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Happy 2015 everybody! I took someone’s advice and decided to rest during the holidays. Now I am full of energy and ready to go. Some say I am full of something else, but that’s OK, they are entitled to their opinion.
The year 2014 saw Oracle in the national news thanks to our local sheriff, his Tea Party followers and out of town supporters. Oracle became the focal point for the immigration controversy but people soon found out that Oracle is not Murrieta, Calif. Oracle and its friends have a heart! The unaccompanied minors who were thrust into the center of the controversy by the sheriff are being housed at the Sycamore Canyon Academy and processed through the system according to the law and they have not been involved in any incidents.
Going into 2015, I am confident that things will get better. The economy is picking up, gas prices are down, President Obama finally took action on immigration, Dreamers can now get driver’s licenses, and the Arizona “brown” haters are losing battles in the courts. Huppenthal, Tom Horne, Governor Brewer, Russell Pearce, and Andy Thomas are out of office. Joe Arpaio is on a short leash. The tide is slowly turning against those running on fear and hate.
The new Governor Doug Ducey has taken office. It is expected that the state budget will have a half billion dollar shortfall this year and one billion next year. That will be a big challenge for the governor and the Arizona legislature. Ducey says he will not raise taxes so it will be interesting to see how the budget gets balanced. Look for the appearance of smoke and mirrors. If I was a state employee, I would be nervous.
In his inaugural address he failed to mention immigration. Maybe he has a little common sense and realizes that demonizing those immigrants and the negative publicity Arizona has received over its treatment of Latinos is bad for business.
Author’s Note:
I have been given the opportunity to express my opinion and viewpoints on politics, national, state, and local issues as well as life in general. I hope to inform you as well as entertain you, make you smile or make you mad. I will use humor, sarcasm and occasionally anger to express my views. My intention is to hold politicians accountable sometimes bringing some heat on them and if my views make you angry or hot, remember that like my humor, it is a dry heat. These opinions are entirely my own and do not reflect the views of Copper Area News Publishers.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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