Soleri Bridge

New Soleri Footbridge Dedicated at Scottsdale Waterfront
By: Trevor Freeman

Scottsdale, Arizona recently celebrated the completion of one of the most ambitious public art projects in the city’s history. On Saturday, December 11th, 2010, the new Soleri Footbridge was officially dedicated in Old Town Scottsdale.

The $3.5 million dollar bridge spans the Arizona Canal near Scottsdale Road and Camelback Road in an area known as “The Waterfront.” It is the first of architect Paolo Soleri’s bridges to be completed.

The bridge is 24 feet wide at the south end and 18 feet wide at the north end. It features clean, modern lines that hang low over the water’s surface. The bridge’s basic function is to allow pedestrians, cyclists, and horseback riders to cross the canal safely. However, the bridge also incorporates several features which are appropriate to its desert location including a built-in solar calendar and a gathering plaza with a cast bronze windbell.

The main support for the bridge comes from a pair of 64 foot-tall columns which stand at a near-vertical 80-degree angle. When the sun reaches its highest point of the day (solar noon), its light will shine through a six-inch gap between the supports on to the deck of the bridge. The Soleri Footbridge is proof that art can be both functional and beautiful at the same time.

Paolo Soleri is an architect who is known around the world for his unique style of “arcology,” a term he coined which combines architecture and ecology. Soleri is also the founder of the Cosanti Foundation, a non-profit educational group that oversees Cosanti in Scottsdale and Arcosanti in Mayer, Arizona (approximately 75 miles north of Phoenix).

Both of these facilities aim to promote Soleri’s vision of architecture that is conscious of its environment. They are also functioning studios and galleries where artisans work in bronze casting, ceramics, and earth-formed structures. We would like to congratulate Mr. Soleri and the City of Scottsdale on their tremendous achievements!

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Trevor Freeman is a resident of the Phoenix valley and a contributing author to Phoenix.org. He also maintains his own local blog at NorthPhoenixBlog.Blogspot.com.

If you would like to contribute an article to Phoenix.org then please contact our editor at Troy@Phoenix.org.

Encanto Park Ceremony

Encanto Park Celebrates 75th Anniversary

By: Trevor Freeman

One of Phoenix’s most unique icons recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. I’m talking about Encanto Park, located on 15th Avenue between Thomas Road and McDowell Road.

As one of Phoenix’s 31 Points of Pride, Encanto Park has received special recognition as a significant landmark in Phoenix’s history and culture. The massive 222-acre park is truly an oasis in the desert with its abundant water features including a 7.5 acre lagoon, boathouse, and public swimming pool.

The idea for the park came about in 1934 from millionaire philanthropist William G. Hartranft, who also served as the first director of the Phoenix Parks and Recreation board. He envisioned a grand city park that would be as iconic as San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park or San Diego’s Balboa Park.

The park’s design and layout incorporates elements from English Garden Parks of the 1920s and 1930s as well as the City Beautiful Movement that took place during the turn of the 20th century.

Over the years, Encanto Park has been upgraded with modern features like picnic areas with barbecue grills, a nature trail, and sports facilities such as a baseball diamond, basketball court, and tennis courts. For over seven decades, it’s been one of the most popular spots for Phoenix residents to eat, play, and relax under the park’s numerous shade trees.

But there’s more to Encanto than just sports and recreation. Encanto Park is also home to Enchanted Island, an amusement park geared towards children of all ages. Enchanted Island has plenty of rides and attractions to choose from such as a historic carousel, train ride, bumper boats, and more. There’s even a water park for those hot summer days!

As the park turned 75 this year, the City of Phoenix put together a big celebration on Saturday, November 27th. The whole day was filled with events such as live music from local artists, activities for kids, and a fireworks display at night.

Encanto Park really has something for everyone. It was voted one of the 12 best parks in America by Forbes Magazine in 2009, and for good reason! In many ways, Encanto is the crown jewel of city parks in Phoenix. If you haven’t been there, I would strongly encourage you to stop by and check it out for yourself!

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Trevor Freeman is a resident of the Phoenix valley and a contributing author to Phoenix.org. He also maintains his own local blog at NorthPhoenixBlog.Blogspot.com.

If you would like to contribute an article to Phoenix.org then please contact our editor at Troy@Phoenix.org.

Arizona Auto Show November 1

Arizona International Auto Show 2010
By: Trevor Freeman

November is that special time of year when the weather starts to get cold, families come together for Thanksgiving, and the cars roll into town. By cars, I mean the Arizona International Auto show at the Phoenix Convention Center. This event comes to town each year on Thanksgiving weekend. This year’s show could be the best one yet!

Here’s how it works: for four days, the Phoenix Convention Center fills up with brand-new vehicles from the world’s major automakers. They are on display in a no-pressure environment where prospective buyers can get a feel for them. You can sit down, play with the knobs, adjust the seat, and kick the tires without being hassled by salesmen.

With over 400 cars spread out among 310,000 square feet of space, the 2010 Arizona International Auto Show is a fun way to check out all the latest models while walking off the extra pounds from Thanksgiving.

Besides mass-production vehicles, the Auto Show is also a great place to check out concept vehicles. These one-off models may or may not make it to production, so in some cases this may be your only chance to see them. This year the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 and Chevrolet Camaro LS7 concept vehicles will be on display.

