Ward 6 Councilmember Steve Kozachik called a press conference yesterday in front of the 1st Assembly of God Church, 1749 E. Broadway, which may be demolished should the north section of Broadway be widened into 8 lanes per the May,2006 Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) voter-approved plan. The church was built in 1950 according to Councilmember Kozachiak also known as “Steve K”.

Blogger Pam Powers (“Tucson Progressive”) announced this event (with an online poll): http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2012/04/30/public-forum-today-should-rta-knock-down-100-buildings-to-make-broadway-look-like-a-freeway-poll/

The $71 M plan would call for widening of Broadway from Euclid to Country Club, affecting about 115 businesses on the north side, and historic buildings, neighborhoods such as Rincon Heights and Sam Hughes (on the National Historic Registry). Both Presidents of those neighborhoods spoke against the plan.

Speakers last evening at the press conference:

1) Ward 6 Councilmember Steve Kozachik
2) Mark Kerr, aide to Ward 5 Councilmember Richard Fimbres
3) Colby Henley, President of Rincon Hts. Neighborhood
4) Jessica Shuman, business owner of Kismet, 2627 E Broadway
5) John O’Dowd, President of Sam Hughes Neighborhood Assn.
6) Sid Hirsch, business owner of Hirsch’s Shoes, 2934 E. Broadway
7) Rev. Stuart Taylor, Tucson Bus Riders’ Union,
Eight) Demion Clinco, Pres. of Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation
9) District 5 Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias

Video below of the press conference courtesy of John Brakey, Co-founder of AUDIT-AZ:

Also present were: Ward 2 Councilmember Paul Cunningham, former State House Rep. Ted Downing, former Sahuarita Councilmember Rosanna Gabaldon, former Mayoral candidate Rick Grinnell, District 3 Supervisor candidate Tanner Bell, former State Senator John Kromko, attorney Bill Risner, former TUSD Superintendent Roger Pfeuffer, Brian Flagg from Casa Maria Kitchen, Donovan Durband Administrator from Parkwise, former Green Party candidates Dave Croteau (Mayor), Beryl Baker (Ward 1 Council), Kent Solberg (LD 27 House). I estimated the crowd at about 200 people, many of whom arrived by bicycle.

Steve K said that 15-20 neighborhoods were represented at the press conference, and I recognized neighborhood leaders from: Rincon Hts, Sam Hughes, Colonia Solana, El Encanto Estates, Arroyo Chico, Broadway-Broadmoor, Campbell-Grant, Catalina Vista, even Udall Park Neighborhood out east. Aides from the Council offices of Ward 1, 2, 5 and 6 were present as well.

If you feel strongly about this issue, contact the Mayor/City Councilmembers or your Supervisor at Pima County. Supervisor Richard Elias said yesterday that the citizens had to “force change to happen”, if they felt this 25 year old plan to widen Broadway was not necessary. Many of the speakers requested that the historic buildings be preserved, that small businesses on Broadway not be affected by any widening.

Steve K also noted during this one hour (6 to 7 p.m. on a Monday) that there was no traffic congestion on Broadway next to the church. My husband also told me that he was down there on Broadway (between Highland & Park) that same afternoon between 3:30 and 4 p.m. and there was no traffic jam.

Photo of crowd yesterday at press conference, courtesy of Pam Powers Hannley.

Email from former Mayoral candidate Mary DeCamp addressed to Kent Solberg’s invitation to a Precinct Committee Meeting of the Green Party of Pima County:

Hello,

Please remove me from all Green Party mailing lists.

I am no longer affiliated with the Green Party because I do not believe that the “elected leaders” at the Pima County and Arizona State levels are upholding the 10 Key Values they pledged to promote. My experience over the past 4+ years has convinced me that this political party is just as corrupt at the top as the other recognized parties and that 1% of our “leaders” are doing severe injustice to the 99% of the general membership they are supposed to be serving.

I join the long list of competent and caring individuals who have tried to serve the Green Party only to be ignored, abused, ridiculed, stonewalled, and undercut by those few deeply entrenched “leaders” who seem to be interested only in self-aggrandizement and clutching jealously to whatever small rewards their positions offer.

Thank you,
Mary DeCamp

Decamp is camping out at Occupy Tucson (downtown at Veinte de Agosto Park since 10/15/11 and her mid-town home was foreclosed on 11/10/11). Her email is mdecamp@q.com.

She got 4.94% (4198 votes) in the recent Mayoral General Election, and 6.16 % (4429 votes) in the Ward 3 Council seat in 2009. She defeated Green activist Dave Croteau in the Green Party primary on August 30, 2011. Croteau was the sole challenger to Republican Mayor Bob Walkup in 2007.

Info on the Green Party of Pima County: www.pimagreen.org.

If you’re still undecided about those 12 propositions on the General Election ballot on Tuesday, November 2nd, watch this one-hour KUAT Channel 6 video with Christopher Conover interviewing Tucson Weekly senior writer Jim Nintzel, including selected videos from KUAT reporters on Prop. 107, 113, 203, 302, and 400.

Propositions 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 203, 301, 302 are state-wide, while 400 and 401 are from the City of Tucson.

http://ondemand.azpm.org/videoshorts/watch/2010/10/27/1642-election-2010-the-propositions/

In a quick review of the City of Tucson booklet’s “The Choice is Yours” statements regarding Proposition 400 & 401, here’s a list of the people/groups supporting and opposing these two props:

– In favor of Prop. 400 (proposed increase in City sales tax by .5%):
Jeff Rogers, Chairman & Martin Bacal, Corresponding Secretary for Pima County Democratic Party

–Against Prop. 400
Kent Solberg, LD 27 House candidate (Green party)
John Kromko

____

– In favor of Prop. 401 (huge increases in Mayor/Council salaries, more power for Mayor & City Manager, & other Charter changes):

Peter Likins, President Emeritus of UA

Laura Penny

Lea Marquez Peterson, President & Bill Holmes, Past President of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

David J. Cohen, Treasurer, “Tucson Charter Change Coalition for Prop. 401″

Trent Humphries, Organizer of Tucson Tea Party

Jeff Rogers, Paul Eckerstrom, & Curtis Dutiel

Michael Guymon, Executive Director & Steve King, President of Metropolitan Pima Alliance

–Against Prop. 401:

Steve Leal, Susan Willis, John S. O’Dowd, Brian Flagg, & James Hannley, Treasurer, “Protect Local Control: No on Prop 401″

My previous blog on 400:

http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2010/08/10/core-tax-town-hall-regarding-proposed-city-of-tucson-sales-tax-increase-on-august-11/

My previous blog on 401:

http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2010/09/03/committees-for-and-against-proposition-401-mayorcouncil-salary-increases-and-other-city-charter-changes/

Secretary of State’s information on the propositions (click here).

League of Women Voter’s guide on the state-wide propositions (click here).

Vote wisely on November 2nd, as the choice is indeed yours.