Watch Patterson on the issues at the LD29 debate

Daniel and wife Jeneiene after clean elections debate

TUCSON -- If you missed the LD29 debate last night, watch it here.

Democrats and Independents, we ask for your vote for Patterson in the district 29 primary July 31-Sept 2. The time for change is now!

See all our current endorsements, and please join our positive clean campaign by calling Virginia at 312.0215.

Thank you!

Feds right on dunes plant, wrong on border ORVs

Students from AZ Western College enjoy the dunes on a trip I led in 2006 DRP photo

YUMA -- In a surprisingly honest move on an issue I've worked on for many years, the US Fish & Wildlife Service has rejected efforts by the off-road vehicle lobby to remove protections for endangered species on the Algodones Sand Dunes (aka Imperial Dunes or Glamis), but that may not stop BLM from continuing to pursue a destructive plan for the dunes web-of-life.

“Keeping protections for the Peirson’s milk-vetch is scientifically defensible and a good move,” said Ileene Anderson, a respected botanist in southern California, “but more is needed to ensure the plant doesn’t just teeter on the brink of extinction. We need to stop off-road vehicles from tearing up habitat and running over the plants.”

The Peirson’s milk-vetch is found only on a small portion of Southern California’s Algodones Dunes, where it ekes out life amongst the abrasive shifting sands. It has purple-pink, pea-like flowers and produces large, inflated pods, which blow off the plant, shedding seeds. The Algodones Dunes, also known as the Imperial Dunes, have become a hub for off-road vehicle enthusiasts, who tear over the shifting sands at high speeds, killing the plants and animals that live in this fragile ecosystem. The Bureau of Land Management which is responsible for protecting the dunes, allows hundreds of thousands of off-road vehicles to tear up the habitat, creating a destructive and high-crime 'Mad Max'-like scenario between October and May and threatening the survival of the milk-vetch and other wildlife.

“The Bureau of Land Management needs to put in place additional protections for the milk-vetch, including significant new restrictions on off-road vehicle mayhem, to prevent this special plant from going extinct,” added Anderson.

Located in the western Sonoran Desert, the scenic and remote Algodones Dunes are the largest dune ecosystem in the United States, spilling into Mexico on their southern end. They harbor at least 160 different animal and plant species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. The dunes are heavily damaged, with as many as 250,000 off-road vehicles driving across the dunes destroying vegetation, wildlife habitat, and polluting the air on most weekends from October to May. The heavy off-road 'wreck'reation has also resulted in criminal problems that stress law enforcement and burden local emergency services. The free-play areas swarming with ORVs on the southern end of the dunes along the Mexican border are a conduit for smuggling. Smugglers blend in with off-roaders and make their illegal, sometimes deadly, beeline to Interstate 8, much to the frustration of the Border Patrol.

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) has been working with BLM and other staff for nearly a decade to try to bring balanced multiple-use management to the dunes.

- some info from CBD

OTHER COVERAGE: Yuma Sun

Progressive AZ Dem wins more big endorsements

Vote Patterson to help jobs, the economy and working people

TUCSON -- I'm honored to announce the backing of the AFL-CIO Pima Area Labor Federation in my clean campaign for State Representative in LD29.

Chaired by Linda Hatfield, the Pima Area Labor Federation represents thousands of union members. The Federation works with local and national labor and community organizations around policies and initiatives in support of worker rights. PALF works closely with the Arizona AFL-CIO for strength and solidarity across the labor movement.

PALF is an important and effective alliance of 23 unions, including the United Steel Workers, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSME), Communications Workers of America, International Machinists and Aerospace Workers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, and National Writers Union.

T.I.M.E. bullying with lawsuit on true tax raise stat

APS lobbyist Marty Shultz is helping push the unfair, unbalanced transportation sales tax increase plan

PHOENIX -- Big money promoters of a plan to increase the state sales tax by 17.8% are suing the Arizona Legislature over a true statement. This is an absurd bully tactic, and their bogus lawsuit should be dismissed.

I strongly support improvements to Arizona's transportation infrastructure, but I cannot support this plan, as proposed. The Sierra Club also does not support it because it is much too heavy on big roads, and too light on long-overdue needed investment in mass transit.

I also cannot support increasing the sales tax on working people during this tough economy. Sales taxes are already approaching 10% in some Arizona communities, which is too high. Raising sales taxes to pay for transportation projects, especially when a deal was cut with developers to let them off the hook for needed impact fees, is unfair.

Sales taxes are unfair, harming lower income people more. Sales taxes are also very volatile, cutting revenue when the economy goes down and people spend less.

Growth should pay for itself, most Arizonans agree, and the so-called T.I.M.E. plan is more of the same old 'free pass' for developers, while you and I get the bill. No thanks.

I stand for improving Arizona's transportation system, with more emphasis on transit and less on giant roads, and paying for it in a fair way.

Time for change is now on AZ economy leadership

AZ food bank tries to keep up with hunger during this leaderless bad economy

TUCSON -- The Arizona economy keeps going down, likely you've noticed. My family and I are feeling it, along with most people on the south and southeast sides, and across the state.

The July Arizona economy reports look gloomy. Tucson losing many of its non-stop flights at TIA is a bad sign, and will harm Pima County and southeastern Arizona. The mortgage and lending industries are in critical condition. Prices are rising and unemployment claims are way up. People are not paid enough or getting adequate benefits.

