Tucson NewsNet Daily Digest - A Service of the City of Tucson
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIPS – The We Are One/Somos Uno child care scholarship fund is now accepting applications. Using City of Tucson’s CARES Act funds, Mayor and Council approved $500,000 to assist families with child care expenses during the pandemic. Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona is distributing scholarships on the City’s behalf of up to $2,275 per child with no limit to the number of children in a family. The child care scholarships will cover expenses for children 12 years and younger for families residing in the City of Tucson or City of South Tucson. Families can receive assistance for children currently enrolled in child care and/or newly enrolling children. Child care expenses will be paid directly to the provider. The program runs through December 31, 2020 or until funds are expended. The application along with eligibility requirements for families and childcare providers can be found at the Catholic Community Services website (link below).
Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona: https://www.ccs-soaz.org/
VIDEO REMINDS TUCSONANS TO WEAR MASKS IN PUBLIC - In order to stem the spread of COVID-19, every person in the City of Tucson over 5 years old is required to cover their nose and mouth with a face covering when in public. It’s for both your protection, and to keep others safe. In the video linked below, Tucson city leaders show why they wear masks. People can spread COVID-19 before they ever show symptoms, or even if they don't have symptoms. Masks should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face, be secured with ties or ear loops, include multiple layers of fabric, allow for breathing without restriction, and be able to be washed and dried in a machine without damaging the mask or changing the shape. For more tips on masks and other COVID-19 information, follow the links below.
Watch the video in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8E0tsdtTrE
Watch the video in Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ekwn5oEI8I
City face covering information: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/covid-19/city-face-covering-requirement-faq
CITY PARTNERS WITH HOWND TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES DURING HOLIDAY SHOPPING - The City of Tucson Office of Economic Initiatives and Arizona-based Hownd are collaborating on the “Hownd for the Holidays” campaign, which features promotional offers from participating merchants. Hownd is a customer foot traffic and revenue-generation platform for entertainment, attractions, restaurants, health and beauty, lodging, and other brick-and-mortar retail businesses. Using $25,000 of Coronavirus Relief Funds from the federal CARES Act, the City of Tucson is funding free membership to Hownd for a limited time so local merchants can drive more customers and revenue to their businesses. Pima County matched the amount as well to allow more businesses in the region to participate. The Hownd for the Holidays campaign enables consumers to discover local promotional offers and staycation opportunities this holiday season.
Read the news release: https://bit.ly/3n4hURc
Hownd for the Holidays: https://bit.ly/36mLfQ1
Hownd: https://bit.ly/3pj8aob
Office of Economic Initiatives (ConnectTucson): https://bit.ly/3dMTvw7
NEIGHBORHOOD TREE PLANTING - Mayor Regina Romero, Tucson Clean & Beautiful, and volunteers gathered in Tucson's North Dodge neighborhood to plant 50 trees as part of the Mayor's Million Trees Initiative. Tree plantings will continue every Saturday morning through April. Volunteers can sign up to help on Tucson Clean and Beautiful’s website (link below). Additionally, neighborhoods can request tree volunteers to assist with plantings in their area. The Mayor’s tree planting goal is an integral part of the Emergency Climate Action, passed this year by the Council, along with green infrastructure and restorative ecology goals.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmWiuRa2pQ8&t=14s
Tucson Clean & Beautiful – Trees for Tucson: https://tucsoncleanandbeautiful.org/trees-for-tucson/
SONORAN CORRIDOR TRANSPORTATION STUDY PUBLIC HEARING AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN TUCSON - The Arizona Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration will hold an in-person public hearing Tuesday, Dec. 1, and a virtual public engagement event Thursday, Dec. 3, to provide information on a study that would connect Interstate 19 and Interstate 10 south of Tucson. The public will have the opportunity to make formal comments about the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to a panel in-person or online, view study materials in-person or online, and watch a presentation at the in-person hearing, or hear the presentation during the virtual public engagement event.
The public hearing will be held Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the DoubleTree Suites Ballroom Royale, 7051 S. Tucson Blvd. In-person attendance will be limited to provide for adequate social distancing. Participants wishing to attend in person must pre-register at tinyurl.com/SonCor, or call 520.327.6077 to reserve a 30-minute slot during the public hearing.
The virtual public engagement event will be held Thursday, Dec. 3, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The public can join by calling 408.418.9388 and entering the meeting number (access code) 146 242 8979 or join online at bit.ly/SCEIS2020, use the meeting number (access code) 146 242 8979 and password SCEIS2020. For Spanish, call 408.418.9388 and enter the meeting number (access code) 146 978 0659. Participants will have the opportunity to make a comment to the panel that is recorded by the court reporter. Participants can join at any time and will be able to listen to others’ comments about the Draft Tier 1 EIS.
Read the AZDOT Info Page: https://bit.ly/38GvsOI
Draft Tier 1 EIS Study: http://azdot.gov/sonorancorridor
REID PARK AND ZOO IMPROVEMENTS UPDATE - Reid Park Zoo will be expanding west into the park and bringing a new world to Tucson thanks to the 2017 voter approved prop 202 Future of Your Zoo ballot measure. This expansion, called Pathways to Asia, will allow guests to get up close to red pandas, fishing cats, and brilliantly-plumed birds. Additionally, the crown jewel will be a spacious Malayan tiger habitat that is 5 times larger than the previous tiger habitat at the Zoo. Malayan tigers are a critically endangered species, with fewer than 300 individuals left in the wild. This new habitat space will also allow Reid Park Zoo to play a crucial role in the Malayan tiger Species Survival Plan of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This new addition, as presented in the expansion plans shared with the community at numerous public meetings, in the press, and online prior to the election in 2017, brings 3.5 acres of Reid Park into the Zoo. The expansion extends across Lakeshore Drive and includes the park’s southern pond and Barnum Hill. Reid Park’s other nearby features, including the large northern pond and rose garden, are not a part of this expansion and will remain fully accessible to the general public. Construction is scheduled to begin in February or March 2021 and will be completed in early 2023. Learn more about the expansion and the work underway at the links below.
From Reid Park Zoo
Archived Prop 202 Voter Info
Tucson Delivers: Parks + Connections Bond
Tucson Parks and Recreation
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