I am what I call "Locally Grown" in Tucson. That means I am not native, because I was born in Michigan but I celebrated every birthday in Tucson.A few years ago some friends and I came up with a slogan for Tucson. It didn't really get off the ground then but I think it's time may have come now.
This morning's episode of radio show "Locally Owned with Miguel Ortega" inspired me to dust this idea off. David Mendez, Web Producer for the Tucson Weekly, was the guest and the topic was his recent "rant": A Note To the 'Keep Tucson Shitty' Crowd: You're the Problem.
What this piece is really about is the gentrification of downtown Tucson. Will all the dive bars be replaced by concept restaurants that sell brunch and $12 cocktails? How do Tucsonans feel about this possibility?
Miguel, David and guest barista from Sparkroot, Hansel, discussed possible slogans for Tucson. Like the Keep Austin Weird moniker. Keep Tucson Shitty doesn't really work for me, you? They batted around some other ideas. Keep Tucson for the people who can't afford loft-apartment rents? Nope. Keep Tucson...?
Here's my nomination but I want to give equal credit to Lisette DeMars and Tana Kelch because I don't know exactly how we came up with this but it was a group effort.
Keep Tucson Loca!Loca is Spanish for crazy but for Tucsonans it also implies funkiness, authenticity, and of course references our strong Hispanic-influenced identity. It's no mistake that with the exclamation point it could easily be read as Keep Tucson Local. Thoughts?
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