My favorite part of the auto show takes place at the curb in front of the Phoenix Convention Center, where select carmakers have ride-and-drive events set up. This gives you a chance to ride along in or drive a brand new car around downtown Phoenix. Last year, I drove the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS automatic coupe with the 400-horsepower V8. It was such a blast that I was smiling all day long!

Arizona Auto Show November Number 2

Other manufacturers including Ford and Jeep also have ride-and-drive pavilions featuring their latest models. The Jeep exhibit takes passengers over a rough off-road course in a Trail-Rated Jeep vehicle, which is driven by a professional 4×4 driver. At the Ford pavilion, drivers can take the wheel of a brand new 2011 Ford Fiesta, Mustang, Taurus, Edge, F150 pickup, or a Super Duty Diesel truck.

If you’re looking for a great way to spend your Thanksgiving weekend, I highly recommend visiting the Arizona International Auto Show.

Date: November 25-28, 2010
Hours: 9am to 7pm Thursday and Sunday, 9am to 9pm Friday and Saturday
Admission: $9 adults, $5 military, students, seniors, and children 7-12. Children 6 and under are free.

For more information, visit: http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/phoenix/generalinfo.jsp

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Trevor Freeman is a resident of the Phoenix valley and a contributing author to Phoenix.org. He also maintains his own local blog at NorthPhoenixBlog.Blogspot.com.

If you would like to contribute an article to Phoenix.org then please contact our editor at Troy@Phoenix.org.

By: Trevor Freeman

If I had to pick just one word to describe Arizona, it would be inspiring. Maybe it’s the variety of landscapes and climates, or perhaps it is the remarkable sunsets. Whatever the reason, there’s just something about Arizona that inspires people to get creative. Here is my list of some cool books about Arizona:

Weird Arizona Book Cover

1. Weird Arizona by Wesley Treat

This book features all of the weird, strange, and unique places you won’t find in other travel guides. Weird Arizona features roadside attractions, haunted places, and all manner of weirdness. Definitely a must-read for those off-the-beaten-path explorers. It also makes a great gift!

Weird Arizona by Wesley Treat

2. Moon Handbooks: Arizona by Bill Weir

A dear friend gifted me this excellent travel guide to Arizona. It covers Page to Nogales and everything in between. The best Arizona has to offer in attractions, lodging, and dining are all packed into this extremely portable book. Weir goes a step beyond other travel guides by introducing each of Arizona’s regions with a detailed and contextual history.

3. Phoenix Then and Now by Paul Scharbach and John Akers

Take a trip back through time and see what Phoenix used to look like in its early days. This book takes it a step further with “rephotography” – modern-day photos from the same locations as historical photos. Akers and Scharbach do a masterful job of showing the city’s changing face over time.

Phoenix Then and Now

4. The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons by John Wesley Powell

Civil War veteran, geologist, and explorer John Wesley Powell was the first man to lead an exploration of the Colorado River Valley in 1869. Powell’s journal records the incredible 1,000 mile journey that led to the first recorded exploration of the Grand Canyon with the soul of a poet and the wit of a scientist.

5. Official Arizona Trivia by Marshall Trimble

As the Official State Historian of Arizona, Marshall Trimble has spent his life preserving the state’s history and culture through his written works. In Arizona Trivia, he recounts the weird, wacky, and unusual facts about the state’s history that you simply won’t find anywhere else!

6. Phoenix: 21st Century City by Edward Booth-Clibborn

This book is a compilation of photographs that highlights the architectural and artistic side of Phoenix as it continues to grow and expand in a seemingly endless sprawl of suburbs. It’s worth owning just for the remarkable photographs of a city that is contstantly in transition and the effects that has on its residents.

7. Arcosanti: An Urban Laboratory? by Paolo Soleri

This Italian-born architect has adopted Arizona as the home for his vision of the future. Arcology is a fusion of architecture and ecology, exhibited at Soleri’s experimental community in Mayer, Arizona and at Cosanti in Scottsdale. His visions of the future are as ambitious as they are grand, which makes for some controversial yet interesting theology.

8. Monumental Places: National Parks and Monuments in the Grand Canyon State by George McNamee

Published by Arizona Highways, this book takes readers on a tour of Arizona’s most famous places. At just 80 pages, the focus of this book is clearly on quality. It features the stunning, award-winning photographs that Arizona Highways magazine is famous for. Great for shutterbugs and Arizona enthusiasts alike.

9. Route 66 Across Arizona by Richard and Sherry Magnum

Check out this comprehensive index of Historic Route 66 in Arizona! From the New Mexico border to the California State Line, this book features maps, photos, and information about the Mother Road’s path through Arizona.

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Trevor Freeman is a resident of the Phoenix valley and a contributing author to Phoenix.org. He also maintains his own local blog at NorthPhoenixBlog.Blogspot.com.

If you would like to contribute an article to Phoenix.org then please contact our editor at Troy@Phoenix.org.

By: Trevor Freeman

Have you heard about the new project that’s underway at Sky Harbor Airport? It is big, expensive, and very, very cool.

