Spring is in the air! I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter and hope that everyone is able to spend time outside enjoying the beautiful weather. I hope these March rains brought with them lots of water and life to your desert gardens and pollinators!
Spring is also budget season in the City of Tucson! You can attend our Budget Town Halls on:
April 2 from 6-7 p.m. at the El Pueblo Activity Center, 101 W. Irvington Road, Bldg 9
April 3 from 6-7 p.m. at the El Rio Center at 1390 W. Speedway Blvd.
April 4 from 6-7 p.m. at the Ward 2 Office, 7820 E. Broadway Blvd.
You can also take an online engagement survey and share your thoughts about City services and budget priorities that are important to you!
It's also the last weekend to sign the E-QUAL petition in support of candidates. You can access the E-QUAL portal with the Secretary of State’s Office here: https://apps.azsos.gov/equal
If you are following the State Legislature, there are two anti-LGBTQ and anti-trans bills that, if passed, would limit the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ community. Senate Bill 1182 would ban public schools from allowing students to use a group showers that do not align with their sex assigned at birth, while House Bill 2310 would define ‘grooming’ in Arizona state law. The term ‘groomer’ is often used to attack members or supporters of the LGBTQ community.
I encourage you to reach out to your state legislators to share your thoughts on these harmful bills, OR you can use the online Request to Speak (RTS) System to add your comments to the legislative record. My team has put together a quick tutorial (below) to show you how to use it and let your voice be heard!
César E. Chávez, Dolores Huerta and the legacy of the farmworker movement
When I was on the Council in 2014, I introduced March 31st César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta Day as a paid holiday for City workers. Mayor and Council approved the holiday, backed unanimously by community groups celebrating the work of César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta who pushed for fair working conditions, civil rights, and environmental protections.
The work of Chávez and Huerta made a lasting impact on the lives of farmworkers and remains an example of peaceful resistance.
This past weekend we celebrated the 24th Annual Arizona César E. Chávez + Dolores Huerta Holiday Coalition March and Rally. It was truly memorable, especially with the presence of Juanita Chávez symbolizing a powerful connection to her mother Dolores and her uncle César's legacy. Above: Mayor Regina Romero with Juanita Chávez (middle) and Chávez-Huerta Coalition Co-Chair, Eva Dong .
It was a day filled with unity and a shared commitment to honor and fight for the rights and dignity of farmworkers and all workers. "¡Si se puede!" (Yes, we can!) continues to inspire and fuel the fight for working families!
Celebrating César Chávez and Dolores Huerta is more than just remembering the achievements of two social justice leaders, it’s about teaching and inspiring others to get involved and make a difference. This holiday serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by working families and the strength found in standing together for change.
I encourage Tucsonans to join in community service on March 29th, 2024, and promote the spirit of commitment and change carrying on Chávezand Huerta's work.
I want to thank ALL the organizers with the AZ César Chávez + Dolores Huerta Holiday Coalition!
Celebrating Women in Leadership in the City of Tucson
March is Women’s History Month. I am so proud to be honoring the women in leadership across the City of Tucson. Having a diverse and talented workforce that is reflective of our community has always been a priority of mine. I hope you are as inspired as I am reading their stories. These stories share a common thread of what it means to care, serve and build trust in City government. You can read them on my Facebookand Instagramthroughout the month of March.
City of Tucson is recognized for our work to fight climate change at the Arizona Forward Awards
Congratulations to the City of Tucson on being recognized by Arizona Forward at the Environmental Excellence Awards held last Saturday in Scottsdale. Our climate action work was front and center as we were honored with the Climate Action Solutions Award of Distinction.
Our work to advance climate action is possible thanks to an amazing team. I was so proud to celebrate alongside Chief Resilience Officer Fatima Luna, Asst. City Manager Liz Morales, Planning and Development Services Deputy Director Koren Manning, Planner Jessica Janecek and Public Information Officer Ina Ronquillo, Tucson Water Sr. Public Information Officer Natalie DeRoock and Mayor’s Office Chief of Staff Charlene Mendoza—women who are helping us lead the way!
Our people-centered Climate Action Plan Tucson Resilient Together which we are already implementing and dedicating over $80 million in funding was recognized, in part, for the extensive work that we did engaging with residents.
