Tuesday, November 6, 2018
In the first release of voting results, voters appear to be rejecting a major expansion of vouchers in Arizona. Prop 305, a referendum that was placed on the ballot by voters who were unhappy with a law passed by the Arizona Legislature, is failing, with about two thirds voting against the measure.
Two thirds of voters are approving Prop 126, which would ban sales taxes on services in Arizona.
Nearly seven out of 10 voters are rejecting the clean energy Prop 127.
Prop 306, which would give the governor’s office more control of the Arizona Clean Election Commission, is passing with 57 percent of the voters approving the measure.
Prop 125, which would bring slight reforms to some of Arizona’s public pensions, is easily passing with was 85 percent of the vote.
Two thirds of voters are approving Prop 126, which would ban sales taxes on services in Arizona.
Nearly seven out of 10 voters are rejecting the clean energy Prop 127.
Prop 306, which would give the governor’s office more control of the Arizona Clean Election Commission, is passing with 57 percent of the voters approving the measure.
Prop 125, which would bring slight reforms to some of Arizona’s public pensions, is easily passing with was 85 percent of the vote.
In the governor’s race, Republican incumbent Doug Ducey has a commanding lead over Democrat David Garcia. The first results show Ducey with 69 percent of the vote and Garcia with 28 percent, with Green Party candidate Torres Angel capturing 2.5 percent.
In the governor’s race, Republican incumbent Doug Ducey has a commanding lead over Democrat David Garcia. The first results show Ducey with 58 percent of the vote and Garcia with 39 percent, with Green Party candidate Torres Angel capturing 1.9 percent.
In the Attorney General’s race, incumbent Republican Mark Brnovich has 53 percent of the vote, compared to Democratic challenger January Contreras’ 46 percent.
In the race for Secretary of State, Republican Steve Gaynor has the edge over Democrat Katie Hobbs, 51 to 48 percent.
Republican Frank Riggs is barely ahead of Democrat Kathy Hoffman in the race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Riggs has 50 percent of the vote, compared to 49.
In the race for two seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission, Republicans Rodney Glassman and Justin Olson are leading Democrats Sandra Kennedy and Kiana Sears.
In the race for Arizona Treasurer, Republican Kimberly Yee has the lead on Democrat Mark Manoil, with Yee capturing 55 percent of the vote.
This story will update as new results are released.
In the governor’s race, Republican incumbent Doug Ducey has a commanding lead over Democrat David Garcia. The first results show Ducey with 58 percent of the vote and Garcia with 39 percent, with Green Party candidate Torres Angel capturing 1.9 percent.
In the Attorney General’s race, incumbent Republican Mark Brnovich has 53 percent of the vote, compared to Democratic challenger January Contreras’ 46 percent.
In the race for Secretary of State, Republican Steve Gaynor has the edge over Democrat Katie Hobbs, 51 to 48 percent.
Republican Frank Riggs is barely ahead of Democrat Kathy Hoffman in the race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Riggs has 50 percent of the vote, compared to 49.
In the race for two seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission, Republicans Rodney Glassman and Justin Olson are leading Democrats Sandra Kennedy and Kiana Sears.
In the race for Arizona Treasurer, Republican Kimberly Yee has the lead on Democrat Mark Manoil, with Yee capturing 55 percent of the vote.
This story will update as new results are released.
DepositPhotos
A new study from the University of Arizona's Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics found imported fresh tomatoes from Mexico contributed around $4.8 billion in sales to the U.S. economy and the U.S. imported 3.4 billion pounds of fresh tomatoes from Mexico in 2016.
The study found that U.S. imports of tomatoes from Mexico actively supported nearly 33,000 full and part-time jobs, earning $1.4 billion in employee compensation. It also contributed to $353 million in business owner income and $801 million in corporate profits.
Tomatoes are a species native to the Americas and were first cultivated in Mexico. The U.S. and and Mexico rank as top agricultural export markets with one another, according to the study.
In 2016, Mexico was the largest exporter of crops to the United States, with $11.6 billion in exports. Mexico is the United States’ third largest crop export market destination after China and Canada, with nearly $7 billion in U.S. crops exported to Mexico in 2016.
