South Tucson's El Independiente, 1983-04-15

              Mission celebrates
Photo by Ken Olsen
Javier Roybal checks nut the festivities at Reid Park daring the Fiesta de la Placita.
The fiesta last Saturday and Sunday was one part of the 33rd Annual Tucson Festival
and Celebratiog of the Americas. Wsich Sogas ott March 20 and will continue through
Sunday.
Incumbent council members
Legislature passes bill
limiting liability suits
fit ED MAXSON
Staff Writer
The Arizona Senate has approved a
House bill that will limit lawsuits by
public employees who are injured in the
line of duty. Two senatoru abstained to a
25-3 vote on Wednesday.
The hilf stenis from the personal-injury
suit by Tucson Policeman Julian Hoy
Garcia lt resulted in a $3.59 million
judgment against South Tucson. Garcia
tras paralyzed from the waist down alter
a South Tucson police officer
accidentally shot him during a joint
operation in 1970,
Public employees covered by
workmen's compensation may not sue
for injuries suffered in the line of duty.
Garcia was covered by Tucson
workmen's compensation, but not by
South Tucson's.
Bingo bill dies in Senate
B KE\ O1,SE\
Staff Writer
Legislation to prohibit participation in
bingo games that offer prizes greater
than the of ate-approved limit died in the
Senate Judiciary Committee on April 4.
Committee Chairman Sen. Peter Kay,
R-Phoenix said, "We had a hearing, and
it was obvious that there were ttot enough
votes to pass it. I don't expect it will
come up anywhere again this session."
The measure paused 32-25 in the
Arizona House on March 15. The bill
wouìu have prohibited playing in bingo
games that offered prizes exceeding
$4,000. Other provisions would have
brought the games conducted on Indian
win primary
officer Julian Roy Garcia. "That is an
issue all of its own," Soltero said. "It's in
the court's hands now."
Garcia was shot accidentally by a
South Tucson police officer during a joint
police operation in 1978, and was left
paralyzed below the waist. He was
awarded $3.59 million in a 1980 personal-injury
judgment, a debt that has risen lo
$4.4 million with interest.
The four incumbent city councilmen
campaigned together under the slogan
"the winning team."
"We stressed that we achieved a
number of thinga," Councilman Garcia
said, including the defeat of a
disincorporation proposal in a non-binding
referendum in November. "That
in itself was one of our
accomplishments," he said.
Both Soltero and Garcia said the City
Council would work lo improve economic
development in the next four years. The
construction of a mercado on the old Kino
hospital alte "would create jobs and at
the same time create a larger tax base,"
Garcia said.
The making of a winning
greyhound ---.-Page7
Under the hilt, public employees will
be covered by svorkmen's compeitsalion
by all cooperating agencies in a joint
operation
Hots-ever, employees may retain their
right to sue by waiving workmen's
compensation belore an accident occurs.
Sen Luis Gonzalez, D-Tucson, sought
to change the bill to permit suits by
employees of cittes svith less than 10,000
population, but to limit liability to
$500.000. The amendment was declined in
a voice vote, a Senate research aide said.
Gonzalez voted for the measure after
his amendment tailed.
Introduced by Step. Donald Kenne.
H-Phoenix. at the behest of the Arizona
League ol Cities and Towns, the measure
passed the House 37'20 early in March.
The measure svas sent to Gos'. Bruce E.
Babbitt, sebo was expected to sign it late
this week, the Senate aide said
reservations in line with games under
state regutatioti
The Pascua Yaqui Indian Tribe opened
a bingo halt in January and has offered
prizes as large as $12,000. The tribe can
offer larger jackpots, because its games
are held on the reservation.
Under Arizona law, only charities may
hold bingo games, and only under strict
state regulations. Since Indian tands are
held in trust by the federal government,
the state has no regulatory power over
the areas.
The Arizona-Attorney General's office
drafted the legislation, because of its
concern that the large jackpots might
attract criminal elements, said tan A.
Macpherson, chief counsel in the tax
division.
Tax procrastinators
have until midnight
By ED MAXSON
Staff Writer
Four Tucson-area post offices will
keep mail cotleclion facilities open to
accept income tax returns tonight
until midnight, Ihn deadline for filing
Relurns will be collected after the
nnrmal 5 pin, closing time at the
Main Post Office, 1501 S. Cherrybell
Stravenue, Minsion Station, 315 W.
Valencia Road; Rincon Station, 1099
S. Pantano Road; and Canas Adobe
Branch. 6821 N. Oracle Road.
Postal workers will collect the
income-tax returns oulside the post
offices to relieve the congestion
associated with the deadline, said
Gilbert C. Ruelas, post office
manager for retail sales and service
in Tucson.
All returns collected before
midnight will be postmarked April 15,
Ruelas said
''This is the first time in history that
we have done this collection," Ruelas
said. "We expect 20,000 to 30,000 in
volume," he added.
By BETSY RAKER custodian with the Sunnyside Unified
Staff Writer School District, received 339 votes, or
22.2 perCent; Soltero, a 44-year-old
Four incumbent South Tucson City employee of the Tucson Unified School
Council members won renomination in District, garnered 317 votes, or 20.7
the Democratic primary Tuesday, percent; and McKenna, a 64-year-old
leaving them virtually certain to win new housewife, received 295 votes, or 19.3
four-year terms in the May 17 general percent.
election Tadeo, a 43-yeár-old meatcutter and
Council members Felix Robles, John president of the Meat Cutters Union,
Garcia, Victor E. Soltero and Alfonso garnered 235 votes, or 15.4 percent,
McKenna easily defeated challenger eliminating his name from the general
Pedro Tadeo Jr. to win four Democratic election ballot. Tadeo served on the City
slots on the general election ballot. Council from 1975 to 1978, when he was
Because no Republican primary was unseated in a recall drive.
held, the four will face no opposition in Garcia and Soltero said they
the general election unless a write-in interpreted the election results as a vote
candidate enters the campaign. of confidence in the seven-member City
About 500 of South Tucson's Council. Garcia said the vote was "a
approximately 1,200 registered voters definite mandate" which "indicates the
went to the polls in the primary, City people are satisfied with the
Clerk William Ponder said. The turnout, performance of the council."
about 42 percent, was average for a city "I think they feel we can lead our city
election, Ponder said. in the right direction," Soltero added.
But Soltero said he did not think the
Robles, a 63-year-old -retired miner, election results reflected voter sentiment
lead with 342 votes, or 22.4 percent of the on the city council's handling nf a $4.4
ballots cast. Garcia, a 35-year-old million debt to former Tucson police
186th year Page 8
South Tucson's
El Independiente
Vol. VIII No. 5 Published by the Department of Journalism The University of Arizona April 15, 1983 -