Rep. Michelle Ugenti (R-Scottsdale) to Students: “Welcome to Life”
Last week a House committee passed HB2675, a bill sponsored by Rep. John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) which would require all students, even the poorest, to pay $2000 per year to attend a university.
So let’s see, you earn a full ride scholarship then the Big Republican Government regulates that the scholarship doesn’t matter and then the Big Republican Government requires you to pay $2,000 out of pocket anyways, all the while the Republicans bitch about “Big Government” while imposing big government regulations on the poor and middle class.
About 100 students went to protest the bill at the Capitol where they were greeted with open hostility by Rep. Michelle Ugenti (R-Scottsdale), who told them “Welcome to life.”
“Welcome to life” while she enjoys government financed health care and other government benefits, benefits subsidized by tax payers.
Oh honey, let me tell you about life! Read more 
Matsuri Festival 2012 in Photos
The Matsuri Festival was this past weekend at Heritage Square in Downtown Phoenix and a good time was had by all! I go every year to this free event and it’s always a blast. For me, the Matsuri Festival is the official first big event that kicks off the whole season of festivals and events. Coming up is the Challenge Nation Urban Scavenger Hunt, the Blues Blast, the Great Arizona Beer Fest, the Aloha Festival, Phoenix Pride and so many more that I can’t even keep track.
Here are a few photos that I took while walking around the Matsuri Festival on Saturday afternoon. Read more
Arizona at 100
A century ago on today’s date, President William Howard Taft signed the proclamation that admitted Arizona to the Union as a state. He addressed a crowd from the Ford Hotel on 3rd Avenue and Washington Street (demolished in the 1960s) then walked west on Washington to the Capitol Building at 17th Avenue.
As I’ve said time and time again, you have to be tough to live in the desert and I consider myself among the lucky who gets to call Arizona home. The subtle beauty, the colors, shapes, heights, the solemn stillness, the smell of creosote after the rain, all these things overwhelm and delight the senses; the beauty and the extremes of the desert pull attention away from ourselves and into the world around. No toxic, inconsistent Republican politics can keep me from loving my state. Arizona deserves much better than it is given credit for. Read more
AZ Best Fest and Burundi Drummers
The Arizona Centennial is Tuesday so to celebrate this past weekend there was a big event called the Best Fest. On Sunday I interviewed a Burundian drummer group who performed at the event and wrote a story about it for DPJ. You can read it here. Read more
ALERT: Stop AZ lawmakers from blocking clean energy progress
The Arizona Legislature is back to work ensuring that Arizona remains a backwater laughing stock. With that in mind, I’ll be posting a lot of these ALERTS to do my part to share information and ways for the citizens of Arizona to stay active. This email came from the Vote Solar Initiative.
We need your help to defeat a bad bill that would set up a huge roadblock to progress on renewable energy and energy efficiency in Arizona. The bill has its first committee hearing in Phoenix next week. Click here to help us tell legislators to stop this solar setback in its tracks!
Just introduced by Representative Debbie Lesko, HB 2789 would require the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) — the publicly elected body that has sole authority to regulate power rates under the State Constitution — to get approval from a majority in the Legislature before it can approve or amend programs or policies that would advance renewable energy or energy efficiency. This would add a layer of government regulation with no benefit for Arizonans, who not only directly elect ACC Commissioners but also already have the opportunity to provide comment throughout the ACC decisionmaking process. Read more
(Re)Creating Community: Phoenix Mormon Stories Conference Feb 17-18, 2012
It’s almost time for this conference! I’m one of the speakers and I’m putting the finishing touches on my talk titled “Time Machines, Cemeteries, and the Desert.” Info about the conference is below. Click here to register.
With Margaret Toscano, Jared Anderson, Joanna Brooks and John Dehlin! Read more
ALERT: Help Restore the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund!
This came from the Arizona Preservation Foundation:
Advocates for Arizona’s parks, open space, heritage, and historic preservation are encouraged to help restore the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund. During the 2010 state budget crisis, the entire Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund was swept into the General Fund AND the language authorizing its existence was removed. (You can read about what happened here and here. It’s horrible what Arizona Republican lawmakers did in 2010.)