I’m talking about the Sky Train – the new rail system that will link all of Sky Harbor with the Metro Light Rail system that runs between Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. When completed in 2020, the new trains will ferry passengers from the 44th Street and Washington rail station all the way over to the Rental Car facility at 18th Street and Buckeye Road. The train will make stops at the East Economy parking garages as well as Terminals 2, 3, and 4.

The massive project calls for constructing new stations, trains, and 4.9 miles of elevated track across the entire airport. This will allow travelers to quickly and easily traverse the airport while reducing traffic congestion and pollution on the roadways by up to 20,000 cars per day.

But that’s not even the best part. What has me excited is the stretch of track between the East Economy Garages and Terminal 4, which will open to the public in 2013. Here, the Sky Train will truly live up to its name as it soars 100 feet above the ground on a graceful concrete arch bridge over the jetway.

Yes, you heard that right. The train will cross over a ramp that passenger planes use for taxiing between runways. Passengers will zip along at 35mph in air-conditioned comfort while Boeings and Airbuses roll right beneath their feet. It will be the first and only place in the world where a train crosses over an airplane.

The Sky Train project is massive by any scale: the total cost is estimated at $1.1 billion dollars. Annual ridership is projected to be 10 million people per year. And the fact that the final phase of construction won’t be complete for another 10 years is also a big deal.

When Phase One opens in 2013, you can bet I will be there to go for a ride.This beats the heck out of the Disneyland Monorail I rode as a kid!And unlike Disneyland, the Sky Train will be free of charge and run on a 24-hour schedule.

The Sky Train is an awesome feat of engineering and logistics that will really bring Sky Harbor into the 21st century. I am eagerly looking forward to the project’s completion.

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Trevor Freeman is a resident of the Phoenix valley and a contributing author to Phoenix.org. He also maintains his own local blog at NorthPhoenixBlog.Blogspot.com.

If you would like to contribute an article to Phoenix.org then please contact our editor at Troy@Phoenix.org.

By: Trevor Freeman

Are you looking to pick up some computer parts and accessories at great prices? If so, you should check out the Scouts Computer Swap Meet in Scottsdale. This regular gathering of buyers and sellers takes place on the third Sunday of the month in Scottsdale.

Conveniently located at Indian Bend Road and the Loop 101 freeway, the Scouts’ swap meet is adjacent to the 5 & Diner restaurant. The event is put on by Troop 446 of the Boy Scouts of America.

The Scouts Computer Swap Meet is the place to go for anything and everything electronic. All manner of computer parts and components can be found nestled among the rows of tables. You might find everything from flat panel monitors to server racks, laptops, desktops, and cables and adapters of all shapes and sizes.

If you are interested in selling off your extra computer parts, the Scouts rent spaces and tables for vendors to sell their wares. Spaces are given on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to get there as early as possible! For current pricing, check the official website listed below.

Finally, the Scottsdale computer swap meet is a great place to donate your unwanted or unused electronics. Westech Recycling will be on hand to recycle everything from TVs to printers. If it has a cord, they’ll take it! This is a great way to safely dispose of your used electronics at no cost.

Check out the next swap meets on these dates:

November 21, 2010 – 5:30am to 10:30am

December 19th, 2010 – 5:30am to 10:30am

Scouts Computer Swap Meet

9069 E Indian Bend Rd

Scottsdale, AZ 85250

http://www.scoutscomputerswapmeet.com

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Trevor Freeman is a resident of the Phoenix valley and a contributing author to Phoenix.org. He also maintains his own local blog at NorthPhoenixBlog.Blogspot.com.

If you would like to contribute an article to Phoenix.org then please contact our editor at Troy@Phoenix.org.

Sky Harbor Control Tower

Sky Harbor Airport Celebrates 75^th Anniversary

By: Trevor Freeman

Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport is one of the ten busiest airports in America, and one of the fifteen busiest in the world. Sky Harbor is a mega-hub of activity that includes passenger travel, cargo transport, and general aviation. This year, Sky Harbor is celebrating its 75^th anniversary!

To celebrate this important milestone, the City of Phoenix has added several new pages to Sky Harbor’s website featuring historical information about the airport’s early days. The City also served cake to passengers and employees on October 7^th as part of the celebration.

The airport is also putting together a new exhibit about its history which will be on display in Terminal 3. For more about the history of Sky Harbor, please visit their 75^th Anniversary page (http://www.phxskyharbor.com/about/75Years.html)

Here are some interesting things you may not know about Sky Harbor International Airport:

Sky Harbor Airport Museum

• The 326 foot-tall control tower is the 5^th tallest in the world (after Atlanta, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Munich).

• Over 39 million people passed through Sky Harbor Airport in 2008.

• Sky Harbor has an average of 1,200 arrivals and departures every day!

• Over 600 tons of cargo pass through the airport on a daily basis.

• Sky Harbor provides over 33,000 jobs to Phoenix residents.

• Sky Harbor Airport has its own radio show which airs Sundays at 10:30am on 1480 AM KPHX radio.

• Terminal 4 features an interfaith chaplaincy where people of all faiths can reflect, regroup, and rest.

• Sky Harbor features over 500 works of art spread amongst its three terminals, making it one of the largest airport museums in the nation.

• Have you ever wondered about the biplane hanging in Terminal 3? It’s a fully restored 1917 SPAD XIII from World War I.