The trade in tomatoes between the United States and Mexico represents a reciprocal relationship. The U.S relies on Mexico for fresh tomatoes while Mexico relies on the U.S. for processed tomatoes, according to the UA Department of Agricultural study.
"This study demonstrates that even though grown and harvested elsewhere, imported produce supports economic activity, jobs, and income in the United States through forward and backward linked agribusiness supply chains," said Dari Duval, economic impact analyst with the UA Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
To view the full study of the economic contribution in imported tomatoes from Mexico to the U.S visit, cals.arizona.edu/arec/publication/contribution-mexican-tomatoes for more information.
Tags: tomatoes , study , university , Arizona , Mexico , Image
Monday, November 5, 2018
This is my final pitch, as the emails I got asking for more money the day before the election say. (More money? Really?)
Vote! I don't have to pitch that. If you've voted, great, if you haven't, do it Tuesday. However, voting for education can use some pitching, so let me give you a pitch based on personal experience.
I taught for over 30 years, high school English and a few other things (Photography, Yearbook). That means well over 3,000 students passed through my classroom doors. So I've been there, done that. I've been out of the game for quite some time, so I no longer have a dog in the hunt. I reap no personal rewards from your education-related vote.
Here are a few things I learned over the years beyond techniques and strategies that helped me become a better teacher. Money matters. Morale matters. Both will be improved by electing people who support public education.
Money Matters
Salaries matter. Salaries need to be in line with teachers' educational attainment and their importance to the community, and at least high enough teachers aren't frantic a week before the next payday. Nuff said.
Class size matters. My experience is, I can take in an entire class of 25 students, treat each student as an individual, pay attention to them and help them along when I think they need it. I can even remember the essence of what they wrote on their last few essays well enough to talk with them about their work without looking at their papers or my grade book. Add one more student above 25, and someone gets lost. Add 5 to 10 more, and students' individual outlines grow blurry. I start thinking, "I'm really glad those 3 [5, 10] kids are so quiet and don't need my attention so I can focus on everyone else," instead of, "I've got to make sure to get around to those quiet kids, make regular contact so they know I'm thinking about them and ready when they need something." As class size climbed beyond a reasonable number, my effectiveness diminished.
Lowering class sizes takes money. In a high school like the one where I taught with over 100 teachers, you need to add three teachers to lower everyone's class size by one student.
Tags: Public education , Funding , Morale , vote , election , Image
NextGen Arizona
NextGen Arizona's team of youth organizers have been working hard everyday to ensure that every person they have spoken to is knowledgable on the candidates and have a voting plan.
Rides will be going from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and pick up will be at the Sixth Street Garage with drop off at the polling station on Donna R. Liggins Neighborhood Center.
The NextGen Arizona team has been working hard all election season to show youth that their vote matters. They work to ensure that every person they have spoken to has a voting plan and information on the candidates. NextGen Arizona has recruited over 1,000 volunteer shifts to get young voters to vote for midterm elections.
NextGen America is making a change across 11 states on nearly 420 college campuses to help young people resist current government views and policies and take matter into their own hands.
"We have been in the community for months now working on removing roadblocks to young people voting this November 6th. This is just another effort in ensuring we have the highest youth vote turn out possible,” says Belen Sisa AZ State Media Manager of NextGen America.
NextGen hopes to be a leading example for future campaigns and the future of the Democratic Party.
Tags: NextGen , polls , voting , Democrat , Republican , young voters , youth , candidates , volunteer , politics , education , midterm election , party bus , Image
Friday, November 2, 2018
It's not an especially brave act to proclaim, "I am a Jew." I belong to a privileged minority in the U.S. compared to most other minority groups. I have had no antisemitism worthy of the name directed at me in my lifetime. I have never had an opportunity taken away from me because of my religious/cultural identity. I have no personal complaints.
But we are at a moment where I feel the need to say the words, "I am a Jew," if for no other reason than to let myself know I am not afraid to say them aloud or in print. And yet, to be perfectly honest, one reason for saying the words is because, in the current climate, being Jewish doesn't worry me, but saying "I am a Jew" does, a little. That is precisely the time to talk about it.
