A to Z with Nikki Lee: December 15, 2020

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December 15, 2020

Welcome to Our Year-End Wrap-Up.

Here we are at the end of 2020. When I was elected 13 months ago, none of us expected 2020 to look like this. Plans changed, goals changed, and here at the City we shifted to keeping our community safe while working hard to respond to all non-COVID related concerns as well. While it may not be what I imagined, I am beyond honored to have served the constituents of Ward 4 over the past year, and I look forward to continuing to do so in 2021.

Right now, my team and I are working on our 2021 strategic plan. It is hugely important to us that we receive your input as we construct our goals. Keep an eye out for an update from us with more details, including a voluntary constituent survey.

To those who are currently celebrating: Happy Hanukkah to you and your loved ones. For all others: have a healthy, happy holiday season and a great new year. Please find year-end updates and a first-year reflection below. Previous newsletters can be found on our website.

Happy Holidays!

Nikki Lee

City of Tucson Ward 4 Councilwoman

Important Dates:

December 15, 2020 (Tonight!): Cookies with Santa event at Clements Center, 8155 E Poinciana Dr., from 4:30-6:30 PM. Stop by and see Councilwoman Lee and her elves! More information below.
December 18, 2020: Mayor & Council Retreat. Tune in on YouTube to watch.
December 21, 2020: Last day to apply for the community wireless program. Read more below.
December 31, 2020: Last day to apply for additional COVID-19 relief funds. Read more below.
January 5, 2021: City Council Meeting. Click here and go to "Mayor & Council Meeting Live" to watch! Please note, there are no more Mayor & Council meetings in 2020. January 5 is the next meeting date.
January 20, 2021: City Council Meeting. Click here and go to "Mayor & Council Meeting Live" to watch!

December 8, 2020 Council Meeting Recap

I'm happy to announce that during last Tuesday's Mayor and City Council meeting, we approved my motion for TuSimple to move to the next step in the primary jobs incentive process. TuSimple is a self-driving technology company making it possible for heavy-duty trucks to operate autonomously on highways and surface streets. A couple weeks ago, I was lucky enough to get a virtual tour of TuSimple. Thank you to Senior Director of External Affairs, Robert Brown, for this opportunity!

The primary jobs incentive will enable the expansion of the TuSimple facility to advance their technology and support their mission of improving the safety and efficiency of self-driving truck technology. The expansion will provide roughly 25,000 square feet of warehouse and lab space with an additional 10,000 square feet of office space.

TuSimple currently has 200 employees in Tucson with 30 current job openings; the expansion will create an additional 75 new high wage jobs and 100% of construction subcontractors will be from Pima County. TuSimple is an active community partner. They invest in our local non-profits such as the Community Food Bank and support our local restaurants by catering lunch to their employees daily. I'm excited for this opportunity for our local economy and I look forward to the next steps in the incentive process.

Additionally, during last Tuesday's meeting, the Mayor and Council unanimously approved to extend the moratorium on public housing evictions, water shut-offs, and transit fares to the first meeting in January 2021 and will review any budget concerns during the Retreat on December 18, 2020.

First Year Reflection

As the first year of my term comes to a close, I’d like to share with you what my team and I have accomplished in this very unusual year:

As an incoming Council Member, my #1 priority was to learn and build relationships. It’s so important not to re-invent the wheel every time a new elected leader comes in, which is why I set aside significant amounts of my time for training and meeting with the community and business leaders, as well as leaders in the departments that make up our City government. As part of my commitment to learning and continued growth, I now participate in the National League of Cities (NLC) and serve on three of their committees: the Military Communities Council, the Information Technology and Communications Committee, and the University Communities Council. As an active NLC member, I’m advocating for our City’s needs on a national scale and in coalition with other major cities across the country.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, my team worked hard to deliver 4,000 masks to schools in Ward 4 to keep students, teachers, and support staff safe. We also “challenged” Ward 2 to a Blood Drive contest to encourage donors to donate blood during a critical time for public health.
As part of my commitment to community engagement, we held four virtual town halls focused on core services, covering parks and recreation, transportation, Tucson Medical Center, and public safety. You can find the recordings on my YouTube channel here.

