The number to call in the event of voter suppression tactics at polling places: 800-253-3931

Recently (say, the last month or so), there has been a pic circulating around Facebook urging anybody who is the victim of or witnesses to illegal voter suppression efforts to call the FBI at a special number.  The number that has been going around is 202-514-1888.

Great idea, except....

...that particular number is the TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) number for the FBI's press office in DC -

Probably not the most effective number for filing reports, unless you are deaf and have access to TDD equipment. 

As I don't know the genesis of the Facebook campaign, I cannot state unequivocally that there is ill intent behind the apparent error; in fact, I'm leaning toward thinking this is an honest mistake - the FBI *did* issue a press release on just this topic, and like the rest of its press releases, the header contains the TDD number.

The press release  (emphasis mine) -

Protecting the Right to Vote and Prosecuting Ballot Fraud

U.S. Department of Justice October 16, 2012

Office of Public Affairs (202) 514-2007/TDD (202)514-1888

WASHINGTON—In anticipation of the upcoming election, the Justice Department today provided information about its efforts, through the Civil Rights and Criminal Divisions, to ensure that all qualified voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots and have their votes counted free of discrimination, intimidation, or fraud in the election process.

 

Civil Rights Division

 

The Civil Rights Division is responsible for ensuring compliance with the civil provisions of federal laws that protect the right to vote,and with federal criminal laws prohibiting discriminatory interference with that right.

 

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces civil provisions of federal laws that protect the right to vote including: the Voting Rights Act; the National Voter Registration Act; the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; and the Help America Vote Act. Among other things, these laws prohibit discrimination based on race or membership in a minority language group; prohibit intimidation of voters; provide that voters who need assistance in voting because of disability or illiteracy can obtain assistance from a person of their choice; require minority language election materials and assistance in certain jurisdictions; provide for accessible election machines for voters with disabilities; require provisional ballots for voters who assert they are eligible but whose names do not appear on poll books; provide for absentee ballots for service members, their family members, and U.S. citizens living abroad; require states to ensure that citizens can register at drivers’ license offices, public assistance offices, other state agencies, and through the mail; and include requirements regarding maintaining voter registration lists.

 

The Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and suppression based on race, color, national origin, or religion.

As it has in the past, on Election Day, November 6, 2012, the Civil Rights Division will implement a comprehensive program to help ensure ballot access that will include the following:

• Shortly before the election, the Civil Rights Division will announce which jurisdictions will have federal personnel as election monitors and observers at polling places.
• Civil Rights Division attorneys in both the Voting and Criminal Sections in Washington, D.C., will be ready to receive election-related complaints of potential violations relating to any of the statutes the Civil Rights Division enforces. Attorneys in the division will take appropriate action and will consult and coordinate with local U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and with other entities within the Department of Justice concerning these complaints before, during, and after Election Day, as appropriate.

Civil Rights Division staff will be available by phone to receive complaints related to ballot access (1-800-253-3931 toll-free or 202-307-2767) or by TTY (1-877-267-8971). In addition, individuals may also report complaints, problems, or concerns related to voting by fax to 202-307-3961, by e-mail to voting.section@usdoj.gov, and, closer to Election Day, by complaint forms that may be submitted through a link on the department’s website at www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/.

 

Complaints related to violence or threats of violence at a polling place should, in the first instance, always be reported to local police authorities by calling 911.

 

Criminal Division and the Department’s 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices

 

The Department’s Criminal Division oversees the enforcement of federal laws that criminalize certain election fraud and vindicate the integrity of the federal election process.

 

The Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and the Department’s 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are responsible for enforcing the federal criminal laws that prohibit various forms of election fraud, such as vote buying, multiple voting, submission of fraudulent ballots or registrations, destruction of ballots or registrations, alteration of votes, and malfeasance by election officials. The Criminal Division is also responsible for enforcing federal criminal law prohibiting voter intimidation that does not involve a basis in race, color, national origin, or religion (as noted above, voter intimidation that has a basis in race, color, national origin, or religion is addressed by the Civil Rights Division).

 

The department encourages each U.S. Attorney’s Office to communicate with state election officials before the federal general elections regarding the handling of election-related matters in their respective districts. In addition, the department provides annual training for the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who serve as district election officers (DEOs) in their respective districts. DEOs are responsible for overseeing potential election-crime matters in their districts and for coordinating with the department’s election-crime experts in Washington, D.C.

