eXrai Tucson

Rio Nuevo’s Movie Premier

2010-08-13T00:42:00.001-07:00

Reading the news is a fun job, considering that's what I do on my day's off, its fun to get paid for my hobby. So I bet you can imagine how fun it was to see this story come across “the wire.”

$820,000 Rio Nuevo video to premiere Aug. 21

Arizona Daily Star:

The $820,000 video that Rio Nuevo paid for to serve as the opening movie for a now-defunct museum planned on the west side will be premiered as part of Tucson 235th birthday bash at the Fox Theatre on West Congress Street downtown on Aug. 21.

The video is now 27 minutes long, up from the 12 to 15 minute originally. This drops the per minute cost of the movie by more than half, from $68,000 a minute to $30,400 a minute.

There will be a reception for Rio Nuevo Board Members, their guests and the media, starting at 4:30 p.m. that Saturday, with the video premiering at 5 p.m.

The whole event is part of the “Big Kahuna” downtown and Fourth Avenue birthday part for Tucson, which is being billed as an “All Sand, No Water” tropical bash to celebrate the Old Pueblo’s birthday.

Some of you might not be acquainted with Tucson's excuse for Downtown redevelopment. Basically, a Ten year record of anti-business nothingness, aside from a facelift to one street and facade work on some Downtown buildings. Okay, maybe they've done a bit more than just that, but not much. I suppose we could say its now a slightly better place for the homeless people to sleep, but that's just about it. And while they've been doing this heaping helping of hardly anything, they've spent a lot of money! Some of it wasted on stuff like this video.

I remember when I was a child, my neighborhood buddy and I would get together and draw up plans to build some extravagant building or object. We tried to construct a submarine, a hang-glider, a house and a whole bunch of stuff. There was only one problem with our little projects, aside from the fact that we were 8-years-old and didn't know a lick about physics or engineering, we would always run out of materials. It’s not like I could just go to the local lumber store and grab some more 2x4's to add to our hang-glider, we didn't have any money. But when you're a kid you're a dreamer. That's why it makes me sad to say that the people running our city are children.

A great man once said, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” The Apostle Paul was right, we all need to grow up, and part of growing up is realizing your limits.

The $820,000 video was seen as one of the final examples of Rio Nuevo’s excesses before it was taken over by the state. The film is called “Finding Tucson Origins” and is part in English, part in Spanish and part in O'odham, language of the Tohono O’odham.

Architect Burns Wald-Hopkins Shambach picked a Washington, D.C.-based firm named Hillmann and Carr to make the video. At the time, the firm held an $8.6 million design contract for Tucson Origins Heritage Park. The architects contracted with Hillmann and Carr to make the video for $750,000, and added a $70,000 fee for themselves for overseeing the subcontractor.

Tucson Historic Preservation Officer Jonathan Mabry said the video was comparable to videos of similar length done for the National Civil War Museum and the Brown versus the Board of Education museum which both cost over a million dollars. He said an eight-minute video for the Smithsonian Natural History Museum cost $750,000.

When it was pointed out that Tucson doesn’t have a museum to put the film in, and has no funding to ever build one, Mabry countered that when the film was made there was a museum planned to house the film.

Here's another tale from my childhood. When I was in high school my friends and I would start garage bands. We would mess around after school, but mostly just annoy my parents for the afternoon, composing some awesome Punk songs. So we'd get home after school and practice, and write some stuff, but for the most part we were set on making an album. Never had we played a show. Never had anyone except the people in the room and my parents, heard any of our music. But we didn't have the patience. So we would set up recording equipment and start recording albums. Well, any band that is successful knows that it takes a lot of practice and a fairly good number of shows before you should even think about recording an album. Its just not how the business works.

So let me get this straight. The Rio Nuevo Board wastes money, the state takes over the Downtown redevelopment package, and now we're kinda sorta gonna allow them to be quasi guests of honor at this tropical desert birthday bash. “There will be a reception for Rio Nuevo Board Members, their guests and the media, starting at 4:30 p.m. that Saturday, with the video premiering at 5 p.m.” Sounds a bit strange if you ask me.

