PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES OCTOBER 2020 SERVING THE MOUNTAIN EMPIRE COMMUNITIES OF CANELO, ELGIN, PATAGONIA AND SONOITA VOL. 10 ISSUE 8 PRT Hosts Candidate Forum Proposed Mine Route Raises Concerns By Marion Vendituoli Representatives from South32 gave a power- point presentation to residents of the Red Rock area on August 4 showing a proposed route that they are calling the Cross Creek Connector. This road would link Harshaw Road, just outside the Patagonia Town limits, to Route 82 at Cross Creek Road north of town De- spite South32 avoiding a By Aisha Sander Photo by Marion Vendituoli route through the town Bruce Bracker answers a question at the PRT’s Supervisor Candidate limits of Patagonia there is Forum, while Donna Federici and Justin Luna await their turn at the opposition to this project microphone from many residents in The PRT hosted a candidates forum Federici pointed out that there was no the eastern part of the for the District 3 County Supervisors public health board at the county lev- county. candidates: incumbent Bruce Bracker el. Federici said that one of the main South32 has purchased (D), Donna Federici (I), and Justin Luna flaws in the pandemic response was 15 parcels of contiguous (I). The forum was moderated by Tom not controlling what was happening at land on which to build Beal, retired journalist from the the US-Mexico border. Hilary Felix, c the new road, for a total Tucson Star and PRT Board member. Facebook commenter, wrote that, in of 366 acres, according When asked about South32’s Cross fact, Sonora closed the border before to a map constructed by Creek connector road proposal (read the U.S. did. Robert Gay. The company more on pages 1 & 4 of this issue) The candidates were asked how proposes to build three Map Courtesy of Robert Gay Bracker said that they are working they would reassure voters of the bridges along the connec- with the mining company to consid- integrity of the election. Bracker re- The properties in pink are land acquisitions by tor, across Sonoita Creek, South32 that provide a route for the Hermosa er another route and pushing use of sponded, “there will be five locations Harshaw Creek and at Red Project between Harshaw Rd and SR 82. electric vehicles. Federici said, while for early voting, or you can take your Rock Canyon. Ground clear- communities and neighbors along all of the county is limited in its legal capac- early ballot and turn it in at one of the ing would not begin until mid-2021, the potential routes was a key consid- ity to stop the road, it has a “right to centers. Ballot drop boxes are com- according to South32. eration.” demand air quality...disrupting rural ing from Sect. of State to be placed Ore trucks would proceed north on There is considerable opposition to neighborhoods is appalling.” Luna throughout the county. The vote will Hwy 82 to Sonoita, then north on Hwy this route, however. Ron Pulliam, of admitted that he did not know much be very secure, I’m very confident in 83 to the Port of Tucson. South32 ex- Borderlands Restoration and Wildlife about this particular route, adding that.” Federici said, “I wish I had as pects that the ore would then be sent Corridors, expressed “very substantial “I would deter the route, let’s find a much confidence. The entire mail in by rail to the port of Guymas in Mexico concerns.” “This proposal will put a more feasible route.” vote situation is very shaky. I don’t or to the ports on the West coast or major industrial road in the center of The candidates were asked what want to direct anything to our county. Gulf coast for shipping. an area with high biological diversity, three things they would do if the If anyone can do it, it would be us, a “The Cross Creek Connector option including up to 12 threatened and pandemic worsened in 2021. Bracker rural county. But to have absolute con- honors the community’s preference endangered species,” he said. An im- touted his leadership role in pressuring fidence in mail-in voting is...you can’t.” to keep the route outside the town of portant wildlife corridor stretches from Gov. Ducey to implement local mask Luna said, “Register for early voting Patagonia limits, avoids school traffic the Patagonia Mountains to the Santa ordinances and testing for the county. and drop it off it yourself...our county and pedestrian risks in Patagonia,” Ritas. Pulliam, who founded Wildlife Luna suggested that more should be manager...she’s doing a great job in wrote Melanie Lawson, communities Corridors, LLC, which has preserved done to help those suffering financially my opinion.” manager for South32. We have under- 1300 acres as open space on the west by providing assistance from the funds Watch the recording: patagoniare- taken extensive