Cover Stories
Slash and Burn
As lawmakers wrestle with a budget shortfall that grows ever closer to $3 billion for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, agencies across the state are still grappling with the impact of a $1.6 billion budget fix that the Legislature passed in January to balance the current year’s finances. That collection of cuts…
Cut Off
It was around Christmas in 2006 when Leslie Evans reached her breaking point. That day, she said, her drinking, abusive husband attempted to choke her. She was pregnant with their fourth child. Today, Evans seems at peace with what happened to her and her children. But for years during her marriage, psychological and physical abuse…
Pole Tax: Trasoff Inquires About Fees on Strip Clubs
In an effort to find a way to balance Tucson’s budget, Ward 6 Councilwoman Nina Trasoff is wondering whether the city can get a piece of the action on strip-club cover charges. A memo from Nina to City Manager Mike Letcher: Subject: Per Person Fee to Adult Entertainment Venues In an effort to further diversify…
Catching Up: Dave Foreman Interview
Occasional TW contributor Dave Maass interviews environmentalist Dave Foreman, a former Tucsonan and one of the founders of Earth First!, at the Santa Fe Reporter’s blog. Foreman, who faced some trumped-up federal charges many moons ago, is now the brains behind the Rewilding Institute, which is pushing to ensure we have unspoiled wilderness and large…
The State Budget Budges
The Republican’s state budget proposal moved out of the House Appropriations Committee yesterday. It still appears to be riddled with gimmicks to me—especially the plan to sweep impact fees and to grab money that school districts have in their accounts—but Republicans on the approps committee voted to advance the plan, even though some of them…
Avett Brothers Performance at Bookmans
The Avett Brothers roll into town this Thursday for a show at the Rialto, but they’ll make a stop at the Bookmans at 1930 E. Grant Road for a free 5 p.m. Thursday performance, before heading downtown to tear it up with opening act Magnolia Electric Company at 7 p.m. That’s pretty cool, but what’s…
My Homage to Diners
Remember to sponsor your favorite local eateries, especially during recessions, or else afterward only the chains will be left. Cheers!
Warehouse Shuffle
TW contributor Dave Devine gives us an update on city efforts to gain ownership of some of the warehouses along Toole Avenue: While state lawmakers are still debating the fate of the Rio Nuevo downtown revitalization effort, the city and the Arizona Department of Transportation are taking steps toward a proposed development along Toole Avenue…
Dems to Declare Elections Victory and Move On?
The Pima County Democratic Party’s Executive Committee is meeting today to decide what to do about attorney Bill Risner’s ongoing representation of the party in the election lawsuits against Pima County. With Attorney General Terry Goddard wrapping up his investigation and declaring that the RTA election was not rigged, some Democrats see an opportunity to…
Swine Flu Fashion
After seeing all the images of people wearing those drab cheap surgical masks in reaction to the swine flu, you knew it was going to happen: swine flu fashion. Take a peek at flufashion.net, where a set of three bandana print masks will set you back a little more than $33. Or check out these…
Quote of the Week
From The Arizona Republic’s Political Insider: “Has anyone touched on the fact that Arlen Specter switched his registration from Republican to Democrat?” state Rep. Matt Heinz, D-Tucson, asked during the Democratic caucus. “It seems to me that some of the members of the House and Senate caucuses might want to follow suit, given this crap,”…
Bennett May Prove Better Elections Player
If what I saw was true yesterday, then former Senate president Ken Bennett, who replaced Gov. Jan Brewer as secretary of state in January, could be a better and much-needed player when it comes to discussions on elections-integrity issues that local activists want to see happen at both local and state levels. Bennett was in…
What’s Up This Weekend?
Our weekend recommendations: Calexico is making one of those semi-annual appearances at the Rialto Theatre on Saturday night. They will rock the house, but you’ll also want to see the mambo voodoo that is Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkestra. ¡Ay, Caramba!It’s the very best of First Friday Shorts at the Loft Cinema, as the winners…
More Dissent in GOP Ranks: Pullen Vs. Steele
Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen, who found himself at odds with the GOP elected establishment after narrowly winning the chairmanship a few years back, is now in a battle with Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele. The Washington Times reports that Pullen, who is now treasurer of the RNC, is in front of a…
All Hail Our Robot Masters
Hank Stephenson interviews Daniel Carrillo, a junior at Pueblo Magnet High School and president of a team that’s built an award-winning robot, this week. Carrillo brushed off the notion that his robot might one day destroy humanity: Are you worried about your robot becoming self-aware and taking over the world? With ours, I’m not too…
Attention, American Aquarium Drinkers: Wilco Film At Rialto Tonight
Downtown’s Rialto Theatre will debut its fancy new projection with Ashes of American Flags, a documentary about Wilco’s 2008 tour that should whet your appetite for the band’s June concert at Centennial Hall. And it’s cheap! Two bucks will get you in the door. Details here.
Mike Hein Speaks Out
Former City Manager Mike Hein visits Arizona Illustrated to talk about his surprise at being fired by the City Council and defend his record on downtown redevelopment after the jump.
