Buckmaster Show Exposes Arizona's Political Divide: Steve Christy Fights Affordable Housing While Transgender Rights Hang in Balance

Conservative Supervisor Christy rails against housing initiatives and defends RTA director, while lawmakers push controversial birth certificate bill targeting transgender Arizonans.

May 02, 2025

😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾

📻 The Buckmaster radio show in Tucson had three main guests discussing various topics:

1️⃣ County Supervisor Steve Christy spoke about 🌲 wildfire dangers on Mount Lemmon and explained why he doesn't support funding for 🏠 affordable housing.

2️⃣ Famous astronomer Dr. David Levy shared insights on ☄️ comets and recited a 📝 poem about gazing at the night sky 🌌.

3️⃣ Lawyer Don Loose outlined two new laws being considered: one that would make it more difficult for 🏳️‍⚧️ transgender people to change their birth certificates, and another aimed at better protecting 🐾 animals from cruelty by ensuring they get proper 🍽️ food, 💧 water, and 🏠 shelter.

🗝️ Takeaways

🏠 Supervisor Christie labeled affordable housing initiatives as "taxpayer-assisted subsidized housing" while acknowledging Mount Lemmon faces its driest 10-11 month period on record
🚌 The Regional Transportation Authority conflict continues with Christie defending Director Moghimi against Mayor Romero and Supervisor Heinz's calls for his removal
☄️ Astronomer David Levy shared a Leonard Cohen-inspired cosmic poem and briefly discussed Comet Swan
📝 HB 2438 would prevent transgender Arizonans from amending birth certificates to match their gender identity
🐕 SB 1658 would better define animal cruelty with more specific language about appropriate food, water, and shelter

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In Arizona's sweltering political climate, where conservative talking points often flow as freely as sweat on a July afternoon, The Buckmaster Show continues to serve as a microphone for the full spectrum of Sonoran Desert politics.

Broadcasting from the Green Things Zocalo Village Studios on May 1st, 2025, host Bill Buckmaster navigated technical difficulties while delivering a program highlighting the deepening divides in our community's housing, transportation, and human rights approaches.

Christy's Conservative Crusade: Fire Risk and Failed Housing Policies

The show kicked off with Steve Christy, the lone Republican on the five-member Pima County Board of Supervisors, who arrived ready to defend his ideological island with the fervor of a man who believes he's the last sane voice in a room full of progressives.

As Christy settled into the interview, the conversation turned first to Mount Lemmon's dangerous drought conditions—perhaps the only topic where facts weren't immediately filtered through a partisan lens. Christy acknowledged the severity of the situation, noting it's "the driest 10 or 11-month period on record up there," before explaining preparations for potential fire restrictions.

"When restrictions are announced, my office is ready in partnership with the Sheriff's Department auxiliaries to be at milepost zero, and we're going to be handing out our fire safety kits and trash bags to visitors," Christy explained, highlighting the upcoming Wildfire Awareness Month.

He emphasized the Firewise certification program, which prepares properties to prevent wildfire vulnerability through actions like "cleaning out debris, rearranging furniture, making sure that the tree trimmings are cut back so they don't contribute to any kind of coals or burning issues."

While Christy's concern for fire safety is commendable, one can't help but wonder if his party's consistent denial of climate change factors that exacerbate these conditions will ever be acknowledged as part of the problem.

The conversation's temperature rose considerably when Buckmaster brought up the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), where Christy unleashed a torrent of criticism against Mayor Regina Romero and Supervisor Matt Heinz for their treatment of RTA director Farhad Moghimi.

"I feel that the efforts by the mayor and my colleague, Dr. Heinz, is a grave injustice and incomprehensible that they would treat Farhad Moghimi in such a manner after his long tenure," Christy declared with dramatic indignation. "He's the last remnant of the original plan for the Regional Transportation Authority. He knows its history, its foundation, its mission, its rules, the reason why it was put together."

Christy's defense bordered on hagiography, claiming Moghimi "has been the glue that is holding that whole organization together" and is "world-renowned in many, many circles as a transportation expert."

The irony of a Republican suddenly concerned about respecting expertise wasn't lost on this listener. Where was this reverence for professional experience when discussing climate scientists or public health experts?

When Buckmaster pointed out that Mayor Romero and Supervisor Heinz believe Moghimi favors smaller communities and has failed to complete Tucson projects, Christy launched into a defense that quickly devolved into an attack.

