Arizonans recalled Russell Pearce, the state senator who created SB 1070. All hope isn't lost.

Yup, exactly. Also, shocked that Driggs, one of the senators who voted for it, didn't foresee the repercussions. His district includes a large upper-middle-class gay community and some of the most liberal pockets of Phoenix... like, was he hoping that maybe they wouldn't notice?

I grew up in one of these dudes' districts (Driggs), and frankly I'm surprised that he voted for it in the first place. He's one of the less awful AZ Republican legislators, and his North East/ North Central Phoenix district is suuuper gay.* Like, I live in the Bay Area now, and the only neighborhood I can think of…

And I wouldn't call them southern fried values, exactly. Conservative LDS politicians hold a lot of sway in the state, a they're a very different kettle of fish than southerners. Anyway, if you are interested in getting involved in progressive causes in AZ, Tucson has TONS of opportunities!

The Tucson infrastructure issues are a liberal problem, weirdly enough. It was environmentalist types who wanted to make sure that there was no freeway to preserve Tucson's smaller feel and inhibit exurban growth.

Awesome to hear! In good news/bad news, the AZ state senate is rolling out this legislation in large part as a reaction to municipalities in the state giving LGBT folks full rights. Tucson and Bisbee have already passed anti-discrimination ordinances, and Phoenix is voting on one next week that will most likely pass.

Regarding moving to New Mexico, keep in mind that we get "summer surly" in the Southwest. I grew up in AZ, where temperatures are between 95-110 from May to mid September. You start to lose your mind around August.

So this is a California problem, but I actually long for opportunities to dress like a grown lady here. I'm sick to death of the whole "We're so cool, jeans and tees for life!" look. I just want an excuse to wear and pencil skirt and heels to work, and I want to see men in beautifully tailored suits. It's not so much…

Eh, I saw Uggs all over Brooklyn and Queens. Not on hipster types, but on plenty of working class people who looked like long term residents.

Eh, when I was in NY it looked like a lot of folks living in Brooklyn (not white hipsters, just normal people who looked like longtime residents) were fond of the Uggs and leggings look.

I'm, uh, quite sure that I remember that exact free festival, haha.

Ugh, I remember when they would play free concerts at my school and I am like I MISS THOSE DAYS AND I'M AN OLD.

AZ has Romeo/Juliet laws on the book, though. Basically if teens are doing each other, no one cares, and if the age gap is within 2 years or so (Say, 17 and 19), again, no one cares.

As an ASU grad, I still love this line.

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