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Welcome to the Footprint: Arizona Environmental News

Arizona is booming in almost every measurable way. The population has risen by 73 percent since 1990, reaching 6,338,755 in 2007. The U.S. Census estimates that the state could add another five million residents by 2030. The Arizona economy has grown even faster: the state’s gross domestic product expanded from $127 billion in 1997 to more than $232 billion in 2007, an increase of 83 percent.

All this growth means that Arizona’s environment is under pressure like never before. Suburban sprawl and rising business and industrial needs have stretched the state’s water supplies to near the breaking point. Surging commodity prices have ignited a gold-rush mentality for corporations intent on mining the state’s ample copper, coal, uranium and other mineral deposits. Utility companies wrestle with meeting a new renewable energy standard as scientists warn of drastic impacts on the state’s climate from global warming.

Here at The Footprint, we aim to combine original reporting with commentary on environmental news from around the state, to provide a comprehensive look at the stories that impact Arizona’s land, water and air.

Check in for daily updates on the stories that matter to you, like the proposed Rosemont open-pit copper mine south of Tucson, to plans to mine uranium near the rim of the Grand Canyon, and more.

We are always open to suggestions, tips, comments or critiques. Please contact us at azfootprint@gmail.com.

Major journalism outlet looks at TZR

This past week offered another proud moment for our ongoing work at ZonieReport.com. Jonathan Dube, an online journalism columnist for the Poynter Institute’s website, spoke with me about the state of the industry and what makes The Zonie Report tick.

For those of you unfamiliar with the institute, it is a leading voice in journalism. Headquartered in Florida, it churns out training and advice on the latest and most controversial issues facing the industry. To be interviewed for a Q&A was a real treat.

Thanks for the attention, Jon. For a glimpse, click here.

Meet the Phoenix Real Estate guy

Howdy everyone. I thought I’d call your attention to a new blog I found about real estate in Phoenix. It’s written by Jay Thompson, an East Valley real estate agent who seems very involved in Valley life. His wife, Francy, is a native Arizonan.

Check out his site for homebuying tips and the latest gossip in the local real estate industry [There’s been plenty of that recently, right?]. Jay hosts some pretty thoughtful discussions that are worth dropping in on. You can also check out Jay’s comments in PHOENIX magazine’s May edition entitled Best Places to Live .

From Phoenix First Fridays to Glendale history

TZR wins state journalism award

National press, new features for TZR!

Hug a journalist

Journalists — the people who deliver information to you every day in every way under the First Amendment — are multitasking more and working longer hours than ever before.

These are the latest findings according to PR Newswire and PR Week, which surveyed journalists of all stripes (but mostly newspaper reporters). Consider:

• 57 percent feel they are being asked to work more today than in the past few years, while 56 percent say they are contributing to other mediums outside of their official duty.

• 67 percent of newspaper journalists anticipate “declines in print circulation and increased focus on the Web” over the next three years.

• 91 percent of respondents indicated “Make my publication successful by creating appealing content for its audiences” as the top consideration of their job.

• 70 percent of total respondents suggest that public opinion of journalists has gotten worse during the past five years.

Readers may wonder what this means. In my humble opinion, it means more stories are being covered without depth. Since more stories are being written, more mistakes are being made, which leads to further erosion in the public’s trust of journalists (which surveys also show has declined since Watergate.)

So if you see a journalist, thank them for their hard work. They may need a hug, too.

Running for Ryan House

This past weekend I ran a 5K that benefited Ryan House, a Phoenix nonprofit that provides care and support for children with life-limiting disabilities.

It’s truly a cool place: Ryan House is backed by Hospice of the Valley and intends to build a 19,000-square-foot facility near First Avenue and Thomas Road. The money raised goes toward the operations of the center, which opens soon.

It was pretty breezy out, so I dropped the sombrero act to eliminate wind drag. [This seemed to help, as we were headed up into the McDowell Mountains along Thompson Peak Parkway.] However, I wore the AZ colors and the TZR signs, which drew several comments in the port-a-pottie line. In fact, one Valley Realtor recognized me based on the write-up on Jay Thompson’s real estate blog. Thank you, Jay. [See below.]

The next race I run for TZR will be somewhere between Tempe and Lake Havasu City. Stay tuned.

Hanging out at Matador Coffee

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Backstage with Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers

Last night, I had the opportunity to go behind the black velvet curtains at Phoenix’s Celebrity Theater to spend some QT with Arizona’s quintessential independent rock band, Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers.

Not knowing what to expect, I’m fairly certain this was the *mellowest* backstage party in the history of backstage parties. A room full of about 30 people ate Doritos, pretzels and drank four cases of Rolling Rock and Dos Equis [myself included — you know, just to blend in] without ever catching a glimpse of the band. I saw Steve (guitarist), who quickly ran out. PH (drummer) was nowhere to be found 20 minutes to showtime. The bassist was in the parking lot, and Roger was in the hallway looking harried.

“I gotta go memorize the words to my songs,” he told me before bolting for a dressing room.

Not exactly what you want to hear from the lead singer moments before playing the city’s classiest venue. They played 31 songs in 2.5 hours. [Actually, it was more like 30 since Roger forgot at least two verses.]

But that’s part of the fun at a Peacemakers show, where Roger indulges the crowd by drinking whatever flask, beer or other mysterious alcoholic beverage it offers up during the set. He is a true warrior, but the all-night sing-along ends up helping him out later in the show. Everyone realizes this, and musical purists would be alarmed. But in the eyes of fans, it’s part of Roger’s rock star charm. [The band has now played 16 times in Rocky Point at a block party concert they call Circus Mexicus.]

The band is touring for its new album, Turbo Ocho. Check it out, and be ready to hear a mix of heavier rock and a five-man section of trumpets, bongos, and Latin timbales. Vivan los Peacemakers!

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