I used to live in this neighborhood. Yikes. Three people were in the helicopter, and one is reported dead.

Border Action Network, a membership-based organization that combines grassroots community organizing, leadership development, litigation and policy advocacy for immigrants and border communities in Southern Arizona, issued a statement today in reaction to Judge Susan Bolton's partial block on 1070:

This morning Judge Bolton announced her decision on the motions requesting a preliminary injunction to enjoin Arizona from tomorrow's implementation of SB1070. Four key areas of the law were enjoined: 1) requiring law enforcement to verify someone's immigration status if they have reasonable suspicion that the person is unlawfully in the country; 2) the new crime of not carrying immigration registration papers; 3) soliciting, applying for or performing work without work authorization; and 4) allowing police to conduct warrantless arrests of a person if they have probable cause to believe that a person has committed a deportable offense. Jennifer Allen, the Executive Director of the Border Action Network, an organizational plaintiff in the Friendly House vs. Michael Whiting et al complaint, issues the following statement in reaction to the decision:

"Arizonans released a collective sigh of relief with today's decision by Judge Bolton to enjoin Arizona for implementing 1070 tomorrow. The pressure and anxiety shouldered by Arizona families, businesses, churches and law enforcement agencies has been lifted for the time-being. While there are still provisions of the law that we are concerned with and will monitor, we are elated that Judge Bolton blocked the most discriminatory, far-reaching provisions.

Representative Gabrielle Giffords says today's ruling imposing a partial injunction against SB 1070 by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton is "an affirmation of the fact that the enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws is the responsibility of federal government."

She also took the opportunity to push for her $701 million in emergency border security funds.

The statement reads:

The latest chapter in what promises to be a lengthy legal fight over Arizona’s immigration law has been written. But this court battle must not be allowed to distract us from the real issue: Arizonans want our nation to control its borders and bring a halt to the violence, smugglers and drugs that threaten our communities.

State lawyers arguing with federal lawyers will not help us secure our border, fix our broken immigration system or improve safety for the ranchers of Cochise County, the seniors of Green Valley or the families of Tucson.

Judge Bolton’s ruling is an affirmation of the fact that the enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws is the responsibility of federal government. It is time — in fact, it is way past time — for the federal government to start taking that responsibility seriously.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords had some strong words for the U.S. Senate last week, after they knocked down her bill, the Emergency Border Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, which would allot an extra $701 million to fortify the border.

"Southern Arizonans should be appalled that the United States Senate said ‘no’ to supporting the troops on the border, said ‘no’ to protecting the ranchers in my district who are threatened daily and said ‘no’ to increasing border patrol agents who would help stop the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants into our country," Giffords said in a statement last Friday.

But now she says the bill is back on track.

Giffords' spokesperson, CJ Karamargin, says the bill is scheduled for a vote on the House floor this afternoon.

"We think it's going to pass, but Congress is sometimes an amazing institution," he says.

The bill would put about $350 million into Border Patrol salaries and expenses, and another $30 million into ICE salaries and expenses. The Department of Justice would get roughly $200 million for "necessary expenses for increased law enforcement activities related to Southwest border enforcement." State and local programs would get $50 million, while another $34 would go to acquisition and deployment of unmanned aircraft along the border. Roughly $14 million would go to "Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology."

Giffords is one of 10 co-sponsors on the bill that was introduced by Rep. David Price of North Carolina.

A grocery store that many, many low-income folks depend on for their daily bread is closing. From a press release received this afternoon:

The Community Food Bank has announced that its Value Market Grocery Store will close on Friday, October 1, 2010.

The Value Market, located at the Community Food Bank, 3003 S. Country Club Road, began operation in 1995 offering low cost groceries to patrons of Food Bank services.

“The economy and our inability to offer competitive pricing in the grocery market lead to the decision,” said Bill Carnegie, President/CEO.

Beginning August 1, 2010, the Value Market will begin reducing prices in order to close out current inventory.

The Value Market is open to the general public and anyone is welcome to shop while supplies last.

For more information, contact Jack Parris at (520) 622-0525 x 215.

An entry on Nimbus Brewery's Facebook page says the brewery is getting into the non-alcoholic-beverage business with a new line of signature sodas.

The brewery is currently seeking submissions of artwork to be used on the label for its first soda, Nimbus Rootbeer.

Click here for more details.

It wasn't long after the news that a federal judge blocked key portions of the controversial Arizona immigration law, did the commentary start rolling in online.

Here's a sampling:

The Guardian's Michael Tomasky:

This is the part of the law that in effect required - okay, let's not say required; let's say it made it the better part of wisdom and prudence - brown-skinned people to have their papers with them at all times. She upheld other aspects of the law and they can go into effect Thursday.

It would seem, unless I'm misinterpreting, that the supremacy clause argument made by the federal government won the day.

Federal Judge Susan Bolton has ruled to block some controversial sections of SB 1070, which is scheduled to go into effect tomorrow.

Read about it here. Feel free to leave any thoughts concerning this development in the comments section below.

Update: Howie Fischer up at Capitol Media Services reports the following sections have been blocked:

• Requiring a police officer to make a reasonable attempt to check the immigration status of those they have stopped.

• Making it a violation of Arizona law for anyone not a citizen to fail to carry documenation.

• Creating a new state crime for trying to secure work while not a legal resident.

• Allowing police to make warrantless arrests if there is a belief the person has committed an offense that allows them to be removed from the United States.

Update: Here's a PDF of the ruling.

1070rulingpdf

Consider it a little light reading.

In response to the vote on the war supplemental in the House today, Congressman Raul Grijalva and other House Progressives released an open letter:

The War Funding Vote: A Credit Card for War, But No Cash for Teachers

Once again, war is being paid for with a credit card while investments in our children’s future are tossed aside. These investments — $10 billion for teacher jobs, $1 billion for summer youth employment, $5 billion for Pell grants, $701 million for border security — were cut from the war funding bill coming to the House floor despite being fully paid for and not adding to the budget deficit. They have been jettisoned in favor of further borrowed war spending. Today’s bill doesn’t include anything to maintain first responder, police or firefighter positions despite the dramatic need for those jobs in every community in America. We believe this is fiscal insanity and a moral tragedy.

Consider the following: Despite widespread shortfalls in education funding around the country, the $10 billion that would have saved 140,000 teacher jobs across the nation — all of it offset — has been cut. The $37.12 billion in war funding, on the other hand, is not paid for. Every single penny adds directly to the national debt. This is not good for national security. This is continuing a failed policy at the exact wrong time.