Progressiveness is the Allure of Flagstaff

MACIE GUTIERREZ

Flagstaff has a reputation for being a politically active town. With that, the majority of voters in Flagstaff are democrats. Since 2000, Coconino County has voted mainly democratic in every presidential election. In the last election, about 60 percent of voters were democrats, 35 percent were republicans and the remaining were independent. The voting patterns in Flagstaff have not changed much in the past 20 years, demonstrating Flagstaff is a majority left-leaning town and that attitude is here to stay.

Flagstaff is the largest city in northern Arizona, and the tourism and population rates continue to grow. The proximity to the Grand Canyon, Sedona and other national landmarks is part of what draws in tourism, but the political reputation of this small town is also what brings people in and gets them to stay. Flagstaff is also one of the fastest growing cities in northern Arizona. The annual growth rate in Flagstaff per year is 1.39% which is around the same as Phoenix’s. Additionally, more than 5 million people visit Flagstaff every year.

Flagstaff is a college town. Most of the people I have met since attending NAU are liberal, vote democrat or hold leftist views. For some students I know, the political climate is what brought them to NAU and it is one of the reasons that I chose to move to Flagstaff. I am from southern Arizona, where the politics are more rightleaning. Here in Flagstaff, I know I will be able to find people with similar interests and opinions much easier than I could in my hometown.

NAU also has a liberal reputation that draws people to it. I was shocked to learn about different events on campus that strive to educate students about safe sex, LGBTQ matters and other subjects that conservative environments typically don’t focus on. NAU has countless inclusive clubs and organizations that anyone can join at any time. NAU students are doing the work to educate themselves and others on campus, but without the liberal environment of Flagstaff, students would not have the support to start or join new clubs.

I encourage people to come to Flagstaff for multiple different reasons, but the main reason is always that you won’t find a place like it anywhere else in Arizona. One of my favorite things to do is walk around downtown and see all the pride flags in different shop windows and admire the inclusive murals on different buildings. In Flagstaff, people feel safe to express their political opinions, no matter what they might be.

But why does this city have a liberal reputation, and why does it thrive as a progressive town?

People in Flagstaff are able to express their opinions without immediately getting shut down. Students and residents alike are able to protest on corners of busy streets without immediately getting pushed away or shut down by the police. The local government allows residents to feel comfortable and confident enough to speak out and enact change when they feel it is necessary.

Illustration By Calleigh Juday

Flagstaff thrives as a city for many different reasons. Arizona is considered by some to be a Republican state, and although you can find people with similar views anywhere you go, I cannot imagine going to school anywhere else in Arizona. Flagstaff is a little gem tucked away in Arizona; it is one of the most progressive cities in the state, and it thrives because it allows its citizens to express themselves without feeling afraid.

Progressiveness is the allure of Flagstaff. Democrats have dominated the political scene in Flagstaff for over 20 years, giving Flagstaff the broad-minded reputation it deserves. If Flagstaff was not liberal, it would be a completely different town. It is a progressive, small hippie town that will continue to grow and thrive.