George, you're right about Tucson's sprawl.
I tend to ignore it or blank out when I see that happening, probably the reason I've not turned arsonist or religious fanatic. I spent a few days there in 05, ignored the warts. Can't ignore warts in Phoenix, since it is one. Albuquerque is different in that it can't grow East because of ouradjoining Sandia Mountain cliff (a mile high next to a mile high city), can't grow North or West because of Navajo and Pueblo reservations, and is currently only beginning to grow South because of racial prejudice connected with the Hispanic population, which is concentrated South. As a result, Albuquerque is getting more dense and becoming more of a city. We have what's called the world's largest Intel plant here, fwiw...but that's in adjoining Rio Rancho, the most boring place on earth.
Navajo, in several elections, have for religious reasons been intensely opposed to casinos, unlike other tribes...so there are as yet no Navajo casinos. That will change (political pressure purchased by criminal lobbiests like Abramoff). They may have been opposed to gambling traditionally, when they came down from Canada, and the missionary activity among them was mostly protestant rather than Catholic (almost all other tribes became Catholic and have casinos), so they were taught that gambling was evil. Their yearning, obvious when one spends time with them, is for traditonal connection and simply to live in balance, to "walk in beauty." Corny but true in my casual experience. In the cities many do well, seeming Hispanic perhaps, and many do maintain their connections to the reservation. Terribly, however, most families seem to have catastrophic damage from alcohol, drugs, and now gangs. When that monster in California was killed recently, I'm afraid I celebrated: I knew what people like him were doing to the Navajo, not to mention their own people in Los Angeles. Navajo wouldn't celebrate a death, of course, but I'm not Navajo.
Here's a positive SW Indian connection in which I participate, partially in appreciation for friendship shown to me by Navajo people:
www.futuresforchildren.com
My understanding of Tucson's Hispanic population is that yes, it does have ancient Hispanic elements, but it's mostly recent Mexican. New Mexican Hispanics regularly brag on 6-8 generations here, particularly those with families in the North, such as around Espanola and Taos. There's a schism between Mexicans and traditional New Mexicans that's played out politically and economically here. Traditional New Mexico Hispanics are often prosperous and satisfied, Mexican immigrants are characteristically hard-laboring people with hard-won citizenship or legitimate green cards. Albuquerque is several serious hours from the border.
