Brown/Marchione: A message to Maricopa’s mayor
This editorial is written to Maricopa’s Mayor, Anthony Smith, in response to his comments, which appeared in the Friday, August 20th edition of the Maricopa Monitor, page 2, in an article titled “Councilmember ‘retracts’ letter to media.”
The Mayor’s statement:
“When one council member or members of that body go and try to get information on their own without the encouragement or official portion of the council, then sometimes communications and results can get kind of screwed up.”
Read more
Snider: August happenings around Pinal County
Can it really be true? Is it really August already? Yes, Virginia – it’s once again time to report to the classroom for another scholastic year of academic achievement and excellence. For some the month of August is also the last gasp of summer vacations as at least one more trek into Arizona’s mountains or long weekend trip to San Diego is undertaken. However, the one thread that’s common to all of us is the need to once again practice vigilance when we drive through school zones and crossings: slow down to 15 mph, don’t pass one another, and keep an eye out for children who don’t always wait for the crosswalk and a crossing guard.
Read more
Gusse: Maricopa needs a new direction
Dear Citizens of Maricopa,
I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve each of you as we jointly mold Maricopa into a city that can reach it’s truest potential. As a newly elected Councilmember I am spending a large amount of my time learning how to become an effective councilwoman. However, the experience has been quite interesting due to the fact that every step I take forward is scrutinized and questioned by City Management.
I have reviewed our City Code and the structure of our town is simple. The City Council sets policy and the City Manager works at the will and pleasure of the City Council. However, in our case, it seems to be the other way around.
Read more
County Attorney responds to SB1070 decision
Statement from Pinal County Attorney James P. Walsh:
Yesterday’s decision by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton blocked key provisions of Arizona’s new criminal immigration law, popularly know as SB 1070, while allowing other portions of SB 1070 to go into effect today.
The key provisions which cannot be enforced unless the Court’s ruling is changed or overruled include the new state crimes of failing to complete or carry an alien registration card and trying to secure work while not a legal resident. The basis for the ruling was that the enjoined parts of the new law were in an area preempted by federal law. The Court’s Preliminary Injunction will remain in effect until a trial on the merits unless it is appealed by the State of Arizona in which case the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals could reverse, uphold or modify the decision.
Read more
Babeu issues statement regarding SB1070 decision
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu has issued the following statement in response to U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton’s injunction against certain provisions of SB1070, Arizona’s new immigration law, which goes into effect tonight at midnight:
“Incredibly, even though there is not one person who can legitimately claim to be harmed by a law that has not even taken effect, the result of an injunction is de facto amnesty through non-enforcement of laws against illegal immigration,”
“The federal government refuses to secure the border and leaves it to states like Arizona to bear the costs of its inaction. Yet, when we try to do the job they won’t do, in a manner consistent with federal law, they stop us. You couldn’t make up something this ridiculous.”
Read more
Snider: Happy Birthday USA!
Happy Birthday USA: This July 4th there are 234 candles on that really BIG cake! On behalf of myself, my family, and, I’m confident, my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors, here’s a heartfelt “Thank You!” to all those Americans who have or are serving in our armed forces in order to protect and preserve our democratic form of government with all the privileges we enjoy today. I want to especially take this time to salute not only the men and women who are serving today – particularly those warriors in harm’s way in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world – but their families as well. Theirs is often the hardest battle and they deserve not only our gratitude for their sacrifices but our support during these long, lonely months of separation.
Read more
Kimball: Things to consider regarding recently passed concealed carry legislation
As some of you may already know the recent concealed carry legislation that passed will become law on or about July 17th, 2010. It, in a nutshell, “de-criminalizes” the offense of carrying a concealed firearm in the State of Arizona without a permit as long as the individual is twenty one years of age or older and is not a “prohibited possessor” according to the state statues.
Things to consider before heading out to your local gun store, purchasing a handgun, and ultimately carrying it concealed;
Read more
Snider: Working on Pinal County’s air quality
Welcome to June – the month of weddings, celebrations, vacations, and hot days with less hot nights. In the governmental arena, it’s also the month of tentative and final budgeting and – this year – the time of serious political campaigning: let the signs come forth on every street corner and billboard!
Several months ago Pinal County met and worked with various stakeholders in the county to help the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Governor Brewer prepare a response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s declaration putting Pinal County into non-attainment for dust: specifically PM10 and PM2.5. The Governor sent that proposal to the EPA in late March, showing a proposed PM-10 nonattainment map that covered portions of the northwestern corner of the county: from I 8 north to the Gila River Indian Community’s boundary, from a line just east of Florence to the Maricopa County boundary on the west. The Governor’s proposal excluded areas at the very western edge of the county, as well as the Ak Chin and Gila River Indian Communities.
Read more
Martin: National Guard are soldiers not bureaucrats
This past week, Dean Martin questioned President Obama’s commitment to securing our southern border. Just weeks after Homeland Secretary Napolitano made the outrageous claim that the southern border is “as secure as it’s ever been,” President Obama has now ordered 1,200 troops to the southern border.
“As long as Secretary Napolitano in charge, I have little confidence President Obama’s recent token attempt to secure the border by claiming the National Guard might be deployed,” said Martin. “The mission as defined by the President is unclear, and Secretary Napolitano thinks the southern border is already secure.”
Read more
Babeu: Thank you to local law enforcement
Law Enforcement Leaders,
I wish to express my deep appreciation for your swift and immediate response in answer to our call for help during our officer involved shooting in western Pinal County. At approximately 4:00 pm on April 30th, Deputy Louie Purrol was tracking six drug smugglers (later known to be armed) in the remote desert area south of I-8 and west of Casa Grande, when he was ambushed and shot. Over 200 officers from local, state, tribal nations and our federal partners responded. Your help and support was tremendous and underscored the strength of our professional bond.
Read more
