story archive
Stories by Tom Prezelski
Posted Jan 18, 2021, 12:59 pm
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
In retrospect, inducting Martin Luther King Jr. into the Pantheon of American Heroes may have been a mistake and a disservice to what he fought for. Unfortunately, to make King an icon, we have had to make him non-controversial. We had to hollow him out, enabling anyone to fill that vessel with whatever supports their agenda. This is unfortunate, because his struggle continues.... Read more»
Posted Dec 2, 2020, 7:01 pm
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
Arizona State Rep. Mark Finchem's "unofficial" hearing about alleged election irregularities is not going to lead to the overturning of the November results. This was not the intention. The whole affair is performative bunk.... Read more»
Posted Oct 12, 2020, 1:27 pm
Tom Prezelski
/Special to TucsonSentinel.com
Replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day, which is slowly happening around the country, seems appropriate, though it is hoped that this does not become, as Martin Luther King Day too often does, an excuse to put a little bit of spackle on the past and otherwise just a day off from work.... Read more»
Posted Jul 27, 2020, 2:22 pm
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
Stolen Confederate plaque at Picacho Peak misrepresented about actual history as part of a long-standing project to vindicate the Southern cause and perpetuate a certain narrative about who we are as a country and a state.... Read more»
Posted Jun 26, 2020, 11:26 am
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
Removal of a fountain at the Pima County Courthouse 30 years ago drew a flood of debate more serious than the controversy about the recent discovery that the historic building wasn't originally the familiar pink hue.... Read more»
Posted Mar 27, 2020, 11:04 am
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
The current national emergency has drawn comparisons to the worldwide influenza epidemic of 1918, which killed tens of millions. Though the loss of life was tragic for the community, decisive action by local officials prevented the sort of disaster that was seen in other places.... Read more»
Posted Feb 28, 2020, 2:14 pm
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
Last year’s acclaimed documentary about Linda Ronstadt brought renewed attention to one of Tucson’s most storied families. While the Ronstadts’ considerable contributions to the Old Pueblo’s business and cultural life are well-known, their contributions to Pima County’s political development are not as frequently discussed.... Read more»
Posted Jan 24, 2020, 1:47 pm
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
For 30 years, Pima County has observed Ted Walker Youth Day, an annual educational event organized by the Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Department at Old Tucson. The day honors the work of a prominent businessman and philanthropist who served for two decades on the Pima County Parks and Recreation Commission during a formative and critical time. His tireless efforts have much to do with what our park system is today.... Read more»
Posted Nov 26, 2019, 9:38 pm
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
The 1903 disaster at Esmond Station, near Tucson and the deadliest train wreck in Arizona history, is an example of an incident that affected an entire community and changed the course of political history, but the crash and the place where it occurred, were unremembered and neglected for decades.... Read more»
Posted Sep 27, 2019, 10:18 am
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
At the time of her resignation, Pima County Recorder Anna Sullinger had been in office for 37 years, longer than any individual in Arizona history save for U.S. Sen. Carl Hayden.... Read more»
Posted Aug 23, 2019, 2:28 pm
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
The office of Superintendent of Schools is rooted in territorial times, and is a critical part of the story of the evolution of the public school system in Arizona. ... Read more»
Posted Jul 26, 2019, 3:10 pm
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
U.S. Rep. Morris K. Udall, Democrat of Arizona who served from 1961 to 1991, is regarded as one of the most effective legislators of the 20th century, most notably for his role in shaping environmental and land-use policy.... Read more»
Posted Jul 9, 2019, 2:06 pm
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
For most Pima County residents these days, the name Arthur Pack is usually mentioned in the context of golf because of the noteworthy Lee Trevino designed course at a park named after him on the Marana-Oro Valley frontier. Arthur Pack was prominent a businessman and philanthropist whose impact on conservation policy is still felt locally. His influence extends well beyond Pima County as well.... Read more»
Posted May 24, 2019, 11:04 am
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
Construction of the highway up the south face of the Catalina Mountains proved slow and difficult, taking more than a decade. But for hundreds of thousands of county residents, the winding road presents the promise of a respite from the desert heat.... Read more»
Posted Apr 29, 2019, 11:01 am
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
Pima County has provided for the less fortunate in one way or another since its earliest days, more often than not in partnership with community groups.... Read more»
Posted Apr 5, 2019, 1:00 pm
Tom Prezelski
/TucsonSentinel.com
Since the very beginning, Mexican-Americans have been prominent in local politics, but have largely been underrepresented in elected office.... Read more»