By Sergio Arellano-Oros
For two long hours the attendees of Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik’s civility roast town hall at the Loft Theater sat while local politicians danced around the issues, delivered stump speeches and answered civility-safe questions.
Thanks to the So-called unbiased hosting of David Fitzsimmons, cartoonist for the Arizona Daily Star it is no wonder why Pima County is in so much trouble. After the event Fitzsimmons revealed to an audience member that he sorted through questions and eliminated those that he found, “too direct or inflammatory. Of the event Fitzsimmons said it “went so well that it made a satirical cartoonist like me sad.”
Karen Schutte, a leader in the Tucson chapter of Smart Girls Politics, and former member of the Pima County GOP, said it “was excruciatingly boring, having to see these politicians campaign for two hours and not be able to connect the problems, it was in essence uninformative, and uneventful.”
The only incessant incivility came from Councilman Kozachik as he took gratuitous jabs at former State Senator Frank Antenori, who was in attendance but not afforded an opportunity to defend himself against Kozachik’s cheap shots.
The event began with a prayer from a local Rabbi, who said, “We can and should disagree as a Democracy, but we must do so as family,” and after a few cheesy jokes from host, David Fitzsimmons, cartoonist for the Arizona Daily Star the evening became an exercise in watching paint dry.
The small theater was about 80 percent full, with mostly democrats in attendance to see the mostly democrat panel of local politicians.
On three occasions, the crowd reacted uncivilly. Liberals in attendance booed State Representative Ethan Orr when he defended Rosemont Mine. Orr, a moderate republican said “Rosemont followed all the rules,” to which the environmentalists responded with jeers and heckling.
Congressman Ron Barber was called a liar by a man who claimed to be a veteran. Barber calmly responded that that kind of response was not appropriate and told the man that he would talk to him later. Barber did remain on hand after the event for questions.
Congressman Barber was also booed by liberals who oppose the F-35. He told the crowd that supports the F-35 but doesn’t dismiss noise concerns.
Progressive congressman Raul Grijalva, reeking of what seemed to be Peppermint Schnapps, sat doodling while he was passed over for questions most of the evening. When he did speak, Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias nodded in agreement. When the representatives were asked about what can be done to fix the roads, Grijalva said he would petition the White House to ensure that Pima County receives its Higher Education Assistance Funds (HEAF) and bypass the state so that it “can have the appropriate amount of money it needs in order to fix what needs to be fixed.”
Steve Kozachik and Mayor Rothschild both stated that they had no idea where the appropriated fund were swept to, and alluded to it being a State issue while State representatives looked on in silence while Olivia Cajero Bedford recommended to the audience to “pick up your cell phone and call your legislators every time you hit a pothole”.
When the question about fixing Tucson’s economy arose Richard Elias chimed in by stating “we can’t remain 50th in education reinvestment, we also have to reinvest in recreation. We need to spend money on being bike friendly. People come from all over the world to vacation here and bike ride” he also urged the people to get out more and encouraged sports attendance like when Soccer comes to town.
When the discussion of the F-35 bomber was brought up Richard Elias complained about the noise pollution, leaving an astute member of the audience to pipe up and say “Every time Elias and Grijalva talk is noise pollution.” Aside from that Elias agreed with everything Congressman Grijalva said, and offered virtually no opinions of his own.
State Representative Macario Saldate remained stiff and silent the whole time an appeared to be falling asleep or lost at times, and David Bradley rambled on about mental health at times when mental health was not even an issue.
Perhaps the response that seemed to disappoint and confuse the audience the most came from Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild. Rothschild, a civil attorney claimed that “the 2nd Amendment is not an absolute right.” He said that “reasonable restrictions” must be discussed.
When asked what can be done to improve Tucson economy, Kozachik offered his usual refrain. He pushed for a film industry incentive bill which he claims is a “jobs bill.” Kozachik failed once again to mention that his brother is in the film industry.
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