This past week in Arizona, 01-20-08

This hopefully will be the first of many updates as to what has gone on in Arizona over the past week. Anything could show up, local or national politics, city or state issues of a local nature or just plan gossip.

Well here goes the best three things I could find for last week.

The Arizona Republic Newspaper trashed Andrew Thomas, Maricopa County Attorney, for publishing pamphlet on Crime Prevention but they didn't object to taking $24,000. to distribute it. The cost for the pamphlet was not paid for by tax payers as the newspaper suggested but was paid from RICO and other funds recovered from criminals. Andrew's office has received numerous requests for copies even a request from a Sheriff in a northwestern state. Maybe next time Andrew should look around for a different way to distribute great information rather than using a two-faced newspaper that doesn't like elected officials that actually do their jobs!

Tom Horne, Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction, was recently told to butt out when he asked the Tucson Unified School District for information on their Ethnic Studies Program which in Tucson is known as Mexican-American/Raza Studies Department. LA RAZA for those that don't know has frequently taken the position that Arizona, New Mexico and Texas should be taken back by Mexico. Is this the kind of group that State tax payers should be paying for the TUSD to support? Tome Horne ultimately had to resort to a Freedom Information Request. The last word on this has not been written.

Our Billion Dollar Metro Light Rail Project which is not scheduled to go into operation for a few years has suddenly developed what is being characterized as a minor problem. Eleven breaks have developed in the rails in several locations. Officials don't seem to have any ideas what has caused the 7" breaks. I personally don't think that any size break in a train rail is a minor concern. I suspect that this minor inconvenience will be explained away, explained away until the day the first train derailment!




Well that's enough for now. Have a great week!

Robert