Afghan Refugees
We now have refugee situations developing in and around both Afghanistan and Ukraine. More on Ukraine below but I don’t want that issue to take the plight of the Afghan refugees off from peoples’ minds and hearts. Taliban continue to demoralize and murder people in Afghanistan. And every day I get more contact from people who are either on the ground over there, or who are connected with those who are. Often the messages come along with graphic pictures. These are a couple that, while jarring, they’re some I feel won’t be offensive. I of course will not share names.
This is an image of what they do to the ‘fortunate’ collaborators whom they don’t slaughter. The black face is intended as a public sign of humiliation. I don’t know how long the victims are forced to wear the mark, or what is required of them to have it removed. But this counters some of the AP reporting suggesting things are no longer violent under Taliban rule.
And if that photo doesn’t adequately counter the accounts too often put forward by AP, this one will. This is the same guy – on the left out freely interacting in public, and on the right a prisoner of Taliban, in the process of some form of abuse. Images like these are posted on social media so the people in Afghanistan and surrounding 3rd countries where relatives are hold up can see and understand life under terrorist rule.
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Last week I shared some emails I have received. Here’s another that came in last week:
"Taliban have stoped Afghans from going out of the country and started house by house search operation for torgeted persons in Afghanistan exactly in Kabul for these catagories as follow to humilliate, torture or kill"
1- "those who have worked with foriegners. "
2- "those who were in Afghan inteligence."
3-"those who were in Afghan commandos and special forces."
"We are changing our places every day to save our selives."
"I send this email to inform you about the real satuation that we live in.I hope you send this and talk with immigration administrations to do some thing about our evacuation as soon as possible before taliban capture and kill us."
"Thank you for your all helps you did with us in this black period of history."
And this is from an advocate who has been on the ground in Afghanistan, and who is in daily contact with people who are stuck there under Taliban rule:
"(but those who are in Afghanistan are the one who are experiencing things that are appalling , stomach turning, and will wreak mental trauma on the minds of small children who are witnessings these atrocities for a generation. One person told me the US is only working for people in third countries now because the countries are bugging US as they want to get them out and don’t want to have the refugees to take care of. So this person said those are the flights that are moving. But …the people who are INSIDE Afghanistan are experiencing unimaginable horrors right now"
It’s the people in 3rd countries I’m not having any luck within terms of getting families reunited. That’s the judge’s wife and daughter, along with 155 other families stuck in Turkey. There are thousands scattered throughout that part of the world in a dangerous limbo.
I’m grateful to Dylan Smith and the staff at the Tucson Sentinel for publishing this guest piece I wrote last week. I’ve shared it with our State Department folks in an effort to continue the pressure for getting Judge Ahmad’s family – and those others caught up in this mess reunified. Last week I also learned that his young wife is also in need of medical assistance. I’ve shared the medical report with State as well. I don’t know how much the continued contacts with State are moving the needle with them, but they need to know many of us are not going to give up on these families.
Also last week the Arizona Republic ran a feature story on the judge and the Afghan refugee situation more broadly. Here’s a link to the full piece.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/03/05/afghan-judge-who-sentenced-taliban-members-waits-his-family/6822158001/
Zayna Syed is the reporter I pitched the story to. She’s Indian and Muslim, and she didn’t hesitate in stepping towards the piece. Zayna’s usual beat is the environment so while this was a bit out of her normal wheelhouse, she did an excellent job and invested lots of time in researching the story.
The Star routinely picks up stories from the Republic so you might even see this one in our local paper sometime too, although I was told over the weekend that they feel they’ve ‘covered’ the judge's story.
We did have some good news about families being moved from the hotel into housing last week. When they moved, they came by and got ahold of many of the household items you’ve been bringing by. The list of needs is the same – no clothes, but household goods, dishes, pots/pans, sewing machines, laptops and rugs.
We’re grateful to Sam Hughes neighbor Sarah for donating the wonderful sewing machine and cabinet, and to Robert and his colleagues at Noir lab for also donating sewing machines. Those are a hit every time they arrive. I’d say the top 3 most popular items are sewing machines, laptops and rugs. The rugs are a cultural thing. Thank you to all of you who continue staying connected to this group through our office.
Also, from now until April we’re one of the food distribution sites for Muslim families in advance of Ramadan. The Afghan refugee families are all Muslim, and most are here without access to much in the way of financial resources. This food drive will assure they’re food-secure throughout the upcoming Muslim holiday. This flyer has all the information about what to bring.
