A project of the Casa Maria Catholic Worker Community
Baribie Urias, an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community based in Sacaton, AZ was adamant that we post this!
To read Juniper Serra No Saint by Simon Moya-Smith and watch the video click here
The Nation recently published an article, The Gentrification of Higher Ed, and we beg you to read it, especially if you’re a fan of the University of Arizona!
Read it here: http://www.thenation.com/article/gentrification-higher-ed/
In it, Michelle Goldberg likens the University of Arizona to a “country club” and she is right on! Google “Next, Level, and the Hub apartments” and check out the photos and prices if you don’t believe her.
According to Goldberg, the “country club” aesthetic is the University of Arizona’s response and answer to budget cuts – the towers with rooftop pools attract wealthy students who can afford out of state tuition, which makes up for the dollars taken away by the state legislature.
She also points out the invisibility of under privileged students and invisibility of their needs at the University of Arizona. Goldberg argues that their needs are hidden behind expensive eateries and luxurious facilities, but that the need is certainly present.
Though the U of A’s luxurious amenities are available to all students, it is clear that they were designed for a particular class of students – those who can afford a $6 bowl of frozen yogurt and a day at the spa (on a Monday).
It is becoming increasingly obvious that the University of Arizona is, in the words of Goldberg, for students “can afford to treat college as a multiyear party” because of their inherited wealth.
The gentrification of higher education not only limits access to education, underprivileged students are undeniably treated differently, less than, and unworthy by their wealthy peers and the powers that be.
by Coach Sanchez
This story can be about any group of kids who get turned away from any sporting activities due to insufficient funding, but today its about the group of kids who live in Barrio Oscurro (6th ave and Bilby area) and the sport is futbol. Most of these kids parents live check to check and cant afford to pay $100 + to register so most soccer clubs say if you don’t pay you cant play. How unfortunate right, but if you read between the lines what races and groups are targeted by these fees?
To shorten it up a bit I started my own league and I have a few great dads who stand with me and help direct these young men onto a successful route and not just deliver them to the streets to become one more statistic which is what happens when you turn them down for such a shameful reason as insufficient funding !!!!
We have been an active team in seasonal and tournament play for over a year now no fees just soccer 🙂 I started out with 13 kids now i have 60 under my wing,from 1 team to 3 teams. I just cant turn down any of the kids that show up for practice because I know what comes next for them and so do you. If your reading this, people with the power, lets change this issue and invest in our kids after all they are the future!!!!!!!!
Most importantly, a huge role played in this story by the Law offices of Rubin Salter and Casa Maria for making this possible on behalf of my community we thank you!!
by Brian Flagg
Can’t help but think how nice it would have been if these two would have been in Tucson for the 6 week long bus strike that ended last week.
They could have generated some spiritual and political power to get the local elected officials to come down sooner on the evil, union-busting multinational company that manages Sun Tran?
Or maybe you and I need to arrange our lives so that we are transformed and thus able to generate that power to alleviate human suffering?
FIDEL Y EL SANTO PADRE
por Brian Flagg
Que bueno hubiera sido que estuvieron en Tucson por la 6 semana huelga de los camiones, que termino la semana pasada.
¿Hubieran generado un poder político y espiritual para que los políticos se hubieran portado mejor en lugar de tratar de destruir la unión?
¿O talvez tu y yo necesitamos generar un poder espiritual y politico para aliviar el sufrimiento de la gente?
por Laura Alameda
Hola, soy Laura Alameda. Estoy muy orgullosa se mis raíces. Soy 100% Mexicana y a mucha honra el pasado domingo, 13 de septiembre fuimos al Ava Casino, mi hermana Rosa, sus hijos, sus nietos y Brian también nos acompañó. Estuvo muy emotivo más cuando dijeron viva México y el himno nacional saludando a mi bandera Mexicana y también escuchando a la banda de la guerra de los Banderos de Nogales, Sonora. Fue muy emocionante para mi en mi corazón. Hubo mucha música muy suave. Pasamos una buena tarde ese día, gracias a Dios.
Reprinted from th
e OMOS bulletin:
Pope Francis has written YOU a letter! AN INTRODUCTION TO POPE FRANCIS’ ENCYCLICAL Laudato Si’ ON “CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME” (Co-sponsored by the Care for Creation and Consistent Ethic of Life Committees). Come and find out what the letter says at our special 4-week introductory series beginning Monday, September 14. Pope Francis addressed his new encyclical (papal letter) on the environment to “every person living on this planet!” His inspiring and extremely important message is an appeal that describes how interconnected we are within God’s loving gift of creation and how we are now being called to protect his gift. A team of presenters who are well versed in the Pope’s letter will provide background and insights for understanding “the immensity and urgency of the challenge we face” to protect our common home. Sessions will be held on Monday evenings: September 14, 21, 28 and October 5, at 7:00-8:30pm in the PAC. Participants should obtain copies of the Laudato Si’ encyclical online or in book form for the series. Books are available at the office for $15. RSVP’s to the Parish Office, 747-1321 are appreciated.
