Maybe the voters (you know, the people who actually pay for it) don't want it? The people in South Phoenix didn't want it either, yet it was shoved down their throats by the transit gods.
I am sorry, I grew up down the street from Durant’s, still has the best steaks in town. It is to bad you new comers don’t appreciate quality and history! Also they have the best liver and onions in the country, after Durant’s is Gene & Georgetti in Chicago, then Earl’s in Gallup.
Much of our state becomes a convection oven every summer--where it'll only get hotter and for longer--and local press writes about policies that will add more cars, asphalt, and concrete simply in terms of "annoying taxes" and political horse-trading...
Wow, great job as always, AZ Agenda. I sure appreciate all that you write about. I would never know ANY of this without your stories. I also had to laugh about the story on Durant's. I went there about 25 years ago, couldn't stand it and never went back. Everything about that place bugged me. So to finally read something about them that wasn't 'oh, it's great, it's a landmark, blah blah blah' was refreshing. Glad others love the place; they're welcome to it.
One other note: very disappointed to learn that our representatives do not value a great light rail system. What a huge benefit to residents and draw for tourists that would be. Imagine if you could go downtown -- or to our major attractions (or shopping centers) on light rail. The reduction of traffic, cost of parking, etc. would be significant. They don't want a stop near the Capitol? I guess they don't want the voters to annoy them by showing up to see what they're doing.
"Our representatives " you mean those folks elected by voters to represent them. It may suprise you that light rail is simply not very popular. As a one time rider I can tell you there are a lot of riders who don't pay fairs, people who use them as day time shelters, many of whom are disruptive and threatening - besides in desperate been of bathing. The cars are also not very clean so most times I would remain standing. If you haven't ridden lately I invite you to do so from, say the 24th station to 19th Ave and Montebello at 9pm. Good luck.
I thought Durant’s was old and dated and dingy back when I was a child and had the misfortune to be dragged out to lunch by some geriatric family member. Surely, they cannot have kept the same decor. My mother once said, “It looks like a brothel had a baby with the Lawrence Welk Show”.
I guess the legislature does not want to see all the state workers using Light Rail. Many would use it to save money and its convenience. Many do use it, but they have to catch a bus to downtown. When they do this, the legislators can pretend everybody hates it.
Wow, politicians from both sides of the aisle come together to find a possible compromise and instead of acknowledging that we have a divided government in which compromises are how things get accomplished, and here at the Arizona Agenda you get snark and the predictable criticism of Republicans. Nice going.
I appreciate, however, the tacit acknowledgement that the only way to get light rail funded is by combining its funding (not popular) with wildly popular freeways and roads. Since 1984, this has always been the big debate around the half cent sales tax. Today, a pretty large majority of voters have apparently decided that more light rail is not the best use of their money. But of course, what do taxpayers know about anything? They should just listen and defer to those wiser and better informed policy wonks and allow their money be spent as these folks decide. Perish the thought that the reason we have ballot measures for taxes is so voters have a say. Maybe someday voters will just say NO to renewing the tax in order to send a message. I hope not but it could happen - and probably would have happened if the Legislature just let Hobbs and her fellow Democrats have their way.
So what's with the problem of light rail going around the capital? What are the legislators afraid of?
Maybe the voters (you know, the people who actually pay for it) don't want it? The people in South Phoenix didn't want it either, yet it was shoved down their throats by the transit gods.
I am sorry, I grew up down the street from Durant’s, still has the best steaks in town. It is to bad you new comers don’t appreciate quality and history! Also they have the best liver and onions in the country, after Durant’s is Gene & Georgetti in Chicago, then Earl’s in Gallup.
Much of our state becomes a convection oven every summer--where it'll only get hotter and for longer--and local press writes about policies that will add more cars, asphalt, and concrete simply in terms of "annoying taxes" and political horse-trading...
I saw a show on some streaming channel about Jack Durant. Little history lesson in Bistro 101.
Wow, great job as always, AZ Agenda. I sure appreciate all that you write about. I would never know ANY of this without your stories. I also had to laugh about the story on Durant's. I went there about 25 years ago, couldn't stand it and never went back. Everything about that place bugged me. So to finally read something about them that wasn't 'oh, it's great, it's a landmark, blah blah blah' was refreshing. Glad others love the place; they're welcome to it.
One other note: very disappointed to learn that our representatives do not value a great light rail system. What a huge benefit to residents and draw for tourists that would be. Imagine if you could go downtown -- or to our major attractions (or shopping centers) on light rail. The reduction of traffic, cost of parking, etc. would be significant. They don't want a stop near the Capitol? I guess they don't want the voters to annoy them by showing up to see what they're doing.
"Our representatives " you mean those folks elected by voters to represent them. It may suprise you that light rail is simply not very popular. As a one time rider I can tell you there are a lot of riders who don't pay fairs, people who use them as day time shelters, many of whom are disruptive and threatening - besides in desperate been of bathing. The cars are also not very clean so most times I would remain standing. If you haven't ridden lately I invite you to do so from, say the 24th station to 19th Ave and Montebello at 9pm. Good luck.
I thought Durant’s was old and dated and dingy back when I was a child and had the misfortune to be dragged out to lunch by some geriatric family member. Surely, they cannot have kept the same decor. My mother once said, “It looks like a brothel had a baby with the Lawrence Welk Show”.
Great description from your Mom! (Not surprised.)
If Kari Lake is against it, it must have more good than bad elements.
I guess the legislature does not want to see all the state workers using Light Rail. Many would use it to save money and its convenience. Many do use it, but they have to catch a bus to downtown. When they do this, the legislators can pretend everybody hates it.
Wow, politicians from both sides of the aisle come together to find a possible compromise and instead of acknowledging that we have a divided government in which compromises are how things get accomplished, and here at the Arizona Agenda you get snark and the predictable criticism of Republicans. Nice going.
I appreciate, however, the tacit acknowledgement that the only way to get light rail funded is by combining its funding (not popular) with wildly popular freeways and roads. Since 1984, this has always been the big debate around the half cent sales tax. Today, a pretty large majority of voters have apparently decided that more light rail is not the best use of their money. But of course, what do taxpayers know about anything? They should just listen and defer to those wiser and better informed policy wonks and allow their money be spent as these folks decide. Perish the thought that the reason we have ballot measures for taxes is so voters have a say. Maybe someday voters will just say NO to renewing the tax in order to send a message. I hope not but it could happen - and probably would have happened if the Legislature just let Hobbs and her fellow Democrats have their way.
The New Times. No need to read further.