studies on the differ- the county received. Both Luna and gionaltimes.org/elections-2020. ent options available and impacts to See Road/ Page 4 Democracy is HarD Work By Jac Heiss, President of PRT Board The political ads we see on TV re- It’s not just about registering to inforce this notion. Rarely do they tell vote, then casting a ballot. It involves PRT From the time I was old enough to us much about a candidate’s political a litany of tasks like fact checking, MISSION STATEMENT vote, which was a few months before I views, but more often are focused researching information from multi- was sent to Vietnam, I have wondered attempts to create doubt about the ple sources, monitoring the actions To publish a nonprofit why almost half of all Americans integrity of their opponents. And then of those we have elected and holding community newspaper which choose not to exercise one of their we have social media which afford us them accountable, regardless of party serves the Mountain Empire most precious rights as citizens of this communities of Santa Cruz the opportunity to spew venom and affiliation. Indeed it is all hard work, country. In some parts of our nation, denigrate one another rather than inconvenient and time consuming, but County, including Canelo, Elgin, voter suppression is cited as a primary Patagonia, and Sonoita, and serve to identify problems and share contrast that with storming a beach at reason, but from my observations, which is open to all views, high- ideas as to how to address them. Even Normandy, raising a flag at Iwo Jima, lighting local issues and empha- making it more difficult for folks to the semantics that politicians use can or boarding enemy ships in the middle sizing the contributions of local register or to find a mail box or voting discourage civility. We’ve all heard of the night in the Straits of Hormuz to talent. booth appears to actually motivate statements like, “If you elect me to search for weapons and contraband them to participate, at least for a office, I’ll fight for….” as my own son recently had to do. WHO WE ARE few election cycles. Time constraints Fight? Seriously? Maybe debate Election outcomes at every level in- have historically been problematic for monitors should introduce the can- volve transferring power. What would We are a nonprofit organization, many people, but we are no longer didates with something like, “In this happen if we think of it as transferring funded by paid advertising, do- restricted in most parts of the country nations and grants. PRT is a free corner weighing 245 lbs…” No wonder RESPONSIBILITY? I think we would all to casting our ballots at a single voting cynicism abounds. prefer to vote for someone in pursuit monthly publication distributed to site, on a single day. news stands and local merchants When discussing this with a friend of responsibility than for someone Perhaps the most common reason in The Mountain Empire. of mine, he really caught my attention fighting for power. I hear from people is their sense that Managing Editor: with this simplistic yet abundantly It’s time for us to get to work. their vote doesn’t matter. “They’re all true statement. “Democracy is hard Marion Vendituoli corrupt, so why bother?” work.” Assistant Editor: Aisha Chapra Sander Important Early Voting Information Bookkeeper: Timeline for Voters Cynie Murray Oct. 5: Last day to register to vote. Register online at https:// Administrative Assistant servicearizona.com/VoterRegistration/ or register by phone. Ad Manager: Call 520-375-7924. Jared Krikorian Oct. 7: Early Ballots are mailed to the Permanent Early Voting Contributing Writers: List (PEVL) & absentee voters. Early in-person voting begins at the Bob Brandt Oct. 7 through Oct 30: Alison Bunting County Recorder’s Office. Mon to Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For early Francesca Claverie Early Voting voting in person on Saturdays during October read information Lynn Davison Early Voting Sites under “Early Voting Sites” Jo Dean Oct. 23: Last day to request an early ballot. Complete online Cassina Farley form to request ballot: https://my.arizona.vote/Early/Applica- Robert Gay October 7 thru October 30, 2020 tionLogin.aspx Patra Kelly Santa Cruz County Recorder’s Office Sarah Klingenstein Locations of Early Ballot Drop Off Boxes* 2150 N. Congress Dr., Suite #101, Nogales Martin Levowitz Santa Cruz County Complex: 2150 N. Congress Dr., Pat McNamara 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. Nogales Harold Meckler Vince Pinto Saturday, October 10, 2020 Nogales Public Library: 518 N. Grand Ave., Nogales Laura Wenzel Santa Cruz County Recorder’s Office Patagonia Town Hall: 310 McKeown Ave., 2150 N. Congress Dr., Suite #1, Nogales Patagonia Board of Directors: 9:00a.m.