 

On November 6, 2012, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices will work with specially trained Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel in each district to ensure that complaints from the public involving possible voter fraud are handled appropriately. Specifically:

• Federal prosecutors at the Public Integrity Section, the DEOs in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, FBI officials at Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and FBI special agents serving as Election Crime Coordinators in the FBI’s 56 field offices will be on duty while polls are open to receive complaints from the public.
• Election fraud or intimidation complaints should first be directed to the local U.S. Attorney’s Office or the local FBI office. A list of U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and their telephone numbers can be found at www.justice.gov/usao/offices/index.html, and a list of FBI offices and accompanying telephone numbers can be found at the “Contact Us” button at http://www.fbi.gov. Again, however, complaints related to violence or threats of violence at a polling place should, in the first instance, be reported to local police authorities by calling 911.
• Election fraud or intimidation complaints may also be directed to the Public Integrity Section (202-514-1412). Public Integrity Section prosecutors are available to consult and coordinate with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI regarding the handling of election-crime allegations.

Both protecting the right to vote and combating election fraud are essential to maintaining the confidence of all Americans in our democratic system of government. We encourage anyone who has information suggesting voting discrimination or ballot fraud to contact the appropriate authorities.

 From the above-specified website, the contact numbers for the US Attorney/DOJ offices here in AZ:

Phoenix - (602) 514-7500
Tucson - (520) 620-7300
Flagstaff - (928) 556-0833
Yuma - (928) 314-6410

From the FBI's website, the number for the Phoenix office is 623-466-1999.

AHCCCS to hold public meetings on possible changes to Arizona Medicaid

On very short notice, and scheduled at times of the day when most people won't be able to even think about participating, Governor Jan Brewer and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) will be holding meetings to put out some information and to solicit public input on possible changes to Arizona's Medicaid program (aka - AHCCCS). 

The first meeting was yesterday (Wednesday, September 5) in Flagstaff (hence the quip about "short notice).

The rest -

Monday, September 10, 2012 2p.m. - 4p.m.	The Disability Empowerment Center 5025 E. Washington St., 200 Phoenix
Friday, September 14, 2012 11a.m.- 1p.m.	Yuma County Public Library 2951 S. 21Dr. Yuma
Tuesday September 18, 2012 1p.m. - 3p.m.	United Way Community Resource Campus 330 N. Commerce Park Loop Tucson

In July, the US Supreme upheld the Affordable Care Act, but allowed states to opt out of provisions that would expand Medicaid.

That means that Arizona will not expand AHCCCS in any way, because while the feds will pick up most of the costs, the AZ legislature must first approve it, and those are the same folks who danced on the graves of poor people who needed organ transplants while giving yet another tax cut to corporations.  Hell, these are the people that refused to change state law to allow many Arizonans who had exhausted their unemployment insurance benefits to collect them for a few more weeks, and that would not have cost Arizona a single dime.

Don't hold your breath waiting for them to do the right thing.

Not registered to vote yet? This will help...

The Obama campaign has release an application that will help people from all over the country register to vote.  It contains code that can be embedded in a web page, and has been added at the bottom of this blog's main page. 

It looks like this -




I can't speak for other states, but here in Arizona, the deadline to register to vote in the November 2012 election is October 9, 2012.

Presidential Debate Schedule Set

The schedule for this fall's series of presidential debates has been announced, and while only one of them will be held west of the Mississippi, at least that one will be in a state in the Mountain West region.

From the Commission on Presidential Debates -

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., and Michael D. McCurry, co-chairmen of the non-partisan, non-profit Commission on Presidential Debates ("CPD") today announced sites and dates for three presidential and one vice presidential debates during the 2012 general election. The dates and sites are:

First presidential debate:

Wednesday, October 3

University of Denver, Denver, CO

Vice presidential debate:

Thursday, October 11

Centre College, Danville, KY

Second presidential debate (town meeting format):

Tuesday, October 16

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

Third presidential debate:

Monday, October 22

Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL

Washington University in St. Louis, MO will serve as the backup site. The CPD has asked Dominican University to lead an international project which will be announced early in 2012.

The Commission also released the 2012 Candidate Selection Criteria, which will be used to determine who is invited to participate in the general election debates. In addition to being Constitutionally eligible, candidates must appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to have a mathematical chance of winning a majority vote in the Electoral College, and have a level of support of at least 15% (fifteen percent) of the national electorate as determined by five selected national public opinion polling organizations, using the average of those organizations' most recent publicly-reported results at the time of the determination. The Gallup Organization will advise the CPD in the application of its Criteria to polling data as it did in 2000, 2004, and 2008.