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Ukraine
For you boomers (we boomers,) do you remember the peace sign from the ‘60’s? It’s back.
Over the weekend I joined hundreds of others in Jacome Plaza downtown in a rally in support of the Ukrainian people. Many of us see the images on television each night and wonder what the Russian lunatic is thinking. I know all of us in Jacome shared our sense of deep respect for the bravery and commitment to their homeland we’re seeing from the Ukrainian people.
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As is true with the Afghanistan refugees, many of you are reaching out and asking how you can help with the Ukraine situation. Here are a few local groups who have stepped up to take donations for that cause.
This link will take you to the St. Mary’s Protectress church site in Phoenix. They're directly connected with many of the families who are stuck in Ukraine. The donations they’re accepting will all go towards humanitarian aid for that group.
Two other groups who are also doing humanitarian work on behalf of the Ukraines are the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Their links are here:
All these groups are plugged into people in need on the ground in Ukraine. I’m also hearing from people who want to know how to get people out of that country. As I’ve learned with the Afghan situation, there’s not an easy path. One thing I’ve reminded many of the folks contacting me is that we’re having difficulty replenishing munitions, the border is jammed, and air traffic is halted. So, the best thing to do right now is to begin the formal process and hope for a ‘break in the storm.’
This is information I received directly from the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw. I’m going to copy it if verbatim. If any of it applies to you or your family and you have further questions, the most direct way to get them addressed is to follow the phone numbers and email addresses you’ll see at the bottom of their email. And even if you’re not trying to get family members out of that area, still scan these instructions. They give a glimpse of how tedious and challenging our whole resettlement process is.
From the US Embassy Warsaw:
If you are a U.S. citizen with a Ukrainian spouse or child seeking to travel to the United States on a nonimmigrant visa:
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If you already have an appointment at U.S. Embassy Warsaw but wish to expedite it, you may request expedition via https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/expedited-appointment.
- If you already began a nonimmigrant visa application process in Ukraine, you may send a request to Support-Poland@ustraveldocs.com to ask for transfer of your “profile” to Warsaw, after which you should be able to continue the process for a Warsaw appointment.
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If you are seeking but do not already have an appointment:
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If you will apply in Warsaw: Visit ttps://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/step-4 and sign up for a "C1/D" (crew) appointment, even though you are not a crew member. When you come to the Embassy we will convert your appointment to the proper type.
- If you will apply in Krakow: Visit ttps://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/step-4 and sign up for an "F" (student) appointment, even though you are not a student. When you come to the Consulate we will convert your appointment to the proper type.
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If you are unable to schedule an appointment via this method, you may instead request a “group appointment” via https://ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/group-appointments and suggest a date convenient for you. Once you have submitted your request, please wait for a response from the Embassy, which will come via email and should permit you to schedule an appointment.
If you are a Ukrainian who wants to travel to the United States or a U.S. citizen who has friends, business associates, or NON-IMMEDIATE family who want to travel to the United States:
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If the traveler already has an appointment at U.S. Embassy Warsaw but wishes to expedite it, you may request expedition via https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/expedited-appointment.
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If the traveler already began a nonimmigrant visa application process in Ukraine, you may send a request to Support-Poland@ustraveldocs.com to ask for transfer of your “profile” to Warsaw, after which you should be able to continue the process for a Warsaw appointment.
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If the traveler is seeking but does not already have an appointment at U.S. Embassy Warsaw or U.S. Consulate Krakow, you may try to schedule one via https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/step-4, However, availability is extremely limited.
If you are seeking information about immediate humanitarian assistance in Poland:
- Almost all refugee cases in countries abroad are first processed by local authorities, in this case the government of Poland.
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Please visit the government of Poland webpage for information about resources: https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/ukraina-en. This website provides the locations of official reception points along Poland’s border with Ukraine.
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In Warsaw, those seeking information on support from the Polish government can direct inquires to the Office for Foreigners (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców).
- Taborowa 33, 02-699 Warsaw, Poland
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Koszykowa 16, 00-678 Warsaw, Poland
- Phone: +48 47 721 75 75
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Email: ukraina@udsc.gov.pl
Even in the midst of the chaos they’re experiencing, the embassy in Poland has been so much more responsive to the immediacy of the needs than any of the agencies I’ve contacted in relation to the Afghan situation. I’m grateful to the Ukrainian American community for their work, and to the Polish people for being so willing to be a part of the solution to these needs.
