Know Tucson Podcast

In episode 20 we had the privilege of speaking to my good friend and local historian, Dr. Lydia Otero. In December 2019, they released their new book, "In the Shadows of the Freeway: Growing up Brown & Queer." The book outlines the displacement of families that lived along what is now the I-10 freeway. Otero examines how decisions made by city officials have historically negatively affected the communities they've lived in. They also share stories of resistance from within those communities.

Dr. Otero's personal story of resistance is also about growing up brown & queer in Tucson. This memoir gives a name and face to the lives impacted by the construction of the freeway. You can pick up a copy of this book at the following locations:

• Why I Love Where I Live located at 267 South Avenida del Convento Building 6, Tucson, AZ 85745.

• Petroglyphs at 267 South Avenida del Convento Building 10, Tucson, AZ 85745.

• Antigone Books at 411 N 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705.

For Episode 19 of Know Tucson, Council Member Lane Santa Cruz and Mayor Regina Romero discuss their experiences as mujeres in politics, becoming empowered and navigating misogyny in their careers.

In Episode 18 of Know Tucson, Pascua Yaqui Council Herminia “Minnie” Frias and Pima County Supervisor Betty Villegas joined us to speak about efforts to restore an early voting site on the Pascua Yaqui nation. We also had three members from the Tucson Native Youth Council––Azul Navarrete-Valera, Esai Flores, and Tossi Masso Molina––on to tell us more about the council and share their experiences as Tucson Native Youth.

In Episode 16 of Know Tucson we had a discussion with Raul Ramirez and Josefina Cardenas about the proposed expansion of the Central Business District, the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET), and recent protests about how these items under consideration by the Mayor and Council contribute to gentrification.

Know Tucson Podcast

In Episode 15 of Know Tucson we had a discussion with Francisca Porchas Coronado. Francisco has worked as an organizer for over 15 years on a variety of issues, including civil rights, climate justice, criminalization, and migration on a local and national level. Francisca founded Healing in Resistance, a wellness project that centers the healing of Latinx/migrant people on the frontlines in the fight for migrant rights. Francisca is also the founder and coordinator of Latinx Therapists Action Network, a network linking Latinx therapists to frontline migrants rights organizations working in Latinx communities and Native mental health services.

What does the census mean to Tucson? As we all know, this important process takes place every ten years. Our guests, Anakarina Rodriguez  the regional census campaign manager for NALEO; Justin Loyd, community organizer with Arizona Coalition For Change; and Adriana Garcia Maimiliano, chief of staff for Phoenix Council Member Carlos Garcia, explain how completing the census means more political representation, access to resources, and understanding who needs assistance.

In Episode 12 of Know Tucson, we were joined by Tylee Nez and Eddie Elías Barron, two of the youngest street ambassadors with Transportation and Mobility. 

Tylee and Eddie shared their personal experiences with transportation, and how they are conducting outreach for Move Tucson given the challenges presented by COVID-19.

The feedback the city receives through Move Tucson’s interactive map and survey will help determine how we fund our transportation and mobility system for the next two decades. If you have not participated yet, visit MoveTucson.org.

In Episode 11 of Know Tucson, we talk to community member Vanessa Gallego on the death of Carlos Adrian Ingram-Lopez, and the subsequent justification that his death was a result of “poor life choices” rather than the 12+ minutes of physical restraint that TPD used on someone who was in need of emergency care. Our conversation is about our collective grief surrounding mental health, generational trauma, and addiction in our familias. 

My older brother Jorge “George” Santa Cruz would have turned 40 on July 7, 2020. I’ve been vocal about his accidental overdose as a way to normalize and bring awareness to the disease that is drug addiction. His death shifted for me many things but stepping into my truth, was a big one. I’m putting all of this messy life stuff out there because being in the shadows silences and kills people. 

The death of Carlos Adrian, has been a painful reminder that conversations, as scary and vulnerable as they are, need to be had about police violence, and its many manifestations, pain that leads to addiction, and lack of public support services. This is a must if we are to heal and transform ourselves and the world around us.