Tucson is not perfect, and we don’t have to point out the potholes or our odd brand of Baja Arizona politics to prove it, but it has a way of capturing our hearts. I know several people who tell the “my car broke down on the freeway so I stayed” story, and every artist who made their home here will tell you that at first it was because Tucson was an affordable city, allowing artists to pay rent and work at creating.
There are other stories, dozens, hundreds of stories on what brings people to Tucson and then my favorites on what lures us back. Those who return, like me, certain there is nothing like home. And we’re right, despite the weird and ugly of Tucson, the beautiful wins out every time, and the rest simply makes it damn interesting. This week we kicked off our Best of Tucson voting. There are the rules-one ballot per person and remember we watch IP addresses (we really do); we require that you include a full name and email address or phone number (without we throw out, fake ones are thrown out); you must fill in at least 30 different categories for your ballot to count; and finally no ballot-box stuffing. Businesses can and do campaign, but beyond that is a no-no (at my discretion). Email me if you have questions. We’re looking forward to this special issue-our most important of the year. We’ll be bringing back staff picks. Our theme this year, Our Ink Stained Heart, will allow us to tell some special Tucson stories between your reader picks, plus show many of those tattoos that adorn Tucsonans who are a lot like us at the newsroom-ink lovers. Our ink just happens to be on our hands and in our souls, just like Tucson. So get busy, get voting. Click here for the ballot and more information.
— Mari Herreras, mherreras@tucsonweekly.com
This article appears in Apr 16-22, 2015.
I am distressed over the city’s collective obcession over weed, THC, and the obsessive focus on marijuana for medical purposes. You know and I know when (not if) it becomes legal for wider distribution, and it will, that massive amounts of money are to be made, and the elements that now flood Colorado will soon hit Tucson’s front doors. I would prefer collective media in this town to just be up front with us and let it all hang out: you want it here, you can’t wait, and some of you hope to cash in on what for most of us has been a life time of really rotten wages.
Colorado’s wage base has always been better than ours, I know, I left here in 1990, lived there for 10 years and made far more coin than I ever did here. Legalizing pot here will change the wage profiles almost overnight. Howsomever, it should be noted that Colorado’s governor has recently said it was a mistake. No further details are available.
I know Colorado, and the nails rimming the coffin are a good example for us to follow closely. We should check it out before jumping into that bed, completely.
Roger Fulton
Tucson, Az
520-468-1104
rogdodger1@aol.com
Many men and women are in Prison for no violent marijuana use. It’s time to stop this foolishness as the ones who profit are the lawyers, legal system and the For Profit Prison system. Only in America would someone try to make a dollar of sending people to prison. We as a society are sacrificing our young people on the altar of the “Drug War”. These young people are our sons and daughters.
The war on Marijuana is a War on our own People and Youth. The people who need to hang are the ones who came up with this stupidity and insanity. Thousands and thousands languish in Prison for absolutely nothing but using a harmless garden herb. Legalize Marijuana immediately.
Only “the Government” wants to destroy your children. Notice, I said “the Government.” Not Our Government. Register to Vote and Vote. Take the reins of power out of the lunatic fringe who inhabit the Arizona State Government.