In this column we have explored the destruction of the old Mexican American barrio by Si Schorr in the late 1960s so that they could build the Tucson Convention Center, a financial disaster that has cost the city over $100,000,000.

It makes you wonder if the plan all along was too just get rid of Chicanos at any cost?

Si Schorr, the person behind the destruction of an entire barrio just to build the TCC, which has ended up costing taxpayers over $100 million in losses to this day.

Three decades later Si Schorr would go on to found the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, SALC, also referred to as Tucson’s club for the 1%. The most recent Vice-President of SALC was John Pedicone, who is currently the TUSD superintendent.

It is under Pedicone’s watch that the Ninth Circuit declared that TUSD has a severe racism problem, it was under Pedicone’s watch that the minority teachers at Rincon HS dropped by 75% after Pedicone’s firing of them, it was under Pedicone’s watch that Mexican American Studies has been cancelled, and books by Chicano and Native American authors banned, and it was under Pedicone’s watch and guidance that 7 women were arrested on May 3rd at TUSD, including 69-year old Mexican American history professor Lupe Castillo, and it is under Pedicone’s watch that TUSD board meetings have become a militarized zone, with gates and barricades set up, armed guards, medal detectors, and not even water bottles allowed.

The Mexican American barrio and the Mexican American Studies department were both created by the Mexican American community in Tucson. How coincidental that the founder of SALC and the recent Vice-President of SALC are the leaders of the assault on what the Mexican American community has created.

Now, Si Schorr, after a unanimous vote by the Tucson City Council last summer, and that includes both Latinos, Regina Romero and Richard Fimbres, will be honored with by having his name attached to nearly $2 million project to connect Reid Park to the downtown area…

… a downtown area that no longer includes the barrio Si Schorr destroyed.

But developers are big donors to the campaigns, as you can see in Romero’s campaign finance reports, including top donations from Pedicone lovers such as Janet Marcotte and developer Larry Hecker.

Janet Marcotte will be hosting a fundraiser for Raul Grijalva this weekend at the house of Romero’s aide. Somehow when Republicans take donations from people like the Koch brothers that is wrong, but taking money from poverty pimps who have publicly denounced the UNIDOS action and defend Pedicone’s racist actions 100% are OK?

Regina Romero voted to honor Si Schorr.

Regina Romero and Richard Fimbres thought Si Schorr was worthy of this honor, Steve Kozachik, whose ward includes the barrio that remains that is being destroyed because of the city’s leaking water main that is eating up the adobe houses from underneath, will be hosting the Si Schorr honor fest tomorrow.

Mexican American Studies and books are being banned, and Tucson is honoring the man that destroyed the downtown barrio.

Racism is alive and well in this city, and sometimes it is Latinos and liberals that help it thrive by voting to honor the top destroyers and leaders of gentrification in the Old Pueblo.

Please join us for the dedication of the Arroyo Chico Urban Greenway – Si Schorr Segment, a joint project between the City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Department and Regional Transportation Authority which will ultimately link Reid Park to the downtown area. The ceremony will be held on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11 a.m. on Camino Campestre between Randolph Way and Country Club.

The new 1.5 mile path traces the perimeter of Reid Park along Camino Campestre, Country Club and 22nd Street. This new segment connects to the existing David Bell Multi-Use Path bordering the Randolph Golf Course and Reffkin Tennis Complex.

Funding for the Si Schorr Segment was from the Regional Transportation Authority and City of Tucson Impact Fees.  The RTA granted the project $1.1 million.  City of Tucson Impact Fees added $717,000. For further information regarding the RTA plan visit: www.rtamobility.com.

Mr. Schorr was the first Chair of the Regional Transportation Authority Board.  His advocacy and leadership helped make this path a reality.

The project includes:
·         the design of a urban streetscape that integrates a multi-use path
·         parallel parking for Reid Park and Hi Corbett Stadium
·         path lighting
·         12’ wide asphalt path and pervious pavers
·         landscaping with innovative water harvesting techniques such as street-side infiltration basins, structural soil, vegetated swales and micro-basins to address localized drainage issues and provide supplemental irrigation for new and existing plants.

Participating in the dedication ceremony will be Si Schorr, first RTA Board Chair, Steve Kozachik, City of Tucson Ward 6 Council Member, a representative of the Regional Transportation Authority, and Fred H. Gray, Jr., City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Director.

