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August 2025 - Lee en español
Out and About
 Supervisor Allen chats with constituents during Arivaca Office Hours on Saturday, August 2, 2025.
Hello District 3!
It has been great to set up office hours and meet with constituents in the many communities across District 3. Recently, Supervisor Allen visited Marian's Farmers Market in Arivaca, where she shared updates on what our office has been working on and provided information about resources offered by the County.
On July 22, we held office hours at the Wheeler Taft Abbett Library in Marana. We listened to constituents' concerns about a proposed airstrip for military paratrooper training, the proposed data center Project Blue in Pima County, and the new housing project Rancho del Rio Estates. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello.
Save the date for our upcoming office hours. Scroll down to find the calendar. And please help us spread the word!
Supervisor Allen's Update on Project Blue
Dear constituents and friends,
While I've been in office for just seven months, I can say from decades of experience as a community organizer, it's been a very long time since this community has shown up with such emphatic opposition to a City or County project. The public’s rejection of Project Blue was decisive and widespread. I'm impressed by those who made their voice and their power be heard, and I'm grateful to my counterparts on the Tucson City Council for hearing that tidal wave of opposition and doing the right thing.
There has been a great deal of speculation as to whether Beale Infrastructure (the developer behind Project Blue) will ignore the overwhelming will of the community and simply find another location elsewhere in Pima County to set up shop now that the City has rejected their proposal. We are keeping an eye on that and urge the community to do the same. As of this newsletter, we have not confirmed any specific locations in the county where they are attempting to operate, but we will of course share updates as we get new information.
Our task now is to address some major issues brought to light throughout the negotiations and consideration of Project Blue. While there was a difference of opinion concerning the value of this development, there was consensus among my colleagues on the Board that the process was problematic and in need of reform. Following the County Supervisors’ approval of Project Blue in June, our office has introduced (and passed) four items to address some of the most glaring deficiencies:
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Requiring environmental impact reviews of economic development projects: We directed County staff to develop a policy and process that results in the Board and public receiving an environmental impact analysis of economic development projects. Currently, we receive extensive estimates of the economic and jobs impact of economic development proposals, but nothing about their impact on our water, air, land conservation, climate goals, and so on. The policy will be discussed at our September 2 meeting.
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Reforming the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) in economic development projects: We directed County staff to develop a policy for the use of NDAs, so that future economic development opportunities are not shrouded in secrecy. Our Board and the public should be informed of the vital details necessary to make responsible decisions on behalf of Pima County residents and the future health and sustainability of our community.
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Working to end the local and state sales tax exemption for data center equipment purchases:The State of Arizona currently offers data centers a massive sales tax exemption on equipment purchases for 10-20 years. This policy was put in place in 2013 to attract data centers to our state. Since then, Arizona has experienced a dramatic increase, especially in Maricopa County by the industry. At a time when state-level budget shortfalls have resulted in devastating cuts to social programs serving Arizonans in need, it stands to reason the State, and its jurisdictions simply cannot afford to maintain such a policy. We directed our County lobbyist to work with Arizona state legislators to remove the exemption and restore our ability to generate revenue from data center equipment purchases.
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Require conditional use permits for data centers and other large utility users: While the first two of these policies will certainly help to improve the County’s approach to Economic Development, they do not address situations in which data centers and other large-scale water and energy users may operate on privately owned land that is already zoned for heavy industrial use. Looking at state and national trends, we should be prepared for an increasing number of data center developments to set their sights on Pima County. To that end, this week we also introduced a proposal to require conditional use permits for data centers and other large-scale water or energy users. The County employs the conditional use permit or “CUP” process in many other instances to ensure County and outside experts, community members, and the petitioning party all have opportunities to weigh in on a given project. At this week’s Board meeting, we directed staff to begin the process of amending our zoning code to require any future developments of this size and impact to go before both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Supervisors for discretionary approval.
All four of these policies work together to improve and adapt our ability to make the best decisions for our constituents, and at every step, listening to the public will be paramount. The Town of Marana has recently passed new regulations around data center development to address many of these issues, and the City of Tucson is following suit. With recent advancements in AI, and the increasing demand for data centers to be massive in scale, it will be crucial for the County to also implement these tools. We look forward to working with neighboring jurisdictions and the public throughout the code text amendment process.
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Jennifer Allen
Supervisor Allen spoke with several journalists covering Project Blue. On July, 25, she discussed her concerns in The Press Room on Arizona Public Media. Listen here to the full interview. Listen also to her one-hour long interview with Bill Buckmaster for KVOI, on July 23.
Community Spotlight
Habitat for Humanity’s CHUCK Center
Imagine a way to build quality, affordable homes twice as fast. That is what is happening at the Habitat for Humanity’s CHUCK Center. Supervisor Allen and her team toured the facility with Habitat CEO Charlie Buchanan who showed us how 8 x 8 panels are used to design a wide variety of homes, from microshelters to 4 bedroom family homes. Using these pre-built panels means homes go up much more quickly. Habitat now has the capacity to build 100 more homes beyond the 10 to 20 Habitat homes they traditionally built for their own families.
And it’s not just homes they are building, but the people with the skills as well. Habitat offers a free 16-week micro-credentialing program to learn basic construction skills. “This is the kind of creative problem solving we need,” said Supervisor Allen. “We have both a housing crisis and a real shortage of skilled labor, so we have to find ways to create efficiency and speed. Habitat is doing just that and, in the process, creating access to home ownership for lower income families.”
Charlie said: “Every nail, every beam, and every blueprint here is a step toward a stronger, more equitable Tucson.” Want to see how it works? Learn more about the CHUCK Center at https://habitattucson.org/chuck-center/.
