Tucson Progressive

Pamela J. Powers, a progressive voice for Arizona

In Mexican American Studies debate, Tucsonans need less spin and more truth

One of my lifelong inspirations has been my journalism professor, mentor, and advisor at Ohio State:  Martha Brian, a lifelong newspaperwoman and one seriously tough customer. I knew how to … Continue reading

May 13, 2011 · 57 Comments

Who is the real enemy of Mexican American Studies? (Hint: It ain’t me, babe.)

You know how Internet surfing goes. You click here, click there and all of a sudden, you’re not in Kansas anymore. Well, that happened to me today. I followed a … Continue reading

May 6, 2011 · 17 Comments

AZ Star chides MAS supporters and TUSD board

Hey– the Arizona Daily Star’s editorial writers followed my lead… All sides have a lot to answer for after the TUSD Governing Board meeting Tuesday night. The board mishandled the … Continue reading

May 5, 2011 · 5 Comments

Is the Mexican American Studies fight killing the ‘new civility’? (video)

Following the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, little Christina-Taylor Green and others at a Tucson Safeway in January, there was a nationwide call for civil discourse. President Obama, the First Lady, and … Continue reading

May 4, 2011 · 52 Comments

Ethnic Studies debate: AZ Star takes a stand

The Arizona Daily Star was conspicuously absent last week when the TucsonCitizen.com was all afire with news and opinion and the Tucson Weekly included a background article about Tucson Unified … Continue reading

April 25, 2011 · 2 Comments

More on the Ethnic Studies funding debate

In the current Tucson Weekly, reporter Mari Herreras gives additional details on The Elective Question— referring, of course, to the question of the century: Should the Mexican American Studies (MAS) … Continue reading

April 22, 2011 · 12 Comments

Change is inevitable. Letting go is true freedom.

In the few short hours since I posted Tucson Unified School District’s (TUSD) plan to reorganize the Ethnic Studies Program, I have been personally attacked on the blogs and on … Continue reading

April 20, 2011 · 28 Comments

Follow Me on Twitter

Follow Tucson Progressive on WordPress.com

About

The Tucson Progressive: Pamela J. Powers

I stand on the side of Love. I believe in kindness to all creatures on Earth and the inherent self-worth of all individuals–not just people who agree with me or look like me.

Widespread economic and social injustice prompted me to become a candidate for the Arizona House, representing Legislative District 9 in the 2016 election.

My platform focused on economic reforms to grow Arizona’s economy, establish a state-based public bank, fix our infrastructure, fully fund public education, grow local small businesses and community banks, and put people back to work at good-paying jobs.

In the Arizona House, I was a strong voice for fiscal responsibility a moratorium on corporate tax breaks until the schools were fully funded, increased cash assistance to the poor, expansion of maternal healthcare benefits, equal rights, choice, unions, education at all levels and protecting our water supply.

After three terms, I retired from the Arizona Legislature in January 2023 but will continue to blog and produce my podcast “A View from the Left Side.”