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Kevin's Note
Friday, December 10, 2021
News and Updates Ward 3 Neighborhood Association/Coalition Meetings Ward 3 Events City Wide Events Did You Know?
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On Monday, December 6th, Kevin Dahl was sworn in as the Ward 3 City Council Member. The oath of office was administered by Judge John Davis and the blessing was given by Pascua Yaqui Chairman Peter Yucupicio.
“I am honored and excited to represent the residents of Ward 3 on the Tucson City Council."
“I campaigned on addressing the causes and effects of climate change at the local level. We know that climate change is not just an 'environmental issue.' Climate change affects our economy, health, safety and community welfare. All Mayor and Council policies from transportation to parks and recreation, from economic development to water rates are impacted by climate change. At the same time, my office will focus on strengthening neighborhoods and building community relationships. Climate resiliency is not only top-down policy decisions, but empowering people and connecting them with resources and tools to affect positive change.”
The new Ward 3 staff will be: Chief of Staff Katie Bolger, a longtime City Council aide; Kristin Woodall, a nurse and council assistant to Karin Uhlich; Marlene Thompson Avelino, a local community organizer for the Working Families Party; and CJ Boyd, who successfully ran the Tucson Fight For Fifteen minimum wage campaign.
Kevin is a longtime conservation leader, and has been executive director of Native Seeds/SEARCH and Tucson Audubon Society. For more than a decade he has advocated for Arizona National Parks as a staff member of National Parks Conservation Association. He is a member of the board of Friends of Saguaro National Park, and also served on the boards of the Community Water Coalition of Southern Arizona, and Friends of Tucson's Birthplace.
He and his wife Barbara Miller, retired TUSD special education teacher, have lived in the Samos neighborhood for 39 years.
Former Councilmember Karin Uhlich's staff members, Sarah Launius and Ernesto Portillo, will remain in the office through much of this month to assist with transition. Matt Kopec will remain in the office through February.
The Ward office is closed indefinitely. Please contact the Ward office at 520-791-4711 or ward3@tucsonaz.gov
Chad Kasmar New Police Chief
Minutes before Police Chief Chris Magnus was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Commissioner for Customs and Border Protection, the Mayor and Council on Tuesday unanimously endorsed the City Manager's selection of Deputy Police Chief Chad Kasmar as the new leader of the Tucson Police Department. The appointment became effective Wednesday after Magnus' resignation.
“During his 21-year career at the Tucson Police Department, Chad Kasmar has earned the respect of our Tucson community as well as fellow officers. Chad has proven himself to be a collaborator who sees public safety through a holistic lens and shares my vision of Community Safety, Health, and Wellness," Mayor Romero said.
Council Member Dahl, in his first meeting a day after he was sworn in to represent Ward 3, said the appointment was appropriate and that the City did not need to conduct a national search for Magnus' replacement.
Chief Kasmar, a third-generation Tucsonan, graduated from Amphi Middle and Amphi High schools, and the University of Arizona.
As Captain, Chad Kasmar was Commander of the Operations Division East and served as chief of staff in the office of the chief of police. As a sergeant, Chad held public safety roles in the department’s Street Crime Interdiction Unit, Community Response Team, and as a commander in Operations Divisions South, West, Midtown and East. Most recently, he stepped up to serve as interim director at 911 Communications. He has helped to transform this department and filled a critical need.
“Chad Kasmar is a proud product of Tucson with deep roots. He understands the needs of our city, and he is ready to take on the challenges ahead,” the mayor said.
Chad Kasmar is the recipient of numerous Tucson Police Department Chief of Police Citations of Excellence. He started his career with TPD in August of 2000 and was promoted to Deputy Chief in November of 2016.
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Stone Curves Mural
Mark your calendars. Save the date. If you have an appointment on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2-4 pm, cancel it. Instead head on over to the Stone Curves Mural in the Limberlost neighborhood for a celebration of community and public art, sponsored by Ward 3, the Department of Transportation and Mobility, and the Limberlost Neighborhood Association. Hem and Her Bridal Shop, 4004 N. Stone Ave., will make its front patio and parking lot available for the celebratory gathering. Parking is encouraged off street.
Twenty years ago the landmark mural was painted on the 600-foot wall, This week several artists, some of whom created the artwork, are restoring the colors and images. Here are some of the artists:
Serena Tang is an interdisciplinary visual and performance artist, a founding member of Flight School Acrobatics, an acrobatic performance group.
As a 14-year-old Amphi High School freshman, Adam Cooper-Teran worked on the mural with other students. The work opened him up to a world of art. "This is the catalyst for so much of my life."
Yu Yu Shiratori, as a youngster passed by the mural often in the months that it took to create the landmark. It inspired her to seek an artistic career. "This mural is definitely a big part of my childhood."
Gavin Troy worked on the mural 20 years ago. He's repainting the clouds and rain drops that he created then.
Alley Cleanup
The Ward 3 office thanks the Environmental and General Services Department, the TPD Zebra team from Operations Division West, and neighbors for collaborating on Wednesday's cleanup of a troublesome alley between Oracle Road and Stone Avenue, off of Ft. Lowell Road. The alley has been a serious problem for residents and business owners in the area.
Refugee Housing Needs
The Housing and Community Development Department is working on resettling and assisting refugees from Afghanistan. Housing is the currently greatest need. Please consider working with HCD and its partners If you choose to offer your rental unit, our resettlement agencies are available for support. More information can be found here.
