…
The city council does not have the power to chose which laws the city should enforce. It is not right for the city council to chose who pays fees and who gets a free pass.
Romero needs to be removed from office.
Well, everybody is equal before the law, it’s just that some are more equal than others. I may become a lefty, this being above the law thing is cool! I wish Ms. Romero publicized these ideas sooner, I probably would have voted for her. Why did she wait til the election was over?
This woman is a blithering Idiot, and should be arrested for “BUFFOONERY”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m beginning to think that the word liberal must be spelled STUPID!!!
Azrebel, I’ve not only Googled OWS, I’ve attended. I’m aware of Oakland and NYC and the various problems in other cities by homeless criminal elements and agent provocateurs-I challenged you to provide one example of violence or criminality by Tucson Occupiers. Still waiting for you to do something other than bleat like a fool who got owned.
BTW, I’m not dumb enough to blame groups for the actions of individuals-if your sister got raped at a political convention, do you honestly believe it’s the party’s fault? Only if the party pulls a papist move and protects the rapists…which I haven’t seen happen with Occupiers. If you want to equate political protest with crime, that’s your issue-just don’t expect people with more than 2 active brain cells to agree.
Romero has to be the dumbest elected official in the State. Selectively enforcing laws based on political views is not a good idea at any time or place. Her reelection does not reflect well on this city or the people that voted for her. Only in Tucson.
Why do they have more rights than I do?
You are here to represent the CITY’s interest. How about you DO SO???
Grandstanding and political football be left to the “politicians” for once.
Get these bums outta here and lets MOVE ON.
What does democracy and loittering in the park have in common? I understand the frustration with the economy. What I did was look at what wasn’t working and change what I was doing to maintain my income. Sure I work harder now than in 2006 but at least my family hasn’t been overtly affected by this recession. I’m sorry you have a degree that is irrelevant. I’m sorry you were the first ones to be cut when companies had to become leaner to compete but if you used your energy wisely you probably would solving your problems and not camping in a park at the cost of 1k in fines a day. Silly
I’m glad to see so many of the 1% live here in Tucson and that they all have leisure time after their important work days to comment here. Today, I’m thankful to be living off the crumbs that fall from their tables. I promise you will never hear of me protesting when you choose which laws are important to you.
She would rather go against Americans and make life hell for them but make a shelter for immigrant child whom parents are neglecting and abandoning them to get citizenship in are country this is a outrage!!!! What about the american children that starve with no shelter?????????? This is not a humanitarian mission this is a immigration issue AND THAT’S THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!