We are seeing a frightening rise in antisemitism in this country. The latest incident I read about happened Thursday night. Standing alone, it would only be a shudder in the steady undercurrent of antisemitic hatred lurking beneath the surface in this country. But combined with the resurgence of antisemitic rhetoric and events which have been building since 2016 and have accelerated rapidly in the past weeks and months, it is a terrifying example of what could become regular occurrences.
Comedian Ilana Glazer scheduled a get-out-the-vote event at a Brooklyn synagogue Thursday night where she was going to interview a journalist and two Democratic state senate candidates. It was canceled because antisemitic graffiti was found on inside walls of the synagogue, including “Die Jew Rats,” “We are here,” “Hitler,” “Jew Better Be Ready” and “End it now."
Tags: Antisemitism. Charlottesville. "Unite the right". George Soros. Donald Trump. Tree of Life synagogue. , Image
Jim Nintzel
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi: "I'm confident that we will win. What the size of it is, I don't know. But we will win."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi traveled to Tucson yesterday to stump on behalf of Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick, the former congresswoman who is facing Republican Lea Marquez Peterson in the race for Southern Arizona’s open Congressional District 2 seat, which is one of the most competitive in the country. Pelosi praised Kirkpatrick for having the courage to vote for the Affordable Care Act in 2010, despite the political consequences. “We can’t wait to have her back,” Pelosi said. “She’ll be effective right from the start.”
The Weekly had an exclusive one-on-one interview with Pelosi following her pep talk to Team Kirkpatrick volunteers. The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
How confident are you that the Democrats will take the House next week?
I'm confident that we will win. What the size of it is, I don't know. But we will win. I didn't even start making a prediction until last Tuesday. Up until then, I would say that “If the election were held today.” But now, I see the apparatus at work, what's happening at the ground all over the country, the purpose of our candidates. They know why they're running. They know what they care about. They know how to communicate with it. So I have confidence in them. Our mobilization on the ground, our message, everybody's sticking with it. Lower health care, bigger paycheck, cleaner government.
There are many hurdles for Democrats baked into the structure of the district maps thanks to gerrymandering and other factors. Given those challenges, why do you think Democrats are in such a strong position?
Because of the caliber of our candidates and the on-the-ground mobilization, and then our message. People are sticking with the message and not taking his bait on whatever it is. And I said to candidates and to incumbents who are candidates, too, it's not about the president. It's about what you have to offer versus the other person. I don't like to call people opponents; the person on the other side. What they have to offer, when it comes to the financial security of America's working families, healthcare costs, increasing their paycheck, and value of work, and giving them confidence that their voice is as important as anybody's by reducing the role of money in politics. Integrity in government. And so, that message is resonating. Mobilization, message and the third: money. We just totally outraised them: $100 million just from the small donors from online fundraising.
How important do you think the female vote is in this election?
Essential. Women are so smart. We're just so smart. The gender gap is large all over the country. Maybe 15 points.
When you’re on the outside looking in, it seems like Republicans and Democrats are at each other's throats these days. From the inside, are relations less tense when you meet with your counterparts from across the aisle?
Tags: news , politics , elections , House Minority Leader , Nancy Pelosi , Tucson , Democrat , Ann Kirkpatrick , Image
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Photo by Nicole Neri/Cronkite News
For some of migrants who were lodged at the Tucson motel, it was the first chance to connect with loved ones left behind in Central America.
The motel is plain vanilla. Motorists streak past it on Interstate 10 without notice or memory. But inside the gates of the complex, over several days in October, 112 migrants, many from Guatemala, turned the motel into a temporary neighborhood.
Children chased their friends underneath the stairs. Parents leaned against walls and chatted with neighbors on a common path of pursuing asylum in the United States. The low hum of Spanish wafted through the rooms and grounds of the motel, mixed with English and peppered with phrases in indigenous languages, such as K’iche’ and Mam.
Inside, a first-floor office was packed with volunteers. On the walls, whiteboards and sticky notes that form a tracking system to help provide the migrants with food and shelter.
Upstairs, Elias sat on a polyester bedspread. He spoke of fear and relief.
