Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • A11

AZCENTRAL.COM MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 11A (ISSN 0892-8711) (USPS 030-920) Vol. 130, No. 254 Merchandise or service advertised in The Republic is expected to be accurately described and readily available at the advertised prices. Deceptive or misleading advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints regarding advertising should be directed in writing to The Arizona Republic, Advertising Department, or the Better Business Bureau, 4428 N.

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Box 1950, Phoenix, AZ 85001. Greg Burton, Executive Editor 602-444-8797, greg.burton@azcentral.com Anthony Bratti, Regional President, Advertising 602-444-8701, anthony.bratti@gannett.com Phil Boas, Editorial Page Editor 602-444-8292, phil.boas@arizonarepublic.com Stacy Sullivan, Community Relations Director 602-444-8749, stacy.sullivan@arizonarepublic.com Josh Susong, Investigations and Enterprise Director 602-444-8299, josh.susong@arizonarepublic.com Kathy Tulumello, News Director 602-444-8002, kathy.tulumello@arizonarepublic.com THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC Founded in 1890 A Gannett newspaper REPUBLIC EDITORIAL BOARD Greg Burton, Joanna Allhands, Phil Boas, Elvia Abe Kwok and Robert Robb Opinions As a U.S. senator for Arizona, it is my responsibility to faithfully represent the people of my state and tell them the truth. The latter part of that duty is all too often lost in political environ- ment. Politicians often sugarcoat things and otherwise play games with lan- guage that obscures the truth in our pol- itics.

a runaway train of people who never seem to say what they mean or really going on. And where I get the train. I play that game because it does a disservice to the people of Arizona. As a combat veteran who survived situations where foggy communica- tions could get people killed, I have time for the language games they expect you to play in Washington. I had a rep- utation in the military for speaking can- didly, sometimes in an edgy way, and of- ten on what others were thinking but not saying out loud.

This attitude got me in trouble with the journalism industry the other day when I encountered a reporter who works for CNN a media outlet that is biased against conservatives and Re- publicans in general who was parked outside a Senate Armed Services Com- mittee hearing. I calmly told him he was a and entered the hearing room. Predictably, his entire industry melt- ed down. How dare someone a wom- an, perhaps? at a reporter like that! In a hallway, no less! Look, actually been attacked. For real in combat.

This was no attack. just the truth. And When did we become allergic to the truth? I think everyone is pretty aware that Republicans espe- cially ones who work with President Trump are covered by reporters and most media outlets a certain way, and Democrats and Republicans who like Trump are covered a totally ent way. Heck, a couple of days after that I opened up my news clips to the following headline: Mark Kelly (bench) presses into campaign season in I just laughed out loud. Reporters are breathlessly chasing Republican sena- tors up and down the hall, and my oppo- nent is (bench) pressing in never to be asked a serious question about anything, apparently.

not that I have personal contempt for the reporter, his industry or even the question he asked. I am not attacking First Amendment rights; I put my life on the line for them. just that I think it is ridiculous that the liberal media be honest with themselves or you. They have a bi- as for Democrats. They hate the presi- dent.

They would prefer if Republicans lose. They try to help make that happen by skewing what they report and how they report it. true for the vast majority of people in their business. In fact, recent data indicates that as few as of peo- ple who work in media identify as Re- publicans. There is hardly any distinction be- tween what the DNC talking points are, what the paid activists and mobs are saying and asking as they chase Republicans with video cameras to get a gotcha moment on tape for fu- ture campaign TV ads, and what the lib- eral media is asking.

It may have been easier and safer if I just kept my mouth shut and smiled. But not the life lived. I 325 combat hours over Iraq and Afghani- stan. I put my military career on the line to the Pentagon over making ser- vicewomen wear Muslim garb in Saudi Arabia. I do easy and safe.

And the media people we deal with on a daily basis get away with lying to you that they are when we all know the truth. They hide what is ac- tually happening and what we are get- ting done for Arizona and use their plat- form to peddle their bias. known people who fought and died for this country. They sacri- themselves for a country in which we have to tiptoe around the truth in Ar- izona or Washington. So my continued pledge to you to tell you the truth.

To explain my votes. And to call like I see And if that means towel-snapping a reporter every now and then to remind them that we are all in on the joke, be the one in line to do it. Martha McSally is a Republican U.S. senator serving Arizona. On Twitter: McSally: just truth Your Turn Martha McSally Guest columnist The unceremonious closure of Super Ranch Market late last year appeared to be a footnote to the Chinese Cul- tural Center in Phoenix and the lengthy, failed bid to preserve it.

The Asian grocery store shuttered following a brief run in its new locale in south Scottsdale, having been displaced from the cultural center where it had been the anchor tenant. As it turns out, one other postscript to the Chinese Cultural Cen- ter story. Namely, roughly two dozen decora- tive statues and pieces that had adorned the center, now hidden from view in a warehouse, waiting for their fate to be determined. The mostly intact stonework among them, lions, horses and other classical Chinese guardian were part and parcel to a gar- den on the east side, along 44th Street. Preservationists had said some of the stonework at the center came from material no longer per- mitted to be removed from the Chinese province from where it was sourced.

