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Happy Fall Y'all!
It’s hard to believe it is Fall 2021. That time of year where we all look forward to Tucson’s flawless sunny days and cool crisp nights, we celebrate everything pumpkin spice, and reflect on the things we are most thankful for. I am thankful for our Tucson community. This past month, I have seen the generosity of neighbors helping neighbors, coming together as a community to clean-up our beautiful Sonoran Desert, reaching out to find ways we can help Afghan refugees coming to Arizona, and lifting our fellow military service members, veterans and first responders up. I am proud to be part of the Tucson community and hope the information and resources below are valuable. Reach out to my office at any time at ward4@tucsonaz.gov. Have a great week!
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Important Dates:
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Wednesday, October 6, 6:00pm: BD Air Quality Permit Virtual Open House. Access to this meeting will be made available on PDEQ Public Notice webpage: https://bit.ly/37gdbWP. Alternatively, you can register by calling (520) 724-7400.
- Tuesday, October 19: City Council Meeting. Click here and go to "Mayor & Council Meeting Live" to watch! (To watch past meetings, visit the City of Tucson YouTube page. This is also where future meetings will be live streamed).
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Wednesday, October 27, 6:00pm: BD Air Quality Permit In-Person Open House, 5385 E Littletown Rd. PDEQ Public Notice webpage: https://bit.ly/37gdbWP.
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Thursday, October 28, 5:30pm: Ward 4 Town Hall with Dietz Neighborhood Association register here. If you weren’t able to join last month’s Ward 4 Town Hall with Department of Transportation and Mobility, you may watch the recording here.
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September 14, 2021 Mayor & Council Session Recap
Roadmap for the Development of the City of Tucson Zero Waste Plan: Mayor and Council approved a Zero Waste Roadmap authorizing city staff to proceed with outreach and development of options that support the City’s Zero Waste goal by 2050, and to also encourage the staff to implement new technology, education and innovation as it becomes available, and feedback given in terms of equity centered strategies and diverse stakeholders.
City of Tucson Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Projects and RTA Next: Discussed the make-up of the RTA, meetings, projects, and concerns from the Mayor and Council. I expressed strong concerns regarding the need to complete the 2 outstanding voter approved Ward 4 RTA projects: Harrison Road over the Pantano Wash and Valencia Road from Kolb to Houghton. The Council moved to:
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Direct the City Attorney to report to the Mayor and Council within 60 days with information on the legal applicability of pursuing the MAG model of governance, including proportional voting and veto power, for PAG, RTA and RTA Next
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Direct staff to report back within 60 days with an update on funding for the remaining City of Tucson RTA projects and governance concerns raised today
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Unless otherwise directed by subsequent Mayor and Council action, that the City of Tucson withdraw its participation in RTA Next on February 1, 2022.
Sunshine Mile Overlay District: Mayor and Council approved the revised Sunshine Mile ordinance with height limitation in the Park Avenue Subarea and directed staff to report back to the Mayor and Council in eighteen (18) months on projects that have used or are using the Sunshine Mile Ordinance.
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International Day of Peace 2021
In celebration of International Day of Peace, the Ward 4 office installed a peace pole dedicated to the people of Tucson. Since designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981, every 21st of September the world celebrates International Day of Peace. This year’s theme is “recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world,” focusing on healing from the COVID-19 pandemic. We welcome you to come reflect in the desert garden surrounding the peace pole located just outside of Clements Recreation Center and the Ward 4 Council Office at 8123 E Poinciana Dr. The Peace Pole was dedicated with respect to the Tohono O’odham Nation, the original inhabitants of the land, with the help of many friends including:
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Jessie Navarro, Tohono O’odham Nation
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Geshe Lobsang and Geshe Namgyal, Emaho Foundation for Tibetan Buddhist Studies -
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Bruce Ash, Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona
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Dr. Mahmoud Azaz, University of Arizona School of Middle Eastern & North African Studies
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Mathurin Maoundonodji, Iskashitaa Refugee Network
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Tina Liao, Tucson Chinese Cultural Center
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Dr. Colleen Lucey and Valentina Vinokurova, University of Arizona Russian & Slavic Studies
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Deputy Consul Lee Wong, Consulado de México en Tucson
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Ajahn Sarayut Arnnat, Abbot of Wat Buddhametta and Tucson Meditation Center
Click here to watch highlights of the dedication.
