Northern Arizona University’s student voice since 1914 Vol. 114 Issue 2 | September 15, 2022 — September 21, 2022
SPORTS
NEWS
Deasy and Daggett debate before upcoming election
Mayoral candidate Becky Daggett (far left) and Mayor Paul Deasy (far right) await the first question from Arizona Daily Sun Managing Editor Chris Etling (center left) and KAFF News Director Dave Zorn (center right) at the town hall debate, Sept. 8. Taylor McCormick | The Lumberjack XAVIER JUAREZ
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lagstaff mayoral candidates Paul Deasy and Becky Daggett took part in a debate at the Orpheum Theater on the night of Sept. 8. The debate, which was organized and presented by KAFF News and the Arizona Daily Sun, started around 6 p.m. and lasted nearly an hour. Arizona Daily Sun Managing Editor Chris Etling and KAFF News Director David Zorn were both present at the debate, serving as moderators. Etling and Zorn had a list of questions gathered from Flagstaff citizens before the debate started. The first question posed to the candidates was about how each candidate would ensure affordable housing. “We have to take a multifaceted approach,” Deasy
said. “This isn’t some simple, silver bullet solution.” Deasy went on to discuss about the deregulation of lowincome housing tax credits, something he said was responsible for creating affordable housing developments. He said the council’s unanimous support has allowed the city to move forward in reducing the developments’ timeline. Daggett responded by pointing out her experience in the field. “I was the council liaison to the housing commission and helped in the creation of the 10-year plan,” Daggett said. “There are nearly 60 strategies for addressing affordable housing in this plan. One of them is Proposition 442 that you’re going to be asked to vote on this November.” Proposition 442, introduced
earlier this year, aims to create rental and homeowner opportunities for Flagstaff residents. The next question given to the candidates was whether the city should dip into unassigned money in the general fund to repair the drainage interconnection that has been flooding West Stevanna Way. Daggett answered first and said she was in support of finding money to fix the issue. “I would be in support of looking for additional money, but really, what we need to stay focused on is how big this problem is, and we need to make sure that we’re keeping Flagstaff’s problems front and center for federal and state decision makers,” Daggett said. See DEBATE on PAGE 4
Skydome field introduces new name partnership with Findlay Toyota BRENDEN MARTIN or the first time since it opened in 1977, J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome will have a new name for its field and court. The Skydome will retain its memorable name, but starting this football season, the turf will be called Findlay Toyota Field. When the field is replaced with a basketball court after the football season, the hardwood will be called Findlay Toyota Court. NAU Athletics announced last month that Findlay Toyota, Coconino County’s exclusive authorized Toyota dealership, has signed a 10-year agreement that gives it the naming rights to the field and court where the Lumberjacks host nearly a dozen opponents across the western United States in the Big Sky Conference. Mike Marlow, vice president of intercollegiate athletics, says the deal is a milestone for the program and its partners. “It’s huge,” Marlow said. “It’s huge from our multimedia rights partner, Learfield. That’s a big deal for them. We’re so blessed by having so many corporate partners whose values and desire to be great align with us as well as the importance of engaging with the community.” Findlay Toyota’s reach in this region of the country aligns with NAU’s recognition in and around Arizona. The dealership has serviced the county for 12 years and has a presence in six states. The deal is mainly a collaboration with Findlay Toyota Flagstaff. Marlow confirmed the new deal was negotiated for a little over a year. NAU Athletics and Findlay Toyota have had previous partnerships, but giving the naming rights to the dealership brings the two’s relationship to a whole other level. “It was an enhanced deal,” Marlow said. “It’s definitely got more elements to it than our previous arrangements with Findlay have. They’ve been engaged for so many years in so many different ways with our athletic program and the Flagstaff community.”
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See FINDLAY TOYOTA on PAGE 22
FEATURES
Liminal re-opens after renovations ZACH MARKEWICZ
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he word liminal describes things that exist between what is familiar. It can also refer to the downtown community center and cafe: Liminal Flagstaff. Set to reopen after an extended renovation period, Liminal will be both the same place that the community remembers and entirely different. Christopher Alagna and Ryan McElligott cofounded Liminal in April 2021 on the corner of San Francisco Street and Butler Avenue. Until its temporary closure in May 2022, Liminal was known for its free community resources such as clothing, art supplies, books, event nights and a common area. After four months of being closed to the public for renovations, Liminal officially reopened on Sept. 18. See LIMINAL on PAGE 10 Liminal is undergoing renovations, one of the most notable perhaps is the removal of the black lettering which once read, “Head Space,” Sept. 7. Collin Vanderwerf | The Lumberjack