Registration deadline looming for the August primary election

Monday, July 30, is the deadline to register to vote in Augusto's primary election (August 28). 

Many Independent voters will choose to sit this one out, but they shouldn't, and they don't have to - they can vote in either major party's primary simply by requesting that party's ballot.

Also, while most people refer to this upcoming election as a "primary" election, it is also the general election in non-partisan municipal elections, and sitting this one out could lead to four years of bad government officials at the level of government that has the most immediate impact on voters' quality of life.

If you want to register to vote, or to update your registration (i.e., if you have moved), you can do so here at ServiceArizona.com.

Note to folks who will reach their 18th birthday before the August election but after the deadline: You can still register to vote in the August election, but you must still do so by next Monday.

Road Closures In North and Northeastern AZ

Due to the brief visit by winter to our state, there are road closures affecting much of the state.  They'll probably be lifted as the storm passes, but be careful - another storm system is forecasted for the state later today.

Edit on 3/19 to add: 

Based on emails from ADOT and various news reports, most major roads seem to be re-opened.  However, call ahead to learn about specific destinations and areas.

Some of the remaining road closures (courtesy Channel 12) -

Eastbound Interstate 40 closed between the SR 89 junction (near Ash Fork) and Williams. Westbound I-40 is open to traffic.

A 30-mile stretch of State Route 87 closed in both directions north of Payson.
...
Tire chains are required along State Route between Star Valley and Heber (an area east of Payson).

US 180 closed northwest of the Snow Bowl turnoff to the State Route 64 junction.

End edit...

From an email from ADOT (Arizona Department of Transportation) -

Update 10:40 a.m. - Westbound Interstate 40 has reopened at Winslow. Eastbound I-40 remains closed at US 93, as tractor trailers are backed up at Ash Fork Hill west of Flagstaff. Northbound Interstate 17 remains closed at the junction of SR 179, though crews are making progress on clearing the snow and ice from the roadway. Southbound Interstate 17 remains open from Flagstaff.

Update 10:15 a.m. – State Route 87 is closed from the junction of State Route 260 at Cinch Hook Hill (milepost 278) to Winslow (milepost 341) State Route 260 is closed from east of Camp Verde (milepost 228) to State Route 87.

Update 9:40 a.m. - State Route 87 is closed from Clint’s Well (milepost 285) to Winslow (milepost 341).

Arizona Department of Transportation crews are fully deployed in response to the winter storm that developed overnight. Heavy snow is still falling from Flagstaff to the White Mountains, causing hazardous driving conditions.

The following closures are in place as of 8 a.m.

Northbound Interstate-17 is closed at the junction of State Route 179. I-17 southbound remains open at this time.

Interstate-40 is closed in both directions from US 93 to Winslow.

US 180 is closed north of the Arizona Snowbowl to State Route 64 at Valle.

State Route 87 is closed north of Pine near Clint’s Well.

Helping out those affected by the Wallow Fire in eastern Arizona

This is from an email plea from Andrei Cherny, Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, but this is something that goes beyond partisanship (I'll save that stuff for the next post :) ).

The email -

The Wallow Fire is now the second largest wildfire in state history. Residents in eastern Arizona communities are being evacuated and displaced into shelters and other areas of the state. They are losing their homes and in many cases, their livelihoods.

We may feel helpless as we watch the Wallow Fire tear through these beloved communities, but there are things we can do to help, right now. The Arizona Democratic Party is launching a donation drive for displaced residents who lack basic necessities. This week, we are extending the hours at AZ Dem state headquarters so people can drop off items during the day or in the evenings after they leave work. Items can also be dropped off at Pima County and Coconino County Democratic Party headquarters. The first delivery of donated items will be this weekend, but we will continue to collect donations throughout next week. Details below:

WHAT: Donation drive for victims of the Arizona wildfires.

WHERE TO DROP OFF ITEMS:

Phoenix -- Arizona Democratic Party headquarters, 2910 N. Central Ave.; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. today through Friday, and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon-Fri next week.

Tucson -- Pima County Democratic Party headquarters, 4639 E. First St., Tucson; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri

Flagstaff -- Coconino County Democratic Party headquarters, 201 E. Birch, Suite A (Historic Ice House); 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mon-Fri.


