Carolyn Classen

Carolyn Sugiyama Classen, a life long Democrat, was born & raised in the State of Hawaii, was a Legislative Aide for U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye on Capitol Hill, and practiced law for a while. In Tucson she worked as a tribal staff attorney for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and later was the Interim Executive Director of the now defunct Domestic Violence Commission. In 2008 she became a “My Tucson” guest columnist for the Tucson Citizen newspaper, then continued blogging for Tucsoncitizen.com for over four and a half years. Her blogsite was entitled “Carolyn’s Community” about community events and some political news, until Gannett Publishing shut down the site on January 31, 2014. She started with Blog for Arizona on Feb. 11, 2014. Part time she sat as a Hearing Officer in Pima County Consolidated Justice Courts Small Claims Division since April, 2005 for 15 years. She is married to University of Arizona Distinguished Professor Albrecht Classen, a native of Germany. They have one son, who lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and daughter. She is also the Editor of the Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition website, www.southernazjapan.org (since Jan. 2013).

UA Outreach Coordinator John Winchester to challenge District 1 Supervisor Ally Miller in Republican primary

May 18, 2016May 17, 2016 by Carolyn Classen

In case you missed it, those of you who live in District 1 of Pima County – Republican Pima County Supervisor Ally Miller (elected in Nov. 2012) will face a Republican challenger John Winchester in the August 30 primary. John is the Outreach Coordinator at UA Arizona Center for Judaic Studies.

Over on the Dem side, there are two running for this position as well – retired hospital administrator Brian Bickel and former adjunct communications prof. Jeff Farrell. They too will face off in the August 30 Arizona primary.

from pimagop.org website:

“John Winchester was born and raised in Tucson with the values of service and investment in community. Beginning when he was 10 years old, he volunteered in care homes bringing comfort to the elderly. When he turned 15, he started working in homeless shelters. Today, John remains committed to serve the community by volunteering at the Arizona State prison complex, continued service in a shelter for women and children, working with the 4Tucson Government Domain to encourage Christian civic engagement in government, and acts as the Arizona State Director for Christians United For Israel.

John works successfully to build consensus on issues, bypassing political differences, for the purpose of achieving results. As the Arizona State Director for Christians United for Israel, he works across Arizona building coalitions between Christian denominations, as well as relationships with the Jewish community on Israel-related issues. John is known locally for his investment in the community and his ability to work among diverse groups of people to resolve issues and bring solutions.”

MLK Day introductory meeting

May 16, 2016 by Carolyn Classen

Carolyn’s note: Sorry to have missed the RSVP deadline for last Friday May 13 — busy news day with Prop. 123 election coming up, but please RSVP anyway. Thanks.

Zona Politics online debate on Prop. 123

May 15, 2016 by Carolyn Classen

If you haven’t voted early in the upcoming May 17 special election, and plan to do so on Tuesday, here’s the preview of todays’s Zona Politics show with a debate on Prop. 123 between Jason Freed and Morgan Abraham. Freed is in favor of the Proposition, as President of Tucson Education Assn. and Morgan is the Chair of No on Prop. 123 campaign and the President of the Pima County Young Working Democrats. Host Jim Nintzel on Zona Politics is the Senior Writer of the Tucson Weekly.

Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel airs at 8 a.m. Sunday on the CW Tucson, Channel 8 on Cox and Comcast and Channel 58 on Dish, DirecTV and broadcast. You can hear the show on KXCI, 91.3 FM, at 5 p.m. Sundays or watch it online at zonapolitics.com.

Proposition 123 is the education funding amendment, and is supposed to put $3.5 billion in K-12 schools in Arizona.

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2016/05/13/zona-politics-a-prop-123-debate-and-a-review-of-the-legislative-session

Morgan Abraham, Chair of No on Prop. 123 committee

Jason Freed, President of Tucson Education Assn.

A fun time at Unscrewed Theater’s 14th Anniversary celebration

May 14, 2016May 14, 2016 by Carolyn Classen

Last night I laughed a lot through 2 shows at Unscrewed Theater, 3244 E. Speedway Blvd. in celebration of their 14 years of improvisational comedy here in Tucson. Besides free cookies, the first show was free as well, showcasing 9 of their recent Improv 101 Student Showcase adults in several hilarious “games” on stage and hosted by instructor Chris Seidman. One of the students Spencer was in a wheelchair, and provided a lot of chuckles by his witty comments and facial expressions. This is an 8 week course, so you too can learn to do improv.

UT's Improv 101 Student Showcase performers, with instructor Chris (in back row). Photo courtesy of Cameron Rau, via FB — UT’s Improv 101 Student Showcase performers, with instructor Chris (in back row). Photo courtesy of Cameron Rau, via FB

Then the regular Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed guys and gals (six of them) took the stage, with longtime Host Michael Pierce. Photos below courtesy of freelance photographer Jon Scanlon.

Here’s two photos of my favorite skit “the Dating Game” with a TV host, a woman seeking a date and 3 potential bachelors. L to R below: Billie (woman), host Scott, bachelors 1, 2, 3: Cris, Jon and Rob.

Green Party of Pima County urges “no” vote on Prop. 123

May 13, 2016May 13, 2016 by Carolyn Classen

Green Party of Pima County – Vote “No” on Prop. 123 on May 17th

“Proposition 123 does nothing more than reward bad behavior, abuse of power and corruption at the State Level. It literally allows politicians, already legally determined to be withholding money from schools, to mortgage our future educational dollars without thought of any future need beyond 10 years.

First, proposition 123 does not pay the full amount the courts have already ruled is due the schools pursuant to proposition 301 which voters passed in 2000. Secondly, the Arizona State Land Trust Fund, whose interest of typically 2.5% annually, already earmarked for education, has been targeted for a raid by state pirates and politicians. The land trust funds principal will be tapped to the tune of more than 6% per year, depleting the funds principal and depriving AZ students and taxpayer’s of any form of educational security. This approach to funding literally robs future generations of money for our schools, in order to pay current educational debt that was already withheld by the governor and his majority. Might this also trigger land sales by the state to replenish a diminished land trust, benefiting developers heretofore unknown?

We, the members of the Green Party in Pima County, say the risk to our environmental sustainability and our way of life is too great, and our reward to our children and teacher’s is non-existent. Prop. 123 does not provide enough financial resource to fix the under-funding problems and poor teacher pay already in existence. In fact, the state has a budget surplus of nearly $1 billion which could be used to fund schools immediately. The state has not done so.

When faced with overwhelming evidence of incompetence, at best, and corruption, at worst, an informed electorate must act to solve problems, and correct inequities. Preserve our Land Trust, and let’s fight for what we approved in proposition 301.

Vote “No” on Prop. 123.
Vote “Yes” for our environment and future generations of students.”

1st GPPC Representative Josh Reilly

GPPC Chairperson Mike Cease