Plastic Blocks
You’ve heard the phrase ‘think globally, act locally’ - that’s what our plastic program is doing. This is a picture of what our plastic waste is doing to our oceans. We are killing wildlife and we are turning poor nations into dumping grounds for the plastics we just toss aside. We want you to bring it to us at the Ward 6 office and we’ll turn it into construction-grade blocks.
We had another great turnout for the starter kit give away on Friday. Thank you for how you’re embracing this program. People are driving in from Oro Valley, Sahuarita and from all parts of the city to take part. We love it. After just a couple of weeks we’re seeing lots of you sign up for the periodic updates. We have now taken two nearly full roll off loads out to Tanks in preparation for baling and shipping to ByFusion to start the block-making process. Here’s our current progress report on the pilot:
If you would like to sign up, use this link. It’ll take you less than a minute. On Friday someone asked me what happens when we get 500 people to sign up. We'll then, we shoot for 600. Then 700. The goal is to demonstrate to the city that the community wants this program and that we need to find a way to make it happen. When that comes about it’ll be because of your support and encouragement.
https://www.byfusion.com/pilot-program/
Each week we get questions about what can and cannot be placed into the plastics-only bin. I’ll get this off my chest to start: Please – NO STYROFOAM. I dumpster-dove and fished these out of the roll off. Styrofoam is not plastic. We cannot use it.
No aluminum cans. These arrived out at Tankersley’s and will have to be hand sorted out of what we send to ByFusion.
We can use all of this packaging material:
Yes, to cassette tapes – in relatively small quantities. Yes, to bubble wrap packaging material. Yes, to the clear plastic soda cup you walked out from Burger King with – and the lid, and the straw.
A friend popped in last week and shared what one company is doing with the plastic waste they collect. The group is called Washed Ashore. They’re located up in Oregon. They have got groups of people out on the beaches collecting the plastic waste that gets washed up onto the shore. Check out their website – they create art objects that reflect marine life. You can see examples at www.washedashore.org.
It is too bad that they have no difficulty in finding debris washing up onto the beach. But it’s great the community has bought into the effort. In a similar fashion, consider a neighborhood cleanup with a specific emphasis on getting all the plastic waste you can find – and bring it over to the roll off.
Thanks to new plastics partner Octopus Car Wash for bringing over a couple thousand of the plastic floor mats they leave in your car after it goes through their line. Before we started this, I hadn’t thought of many of the items we run across every day and never bother to think about how its simply adding to the plastic waste that’s polluting the world. We’re grateful to the Octopus management for thinking of us.
I don’t want to forget our other partners in these reuse projects. This is an example of some work Anita from Bottle Rocket is doing with our crushed glass. We’re grateful to neighbor Heidi, for working with Anita and beautifying her kitchen in this environmentally sensitive way. You can find Bottle Rocket at www.bottlerocketaz.com
Tucson CurbCycle
On the glass reuse piece, Clayton Clark is a local guy whose starting up an operation that has a few different pieces. It begins with him offering to do curb side pickups of your glass, saving you the trip to our collection sites. Clayton will come every other week ($20) or monthly ($10.) His plan is to deliver the glass bottles to one of our collection sites, but ahead of that he’ll be pulling out some of the colored ones for use in art projects (he’s also looking for artists who’d like some colored glass,) and small mason jars he’ll use for canning. One of the art projects he’s supporting is a ‘wine bottle wall’ being produced using multiple colors of bottles.
Clayton has a website – www.tucsoncurbcycle.com. You can also email him at tucsoncurbcycle@gmail.com, or call 520.222.7001. If you sign up for his pick-up service, he’ll provide a red curb side bin for you to use so you don’t have to just leave bottles laying around for 2 weeks at a time. We love the way people are piggy-backing on the reuse programs we have initiated through the Ward 6 office.
Drought on the Colorado River
During our last M&C meeting, I made the comment that water security is our #1, 2 and 3 most important issue. In the past week I’ve run across a few different articles that both make the point, and that are head-scratchers in terms of misuse of our water resources. I’ll blend the articles’ information together here.
First, Lake Mead. It’s our source for Colorado River water. You’ve seen pictures of the bathtub ring showing how far the elevation of Mead has fallen. It’s at just under 30% capacity and has dropped over 170’ since the year 2000. This picture shows an intake grate that is now exposed due to the low levels of the lake. Clearly that intake isn’t going to do us much good as long as the water level is below it.