ITEMS NEEDED:

• Gatorade (Liquid or powder)

• Bottled water

• Non-perishable snacks

• Soap

• Lip balm

• Razors

• Toothpaste

• Toothbrushes

• Toothbrush covers

• Floss

• Lotion

• Shampoo

• Conditioner

• Baby wipes

• Breathing masks


Let's show our fellow Arizonans that they aren't alone during this challenging time. We are all in this together. Thank you for helping out.

Sincerely,
Andrei Cherny
Chair, Arizona Democratic Party

The latest update on the fire from the Arizona Republic is here.

Arizona Corporation Commission to hold special meeting on safety at Palo Verde

In the wake of the multiple disasters in Japan - the massive earthquake, the devastating tsunami, and especially the ever more frightening ongoing failure and destruction of a nuclear power plant - people here have raised concerns over the nuclear power plant closest to Phoenix, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station.  It is owned by a consortium of companies, including both of Arizona's largest electricity providers APS and SRP.  (NRC info page here)

The Arizona Corporation Commission, an elected body that oversees utilities in Arizona, has been swamped with inquiries from constituents, and as a result, will be holding a special meeting on Tuesday to hear about safety measures at the plant.

From a Phoenix Business Journal article by Patrick O'Grady -

The Arizona Corporation Commission will hold a meeting Tuesday to discuss safety plans for the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station.

The special meeting, to be held at 1 p.m. in the commission’s hearing room at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix, is at the request of at least two commissioners, Bob Stump and Paul Newman.

It sounds like the meeting will be more a pep rally than an actual inquiry, but some useful info may come out of it in anyway.

The official public notice for the meeting is here.

Tempe firm among three Arizona companies fined by EPA for hazardous waste violations

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that three Phoenix-area companies have been fined a total of $131,000 for various violations related to the handling and disposal of hazardous waste products.

“We impose strict environmental controls to make sure hazardous waste is properly handled,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.

Acme Aerospace, located in Tempe, was fined $31K.  It is a subsidiary of North Carolina-based Acme Electric, which is in turn a subsidiary of Key Components, Inc. of Tarrytown, NY (no website available, but some info here from the State of New York).

The other companies fined by the EPA:

AZZ Galvanizing Services of Goodyear - $79,700

Hexcel Corporation of Casa Grande - $20,000


While one can make a strong argument for Goodyear being considered a "Phoenix area" location, most Arizonans wouldn't consider Casa Grande to be part of the Phoenix metro area.

Especially residents of Casa Grande.  :)


Related info:

Acme Aerospace, while in Tempe, is located outside of area of the South Indian Bend Wash NPL (National Priorities List) site in Tempe (ADEQ map here; informational overview here).

Arizona-located NPL sites are here and here.


Note:  I live in the North Indian Bend Wash Superfund Area (NIBW), hence the reason that the Tempe location of one of the companies caught my eye. :)

Later...

PSA time - AZ road closures 12/30/2010

Updated at 6:45 p.m. on 12/30/2010:

From ADOT:

I-17 is now open in both directions. Traffic had been closed Wednesday due to snow and congestion. This reopening will allow motorists to move between Flagstaff and Phoenix, although drivers should expect longer-than-normal travel times and continued snowplow patrols. However, if conditions change drivers should be prepared for delays or temporary closures.


I-40 is now open in both directions after being closed earlier Thursday from roughly Kingman to Flagstaff to Holbrook. I-40 is a primary national transportation corridor and, like I-17, will remain a top priority for ADOT to keep clear and passable as weather conditions continue to evolve.

State Route 89A remains closed from Pumphouse Wash at milepost 386 to Forest Highlands Road at milepost 397 due to winter conditions and resource allocation. The highway may open late Thursday afternoon based on weather.

US 180 remains closed north of Flagstaff and is expected to remains so until at least Friday.

State Route 77 between Globe and Winkleman has been reopened.

State Route 366 in Graham County has been closed because gusting winds, snow and icy roads that are causing dangerous conditions. ADOT has deployed available crews and snow removal equipment from the Safford area to more heavily traveled routes on US 191 and US 70. With colder temperatures and more snow possible overnight, ADOT expects to keep SR 366 closed to all traffic until Saturday. Known locally as Swift Trail, SR 366 runs west off of US 191 south of Safford and goes to the top of Mount Graham.

