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Crack House to Recovery Home, Law Begins to Transform City By Evan Pellegrino Damon McGuire bought a 10-unit apartment complex on 33rd Street in South Tucson five years ago. For the Northern Californian, the investment was out-of-sight and out-of-mind. The complex became run-down. In a short time, it turned into a nest for drug users, drug dealers and prostitutes. “I knew there were issues but I didn’t know how bad it was,” McGuire said. “[The city] came down on me hard.” A new law has empowered the city of South Tucson to hold landlords accountable for conditions on their properties, whether they live in South Tucson or not. Approved by city council last December, the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance aims to clean up rental properties in South Tucson by allowing the city to take

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Dunbar Renovation

Former school soon to become African-American cultural center. ...see page 5

Jr. Scientists

TUSD and the UA libraries team up for educational science workshops. ...see page 4

owners to court if their buildings or homes are run-down or occupied by tenants who cause complaints. “People who rent don’t care about property like people who own,” said Judge Ronald Wilson of South Tucson Municipal Court. “This law helps the city hold owners accountable for the condition of their property.” Renters occupy about 60 percent of housing in the 1.2-squaremile city. In some cases, owners don’t live in the area and aren’t aware of what happens in their buildings, whether it be crime or poor maintenance. With the new law, owners can now face civil and criminal lawsuits based on the actions of their tenants and the condition of their properties. “This ordinance gives the city more authority,” said South Tucson City Manager Enrique Serna. Police and the city have received numerous complaints about certain rental homes and complexes, such as the one owned by McGuire, where police were called to the complex more than 100 times last year. “It was a bad spot in the community. I was appalled. I had no idea the conditions had gotten so bad. It was shocking,” McGuire said. “[The city] being so aggressive was really good. It was appropriate and I appreciate it. Some people need a wake up call.” The city of South Tucson sent McGuire a notice informing him that his building wasn’t up to code, and threatened him with legal action. “We contacted him and he came out to see for himself. When he did, he was embarrassed about the conditions,” Serna said. Since the ordinance went into effect, owners have been responsive and evicted a total of 25 tenants in the city, including four people at McGuire’s complex. Still, the city is working with the Pima County Attorney’s Office to establish civil and criminal penalties for ‘Ordinance’/see page 6

Fimbres Takes Over Ward 5 Seat

November 20 / 20 de noviembre 2009

Los estudiantes se organizan en el lado sur de la ciudad Por Lizzy MacDonnell Traducido por Dina Tyrrell

Los tambores suenan. Da Dum. Da Dum. Da Dum. Caminan. Caminan por la gente que ha fallecido. Caminan por los que están muriendo. Caminan por los que morirán. Los estudiantes de la preparatoria Toltecalli caminan para protestar contra las muertes en la frontera México-EE.UU. Acaban de finalizar una vigilia donde se leyeron los nombres de 206 personas que se han encontrado muertas este año al tratar de cruzar desde México a los Estados Unidos. Alrededor de 20 estudiantes de Toltecalli organizaron la caminata y la vigilia con ayuda significativa del grupo estudiantil MOVIMIENTO. Los miembros de Calpulli Teoxicalli dirigen la caminata, e inspiran al grupo a través de la danza y la música. “MOVIMIENTO es un grupo comunitario formado principalmente por jóvenes chicanos, mexicanos y nativos de Tucsón que se organizan por los derechos de los migrantes”, dice la estudiante de Toltecalli Anahiza Carrillo. “Nos organizamos para crear un ambiente positivo, libre de injusticias y opresión. Nuestro trabajo está dedicado a construir liderazgo y poder entre los jóvenes y las familias de nuestras comunidades”. Teoxicalli consiste de miembros de la comunidad indígena Xicana viviendo en Tucsón, quinenes desean presentar un enfoque histórico, cultural y espiritual para nuestras relaciones interpersonales y con la Tierra “Cuando muere gente aquí, como los blancos, es una gran cosa”, dice el estudiante de Toltecalli Marcos Romero. “Pero cuando los mexicanos mueren cruzando la frontera, no pasa nada”. Romero y sus compañeros próximamente se unirán a los estudiantes de Wakefield Middle School quienes estarán presentando una celebración del Día de los Muertos más tradicional.

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Los estudiantes de Toltecalli recientemente se organizaron para luchar por los derechos humanos con la ayuda de su mentor de la clase de liderazgo Raul Alcaraz y otros en la comunidad. Alcaraz dice que en las clases de liderazgo en Toltecalli, los estudiantes discuten temas sociales y quieren hacer algo acerca de las injusticias de las que se han percatado. Ellos se continúan juntando para cultivar su propio entendimiento, pero también para idear otras maneras en las que ellos pueden protestar en contra del racismo que experimentan. En octubre, los estudiantes dieron una conferencia de prensa para protestar en contra del disfraz de Halloween llamado “Extranjero

Newly elected City Councilman Richard Fimbres speaks to a broadcast journalist during a Democratic party celebration at Hotel Congress on Nov. 3.

Ilegal”, el cual exhibía un overól anaranjado de prisión, una típica mascara de extraterrestre y una tarjeta de residente. “Ningún ser humano es un extraterrestre”, dice Pablo Castillo, un estudiante de Toltecalli. “Somos sólo gente tratando de tener éxito en la vida. Nadie debe ser ofendido(a) de esa manera”. De igual manera, los grupos de apoyo a inmigrantes desde la Florida hasta California protestaron, y por consecuencia el disfraz fue retirado de Target, eBay y Walgreens. Alcaraz reconoce que “están criminalizando a toda la comunidad y es por eso que sentimos que este disfraz es muy nocivo porque representa lo que la sociedad opina de nosotros”. ‘Estudiantes’/vea página 6

Ayuda con la cuenta de la calefacción Por Larissa Capizzano Traducido por Amanda Campos Aravena

PHOTO BY ARIEL CAMPBELL

LIZZY MACDONNELL

Estudiantes de la escuela Teltecalli realizaron una vigila para honrar a los fallecidos en la frontera México-EE.UU. Aquí se reunen alrededor de una mujer que interpreta un baile tradicional del Día de los Muertos, acompañada de un tambor y de una concha de mar.

Tucson Urban League está ofreciendo ayuda de emergencia con el pago de facturas de calefacción a familias de bajos recursos que necesiten ayuda en el área del Sur de Tucsón. Una familia debe tener ingresos menores de 200 por ciento del nivel de pobreza federal para calificar para la ayuda. Por ejemplo, una familia de cuatro sólo calificará si gana menos de $3.675 al mes. Henrietta Shepard, una gestora de casos de asistencia para familias de Tucson Urban League dijo que notó una afluencia de gente solicitando para obtener ayuda para pagar los servicios. Debido al número creciente de solicitantes, se tarda hasta dos semanas para que se procesen las solicitudes, según Shepard. Para solicitar, una familia debe proporcionar actas de nacimiento y tarjetas de seguro social para todas las

personas que viven en la casa. Otros documentos, que incluyen una verificación mensual de ingresos de todos los residentes, recibos del alquiler y recibos de la factura de servicios, se deben proporcionar cuando se entregue una solicitud. El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de los Estados Unidos y el Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (Programa de Asistencia de Energía para Hogares de Bajos Ingresos, LIHEAP, por sus siglas en inglés) distribuyó $7,8 millones para ayudar a familias con sus facturas de servicios para los meses de octubre, noviembre y diciembre.

Para más información llame a Tucson Urban League al 791-9522.

