Contrary to this reviewer's claims, Tucson is a progressive haven in a largely right-wing Mormon state. The University of Arizona is world renowned for its contributions in astronomy and optics. Its Center for Creative Photography may have been mentioned here or there maybe once or twice ;^) . According to Newsweek, BASIS Charter School may be an O.K. place to send your child to school, having only achieved 1st place in the nation for 2008. As for our refuse, of what doesn't make it into our recycling program, Tucson Electric Power (our local distributor) converts a portion into electricity by tapping the off gassings from our landfills, filtering the methane and burning it at the closest power generation plant. TEP also leads this hemisphere in alternative energy production with their Sunshare solar subsidy program and a huge installation of solar collectors in the desert (Springerville Generating Station Solar System, producing 7,764 MWh in 2006 --the largest output of any single photovoltaic system) Many, if not most, of our buses now run on biodiesel (and are, unfortunately, more efficient per capita as they run so irregularly). We're making a desperate attempt to recharge the water table, pumping Central Arizona Project water into the upper ground layers with --ick-- purified wastewater, which we hope will further purify as it makes its way into the lower water table. We have the Opera and Symphony, but we are still a "large town." You'll have to wait some months before Arizona Presents brings the latest Broadway number to Tucson. As for food, I'm not much for haute cuisine; so, if you want to pay upwards of $50 to eat treif on a plate --who knows?-- you may just have to go to Phoenix.
Mark |
Tucson, AZ |
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