• The escalators in Terminal 3 are designed to resemble the Grand Canyon.

• What happened to Terminal 1? The original building was constructed in 1952 and torn down in 1990. Terminals 2, 3, and 4 were not renamed.

• Nonstop international flights are available to Canada, Mexico, and England.

• There are more than 30,000 parking spaces at Sky Harbor.

• There are 3 main runways, the longest of which is 11,490 ft (3,502m).

• The Sky Train (currently under construction) will link the airport with the Valley Metro Light Rail system by 2020.

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Trevor Freeman is a resident of the Phoenix valley and a contributing author to Phoenix.org. He also maintains his own local blog at NorthPhoenixBlog.Blogspot.com.

If you would like to contribute an article to Phoenix.org then please contact our editor at Troy@Phoenix.org.

Rodney Glassman is running for US Senate

On Tuesday, May 25th Phoenix.org was given the opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with former Tucson city councilman Rodney Glassman.  Mr. Glassman is currently running for Senator John McCain’s seat in the senate on the democratic ticket. During our interview we were able to discuss local Arizona issues such as the new immigration bill, border control, boycotts and education.

The team at Phoenix.org would like to thank Mr. Glassman for his time and hopes that you will enjoy the results of this interview.

If you are interested in hearing from local personalities or politicians then please contact Phoenix.org to suggest an individual to interview.

Now please enjoy the interview.

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Phoenix.org: The response to the recent immigration law created by the state of Arizona has garnered national attention, with intense support as well as intense opposition. Do you think that Arizona made the proper choice with this law, if so why or why not? Do you have any ideas that you think would help Arizona deal with the issues that come with being so close to the border?

Rodney Glassman: Washington and John McCain have failed us. John McCain has been in Washington for 28 years and has really taken all sides of the immigration debate, while the problems have only gotten worse and the people of Arizona are searching for answers. The recent Arizona immigration law was created out of frustration. It is simply a rash attempt to score political points while not focusing on the issue, which is that immigration reform needs to be done at the federal level and it needs to be championed by our US Senator, who so far has refused to acknowledge the issue.

We are a nation of laws, we need to secure our borders and keep Arizona families safe, while at the same time we need to acknowledge that the economic realities of our county do not match our current immigration policies. Arizona cannot do it alone to solve the problem, it needs to be the federal government, we need to make sure that the US Senator that we elect from Arizona is someone who is able to bring all of the various stakeholders to the table together.

2010 and the immigration issue truly is about electing a consensus builder someone with a track record of solving problems; we need someone that can bring people together to move our state forward and champion immigration reform at the federal level. We do not need a US Senator that runs away from the issue. We need a US Senator that will tackle the issue. That is the kind of US Senator I plan to become.

Phoenix.org: Do you have any specific ideas that you think would help Arizona deal with the issues that come with being so close to the border?

Rodney Glassman: Well, first and foremost we need to secure the border which means using the appropriate resources. We hear time and again the concept of a wall. The reality is that in rural areas where no one is living a wall is simply a waste of resources. We need to utilize technologies, technologies like the kind that have been created and developed in Arizona, such as unmanned aerial vehicles which can monitor the border utilizing technology. Sadly and ironically we have had a US Senator that for the past 28 years has consistently said that he does not want to bring resources to the border, but we need to secure the border with the appropriate technologies.

Additionally we need to have a guest worker program that matches the economic realities of the state. We need to have the ability for individuals to come to Arizona to work and return home so that our agricultural industries, our restaurant industries, our tourist industries are able to function and we need to have a plan for the 11-12 million undocumented individuals that are already here. But in order to accomplish any of these things we have to have a senator that is a capacity builder, a senator that is willing to work with all the various stakeholders and my background is unique, having served on the Arizona Farm Bureau Board of Directors, having worked in the home building industry, having worked for a congressman that represents a significant segment of our Latino population. I have been endorsed and supported by a variety of stakeholders that represent a myriad of opinions in regards to the immigration issue and that is the type of person that we need in Washington DC and championing this issue.

Phoenix.org: Also regarding the immigration law, some local governments and organizations have been calling for boycotts on Arizona and Arizona based industries. How do you believe Arizona should deal with these actions from others?

Rodney Glassman: The reality is that in these difficult economic times Arizonans can’t afford a boycott. Arizonans are struggling with record high job losses and foreclosures. A boycott on Arizona really harms those who need the work the most. We have to be careful not to punish millions of Arizonans from the actions of a few leaders from the fringe. Arizonans truly want a fresh approach and are ready to work for new direction for Arizona’s future. While I have relationships and respect for some that have called for this boycott, the reality is that we need federal immigration reform and we need a champion that is willing to take that to Washington DC.

Phoenix.org: Some claim that there is a feeling of overall discontent in the air coming from the voters this election cycle. Would you agree with this assumption that voters are more upset this year then they typically have been in the past? If so, why do you think that is and how do you plan on dealing with this mentality as a candidate and possibly a US Senator?

Rodney Glassman: People and voters are frustrated sending representatives to Washington DC, like John McCain, who for 28 years forget the fact that they represent Arizona. Arizonans have a US Senator in John McCain that has built a very strong reputation by giving speeches in New Hampshire about what he does not do for Arizona. To have a US Senator like John McCain, who for the past three decades has spent time shifting positions and doing nothing to solve our problems, has created a significant amount of discontent.

