Library hosts political discussion
Katie Clark - April 17th, 2008On April 8, students and local city residents packed into Flagstaff Public Library’s auditorium for two speakers, Jim Tuck, council member of the Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Committee, and Joanne Oellers, a biologist from the Center for Biological Diversity.
Tuck discussed the proposed propositions in the upcoming election, in regards to the future of public transportation for Flagstaff.
Currently, there are over 800,000 riders yearly with 48 percent communting to work, 23 percent communting to school and 18 percent commuting to recreational activities. For two-thirds of the riders, it is their sole form of transportation.
John Kirk, a local Flagstaff resident, said the current public transport system is dismal.
“I use the buses and I believe it is horrible. You have to wait at least 40 minutes for a bus and I think any improvement would be beneficial,” Kirk said.
Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Committee introduced five measures to increase the productivity of the public transportation.
“Public transportation is necessary not only for people who cannot afford a car but also to promote a greener Flagstaff,” Kirk said.
Haley Michaels, a freshman and undecided major, said the new propositions that intend to change the bus system would be completely beneficial to Flagstaff.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Michaels said. “If there were more routes and higher frequency I would actually ride the bus, especially if it is connected to NAU.”
The second speaker, Oellers, Verde Campaign Coordinator, discussed Prescott’s plan to take tens of million of gallons per day from the Big Chino aquifer to fund developments. She said the city plans to transport the water through 45 miles of pipeline.
The Big Chino aquifer in central Arizona supplies more than 80 percent of the upper Verde spring flow. If the pipeline were built it would result in the drying up of the first 24 miles of the river.
Currently, the Verde River flows freely above and below ground for 125 miles through private, state, tribal and U.S. National Forest lands. The Center’s goal is to keep the Verde flowing naturally.
In 1984, it was designated by the U.S. Congress as the Verde Wild and Scenic River, as part of the National Wild and Scenic River program.
Oellers said the Verde River is one of the last remaining perennial rivers and is the home of many endangered animals, including the nesting bald eagle, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and native fishes.
In 2004, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice of intent to sue Prescott and Prescott Valley over the Endangered Species Act.
“I think it’s disconcerning to know that Prescott plans on destroying one of the last remaining free-flowing rivers in Arizona,” said Sam Sprieg, a freshman environmental studies major. “It’s so short-term. What are they going to do for water after it dries up?”