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Happy Fall, Y'all!
It may not feel like it outside, but somehow we've made it to the beginning of fall. As the weather starts to cool off (hopefully), many people are going to want to get out more and see friends and family. While I hope everyone gets their daily dose of fresh air, we can't forget COVID-19 cases are still climbing in Pima County and across Arizona. Please remember to always mask up, maintain a distance of at least six feet from others in public, and avoid close contact indoors whenever possible.
Please find important dates and information for Ward 4 constituents below. If you'd like to see previous newsletters, you can find them here. Stay safe, and happy fall, y'all! - Nikki
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Before we jump in, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and honor the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
RBG was a role model to so many women of all ages and backgrounds, including myself and my daughters. Her entire life was dedicated to helping others, and she broke down insurmountable barriers and hundreds of glass ceilings to do so.
Justice Ginsburg, may your memory be a blessing. I can assure you we won’t stop fighting for what’s right.
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Important Dates:
- Wednesday, September 30: Ward 4 Virtual Town Hall with TMC Rincon! RSVP on Facebook here!
- Monday, October 5: Deadline to apply for CARES funding grants for artists and arts organizations in Tucson. Click here for details.
- Tuesday, October 6: City Council Meeting. Click here and go to "Mayor & Council Meeting Live" to watch!
- Thursday, October 8: Sierra Morado & Civano community members are invited to to a TPD Community Conversation.* This virtual meeting will take place at 6pm. Click here to join or call: +1 213-293-2303 / Conference ID: 590 079 927#. RSVP here.
*Please note: Although this event is open to the public, it is focused on the Sierra Morado and Civano neighborhoods. For a broader conversation on public safety, please join the Ward 4 Public Safety Town Hall on October 28 at 5:30 PM. RSVP here.
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September 22 Council Session Recap
1) At last week's Mayor and City Council session, I made a motion based on the Mayor's recommendations to allocate an additional $3M of CARES Act funding to rental and utilities assistance, $2M to direct relief to workers & families, $2M to small businesses, $500,000 to non-profits, and $350,000 to entertainment and art venues who have been impacted by COVID-19. The motion passed and we will continue working with existing community partners and under existing contracts to ensure that priority is given to households, non-profits, and businesses who have not already received a grant of the same type.
We also decided the $500,000 previously allocated for childcare by Mayor and Council will be administered through grants through Catholic Community Services.
2) The Tucson City Council voted to renew the Central Business District for an additional 10 years. The Mayor and Council agreed the Central Business District is a tool to boost economic development within the city through financial incentives. However, we did not approve the expansion of the district at last week's meeting. The Mayor and Council directed the City Manager to start a robust public engagement process and an equity assessment to determine how the incentivized projects are impacting the community.
3) I was pleased to finalize a land exchange with Sunbelt Holding Company, adding an additional 21 acres to Robert Price Park next to La Estancia in Ward 4. A huge thank you to Sunbelt for their years working with my office on this project and their commitment to the Tucson community.
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about our work. You can message me on Facebook or email ward4@tucsonaz.org if you'd like to connect.
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Houghton Road Corridor Pre-Construction Meeting
The Houghton Road Corridor, spanning 13 miles from Interstate 10 to Tanque Verde Road, is one of the corridor projects included in the 2006 voter-approved Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) plan. Five segments have been completed, and others are in progress.
A virtual pre-construction meeting for the Houghton Road: Valencia Road to Mary Ann Cleveland Way Improvement Project was held on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Click here to view the Powerpoint presentation and meeting recording.
For the latest project update, click here.
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What We've Been Up To...
Who Scoops the Poops?
If you follow my Facebook page, you know my office recently discovered a potential gap in service that we've dubbed "who scoops the poops?" 🤔 Context: The Ward 4 City of Tucson office received a constituent concern about tons of 💩 (and that was no exaggeration) along a few blocks of Golf Links Road. We were told that nobody from the city could clean this up because it was biohazard waste.
Luckily, when "doody" calls, my team answers. We all had masks and brought tools from home to knock it out. Our top priority was getting the issue addressed for the neighbors, and then to figure out why this gap exists and how to fix it.
After talking to multiple City departments and constituents, we came up with a plan: DTM has put up signs to remind people to pick up their dog's waste. They are also going to have Sun Tran monitor the bus stop, so they will be responsible for cleaning up around the bus stop area. DTM will also be reaching out to the HOA and work with them to get more neighbors involved in cleaning up after their pets.
When I was elected, I wasn't kidding when I said I wanted to get to work! I want to thank my Team and my daughter for getting up early and rolling up their sleeves to address this issue with me before we found a permanent solution. I also want to thank the City staff who worked with us to come up with a plan. Teamwork makes the dream work - even when the "dream work" is scooping poop!
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School Mask Drop-Off
At the beginning of quarantine, my amazing staff coordinated the drop-off of thousands of masks to local Ward 4 schools. A couple weeks ago, we did another round of drop-offs, bringing our total to 8,000 adult and children masks distributed to 20 schools! I'm so grateful to have such an awesome team dedicated to keeping our kids, teachers, and school staff safe. If you or your family are in need of masks, you can always reach out to ward4@tucsonaz.gov so we can get them to you. To find a free COVID-19 testing site near you, click here.
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Follow Me on Twitter!
I now have an official Council Member twitter account. Follow me at @CouncilwomanLee to stay in the know between newsletters!
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Apply for Free IT Training for High-Growth Careers
Underserved adults in the Tucson area have the opportunity to train for high-growth information technology careers thanks to an Economic & Workforce Development Grant recently awarded to the Tucson Information Technology Skills Alliance by the City of Tucson. The new Transmosis formed Alliance, a nationally recognized leader in information technology workforce development, will deploy a proprietary virtual training model that enables applicants to become rapidly skilled in employer-driven information technology that lead to key industry certifications and employment. This is an exclusive grant opportunity for qualified Tucson residents only, with a particular focus on training the unemployed, under-served, minorities, veterans, and low-wage career changers. No IT experience is required! Click here for more information and for how to apply.
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Small Business Visual Improvement Grant Program
The City of Tucson has launched the Visual Improvement Program (VIP), a matching grant program to help small businesses and commercial property owners make exterior improvements to their properties. The purpose of the VIP program is to encourage investment and revitalization in key commercial areas and corridors through incentives and infrastructure improvements. The program is designed to help properties in need of revitalization and assist property owners or business owners with storefront facelifts. The City will provide technical and financial assistance to help renovate or restore exterior façades, signage, and lighting for commercial buildings. Applicants for the VIP must be commercial property owners or commercial tenants located within the City of Tucson. For more information and specific requirements, click here.
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How Can I Stay Updated?
There are multiple ways to stay updated with my office and the City's work:
- Looking for City updates? Follow the Ward 4 City of Tucson page to learn about core services, projects, events and helpful information about all things Tucson.
- Looking for me? Follow my Councilwoman Nikki Lee page to see what I'm up to around town, articles I write, official events I'm hosting, and more!
- NEW! Follow my new Council Member twitter account, @CouncilwomanLee.
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