Fair Fotos
Some photos from the Pima County Fair by local glass artist, Renee Wiggins…Whatever you want, deep-fried and on a stick.Clowns are freaky enough when they’re not eating my refuse.The Tucson Weekly-sponsored ride. (I don’t recall green-lighting this!)Painter, Bill Wiggins and I waiting to become hot dogs.
Soundbites
ROCK OUT TO HELP ASSAULT VICTIMS Even tough guys have hearts. Eight local hard-rock and metal bands will join forces this week for a show to benefit the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault, which is, according to a press release, “a nonprofit organization that offers a full range services to victims of sexual assault…
Leaping Ahead
Even the most obsessive readers of fantasy novels may need a little hand-holding when they dive into a new book. The best fantasies carefully explain and elaborate as they go, taking care to reward the reader’s suspension of reality with patient storytelling. With the first two books of her “War of the Rose” trilogy, The…
A Lot of Space to Jam
There’s an old saying in jazz communities: Play a wrong note once, it’s a mistake. Play a wrong note twice, it’s jazz. Contemporary jazz is no exception to this adage. High-energy, contemporary-jazz group Turning Point—along with Grammy-nominated artist and ex-Jefferson Starship lead guitarist Craig Chaquico—are teaming up for a special “one night only” show Saturday…
Top Ten in Books
Mostly Books best-sellers for the week
Police Dispatch
IT WASN’T AVON CALLING WEST CIRCLE Z STREET APRIL 3, 10:37 P.M. An unsuspecting wife was engaged in an unsolicited (but relatively polite) obscene conversation, a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report stated. A deputy spoke by phone with the victim’s husband, who stated that an unknown male called his house, and his wife answered. After…
Inherent Honesty
How do we get to the truth of a situation? Is it merely an examination of the facts? Do our emotional filters help or hinder our search for the truth? Stephen Colbert’s gut-trusting “truthiness” aside, is there a role for heart and instinct in such an inquiry? Two stage productions that opened last weekend assert…
Bonnie “Prince” Billy: Beware
Will Oldham’s approach to music has never been that of a typical singer-songwriter, be it his attitude, style or sound. Under his various Palace monikers, he perfected a strange and mysterious faux-Appalachian indie-country sound and image, which reached a classic peak with 1999’s I See a Darkness, his first album under the Bonnie “Prince” Billy…
Now Showing at Home
Notorious 20TH CENTURY FOX MOVIE B SPECIAL FEATURES B DVD GEEK FACTOR 6.75 (OUT OF 10) This is a good biopic about Notorious B.I.G. (aka Christopher “Biggie” Wallace), telling the story of his life from his days as a nerdy kid on the streets of Brooklyn up until his murder while visiting Los Angeles in…
Suggesting the Indescribable
For 30 years, Linda Connor has roamed the world searching for the sacred, and Odyssey, her retrospective show at the Center for Creative Photography, testifies to her geographic—and religious—reach. She has aimed her large-format camera at holy places in Cambodia, Thailand, Ethiopia, Turkey, Utah, France, Hawaii, Peru and Egypt, not to mention Indonesia, Japan, Zimbabwe…
Obits: I Blame You
The debut album from Obits—the latest band to showcase vocalist/guitarist Rick Froberg—is not what you might expect. It doesn’t echo the blistering post-punk swirl of Hot Snakes, or the avant-apocalypse grind of Drive Like Jehu. Joined by Edsel’s Sohrab Habibion on guitar, Shortstack drummer Scott Gursky, and bassist Greg Simpson, Froberg turns the clock back,…
No Vindication
I have great respect for Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry. I really do. However, I don’t know what in the hell he was thinking when he told (what’s left of) the Tucson Citizen that Attorney General Terry Goddard’s investigation into the 2006 Regional Transportation Authority vote “vindicated” the county. Goddard’s ballot look-see proved that the…
O’Sullivan
Green has become trendy. Advertisements are flogging “green” vacuum cleaners. Trendy restaurants have patches of grass on the tables instead of flowers. There are green cars, groceries, dating sites, clothing, pets, buildings … the list goes on and on. Everywhere you look, well-meaning individuals talk about saving the planet. But it occurs to me that…
Triple Double Band: Dot My Eighths
What self-respecting college music scene can be deemed “well-rounded” without a funky reggae-blues band to make summer classes a glorified excuse for continued drinking, dancing and veggie-burger barbecuing? Fortunately for Tucson, the band that calls itself the Triple Double Band has just released its third full-length, Dot My Eighths, a tasty, 12-song smorgasbord of toe-tapping…
Noshing Around
Openings! Phillip Hesslau, co-owner of The Loop Taste of Chicago (10180 N. Oracle Road), is opening a new restaurant called Phillip’s Italian and American Cuisine in the former home of the recently shuttered Trattoria Della Famiglia, at 6060 N. Oracle Road. “It’s going to be a fine-dining experience at a casual price,” said Hesslau, a…
Balkan Bites
I don’t know a damn thing about Bosnian cuisine. This is a problem, because the idiot editor of this newspaper assigned me to review Chef Alisah’s Restaurant, a newish joint on the northwest side that serves “European and Bosnian cuisine.” Looking for some knowledge, I turned to Google, and learned … well, nothing. The first…
Top Ten in Music
Toxic Ranch top sales for the week