Our campaign is unique in that I plan on raising a family in Arizona. I am the candidate that plans on bringing resources to Arizona, on creating Arizona jobs and supporting Arizona schools. And what Arizonans want is a US Senator who is committed to putting Arizona first and to moving our nation forward.

Phoenix.org: You have been discussing the issue of “water conservation” recently and you also have a degree in Arid Land Resource Science. Due to the desert nature of Arizona naturally the allocation of resources, especially water, is an important one. What are some of your plans or ideas that you want to see put into effect regarding water and other resource conservation?

Rodney Glassman

Rodney Glassman: Arizona sits at the bottom of the Colorado river and therefore water and water conservation will continue to be an important issue for our state. As a candidate for the Tucson City Council I campaigned on requiring rainwater harvesting on all new commercial developments, gray water plumbing on all new homes and solar power water heating on all new homes. As I campaigned I not only received the endorsements of the Sierra Club and local labor unions but I also received the endorsements of the Tucson Association of Realtors, the Tucson Homebuilders Association and the Tucson Chamber of Commerce. So within two years of being elected to the city council I was able to bring all of the stake holders that are interested in conservation and development around the table together to make my campaign commitments realities. Additionally as the vice mayor of the city of Tucson I was invited to speak by mayors and councils across the state from Avondale to Mesa, and Sajarita, all the way north to Flagstaff, from Fountain Hills to Oro Valley and Prescott to Sierra Vista because they were interested in the concepts of sustainability that I have accomplished through consensus building.

The reality is that water conservation is not a republican or democratic issue, it’s an Arizona issued and at the macro level we need to do more as a state to leverage our renewable energy resources. The fact that the city of Portland received more solar dollars on an annual basis then both the cities of Phoenix and Tucson is wrong. This once again demonstrated that we do not have a senator in John McCain that is an advocate for bringing resources home or for championing Arizona’s future.

Phoenix.org: The state of Arizona, and even more especially the city of Phoenix, have recently both gone through a quite extensive bursting of a real estate bubble. This has left a lot of people owing more money on a mortgage than their house is worth and also caused a high level of foreclosure and vacancy rates. What do you think Arizona should do, if anything, to try to reduce the volatility of the local housing market? Do you have any advice for those that are struggling to hold onto their home?

Rodney Glassman: First and foremost we need a US Senator that cares about working families. Currently more that 50% of home owners in Arizona are upside down on their mortgages, yet they do not have a voice in the US Senate in Washington DC. For too long free-wheeling Wall Street practices fattened bankers wallets yet when the house of cards fell apart the American housing market fell apart too and Arizonans and homeowners across the country were stuck with the bill. We need a US Senator who is committed to stop playing political games and to hold Wall Street accountable. John McCain’s five largest contributors are the five largest financial institutions in the country. There is a sad irony when (Las) Vegas casinos are under more regulation then the bankers on wall street (which) have the power to negatively impact Arizonans and put them into the housing crises today.

The truth is that Arizonans need an advocate for working families, they need an advocate who is willing to demand that the banks return their phone calls, who is willing to champion bringing jobs to Arizonans, the best way to keep Arizonans in their homes is with a vibrant and strong economy and that will only come with a United States senator who is committed to getting Arizonans back to work.

Phoenix.org: On your website you mentioned your desire to improve our economy through a high quality education, you also mentioned your desire to “attract” and “reward” great teachers that will make a difference in the lives of their Arizona students. How do you plan on attracting and rewarding local Arizona teachers?

Rodney Glassman: We need to value teachers in Arizona for the great work they do and on the impact that they have on future generations. More and more of our smartest young people are heading off to make their fortunes in business as opposed to investing their educational career in improving the educations of others.

We need a US Senator that plans on being a customer of the Arizona educational system with his family. We need a US Senator that appreciates the importance of education and believes that it is a priority of our state and our country, to be investing in our schools. One of the first questions and business person asks when considering moving their business to Arizona is “Where are my children going to go to school? Are they going to receive a quality education?” Is there any better advertisement then to have a United States Senator who not only supports our local school system but is also a customer of the local system?

We need a champion for our educational system in the highest office in Arizona and that’s a US Senator. That means bringing dollars home from Washington D.C. so that Arizona does not have one of the highest student/teacher ratios in the country, it means connecting local businesses to local schools to make sure that there is a strong and vibrant relationship. Because quality schools have an impact on public safety, they have an impact on the quality of lives as Arizonans and they have an impact on our economic development as a state.

Phoenix.org: Immediately prior to announcing your run for US Senate you were a city councilman for Tucson, Arizona. How has your experience in local government prepared you for the ability to serve nationally as a US Senator?

Rodney Glassman: As a Tucson City Councilman and the Vice Mayor of the City of Tucson I was able to hone my skills as a public servant and as someone focused on constituent services. I often wonder just how spectacular our state would be and how spectacular our nation would be if every US Senator worked with their constituents with the same level of care and consistency and the same level of investment as a city councilman has. As a councilman I learned the importance of making commitments and of following through and of turning those commitments into policies. I learned the importance of being responsive and I built a track record on keeping my word, following through and on always answering my phone calls and my emails.