EL INDEPENDIENTE

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OASIS Offers Reading Help Southside Charter School Continues to Grow By Ariel Campbell Tucson OASIS is offering a new tutoring program to develop reading skills among elementary school students at El Rio Public Library. The OASIS Reading Club is a free program that works on building these skills through the power of writing. During each hour-long tutoring session, students are in charge of writing a journal. According to Carlinda Dirks, stand-in coordinator for the OASIS intergenerational tutoring program, the tutoring model was derived from the saying, “If you can think it you can say it, if you can say it you can write it, if you can write it you can read it.” The philosophy behind the nineweek Reading Club program is to increase reading skills through the interests of the child versus the standard school model of completing a certain amount of material in a given period. “It’s not a homework situation where the child has to perform. It’s a way for the tutor to work with the child and first of all, increase his love of reading and understanding what he is reading,” Dirks said. Representatives of Tucson OASIS are enthusiastic about the afterschool program because the family is being utilized as an essential tool for child’s reading success. Students are not being taken from the classroom, and are not singled out for additional assistance. Judy Raetzman, volunteer tutor for Tucson OASIS, said she feels confident about the program, and

thinks it has been well received by the students. She said they are enthusiastic about learning and their parents are excited about their progress, and the interest in reading they have gained. Wanda Poindexter, El Rio Public Library branch manager, said the reading program has a powerful way of improving children’s interest in reading through writing a journal. She is responsible for coordinating the three-way partnership between Tucson OASIS, Pima County Public Libraries and El Rio Neighborhood Center, which houses the El Rio Public Library, 1390 W. Speedway Blvd. Poindexter said she heard about the possibility of starting the program at her library, knew there was a need in the community, and decided to take on the responsibility. By accepting the program into the library, Poindexter is responsible for pairing tutors and students. Without the enthusiasm of a librarian, says Dirks, the free service isn’t possible. OASIS representatives are currently working toward expanding the Reading Club into six public libraries in Pima County, including Quincie Douglas Public Library, 1585 E. 36th St. and Valencia Public Library, 202 W. Valencia Road. To learn more about the program, how to enroll a student, and find out more of the new locations, visit their Web site at http://www.oasisnet.org/Home.aspx or call Tucson OASIS at 322-5627.

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INDEPENDIENTE South Tucson’s Bilingual Newspaper El Independiente encourages letters from all its readers, but reserves the right to edit correspondence for grammar, style, clarity and length.

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Spanish Editor David Diaz, Jr.

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Reporters Tory Beardsley Max DuBois Evan Pellegrino Alex Negronida

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By Trista Davis The Arizona Academy of Leadership opened its doors two years ago and has grown to include extracurricular activities that set it apart from other local charter schools. Tonya Strozier, the director of the Academy, and her husband Kelvin, the middle school principal, opened the school in August 2007 with 88 students at 5660 S. 12th Ave. Both had been teachers in the Sunnyside school district. Strozier said the area really needed a school like the Arizona Academy of Leadership. “We want to be an excelling school on the south side, which is hard. But when it happens, it won’t be on accident,” she said. There are now about 300 students enrolled in the school. The average class size is 18 students. Strozier said something that sets this school apart from most others is the teachers, principals and Strozier herself, make a point to get to know every child and their family. “Every parent is the first teacher,” Strozier said. The school opens its doors at 7:30 a.m. to serve breakfast to students; 85 percent of the students use the free or reduced-price lunch (and breakfast) program. Both Strozier and Michele Ayon, the elementary principal at the south campus, stressed the academics at the school are data driven, meaning teachers collect data on all of their students; including what subjects each student excels in and what subjects they are struggling with. Strozier said she believes children cannot be taught effectively if the teachers don’t know their learning patterns. The academy’s teachers keep track of the different ways they have tried to teach the material to students and what has been successful and what has not. Ayon said this is important because not every student learns in the same way, and the teachers need to try multiple ways of reaching a student. Since 3-8 p.m. are the top crime hours, the school offers the KIDCO after school program for students up to sixth grade until 6 p.m. Seventh and eighth-grade students have a separate program that runs until 5:30 p.m. Both programs are free and offer homework help, arts and crafts, games and field trips. By the beginning of December the school will also start a gifted program. This will allow students who are doing well in their classes

PHOTO BY TRISTA DAVIS

Anthony Sanders works on a spelling test. Sanders is a third grade student at the Arizona Academy of Leadership.

to step up into classes that are a little more challenging. The school also has summer session, which serves free breakfast and lunch. The academy also has sports teams that play in the Charter School League in Tucson. The school currently has flag football, boys’ basketball, softball, volleyball and soccer. Strozier pointed out that while public schools have to eliminate sports because of budget cuts, the academy is adding them. There are also two large computer labs and one small lab. In these labs are 55 computers. There are 30 for the middle school children and 25 are for the elementary school children. The school is currently building a library and when it is finished it will feature an additional computer lab. The computers are PCs and Macs, so the students are becoming efficient in both. Every student gets time in the computer lab. Strozier said she would also love to get a computer in every child’s home and they are always trying to think of new ways to incorporate technology into their learning. They just started Saturday school, which focuses on math, from 9 to 11 a.m. The students will use computer programs as a different approach to learning math. The school is working on getting each student an e-mail address through the school, as well as getting each child their own username, so all of the activity on the computers can be monitored. All kids at the Arizona Academy of Leadership are taught music and Spanish. Music classes are taught twice per week, and

band is also available after school, as well as free math and reading tutoring. Strozier decided the academy should focus on leadership because she thought those skills were important for all students to learn. “Students need initiative, compassion and they need knowledge,” she said. Students wear uniforms of khaki pants and red, blue or white shirts. Ayon said she thinks the uniforms are a great idea because they are simple, which Strozier said keeps kids from competing with each other. Strozier’s son and daughter attend the school, as does Ayon’s daughter. They said they often get feedback from their kids. They also send home surveys to get feedback from all of the students and their families. Leadership symposiums are helf for 5th through 8th grade students at the south campus. The first meeting was with the Tucson Police Department gang prevention unit because gangs often operate in nearby neighborhoods. This year the school acquired two full-sized buses that they use to provide transportation for their students, they don’t rely on the public bus system. The south campus will add ninth-grade next year. Strozier said the plan is to add an additional grade each year until it is a K12 school. Spaces are still available. To enroll in the Arizona Academy of Leadership call 807-9668, stop by the school or visit http://www.arizonaleader.com.

Props 401, 402 Fail; TUSD Seeks Alternate Funding By Tory Beardsley The Tucson Unified School District suffered a major defeat in November when voters said no to both of their budget overrides proposed on the ballot. Propositions 401 and 402 were aimed at generating funds to replace money lost in state budget cuts. Proposition 401 sought out an extra seven percent in district funding for full-day kindergarten, while 402 sought $9 million to replace up to 20,000 computers in TUSD schools. TUSD superintendents say they are still speculating about why the overrides did not pass, but assume that there are economics at play. “People are feeling this impact and their budgets are tight,” said James Fish, assistant superintendent of middle schools. Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools Maggie Shafer

agreed, saying overrides in other areas were more successful where they were more affordable. In the past year TUSD’s budget was cut nearly 20 percent. The district has weathered the cuts, but superintendents say that many Tucson voters don’t grasp the gravity of the deficit. She says the deficit will become more apparent after the most recent cuts. TUSD superintendents expect that district schools will have to get rid of several programs to make up for lost funding. Their primary concern is that schools will not be able to afford full-day kindergarten. Other cuts may include school counselors, art classes, supplies and music classes, depending on each school’s enrollment. TUSD employees and parents have been working overtime to make up for the lost funding, but TUSD Superintendant Elizabeth

Celania-Fagen says it is unrealistic for them to continue to work these extra hours. Celania-Fagen says that the district is trying to be creative to make up for lost funding. TUSD is trying to get businesses to donate old computers, and is seeking stimulus money. “We definitely won’t be able to realize the vision we had (with the overrides) but if we are creative we might be able to replace some funding,” Celania-Fagen said. The superintendents were disappointed in the failing overrides, but agree that the schools will continue to function despite the tight budget. “This whole effort is about children, and we certainly hold the key to the community,” Fish said. “I know times are tough and people are stressed, but if we truly want to survive and be successful I think we will in time.”

