I hope folks have been enjoying the bit of sun we have been getting in between the rainy and cloudy weather this week. You know spring is just around the corner when our community gears up for the Festival of Books next weekend! It's a space where the written word comes to life, celebrating literature, creativity, and community in a vibrant way. Tag me in your literary adventures on IG @tucsonromero!
As mentioned in the newsletter, Council Member Santa Cruz and I had the pleasure of hosting President Biden’s Senior Advisor, Tom Perez. We toured Tucson on one of our new electric buses, showcasing some key investment sites.
Last week, we received updates from Multi-Agency Resource Coordinator Mari Vasquez, along with Housing First Director Brandi Champion. Mayor and Council also voted to approve the “Sonoran South Annexation District”. I invite you all to tune in and participate to call to the audience at the March 5th Mayor and Council meeting.
Lastly, if you are interested in learning more about ¡Somos Uno!, our Cultural Heritage Strategy for Tucson. our team will be hosting office hours on Thursday, March 7th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. RSVP here. We look forward to seeing you there!
The yellow rectangular area shows the Sonoran South Annexation District. The areas to the west, south, and east of this District are already in the City of Tucson. The small strip of land immediately to the east of the annexation district has been currently left as unincorporated, because it connects to a larger unincorporated area further south, and state law prohibits the creation of “county islands.” If there is interest in doing so, this area may be incorporated in the future, but it would be a more complex annexation project with numerous owners compared to the Sonoran South annexation.
At last week's meeting, Mayor and Council approved the "Sonoran South Annexation District,” which encompasses about 80 acres located on the south side of Old Vail Connection Road between Swan and Wilmot. This area is currently undeveloped and owned by the Tucson Airport Authority. Tucson Airport Authority has been actively marketing several hundred acres of vacant land in response to demand for industrial development. Senior Project Manager Mike Czechowski from the City of Tucson Economic Initiatives Team shared that the more owners in an area under consideration for annexation, the more complex the annexation can be. This annexation just had a single owner, which made it relatively straightforward.
Why might landowners in unincorporated Pima County want to be annexed into the City of Tucson?
Annexation provides owners and developers more clarity in the development process, and it allows a company or a developer to be considered for City of Tucson economic development incentives. Once annexation is complete, the annexed property will receive Tucson Water service.
What is the benefit to the City and Region?
Although the Tucson Airport Authority is tax exempt, if the Tucson Airport Authority chooses to sell this land in the future, the property may be subject to construction sales tax, impact fees, and utility, property, and retail taxes. If the land is developed, the developer would be required to fund any new water utility infrastructure required.
Only incorporated municipalities in Arizona are eligible to receive a proportional share of revenues from state sales tax and income tax. In this way, annexation can benefit our whole region – as more and more of Pima County is incorporated, whether into Tucson or other municipalities, the more state shared revenue our region gets.
Bridging the Gap: Tucson + Pima County Collaborative Approach to Unsheltered Homelessness through the Multi-Agency Resource Coordinator
Multi-Agency Resource Coordinator, Mari Vasquez providing an update to Mayor and Council on February 21, 2024 Study Session.
At the beginning of last year, I began placing monthly updates on the Mayor and Council agendas with the intention of offering information to both the Mayor and Council and our community on a regular basis. It is important to me that the community receives updates on the work that various City departments, along with Pima County, are involved in.
Through this collaborative effort, the City of Tucson and Pima County have established a Multi-Agency Resource Coordinator (MARC) to bridge the service gaps between the city and the county. This role was developed as part of an initiative to keep both the local government and the community informed about issues related to housing and homelessness. This includes focusing on strategies such as Housing First, addressing homelessness beyond just providing shelter, promoting affordable housing, and ensuring community and public safety.
The role of this effort is closely tied to Tucson's Housing First Program, demonstrating a commitment not only to finding immediate shelter for individuals but also to collaborating with various non-profit organizations and service providers throughout Tucson and Pima County. This collaborative effort aims to provide both shelter and ongoing support, addressing the immediate and long-term needs of the city's unsheltered population. The responsibilities of the Multi-Agency Resource Coordinator extend beyond merely referring individuals to services.