Those are the kinds of concerns that I hear as I travel across Arizona, that our current US Senator is not keeping in contact with his constituents, that he is not returning phone calls or answering emails and that frankly he is more interested in serving Washington DC then serving Arizona. I plan on being a United States senator that will work in Washington DC but will raise a family in Arizona.

Phoenix.org: Do you spend much time in the Phoenix metro area? When you do what are some of your favorite things to do and places to eat?

Rodney Glassman: Well, I was fortunate enough to meet a beautiful and intelligent Sun Devil while I was at the University of Arizona Law School. My wife’s parents live in Phoenix so for the past three years we have been spending a significant amount of time in the valley.

Some of our favorite places to eat in the valley are El Portal by the capitol building which has excellent Mexican food, as well as La Grande Orange which has great pizza. We also really enjoy BBQ from Honey Bears on Central. Of course, our personal favorite is home cooked meals with the in-laws. But everyday I have to remind myself to “eat responsibility” because after graduating from law school and passing the bar I made the decision to join the United States Air Force JAG Reserve CORE so I serve as an attorney in the air force, I am attached to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. One of the requirements that they had in order for me to get my commission is that I worked for about six months to take off 60 pounds. The Colonel gave me two choices, she told me that I could either grow 4 inches or lose 60 pounds and I chose the later.

Phoenix.org: Wow! Well I think you made the right choice. Rodney, do you have anything else that you would like to tell the readers of Phoenix.org?

Rodney Glassman: Two weeks ago the Tuesday election demonstrated that voters across the country are frustrated  and tired of sending people back to Washington DC that don’t represent the states from which they come from. However, in Arizona something else spectacular happened and that was the passing of proposition 100 because with the passage of prop 100 Arizonans demonstrated that they are concerned with the future of their state and that they are willing to invest in education and that they are willing to invest in public safety because they want to improve the quality of life.

Our campaign, which people can learn about at RodneyGlassman.com, is a campaign that is committed to Arizona’s future, Arizona’s education, Arizona’s jobs and sustainability. I am the candidate that represents the next generation of Arizona leadership and I am a candidate that plans on being a champion representing Arizona’s future.

The first part of this interview can be found at:

http://phoenix.org/blog/phoenix-org-exclusive-interview-with-j-d-hayworth-part-1-of-2/

Troy Hallewell/Phoenix.org: It seems that in this current economy, especially in Arizona, that many private businesses are taking rather large steps in order to stay afloat. Some are laying off workers, some are reducing benefits or requiring larger portions of benefits to be paid by employees, some are creating hiring freezes or pay freezes, reduction of sick days and more. In short it appears that in Arizona corporate America is restructuring the way they look at business, at least temporarily. In spite of such drastic measures in corporate and private America, many feel that government employment is not experiencing the same belt tightening as the rest of us. Government employees in Arizona on average cost the government over $100,000 each, get more sick days and paid leave then most, and some get retirement contributions matched up to 20% of their yearly wages, all of these elements would be unheard of in all but the most lucrative industries in private America. What would you say to those employees in the private sector that feel that they are getting a much smaller compensation package compared to public employees? Do you think that it is a positive thing for a state of city government to pay higher wages then the large majority of private businesses in the area?

J.D. Hayworth: You have touched on something that I think is very perceptive and you are quite right. If you take a look at the growth of government, and more specifically the growth of salaries in government, we are now at the point where one out of five federal employees makes in excess of $100,000 per year just in terms of annual salary and as you pointed out, even those not earning that much in salary, with the benefits packages, even many government employees not earning that type of income have the value imputed of insurance and other benefits that takes their compensation well in excess of six figures.

What is happening, and this is where you really see a couple of things, number 1 is the rise of unionism in government and the method to the madness to the left or American progressives, their vision is one in which government dominates life, and because governments role is expanded ergo government payrolls expand because their growth industry is quite simply government. This is where when people say there is not a dimes worth of difference between the major parties I believe them to be incorrect. The notion of a limited but effective government is very, very important. And accordingly they are just two different basic visions, the left views compassion as the number of people that can be added to welfare rolls, those on the right view compassion as not as welfare but as work, having people gainfully employed, and even the left has a different view of employment, again they see government as quite literally the source of employment. And we are seeing it played out now with this new administration, which in less than a years time, in terms of massive spending, has seen an increase in discretionary spending of over 80%. So that is what is at work here.

Troy Hallewell/Phoenix.org: Both you and your opponent, Senator John McCain, are representatives of the Republican Party. If you had to name what you think are the three biggest differences between you and Senator McCain what would you say they are?

J.D. Hayworth: First of all, let me add that remarkably Senator McCain has changed many of his previous longstanding positions just in time for this campaign for the US Senate but lets go back through three major differences. First, John voted for the massive bailout of the investment banks on Wall Street to the tune of 700 billion dollars. He also voted for the accompanying package of earmarks, something he claims to oppose, which was an accompanying 150 billion dollars for a total of 850 billion dollars in higher government spending. I would have opposed the bailout of the Wall Street investment banks.

Secondly, John co-authored, with the late Senator Kennedy, the amnesty bill, which the heritage foundation estimated would cost you and me and other tax payers 2.6 trillion dollars, that is Trillion with a “T” just for long term retirement benefits for illegal’s that would be given citizenship. That is another bill that I would have opposed.