November 20 / 20 de noviembre 2009

EL INDEPENDIENTE

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Toltecalli High Students Organize for Human Rights By Lizzy MacDonnell The drum beats on. Da Dum. Da Dum. Da Dum. They walk. They walk for the people who have died. They walk for the dying. They walk for those who will die. MOVIMIENTO, an organization a number of Toltecalli High School students are involved in, with help from Calpulli Teoxicalli, walk to protest the “too-many” deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border. They just completed a vigil where they read the names of every one of the 206 people who have been found dead this year trying to cross from Mexico to the U.S. “MOVIMIENTO is a communitybased group of mainly Chicano, Mexicans and native youth of Tucson, organizing for migrant rights,” says Toltecalli student Anahiza Carrillo. “We organize to create a positive environment, free from injustices and oppression. Our work is dedicated on building leadership and power among the youth and families in our communities.” Teoxicalli consist of members of the Xicano Indigenous community living in Tucson, who wish to offer a historical, cultural, and spiritual approach to our inter-personal relationships with each other and the Earth. “When people die here —like whites—it’s a big thing,” says Toltecalli student Marcos Romero. “But when the Mexicans die crossing the border, it’s nothing.” Romero and his compañeros will soon join students from Wakefield Middle School, who are holding a more traditional Dia de los Muertos celebration with Jóvenes Sanos and the FIESTA After-school Program. The Toltecalli students have recently organized to fight for human rights with help from their teacher Raul Alcaraz and others in the community.

Alcaraz says in MOVIMIENTO, students discuss social issues and wanted to do something about injustices that had become apparent. They continue to meet to raise awareness, but also to figure out ways they can protest the racism they experience. In October, leadership class students held a press conference to protest a Halloween costume dubbed “Illegal Alien,” which feature an orange prison jumpsuit, a typicallooking extraterrestrial mask and a green card. “No human being is an alien,” says Pablo Castillo, a Toltecalli student. “We are just people trying to be successful in life. No one should be disrespected in that way.” Immigrant advocacy groups from Florida to California similarly protested, and consequently the costume was pulled from Target, Walgreens and eBay. Alcaraz agrees, “They are criminalizing a whole community and that’s why we feel this costume is very dangerous, because it represents what society thinks of us.” The leadership class members say they organized the press conference and the walk because they were disappointed with the news media’s lack of coverage on issues important to them. The early November walk to Wakefield was organized by MOVIMIENTO, along with Calpulli Teoxicalli, Jóvenes Sanos, others from Toltecalli, the Aztlan Boxing Club, as well as friends and family members. In the Toltecalli High School parking lot, a circle of 50 plus people stood quietly as members of the group, Edgar Toledo and Maria Aparicio, read off the names of every person who has been found dead in the desert near the U.S. - Mexico border this year. Attendants bowed their heads in respect. Names were called out, one-byone. Everyone responded, “pre-

PHOTO

BY

LIZZY MACDONNELL

Students from Toltecalli High School walk to protest the many deaths at the U.S.-Mexican border.

sente.” Sometimes there would be stretches of “unknowns” being called off, creating a somber air as everyone thought about the mother, father, brother or sister who was never honored by their family after their death. They then grouped around Jesús Ruiz and Maria Molina of Calpulli Teoxicalli, dressed in typical Dia de los Muertos clothing, as they performed a traditional dance and chanted, accompanied by a drum and conch shell. The group joined in, turning to face each cardinal direction, kneeling to the ground when asked. They chanted and stared intently as Maria Molina danced with a large chalice of burning incense. They organized into two lines, holding white crosses with “descono-

cido” or “desconocida” (unknown) written in large black letters across the front. Some held lit candles. Then they walked. They walked to Wakefield Middle School, 45 minutes away, where students were holding a Dia de los Muertos celebration to honor the lives of family or friends who had died. The two schools joined and sang along with a mariachi band and later shared a meal of traditional Mexican food. The rituals and the sharing of food left the students in a thoughtful mood. Liliana Gamez, a Toltecalli student spoke of her father, who she hasn’t seen in five years, because he was stopped by police and did not have appropriate identification. He went to jail for three years and was then deported.

“I wasn’t even born when he came here,” she swayed softly, shaking her head in frustration. “He was very young when he came here. We are just trying to have a better life.” She plans to a become lawyer so she can help immigrants, so families will not be torn apart by the border. “A lawyer to help Mexicans; help the immigrants,” she said firmly. “To stop the death, and stop the racism. Hopefully I’ll it. That’s my goal right now.” For more information on this and other stories from El Indepediente, view the video at:

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Nogales to Improve City in Hopes of Bringing Back Tourists Assistance for By David Diaz Jr. hired to work on city renovations ly buy 50 gallons or whatever ing, my store wasn’t really selling have completed two new turn- amount they think will last them anything and it was hard for me to Heating Bills Nogales, Sonora is in the midst of a $15.4 million renovation project in hopes of injecting new life in their commercial district and drawing back the shoppers and tourists who abandoned the city during the past few years. Store owners have seen a decrease in the number of U.S. tourists visiting the city to shop, eat or just hang out with friends. Tourists say they fear becoming victims of drug-related violence or contracting the H1N1 virus. Renovations to city plazas and streets are now underway and should be completed by the end of 2010, according to officials from the Camara Nacional de Comercio Servicios y Turismo (CANACO). “Only a few of the plazas have been improved on, but there is still some work to do on the others as well as some streets to be repaved,” said Jesus Refugio Lopez Encinas, secretary for CANACO. “It is a work in progress, but everything has turned out according to plan.” The city plans to improve the downtown Plaza de las Palomas and Plaza Miguel Hidalgo, and will build a new pedestrian bridge for tourists to cross back and forth from the U.S. port of entry into Nogales, Sonora. Plaza de las Banderas, an area formerly filled with taxis and would-be immigrants waiting to cross into the U.S., has been converted into a pedestrian walkway for shoppers to enter stores on both sides of the street. Local construction companies

arounds that connect two main streets in Nogales, according to CANACO. Both streets, one headed towards the city from the U.S. point of entry, and the other coming from the city to the U.S. point of entry are separated by stores and other buildings. This makes it difficult for drivers to cross from one street to the other. The new turnarounds were built so drivers can exit onto them and drive to the other street. Streets such as Calle Campillo and Calle Ochoa have been paved and smoothed out. Most of the money for these improvements came from Mexico’s Impuesto al Valor Agregado, a value-added tax applied in cities across Mexico, according to Encinas. The tax rate for the Mexican region bordering the U.S. states of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas is 10 percent, however, that will increase to 11 percent beginning Jan. 1. “We hope that this increase in tax rate will help us fund and receive more money for upcoming projects we have for Nogales, Sonora,” Encinas said. One public improvement that residents are looking forward to is a new water system for those who live atop the city’s hills and don’t get enough water. “People who live up there have to come down and actually buy water,” said Esteban Valenzuela, a driver for Taxis Internacional. “Those who purchase water usual-

the week or two.” Nicholas Roberts, a Marana resident who would often visit Nogales’ restaurants, said he felt a bit unsafe visiting Nogales, Sonora in part because of the drug-related violence in the country. “It was horrible to hear or read in the papers about all the people, especially innocent people visiting the city, being killed because of the drug cartels,” Roberts said. “For me it was better to wait a bit. Nogales isn’t going anywhere.” Roberts has not visited the city to see the new renovations, but plans to make the drive to Nogales before the holidays. “I’ll definitely have to go to get some small gifts for family and friends,” he said. While business is still slower than it has been in the past, store owners say they detect an increase in shoppers recently, mainly because people are hearing about the city improvements and want to come down to see them in person. “My mother, who frequently visits the city to shop and walk the city, was the one that told me that city streets and historic plazas looked different,” Roberts said. “What impressed her the most was Calle Pesqueiria because the area is no longer filled with taxis and other vehicles that would block entrances to stores and shops.” Armando Cortez, a shop owner who sells antique furniture, said his store suffered when tourists began leaving. “When everybody started leav-

maintain a business,” he said. “Having these new additions to the city will help out myself and other store owners and businesses.” Cortez also said his sales have slowly increased within the past few months. Other shoppers from Tucson have seen and noticed the city improvements. Kelsey Laird, a University of Arizona student who visits the city once or twice a month with friends, said the city is starting to look nicer and cleaner. “We came to shop two weeks ago and you really can tell that Nogales has made some good improvements. Everything from city streets to building walls,” Laird said. “The parking is going to be a plus. It’s difficult sometimes to find parking during the weekends because of all the tourists coming to shop and look around.” Juanita Salcedo, who sells jewelry at her curio cabinet store, said she hopes sales will increase when the city improvements are completed. “It’s going to feel like a brand new city has been built and the nicer it looks, the more people are going to come, feel safe and the more money we will all make,” Salcedo said. “It’s definitely going to be better to drive on paved roads and I’m pretty excited to see what their new museum is going to have inside it,” Roberts said. “Nogales has lots of history behind it and it will be neat to see it all.”

