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Town Halls, New Puppies, and a Happy New Year.
My team and I wish you and your loved ones a very happy new year. Check out a few short updates below as you enjoy your celebrations.
Sincerely,
 Nikki Lee
City of Tucson Ward 4 Councilwoman
P.S. If you live in Ward 4, please take our 2021 Constituent Survey by January 31! More information below.
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A Brief Note...
Just before Christmas, my neighborhood experienced a tragedy that we are still trying to wrap our heads around as we begin to heal. Like other parents in my neighborhood, I struggled to find the words to explain the loss to my children. Pima County has lost over 800 loved ones due to the pandemic. While there are no words that can fix grief, It’s comforting to know there are local resources to help:
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Pima County Victims Services: supporting and empowering victims of crime to seek justice that strengthens and rebuilds their lives.
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Tu Nidito: supporting children and families during the grief process.
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Homicide Survivors, Inc: providing long-term support and resources to families of homicide victims.
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Emerge Center: supporting victims of domestic abuse.
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Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center: helping child victims of abuse undergo the initial steps of an investigation and begin to heal.
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Empact: providing support for family members and friends who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide.
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Casa de los Niños: striving to improve the lives of children and their families and reduce the long-term social and financial costs of child abuse for our community.
I feel for my neighbors and all Tucsonans who are grieving right now. If there are other resources you need that aren't listed above, please reach out and we can try to connect you to the right place.
2020 has been one of the most challenging years for so many people. I have a lot of hope that in 2021 we can start anew and refresh opportunities we've had to put on hold. There's a lot of work to do, but I look forward to rebuilding and restarting with our community.
It is so important to my team and I that we receive your input as we construct our 2021 goals. As part of our commitment to our constituents, we've put together this 2021 Constituent Survey. If you live in Ward 4, I hope you'll take a few minutes to complete the survey, which will close on January 31. Participation is 100% voluntary and most questions are optional. If you have any questions, please reach out to ward4@tucsonaz.gov.
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2021 Town Hall Schedule.
This year, we've decided to roll out a new system for our Ward 4 town halls: we'll be alternating between full Ward 4 town halls and neighborhood town halls each month. We hope this will allow for more comprehensive, targeted conversations about neighborhood-specific ideas and concerns. Our town halls will take place the last Thursday of each month beginning in February. We are planning for all town halls to be virtual, at least for the first part of the year. Registration information is coming soon.
February 25: Rita Ranch Neighborhood Association with Public Safety
March 25: Parks and Recreation
April 29: Mesquite Ranch Neighborhood Association with Public Safety
May 27: Budget Conversation with City Manager Michael Ortega
June 24: Houghton South Neighborhood Association (Civano / Sierra Morado / Saguaro Trails) with Public Safety
July 29: Development Services
August 26: South Harrison and Stella Mann Neighborhood Associations with Public Safety
September 30: Department of Transportation and Mobility
October 28: Dietz Neighborhood Association with Public Safety
December (Date TBD): End of year Ward 4 Council Office Open House
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January 8 Virtual Memorial.
On January 8, 2021, we will observe the 10th anniversary of the Tucson shooting tragedy. Due to COVID-19, the ceremony will not take place in person, but will be broadcast live from the beautiful new memorial that is soon to open downtown. The ringing of a bell to honor each of those who were killed or wounded will be broadcast and streamed live online beginning about 9:55 a.m. on Jan. 8, 2021. There will be a video-taped introduction and closing as well. The ceremony will be broadcast live on KVOA, Channel 4 and possibly other stations. Later that same day, at 6:30 p.m., KVOA will broadcast a 30-minute special: “January 8 – 10 years later.” The anniversary event also will be streamed live and available for viewing anytime after the event on the Pima County Facebook page.
While I'm sad we can't gather in person on this day, I'm glad such an important ceremony will be accessible to our community. Pima County officials expect the new Memorial to open to the public shortly after January 8.
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Introducing...the Ward 4 Pups!
Lastly, I'm excited to announce a bright spot at the end of such a tumultuous year. The Ward 4 Office has two very cute new staff members: Kaiya and Koda! Kaiya (left) and Koda (right) are sisters from the same litter and have brought immense joy to our office over the past few weeks. Kaiya joined my family while Koda was adopted by my Chief of Staff, Teresa, and her family earlier this month. Be sure to follow us on social media to see what these two get into in 2021!
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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!
- Follow my new Council Member twitter account, @CouncilwomanLee.
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