Thirdly, John opposed tax cuts that I helped to write as a member of the ways and means committee back in 2001 and 2003, he called them “tax cuts for the rich” again sounding a lot more like John Kerry then the John McCain that I used to work with so those are three major areas. Oh, I might go back to that first example (The Bailout), John now says that he was misled on that bill, and if you take that with his rhetoric where he was opposed to the bill before he voted for it, again he sounds more like John Kerry then the John McCain that I remember so those are just three areas where we have very genuine disagreements.

Just one thing that he might say about spending, when John talks about government spending I think it is worth noting that “Citizens Against Government Waste” gave me a better lifetime score then what he has received from them, even though he has their endorsement. That John has their endorsement does not come as a surprise, that organization, though it has laudable goals, is part of the Washington establishment, it can use Senator McCain’s name in fundraising, but that is fine, John can call on the Washington establishment for its support but last time I checked the Washington establishment can’t vote here in Arizona. So if he wants the Washington establishment that is fine, I will take the Arizona voters.

Troy Hallewell/Phoenix.org: Do you think that under the current administration that our country is heading in the right direction? If not what do you think needs to be done by both our leaders (such as yourself) and the citizens of this country to get it where you think it needs to be?

J.D. Hayworth: No, I believe that this administration has American heading most definitely in the wrong direction, I think that as an elected leader, that when I go to the US Senate I will work to repeal this massive government takeover of healthcare. I believe it is unwarranted, unconstitutional and most definitely unwise. And though I am hopeful that court action will be taken to stop it, that even if that does not happen, when I go to the US senate I will work to repeal this bill no matter how long it takes or whatit will take, that is what the leaders need to do. Regarding the citizens of this country, I believe that most Americans are already doing what needs to be done to get back on the right track, by participating in the political process, by saying that they want a return to a constitutional republic, in fact I think that much of what is afoot in this political year of 2010 is not so much a revolution but a restoration, and I believe that quite generally the awakened Americans, whether they are a part of the tea party movement, or whatever their political expressions might be, instinctively know that the American dream is being threatened, that their constitutional republic is being threatened and that is why I expect to see them out in record numbers.

Troy Hallewell/Phoenix.org: Ok, it is now time for a local Phoenix.org question. Suppose it is date night with you and your wife, where are your favorite places to go and what do you do?

J.D. Hayworth: We usually just go out for a very early dinner together and we just enjoy each others company whether we are out eating or whether we are back home watching a movie or even whether we go out to a movie. I also would like to say that even if I am elected to the US Senate that I will not force the taxpayers to foot the bill for my protection or for taking my wife out to dinner. The voters can rest easy on that score. If it ever came down to that where we needed government protection then we would probably just stay home as opposed to giving the taxpayers the responsibilities to pick up our tab.

Troy Hallewell/Phoenix.org: What are some of your favorite places here in Phoenix? Our readers at Phoenix.org are very Phoenix centered so do you have a favorite restaurant or place to go.

JD Hayworth: A lot of the time we are just very close to home, we go to Flemings at DC Ranch. It is one of our favorite places and it is very comfortable to us. It is a very warm and wonderful atmosphere as well as a great wait staff and we just feel very comfortable there. One thing that I like the most is that although it is a “white tablecloth” type place it is a place that is very unpretentious and where the staff treat you like family and we like that very much so that would probably rate at the top of our list.

Troy Hallewell/Phoenix.org: Is there anything that you would like to say to the readers of Phoenix.org?

JD Hayworth: What I would request is that those readers who are inclined to participate in the August 24^th election, I would like to humbly and sincerely request their vote in the republican primary.

The transcript of the interview is below. Since the interview was conducted orally what you are reading is a transcribed version. Any error or omission in the grammar or structure of the transcript is the fault of Phoenix.org.

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Part 1 of Phoenix.org’s interview with J.D. Hayworth

Troy Hallewell/Phoenix.org: Mr. Hayworth, the 10th amendment of the US Constitution states that “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Many people claim that our federal government has ignored this declaration and has taken rights away from the respective states and attempted to conglomerate as much power as they can in the federal government. Do you agree or disagree with this statement and if you agree that states rights are being taken away what is an example that you believe illustrates the problem?

J.D. Hayworth: Well yes, I do agree with it and I think that one of the ways in which Washington has done that is with, for lack of a better term, the “power of the purse”. For example, to enforce what Washington wants to see nationwide, let’s say with reference to the age of legal majority or a legal drinking age, Back when that was disputed in the last couple of decades Washington said to the states, either you raise your drinking age to 21 or we, Washington, will withhold federal highway funds. So in that circumstance Washington was inflicting on the states Washington’s will.

It’s done in various ways through what are called “unfunded mandates” but that is a fairly clear example when Washington attempts to hold the states economically hostage to invoke Washington’s will and you are quite right, that has existed. One of the reasons ironically has to do with the way that we select senators because as we know with our study of the constitution, the 17^th amendment to the constitution changed the way in which we elect senators. We now elect senators by popular vote. Earlier in our history senators were elected by the respective state legislators in their respective state legislatures and many constitutional scholars and historians believed that that helped ensure that the 10^th amendment remained alive and well. So it is somewhat ironic that we open our conversation with that but that is one of the elements of history that led to the diminution of the 10^th amendment.

