The Round Up: Vibrant Arizona
The Grand Canyon State gets a rebrand in more ways than one.
A note to our readers: Local news has struggled to survive for at least the past 20 years, with many local papers giving way to national conglomerates. The Western Tribune exists to buck this trend. We are building a grassroots nonprofit newspaper in the American West, with a focus on Arizona.
Right now, we fill gaps in coverage at the State Capitol and across the Grand Canyon State, offering a unique blend of straight news and analysis.
To support our work, you can subscribe here and donate here. All donations are tax deductible.
In this round up: Gov. Katie Hobbs rebrands the State of Arizona, education savings accounts (ESAs) come in under budget for fiscal year 2024, former President Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. barnstorm at Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena, and more. It’s been a busy week for one of the nation’s key swing states — it’s hard for us to stay out of the headlines!
Labor Day History: The Bisbee Deportation
In July 1917, in what is commonly referred to as the most important event in Arizona labor history, approximately 1,300 striking mine workers and their supporters were illegally arrested by a deputized posse and sent on cattle cars to Tres Hermanas, New Mexico. The mine workers had been on strike over poor working conditions. Phelps Dodge, the company that owned the Copper Queen Mine, colluded with the sheriff to kidnap the workers and send them to Tres Hermanas.
President Woodrow Wilson worked with the governor of New Mexico to house the deportees and make sure they were cared for. A presidential mediation commission found the deportation to be completely illegal, but no charges were ever brought. In a landmark Supreme Court decision, the court found in United States v. Wheeler that the Constitution does not grant the federal government the power to stop kidnappings.
This is all to say that we hope your Labor Day is a bit more gleeful than the Bisbee Deportation!
Arizona Gets A Rebrand
The Arizona Department of Tourism unveiled a rebrand for the State of Arizona featuring a new logo and the tagline: “Vibrant Arizona.” This rebrand is the culmination of a project launched in 2023, Discovering Arizona: Finding the Future of Arizona’s Story. The state was previously rebranded under Gov. Doug Ducey.
The most recent rebrand was guided by interviews of over 2,000 Arizonans across the state designed to elucidate consistent elements associated with Arizona. The rebrand is supposed to showcase Arizona’s growth and diverse offerings, assisting in growing the state’s tourism economy and its public image.
The project comes at an apt time, say its proponents, with Arizona growing both in terms of population and GDP. Critics charge that this rebrand is a waste of taxpayer resources: It cost taxpayers $700,000, compared to the $250,000 effort under Gov. Ducey. It was funded by federal pandemic relief funds.
What Arizonans are saying:
Lisa Urias, CEO of the Arizona Office of Tourism: “Talking to a wide range of people across the state helped us ensure our updated brand reflects what Arizonans love about the state and want amplified. This brand emerged as a reflection of those amazing experiences.”
Gov. Katie Hobbs: “We deserve a brand as vibrant as our people, and one that showcases our collective history.”
Marc Garcia, President and CEO of Visit Mesa: “As we strive to create greater demand for all that Arizona has to offer, this brand is a testament to our enduring relevance, inclusivity, and authenticity.”
Dan Coulson, Deputy Press Secretary, Citizens for Free Enterprise: “How much is it going to cost state agencies to comply with the new branding? Website redesigns, reprinting official materials, new decals for state vehicles… and that’s just the start… Sounds expensive…”
ESAs Come In Under Budget
Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program came in under budget for fiscal year (FY) 2024, much to the chagrin of its critics. Over the last 12 months, ESAs and Basic State Aid payments cost taxpayers $4.3 million less than projected.
ESA funds cover students’ education expenses up to $7,000 per year. These funds can be used to cover tuition at eligible private schools across the state or purchase other education-related items such as school supplies, curricula, and tutoring. In 2022 Arizona became the first state in the nation to make ESAs available to all students (as opposed to only students with learning disabilities), marking a turning point in the national school-choice movement.
In January of this year, many of the program’s critics, including Gov. Hobbs, accused the ESA program of draining the state’s coffers. State Republicans defended the program at the time, sure in their belief that it would be a success.
What Arizona leaders are saying:
Tom Horne, Superintendent of Public Instruction: “Having a surplus of more than $4 million is proof positive that the critics who have claimed the ESA program will bust the [sic] not only the state’s education budget but the entire budget itself were always wrong. It was always a myth, and that myth is utterly demolished.”