While Professor Noam Chomsky was in Tucson this week he was asked about the Mexican American Studies ban.

Professor Noam Chomsky.

He gives a historical context for why this is wrong, stating that this is Mexico but was taken away by a war of aggression by the United States.

The borders used to be more open, but it was under Democratic president Bill Clinton who in 1994 started militarizing the border as NAFTA began, and this is a big part of the current anti-Mexican (anti-Latino) movement taking place in Arizona.

He called the banning of books in TUSD “reminiscent of Nazi Germany” and the MAS ban an “international disgrace.”

Noam Chomsky will be speaking at the UA Centennial Hall tonight (February 8th, 2012) at 7pm, no admission costs and no cameras allowed. Doors open at 6pm.

UA Campus Candidate Introduction Scheduled for February 13

(Phoenix, Ariz.) – After an extensive, nationwide search, the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) today announced Ann Weaver Hart, Ph.D., as the candidate for the president of the University of Arizona (UA).

New UA President.

Dr. Hart is currently the president of Temple University and has served as president of the University of New Hampshire and provost and vice president for academic affairs at Claremont Graduate University.

Her prior appointments also include professor of educational leadership, dean of the Graduate School and special assistant to the president at the University of Utah.

“Dr. Hart is a dynamic leader with a distinguished resume and an impeccable track record of successfully managing and advancing world-class research institutions,” said ABOR Chair Fred DuVal.

“We are extremely pleased that Dr. Hart has agreed to pursue the presidency at the UA. Her extensive background as an accomplished chief executive officer and experience in academic medicine will be a tremendous asset to the UA and the entire state.”

During her six-year tenure as president of Temple University – America’s 27th largest university and home to the academic medical center Temple University Health System – Dr. Hart is responsible for taking Temple’s academic reputation to new heights. She has significantly increased undergraduate and graduate applications while raising the academic qualifications of incoming students; produced an institutional record number of Fulbright scholars; improved the freshman retention rate and time to degree; grown research expenditures by nearly $30 million; fostered technology transfer and economic development efforts; and advanced Temple’s ranking with the National Science Foundation up seven spots. The Chronicle of Higher Education cites Temple’s graduation rate as increasing at the second fastest rate among public research universities nationwide, a feat accomplished under Hart’s leadership.

“Dr. Hart is a consummate leader, educator and administrator and embodies all of the leadership characteristics we are seeking in the next president of the UA,” said Regent Rick Myers, Co-Chair of the UA Presidential Search Committee. “She has left indelible marks with each position she has held and has transformed Temple University into a higher performing institution at nearly every level and undoubtedly will do the same at the UA.”

Dr. Hart also led the development of Temple’s Framework 20/20, a $1.2 billion campus development plan; produced a comeback in football and men’s and women’s basketball after hiring new coaches that landed numerous NCAA conference titles and led Temple’s football team to two straight winning seasons and its first bowl game in three decades; increased the school’s endowment; significantly expanded Temple’s international presence; and implemented a complete redesign of Temple’s community relations to strengthen relations with elected officials and further enhance the value of the university to the broader community.

In addition, Dr. Hart led the University of New Hampshire for four years, a research-extensive university with land, sea, and space grant university designations. It is also the flagship of the University System of New Hampshire. Dr. Hart was responsible for providing a first-class undergraduate and graduate education to students and fostering the university’s role as a major partner in research, development and outreach in every county in the state.

Regent Dennis DeConcini and UA Presidential Search Committee Co-Chair stated, “We hope that Tucson and the entire state of Arizona will welcome Dr. Hart’s candidacy with open arms. We have the utmost confidence that she has the ability to effectively guide the University of Arizona in providing a high-quality learning environment, advancing its ambitious research goals and agenda, and leveraging the university to make a positive difference in the state.”

Dr. Hart will visit the UA campus on February 13 to meet with students, faculty, staff, administrators and members of the public before the Board makes its final decision on the UA presidential candidacy. A schedule will be made public when finalized.

Dr. Hart received a bachelor of science in history, master of arts in history, and a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Utah. She currently serves as a member of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Board of Directors and as a member of the APLU’s Commission on International Programs, which she previously chaired. Dr. Ann Weaver Hart’s complete curriculum vitae is available here.