US 191 is impassible between Morenci and Hannigan Meadow in Greenlee County because snow, wind and ice. Drivers should avoid using the highway, which leads into the White Mountains. Travel though this area is made more difficult by the closure of US 180 in New Mexico, which serves as an alternate route between Morenci and Alpine.

Other highways in northeastern Arizona, north of Payson, continue to experience extreme weather and whiteout conditions. State Route 87 and State Route 260 require snow chains or four-wheel-drive vehicles; temporary periods of closure in segments may be required based on current weather conditions.

Any further updates can be found at the website of the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Drive safely everyone...

End edit...


This blog has been receiving a number of hits on an old post that detailed some road closures in AZ approximately two years ago.  As a courtesy to the people looking for info on current weather related road closures, here the latest from the Arizona Department of Transportation -

Interstate 40 stretching through Kingman, Flagstaff and Holbrook (milepost 71 to 250) has been closed in both directions due to winter driving conditions.


I-17 northbound remains closed north of State Route 179. Traffic at this time is being diverted to southbound I-17. Drivers are advised to detour in advance or delay travels to avoid congestion at the turnaround.

I-17 southbound is closed at Airport Road, about two miles south of Flagstaff. Traffic is being rerouted back to the north. Travel south from Flagstaff at this time is not recommended; no reopen time has been established.

State Route 89A remains closed from Pumphouse Wash at milepost 386 to Forest Highlands Road at milepost 397 due to winter conditions and resource allocation.

In other words, avoid travel in northern Arizona.  If you are already there, hunker down and stay warm for a couple of days.
 
For more updates, call 5 - 1 - 1 or visit www.az511.gov/ (link not working right now, probably due to heavy site traffic) before venturing out.

Attorney General Debate Tonight

From the Arizona Capitol Times -

A debate scheduled Wednesday evening between candidates for state attorney general is still on though it no longer is sponsored by the state’s public campaign finance system.

Since both candidates, Democrat Felecia Rotellini and Republican Tom Horne, are utilizing "traditional" campaign financing, the debate isn't sponsored by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.  Hence the reason that I missed this one when in the post earlier this week listing debates and events (it wasn't on CE's list of debates.)

The debate will air at 7 tonight on KAET (PBS 8).

It's Up To Me AZ: A Day of Civic Action

On Thursday, September 23, a group of civic organizations, including Arizona Town Hall, the Arizona Foundation for Women, Center for the Future of Arizona, Girl Scouts - Arizona Cactus Pine Council, and The OʼConnor House, will hold an all-day event at the Wyndham in Phoenix.  The goal of the event is to bring together Arizonans interested in working to improve Arizona through civil discourse and civic engagement.

The day's activities begin at 7:30 a.m. and continue until 8:30 p.m. 

They include:

Who Votes? Who Helps? Who Speaks for Arizona?  at 7:30 a.m.

The Status of Women in Arizona: A Special Report and Call to Action by the Arizona Foundation for Women at 9:15 a.m.

Arizona Town Hall Fall Luncheon, activities starting at 10:30 a.m., lunch at noon.

It’s Up To Me AZ: The Action Starts Now starting at 1:45 p.m.

Inspiration & Action for AZ, reception and dinner starting at 5:30 p.m.


Sign up and get more info here.  Interested folks can sign up for the entire day's slate ($200) or can pick events a la carte (as low as $free). 

While I haven't participated in any events put on by any of these particular organizations, I have been part of the last two sessions put together by Project Civil Discourse (a May discussion of the sales tax question that was on the ballot then, and one this month on immigration).  The discussions were perceptive and yes, heartening.  If only because while we didn't all agree on the issues under discussion, we could *talk* and not *yell.*

After covering the lege for years, that was definitely refreshing. :)

Anyway, it's worth a look.

Later!

Indian Bend Wash Superfund Site Five-Year Review Process starting

This week, I (and presumably, most of the other households in south Scottsdale and north Tempe) received a notice from the EPA announcing the start of a Five-Year Review (FYR) of the remediation efforts in the Indian Bend Wash Superfund Site.  For most purposes, that areas has been divided into the North Indian Bend Wash (NIBW) site and the South Indian Bend Wash Site (SIBW).

A .pdf version of the FYR announcement is here.

The history of the site began with the discovery of groundwater and soil contamination in 1981, mostly of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) attributed to the disposal of industrial waste.  (more info available at the EPA's pages on the site, linked above).

