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Wednesday, July 11, 2018
I . 18 WOOD ARTIST
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NEW OWNER
f the Arizona Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration just based their decision to add a South Mountain Freeway interchange at 32nd Street largely on citizen reaction, the proposal would win hands down. A review of more than 1,400 emails and website comments sent by Ahwatukee residents to the agency last spring shows the vast majority approve of the plan, with some urging it be built now rather than after the freeway opens late next year. “I worked for decades in traffic law and enforcement, and I am gravely concerned about the plan to construct the new freeway without an interchange at 32nd
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St.,” wrote one c o m m e n t e r, warning that traffic to the schools near 32nd Street “would flood neighborhoods already suffering from traffic issues” and that “40th Street would become tremendously busy and nearby interSanfilippo/Inside Out Aerial) sections are ADOT initially opted not to build an interchange for the South Mountain (Tom Freewayat 32nd Street, not engineered citing community opposition and the reluctance to condemn more houses. for this huge change.” Concern for traffic and the vironmental review process that As it is, ADOT spokesman will ultimately determine wheth- schools dominated the comDustin Krugel said, “It’s import- er an interchange is built.” He ments, which ADOT accepted ant to note that public involve- added no final decision is likely for about two months. ment is just one piece of the en- now before September. See
ADOT on page 22
Goldwater Institute demands punishing striking teachers BY CECILIA CHAN AFN Staff Writer
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@AhwatukeeFN
Hundreds of emails favor 32nd Street interchange BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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@AhwatukeeFN |
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hile many schoolboards, including Tempe Union and Kyrene, stood in solidarity with striking teachers last spring, the Goldwater Institute wants the state Board of Education to virtually make sure that won’t happen again. The conservative think tank sent a policy memo with the recommendations to the Arizona State Board of Education just days after its members tabled an item to discuss and possibly discipline teachers who walked off their jobs this spring for better pay. The institute not only wants
the board to still consider disciplinary measures – including dismissal – against teachers who walked out. It also asked the board to adopt regulations that would require local school districts to make a more aggressive effort to keep schools open. Arizona was one of 10 states in 2017 where teachers got paid the least, according to Education Week, and that fact helped fuel the See
TEACHERS on page 14
(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Staff Photographer)
Students at Desert Vista High School last April marched with their teachers prior to the walkout during before-class demonstrations for higher pay.