El Rio Medical Center

Tucson, Ariz. - El Rio Medical Center is urging the Sunnyside Unified School District to support renovations of the Multi-Educational Learning Center, potentially adding more doctors to the area.

The South Side MEL building, 5101 S. Liberty Avenue, contains enough square footage to open a functioning clinic that would provide health care to the neighborhood and relieve crowded near-by clinics, said Frank Hale, a representative for El Rio and an retired professor of medicine.

The district would not need to support funding, only provide the building.

The building is located in a South Side neighborhood known as one of the poorest and medically strained areas in Pima County.

"For people in this community the average age of death is 64, which is far below the average age of death in Pima County and the state of Arizona," said Hale.

Currently the building houses four physical therapists, the Office for Career Ladder, Family Resource and Wellness Center, copier technicians and storage supply space - which would all need to move for reconstruction.

El Rio is known for providing care to uninsured patients and needy communities with affordable medical care. The problem is there is not enough doctors in the area to treat the number of patients coming to the current clinics.

"If we do have the opportunity to build a new clinic in the MEL building location we could offer more comprehensive services and we could expand the patient care," said Hale.

More presentations will be given to the Sunnyside district's Governing Board at public meetings by the El Rio Medical Center and COPE, a community service improvement organization.

The dangers of Tucson sidewalks

Walking in Tucson is difficult throughout much of the city. On the University of Arizona campus students are spoiled with nice pathways, but take a look off at the city and you'll find some uninviting walkways.

The most common problem is extended gaps that make moving along the road dangerous. These rocks around bus stops and areas with a lot of foot traffic pose a high risk of danger. Slipping is made easier by the round pebbles sliding underfoot. As well, rainfall causes many sidewalks to be partially rock covered.

Glass is a huge problem because one broken bottle's shards can stick into the dirt and stay there for years. Sandals are arguably the preferred footwear in the region and many have thin soles that are easily penetrable. Often times, glass is broken into dirt walkways and pieces jagged pieces stick out, easily cutting through most flip-flops.

Wheelchair users have to weave through gaps in the pavement. Here you can see the sidewalk simply stop and the curb is at least a foot high. This makes maneuvering for handicapped persons hard. Either go back in the direction or ramp it off the curb into the bike lane. Hard-packed dirt surfaces are not considered suitable for handicapped persons in the city.

Tucson's Sidewalk Inventory plan from 2005

Sidewalks are costly city improvements and the city has a lot of work to do to upgrade the walkways. The city's plan uses a ranking system to prioritize areas that need improvements first. Two more qualifications for improvements are the users each day and potential safety issues. Sidewalks that get improvements first are ones close to schools, parks and medical facilities.

Safe mexican food places in Tucson, Ariz.

Southern Arizona has some of the best fast-food Mexican eateries and taco stands in the nation. In Tucson, Ariz. there are many options to choose from to please your palate, but some could leave you hurting the day after.

The following is a guide of the most popular Mexican food restaurants around the old pueblo. The major three fast-food burrito restaurants in Tucson are Nico's Burrito, Viva Burrito and Los Betos Mexican Food. Each restaurant has multiple locations and are open until at least 12 a.m.

Nico's Burrito has some of the biggest burritos around town. They are not skimpy on the ingredients and have workers who can get your order right most of the time. You can expect relatively decent service here. The salsa is what attracts a lot of people. It is a red salsa that is a bit spicy and not watery like Viva Burritos. There are more than 10 Nico's locations around Tucson, and the food seems rather consistent from each one.

Don't be surprised if you witness some of Tucson's scarier people around these locations, I've seen several fights while sitting in the drive-thru. I have only encountered one person who has has trouble digesting Nico's food. The problem is the carne asada; it is rather sketchy. It is very tasty and the most popular item, but often I find inedible steak chunks in the burritos that you have to spit out. These could leave your body questing your decision. That said, you have to taste it because it is pretty good.

Watch out for the Viva Burrito's at 2645 E. Speedway Blvd. and 8555 E. Broadway Blvd. Recently, the two restaurants have failed health inspections by the Pima County Health Department. This isn't entirely surprising. The restaurant has failed past inspections and has a reputation around the city as one of the riskier places to eat. The location pictured on my right is the St. Mary's location and is pretty good.

Many people are attracted to Viva because it is open all the time. This is a good thing except the staff seemingly likes to take their time so you could easily be waiting for 10-15 minutes to just get to the window. From there, except another 5 minutes for the food and consider yourself lucky if you receive a "thank you." The food isn't bad, but Viva recently changed salsas to a cheaper Mexican made packet style. No bueno.

Los Betos is like the cooler older brother of Viva Burritos. They have food that provides you with a late night hunger fix, but might makes your stomach rumble. I can remember several instances where people have developed food poisoning from eating their food. They have locations all around the city and most of them are drive-thru.