The entire site covers approximately 13 square miles of Tempe and South Scottsdale, with Pima/Price Road serving as the eastern border, Scottsdale/Rural Road as the western border, Apache Boulevard as the southern border, and Chaparral Road as the northern border.  The NIBW/SIBW split occurs at the Salt River, north of Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe.

Anyway, the purpose of the FYR is to evaluate the effectiveness of the remediation efforts in the Indian Bend Wash site.  It is expected to be completed by September of next year (2011), and the EPA is looking for input from both people who have knowledge of the cleanup operations and members of the general public who have information and/or concerns regarding cleanup activities in the area.

If you are interested in participating in this process, contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator for the site, Vicki Rosen, at 415-972-3244 or toll-free at 1-800-231-3075.  Her email is Rosen.Vicki@epamail.epa.gov.

Another point of contact regarding this site (for those who are interested) is Felicia Calderon, State Community Involvement Coordinator, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. She can be reached at 602-771-4167 or calderon.felicia@azdeq.gov.

More information on both the NIBW and SIBW can be found locally at Tempe Public Library, 3500 South Rural Road, Tempe, AZ 85282 (SIBW) and Scottsdale Public Library Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (NIBW).



Have a good weekend!

Don't bother with contacting a state agency on Friday: Furlough day tomorrow

As part of the Republicans' budget "plan", tomorrow is the first of five "furlough" days for state workers between now and the end of the year.  "Furlough" is a euphemism for "unpaid day off."

Most state workers won't be in the office/at work tomorrow.  The main exceptions are those in law enforcement, judicial, and public safety roles.

The complete lists of agency closures and statuses can be found here, on the website of the Arizona Department of Administration.

Community Action for Jobs at Sky Harbor Airport

Central Arizonans for a Sustainable Economy (CASE) will be holding a community meeting in support of workers at Sky Harbor whose jobs are in jeopardy because of contractor changes taking place there.

Concessionaire contracts are re-awarded periodically, which isn't a problem. What is a problem is that most of the workers in the typically low-wage concession jobs lose those jobs when the airport changes concessionaires. The new concessionaires tend to immediately focusing on cutting expenses, including the labors costs associated with their most experienced workers. This tendency costs those workers their jobs and and ends up costing Phoenix experienced people at the place the most visitors form their first impressions of Arizona.

Info on the airport, its workers, and the economic impact is here.

An official economic impact analysis, courtesy the City of Phoenix, here.

Visitor statistics here (for February 2010) and here (historical data, through 2004), also courtesy the City of Phoenix.


Anyway, on to the meeting -

When: Thursday, April 22, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Where: Wilson Elementary School, 400 N. 30th St., Phoenix (parking across the street at St. Mark;s Church)

From a flyer on the meeting -

STAND up for the livelihoods of 1000 community members who work at Sky Harbor Airport

STAND in the footsteps of Golden Gate Barrio community members who fought 40 years ago for community integrity and a just airport policy

STAND up for a new social movement for jobs, justice, and government accountability in Metropolitan Phoenix.

Later...

Election Day Today - Remember to vote!

Many municipalities and school districts in Arizona are holding elections today, be they regular or special elections.

In Tempe, they're holding a regularly scheduled election for three seats on the City Council with a ballot question about raising the City's bed tax (sample ballot here).

In Scottsdale, the election concerns a number of proposed updates to the City's charter and also a hike to Scottsdale's bed tax, too (sample ballot here).

In addition, many school districts are holding override elections.

Whether you live in Scottsdale, Tempe, or another part of Maricopa County, you can find your polling place here, courtesy the Maricopa County Recorder's Office. If you live in another part of the state, contact your local county's elections department for polling place info.

Later!

Community Radio Fundraising Concert

From an email -

Charlie King and Karen Brandow and The Black River Bandit

An Evening of Satirical and Political Folk Music Fund Raising Concert for Radio Phoenix

"Arizona’s Largest Community-based Internet Radio Station"

"Best of Phoenix, 2009 “Best internet station that should be a radio station"


February 19

MADCAP Theater,

(the former Harkins Centerpoint)

West 7th Street and Mill Ave, Tempe

7:00 PM

Tickets at www.azcmf.org

or

Changing Hands Bookstore,

6428 S. McClintock, Tempe


Admission

$17 in advance

$20 at the door

Light rail special $1 back on presentation of a valid light rail pass for February 19


Charlie, Karen, and the Black River Bandit will make you laugh, sigh, and dance. Their songs make your drooping shoulders straighter and restore your flagging faith in humanity. An evening of songs and singing for the entire family.