Every idea we hear when it comes to Tucson's Downtown redevelopment is so extravagant and so expensive that its impossible to accomplish. They remind me of myself at 8 years old, trying to build a hang-glider with Three 2x4's and a couple of nails. They have all the plans, they have all of the great ideas, but the don't have the money. And if you don't have the money, you don't have anything. It also reminds me my garage bands. All we wanted to do was make an album, the only problem in our way, we stunk! We never played any shows! I can think of so many business deals, when it comes to Downtown Tucson, that fell through or were thrown out because it didn't fit the perfect vision of The City Council or The Rio Nuevo Board. Get out there and prove yourself before you start going after the big stuff. Give me a reason to go Downtown.

Bringing Movies Back to Tucson

2010-07-26T14:38:00.001-07:00

Originally posted at exrai.com

I had the pleasure Saturday to meet Robert Shelton, no not the former President of the University of Arizona, the man that ran Old Tucson back when it was a thriving movie set. I can't emphasize the word "was" enough. Old Tucson is only a shade of what it once was, after a devastating fire and a change in ownership, its never been the same.

This is from Old Tucson's website about Shelton:

In 1959, Midwest entrepreneur Robert Shelton saw more than an antiquated movie set when he set eyes on Old Tucson Studios. He saw potential for expanding it from the ghost town it had become into a viable movie studio and family attraction. Shelton leased the property from Pima County and began to restore the forgotten town. Old Tucson Studios re-opened in 1960, as a film studio and a family fun park as well.

The park continued to grow, literally building by building, with each movie filmed on its dusty streets. Western film legend John Wayne, who soon became friends with studio owner Shelton, starred in four movies at Old Tucson Studios and each production added buildings to the town. Rio Bravo (1959) added a saloon, bank building and doctor’s office; from MCLINTOCK! (1963) came the McLintock Hotel; El Dorado (1967) left Old Tucson Studios with a facelift on Front Street; and from Rio Lobo (1970) came a cantina, a granite lined creek, a jail and Phillip’s ranch house.

The stampede of movie productions during those early years include, The Deadly Companions (1961), starring Brian Keith and Maureen O’Hara; Lilies of the Field (1962) starring Sidney Poitier ; Have Gun Will Travel (1962); The Outrage (1964) and Hombre (1966) with Paul Newman; and episodes of Bonanza (1966, ‘71, ‘72); Death Valley Days (1966-69); and High Chaparral (1966-’71).

Old Tucson Studios became the premier, privately owned, western film location. In 1968, a 13,000 square foot soundstage was built to give Old Tucson Studios complete movie-making versatility. The first film to use the soundstage was Young Billy Young (1968), starring Robert Mitchum and Angie Dickenson. That same year, Shelton also purchased the Mescal property, Old Tucson’s second filming location just 40 miles southeast of Tucson.

Tucson is really hurting for business, mostly because our city is run by people that either really don't like Tucson and are trying to drive it into the ground (that's a joke) or they are so tied to their leftist agenda that they are doing more harm than good.

There is a Senate Bill that we should all throw our support around.

Arizona Public Media reports back in April:

Senate Bill 1409 would extend a tax credit to movie productions companies that come to work in Arizona. The current tax credit expires at the end of this fiscal year, and SB 1409 would not only extend the credit but it would also increase it to as much as 30% if certain criteria are met dealing with the amount of money spent in the state and the number of Arizona residents hired for the production. Backers of the bill say it is needed to keep movie companies shooting in Arizona. They point to the 2007 version of 3:10 to Yuma, none of which was filmed in Arizona. Opponents, however, say the tax credit is too much and movie companies make enough money they don’t need the financial help.

On April 5, 2010 the full Senate failed the proposal on an 11-16 vote.

On April 6, 2010 the Senate reconsidered the vote on SB 1409 and passed the bill on a 16-13 vote.

This would bring a lot of business to Arizona and hopefully turn Tucsn, not just Old Tucson, into a place where Hollywood can once again film some movies. With its natural light, great weather and short distance to California, Tucson is a great place for filming movies.