One more opportunity for you to support the Ukraine effort. Jordan Kaiser is the marketing director for JAM Culinary. They operate Vero Amore on Swan and up in Dove Mountain, Noblehops on Alvernon and up in Oro Valley, and Tucson Wings in Dove Mountain. Last Saturday they began donating a portion of each customer’s check to either UNICEF, The American Red Cross or to the IRC – customer choice – in support of the Ukrainian people. If you’re looking for a great meal, and to bundle that with support of the Ukraines, check out one or all those locations.
Affordable Housing Opportunity
It’s no surprise that housing costs are continuing to escalate and are becoming less and less reachable for many people. We’re watching various pieces of legislation being considered in Phoenix, some of which would even more strictly reduce our voice in housing affordability. I’ve written about them in previous newsletters. For now, though, we can still get involved.
One way that is happening is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) being issued by our housing folks. We’re looking for co-developers to partner with the city in building rent-to-own units or for-sale units on two city owned properties. This is using city owned property to build what will be mixed income housing. Use this link to check out the program and eligibility.
I Am You 360
With affordable housing on the mind, our wonderful community partner Desiree Cook is about to break ground on an exciting new tiny home community that will be geared specifically for our underserved youth who are aging out of foster care – or who are simply experiencing homelessness. The groundbreaking is scheduled for Monday, March 14th. There will be a short ceremony beginning at 10am. The flyer shown below has the details for the event.
I Am You 360 is a unique community program that encourages self-development while teaching life skills to youth who may otherwise fall through the societal cracks. Desiree and her team focus on education, employment and ultimately home ownership. The goal is to effect generational change and longterm financial independence. It’d be great to see many of you at the groundbreaking event to show your support of this important work.
Sustainable Tucson
Another critically important issue – in addition to housing – is climate. One key component to preserving what’s left of our livable environment is merging the need for expanded tree canopy with the necessity of conserving our groundwater. On Tuesday, March 8th at 6pm the Sustainable Tucson team will be presenting Ann Audrey. She’s an environmental consultant who works on urban tree management, rainwater harvesting and sustainable design. She’ll be offering her thoughts on how to increase the coolness and comfort of shade while reducing the impact on groundwater. Potable water demand rose slightly last year – for the first time in a decade – so this isn’t a topic we can simply ignore.
The event is going to be held virtually again. Use this link to sign up – look for the “Growing Native Desert Trees for Shade” program. It’s about becoming greener, cooler and doing so without draining the aquifer. www.sustainabletucson.org
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PFAS Treatment
Another water-related item is this update on the PFAS containment work we’re doing out by DM. In partnership with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) we’ve installed a groundwater treatment plant. The purpose is to capture and clean PFAS tainted water before passing the water along to customers. This is a pilot study intended to inform the larger steps we are going to have to take in order to assure the valley generally has clean groundwater. Lake Mead is dropping in water level. We will need to rely on our groundwater sooner than might have otherwise been planned for.
This graphic shows where the treatment plant is now operating. The plant captures groundwater that’s pumped from a well. The water is treated to remove the PFAS and is then discharged to a storm drain. It will enter Citation Wash near Alvernon and 32nd Street. This program is planned to last for about a year, during which time ADEQ and Tucson Water will be working in coordination to maintain the quality of the water, and to maintain the wash. The solid blue lines are where residents will intermittently see water flow.
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The litigation I encouraged against 3M is still in the slow-judicial process. The funding from the federal government to pay us for the damage DM and the Air National Guard have done to our aquifer is also plodding along. The work ADEQ is doing is going to help us eventually identify the treatment processes we’ll need in place, and from that the price tag we’re going to have to hand to the responsible parties. We’re grateful to the ADEQ for their partnership as we continue to look to the feds and 3M to play their respective roles in solving this problem.
Reopening Parks Facilities
Throughout COVID, our Parks Department staff has been partnering with the Pima Council on Aging (PCOA) to help deliver meals to seniors at their homes. We appreciate the great work PCOA does on behalf of our seniors. With the drop in COVID cases PCOA and parks have set April 4th as the return for on-site meal service and the cessation of the home meal delivery service. That will free up the 10 city staffers who have been reassigned to that work and therefore will allow other parks activities to also resume.