Resource Café
The ASU Office of Community Health, Engagement and Resiliency presents the Thrive 05 Resource Café series. Each Wednesday, from noon to 12:30 pm., the Resource Café offers topics, issues and individuals from around Tucson. The live broadcast can be watched on the Thrive Facebook page or later along with previous sessions at this link.
COVID Vaccine Sites
Making the COVID vaccine as accessible as possible is key to stopping the spread among family, friends and the community. The Pima County Health Department has standing locations open until 7 pm Saturday and Sunday. The department also hosts mobile clinics every day across the county. To find a location visit http://pima.gov/covid19vaccine.
Ward 3 Events
Valley of the Moon
Come wander our enchanting paths after dark! The decorations and lights are sure to entice some of the fairies to appear to celebrate the season. There will be fairy music and other surprises! A limited number of people will be admitted every 20 minutes from 6-8 pm; masks are required. Tickets are likely to sell out, so advanced purchase is recommended. Tickets are $7, $5 for members, under 6 are free and are available at https://valley-of-the-moon.yapsody.com/
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Thrive in the 05 Business Forum
Reconnect in-person with local Thrive in the 05 business owners to discuss and continue to develop strategies together to work towards solving the local challenges faced by business owners within the Thrive in the 05 corridor and work towards creating a Thrive in the 05 Business Coalition. The forum will be held Dec. 13 from 5:30-7 pm at Monterey Court, 505 W. Miracle Mile.
Participation is limited to local Thrive in the 05 business owners/business representatives. Register here for the in-person session.
Amphi Neighborhood Cleanup
December 12
Sunday
9-10:30 am
Prince and Yavapai roads
Meet at Literacy Connects, 200 E. Yavapai Rd., around 8:45am to get vests, gloves, grabbers, and trash bags. Masks are optional. Bring water and dress appropriately. The people who want to work on Prince can drive and park on a side street. The rest will work on Yavapai.
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Here's the schedule for the Ward 3 Ready, Set, Rec! van. Staff from Parks and Recreation have games and activities for families and children through Dec. 23 at La Madera Park. Find your neighborhood park and enjoy a December outing. Classes and programs are also offered through the department. Go to this link for more information. |
Ward 3 Neighborhood Association Meetings
* For Zoom access information, please contact ward3@tucsonaz.gov or 520-791-4711.
Alvernon/Grant Initiative
Emanuel Church, 1825 N. Alvernon
Masks required
Flowing Wells
Dec. 14
Thursday
6 pm
Ellie Towne Center, 1660 W Ruthrauff Rd., or Zoom
Masks required at the center
Sugar Hill
Jan. 5
Wednesday
6 pm
Mansfield Park by the community garden
Zoom
Jan. 20
Thursday
6 pm
Good News Community Church, 701 W. Glenn St.
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Did You Know?
Woods Memorial Library
Just a friendly Ward reminder that the Woods Memorial Library, 343 55 N. First Ave, is closed until early February. New shelving will be added, the public restrooms will have a makeover, and the front desk will be realigned. During the closure the gates will be closed but the drive-up book chute (off of Yavapai Rd.) will be open 24/7 for book returns.
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Community Food Bank
All five resource centers of the Community Food Bank will be closed from December 24 to January 2. People who need a monthly food box in December are encouraged to visit resource centers earlier this month during regular distribution hours. All calendars and hours are available at https://www.communityfoodbank.org
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Reid Park Rose Garden
The Cele Peterson Rose Garden at Gene C. Reid Park will be closed through March 31. Wait for the full bloom re-opening in April!
PimaFastTrack
Looking for a new career, a different pathway to go to college. PimaFastTrack is built for adult learners who want to quickly get industry-recognized skills. Through PimaFastTrack, you can work full-time, raise a family, and learn today's in-demand skills for a new career. For a limited time, qualified learners can take PimaFastTrack at little or no cost. Programs can be completed in as little as three to eight months. No need to take an entrance exam, provide a transcript, or fill out multiple forms. Find the information and registration here.
City Employment
The City is hiring for multiple positions in various departments. Our professional, friendly team is driven by the opportunity to make a difference in the community where we work and play. As a proud Equal Employment Opportunity/ADA compliant employer, we are committed to embracing, retaining, and developing an effective and diverse workforce dedicated to delivering high-quality services to the community of Tucson. We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages, which include medical, dental, vision, free life insurance, free long-term disability, paid sick leave, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and a stable pension plan. All new employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates your sincerely held religious beliefs, and those exceptions must be approved by the City of Tucson. Apply online.
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COVID-19 Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance
Funding requests for unpaid rent and utilities are available for up to 12 months in arrears and three months in advance. Those without internet access can call (520) 447-4423 to apply, and bilingual case managers are available. Go to this site for more information.
Mortgage Assistance
The Arizona Department of Housing announced $197 million in funding is now available to eligible low-income homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage and other home-related expenses related to COVID-19. The money to create the Homeowner Assistance Fund comes from the American Rescue Plan Act. The assistance helps pay past due utilities, internet services, property taxes, insurance, homeowners association fees, and more. Housing counselors will work with homeowners to ensure applications are submitted accurately and promptly. Go to this link to determine if you are eligible and to submit an application.
Medicare Counseling
Pima Council on Aging (PCOA) operates the State Health Insurance Assistance Program for Pima County. PCOA offers free, one-on-one Medicare counseling to people looking to enroll for the first time or for people looking to switch coverage. A majority of people don’t annually reassess their coverage, but with the help of Medicare counselors, people have the opportunity to potentially save thousands of dollars by reenrolling in a different plan that can reduce their copayments and premiums. Call 520-546-2011 for more information and assistance.
Free Citizenship Classes at Pima Community College
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