By Larissa Capizzano Tucson Urban League is offering emergency help with heating bills to low-income families in need of assistance in the South Tucson area. A family must have an income lower than 200 percent of the federal poverty level in order to qualify for assistance. For example, a family of four will only qualify if they make under $3,675 a month. Henrietta Shepard, a family assistance case manager for the Tucson Urban League said she noticed an influx of people applying for utility help. Due to the growing number of applicants, it takes up to two weeks for applications to be processed, according to Shepard. In order to apply, a family must provide birth certificates and social security cards for all members of the household. Other documents, including a one-month income verification for all residents, rent receipts and utility bill receipts must be provided when an application is turned in. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the LowIncome Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) released $7.8 million to help families with their utility bills for the months of October, November and December. For more information, call the Tucson Urban League at 791-9522.

EL INDEPENDIENTE

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UA and TUSD Team Up for Kids Science Day By Matt Lewis There were about 40 hands-on, science-related booths at the seventh annual Junior Scientists Kids’ Day, an event designed to get students excited about science. The UA Libraries and Tucson Unified School District’s Career and Technical Education programs partnered to create an event for children ages four to 12 that would be a fun and educational approach to science, engineering and general education. Parents were also welcome. The event was free for parents and students in TUSD. There were more than double the number of booths from last year’s event, said Jeanne Pfander, an associate librarian and outreach director. The event was held Nov. 7, just a few feet away from where the University of Arizona’s homecoming festivities were in full swing. Between 700 and 800 parents and students attended the event. Utterback Middle School’s jazz band began the festivities with a live performance. A DJ provided music for the rest of the event. “A lot of kids live only a couple miles away from the university, but have never been here,” said Karl Oxnam, one of the event organizers. “It is a neat experience for high school students to teach elementary and middle school students. It also is a chance for students to mingle with college students and professors and get a sense of what it might be like at UA.”

November 20 / 20 de noviembre 2009

Pueblo Warriors Name to Remain, School Searches for New Mascot By Alex Negronida

PHOTO BY MATT LEWIS

Representatives from Biosphere 2 show kids their research relating to water issues. TUSD partnered with the UA Libraries to hold an event designed to get kids excited about science.

Several UA departments and a few TUSD high schools participated. The high schools that had booths or were helping with booths were: Sahuaro, Catalina, Sabino, Pueblo, Tucson, Santa Rita, Rincon and Palo Verde. The groups from UA included: Women in Science and Engineering (WISE); Posada San Pedro Residence Hall, an honors dorm; the UA Lunar and Planetary Lab; Chi Sigma Chemistry Fraternity; UA College of Optical Sciences and UA Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. A few events included:

• Kids made ice cream at the “Ice Cream and Slime” booth with UA Alpha Chi Sigma Chemistry Fraternity and Catalina High School culinary students. • The UA College of Optical Sciences helped kids make kaleidoscopes using colored beads. • Representatives from BIO5BioTech and Pueblo High’s Biotech programs helped students make necklaces that resembled a strand of DNA. • Palo Verde High School had members from their engineering program show robots they made to elementary and middle school kids.

Pueblo High School will always be known as the Warriors, but they are looking for a new mascot to physically represent them at games and school events. Since the school opened in 1956 they have been the Warriors. The mascot was a caricature of a Native American named Wally Warrior, but it was controversial and led to walkouts at the school in the ’80s, according to Patricia Dienz, the principal at Pueblo. Since then, the school adopted a nondescript image of a man wearing a robe, which the school has rarely used, according to Dienz. “We always want to be the Warriors,” she said. “We have a saying here, ‘once a Warrior always a Warrior.’ We just need to find an appropriate image.” The school’s journalism students teamed up with the student council to find a new mascot. They staged an online vote, but the Web site was hacked into and more than one thousand votes placed for the panda. Choices included a coyote, a cactus, a puma, a wolf, a roadrunner and a dragon. Senior student council member Teresa Miranda said she and her fellow council members are in the process of figuring out a new way for all the interested parties to vote on the mascot. Some may think spending

money on a costume and props for a mascot, in light of recent budget cuts, might be wasteful, but Dienz has a ready response. “One idea is to vote with money,” she said. There could be different jars, each representing a different mascot choice. To cast a vote for a particular mascot, a student would drop any amount of money into that mascot’s jar. “We (would be) raising money for the costume while voting,” Dienz said. Costumes generally cost around $800 to $1,000. Dienz said she is pulling for the Warrior wolf. “I like the alliteration,” she said. Miranda also has a special place in her heart for the wolf. She thinks the costume for the wolf mascot looks “cool” and “less childish” than some of the other choices. Other students at Pueblo aren’t as gung-ho about the mascot. Students Alexis Leyva and Rey Carreras said they “couldn’t care less” about voting on a new mascot. Still, the principal said she is optimistic the school will soon be able to decide how to stage their vote and make a decision. She hopes the new mascot will be ready to unveil by homecoming next fall. To see what the new Pueblo Mascot might look like, visit: http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/ pueblo/mascot/

Two Tucson Non-profits Aimed at Youth Expression to Merge By Melissa Lim Two youth-oriented non-profits, Sharmoore and Voices, Community Stories Past and Present, Inc., will be merging into one in 2010. Both organizations have spent the last few years reaching out to Tucson youth. Sharmoore, through their program Stories That Soar!, focuses on developing the voices of elementary students. Voices, Inc. focuses on youth ages 14 to 21. Stories That Soar! asks elementary students to submit stories on any topic into a “magic box.” The Sharmoore crew then selects several of the best stories and develops them into a play. They then go to the school and perform a series of those stories for the students. Voices focuses on older students, developing their story telling through magazine writing, radio or photojournalism. The students also develop their own ideas, but staff members help them develop it into a publishable piece. “We will be a new agency and we’ll have a new mission vision and value, but we’re starting from a similar foundation,” explains Stephanie Balzer, executive director for Voices. “We both value empowering youth and using stories as an effective way to communicate.” Sharmoore Executive Director Sharon O’Brien says a shared vision is what prompted the merger. “The vision is the same and that’s why we’re such a great match,” O’Brien says. “We won’t have to change the essential part of what we are.” The combined programs offer numerous ways to give youth more opportunities, says O’Brien. “We have a lot of demand and to be able to connect older youth with younger youth is one of our goals,” she says. O’Brien says she hopes there can be crossover between the programs, such as participants in

Voices, Inc., helping out with the younger students in Sharmoore. Another part of the vision for the combined programs is to allow for more continuity in the youth’s lives, says Katie Gindlesparger, writing director for Voices, Inc. She explained that an elementary school student could start with the Sharmoore program, being involved with Stories that Soar! and move on to Voices. “The intent isn’t to change the program, but to allow a longer span of programming,” she says. “Wouldn’t it be cool if you’re five and you feed a story to the magic box and you discover you love writing? Then you could have programs to support you all the way until you’re 21.”

Voices, Inc. Friendly banter fills what the students affectionately call “the basement” as the participants in the Voices radio program work on their current project. Students work on laptops, provided by the program, as they strive to create a project that will eventually be published by a Voices sponsor or another publication. Volunteers like Devin Horn and Joshua Garcia help guide the students whenever they have questions. “The fun part is seeing them begin something entirely from scratch that is theirs until completion,” Garcia says. For Charlie Franco, 15, Voices has helped him develop and share his ideas with the community. “Sharing your voice really makes you feel heard,” Franco says. Franco is currently working on a piece about the role of pro athletes as mentors in youth’s lives. His last piece was published professionally. But for Franco, being part of Voices has been about more than just the stories he’s produced. “Voices brings youth from dif-

ferent backgrounds together. It’s like being at school, but here I learn something new every day from my peers,” Franco says. “No two people here are the same and the people I work with are my friends now. I’ve learned so much from them.” The students at Voices spend four days a week in “the basement,” which Voices rents from City High School. Two of the four days are spent training. Participants are paid for their time. The remaining two days are spent working. If the student has a piece published by a professional outlet, they are given a $50 bonus. Students say what sets Voices apart from other programming is the involvement of all the staff. They often come down and teach classes. “Stephanie comes down and is really involved,” Felix Valenzia, a second-year youth apprentice says. “She’s proud of what we produce down here.” Franco agrees, saying that he never expected the staff to be so involved. “When I got here I was surprised. I never feel distant from anyone in Voices,” Franco says. Valenzia says Voices has helped him in other aspects of his life. He explains he is looking at universities to attend, and that Voices was integral in helping him come to the decision to go to college. They’ve also helped him with ACT and SAT prep, and letters of recommendation. “I’m really proud to be part of this program because it helps a lot of kids even if they’re not still in the program and it’s amazing to know that Voices helped all these kids. They gave us that opportunity,” Valenzia says. “Once Voices is in your life, it’s in your life forever.”