The City of Tucson along with Pima County has adopted a comprehensive strategy that recognizes homelessness can result from a combination of issues, including rising housing costs, mental health challenges, substance abuse, unemployment, and systemic poverty. By facilitating access to housing, healthcare, job training, and specialized services, MARC addresses these complex needs. Their work is crucial in providing not only short-term aid, but also in establishing a foundation for long-term recovery and stability. This approach is vital for Tucson's efforts to find effective, lasting solutions for housing affordability and emergency shelter, utilizing various funding sources to support these initiatives.
Moreover, the Multi-Agency Resource Coordinator advocates for the needs of Tucson's homeless population, working to engage the community and foster a more understanding and compassionate response to homelessness. By partnering with local government, non-profits, and community groups, they strengthen the support network available, helping to create a more robust and effective system to tackle homelessness.
This advocacy and community engagement are vital for increasing awareness of the challenges faced by those without shelter, aiming to remove obstacles and improve access to resources. Through their commitment, the Multi-Agency Resource Coordinator not only ensures people can reach the services they need, but also promotes policies and programs designed to reduce and eventually end homelessness in Tucson, highlighting the critical role they play in the community's efforts to support its most vulnerable members.
Mari Vasquez has stepped into the role of Multi-Agency Resource Coordinator, a position to foster cooperation between different levels of government. This role, a joint effort between Pima County and the City of Tucson, showcases her knack for bringing together various governmental bodies to achieve shared objectives. In her capacity, Mari has made sure resources are used wisely and that departments collaborate closely to meet the needs of the community. Her leadership has led to more unified and efficient approaches to tackling the challenges that the region faces.
Intern Spotlight: Melany Cota
Melany Cota, sophomore at San Miguel High School
My first week as an intern working in the Mayor's office was an eye-opening experience. On my first day, I was able to see how Juan, the Mayor's assistant, helps set up the Mayor and Council meetings and what goes on during those meetings. I learned that Mayor and Council meetings are when all the Council members come together to discuss the changes happening in Tucson, get the chance to hear what the residents of Tucson have to say, and make policies for the city.
Getting to meet all the Council members and hearing what they each had to say about the work they do and what it's like to be a Council member was a great learning experience. It helped me understand what goes into changing city policies and regulations.
Something I learned and found really interesting was that the management of streets and street repairs in Tucson is much more complex than I originally thought. This was particularly interesting to me because two days before my internship, my tía (aunt in Spanish) came over to my house and suggested I tell the person in charge of Transportation to fix Irvington Road. I laughed because I didn't know whom to ask, or where to even start.
To my surprise, the next time I worked, I got to listen to another Mayor and Council meeting where they spoke about the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), and I learned about the different levels of street management.
For example, the City of Tucson fixes what are called residential streets, which are used for local traffic within a neighborhood to give access to residential properties. You're probably wondering, "So, if it's not the city, then who's in charge of fixing the roads like Valencia or 22nd?" That would be the RTA, which is in charge of fixing arterial roads, high-capacity roads that keep the traffic flowing and are usually connected to freeways and interstates.
When it comes to fixing interstate highways, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is responsible. After I learned that the RTA was in charge of fixing Irvington, I called my tía and informed her about the different entities and explained how it is not as simple as we thought.
One thing I've really enjoyed while working for the Mayor's office is getting to see what actually goes on behind the scenes. The truth is, there is always a lot happening in the City of Tucson. On my first day, I got to listen to a few phone calls and heard many unique requests from constituents throughout the day. I learned how to properly help them.
The Mayor's office also receives a lot of emails about dozens of topics. I learned about the various resources and services available to people. Working for the Mayor really has a lot of benefits. Throughout my time here, I have worked with Excel, spreadsheets, and learned about other resources, too. I feel like I am getting better and more familiar with the programs, which I know will help me in school or other workplaces.