"As far as the statements made by the mayor that Director Moghimi has such hatred for the city of Tucson, that's just ill-advised and mean-spirited," Christy countered, before immediately pivoting to accuse the mayor of the very same emotion:
"Mayor Romero and the City Council have instituted differential water rates for unincorporated Pima County Tucson water users, charging them more because they live outside the city limits... Now you talk about hatred, they obviously have that ill feeling for people living outside the city of Tucson."

Ah, the classic conservative tactic—project your own tendencies onto others while claiming victimhood. Differential utility rates based on service area economics are suddenly equivalent to "hatred." Meanwhile, actual hatred against marginalized communities gets dismissed as "political correctness gone mad."

The conversation reached its ideological zenith when addressing Supervisor Heinz's proposal to add three cents to the primary property tax for affordable housing. Christy's response was a masterclass in conservative framing, relabeling affordable housing as "taxpayer-assisted subsidized housing" and characterizing it as government overreach.

"It's done on both ends," Christy complained. "We have the property and the land that is supposed to be designated for quote-unquote affordable housing being presented and subsidized by the government, in this case Pima County, and on the other hand, those that are going to be the beneficiaries of quote-unquote affordable housing will be subsidized in the section eight manner."

His air quotes practically audible through the radio, Christy continued: "All it really is is a euphemism for public housing, taxpayer-supported housing, publicly-funded housing. This is in no way part of any kind of private sector enterprise."

The conservative playbook in action: reframe public investment in human wellbeing as government handouts, while conveniently ignoring the massive corporate subsidies their policies champion. Heaven forbid we use three cents of property tax to ensure people have roofs over their heads in one of the hottest deserts in North America.

Christy claimed 40% of home building costs stem from government regulations, a figure he attributed to the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association—hardly an unbiased source. He then pivoted to rhetoric about "out-of-town developers from Omaha, Nebraska," who come to take advantage of subsidies.

"It's a real slap in the face to property owners who have been here for years, particularly those who have been here for years who have seen nothing but a steady increase in their property taxes over the decades and have not received the benefit of the services that the county is supposed to be providing," Christy concluded, neatly erasing the existence of renters and low-income residents from his vision of "real" constituents.

Celestial Respite with Dr. David Levy

Like a cool evening breeze after a scorching political day, Dr. David Levy's segment offered a refreshing shift to the wonders above rather than the conflicts below. One of history's most successful comet discoverers with 23 celestial finds to his name, Levy joined the show fresh from the Texas Star Party.

Despite some initial connection issues and an admission of an embarrassing fall while observing ("No broken bones, no pulled [muscles], but some embarrassment"), Levy maintained the cheerful demeanor of someone who spends more time looking up than looking down.

The renowned astronomer briefly mentioned Comet Swan, which is currently visible but difficult to observe as it appears low in the western sky after sunset. More memorable was his "Cosmic Variations on a Theme by Leonard Cohen"—a poetic tribute that captured the wonder of night sky observation:

"It's time to go outdoors tonight. The sky is dark. Some stars are bright. The Milky Way shines overhead. Now see a comet rise in the East. Within distress, it brings us peace and calls us to a cosmic hallelujah."

In a world increasingly divided by terrestrial conflicts, Levy's cosmic perspective reminds us that we're all under the same sky, on the same small planet, hurtling through the vastness of space. Perhaps this perspective should inform our politics more often.

Legal Reckonings with Don Loose

The show's final segment featured attorney Don Loose discussing two bills moving through Arizona's legislature that highlight the state's ongoing cultural and ethical battles.

First was House Bill 2438, which would prohibit transgender Arizonans from amending their birth certificates to match their gender identity. This bill would override a federal judge's ruling that found the current surgery requirement discriminatory.

"Under the bill that is currently being debated and has been sent to the governor, the Department of Health Services would be prohibited from amending a person's birth certificate to change their gender from that that was identified at the time of their birth, unless there was a factual mistake," Loose explained.

Another day, another Republican attempt to legislate transgender people out of existence. Aren't these the same politicians who claim to want government out of people's lives? Apparently, that principle only applies to corporations and wealthy donors, not vulnerable citizens trying to live authentically.

Loose noted the bill's supporters argue that "the birth certificate is a historical record and it shouldn't be subject to alteration," with one legislator claiming "he doesn't have the right to have a different birth date put on his birth certificate."

The false equivalence is staggering. Gender identity isn't comparable to arbitrarily changing your age—it's about aligning documents with lived reality. This isn't about historical accuracy; it's about using bureaucracy as a weapon against a marginalized community.