If you live next to the University of Arizona it might be worth your while to check out Los Alazanes Mexican Food. The restaurant is good a making burritos and has a good history of health inspections. It is close to campus and never too busy. The staff is good and the service is prompter than other competitors.

Whatever restaurant you choose to eat at remember that the food will differ on a case-by-case basis. Look at who is preparing the food if you can and how the staff works. If they look upbeat and happy then they should be doing a decent job with your burrito. At some places it is apparent the people do not want to be there and are just plain sloppy. Other times, the experience is good with fast, quality food that glides through your body like fine cuisine.

Click here to search the Pima County Health Department's inspections records

Mosquitos can do more than cause an itch...

For most people a mosquito bite is more of an annoyance than a cause for alarm. In Arizona, mosquitoes are a natural inhabitant of the climate and until recent years have posed no real health threat.

In recent years, the common Arizonan mosquito has become increasingly infected with the West Nile virus. The first cases in Arizona appeared in the that 90s and have increased steadily with time. By 2007, the virus had spread through nearly all of North America.

Everybody is at risk to contract the WNV, but if proper measures are taken the risk can be lowered substantially. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends mosquito repellent with DEET whenever hiking outdoors or working in the yard.

Listen to Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano's message on West Nile Virus.

The incubation period of West Nile virus incubation period is indefinite and probably ranges from 3 to 17 days. The symptoms are nausea, vomiting, eye pain, headache, anorexia, rash and generally last 3 to 6 days.

Standing water is not hard to find in Tucson, Ariz.
Picture by Devin Walker

West Nile Virus Prevention Tips

Since 1999, there have been more than 500 deaths in the United States due to WNV. You can help prevent the disease by ensuring no standing water is around your house and neighborhood. A few common mosquito breeding grounds are bird baths, empty pots and buckets, as well as unmaintained pools and spas.

The Dangers of Illegally Crossing the Border

The Border region is a desert climate that claims many migrant lives annually. These border crossers risk their lives looking for work and a better life in America. The temperatures in Southern Arizona can easily soar to more than 100 degrees and without proper hydration, heat exhaustion can occur. Migrants put themselves at risk after several days of exposure to intense sun, improper nutrition and constant work.

Dehydration is the number one killer of migrants. During winter and summer the desert can take a toll on the human body. Without a proper water supply the body cannot sustain the work required to cross the region. Humane Borders has more than 80 water stations located throughout Southern Arizona. These stations are strategically setup along popular migrant trails. As well, some stations have first aid kits and emergency rations.

Map of Migrant Deaths in Arizona 2000 - 2004

The average walking speed is about 3 mph. During a day migrants are able to cover only a small distance with breaks every few hours. Depending on the route taken, trips can take weeks to complete. Humane Borders says, "Don't do it! It's Hard! There's not enough water!"

Map of water stations:

Border Region Water

The national border is an area that relies on water as a lifeline. In Tucson, Arizona the city's water is allocated from a variety of sources. Two of the main sources of water include Colorado River water (CAP: Central Arizona Project water) and native groundwater pumped from more than 200 wells located throughout the city. Tucson's future, as well as the majority of the southwest, relies on the ability to quench the thirst of an ever growing population.

Drive around Tucson with your windows down long enough and you'll be sure to smell a few stenches. Chances are, at least one the unpleasant aromas you encountered is raw sewage slowly dribbling its way to one of several Tucson sewage treatment plants. Once there, the water is treated through several purification processes then piped out for use. Presently, the most common use for reclaimed water is for irrigating parks, schools and golf courses.

The city is steadily growing while water supplies are evaporating. In the future reclaimed, or effluent water, will be a hot topic for voters. The decision will be whether or not to allow the water to be piped to our taps. According to the Tucson Water's Long Range Water Plan: 2000 - 2050, "Effluent, treated wastewater, is the only water resource we have that increases as population increases."

Most people cringe at the thought of drinking water that someone had previously showered in. More importantly, remember that smell? Well, effluent water is that smell's prettier cousin. Furthermore, Tucson Water states that while our cleaner water supplies diminish "[effluent] is the one water resource we have that is always increasing".

More effluent means more minerals into our water unless costly treatment facilities are built. As well, getting effluent water to citizens for potable use is itself a daunting task. The future of water in the southwest is a complicated issue, one in which voters should be engaged in. It is a issue that effects us all. The desert region is in a constant drought. Water conservation is the responsibility of every individual and is the key to securing a secure future.

Links:

Tucson Water's Annual Quality Report 2006

Tucson Weekly's From the Toilet to your Tap

Water for Tucson's Future: Long Range Water Plan 2000 - 2050