Special Meeting
Picture Rocks Community Meeting
Join Supervisor Allen and the District 3 staff on Wednesday, August 20, at 6 p.m. at the Picture Rocks Community Center (5615 N Sanders Rd). We will discuss a large development, Rancho del Rio, proposed for the area north of Ina Road and west of Sandario Road, and its impact to water and sewage capacity, as well as flooding risks and increased traffic. Everyone is welcome! The meeting starts at 6 p.m., but come early to connect and get settled.
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*Let us know about upcoming community events! Please e-mail us at district3@pima.gov.
Community Resources
We Want to Hear From You
Here are some opportunities to provide your input on County projects:
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Anti-graffiti Poster Contest: Pima County’s Taking Action Against Graffiti (TAAG) Program is conducting an art contest for young people ages 9 to 18 to help educate the community about the negative impact of graffiti. The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. Friday, October 3, 2025. For more information on contest rules and prizes, please visit: https://www.pima.gov/824/Graffiti-Removal
- Pima County Connecting Children to Nature Coalition is a community-driven group working to ensure all children have access to nature across our region and they want to hear from you! Your input on what you enjoy doing or would like to do outdoors will help shape their work. Please take this 3-minutes survey: https://shorturl.at/X3K8x
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Around District 3
Here’s a quick overview of what we've been up to across District 3 and Pima County.
Wildlife Ramp Project
On Thursday, July 17th, we met with the Regional Flood Control District (RFCD) for a tour of a new wildlife ramp on the Santa Cruz river near Avra Valley Rd. This project has been years in the making and utilizes technologies like soil cement and biodegradable wattles developed right here by Pima County. Congratulations to the entire RFCD team that made this possible, and a special thanks to Deirdre, Nanda, and Matthew for bringing us up to speed on the project.
Senior Nutrition Program in Ajo
Photo: Ajo Copper News
On July 16, Supervisor Allen and our team met with Ajo constituents to discuss the cessation of the Senior Nutrition Program. We're grateful to the Ajo community for coming together and actively brainstorming solutions. As Supervisor Allen shared, “I’m confident that we will figure this out so that Ajo seniors will, once again, have fresh meals, people who check on their well-being, and opportunities to socialize." Thank you to Pima Council On Aging and the Ajo Copper News for joining us during our recent visit to Ajo.
With the Medical Examiner
In the middle of July, we visited the Pima County Medical Examiner at 3050 E Milber St. During our tour, Gregory L. Hess, MD, Chief Medical Examiner, shared the critical work being done at this facility. He and his team play a vital role in our community by offering accurate, timely, compassionate, and professional death investigation services — not only for Pima County, but also for Apache, Cochise, Graham, La Paz, and Santa Cruz counties. We appreciate the dedication of Dr. Hess and his team.
Graduation in Las Artes
A couple of weeks ago, Supervisor Allen and Supervisor Cano attended the graduation of seven young students from a training program at Las Artes. It was inspiring to see the joyful faces of students and families celebrating the completion of six intensive weeks of training, which led to certifications in construction, masonry, plumbing, or electrical work. Students interested in other trades, such as carpentry or cement work, are also encouraged to enroll. Las Artes also helps students prepare for the GED while developing essential job skills. The program's ultimate goal is to support a smooth transition into further education or sustainable employment. Congratulations!
https://www.pima.gov/lasartes
Visit to the Tucson Crisis Response Center
Jose Enriquez, Senior Director, Floor Operations at Connections Tucson
Our office is committed to exploring the many resources available in Tucson and Pima County to support individuals facing substance use and mental health challenges. As part of this effort, we recently visited the Tucson Crisis Response Center (CRC), operated by Connections Health Solutions and located at 2802 E. District Street. The CRC operates 24/7 and provides essential services, including a walk-in mental health clinic, a 23-hour observation unit, and a crisis stabilization unit. It serves both adults and youth in crisis.
What stood out most was the CRC’s strong commitment to helping anyone in need—no one is turned away. Special thanks to Jose Enriquez for welcoming our team and sharing valuable insight into the center’s work.
Families First Rally
On Saturday, July 26th, Supervisor Allen joined the celebration of 60 years of Medicaid, sending a heartfelt congratulations card and attending the event to honor this critical program and its role in our healthcare system. The gathering also served as a powerful space to speak out against proposed cuts that threaten to leave thousands of Arizonans without access to essential care.
Finding Ways to Connect
Over the past month, Supervisor Allen and staff have met with numerous nonprofits and organizations that provide valuable services across our district. From healthcare, immigration, and human rights to social services and environmental initiatives, these groups are making a real impact—offering meaningful solutions for underserved and vulnerable communities.
Thank you to the CEOs and representatives who met with us and shared the incredible work they’re doing. We appreciate the efforts of organizations like AFSCME International, Old Pueblo Community Services, Community Food Bank, Humane Borders, International Rescue Committee, Emerge, Tucson Medical Center, Pima County Community Land Trust, Visit Tucson, and Freeport-McMoRan.
We look forward to continued collaboration.
Subscribe to our Channel
Be up to date with the Board of Supervisors meeting recap. Every two weeks, Supervisor Allen summarizes the most important discussions and decisions of each agenda. Follow us and subscribe here: Youtube.com/@SupervisorJenniferAllen
Meet Tiny Trout!
This little guy really opens up around other dogs and would like a confident, friendly doggy buddy to share his home with. Tiny Trout is just a puppy and has already spent four months of his life in the shelter. He’s dreaming of a family who will let him settle in with predictable routines, patience and lots of love.
Tiny Trout is free to adopt. He is neutered, up-to-date on vaccines, and microchipped. His ID number is: A867484. Contact: Pima Animal Care Center: 520-724-5900
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 Reach Out!
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Email: district3@pima.gov
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Thanks for reading!
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