This was done through climate listening sessions, public workshops, community dialogues, pop up events, and surveys. If you took part in any of these engagements, THANK YOU! It was important to me then, and now, that we hear from all Tucsonans who are impacted by climate change, especially our youth and communities that have experienced historic disinvestment and have not always had a seat at the table.
Asst. City Manager Liz Morales celebrating with the Tucson Water team: Natalie DeRoock, Senior Public Information Officer; Director John Kmiec; Hydrologist Max Campos, Lead Planner Jaimie Galayda, and Storm to Shade Program Manager Blue Baldwin.
Tucson Water received the Crescordia Award for Site Development for the work we are doing at the 40-acre Shirley Scott Southeast Houghton Area Recharge Project (SHARP) recharging recycled water into our aquifer and creating a sustainable water supply.
The SHARP Project is a beautiful green space where we are showing residents how we are securing our water future. There, they can walk, bike and enjoy our beautiful desert ecosystem and even see how we can water our native plants using our storm to shade infrastructure.
Thank you to Arizona Forward and Executive Director Lori Singleton for recognizing the work we are doing at the City of Tucson to create a more sustainable, equitable and thriving Desert city.
I was proud to be recognized along with my fellow Mayors for the local role that Arizona cities play in fighting climate change. In Tucson we are decarbonizing our transit system and have the largest EV bus fleet in the Southwest, we are providing free transit to encourage residents to drive less and reduce pollution, we are planting more trees to cool our neighborhoods, we are making it easier for households, businesses and multifamily dwellings to charge electric vehicles, and we are installing solar on city-owned properties to help residents use less energy and help families reduce their energy bills.
Community Spotlight: Balboa Heights Neighborhood Potluck By: Eryck Garcia Community Engagement Advisor
Feliz Viernes!
As the weather begins to warm, community events are beginning in to flourish throughout Tucson!
A few weeks ago, Iwrote aboutmy visit to Balboa Heights Neighborhood Association (BHNA) meeting and some of the topics and concerns that folks discussed that evening. Earlier this month, I revisited the neighborhood association to attend their neighborhood potluck!
The Neighborhood Potluck is one of several community events that BHNA have hosted at the Marty T. Birdman Center/Balboa Heights Park. Neighbors from BHNA are working hard to activate community spaces in the neighborhood and welcome community to join.
BHNA President, Derek Dooley said, “I’ve been in this area for decades, the neighborhood association would love to have this area to be revitalized.”
This event was one of two organized by the association for the community in the past year. Participating neighbors brought kids and friends, enjoying food and board games inside the Birdman Center, or joining their kids in activities set by the City’s Ready, Set, Rec! Program.
Balboa Heights park is one of dozens of Tucson Parksthat received funding from Prop 407: Tucson Delivers, a voter-approved bond program that passed in November 2018. It allocated $225 million in bonds to fund various parks and recreational projects throughout the city.
Thanks to Tucson voters, this is one way that the City of Tucson is creating more accessible, vibrant, and sustainable outdoor spaces that contribute to their overall quality of life in Tucson. This includes improving and expanding park facilities, enhancing recreational amenities, and promoting outdoor activities for Tucsonans.
Tucson Parks and Recreation is doing so much around our City! From the Senior Olympic Festivalto Splash Pads, andReady, Set, Rec!There is so much to do in our local parks and community centers. For more information, check out the Tucson Parks and Rec website here.
Ready, Set, Rec! is a mobile recreation program that brings games and outdoor activities to parks for Tucsonans of all ages to enjoy. It was introduced by Mayor Romero and Ward 5 Council Member Richard Fimbres to bring recreation to Tucson families during the pandemic.
You can schedule Ready, Set, Rec! vans to attend a public event by filling out thisform. You can also see the van's schedule here. Want to know where the next Ready, Set, Rec! van will pop up? Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
The City’s 3-1-1 non-emergency phone line is another helpful resource, available 24/7. It is active and connects you to various City of Tucson services, thanks to a navigator system. This initiative, a top priority for Mayor Romero, was funded in part by American Rescue Plan dollars allocated from her office, marking a significant step in putting the right work with the right hands.
3-1-1 connects residents to services ranging from the Department of Transportation and Mobility, Tucson Water, Environmental Services, Housing First, and Community Safety, Health & Wellness, and other non-emergency responders.
There are lots of great things happening across Tucson, and I love hearing all about it! Please invite me to attend your next neighborhood association or community event by sending an email to eryck.garcia@tucsonaz.gov.
