The damage being done to our higher education system at the federal level will be felt for years to come and make us weaker as a country. But let us not forget that Republicans in Arizona zeroed out funding for community colleges in Maricopa and Pima county and have never restored funding for higher education prior to 2008 levels.
This should make every Arizonan furious as a deprives our young people of chance to get ahead and diminishes our state's economic opportunities.
I’m proud of PCC for holding the line. Since community colleges don’t receive the same amount of federal funding, and they’re fighting for a smaller “slice” than that of a UA or other comparable R1, this is a wise test for the administration’s genuine intentions behind DEI cuts. Cancel culture is strong on both political poles, and this is a perfect example of far-right cancel culture. Plus, from what I know about TRIO recipients, I’d venture to guess that some of these students represent the men of color contingent that helped Trump win in 2024. Hoping DoE wises up to these factors and gives up on clawing back such a relatively small, but incredibly impactful, portion of federal funding.
Have the Tucson City Council or Pima County Supes considered a transit scheme that would include income-based free transit cards, requiring registration to receive those free cards? This might offer the benefits of free transit, while limiting the issues around unrestrained ridership. Thoughts?
There is a solution that would alleviate the violence, illegality, and drug use on and around transit/stops. Of course, it requires thoughtful planning, investment, and modest barriers, but anything worth doing has these “costs.” The question is: does doing nothing cost more?
It is good that our Pima Community College is standing up to the tyrant, King Trump, now. Wait too long, he will announce his desire to turn the West Campus into a detention center for the innocent migrants, refugees and asylum seekers that Emily Bregel wrote about in, "Hell on Earth: DHS mass-detention net ensnares more non-criminals," ADS, Oct. 12, 2025.
The damage being done to our higher education system at the federal level will be felt for years to come and make us weaker as a country. But let us not forget that Republicans in Arizona zeroed out funding for community colleges in Maricopa and Pima county and have never restored funding for higher education prior to 2008 levels.
This should make every Arizonan furious as a deprives our young people of chance to get ahead and diminishes our state's economic opportunities.
I’m proud of PCC for holding the line. Since community colleges don’t receive the same amount of federal funding, and they’re fighting for a smaller “slice” than that of a UA or other comparable R1, this is a wise test for the administration’s genuine intentions behind DEI cuts. Cancel culture is strong on both political poles, and this is a perfect example of far-right cancel culture. Plus, from what I know about TRIO recipients, I’d venture to guess that some of these students represent the men of color contingent that helped Trump win in 2024. Hoping DoE wises up to these factors and gives up on clawing back such a relatively small, but incredibly impactful, portion of federal funding.
Have the Tucson City Council or Pima County Supes considered a transit scheme that would include income-based free transit cards, requiring registration to receive those free cards? This might offer the benefits of free transit, while limiting the issues around unrestrained ridership. Thoughts?
At the moment, there doesn’t seem to be much public discussion of moving to a system like this.
Nikki Lee floated this idea last week, but she was in the minority on the Council.
The biggest issue is that a system like this would require a fairly year one investment that might still put the city in the red.
Registration comes with its own set of problems and I think the city is committed to low-barrier solutions whenever possible.
There is a solution that would alleviate the violence, illegality, and drug use on and around transit/stops. Of course, it requires thoughtful planning, investment, and modest barriers, but anything worth doing has these “costs.” The question is: does doing nothing cost more?
It is good that our Pima Community College is standing up to the tyrant, King Trump, now. Wait too long, he will announce his desire to turn the West Campus into a detention center for the innocent migrants, refugees and asylum seekers that Emily Bregel wrote about in, "Hell on Earth: DHS mass-detention net ensnares more non-criminals," ADS, Oct. 12, 2025.