Sharmoore Hundreds of elementary school students sit in the cafeteria,

PHOTO

BY

MELISSA LIM

Felix Valenzia (right), a youth apprentice with Voices, helps participants Alena Estradea (middle) and Lewis Dawley-Hill (left) with their radio productions on Monday, Nov. 9.

rustling restlessly as the Sharmoore staff prepares their show. As the first actor steps up on stage, a hush falls over the students. For the next hour, the students are captivated, as the stories they wrote come to life. “The kids are always so engaged,” says Pete Swan, musical director for Sharmoore. “When we look out, their mouths are hanging open, they’re laughing and totally involved.” For Sharon O’Brien it’s no question that the program is impacting students. “First-year principals are always worried about the students getting in trouble and not paying attention,” she explains. “But the kids are just mesmerized.” O’Brien explains that the “magic box” they leave at the school to collect stories often has hundreds of papers jammed in to it. When they collect the box to pick the stories to bring to life, it’s difficult to choose because there are so many. Seven actors from the commu-

nity, including both professional actors and UA theater students, figure out how to interpret the story. They usually pick about 20 stories to perform in their onehour show. The students have no idea which stories will be selected. After the performance, students that had their story selected are asked to come to the stage to be recognized. “When kids are writing for the joy of writing, just to express themselves, we don’t look at spelling, grammar or punctuation, just the ideas behind it,” she says. “The kids learn that their ideas and words have meaning, purpose and value.” The kids are allowed to choose any topic that they wish, which O’Brien says helps them understand that the stories they choose are part of how they can identify. “When they see it on stage, it’s really telling,” O’Brien says. “It shows them that their stories can entertain, bring people together and they really do learn about the power of the written word.”

EL INDEPENDIENTE

November 20 / 20 de noviembre 2009

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Mexican Children Cross the Border for Care

O

nce a month, 200-300 children and their families are given 24-bour visas to cross the border from Mexico to Nogales, Ariz. to recieve medical services at St. Andrew’s Childres Clinic. Doctors and volunteers offer a variety of medical services in orthopedics, physical therapy, vision and hearing care. Without St. Andrew’s Clinic, and its team of volunteers, most of these children would go without medical attention.

Left Lupita Tapia, uses her feet to communicate with the assistance of a pictoral computer screen. The device is equipped with Spanish vocabulary. The 12-yearold has cerebal palsy and travels to the clinic monthly with her mother for medical and theraputic sevices. Below Lupita enjoys a cookie as a reward for using the computer to request one from her therapist. The youngster has become quite dexterious with her feet.

Above and Below Five-year-old Luis Armenta hears for the first time since he was just one with the help of a simple hearing aid and services donated by vounteers at St. Andrew’s Children’s Clinic, Nogales, Ariz.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY COLLEEN KEEFE For more information about St. Andrew’s Children’s Clinic visit:

www.standrewsclinic.org and www.elindenews.com

Cultural Center to Honor Black Heritage By Melisa V. Teran The once-segregated Dunbar School is being renovated and will soon house an AfricanAmerican Museum and Cultural Center, a plan that aims to improve the state of the aged building. The process, which will take up to five years and cost up to $5 million to complete, is the first step in turning what was once an eyesore into the gem of the Dunbar Spring neighborhood that surrounds it. “I think we are the centerpiece for the Dunbar Springs neighborhood,” said Cressworth Lander, president of the Dunbar Coalition. The school, which was completed in

PHOTO BY ARIEL CAMPBELL

The construction of the Dunbar School is set to rehabilitate and preserve the historic the building which after years of not being used slowly deteriorated.

1918 and named after the acclaimed AfricanAmerican poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar, functioned as a segregated school until 1951. After desegregation, the school continued as John Spring Junior High School, until its permanent closure in 1978. What began as a small, two-room school, big enough for only 40 students, became a two-acre, 51,000-square-foot building, dominating an entire city block. Since its inception, the Dunbar school has undergone many renovations, mostly to create additional space to house the growing student body. The school began to grow after the depression and by 1948 had about 400 students. The building is also home to a barber school, a dance school and a food service and catering academy. The renovation, which is planned to preserve the historic building, will also feature a museum and cultural center, housing artifacts and memorabilia of early AfricanAmerican settlers and Buffalo Soldiers, who served on the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment during the American Civil War. “There’s a sense in the community that the African-American community of the neighborhood is being lost,” said Ian Fritz, president of the Dunbar Spring Neighborhood Association. “This is recognizing the role that they have played.” Dunbar started as a poor facility with limited resources, but eventually became a fully funded Tucson Unified School District facility. One thing that has never changed is the school’s dedication to education. “While we had second-class classrooms and second-class books, they [teachers] provided what we needed. Dedicated to making sure we learned, they pushed you to your limits academically,” said Lander, an alumnus of the school. In the years after it closed, homeless people inhabited the empty facility which was slowly degenerating, creating a negative image for the Dunbar Spring neighborhood, Lander said. In 1993, the Dunbar Coalition was cre-

PHOTO BY ARIEL CAMPBELL

Plans are underway to turn the Dunbar School into an African-American cultural center and later to incorporate a charter school. In January 2007, the Dunbar Association signed a $821,00 contract to restore the middle section of the two-story building.

ated to acquire the school and to raise funds for a rehabilitation project. The vacant building was used mainly for storage until 1995, when TUSD sold the facility to the Dunbar Coalition for $25. This move saved the City of Tucson approximately $1 million in demolition costs, which would have been the fate of the school had it not been purchased, Lander said. When initial renovation plans were made, tuition from the school’s academies provided money for day-to-day operation of the building. After receiving $821,000 as part of a $1.2 million bond from the Pima County Board of Supervisors in May 2004, the Dunbar Coalition began its efforts to remake the school. The main effort of the renovation’s first phase, now underway, is to improve the security of the building by constructing a new entry way on the east side of the building, said Lander. The first floor remodel was completed with a federal grant of $900,000 and contains the individual academies.

The second phase will focus on turning the second floor of the building into a K-5 charter school. However, additional funding is needed to complete this part of the project. “This neighborhood has been improving in terms of residents and the entire concept of what a neighborhood should be,” said Lander. Although renovation is not complete, the Dunbar Springs neighborhood has already benefited from the project. Children are free to use the basketball courts, which are equipped with lighting for nighttime play. “[Dunbar Spring] has looked to Dunbar as the lead in the total renovation of the neighborhood,” said Lander. For the residents of the neighborhood, this renovation could provide a positive impact for the entire Dunbar Spring community. “Neighbors seem to be really excited about the renovation. It’s been a long time coming,” Fritz said.