Of bringing his child thousands of miles from home.
Of eluding police and gangs traveling through Mexico.
Of immigration authorities dropping him and his son and dozens of other migrants at the motel.
The migrants, who were fleeing poverty and crime in Central America, were allowed conditional entry into the U.S. after crossing the southern border and requesting asylum. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, with a spokesperson later saying there were too many migrants to handle, brought them to volunteers in Tucson who put them up at the motel on I-10.
Within a few days, the migrants scattered throughout the country.
But their stop in Tucson lingered in the continuing debate over immigration, both legal and illegal, in the U.S. and the rest of the world, among politicians, advocates and people across the ideological spectrum.
The migrants’ journey turned on the decisions of outside forces: Whether ICE would detain them or release them sooner to their destinations. Whether supporters would house and feed them or the migrants would be left to fend for themselves on the streets of Tucson. And, finally whether federal officials will ultimately allow them to stay in the U.S. or return them to the countries they fled.
The 112 Central Americans were among thousands seeking asylum in the U.S. According to TRAC Immigration, a nonpartisan immigration research program, from 2011 to 2016, 8,540 migrants applied for asylum to the federal government. Few, however, succeeded.
Tags: motel , Tucson , immigration , migrants , families , asylum , Image
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Charter school leaders are looking for a kumbaya moment after being rocked by recent stories of corruption and profiteering, which led some Republican candidates to step away from them and adopt a harder line on increasing charter oversight and transparency. (Don't worry, charter folks, Republicans don't mean it. If they're reelected, they'll be your friends and apologists once again.) So charters are sending out the spin doctors to staunch the bleeding.
Prime example: an op-ed in the Arizona Republic by Rhonda Cagle, chief communications and development officer for Imagine Schools, a national charter chain with over a dozen schools in Arizona. The headline reads, Everything you need to know about Arizona charter schools. Actually, it's not quite everything, and what Cagle states as fact has a whole lot of spin mixed in.
The op-ed begins by saying charter schools have been under scrutiny lately — true fact. Also that scrutiny can be a good way to stimulate dialog — another true fact. And that lots of families choose to send their kids to charters — yet another true fact. It ends by saying we shouldn't be asking whether or not charter schools are better, we should applaud the number of viable educational options presented to students and their parents, both charter and district schools. I agree. Good schools for your children are where you find them, and charters are part of the mix.
All that is fine, pretty much down the middle. But at other times, Cagle's assertions aren't as hard and fast as she makes them out to be.
Prime example: an op-ed in the Arizona Republic by Rhonda Cagle, chief communications and development officer for Imagine Schools, a national charter chain with over a dozen schools in Arizona. The headline reads, Everything you need to know about Arizona charter schools. Actually, it's not quite everything, and what Cagle states as fact has a whole lot of spin mixed in.
The op-ed begins by saying charter schools have been under scrutiny lately — true fact. Also that scrutiny can be a good way to stimulate dialog — another true fact. And that lots of families choose to send their kids to charters — yet another true fact. It ends by saying we shouldn't be asking whether or not charter schools are better, we should applaud the number of viable educational options presented to students and their parents, both charter and district schools. I agree. Good schools for your children are where you find them, and charters are part of the mix.
All that is fine, pretty much down the middle. But at other times, Cagle's assertions aren't as hard and fast as she makes them out to be.
Tags: Charter schools , Rhonda Cagle , Open enrollment , Public schools , Image
Bookmans East
Young Adult Bookclub on Saturday, Oct. 27.
The book chosen for the book club is acclaimed New York Times bestseller Caraval by Stephanie Garber. A mystery fantasy novel about a girl named Scarlett who is forced into marriage by her father. Scarlett and her sister Tella escape from their father and tiny island home to visit Caraval, a once a year extravagant performance. Bookman's invites you to stick your nose into a book of love, heartbreak and magic.
Bookmans is also hosting a studio night of halloween painting on Friday, Oct. 26. The painting class is free and all ages are welcome. No need to bring painting supplies, all crafts will be provided.
Sign up for both events by e-mailing [email protected] and receive updates via Facebook by joining our official Young Adult Group.
