George Gonzales waits at 29th Street and 10th Avenue bus stop in South Tucson on Monday afternoon with an orange in hand and headphones in ears. He hopes Bus 16 will take him to a new employment opportunity.
Gonzales, 31, was recently laid off from his job as a painter. He remembers his most interesting paint job was a train restoration project in Tucson. Four years ago, with the help of his brother, Gonzales met the challenge of ensuring the updated train mirrored the old. The precision and accuracy necessary for a successful restoration made the project memorable.
He prefers to find a similar occupation but will accept “anything” that will allow him to support himself. The bachelor has no children to support but will not search for a job outside of Southern Arizona.
Gonzales was born and raised in Tucson and wants to stay close to his relatives who also reside in the region.
“This is home,” he said, “and it’s comfortable.”
Wow. Hopefully he finds something soon!