From what I can tell SB 1409 died in the Arizona House, I don't know for sure. I've sent out an email in hopes of getting an answer to that question.

If you'd like to listen to last weekends Voices of the West program click on the link below and listen to or download the file.

Voices of the West 7-24-10

Obama to Kyl: Won’t secure the border

2010-06-20T22:24:00.001-07:00

Arizona Senator Jon Kyl reveals President Obamas border plan at Tempe town hall.

Red State:

On June 18, 2010, Arizona Republican Senator Jon Kyl told the audience at a North Tempe Tea Party town hall meeting that during a private, one-on-one meeting with President Obama in the Oval Office, the President told him, regarding securing the southern border with Mexico, “The problem is, . . . if we secure the border, then you all won’t have any reason to support ‘comprehensive immigration reform.’” [Audible gasps were heard throughout the audience.] Sen. Kyl continued, “In other words, they’re holding it hostage. They don’t want to secure the border unless and until it is combined with ‘comprehensive immigration reform.’”

Sen. Kyl also said he reminded President Obama that the President and the Congress have an obligation, a duty, to secure the border.

And here's the video from the town hall meeting.

HT: Red State and Memeorandum

Another Look at Arizona’s SB 1070

2010-05-10T21:38:00.001-07:00

I'd like to address SB 1070 once again. Its getting to be a bit disappointing how much the left has distorted this piece of legislation. You wouldn't believe how many times I've heard people say that a cop can now pull someone over because they look a certain way, or they believe they are in the country illegally. That is simply not true. This is leftist drivel, it is a lie.

I've quoted it before, and I will quote it again.

A. NO OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE MAY ADOPT A POLICY THAT LIMITS OR RESTRICTS THE ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS TO LESS THAN THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY FEDERAL LAW.

B. FOR ANY LAWFUL CONTACT MADE BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE, WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON. THE PERSON’S IMMIGRATION STATUS SHALL BE VERIFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PURSUANT TO 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1373(c).

There has to be what is called “lawful contact” and racial profiling is not lawful contact. You cannot pull someone over because they are Mexican or Latino, whatever term you wish to use. That is simply a lie. If you are speeding down the road and you get pulled over, the cop then has the ability to ask for your immigration status if there is a reason to ask. If you have a taillight out and a cop pulls you over, the cop can then ask for your immigration status if there is a reason to ask. In the original version of 1070 race could be a factor, but only after that “lawful contact” was made, it could not be the sole factor. Again, lawful contact comes after someone has committed a crime. And now with the addition of HB 2162 that isn't even allowed. But you never hear anything about HB 2162 out of the media.

HB 2162:

A law enforcement official or agency of this state or a county, city, town or other political subdivision of this state may not consider race, color or national origin in the enforcement of this section except to the extent permitted by the United States or Arizona constitution.

Please understand that this law does not go any farther than the federal law. This law is the law that is supposed to be enforced by the federal government, but sadly, is not. The outright lie that a cop can pull you over because you look like an illegal immigrant needs to stop. The other argument that this is somehow like Nazi Germany asking for “papers” needs to end. As outlined in HB 2162, a drivers license is a legitimate form identification.

Here's a question that I haven't heard. SB 1070 enforces federal law at the state level. Provided my previous statement is true, there are officers that the federal government gives the proper authority to to enforce our immigration laws. Why, if Arizona is taking advantage of the same law at the state level, has the federal law not been deemed racist?

Here is what 8 United States Code Section 1373(c) says:

(a) In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, a Federal, State, or local government entity or official may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual.

(b) Additional authority of government entities Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, no person or agency may prohibit, or in any way restrict, a Federal, State, or local government entity from doing any of the following with respect to information regarding the immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual:
        (1) Sending such information to, or requesting or receiving
      such information from, the Immigration and Naturalization
      Service.
        (2) Maintaining such information.
        (3) Exchanging such information with any other Federal, State, or local government entity.

(c) Obligation to respond to inquiries The Immigration and Naturalization Service shall respond to an inquiry by a Federal, State, or local government agency, seeking to verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration status of any individual within the jurisdiction of the agency for any purpose authorized by law, by providing the requested verification or status information.