In this Centennial of Statehood, House Concurrent Resolution 2047, “Enacting and Ordering the Submission to the People of a Measure Relating to the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund,” has been introduced by Representative Russ Jones of Yuma. Review the bill’s language here. Read more
Our Interview on “Horizon”
Last night I appeared with my co-authors on PBS for an interview about our book.
From their website: Read more
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Steps Down from Congress
Congresswoman Giffords was an outstanding member of Congress who served with great honor. Among many things she worked for border security and solar programs for Arizona and did so in a bipartisan manner. She deserves our support and thanks. Read more
New Post on DPJ “State of Sustainability”
Downtown Voices Coalition hosted the “State of Sustainability in Downtown Phoenix” on Tuesday night and I was there to cover the event.
Is Phoenix really the “least sustainable city in the world” as author Andrew Ross’ new book declares?
I recapped the event and the story is posted on the Downtown Phoenix Journal.
Statement on the Anniversary of the Tucson Tragedy from the Arizona Democratic Party
Andrei Cherny, Arizona Democratic Party chairman, gave the following statement today:
“It’s been one year — one gut-wrenching, unforgettable year — and we’ve learned a few things. We’ve learned that joy can break through a thick wall of despair, whether from the healing speech of a president or a simple request for toast. We’ve learned that casting a vote in Congress can also be a breathtaking act of bravery. We’ve learned that pure determination, combined with love and support, can work miracles. And we’ve learned that lesson which so often must be relearned in life: we can never take for granted that our loved ones will be with us tomorrow. As this anniversary passes, we go forward into a new year, committed to remembering all that we have learned.
“Today, our thoughts and prayers are with those who died on January 8, 2011, and with the survivors and families who courageously press on in rebuilding their lives.”
Some of the survivors shared their stories in this video. It’s of course very sad to watch. Read more
The Book “Downtown Phoenix” On Sale Today!
It’s finally here! If you ordered a copy online it will be in the mail today. I’m selling it on my website too. The release party is this Saturday night at Hanny’s from 5-8 p.m. so come down to my favorite place downtown and have a celebratory drink!
Reflections on Turning 30
I turned 30 years old today, XXX in Roman Numerals!
Now that I’m 30 I’ve decided to put myself out to pasture. I jest, of course. I’m not ready to retire, I’m just getting started.
All this month as I’ve been thinking about turning 30, I’ve been thinking about the past 10 years. December in the desert brings frosty air, the heady smoke of juniper burning in nearby fireplaces, and the pungent smells of cinnamon and ginger. All these things recall many winters past.
When it’s cold I can’t help but think about the two years I spent in Russia as a Mormon missionary, two years that I do not regret, but two years that I would not do over again, knowing what I know now.
Oh, to be a young man in Russia!
Phoenix Phoestivus 2011 in Photos
The Phoestivus was a blast! Crowds of people swarmed through the little market on both days this year, enjoying music, food, drinks, and local produce and art. The reaction to my new book has been overwhelmingly positive and I’m happy that I can finally share it with the world. Many early copies were sold just in time for Christmas.
The official release is January 2, 2012 and the official release party is on January 7th from 5-8 p.m. at my most beloved downtown Phoenix location- Hanny’s. Read more
Mormon Stories Phoenix Conference
I’ve been a huge fan of Mormon Stories podcast for years. It’s a place where Mormons of all backgrounds, activity levels, and beliefs share their personal stories and struggles about being Mormon. These stories cover the spectrum from LGBT issues, marriage and sex, history, philosophy, Mormon theology and everything else in between. (My parents and I were interviewed for the podcast earlier this year. You can listen to it here.)
In March 2011 I was lucky enough to travel to New York City and see The Book of Mormon Musical with Mormon Stories podcast founder John Dehlin and other listeners of Mormon Stories from all over the country. That weekend was also the first (maybe second) Mormon Stories Conference. To be honest, I only planned on attending a few hours of it then I planned to hit the city. But nothing, not even the Big Apple herself, was able to pull me away from that conference. It was life changing. Read more
