Jan. 8 memorial backers go online after state nixes funding

The state won’t fund a memorial to the Jan. 8, 2011, mass shooting in Tucson, so organizers are looking online to raise $1.5 million.

A bill proposed by state Rep. Todd Clodfelter, R-Tucson, would have allocated $2.5 million for a memorial to the 19 people who were shot, including six who died, outside a Safeway on Tucson’s northwest side while then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords spoke with constituents.

The state House approved the bill on a bipartisan 49-11 vote, but it died in committee after state Sen. Gail Griffin, R-Hereford, refused to schedule a hearing for the bill.

Organizers of the memorial were “extremely disappointed” the funding was not included in the annual budget, said Crystal Kasnoff, executive director of Tucson’s January 8th Memorial Foundation. However, she understood the Legislature has other priorities, such as funding education and roads.

Organizers are proceeding with a “renewed spirit” and plan to privately fund the memorial before next year’s budget season, Kasnoff said.

They launched a GoFundMe campaign Wednesday, which raised $1,105 in one day from 18 people. Kasnoff said an anonymous donor will match the first $10,000 in donations.

“Our hopes are to really rally the community and push forward and complete some milestones so we can break ground,” she said.

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The online campaign also could attract donors from across the country who “poured out support” in the days after the mass shooting, she said, adding Giffords was the first member of Congress to be shot while meeting with constituents and Gabe Zimmerman was the first congressional staffer to be killed while working. In addition, a federal judge died in the shooting.

At the federal level, Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., introduced a bill in January to establish the January 8th National Memorial. In September, Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, both Republicans of Arizona, asked for federal support for the memorial, as did Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.

Organizers also offer naming opportunities in exchange for donations, with the highest-priced being $1 million for a name to be placed prominently at the memorial in downtown El Presidio Park. The foundation plans to offer $100 naming opportunities soon, Kasnoff said.

Donations to the online GoFundMe campaign can be made here.

The construction of the memorial is part of a public and private partnership between the foundation, Pima County and the city of Tucson.

In the last five years, the foundation raised more than $1.7 million for the memorial from donations and pledges, Kasnoff said. About $700,000 was spent on the memorial design, archiving 30,000 items left at spontaneous memorials in the days after the shooting, and creating 50 hours of oral history videos.