A Geek Journey
I told some pals I was going to be watching Fanboys this weekend, and one friend who is a huge Star Wars fan bolted from his job, took two trains and ran to my house to see it, even though he had already seen it once in a theater. This is baffling, because Fanboys would…
Guest Commentary
For years, I have argued for an end to drug prohibition. It seems like a rather simple moral argument to me: If one is free, not a slave, then one has dominion over his body, mind, etc. He can eat, drink and read what he chooses, and travel at will. Alarmingly, this is a minority…
9 Questions
Matt McCoy
No Punch
Watching Channing Tatum trying to emote in Fighting is like watching somebody trying to start a 28-year-old car that has sat for weeks during a chilly winter: The car spurts and sputters, gagging instead of roaring, and fails to go anywhere. Tatum, who is seemingly being positioned as the next Patrick Swayze (He’s pretty; he…
Live
Ladytron, The Faint, Crocodiles
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week
Mailbag
The City Council Was Right to Can Mike Hein It amazes me how the Tucson Weekly has joined other newspapers in conferring sainthood on Mike Hein while vilifying some members of the City Council (“Bloodbath at City Hall,” April 16). Our experience indicates those council members got it right. Several neighbors and I once met…
Favorite Pastime
All Todd Snider wants to do is play music, to sing for people and write songs. All the time. The headliner of this year’s Tucson Folk Festival has found that it’s better for everyone if he focuses on that and not much else. His managers and publicity people work to keep him in that bubble.…
Case Closed?
When state Attorney General Terry Goddard arrived at a press conference last week to announce the results of his office’s criminal investigation into the 2006 Regional Transportation Authority election, one of the first people he greeted was Jeff Rogers, chairman of the Pima County Democratic Party. The friendly banter between the two attorneys may have…
From Good to Great
After about nine years, six studio albums, two live ones and three EPs—plus what Seth Avett estimates at 1,500 to 2,000 live shows—North Carolina’s Avett Brothers suddenly seem poised to get really big, really fast. Seth laughs. “I’m sure you appreciate the irony there. That’s the feeling. Everyone … well, not everyone, but some people…
No Shot of Enforcement
At first glance, Tucson Greyhound Park appears more worn out than wildly controversial. Over the past half-dozen years, annual attendance at this track has slid by more than 10,000 people, while bets have fallen by millions of dollars. And it shows. As dog tracks go, Tucson is considered a dead-ender, or nearly so. For racers…
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Readers: As you drinko por Cinco this May 5, please take this column, which lists songs that mariachis will gladly play instead of having to glumly strum through “La Bamba” and “Guantanamera” for the umpteenth time. The following eclectic choices (and reasoning) came from hundreds submitted by wabs and savvy gabachos; make sure to…
Starts and Stops
The start-and-stop history of governmental funding for job-training program JobPath is enough to inflict whiplash. Start: In 1998, the controversial Pima County Interfaith Council demands the city and county help finance JobPath, and they comply. (See “Training Maneuvers,” July 8, 1999.) Stop: The Tucson City Council eliminates funding in 2004. Start: Following the election of…
Media Watch
‘CITIZEN’ FACES POSSIBLE MAY 9 D-DAY The Tucson Citizen’s reprieve may be nearing its end. Gannett has informed those who toil in the afternoon daily’s newsroom that the Citizen will maintain its publishing schedule until at least next Saturday, May 9. Beyond that, details are sparse to nonexistent, so that date could mean any of…
City Week
Starting the Month Off With Some Culture First Thursday Art Walk 6 to 8 p.m., next Thursday, May 7 Main Gate Square University Boulevard, between Park and Euclid avenues 622-8613 Sculpture, glass art, culinary art and media art are just some of the things that will be showcased at a variety of venues on University…
T Q&A
Tucson Q&A with Daniel Carrillo
Danehy
Much has been written about the tenure of longtime FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover, who was, at the very least, the ultimate bureaucrat. He knew how to define, expand and protect his turf and longevity in the face of ever-shifting political winds. Former Washington Post executive editor Ben Bradlee used to tell the tale of…
The Skinny
WE JUST OBJECT TO THE PROCESS Unfortunately, our deadline required us to write this column before the Tucson City Council had its big budget meeting at the Tucson Convention Center, but we think it’s safe to predict that council members got their asses chewed by an unhappy public. We also suspect that the Democrats on…
My Favorite Martian Photo
A new batch of images taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been posted by the HiRISE team at the UA Lunar and Planetary Lab. This is the big central uplift of a large crater. Photo by NASA/JPL/University of Arizona.
Rap Chop
An infomercial gets diced.
GOP Budget Details
Casey Newton of the Arizona Republic digs into some of the details of the budget plan that GOP leaders have finally released at the Legislature. Meanwhile, the Republic’s Mary Jo Pitzl tells us the details might not matter because there aren’t nearly enough GOP votes to pass it. In this week’s TW, Claire Conrad and…
