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Opinion
July 21 - Aug. 3, 2007 31
Young offi cer from Page 30
There may not be a braver individual to ever join police department for making this dream come
the force. It will be an honor to meet our newest true.
offi cer on July 18, and I salute the members of our
Find additional Community Commentaries and Letter to
the Editor on the web. Go to www.SanTanSun.com,
and click on the Opinion Section.
Too many reasons not to conserve water
by Councilmember Bob Caccamo year, we’re already two inches behind schedule. When shaving, you guys might try fi lling the bowl
The winter frost has left more than a few yards This is just one more year the Valley is struggling with water instead of running the tap the entire
looking a little bare this summer. As you consider with near drought conditions. This means we need time. If you are washing your car, use a nozzle
how to bring a little pizzazz back to the local to watch every drop and remain aware of how we that can shut off as you apply the soap. One thing
scenery, think Xeriscape. Xeriscape is the use of use (not abuse) this precious resource. that is suggested over and over and seems to be
native, low water use plants that thrive here in the Did you know 60 to 70 percent of the average the “mother of pet peeves” is to not hose off your
Southwest. Chandler water bill is devoted to outdoor use? driveway or patio, but instead use a broom.
If you don’t fancy yourself as a landscape designer, Additionally, Chandler will soon adjust its water The City’s Water Conservation Offi ce has plenty
particularly a sunbelt desert designer, the City rates with changes that will take effect Oct. 1. The more tips, and even offers cash incentives for
has just the place to help spur your imagination. change includes built-in incentives to use less those who switch from grass lawns to Xeriscape.
Chandler’s Xeriscape garden recently underwent water. Those are just two great reasons to consider Put your sprinkler or irrigation system on a timer,
a $120,000 renovation and provides residents with planting Xeriscape. and we’ll give you money for that as well. You
landscape design ideas. The garden, located at the Need a little more persuading? Xeriscape cuts can fi nd out more at www.chandleraz.gov. There’s
northwest corner of Erie Street and Arrowhead down on fertilization costs, it reduces maintenance even a watering guide and a step-by-step plan to
Drive, showcases an assortment of shrubs, trees (and when it’s 114 degrees outside, well…), it designing the perfect backyard paradise for you
and other plants that thrive in Chandler’s desert minimizes green waste going to landfi lls, and and your family to enjoy.
climate. Displayed colorfully in the garden, they it attracts native wildlife like hummingbirds So before you decide to fi ll in those bare spots in
are identifi ed by plaques containing each plant’s and butterfl ies. Besides, a well-landscaped and the yard, take a trip to the City’s Xeriscape garden
information. It’s the perfect place to begin your maintained yard increases your home value. or visit our Web site, fi ll your head with great ideas,
landscape plan. Of course there are many other ways to save and then fi ll your yard with Xeriscape plants that
Planting Xeriscape is just one great way to conserve that take little or no effort. Turn off those outdoor are friendly to the environment and your bank
water. Here in the Sonora Desert, we receive an misters when no one is around to enjoy them and account.
average of seven inches of rainfall annually. This don’t run the faucet while brushing your teeth.
College growth must keep pace with population
by Rep. Bob Robson, R-Chandler The Legislature is committed to seeing all bill at a time when the state was dealing with a $1.6
Arizona’s future depends on a strong university qualifi ed students go to college. Since 2003, ongoing billion budget defi cit. We clearly had the foresight
system. Our universities provide education and state money for the university system has grown 50 to see that education and research was vital to
skills that are critical for the economic prosperity percent, or $366 million. With the recent enactment getting the state back on track economically.
and well-being of Arizona families. A skilled of the FY 2008 state budget, the state investment in In addition to funding infrastructure
workforce, in turn is essential for us to compete the university system grew by $150 million or 15.5 improvements and fully funding the university
and prosper in a global economy. percent above FY 2007. We have set a priority to system’s enrollment growth in fi scal years 2007
We in the Arizona Legislature recognize the future invest in higher education. and 2008, the Legislature has appropriated funding
of this state depends on a knowledge economy and Even in 2003, in a budget year when the state in key areas so the university system can be even
an educated workforce, and I am proud of the faced a decline in revenue, with the research more responsive to the state’s needs. Among these
support we have provided for the university system infrastructure bill (HB 2529), we appropriated $35 commitments is signifi cant funding to expand the
over the last fi ve years. million for 30 years to the university system allowing Polytechnic campus in Mesa, to establish a new
The future of Arizona, indeed, looks bright, and construction of $440 million of needed research biomedical campus in downtown Phoenix and to
we are growing exponentially as people fl ock here building and laboratory space. After several years of expand the criminal justice program in the Phoenix
for both economic opportunities and a better decline in state funding on a per student basis, this area. Additional investments have been made in
quality of life. With that growth, comes the need act marked the beginning of a trend of investment student fi nancial aid and general operations of the
to expand the universities. Enrollment projection in the Arizona University System. university system.
models for Arizona show that if the current trend The legislation was very creative and included I am personally proud to have been part of the
continues, the number of state university students provisions to allow construction to begin, even Legislature and directly involved in achieving these
will grow to 147,000 students by 2020, an increase though the appropriation would not be available results because our university system is vital to the
of 40 percent. The Legislature has recognized this until FY 2008. The $35 million investment was economic, social, cultural vitality and healthy well
growth in students and has fully funded growth for just recently sustained with enactment of the FY being of our community. All of the great cities in
the universities for the last two fi scal years. 2008 budget. I look back at this act as quite an our country have strong universities, and Arizona
accomplishment when you consider we enacted this cities—and citizens—deserve no less.
Letters
to the
Editor
Covance letter ridiculous
hyperbole, this letter borders on the obsessive - and
Citizens Against Covance can’t decide who writes
it fails to take into account the historical meaning
Letters to the Editor
their letters to the editor (July 7, 2007 SanTan Sun
of partly rejecting British infl uence (tea tax) and
We know you have your opinion! Share it with the
embracing it (representative government). If these two
News) The same letter, under different names, has
SanTan Sun News. Unless you’re the Mayor, please
cosmopolitans just can’t understand the difference
appeared in the Chandler Connection and the SanTan
keep your letters around 200-300 words, or they may
between animal rights extremism (born and bred
Sun. Once it is written by Norm Haskett, and once by
be edited for length. Include your fi rst and last name,
in England, though without English manners) and
community or development name in Southern Chandler
CAC ringleader Jan McClellan making it ridiculous
English Common Law, no wonder that they can’t tell
(Cooper Commons, Ocotillo, Sun Groves, etc.) or zip code
times two. McClellan/Haskett parody a proposed
who’s supposed to write their letters.
and daytime phone number for verifi cation. Anonymous
rejection of things British by listing ad nauseam Thank you very much!
letters are not typically accepted. Email is the preferred
every famous Brit that every lived. Far from stylistic Mike Martinez, Chandler submission method, to Letters@SanTanSun.com.
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