posted by Michael Chihak
The lineup for Friday's Arizona Week should present a richness of opinion and experience on the fundamentals of the American democratic way of life.
We will look at the issue of security vs. freedom and ask if one has to be sacrificed for the other in a post 9/11 world. Ten years after the tragic terrorist attacks, are we more secure? Are we freer?
Discussing the issues will be:
-- Paul K. Charlton, a Phoenix lawyer who was U.S. attorney for Arizona on 9/11. His role changed in the aftermath to one of investigation into the background and connections of a 9/11 hijacker, Hani Hanjour, who had Arizona connections.
-- Alessandra Soler Meetze, executive director of the Arizona ACLU in Phoenix. In that position for the last five years, she has led the ACLU's efforts in Arizona at defending individual rights, including those of immigrants, women and anyone whose rights are abridged.
-- Douglas J. Sylvester, interim dean of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. His legal expertise includes experience in emerging technologies and high technology and their use in the law.
Also on the program to discuss the ramifications of the Patriot Act on freedom and security will be Arizona Republic editorial writer Doug MacEachern and National Public Radio Arizona correspondent Ted Robbins.
September 15th 2011 at 8:58 —
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posted by Melanie Huonker
The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission continues to hold public meetings this week. Today it will meet in Phoenix at noon and tomorrow in Tempe at 10 a.m.
The commission remains under fire for alleged violation with the open meeting law and destruction of documents.
The commission’s once-in-a-decade task at hand involves redrawing Arizona’s nine congressional district lines and the state's 30 legislative district lines to comply with the U.S. Census and redistricting requirements.
Currently, the commission is in the mapping phase. Plans call for the commission to submit a final map to the Justice Department by November. Last week, state Attorney General Tom Horne asked a judge to order the commission's two Democrats, Linda McNulty and José Herrera, and independent chairwoman Colleen Mathis to cooperate with his investigation.
This action brings to light again Arizona’s rough history when it comes to redistricting. That’s what prompted voters to initiate Proposition 106, which took away the Legislature’s power to redraw district lines and transferred it to an independent commission.
Do you feel that the commission has done its job to depoliticize the task? If you could address the commission what would you say? Arizona Week wants to hear from you.
Next week we find out if the political influence on redistricting has diminished as was the intent of the voters.
Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission
Colleen Mathis
Linda McNulty
Proposition 106
Jose Herrera,
September 15th 2011 at 8:00 —
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