By Sergio Arellano-Oros
The jobless rate and poverty rate are higher in Tucson than in New Orleans but Tucson city councilwoman Karen Uhlich reports that she visits New Orleans a few times a year to create jobs. News of the councilwoman’s efforts on those other than her constituents was made public by State Senator Frank Antenori on the Garret Lewis KNST 97.1FM/790AM morning radio show.
According to various sources, the councilwoman took quick action to mitigate the damage the news might do as her term comes to a close. Tucson city councilman, Steve Kozachik, who is regularly used by the media to attack his fellow republicans, was trotted out immediately by Jim Nintzel of the sex ad weekly tabloid; Tucson Weekly, to launch an attack against the messengers.
At the same time, a writer for the same tabloid, attacked Antenori’s heroism in the tabloid’s writers’ self-confessed, tragically-hip, mid-life, “holiday tradition of getting together, getting bombed on eggnog and making our annual naughty and nice lists.”
In an apparent alcohol induced screed, Shane Dyer writes, “Frank, take your tarnished Bronze Star, your silly pseudo-machismo and your cheesy degree from some “Christian” university, and find some place where you can actually respect your neighbors.”
Frank Antenori earned his Bronze Star while serving in the Army’s Special Forces. The medal was awarded for an act of valor in which his Green Beret unit was outnumbered and were forced to hold their ground in a fire fight with Iraqi forces. During the encounter, Antenori personally destroyed two armored vehicles and their crews with anti-tank missiles, took down an additional light skinned vehicle with his machine gun and disabled another with shots from his .50 caliber sniper rifle. Antenori, a catholic, attended a prestigious Baptist College and graduated with a degree in pre-med.
Uhlich claims that she is creating a non-profit staffing organization in New Orleans to compete with private industry staffing companies.
Just this past week, the Tucson city council members, made it known that they are interested in a raise. They have taken to the airwaves to plead for more pay.