Just one big expense can put many working people over the edge, into big debt and worse. I know firsthand. My wife and I don't make a lot, and we have a child to support.

Economic surprises can hurt. Our main water line broke this morning and our water is shut off. Right now I have a plumber -- good guy from UA local union 469, which has endorsed my campaign to help jobs and the economy -- working on an unexpected major job I couldn't do myself.

This repair is essential. My family and I must have water. But it is a substantial expense.

Luckily, we are fiscally responsible and careful with money and have a small savings, but if not this could be a major financial problem.

I'm running for the State House to serve you as an experienced smart hardworking leader who listens and understands, and will help our economy with a fiscally responsible public investment view that restores economic justice.

I will promote and encourage responsible business and investment in Arizona that provides good sustainable jobs. I am a friend of workers, and will continue to be at the capitol. I've also helped run a successful business.

The time for change is now! Arizonans deserve new leadership to stop the economic 'race to the bottom', and build a strong, sustainable, fair and prosperous economy that will help working people and businesses thrive.

Campaign releases new promo ads before debate

Patterson hits the airwaves to help take back the Legislature

TUCSON -- Daniel Patterson for Arizona House has teamed up with political radio legend John C. Scott on two new radio spots, to help win the race for State Rep in district 29.

Please listen to 'the time for change is now' and 'there is only one choice', which will soon start to air daily across southern Arizona, and are also both posted at DanielPatterson.net.

Check out the LD29 Democratic debate this Thursday, July 17, 7-9pm, PCC District Office Community Board Room, 4905 E. Broadway.

Democrats and Independents, call 740.4330 to get your vote by mail ballot.

Winners and losers at recent Pima Supes debate

Donna Branch-Gilby is a Democratic candidate for Pima County Supervisor

TUCSON -- Mike Bryan at Blog for Arizona reports on the recent lively, and somewhat nasty, Pima Supervisors race debate.

Mike offers some important and interesting coverage not yet reported anywhere.

Obama wise to follow JFK with stadium speech

Obama's huge stadium speech will be a hit

DENVER -- Sen. Barack Obama made a good call this week with his decision to make the Democratic nomination speech in front of 76,000 people at Denver's mile high football stadium.

The last Presidential nominee speech at a stadium in front of such a big crowd was in 1960 by John F. Kennedy at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

It worked for JFK, and it will work for Obama.

Having this historic event at the stadium will allow as many people as possible to be there, which is good for democracy, Obama and the Democrats.

I have many friends in Denver and I'd like to be there, but I'll be in Tucson focused on winning the primary election in my race for State House in Arizona LD29.

Watching at home with my family, we'll likely see and hear Obama better than we could from the 40 yard line.

Gramm's insult shows McCain wrong on economy

Uncaring rich out-of-touch Republicans: DC/Arizona millionaire John McCain and his pal Texas millionaire Phil Gramm

TUCSON -- Top John McCain advisor Phil Gramm, former Republican Senator from Texas, says we are in a 'mental recession', and just a 'nation of whiners'.

What a disgraceful insult from the McCain camp! Once again, the McCain campaign clearly shows how removed from reality they are.

People in Arizona and across the US are hurting in this very weak economy, and we must elect compassionate understanding leaders who will listen and work to restore economic justice and prosperity to business and working people.

On the economy, a top issue in this election, Republicans just don't get it, or even seem to care.

Save and recount RTA ballots, suspend projects

Without a full recount, the RTA election cannot be considered valid

TUCSON -- The election integrity issue continues to be red hot here, as wisely pushed by the Pima County Democratic Party.

There is now a sworn witness saying the 2006 Pima County Regional Transportation Authority vote was rigged. This is a very big deal. Watch the video.

Pima County, Arizona AG Terry Goddard and all leaders must find a way to fully recount all the RTA ballots, which must not be destroyed.

To protect the public interest, given the level of justified controversy and outrage, all RTA projects, some of which I support, should be put on hold until it can be determined without a doubt if the RTA really passed or not.

The RTA is collecting millions of dollars in local sales taxes, and it affects all of us and our quality of life. Some RTA projects are controversial, and being implemented in ways never fully disclosed to the public prior to the election, especially the planned widening of Grant Rd., and 22nd St. in my neighborhood, the Kino/22nd St. grade separated interchange, and the $75-100M 1-mile extension of Aviation Highway through three north downtown neighborhoods.

Given this witness and new information on possible vote tampering, a failure to verify the RTA election will badly dog the RTA, and all its projects, for years, undercutting needed public support for transportation improvements.

I call on RTA Director Gary Hayes and the RTA board to immediately support a full recount, and put all RTA projects on hold until it is done. I don't expect this type of courageous action from RTA, but it's the only ethical and right thing to do.

Election integrity is essential to our democracy. Without it, we have nothing.

The time for change is now! And action is needed at the State Capitol.

I will work hard in the Arizona Legislature to strengthen election integrity, so that everyone can vote without hassle, so that every vote counts, and so that we can trust the outcome of all elections.

More good coverage.

UPDATE, 7/11: In a letter today to Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry, RTA Director Gary Hayes supported a full recount, but did not offer to put projects on hold until when and if it can be done. Nevertheless, a good move in the right direction from RTA.