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Lake Mead also serves Nevada. They’re equally concerned with the ongoing drought and its impact on water levels on Lake Mead. The city of Las Vegas has implemented some very progressive water conservation measures. I’ve asked the citizen’s water advisory committee to review them and send me some recommendations. I’ll be taking those to M&C. And throughout Nevada they’re also aware of things such as exposed intake pipes and the fact that the water level continues to drop. Anticipating that, in 2020 the Southern Nevada Water Authority began work on a $520M “low lake level pumping station.” Their goal was to extend the useful life of Lake Mead by putting a system into place that’ll allow them to drop down deep into the lake and bypass the exposed intake valves.
Note here – I'm sure some of our hydrological engineers are primed to write me and tell me I’m getting some of the terminology wrong. Save the effort. This is a layman’s explanation of one effort to extend the functional life of the lake, not the beginning of a thesis on the intricacies of the engineering.
Ok, back to what the SNWA is up to. They’re building a 26’ in diameter access shaft that drops more than 500’ into the lake, and then excavating an underground cavern that’s over 12,000 square feet. That cavern will connect another 34 vertical shafts, each of which are 500’ deep. Those will form the submersible pumping units. Here’s a graphic showing what they’re up to. The current Lake Mead water level is shown off to the left. You can see how the current pumping stations are nearing the end of their ability to operate. The pumping station on the right labeled L3 is the low lake level station Nevada is building. They’re preparing for a real worst-case scenario – which is not at all out of the question given the drought.
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It’s also not out of the question given some of the decisions the state has made – or allowed to be made – that are directly affecting how water is used in Arizona. This is a picture of the Central Arizona Project canal in the Butler Valley. It’s just west of Phoenix in what is some pretty sparse desert. But the Butler Valley holds over 6-million-acre feet of groundwater. Almost all of the Butler Valley is owned by the state of Arizona – in trust for support of public schools. The way the water is being mismanaged is not supporting anyone’s long term interest – at least anyone who lives in Arizona.
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In 1982, the Butler Valley area was proposed to be set aside as a ‘groundwater reserve’ for future use in connection with the CAP. It’s managed by the State Land Department. Sadly, the State Land Department in 2015 leased roughly 3,500 acres of the Butler Valley to Fondomonte – a Saudi corporation that’s using the groundwater to grow alfalfa hay to export to Saudi Arabia. The state has given them permission to pump unlimited amounts of groundwater for that purpose and is charging them a rental on the land of just $25 per acre. They get the water for free. In Maricopa County the CAP sells water to customers at a cost of over $240 per acre foot. That water passes just south of the Butler Valley.
I’m less concerned that Fondomonte is getting such a sweet financial deal as I am that they’re wasting our water on feed for livestock in Saudi Arabia. The Arizona Republic ran the numbers on the financial loss and came up with an estimate of about $35M that Fondononte should have paid for the water. I don’t believe they should have been given the right to pump a drop of it.
The Nevada water authority is investing millions in anticipation of the day when Lake Mead is below dead pool levels. The Bureau of Reclamation has given the 7 basin states until right about now to come up with a game plan for water conservation of up to 4-million-acre feet per year on the Colorado. And we’re letting the Saudi’s pump our water to feed their livestock. In the recently passed inflation-mitigation bill there are $4B scattered through the next 4 years for grants and financial assistance for projects aimed at mitigating our drought. We can’t buy our way out of this. Please conserve every drop you can and let our state and federal representatives know the give-away to Fondomonte was morally and financially irresponsible.
Homeless in Phoenix
You may have seen recent news reports citing a lawsuit that has been filed by residents against the city of Phoenix over this homeless encampment called The Zone. It’s just outside of downtown Phoenix and is said to house nearly 1,100 homeless residents. When I advocate for controlled camps to supplement our full shelter space, this is clearly not what I have in mind. The optics are what are making others on the M&C reluctant. I get it – and I’ve never suggested allowing a free for all to develop.
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We have invested north of $10M in our Housing First model in the past year. The city of Phoenix has spent over $50M on their homeless problem. What we see in the pictures, and what you see in our own alleys and washes is clearly not working. Through our Housing First program we are able to reach several hundred people with services and hotel/shelter space. That’s great for the people who are ready for it, who can thrive in it, and for whom we have a room at the Inn. That’s the small fraction of the unhoused population we know we have in Tucson and Pima County.