EL INDEPENDIENTE

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Law Empowers City Against Troublesome Rental Units ‘Ordinance’ Continued from page 1 homeowners who may not be compliant in the future, Serna said. “It’s clear in some cases we may need to take them to court,” he said. Serna said many homeowners and complex managers haven’t run background checks and haven’t been paying attention to the real names of some residents. “They’ve turned a blind eye to the kinds of people they’re renting to,” he said. Because of the ordinance and the consequences property owners now face, the city hopes owners will become more selective. “They’ll rent to people who will have more pride in their property,” Wilson said. Patricia Diaz, a second generation South Tucsonan and owner of two lots on South Eighth Avenue, said she welcomes the new law. “I wish we had more landowners who actually lived in their property,” Diaz said. Because Diaz and her husband live next door to her tenants, it’s easy for her to keep tabs on what goes on in their home, but for other property owners she knows that’s not the case. “I can go out in my front yard, turn my head and see what’s happening. If my tenants get rowdy, I tell them, ‘Hey, cut the noise off,’” she said. “We care very deeply about South Tucson. I look up and down the street and I can tell who are the original owners and who are not.” Serna said he expects the new law to help clean up the city of South Tucson, which has a reputation for high crime rates and rundown buildings. “This will work to change the genesis of the stigma that surrounds South Tucson,” he said. Within a week after receiving his notice from the city of South Tucson in the mail in California, McGuire evicted the problematic residents. He has spent much of last summer in South Tucson fixing up the complex himself and has an on-site manager to supervise his property. During one of his visits,

McGuire walked across the street to HOPE Recovery on 34th Street to talk to his neighbors about the situation at the complex. “I told them I owned the property and I told them I had some real problems. Being across the street they said they knew. They saw it,” McGuire said. McGuire talked to Pete Moore, executive director at HOPE Recovery, a faith-based organization that offers services to recovering addicts. McGuire, a former addict now 21 years sober, and working in the recovery field, suggested his complex become a home for people in the HOPE Recovery program. “I wanted it to become an annex for treatment. I want nothing but clean and sober people. There’s a lot of need for that in that community,” he said. Trinity Landscaping, a division of HOPE Recovery, lent a helping hand to clean up the building. “We teamed up to help each other,” Moore said. McGuire hired other skilled laborers and they made improvements to the building such as installing air conditioning to attract better tenants. “It’s been a summer construction project in Tucson. I have a few more gray hairs,” McGuire said half jokingly. “But we’re trying to make it happen.” Moore said the units for HOPE Recovery are now full and he expects them to stay that way. “It’s now a safe environment for people to focus on recovery,” he said. According to the city, police haven’t received a call to the complex since McGuire got the notice. “It’s a work in progress but it’s been miraculous,” McGuire said. “The neighbors are thrilled for what we’re doing.” Serna said he expects the law to continue to improve the community, like it has at McGuire’s building. “Most folks out there take care of their property. We’re going after those people who don’t,” Serna said. “We’re cleaning house.”

PHOTO BY MAX DUBOIS

Jake Glinkski, 18, a student in Arts In Reality, a visual and performing arts program, works on a Dia De Los Muertos mural outside the Steven Murray Art Gallery.

November 20 / 20 de noviembre 2009

Estudiantes de Toltecali se organizan ‘Estudiantes’ Continúa de página 1 Los miembros de la clase de liderazgo dicen que organizaron la conferencia de prensa y la caminata porque estaban decepcionados con los medios de comunicación y la falta de cobertura de temas de importancia para ellos. La caminata durante el inicio de noviembre a Wakefield fue organizada por el grupo de liderazgo junto con otros estudiantes, el club de Boxeo de Aztlán y amigos y miembros de las familias. En el estacionamiento de Toltecalli High School, un círculo de más de 50 personas permaneció en silencio mientras los miembros del grupo, Edgar Toledo y Maria Aparicio, leyeron los nombres de cada persona encontrada muerta en el desierto este año cerca de la frontera México-EE.UU. Las personas del público inclinaron sus cabezas como señal de respeto. Se mencionaron los nombres, uno por uno. Todos respondieron, “presente”. A veces había trechos de “desconocidos” que eran llamados, lo que creó un aire sombrío ya que todos pensaban en la madre, el padre, el hermano o la hermana quien nunca fue honorado por la familia después de su muerte. Después se reunieron alrededor de Jesus Ruiz y Maria Molina, líderes de Calpulli Teoxicalli, vestidos en trajes típicos del Día de los Muertos, mientras presentaban un baile tradicional y cantaban, acompañados de un tambor y una concha del mar. Se organizaron en dos líneas sujetando cruces blancas con la palabra “desconocido” o “desconocida”, escrita en letras negras a lo largo del frente. Algunos sujetaban velas encendidas. Entonces caminaron.

FOTO POR LIZZY MACDONNELL

Estudiantes de la escuela Toltecalli caminan para protestar las muertes en la frontera México-EE.UU.

Caminaron hacia Wakefield Middle School, 45 minutos de distancia, donde los estudiantes presentaban la celebración del Día de los Muertos en honor a las vidas de amigos o familiares que han muerto. Las dos escuelas se reunieron y cantaron junto con la banda de mariachi y después compartieron una tradicional comida mexicana. Los rituales y el compartir de la comida dejaron a los estudiantes en una actitud pensativa. Liliana Gámez, una estudiante de Toltecalli, habló de su padre, a quien no ha visto en más de cinco años porque fue detenido por la policía y no tenía identificación apropiada. Él fue a prisión por tres años y después fue deportado. “Ni siquiera había nacido yo

cuando él llego aquí”, se mece suavemente, meneando su cabeza en frustración. “Él era muy joven cuando llegó aquí. Sólo tratamos de tener una vida mejor”. Ella planea ser abogada para poder ayudar a los inmigrantes y así las familias no serán separadas por la frontera. “Una abogada para ayudar a los mexicanos, ayudar a los inmigrantes”, ella dice firmemente. “Para parar las muertes y parar el racismo. Espero pararlo. Esa es mi meta por ahora”.

Para mas informacion, vean el video en www.elindenews.com

Statue Honors Former Tucson Barrio By Halley McIntyre The fire station directly behind the Tucson Convention Center, at 265 S. Church Ave., is the new home of a commemorative plaza and statue, which was dedicated and blessed on Saturday, Nov. 14. The bronze statue depicts a grandmother and grandson, who are standing in the wind and pointing toward the TCC. It stands as a memorial to Barrio El Hoyo, a downtown neighborhood that was formerly located where the TCC now stands. Many of the families in this neighborhood were forced from their homes to make room for the TCC, according to Pedro Gonzales, a former Barrio El Hoyo resident. “The statue is to honor the memory of folks who were displaced to urban renewal,” Gonzales said. Gonzales and his family were among those displaced, and recalls the displacement as the beginning of some “very hard times” for his family and the rest of the neighborhood. These families were removed from houses that, in some cases, had been occupied by the same family for generations. The histories of these families are woven within the plaza surrounding the statue. It features plaques displaying quotes from former residents, reminiscing about the family-like atmosphere of the destroyed neighborhood, and its consequent disappearance. “The life in those barrios was a

PHOTO BY HALLEY MCINTYRE

A memorial statue, commemorating the displacement of Barrio El Hoyo, stands on the grounds of the fire station directly behind the Tucson Convention Center. The statue was unveiled and dedicated on Nov. 14, 2009.

full and rich one,” one plaque reads. “We all lived together – there was a mixture of people – Jews, Syrians, naturally many Mexicans, Chinese, Lebanese – and everyone spoke Spanish.”

“But it changed when they took the barrio from there, and the people were scattered all over town,” reads another. “I never see them, maybe sometimes at a wedding.”

Visit El Independiente online at: www.elindenews.com

November 20 / 20 de noviembre 2009

EL INDEPENDIENTE

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Tucson’s Last Drive-in Makes Lasting Memories By Madeline Donegan The closing of the 60-year-old De Anza drive-in theater left moviegoing Tucsonans without a cheap alternative to expensive theaters. “I can’t believe it,” said Betsy Costich, a 23-year-old Tucson native . “Since I was a kid, my parents have taken me and my family there. Some of my fondest family memories are of all of us sitting in lawn chairs with blankets, snuggling in front of the big screen.” Despite support from locals like Costich, this Tucson landmark at the corner of 22nd Street and Alvernon Way closed on Oct. 3. Twenty-five years before becoming De Anza, the drive-in had one screen and was called The Cactus. The Cactus opened in 1951 with a 60 cent admission fee for adults, kids were free. Soda was 10 cents and popcorn was 15 cents. The Cactus became so successful that Hugh Downs, the owner, and his business partner, Wesley Becker, were eventually able to buy every drive-in theater in town. “I remember when there were dozens of drive-ins in Tucson,” said Mary Barnes, a Tucson resident since 1968. “They were perfect for dates, cheap for families, and the thing to do on a Friday night for the kids.” The Cactus closed Oct. 27, 1976, but was soon reopened when De Anza Land and Leisure Co. bought it from Downs. It was operating as De Anza by Feb. 1, 1977. The theater also upgraded from one screen to four. Ewart Edwards, a manager with 15 years of drive-in experience, became the manager at De Anza. De Anza offered a double feature almost every night of the week, a tradition that stuck until its last day. “Since I’ve been able to drive,

movie tickets alone. “My parents would take me, and my four siblings to see a flick and it cost them $12,” Costich said. “Now, we have wait for the new releases to come out for rent which are only a few dollars cheaper, and we miss out on the fun of a night out with the family.” Evergreen Development Co. bought De Anza and the lot it stood on for the last 60 years. With no intentions of reopening the theater, Evergreen has not announced what is going to take its place. This piece of Tucson’s history may no longer be open for business, but the many memories created there will most certainly be remembered. “I just don’t understand why drive-ins are falling by the wayside,” said Tucson native Ana Gamboa . “De Anza was cheap, it was fun, and it was personal,'' she said. ''It was definitely a precious part of the city that will definitely be missed.”

