Comments on: Tucson: the Desert “Civilized”

By: billybob

billybob — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:22:10 +0000

I’m with Bill. Tucson’s already gone to shit though. Hell, even the 8th Congressional District is Democrat now! That’s why I’ve moved up by Kingman. Maybe there the liberals and other California bound nut-jobs won’t get snagged on their way west and ruin the pristine desert ranchland!

By: mike

mike — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:42:07 +0000

Bill,

I hope you’re not one of those horse riders ruining the desert. Or worse yet, a cattle rancher. Why did what I wrote upset you so much? I’ve written much more critical things about my home town.

By the way, how’s that Rio Nuevo deal going?

By: bill

bill — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:03:48 +0000

I really hope you kept moving to Berkley that is surely where you belong. Please stay the hell out of Tucson!

By: mike

mike — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:24:51 +0000

Dear Cassie D,

Thanks for your note. I agree that lots of cities face similar problems, though I have never seen one as plagued with strip malls as Tucson. Bold and radical planning are needed in Tucson, but If the boondoggle of Rio Nuevo is what passes for planning in Tucson, I think you will need some prayers. And, my word, what is happening along Houghton Road in the eastern part of Tucson (even more sprawl, with thousands of planned houses and no services) does not bode at all well for any attempts to increase the livability of the area. Even the national park is a mess, with most of the trails ruined by horse traffic. Finally, what about the low-wage economy? Nothing will get better in Tucson until that changes.

By: CassieD

CassieD — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:59:11 +0000

I agree with a lot of your analysis, but the pervasive negativity in the latter part of the post strikes me as a little exaggerated, and fails to factor in the efforts of so many Tucson residents (native and transplants alike) who contribute to the city’s inimitable character (mostly, I am referring to the city’s interesting railroad character and overall weirdness). Also, many of these criticisms (strip malls, traffic, etc.) can be aimed at dozens of other American cities; these are not uniquely Tucson problems. It’s too late to re-engineer the city street plan, and the natural beauty of the desert flora and fauna has created a sort of catch-22, luring tourists and new residents, and thus leading to the overdevelopment noted here. But committed citizens willing to invest their talent and time are carving out niches of life, activity, and art in neighborhoods across Tucson. Life is surely challenging as we struggle to live with the trauma of a citified desert landscape, but I really don’t think it’s all doom and gloom, as indicated in this post. No need to pray for all of us who work at and enjoy this strange place that some of us have chosen to make our home indefinitely.