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Remembering 9/11
On September 11, 2001, 2,977 people lost their lives during the attacks at the Twin Towers, Pentagon and aboard United Airlines Flight 93. Despite our shared grief in the aftermath of 9/11, hope, resilience, and unity lifted us up as a nation. Twenty years later, these lessons are more important than ever. During the 20th anniversary, it was important to me to honor those fallen and continue to honor our first responders and military who protect us from foreign and domestic threats. It was healing to gather with our Tucson first responders and pay our respects at the annual 911 Tower Challenge, walking 2071 steps that represent the 110 floors of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers. After completing the tower challenge, my team and I celebrated the growth and fortitude of our nation by planting trees and a desert garden with Tucson Clean and Beautiful, around our new peace pole outside of the Ward 4 council office. It was a great opportunity to share the importance of resilience to the next generation.
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Afghanistan: A Conversation
The recent extraction of US forces and civilians in Afghanistan has brought memories and emotions to the surface for many of us who served. As a veteran and a person who spen a year in Afghanistan, I knew how important it was to bring our City of Tucson employees who are veterans, reservist, national guard and military families together in a safe space and talk about what is on our minds, share stories, and listen. It was important to make sure my colleagues know we are in this together and we have the help of our friends at the Vet Center, Southern Arizona VA, Davis Monthan Airforce Base and retired Command Chief Master Sergeant James Lyda. Chief Lyda’s message really resonated with me and I wanted to make sure more of our veteran community had the opportunity to hear him speak so we created the following video, click here.
If you or someone you love needs someone to talk to, there are many resources available right here in Tucson:
For emergency mental health care, you can also go directly to your local VA medical center 24/7 regardless of your discharge status or enrollment in other VA health care.
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Vet Centers - Discuss how you feel with other Veterans in these community-based counseling centers. 70% of Vet Center staff are Veterans. Call 1-877-927-8387 or find one near you.
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VA Mental Health Services Guide - This guide will help you sign up and access mental health services.
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BeConnected Arizona - Connecting Arizona service members, veterans, families, & helpers to information, support and resources. Call 1-866-429-8387, https://beconnectedaz.org/
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MakeTheConnection.net - information, resources, and Veteran to Veteran videos for challenging life events and experiences with mental health issues.
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RallyPoint - Talk to other Veterans online. Discuss: What are your feelings as the Taliban reclaim Afghanistan after 20 years of US involvement?
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Download VA's self-help apps - Tools to help deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time.
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Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) - Request a Peer Mentor
Applications Are Open
The Ward 4 Office of Councilwoman Nikki Lee needs to fill multiple Board, Committee, and Commission seats. If you are interested in applying to one of the openings listed below, please email your resume along with your name, home address, phone number, email, and why you are interested in serving, to ward4@tucsonaz.gov. Positions will be filled on a rolling basis, so apply today!
Small, Minority, and Women-owned Business Commission Monitors effectiveness of the city's SMWBE Program. Monitors local practices and policies which may have discriminatory impact on minority and women-owned businesses. Facilitates communication between the city and small businesses. Evaluates city policies and regulations for their impact on small businesses. Sponsors and conducts educational forums, hearings and workshops. Recommends to Mayor and Council alternative measures or legislation. Requests from any City department information/assistance. Assumes and undertakes other tasks/duties at the discretion and express direction of Mayor and Council. More Information: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/files/clerks/uploads/bccfiles/28064.pdf
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 Council Member twitter account, @CouncilwomanLee.
- Follow my Council Member instagram account: @nikkilee_az.
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