This will be the first time since COVID began that we’ll be able to host the on-site meal program. We get calls and emails from seniors who are ready to venture back out and who miss the vibrant social interaction they get with this activity. As the city and PCOA readjust schedules we’ll be slowly moving towards other in person activities at our various park's facilities. This schedule shows the changes. And all of it comes with the caveat that current COVID trends must continue for us to also continue in this direction.
April 4 – return of onsite meals for PCOA participants
April 4 – accepting reservations for an April 11th resumption of gymnasium use for larger scale group activities. Each venue will have its own capacity rules based on the nature of the program (half court or full court programs, for example,) and any City of Tucson mask mandate in effect will still be maintained.
April 11 – resumption of gym use by reservation
April 11 – drop-in use of recreation centers will also resume. That will include drop-in basketball, volleyball, pickleball and badminton. Each venue will have its own unique capacity limit based on size.
May – anticipate resumption of normal operations including field trips/transportation, luncheons and potlucks
We’re getting there, gradually. Despite the frustration many feel, our parks staff deserves credit for how they’re balancing these reopening plans with the safety of the public. For example, bringing our seniors back together for important social interaction has to be done with the realization that health care professionals continue to point to that group as a vulnerable population for COVID infections. We at the Ward 6 office appreciate Parks’ attention to details like that.
COVID Update
With that good news as a lead-in, here’s the current COVID reality. It’s not gone. In fact, last week a new sub-variant of Omicron was announced. It’s still being studied, but at this point it appears to be more contagious than Omicron, and possibly cause severe reactions similar to Delta. In the past week it doubled in the percent of current cases in the U.S. that it accounts for. They’ve identified it as strain BA.2. Deborah Fuller is a virologist at the University of Washington. Her comment was that we ‘might be looking at a new Greek letter here.’ She advises that we not eliminate mask mandates while this variant is still a mystery. BA.2 appears to also be adept at avoiding some of the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody treatments. It’s now in 74 countries and in 47 states in the U.S.
Last week I shared a piece on how COVID is spiking in Hong Kong. This week the reality check goes to the on-going demonstration that the science of vaccines, well...isn’t fake. From Darwin (see last week’s newsletter) to Fauci to all reputable health experts, graphs like this make the point.
Pima County is still offering vaccinations for the roughly 30% of the population who have avoided them to this point. My concern is that group continuing to allow the virus to evolve. Here’s the list of Pima County pop-up clinics for free vaccinations available this week.
At each of those locations, in order to reduce the wait times, register before just showing up. You can do that here
Last week it was Hong Kong. This week its New Zealand that’s experiencing a COVID surge like they haven’t seen before. In fact, a report from Wellington last week said the virus is spreading there at what might be the fastest rate in the world.
New Zealand is a relatively tiny island with about 5 million inhabitants. Last week the country reported over 23,000 new cases in one day. The case count increase has come as the government – under political pressure – has eased some of their strict regulations that were in place to prevent the spread. Siouxsie Wiles is a microbiologist at the University of Auckland. She’s quoted as saying ‘for the vast majority of the pandemic, most New Zealanders didn’t know anyone who had COVID. That’s changing massively now.’
We have a new variant that’s under scrutiny by the health care professionals, and each week I seem to have a new huge outbreak to share. It’s very much worth continuing to follow safety protocols when you’re out and about.
The state stopped their daily case count reporting last Wednesday. I have been counting Sunday through Sunday up until now. Here’s the case map for Arizona as of Wednesday, March 2nd. Fortunately, the State kept track of the Wednesday-to-Wednesday totals. For Pima County we had 1,216 new cases in that new 7-day window. That’s about 500 fewer than the prior week, so the downward trend is still happening.
Harvard Global Health Institute
Still more national progress according to the Harvard Global data. Here’s this week’s risk level map. For the first time in months none of Arizona is in the red, high risk category. Two weeks ago, the entire state was in the red.
The Pima County figures are under 100 on a 7-day average for the first time since early last summer. It continues to be good news, maybe especially for our health care workers. Let’s hope BA.2 doesn’t slip in and turn the progress around again.
If you’d like to follow the changes daily, you can use this link: www.azdhs.gov.
Sincerely,
Steve Kozachik
Council Member, Ward 6
ward6@tucsonaz.gov
City of Tucson Resources
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