De Anza has been my date spot,” said Austin Stroman, who moved to Tucson eight years ago. “I could get take-out from a great restaurant, pay for us both to get in, and see a double feature.” Fond sentiments are echoed in the memories of many other Tucson residents as well. “Man, when I was a kid at that very same drive-in, speakers were stuck to a post between your car and the one next to you, the projector was so far from the screen that the picture was hard to see, and teenagers were drinking beer and socializing so loudly you couldn’t focus,” said Candace Ireland, a 35year resident of Tucson. “It was

great. That theater was one of Tucson’s comforts, and will always be a part of its history.'' This was not the first time De Anza’s loyal patrons feared its closing. In 1998 and 1999, a slew of rumors and articles circled about the theater’s potential closing, but the longstanding theater stood strong for another 10 years. With a $6 admission for adults, and children nine and under getting in free, the drive-in was certainly a bargain compared to local indoor theaters, which charge $9.75 for adults and $6.25 for children on average. Seeing a movie at an indoor theater can cost a family of five anywhere from $40 to $50 on

PHOTO BY LIZZY MACDONNELL

The 60-year-old De Anza drive-in theater, top, closed on Oct 3. It was the last drive-in theater in Tucson, so many have been forced to go to the newer, more expensive theatres, like the recently opened Harkins Theatre at the Spectrum Mall on Irvington Road.

Nueva ley comienza a renovar algunas propiedades del Sur de Tucsón Por Evan Pellegrino Traducido Por Nekame Aguilar Damon McGuire compró un complejo de apartamentos de 10 unidades en 33rd Street en el Sur de Tucsón hace cinco años. Para el proveniente del norte de California, la inversión se hizo con ojos que no y ven corazón que no siente. El complejo se deterioró. Al poco tiempo se convirtió en una madriguera de drogadictos, narcotraficantes y prostitutas. “Sabía que había problemas, pero no sabía qué tan mal estaba la situación”, dijo McGuire. “[La ciudad] me criticó fuertemente”. Una nueva ley le ha dado la autoridad a la ciudad del Sur de Tucsón para que responsabilice a los arrendadores por las condiciones de sus propiedades, ya sea que este viva o no viva en el Sur de Tucsón. La ley de protección al vecindario, aprobada por el ayuntamiento el pasado diciembre, tiene como meta limpiar las propiedades alquiladas del Sur de Tucsón, permitiéndole a la ciudad llevar al arrendador ante el tribunal si sus edificios o casas se encuentran en mal estado o si sus arrendatarios son el objeto de quejas. “A la gente que paga alquiler no le interesa tanto la propiedad como al propietario”, explicó el juez Ronald Wilson del Tribunal Municipal del Sur de Tucsón. “Esta ley le ayuda a la ciudad a responsabilizar a los dueños por las condiciones de su propiedad”. Los arrendatarios ocupan alrededor del 60 por ciento de las viviendas en esta ciudad de 1,2 mil-

las cuadradas. En algunos casos los propietarios no viven en el área y no se percatan de lo que sucede en sus edificios, ya sean acontecimientos de actos delictivos o de falta de mantenimiento. Ahora con la nueva ley, los propietarios pueden enfrentar demandas civiles y penales, según las acciones de sus arrendatarios y las condiciones de sus propiedades. “Esta ley le da más autoridad a la ciudad”, dijo el alcalde de la ciudad del Sur de Tucsón Enrique Serna. La policía y la ciudad han recibido numerosas quejas sobre ciertas casas y complejos en renta, como el que posee McGuire. En éste se solicitaban intervenciones policiales más de cien veces al año. “Era un zona peligrosa en la comunidad. Me encontraba horrorizado. No tenía idea de que la condición se había puesto tan mal. Fue alarmante”, exclamó McGuire. “La ira [de la ciudad] fue benéfica. Me pareció apropiada y eso lo aprecio. Algunas personas necesitan una llamada de atención”. La ciudad del Sur de Tucsón le notificó a McGuire que su propiedad no cumplía con la ley, amenazándole con tomar medidas legales en su contra. “Lo contactamos y el vino para ver los hechos por sí mismo. Cuando lo hizo, sintió mucha pena a causa del estado del lugar”, dijo Serna. Desde que se efectuó la ley, los propietarios han sido 100 por ciento receptivos y han desalojado a un total de 25 arrendatarios en la ciudad, incluyendo a cuatro personas del complejo de McGuire. Aun así,

la ciudad está trabajando con la oficina del fiscal del condado de Pima para establecer las penas civiles y penales que enfrentarán los propietarios que no sigan la ley, añadió Serna. “Claro está que en algunos casos tendremos que llevarlos ante el tribunal”, comentó él. Serna explicó que muchos propietarios y gerentes de complejos no han revisado la veracidad de los nombres de algunos de sus residentes ni sus antecedentes. “Se han hecho los de la vista gorda con respecto al tipo de personas al que le rentan”, dijo. Dada la ley y las consecuencias que los propietarios podrían enfrentar, la ciudad espera que cada propietario escoja con más cautela a sus arrendatarios. “Ellos le rentarán a personas que valoren más su propiedad”, dijo Wilson. Patricia Díaz, una tucsonense del sur de segunda generación y dueña de dos lotes en Eighth Avenue, comentó que acepta abiertamente la nueva ley. “Me gustaría que fueran más los propietarios que en efecto vivieran en su propiedad”, expresó Díaz. Ya que Díaz y su esposo viven al lado del hogar de sus arrendatarios, a ella se le facilita controlar lo que pasa en su casa, pero ella sabe que ese no es el caso de otros propietarios. “Puedo salir a mi jardín del frente, mirar al lado y ver qué está sucediendo. Si mis arrendatarios comienzan a armar bulla, puedo decirles ‘Oye, dejen de hacer ruido’”, dijo ella. “Realmente nos importa el Sur de Tucsón. Puedo

mirar a lo largo de la calle y darme cuenta de quiénes son los propietarios y quiénes no lo son.” Serna comentó que espera que la nueva ley ayude a limpiar la ciudad del Sur de Tucsón, la cual tiene una mala reputación por su alto número de delitos y edificios deteriorados. “Esto mudará la génesis del estigma que rodea al Sur de Tucsón”, comentó. En el transcurso de la semana en que recibió la notificación por correo, McGuire desalojó a los residentes problemáticos. Pasó una gran parte del verano pasado en el Sur de Tucsón arreglando él mismo el complejo y le ha dado la labor de supervisor de sus departamentos a un gerente in situ. Durante una de sus visitas McGuire cruzó la calle, dirigiéndose hacia HOPE Recovery en 34th Street, para hablar con sus vecinos a cerca de la situación del complejo. “Les dije que yo era el dueño de la propiedad y que estaba en serios problemas. Siendo ellos mis vecinos del frente comentaron que ya lo sabían. Ellos lo veían”, dijo McGuire. McGuire habló con Pete Moore, el director ejecutivo de HOPE Recovery, una organización religiosa ofrece servicios a drogadictos en recuperación. McGuire, un ex-adicto que ya tiene 21 años sobrio y que trabaja en el campo de recuperación, sugirió que su complejo se convirtiera en una vivienda para los participantes del programa HOPE Recovery. “Quería que se convirtiera en

una mano de apoyo para el tratamiento. Sólo quiero a gente sobria y no intoxicada. Existe una gran necesidad de eso en esa comunidad”, comentó él. Trinity Landscaping, una división de HOPE Recovery, brindo su ayuda para limpiar el edificio. “Nos juntamos para ayudarnos mutuamente”, comentó Moore. McGuire contrató a más trabajadores capacitados, quienes le hicieron renovaciones al edificio, como la instalación de aire acondicionado, para atraer a arrendatarios de buena índole. “A sido un verano de proyectos de construcción aquí en Tucsón. Tengo unas cuantas canas más”, dijo McGuire medio en broma. “Pero estamos tratando de que todo funcione”. Moore dijo que las unidades de HOPE Recovery están llenas y que se espera que permanezcan así. “Ahora es un lugar seguro para que los inquilinos se enfoquen en su recuperación,” explicó. Según la ciudad, desde poco después de que se notifico a McGuire, no se ha solicitado que se presente la policía en el complejo. “Es una obra en proceso, pero ha sido milagrosa,” dijo McGuire. “Los vecinos están maravillados con lo que estamos haciendo.” Serna dijo que espera que con esta ley se mejore la comunidad, así como lo ha hecho el edificio de McGuire. “La mayoría de la gente cuida de su propiedad. Nosotros iremos tras de aquellos que no lo hacen,” explico Serna. “Estamos limpiando la casa.”