On a more promising note, Loose discussed Senate Bill 1658, which would better define animal cruelty laws. The bill would replace vague language about "protracted suffering" with more specific criteria about "intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly failing to provide medical attention necessary to prevent unreasonable suffering."

According to Loose, the Arizona Humane Society handles "22,000 pets through their doors each year," underscoring the urgent need for clearer definitions of animal cruelty to facilitate enforcement and prevention.

The bill would also redefine "cruel neglect" to specify "food that is appropriate for the species and that is fit for consumption, water that is suitable for drinking as appropriate for the species, and, except for a dog that primarily resides outdoors, access to shelter that is necessary and adequate."

It's worth noting that even in our divided legislature, animal welfare can still generate bipartisan support. Perhaps there's hope that our shared love for non-human companions can remind legislators of our common humanity. This humanity should extend to all members of our community, including transgender Arizonans.

Democracy in the Desert: The Path Forward

As Buckmaster's program concluded, listeners were left with a stark illustration of Arizona's political landscape—where a single county supervisor can simultaneously advocate for wildfire safety while dismissing affordable housing as government overreach, where celestial wonders still inspire poetic reflection, and where the legal system remains a battlefield for human rights.

The technical difficulties that plagued the broadcast serve as an apt metaphor for our democratic discourse—intermittent, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately vital to maintain. Despite the conservative rhetoric that dominated much of the airtime, the progressive undercurrent remains: we need sustainable solutions to climate-exacerbated wildfires, affordable housing for all community members, transportation systems that serve everyone equitably, and legal recognition for all citizens regardless of gender identity.

As our desert community navigates these challenges, we must remember that the most extreme voices often get the most airtime. Still, quiet progress continues in community centers, neighborhood associations, and grassroots organizations throughout Pima County. The conservative carnival may dominate the airwaves, but the progressive promise continues to grow from the ground up.

Questions to Consider

How might our approaches to wildfire prevention change if we acknowledged climate change as a primary driver of increasingly dangerous conditions?
What would affordable housing solutions look like if we prioritized human wellbeing over property values and developer profits?
How can we ensure our transportation systems serve all communities equitably, especially those historically marginalized by infrastructure decisions?
Why do some politicians fight so hard against transgender rights while claiming to champion individual freedom and limited government?

Your voice matters in these conversations. Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas in the comments below. Together, we can build a more inclusive, sustainable, and just community for all Sonoran Desert residents.

Quotes

"All it really is is a euphemism for public housing, taxpayer-supported housing, publicly funded housing. This is in no way part of any kind of private sector enterprise." - Steve Christy on affordable housing initiatives
"I feel that the efforts by the mayor and my colleague, Dr. Heinz, is a grave injustice and incomprehensible that they would treat Farhad Moghimi in such a manner after his long tenure." - Christy defending the RTA director
"As far as the statements made by the mayor that Director Moghimi has such hatred for the city of Tucson, that's just ill-advised and mean-spirited." - Christy attacking Mayor Romero
"Mayor Romero and the City Council have instituted differential water rates for unincorporated Pima County Tucson water users, charging them more because they live outside the city limits... Now you talk about hatred, they obviously have that ill feeling for people living outside the city of Tucson." - Christy accusing the mayor of hatred
"It's a real slap in the face to property owners who have been here for years, particularly those who have been here for years who have seen nothing but a steady increase in their property taxes." - Christy on the proposed county budget

People Mentioned

Bill Buckmaster - Host of the Buckmaster Show, radio personality in his 37th year in Tucson media
Steve Christy - Republican Pima County Supervisor representing District 4, former car dealer, vocal opponent of affordable housing initiatives
Regina Romero - Mayor of Tucson, criticized by Christie for her treatment of Farhad Moghimi and for instituting differential water rates
Matt Heinz - Pima County Supervisor, who, along with Mayor Romero, wants RTA director Moghimi to resign
Farhad Moghimi - Current Regional Transportation Authority director,r defended by Christie as "world-renowned in many circles as a transportation expert"
Dr. David Levy - Famous astronomer and comet discoverer who shared a Leonard Cohen-inspired poem about the night sky
Don Loose - Attorney with the Loose Law Group, discussing two bills in the Arizona legislature affecting transgender rights and animal welfare
Governor Hobbs - Arizona Governor likely to veto HB 2438 that would prevent transgender Arizonans from amending birth certificates