Troy Hallewell/Phoenix.org: Are you saying that at that point we began a transformation from a republic to a democracy?

J.D. Hayworth: Well, I wouldn’t go that far. But I do believe in the fullness of time if you take a look that the two amendments passed very early in the 20^th century, at the dawn of the so-called progressive era, that very much changed the nature of our constitutional republic. The first was ratification of the 16^th amendment which led to the direct taxation of personal income and the second was the 17^th amendment which we just discussed. There are many articles about it. Regarding the 16^th amendment Raymond J. Keating wrote for the Foundation on Economic Freedom an article titled “Original Intent & the Income Tax” showing just how inflated the tax rates have become and quite frankly the real spending of the federal government. And then of course we just talked about the 17^th amendment, so yes, it profoundly changed the nature of our republic, I don’t believe it completely eliminated it but I do believe it brought some real change to it.

Troy Hallewell/Phoenix.org: If elected as a United States Senator what would be your top three priorities that you would work to accomplish? Do you believe that you will be able to accomplish these things?

J.D. Hayworth: The top three things that I would like to accomplish go back to what we have just been talking about which is the preservation of a constitutional republic. The first thing that I would do is reintroduce a bill that I introduced in the house called the “Congressional Responsibility Act”. This is an effort to regain the original intent, if you will, of our founders. Again, back to the dawn of the progressive era, I believe that the 20^th century will be remembered historically for the rise of the de-facto 4^th branch of government, the rise of the bureaucratic regulatory state.

Originally, for some laudable purposes, a decision was made to set up agencies to monitor the food supply and ensure public health and all the good stuff. Well, like any good idea the idea was taken and changed somewhat. Fast forward to the 20^th century and you see congress seeding its legislative authority, its lawmaking authority, from article 1 section 1 of the US Constitution, which reads “all legislative power shall be vested in the congress of the United States” congress set up within the executive branch regulatory agencies and funds them, and there you have regulatory lawyers creating regulation and as you know those regulations carry punitive consequences if you fail to adhere to them.

Troy Hallewell/Phoenix.org: Absolutely

J.D. Hayworth: Those are laws. What I advocate is that we can let those regulators continue to promulgate regulations, but here’s the thing that would make it different, a way to restore the clear intent, instead of having a situation where regulators promulgate the regulation and then have a period of public comment and then print them in the federal register where they carry the weight of law, instead under the “Congressional Responsibility Act” every one of the proposed regulations would be submitted to the House or the Senate for an up or down vote. So that way original intent would be restored because you would have constitutional officer acting on what would in essence be legislation and it would hold us accountable. That would be the first thing that I would do.

The second thing I would do is regarding the constitutionality of legislation. It is the requirement that anytime a bill is brought up federally, that the authors of that bill show it’s constitutional citation. In other words, that the authors of the bill show where in the constitution the legislature of the house and the senate have the authority to act on this manner in the first place.

Troy Hallewell/Phoenix.org: Well, you would probably be seeing a lot of cites strait from the commerce clause, knowing how abused that clause has become.

JD Hayworth: That is what they try to do, the commerce clause has become so perverted and I think the up side of the “Constitutional Citation Act” would be that it would be a very teachable moment to see just how maligned and how misused the commerce clause has become. So I think it would be important in that way. So that would be the second piece of legislation, what I call the “Constitutional Citation Act”.

The third priority of mine would be mindful of article 4 section 4, “The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government and shall protect each against invasion”. In response to this I would reintroduce my “enforcement first act” to deal with the border. The enforcement first act is what it says, you enforce the laws and in that way you strengthen border security because once you start enforcing the laws very interesting things happened, in that people start to obey the laws.

There is more to the “Enforcement First Act” that I wrote about in my book, “Whatever it Takes”. It involves the utilization of our military on the border and I regret that but the situation has grown so urgent that sadly we have to do that now, especially in the wake of Robert Krentz’s murder a couple of Saturdays ago on the border. As you may know, New York City has at least twice as many policemen as we have border patrol officers. So something is wrong and we have to enforce the border.

So those would be the first three pieces of legislation that I would want to introduce. But what I would like to do in addition to these things is something that we have been doing in the campaign so far. That is to continue to go around the state for a regular series of town hall meetings and to make sure that I am accessible as a United States senator because I think it is very important that the next senator be a senator “for” Arizona, not just “from” Arizona. So that would be something, not legislatively but instead attitudinally that I would bring to the office. I heard from a woman in Sierra Vista recently that asked me a question that was strait and to the point. She asked me “Are we only going to see you once every six years” I said “No M’am, I’m gonna be back regularly”.

This also leads me to another point and I don’t know if it was going to come up in your questions but if not I would like to mention that after a lot of talking with my family and a lot of listening to Arizonans, I have made up my mind that it is important that I voluntarily limit my terms, if the voters will have me, to two consecutive terms and then at the end of 12 years it will be time for me to step aside and then another citizen can serve in the Senate.

Part 2 of this interview can be found at :

http://phoenix.org/blog/phoenix-org-exclusive-interview-with-j-d-hayworth-2-of-2/