Radiophoenix.org, the best in internet radio for Arizona

Later...

PSA time - ADOT road closures

Straight from an email from ADOT -

CLOSURE UPDATE: Interstates 40 and 17 to Reopen Tonight; Safety Top Concern

Drivers: Be Cautions in Changing Conditions


PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation will reopen I-40 in both directions from Flagstaff at 7 p.m. Friday. The highway had been closed from Kingman to Winslow, a 180-mile stretch across Northern Arizona .


I-17 will reopen at the same time for southbound traffic only. On Saturday morning, I-17 northbound from the Sedona turnoff (State Route 179) is expected to open, allowing time for additional runoff to drain from the highway.


While these critical routes will be reopened to all traffic, drivers are warned of continued threatening conditions. Blowing snow, flurries, drifts, high winds, low visibility and water running across roadways have been reported on both highways. Drivers are urged to use caution and to limit trips when possible. Roadways are passable but conditions may change based on weather conditions. Drivers should also be alert to possible roadway damage and reduce travel speeds.


Both I-17 and I-40 were closed on Thursday afternoon when an intensive winter storm pounded the state, dropping more than two feet of snow. ADOT responded by actively working to assist motorists, support DPS officers and complete repairs and snow removal as quickly as possible. I-40 and I-17 are important corridors for state and national freight hauling, and are important routes for travelers. Because of this importance, ADOT applied all available resources to opening both highways as quickly as possible.


Heavy snow created unsafe conditions along both stretches of the interstate traveling to or through Flagstaff . ADOT and the Arizona Department of Public Safety worked together with local agencies to protect motorists, including commercial truck drivers, who easily could have become stranded or involved in crashes in the snow packed and icy conditions.


Other ADOT highways of note:

•State Route 87 closed (including off-road areas) between Bush Highway and State Route 188, south of Payson

•State Route 89a between Sedona and Flagstaff remains closed and is expected to reopen Saturday.

•State Route 260 closed between McNary and Eagar due to blowing and drifting snow.

•State Route 273 closed approaching Sunrise Ski Resort due to heavy snow.

For more information on travel conditions across the state, call 5-1-1 or visit www.az511.gov. For winter driving tips, visit www.azdot.gov/KnowSnow.


Non-weather related closures can be found here, but due to the weather impeding construction plans, the closures may change. Contact ADOT at the above number or websites to find out current info.

Tempe recognized by EPA

From the EPA -

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson today recognized Tempe and three other diverse communities that are models of how to grow in ways that protect our nation’s air, land, and water; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; provide safe and affordable housing; and strengthen local economies.

{snip}

For Smart Growth and Green Building, the City of Tempe is being honored for the Tempe Transportation Center. The Tempe Transportation Center is a model for sustainable design, a vibrant, mixed-use regional transportation hub that incorporates innovative and green building elements tailored to the Southwest desert environment. The Tempe Transportation Center is a true multi-modal facility that integrates a light rail stop, the main city bus station, and paths for bicyclists and pedestrians.

The city of Tempe designed the Tempe Transportation Center as a multi-use green
facility that is not only a transportation hub, but also a gathering spot for the community. The center, which replaced a 2.7-acre surface parking lot, provides much-needed public amenities, including a community room and a shaded public plaza. Additional uses include a transit store, a café, shops, and offices, including the city of Tempe’s Transportation Division. Also notable, the center does not provide any automobile parking beyond spaces reserved for persons with disabilities.

From Congressman Harry Mitchell -

"As both a lifelong resident and former Mayor of Tempe, I am proud that Tempe has been recognized for its commitment to being a green and environmentally sustainable community," said Mitchell. "I want to congratulate Tempe city staff and the City Council for their vision and leadership in earning this award, and I hope that my hometown will continue to serve as an example of the possibilities of sustainable design.

Ground was broken on the Transportation Center in 2001 when Congressman Mitchell was the State Senator representing Tempe in the lege and Neil Giuliano was the Mayor of Tempe.

More on Tempe's Green Programs can be found here.

PSA time - a side-by-side comparison of the House and Senate health care reform proposals

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare has put together a side-by-side comparison of the health care reform, available here.

It shows that while there are some significant differences between the two, there are also some strong similarities.

...Thanks to correspondent Gary B. for the heads-up on the comparison...

Later...