If Arizona's new immigration bill is so racist, why is 8 United States Code Section 1373 not just as racist as SB 1070? I just don't understand it.

The truth of the matter is that the federal government does not want to enforce our immigration laws. The truth is that “comprehensive,” the word so often used by our federal government with regard to just about any issue whether it be health care or illegal immigration, really means “all.” As Victor Davis Hanson says “'Comprehensive' is a euphemism for amnesty.” He is exactly right.

I don't favor amnesty, but I do favor legal immigration. I support finding the criminals (drug traffickers, human smugglers, gang members or anyone with an extensive crime record) within the population of the current illegal immigrants and deporting them. I support building a wall that separates Mexico from the United States, that stops the flow of illegal immigrants and keeps people out. I support making it easier to come into this country to find work and to raise a family legally. I support the death of stupid laws that do not make the former possible. I support getting people that have already waited in line into the country legally. Because I am a pragmatist and I recognize that deporting nearly 10 million people is virtually impossible, I support finding a way to help those who have already illegally arrived in this country. We need a system that forces them to pay for their crime of illegal entry, and allows them to stay in the country if they are willing to pay for their crime. I also support automatic citizenship for anyone that is willing to fight and die for our country.

That is not radical, racist or xenophobic. I want our country to continue to be a country of immigrants, but I want them to come here legally. I also want them to become Americans, not Mexican Americans or Chinese Americans. I want them to be one of us. I want to welcome them to this country, as my relatives were welcomed in 1910 and show them what freedom and liberty is in this great Republic.

Spring in Tucson

2010-04-05T12:10:00.001-07:00

Last week I was house sitting in Starr Pass, I had the pleasure of getting up and taking some early morning walks on Players Club Dr. That got me thinking about Spring in Tucson and what Tucson has to offer.

Many people will claim that Tucson does not have seasons, but to notice Tucson's seasons requires a bit of an open mind and a willingness to look around and see the subtle changes. Take the Prickly Pear cactus for example, at this time of year it will start sprouting new pads. This is a Spring time favorite of mine, because cactus are unique in that they don't die off in the Fall and sprout a new in the Spring, they just continue to add on. So to watch these cactus add one more pad to each arm is something that I look forward to every year at this time.

Tucson's weather changes in the Spring. Mornings in Tucson are brisk, but once the sun comes up its warm enough to go out dressed lightly. Day time temperatures are in the 70's and 80's and it is generally sunny, nice weather to plant a garden, go on a bike ride or a nice walk on the path at Reid Park. Evenings are nice in the Spring, they are not hot like the Summer, but they are the perfect temperature to enjoy a meal outside or open a window or two. Over night it gets a little chilly, but its not too bad.

Spring is a season of new births in Tucson. Pay close attention and you'll see a family of quail running across the street or through your front yard. Baby bunnies, gofers and javelina's (peccaries) can be seen running around the desert. You might hear some miniature tweets coming from atop a Saguaro cactus, that's more than likely a woodpeckers home and the babies calling out for some food.

The Catalina Mountains majestically hang over the city of Tucson, the mountains in Tucson have a lot to offer, especially when it comes to hiking. You have Pusch Ridge on the far West side and Sabino Canyon and the road to Mount Lemmon on the far Southeast side of the Catalina mountain range, all of which are good Spring time activities. I've hiked Pusch Ridge twice, though it is not a hike for those just looking to walk a trail, it can get pretty rigorous at times, so I'd recommend you bring a lot of water, a snack and prepare to be very tired after you get done. A trip to Mount Lemmon to see the melting snow is a joy as well. All of the melting snow will result in some awesome water falls in Sabino Canyon and also along trails in Catalina State Park.

The Tucson Mountain's have a lot to offer as well. A couple of years ago I “hiked” Wasson Peak with some friends. This hike is much easier, its basically a slightly uphill walk through the desert, with a lot of switch backs and when you reach the top you have some pretty good views of Tucson. Bring some water and a snack, but don't anticipate anything too grueling here. And there is never a bad time to visit “A” Mountain if you haven't seen it before, but generally speaking once is enough.