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Por Larissa Capizzano Traducido por Nekame Aguilar

Every Friday

Farmers Market at Broadway Village

EL INDEPENDIENTE

QUÉ PASA?

November 20 / 20 de noviembre 2009

Día de los Muertos

Every Friday, Broadway Village hosts a weekly indoor/outdoor farmers market with more than 40 local farmers and vendors from southern Arizona. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. Broadway Village is located on 2926 E. Broadway Blvd. For a complete list of vendors visit their website www.broadwayvillagetucson.com. .

Dec. 4- Dec. 20

La navidad alrededor del mundo

Reid Park Zoo will have twinkling lights, jingle bells, Santa Claus, holiday decor, music and refreshments every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from Dec. 4 through Dec. 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The zoo is located at 1030 S. Randolph Way. Admission is $4 for adults and $1 for children ages 2 to 14. Admission is free with an unwrapped toy donation for Toys for Tots through Dec. 13. For more information call 791-4022.

Dec. 4- Jan. 16

The Casasola Archives The Arizona State Museum presents “Mexico, the Revolution and Beyond: The Casasola Archives, 1900-1940,” an exhibition showcasing the photography of Agustín Victor Casasola. The photographs are considered the finest selection available in depicting Mexican history for the first part of the twentieth century. The exhibit runs from Dec. 4 to Jan. 16 and admission is $5 for adults and free for children. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1013 E. University Blvd. For more information call 621-6302.

PHOTOS BY ALEKSA BROWN

Tucson Children´s Museum tendrá el Festival de la Amistad: La Navidad Alrededor del Mundo el 5 de diciembre. El evento incluirá actividades con flores de noche buena, San Nicolás y botas navideñas y una interpretación del Arizona Youth Chamber Ensemble (Conjunto Juvenil de Música de Cámara de Arizona) quien cantará villancicos de diferentes países. Además habrá una visita de Santa Claus. El evento se realizará de la 1 p.m. a las 4 p.m. en el Tucson Children’s Museum ubicada en 200 S. Sixth Ave. El museo está ofreciendo la entrada a medio precio todo el día. La entrada regular para el museo cuesta $7 para adultos, $5 para niños entre 2 y 18 años de edad y es gratis para infantes menores de 24 meses. Para más información llame al 792-9985..

5 de diciembre The 20th Annual All Souls Procession. which took place on Nov. 8, was a procession honoring the dead. The route went from University Blvd. and 4th to Downtown Tucson. Avenue Thousands of people painted their faces and dressed in costume to celebrate el Dia De Los Muertos.

Dec. 5

PHOTO BY HALLEY MCINTYRE

Christmas Around the World

tures two stages with live entertainment, contest, food demonstrations and more than 100 food vendors. The event is at AVA Amphitheater at Casino del Sol, located on 5565 W. Valencia Road from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free for the event. For more information call 838-6700. .

Dec. 5

Dec. 5

Breakfast with Santa

The 5th Annual Tucson Tamale & Heritage festival celebrates the taste, smell and variation of tamales from the Southwest and Mexico on Dec. 5. The festival fea-

Bring your camera to take pictures with Santa at a special event for families at the Pima Air and Space Museum. The event also includes activities and gifts for kids, a breakfast buffet and access to the museum. The event is Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Pima Air and Space Museum, located at 6000 E. Valencia Road. Admission is $16 for adults, $10 for children ages 4 to 12 and

5th Annual Tucson Tamale & Heritage Festival

El Arizona State Museum presenta “México, la Revolución y más allá: los Archivos Casasola, 1900-1940”, una exhibición que presenta la fotografía de Agustín Víctor Casasola. Las fotografías se consideran la mejor selección disponible que represente a la historia de México en la primer parte del siglo veinte. La exhibición se presentará del 4 de diciembre al 16 de enero y la entrada costará $5 para adultos y será libre para los niños. El museo está abierto de lunes a sábado de 10 a.m. a 5 p.m. y está ubicada en 1013 E. University Blvd. Para más información llame al 6212-6302.

5 de diciembre

Zoo Lights

The Tucson Children’s Museum is holding Festival of Friendship: Christmas Around the World on Dec. 5. The event includes activities involving poinsettias, St. Nicholas, stockings and a performance by the Arizona Youth Chamber Ensemble who will be singing carols from different countries. There will also be a visit from Santa. The event is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tucson Children’s Museum located on 200 S. Sixth Ave. The museum is offering half price admission all day. Regular admission for the museum is $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 2 to 18 and free for toddlers ages 24 months and younger. For more information call 792-9985.

Casasola

Local pyrotechnic theatre troupe, Flam Chen, who host the event annually, provide a finale after the procession which included fire spinning, aerial and stilt performances.

$4 for children ages 3 and younger. For more information and to RSVP call 618-4850.

Viernes

Mercado en Broadway Village Cada viernes, Broadway Village es la sede de un mercado bajo techo y al aire libre con más de 40 agricultores y vendedores del sur de Arizona. El mercado está abierto de las 9 a.m. a las 2 p.m. La entrada es libre. Broadway Village está ubicada en 2926 E. Broadway Blvd. Para ver una lista completa de los vendedores visite el sitio Web: www.broadwayvillagetucson.com

4-20- de diciembre

Luces en zoológico El Zoológico de Reid Park tendrá luces centelleantes, cascabeles, decoraciones festivas, música, bocadillos, bebidas y a Santa Claus cada jueves, viernes y sábado por la noche del 4 al 20 de diciembre de las 6 p.m. a las 8 p.m. El zoológico está ubicado en 1030 S. Randolph Way. La entrada cuesta $4 para adultos y $1 para niños de 2 a 14 años de edad. La entrada es libre con una donación de un juguete no envuelto para Toys for Tots hasta el 13 de diciembre. Para más información llame al 7914022.

4 de diciembre a 16 de enero

Los Archivos de

El V Festival Anual Tucsonense del Tamal y de la Cultura El V Festival Anual Tucsonense del Tamal y de la Cultura El V Festival Anual Tucsonense del Tamal y de la Cultura celebrará el sabor, el aroma y las variedades de tamales del Suroeste y de México el 5 de diciembre. El festival tendrá dos escenarios con entretenimiento en vivo, concursos, demostraciones de comida y más de 100 vendedores de comida. El evento se llevará a cabo en el anfiteatro AVA en el Casino del Sol, ubicado en 5565 W. Valencia Road de las 10 a.m. a las 5 p.m. La entrada es libre para el evento. Para más información llama al 838-6700.

5 de diciembre

Desayuno con Santa Claus Traiga su cámara para tomar fotos con Santa Claus en este evento especial para familias en el Pima Air and Space Museum. El evento también incluye actividades y regalos para niños, un desayuno buffet y acceso al museo. El evento se realizará el 5 de diciembre de las 9 a.m. al medio día en el Pima Air and Space Museum, localizado en 6000 E. Valencia Road. La entrada cuesta $16 para adultos, $10 para niños de 4 a 12 años de edad y $4 para niños menores de 3 años. Para más información y para confirmar su asistencia llame al 618-4850.