I’m proud to say my office has already developed a reputation for reliable constituent response. This year our community faced significant challenges, from COVID-19 to public safety accountability and reform. These are critical issues that require intentional, long-term solutions. My staff and I believe in being as transparent as possible, and I’m proud to say we did not shy away from responding to any constituent concerns and questions, no matter how complex the issue.
When I ran for City Council, I ran on the platform of a “stronger, smarter, more sustainable Tucson.” This year, the “smart” piece of this goal was critical. When COVID-19 hit, I was able to use my expertise as an IT professional to inform the transition to our new remote work environment. Although our lives may be moving slower, the needs of our City are not, which is why it was vital we continue working efficiently during this transition. My tech background also helped strengthen the plans for Tucson’s City-wide WiFi program, a vital tool for our virtual school and work lives.

None of these accomplishments would’ve been possible without input from the public. I encourage you to continue to bring to our attention any concerns or ideas you have that would help improve our community. We are here to help, and it’s much easier to do so when we hear from you.

Cookies with Santa TONIGHT! Come see Councilwoman Lee and her Elves.

Join Santa, Tucson Parks and Recreation, and Councilwoman Lee and her elves for a drive-thru Cookies with Santa event tonight at Clements Center, 8155 E Poinciana Dr., from 4:30-6:30 PM! Santa will be in the snow globe greeting all the children and families. All children will receive a goody bag with crafts and treats. Only 150 bags available. First-come, first-served! Check out the Facebook event for more details.

Reid Park ZooLights: Now through Dec. 30!

ZooLights: Holiday Magic is taking place December 4 – 23 at Reid Park Zoo, with Encore Nights December 26 – 30! Watch the Zoo transform into a glittering, twinkling world of colorful lights and holiday cheer. Sip hot cocoa and warm your heart as you wind your way through a wild wonderland filled with the sights and sounds of the season at this Tucson holiday tradition. Find ticket information and details here.

Community Wireless Program: Apply by December 21

Last week, the City of Tucson launched the Community Wireless Program. This program will provide free internet access to those who are eligible.

To qualify, you must:

Live within coverage area
Be 18 years or older
Be experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19
Reside in a household with one of the following:
- School-aged child or college student
- A person 60 years or older
- A person with a high-risk health condition.

Applications close 12/21 so don't delay! Click here to apply or call 520-791-2608.

Apply for Additional COVID-19 Relief Funds by December 31

The Mayor and Tucson City Council recently approved using federal CARES Act funding to provide additional resources to the already-established We Are One|Somos Uno grant programs, including $3 million to small businesses, $2 million to workers and families, $750,000 to arts and entertainment venues, and $250,000 for child care. Businesses and individuals who are still experiencing financial hardships due to the pandemic will have the opportunity to apply for these grants through the partner community organizations that are administering these funds. You MUST apply by the end of the year to take advantage of these opportunities Click here for more information.

Lincoln Regional Park Playground Survey

A new playground is currently in design for Lincoln Park and the City wants YOUR input on what playground design you like best. Click here to take the quick survey. Be sure to submit it by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 27 to make your voice heard. The funding for this project is being paid with Development Impact Fees.

#Ward4SmallBusiness Spotlight

We are proud to welcome Civano Animal Hospital and Emergency Center to Ward 4! Dr. Alexis (Moreno) Roth and sister Dr. Lindsay McCrady are both Tucson natives and looking forward to bringing their 20+ years of experience and expertise to the community. You may recognize Dr. (Moreno) Roth as she is the Chief Veterinarian for Reid Park Zoo.

Small business owners have been hit especially hard this year. I'm thrilled to see such an exciting new business in Ward 4. Find them at 10425 East Drexel Road and follow them on Facebook here!

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!
Follow my new Council Member twitter account, @CouncilwomanLee.