If you're looking for an event to go to, Spring is a good time to mark your calendar. Spring Fling, the largest student run carnival in the country starts this Friday and goes through the weekend at Rillito Downs. Admission is $5, students, children under 7 and military get in free (ID needed). Parking at Spring Fling is $5. The Spring SAHBA (Southern Arizona Home Builders Association) Home and Patio show starts this Friday and goes through the weekend. General admission is $8, military discounts are available, children 12 and under are free and they have 50/50 Friday, if your over 50 its half off. Hours are 10am to 7pm Friday and Saturday, and 10am to 6pm Sunday. The Pima County Fair starts on April 15^th and goes through the 25^th. The fair has a lot of rides and some good entertainment this year, Ted Nugent, the Commodores, Jason Derulo, Jake Owen, Atreyu and Banda el Recodo will all play during its 10 days of operation. General admission is $7, kids 6-10 $2, 5 and under free. Opens weekdays at 12pm, weekends at 10am, with the carnival in operation weekdays at 3pm and weekends at 11am. On May 19^th the Tucson Toros are back in town with their first home game against the Edmonton Capitals. The Toros will play throughout the Summer and on into the Fall with their last game on September 4^th. General admission is just $6, upper level reserved seating is $8 and VIP box seats are $10 (seating chart).

I hope this gives you an idea of what Spring in Tucson has to offer. I know that I sure do enjoy the this time of year.

Tucson Based Medical Society Sues Federal Government

2010-03-30T09:01:00.001-07:00

The Tucson based medical society, The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, is suing the federal government, in hopes that they can overturn the recently passed health care reform bill, also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, in AAPS vs. Sebelius.

According to Mondays press release:

Court action is necessary “to preserve individual liberty” and “to prevent PPACA from bankrupting the United States generally and Medicare and Social Security specifically,” AAPS stated.

Executive director of AAPS Dr. Jane Orient said “If the PPACA goes unchallenged, then it spells the end of freedom in medicine as we know it.”

AAPS is claiming that the bill “violates the Fifth Amendment protection against the government forcing one person to pay cash to another.” And according to the release “AAPS is the first to assert this important constitutional claim.” They also say that the bill “violates the Tenth Amendment, the Commerce Clause, and the provisions authorizing taxation.”

AAPS may be the first medical society to sue the federal government over the health care bill, but I'm sure they will not be the last. I had the pleasure of producing the KVOI radio program Americas Fabric, a show that featured AAPS' Dr. Jane Orient who spoke to this subject.

Click here if you’d like to learn more about eXrai Tucson.

My New Local Tucson Blog

2010-03-23T04:14:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my local version of eXrai, I call it eXrai Tucson, I know, real original. There is a lot going on locally in Tucson and I think that it is a good idea to start blogging on some of the issues that Tucson faces, events that are happening in Tucson and what I think are some of the ways that we can make things happen in Tucson.

Like my original eXrai blog, this will be a politics and news oriented site that comes from a conservative Christian perspective. If you live in Tucson for any amount of time it won't take you long to start to see that it is not really the most conservative city in the world. Tucson is a university city and we also seem to attract a lot of the lefties that couldn't imagine living in Phoenix that still want to live in the desert. That doesn't mean that we don't have our conservative areas, it just means that we are to the left of neighboring Phoenix.

This blog will probably be updated less than my national news oriented blog, I'm hoping to update about twice a week, probably after I do my news shifts at work on Thursday's and Friday's. I might post things from my national blog on here from time to time as well, if it has some kind of a local angle to it.

I will also hook this up to Town Hall Tucson, a community blog that my boss Doug started a while back for Tucsonans to share their opinions. There is a bit of a problem, they use Blogger and not WordPress, so I'll have to create a Blogger account and try to find a way to syndicate this blog over to that site, I might start using Windows Live Writer to do that.

I will also find other creative ways to get the word out on this blog.

I hope you enjoy it and I hope that I can make it work.

-Ray