One of the panel members will be Katie Hirschboeck, a University of Arizona climate scientist in the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research and Catholic Climate Ambassador for the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change. Other panel members include: LEED Certified Architech Hank Krzysik, Deacon Francsico who is also a scientist and conservationist, and
UA Water Law Professor Edella Schlager.
by Blake Morlock in the Tucson Sentinel posted September 8, 2015.
This is real journalism! just look what a real journalist can do when freed from the shackles of the likes of the Arizona Daily Star!
We/I are going to make a donation to the Tucson Sentinel.
Find this article here.
Stay tuned for news of more Tucson Bus Riders Union Actions to pressure the powers that be to end this union-busting strike!
by Brian Flagg
Of course right now you can criticize them for not imposing their will on Profession Transit Management to use the savings accumulated during the bus strike to jump-start negotiations to end the horrific month-long strike.
I was on hate radio KNST the other day with a guy named Garret. After blaming me and the Council for this current mess, he tried to get me to bad mouth the Council and incite people to vote against those running for re-election.
I refused to take the bait, laughed, and did not comment.
In hindsight, I wish I would have said that the Council should be applauded for their past unwillingness to balance their budgets on the backs of bus riders by raising fares and cutting bus service.
The Council has repeatedly been castigated for somehow being cowardly and stupid and for being soft on bus riders living in poverty.
And not just by the likes of Garret. Tim Stellar, Fitzsimmons in Saturdays’ Daily Star and even Blake Morlock in the Tucson Sentinel have chided them for their compassionate and progressive transit track record. (Blake’s strike stories are otherwise great and deserve to be read by everyone).
What I should have said to Garret is that these politicians have voted based on their values, and in doing so are upholding the values of people of Tucson who voted for them. The voters of Tucson tend to have values that support poor people, transit, and unions. That is why Tucson is such a special and righteous community. It’s what sets us apart from Phoenix, Mesa, Sierra Vista, etc.
Five out of seven Council members have consistently voted for justice for bus riders.
One of them, Richard Fimbres, is a practicing Catholic! When he votes in favor of the poor, the transit system and the rights of people to collectively bargain for workplace justice, he is living out the Social Teachings of our Roman Catholic Church … and even acting a little like Jesus!
The narrative needs to change.
Stop blaming poor people and those who dare to support them.
Those in our midst who have made courageous votes in the past need to be lifted up and encouraged to continue to vote their values, the values of the majority of Tucsonans!
______________________________________
No condenen al consejo de la ciudad por votar para la gente pobre, por votar a favor de los pasajeros de camión
por Brian Flagg
Por supuesto que ahora los pueden criticar por no imponerse con los Professional Transit Management para usar el dinero acumulado durante la huelga de los camiones para negociar y terminar este horrendo mes de huelga.
El otro día fui al radio KNST con esta persona llamada Garret. Después de culparme a mi y al consejo por todo este lio, el trato de ponerme en mal con el consejo e incitar a la gente para que no votaran por los que quieren ser re-elegidos.
No caí en su juego, reí y no hice comentario.
En el fondo, me hubiera gustado decir que deberíamos aplaudir al consejo por tratar de acomoda el presupuesto subiendo el costo del camión y reduciendo los servicios.
El consejo a sido castigado repetidamente por ser cobarde y tonto y por ser muy débil con los que usan el camión.
Y no solo por el gusto de Garret. Tim Stellar y Fitzsimmon en el Daily Star y también Blake Morlock en el Tucson Sentinel los han reprendido de transito. (Las historias de huelga de Blake son muy buenas y merecen ser leídas por todos).
Lo que debí decirle a Garret es que esos políticos votan de acuerda a su conveniencia, y no para el bienestar de la gente de Tucson que votaron por ellos. Los votantes de Tucson tienen valores y apoyan a la gente pobres, los camiones y la unión. Es por eso que Tucson es una comunidad especial y justa. Es lo que nos hace diferentes de Phoenix, Mesa, Sierra Vista, etc.
5 de 7 miembros del consejo han apoyada consistentemente a los pasajeros del camión.
Uno de ellos, Richard Fimbres, es un Católico practicante! Cuando el vota a favor de la gente pobre, el sistema de transito, los derechos de la gente coopera en la negociación de un trabajo justo, el esta viviendo la enseñanza social de nuestra Iglesia Católica Romana … y quizás actuando un poco como Jesus!
La historia necesita cambiar.
Dejen de estar culpando a los pobres y a los que apoyan.
Esos que con valentía han votado en el pasado necesitan ser estimulados y animados para continuar votando por sus valores. Valores de la mayoría de los Tucsonenses.
The leaders of this city should be ashamed that they have allowed the suffering of Tucson Bus Riders to go on for almost four weeks.
The Tucson Bus Riders Union has had many community leaders look at the City’s contract with Professional Transit Management. They all have told us that it is blatantly obvious that city officials can do much more to end this strike.
Because of this desperate situation, The Bus Riders Union has determined that direct action is long overdue. It is time we lay our bodies on the line.
Will the cops arrest us for not paying to get on the bus this Thursday at 4 p.m.?
Our goal is to communicate with every bus rider in Tucson about not paying when getting on the bus until this strike is settled.
Please attend on Thursday, September 3.
Voces de Casa Maria 