Being an intern here has been really enjoyable, and I am excited to keep learning more about the behind-the-scenes operations of running a city.
City Magistrate Appointment: Sarah Mayhew
“I am grateful for the Mayor and Council’s confidence. I am excited to be a part of the Tucson City Court and its groundbreaking specialty courts,” said Sarah Mayhew.
I am thrilled to congratulate Sarah Mayhew on her appointment as City Magistrate, a decision supported unanimously by the Mayor and Council and by numerous letters from our community members who recognize her as the exemplary choice for this role.
Sarah brings a refreshing perspective to our courts, guided by her commitment to meet people where they are, and her innovative ideas aimed at enhancing our legal system. She is interested in establishing a pilot DUI court and exploring new methods to improve court accessibility.
We are confident that Sarah's leadership and vision will significantly benefit our community, and we look forward to the positive changes her tenure will bring. Congratulations, Sarah, on your well-deserved appointment!
Neighborhood Association Spotlight: Rose Neighborhood
By: Eryck Garcia
Community Engagement Advisor
Rose Neighborhood Association Vice President, Richard Garza (left) with Council Member Santa Cruz (center) Mayor Romero and Tom Perez (right).
Happy Friday!
Last week’s neighborhood association visit was more special than usual. I revisited the Rose Neighborhood Association, one of the first neighborhoods I got to visit when I started working for the Mayor’s Office.
We recently wrote about the celebration of the newly redesigned La Mar Park, a tree planting event held in the heart of the Rose Neighborhood. That event also celebrated the revitalization of La Mar Park, a project that was designed by Tucson Clean and Beautiful alongside the Rose Neighborhood Association, the office of Council Member Santa Cruz, and Park and Recreation.
This restoration aimed at providing residents, from a heat vulnerable area, with access to safe and shady community green spaces. The revitalized park area is even designed to slow down water in the floodplain.
Mayor Regina Romero speaks at Senior Advisor to the President of the United States Tom Perez's Investing in America visit on Feb. 20 at La Mar Park. (center) Richard Garza, Vanessa Gallego, Council Member Santa Cruz and TCB Executive Director Katie Gannon.
Mayor Romero and Tom Perez first visited the 22nd street revitalization project where we are investing $25 million to reconnect our community. They also visited the TARP facility that is helping Tucson Water remediate PFAS so that we provide safe and clean water to Tucsonans.
Mayor Romero ended the day at La Mar Park where she joined Council Member Lane Santa Cruz, Parks and Recreation Director, Lara Hamwey, City of Tucson CFO Anna Rosenberry, and Rose Neighborhood Association Vice President, Richard Garza and neighbors. We were also joined by Tucson Clean and Beautiful Exec. Director Katie Gannon and Recyco, Inc. owner Vanessa Gallego.
Together we celebrated how we are using federal dollars to create more urban shade, helping us transform a barren lot into a protected city park with tree canopy, rainwater harvesting features and seating and nature play areas.
Rose Neighborhood Association Vice President, Richard Garza shared: “Our Neighborhood Association is so happy and grateful that the City, Mayor Romero, and Council Member Lane Santa Cruz chose to invest in our neighborhood.” He added, “From the moment I saw Mayor Romero going door-to-door in our neighborhood asking us about this project, they showed us they care about the Southside. She really put us back on the map.”
Tucson Clean & Beautiful are our on-the-ground partners helping the City of Tucson plant more desert adapted trees. Trees provide so many benefits! They reduce the urban heat island effect, and help residents save money while shading and cooling our homes. They also improve air quality and beautify our communities.
To request a tree planting for your neighborhood association or school, please contact Tucson Clean & Beautiful at tft@treesfortucson.org.
City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Department are doing so much for our community! From the Senior Olympic Festival to Splash Pads, and Ready, Set, Rec! There are tons of activities going on in our local parks and community centers.
For more information, check out the Tucson Parks and Rec website here.
