CutlerY Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center Named 2008 Phoenix Point of Pride!

City of Phoenix boasts 3 new Points of Pride

CutlerY Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, Burton Barr Central Library and ASU West all honored as sites to brag about

Connie Cone Sexton
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 27, 2008 12:00 AM

Phoenix is getting three new Points of Pride - two more than usual in a city contest held only once every four years.

The CutlerYPlotkin Jewish Heritage Center, Arizona State University West and the Burton Barr Central Library were close enough in votes that members of the Phoenix Pride Commission decided Wednesday all three should receive the honor.

The sites were among 10 finalists in the contest that ended March 20. The three sites will be added to the current list of 30 Point of Pride sites. The designation is given to a landmark or attraction unique to and located within Phoenix that evokes a sense of pride among area residents. The registry began in 1992.

A total of 12,476 votes were cast. The CutlerYPlotkin center received the most votes, with 20 percent. ASU West was second, with 17 percent, and the Burton Barr library had 15 percent. The other finalists were: North Mountain Visitor Center (9 percent), Chase Field (8 percent), Royal Palms Resort and Spa (8 percent), George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center (7 percent), Cesar Chavez Park (7 percent), Pioneer Living History Museum (7 percent), and Murphy Bridle Path (6 percent).

"This is very rewarding," said Steve Des Georges, director of public relations and marketing for the ASU West campus, located at 4701 W. Thunderbird Road. "We've always known that this is a special place."

Des Georges said the campus created a four-color postcard to shore up votes. The card already had the campus checked off. ASU West staff members carried them the past few weeks, asking people to consider giving them a vote.

The contest allows anyone to cast a vote, not just Phoenix residents.

Past winners, like the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in far-north Phoenix, sought votes worldwide. Its supporters helped boost votes in the 2004 contest to more than 20,000.

Ballot boxes were placed around the Burton Barr library, 1221 N. Central Ave., to help would-be voters. Signs also went up at area branch libraries. And e-mail blitzes ensued, said library spokeswoman Victoria Welch.

Phoenix City Librarian Toni Garveyis thankful for the support. "We are delighted that the community recognizes the value and beauty of Burton Barr Central Library."

Having the CutlerYPlotkin Jewish Heritage Center come in with the most votes is quite an honor, said Larry Bell, executive director of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, which is renovating the site as a museum and gallery at First and Culver streets.

"Given the quality of the pool of finalists, it's exciting," he said.

"It shows people value history. They say that the city of Phoenix has no history because it's young, but that's not true. It's all around us."