They are the last remnants of the once-celebrated center. The garden prominently in the contentious between preserva- tionist forces, largely from the Chinese community, and the private-equity company that acquired the commercial center in a real-estate transaction. The owner of the company initially to preserve the garden and pro- vide on-site meeting space for the Chi- nese community. Preservationists ob- jected; they wanted to preserve the en- tire architectural designs and elements, including handcrafted roof tiles made of the same material and in- stalled the same way as those in the For- bidden City in Beijing. The owner entertained selling the property, but no real materialized.

The preservation spilled over to Phoenix city hall and the courts and turned bitter, even ludicrous. One lawsuit alleged religious dis- crimination against Taoists and Bud- dhists, among others, over lost access to the garden for the purpose of medita- tion. Injunctions against remodeling work were sought and granted. The actions stretched on for two-plus years, even though it seemed clear from the start a resolution would be to come by: The preservationists wanted to keep intact all the Chinese elements on a structure that a private buyer had pur- chased with the intention to modernize and use as a corporate headquarters. In the end, the private-equity com- pany prevailed.

The last major tenants, a couple of Chinese restaurants that sided with the preservationist forces in legal chal- lenges, were evicted. A holdout owner of one of the commercial units requested and got a buyout. These days, the center bears no re- semblance to its past. Gone are its signature green and gold roof and all the aesthetics of classical Chinese architecture save several oc- tagonal windows that the Chi- nese fascination with the number eight and its association with great fortune. The clay roof tiles and the mortar and wire that held them together, weathered by 20 years in the Arizona sun, cracked upon removal and were unsalvageable.

As were a number of decorative carv- ings of decades-old wood and other fea- tures. The garden, along with its water fountains and pagodas, was razed. The stone statues are all left. The property owner said back in 2017, as one of several proposed compro- mises, that help relocate them. The he said recently, still stands per- haps an aspiration that one good out- come could emerge from the Chinese Cultural unhappy fate.

The possibility remains in storage in a warehouse. At least for the time being. Reach Abe Kwok at tral.com. On Twitter: After decades of educational cam- paigns extolling its recycling has not only become integrated into our lifestyles but is a marker of any compet- itive, environmentally responsible 21st century city. Since the early 1990s, Phoenix, along with cities across the country, has been exporting the majority of our recycla- bles to China.

This relationship proved mutually as it not only cov- ered the expansion of municipal recy- cling services, but many cities also made revenue. Once willing to accept even low- quality recyclables to feed its surging manufacturing sector, China recently restricted imports of certain recyclables including cardboard, mixed paper and most plastics. With the loss of this mar- ket, cities and towns nationwide are facing two options: Send recycling to the or alternatives that view waste as an opportunity for greater in- novation. The city of Phoenix solid waste rate has not seen an increase since 2009, de- spite and the rapid expansion of the fastest-growing city. With the recent change in the global economy, the Phoenix City Council must now consider a rate increase.

However, this vote is about more than a simple fee change, it is a choice that will decide what kind of city we hope to be. The city has put together four options that they are asking for public feedback on. One of the options would eliminate recycling and make Phoenix the largest city in the country without a recycling program. While this move may appear to earn short-term savings, cutting our recycling program would accelerate long-term costs and force us to forego our vision of a sustainable city. important to note that sustaina- bility is about more than just environ- mental recycling cements a sustainable economy as well.

This move would impede our push to construct a that creates new jobs and economic growth by partnering with private en- terprises that aim to convert streams into value-added products and services. two recycling facilities cur- rently employ 158 people who sort and process our recyclables, while our land- employs just 16. Further, to cut the re- cycling program would not only remove Phoenix from consideration when com- panies with sustainability goals look to expand or relocate, but would imperil our credit rating as the environmental risk of investing in our community grows over time. As the city in the nation, others in our region and across the country are waiting to see what preced- ent we set with recycling and we want to ensure we are setting the right one. We recognize that recycling is not the only way to move a sustainable future forward, it will also take partnerships and corporate leadership.

Phoenix has been a leader in innova- tive waste management the Resource Innovation Campus incubates market- able products generated from recycla- bles; the Resource Innovation and Solu- tions Network, a partnership between ASU and the city of Phoenix, developed ideas that move us closer to the goals of a circular economy and waste diversion. From smarter packaging design at the corporate level to reducing con- sumption of single-use products at the individual level, we must take responsi- bility for our waste and create less of it. We need to view these materials as as- sets that should be managed well, not simply buried in a hole. Phoenix is expected to grow to 2.2 million residents by 2030, an increase of nearly 1 million residents since 2000. To choose not to invest in our solid waste services and infrastructure, in- cluding recycling, would be an abdica- tion of our responsibility to create a healthy and livable environment for current and future generations of Phoe- nicians.

Colin Tetreault is a corporate and government sustainability expert and a board member of Environ- mental Quality and Sustainability Commission. On Twitter, treault. a chance to put our money where mouth is on recycling Your Turn Colin Tetreault Guest columnist This remains from Chinese Cultural Center Abe Kwok Columnist Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK Stone statues from the garden at the erstwhile Chinese Cultural Center in east Phoenix. SPECIAL FOR THE REPUBLIC.