{"id":2,"date":"2018-09-06T12:38:13","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T12:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/commons.princeton.edu\/midtermsmatter\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2021-06-02T11:29:16","modified_gmt":"2021-06-02T15:29:16","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/commons.princeton.edu\/midtermsmatter\/","title":{"rendered":"JRN 447 on location in Arizona: October 27 – November 4, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Photo by Kathleen McCleery<\/em><\/p>\n

Day1: Phoenix <\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Sunshine and dry air<\/strong> greeted Princeton\u2019s contingent late Saturday afternoon, a welcome change from New Jersey\u2019s cold drizzle. Dinner brought menu choices from carne asada to tortas del mar, just the start of a week filled with salsa, queso, and guacamole. Astrid Galvan, Border Correspondent for Associated Press, fielded questions about the migrant caravan, the wall, and immigration reform. There\u2019s a changing demographic among those crossing the U.S. border, she noted. A decade ago, mostly men crossed illegally into the U.S. Today, she reports, women, children, and families dominate. That\u2019s posed challenges, she said, for border patrol agents who now need car seats, diapers, and toys.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Photo by Kathleen McCleery<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 2: Phoenix<\/u><\/p>\n

Crowds swarmed<\/strong> Arizona\u2019s State Fair on its last day chowing down on local cuisine from Navajo fry bread to tacos as well as fairground staples such as funnel cakes and cotton candy. Little kids and overgrown kids lined up for a gigantic Ferris wheel and an up-in-the-sky ride that circled the expansive grounds. Finding visitors who would grant a few minutes to talk politics was challenging. One in ten said yes. Those who stepped before our cameras offered varying views of the upcoming elections. Not surprisingly, staunch Republicans backed President Trump\u2019s party and his policies, and Democrats wished for a blue wave. Independents fell on both sides of the political divide. Healthcare, border security, and education led the list of priorities. Oddly, few in this desert state mentioned water issues.<\/p>\n

Day 3: Tucson<\/u><\/p>\n

A trip to the Safeway<\/strong> will never be the same. Former Rep. Ron Barber met us at the site of the January 2011 shooting. Six people were killed, and his boss, Rep. Gabby Giffords, was severely wounded. The attack took place in front of the supermarket in the La Toscana Village mall just outside Tucson. Leaning on a cane, Barber described being shot in the face and thigh soon after Giffords began her constituent event.<\/p>\n

One week before Election Day, Christopher Conover, chief political correspondent for Arizona Public Media, ticked off key voting blocs. On Latinos, he asked, will they come through for Democrats? On millennials, they don\u2019t vote, at least not in the past. On suburban, college-educated women, how they\u2019ll vote is the million dollar question, pronounced Conover.<\/p>\n

Day 4: Tucson<\/u><\/p>\n

In this year of the woman<\/strong>, this was our day of the woman. It began with University of Arizona professor Kate Kenski who has written extensively on women and politics. On the barrage of attack ads in the Senate contest between Reps. Martha McSally and Kyrsten Sinema, Kenski said, \u201cFemales are not expected to be harsh \u2026 we are judged differently.\u201d 6 days after Election Day, Sinema was declared the winner, and will be Arizona’s first female Senator.<\/p>\n

Also in Tucson, female volunteers at Casa Alitas echoed what we heard from AP\u2019s Galvan. It\u2019s no longer just young men crossing the border; it\u2019s families, said head volunteer Kate Albrecht. At Casa Alitas, a home dedicated to assisting immigrant families seeking seek asylum in the United States, pans clattered and young children laughed, chattering in Spanish.<\/p>\n

Day 5: Green Valley<\/u><\/p>\n

Politics dominated<\/strong> one team\u2019s day. They scored an interview \u2013 albeit just 7 minutes \u2013 with the Democratic candidate for the open U.S. House seat in the second Congressional district. Ann Kirkpatrick (who was the victor on Election Day) carved out time for us before rallying volunteers at a phone bank in Green Valley.<\/p>\n

Before that and just down the street, students interviewed Shelley Kais, GOP candidate for state senate (who lost her bid on November 6th) at the Republican headquarters in Green Valley.<\/p>\n

\"\"Photo by Kathleen McCleery<\/em><\/p>\n

For the rest of us, there were pecans and more pecans in Sahuarita. We talked water, tariffs, immigration and more in a vast orchard with Dick and Nan Walden, owners of Green Valley Pecans. He\u2019s a registered Republican; she\u2019s a Democrat. Both believe President Trump\u2019s tariffs won\u2019t just hurt their global business, but also will impact farmers across the nation.<\/p>\n

Day 6: Bisbee and Douglas<\/u><\/p>\n

Life on a ranch on the border<\/strong> \u2026 and in a border town. Cattle rancher John Ladd took us to the fence on his property that sits on the U.S.-Mexico line. He railed against immigrants he believes are ruining American towns and schools adding, \u201cWe don\u2019t want \u2018em and we don\u2019t need \u2018em.\u201d He agreed with President Trump\u2019s call to send thousands of military troops to the border saying, \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Photo by Kathleen McCleery<\/em><\/p>\n

In the afternoon, we got a different take from Douglas Mayor Robert Uribe. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, he understands the struggles of immigrants. His family was on welfare. He didn\u2019t read or write English until age 12. Now as mayor of a border town, he says he\u2019s living the American dream and grew emotional when he said, \u201cTo say I\u2019m a burden \u2026 is a low blow. It\u2019s not right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/u>Photo by Kathleen McCleery<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 7: Naco and Douglas<\/u><\/p>\n

A small screen<\/strong> in the upper left corner of a huge wall of monitors flashed red. A helicopter appeared \u2026 then border patrol agents chasing something or someone moved into the picture. After that, horses galloped into the frame. We watched in real time as 5 immigrants were apprehended by agents from the Brian A. Terry Station at Naco. Who were they? Why did they cross illegally into the US? Were they carrying narcotics? The answers aren\u2019t clear yet, but they didn\u2019t appear to be smugglers, we were told.<\/p>\n

As the evening drew to a close, it was time for a ghost story and a tour of the allegedly haunted room 333 at the Gadsden Hotel in Douglas. Who\u2019s sleeping well tonight?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/u>Photo by Kathleen McCleery<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 8: Tucson<\/u><\/p>\n

Sunshine, warm breezes<\/strong>, and temperatures in the high 70s all made for perfect hiking weather among Arizona\u2019s towering cacti in Saguaro National Park. The giant branches on each tree stretched out as if they were waving goodbye. A fitting end for a perfect week.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Photo by Kathleen McCleery<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Photo by Kathleen McCleery Day1: Phoenix Sunshine and dry air greeted Princeton\u2019s contingent late Saturday afternoon, a welcome change from New Jersey\u2019s cold drizzle. Dinner brought menu choices from carne asada to tortas del mar, just the start of a week filled with salsa, queso, and guacamole. Astrid Galvan, Border Correspondent for Associated Press, fielded<\/p>\n

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