Todd Beauford, Christian School Advocate: “Arizona’s ESA program is proof that school choice works! With nearly 60,000 students benefiting from the freedom to choose the best education for their needs, it’s clear that empowering parents leads to thriving educational outcomes.”
Jeffrey A. Singer, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute: “No doubt the Chicken Littles will continue to cluck their doomsday scenarios when it comes to choice. But, as Arizona—the first state to pass a universal ESA—shows, the real-world results don’t match the fear-mongering.”
State Rep. Judy Schwiebert (D): "It’s fiscally irresponsible to give away taxpayer dollars to private institutions with zero accountability."
State Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (D): “The unlimited voucher program is out of control and unsustainable. There’s no limit on how much can be spent, and it is on pace to cost nearly $1 billion when its original price tag was $33 million.”
RFK Jr. Endorses Trump At Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena
Weeks after Vice President Kamala Harris held her largest rally yet at Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed former President Donald Trump at the same location.
In his speech, Kennedy suspended his campaign and spoke about his perception of the Democratic Party’s shift away from the defense of “freedom” to advocating “censorship.” He spoke at length about the press and how he believed that they worked alongside the Democratic Party to undermine his campaign. Finally, he concluded that since he did not believe himself to be a viable candidate, his supporters, especially those in swing states, should vote for Trump.
Trump spoke mostly about immigration, pulling up the infamous chart that he claims saved his life in Butler, PA. With Kennedy on stage, Trump pledged to release the classified documents concerning the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He also spoke about “establish[ing] a panel of top experts” to investigate childhood health problems, with Kennedy at the helm. Kennedy praised Trump on foreign policy, saying that, “He told me he wants to end the grip the neocons have on foreign policy.”
Following President Joe Biden’s decision to bow out of the race, a new jolt of energy has surged into the presidential contest, notably in favor of Harris. Trump’s former lead over Biden has given way to a dead heat between the former president and Harris, with polls showing both candidates within spitting distance of victory. Time will tell who wins, but one thing is clear: Democrats and Republicans see Arizona as an important piece of their strategy to win the requisite 270 electoral votes come November 5.
What Arizona leaders are saying:
Rep. Eli Crane: “This is our election to lose. We can’t count on Donald Trump to carry this entire load on his back.”
Justin Harris, President, Arizona Police Association: “He always had our backs.
Kari Lake: “We need this energy for the next two and a half months and we can’t let it die down.”
Kerry Kennedy: “I love Bobby. But I think this is dramatically misguided. And I think it tramples on my father’s and my uncles’ and aunts’ reputations and their vision.”
In The Headlines
New poll shows Trump with very slim lead over Harris in Arizona (August, 27, 2024)
“The data shows Trump just three points ahead of Harris, with 9% of registered voters saying they’re still not sure how they would vote. The three-point lead is the same margin Trump held against Biden in Noble’s poll in May. It shows a large 80% majority of all polled voters think it was the right move for Biden to step down, with 82% of voters saying Harris is the right choice for nominee and there was nothing wrong with the nomination process.”
Hikers evacuated from Grand Canyon flash flood recount rescue (August, 27, 2024)
“Hundreds of hikers and Havasupai tribal members were evacuated last week during a flash flood along Havasu Creek near Grand Canyon National Park.”
Arizona Congressman Ruben Gallego condemns Phoenix DOJ report (August, 27, 2024)
“Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix, sent his letter to Assistant U.S. Attorney General Clarke. It said, ‘It is clear a pattern or practice of civil rights violations does not exist - and it is certainly not the kind of situation Congress envisioned when it gave DOJ the authority to conduct investigations of this type.’”
AZ Supreme Court rules open primary issue can go on ballot (August, 27, 2024)
“In a 10-page order, the justices agreed that what is in Proposition 140 would amend multiple sections of the Arizona Constitution about how elections are run in Arizona. And they acknowledged that, generally speaking, voters can’t be asked to make such choices on an all-or-nothing basis.”
Tempe woman found dead at work 4 days after she clocked in (August, 29, 2024)
“She was found dead by security the following Tuesday, Aug. 20. Police confirmed the death when they responded to the office for a call about a ‘“subject down,’” according to a statement by Tempe police.”
This round-up was produced by Joe Pitts, senior columnist for 1912 and CEO and cofounder of the Western Tribune, alongside Joseph Kavetsky, managing editor for 1912.