In the lawsuit filed in Phoenix, residents are asking the area to be declared a public nuisance. With that they’re sure it will force city leadership to act. In Denver, the city awarded $150,000 towards an effort called the Colorado Safe Parking Initiative to work with local churches and non-profits in setting up secure overnight parking arrangements for homeless. Safe parking is one of the 3 ideas I’ve been trying to gain traction on. So far, our entire focus is just Housing First.
Another of the ideas my office has been pushing for is opening a no-barrier men’s shelter. This is an aerial of North Oracle, just down the road from Wildcat Inn which the city owns and in which we’re housing roughly 50 people at a given time. There are several industrial-looking buildings that appear to be on the market right on this stretch of Oracle. Teen Challenge’s small campus is fenced in. Other lots are as well.
A high percentage of the people we’re simply pushing from alley to alley would welcome an opportunity to spend the night in a no-barrier shelter. What does that mean? It means they don’t have to pass a breathalyzer test, attend devotionals, give up a pet – that we’re not placing conditions other than the safety and health of other residents when they stay.
Back to controlled camps, my suggestion is to find a few areas where 15-20 people can camp. Provide water, porta-johns, police protection and social services. They would be away from residential areas and commercially built-out areas. They would be transitional until we have room in a shelter or housing. They’re the alternative to The Zone, or to the approach we are currently using in Tucson.
We’ve seen protests against upgrades to Santa Rita Park. I support the new amenities we’re providing in the park, but that cannot be a tactic to simply roust the homeless and tell them to find another place. It’s our responsibility to offer more than a single approach to the growing homeless population. Phoenix might soon be forced to do that through the lawsuit. I’d like to see Tucson do it as a matter of policy. And to be clear, the combination of Safe Park, a no-barrier men’s shelter and some controlled camps is not going to “solve” homelessness. About 2,000 years ago a guy who was ultimately crucified is quoted as having said ‘the poor will be among you always.’ Well, he was right. We need to be less rigid in our approach to how we’re trying to manage the issue. Housing First is wonderful – for the relative few it reaches.
Broadband Connectivity
I have shared information about this program in the past, but it’s worth a reminder. Connect Arizona continues to offer opportunities to thousands of families in Pima County to get connected to the internet. There are eligibility criteria you’ll need to meet, but for those who do, the program simply saves you money.
Use this link to see the full description of the Affordable Connectivity Program: The Affordable Connectivity Program
Through the program you can save up to $30 monthly for broadband services and get a one-time discount of up to $100 for the purchase of computer equipment such as laptops, desktops, or tablets. If you’ve got questions on how to sign up give them a call at 602.529.1519. There are dozens of providers who are taking part in these offers. I’m providing you this link to see the full list. I guarantee that you will find a company you’re familiar with and who would love to work with you on getting connected through ACP.
https://connect-arizona.com/get-online/internet-offers
Clearing Superior Court Warrants
If you have skipped out on your Superior Court probation responsibilities and you would like to clear that slate and get a fresh start, the court system is now offering a program through which you can do that. It’s called Clear My Warrant and is aimed at the over 1,000 adult probationers who may qualify in Pima County.
The goal of the program is to get probationers to return to supervision and complete their reengagement process. Gaining life and reentry skills will enable people to find employment and generally stabilize their lives. By decreasing recidivism and saving taxpayer dollars that would otherwise be spent through the criminal justice system, everybody wins. Please share this with anybody you know who may be living with a broken probation warrant. It’s an important opportunity for them. If you have questions about the program you can contact the Adult Probation Division Director Cara Singer at csinger@sc.pima.gov, or the Chief of Adult Probation David Sanders at dsanders@sc.pima.gov. Here’s the Superior Court website for more information on the program.
https://www.sc.pima.gov/services/adult-probation/clear-my-warrant/
Planning Survey
Our Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD) folks are conducting a survey aimed at getting ideas from you about how our Unified Development Code could be improved. We get calls and emails pretty regularly from people asking about permitting processes, how to interpret parts of the code and questions about why certain code provisions even exist. We also hear from residents who feel notice requirements for certain kinds of development might be worth a new look. This survey is your opportunity to give PDSD your thoughts.
The original deadline for input was last Friday. Based on some calls we received, I requested an extension. I’m grateful to our City Manager’s office who has agreed to extend that deadline. Input is now due by the end of the workday on Friday, September 30th.
If you’re a code-wonk you can find the full UDC listing at this link: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/tucson/latest/tucson_az_udc/0-0-0-16
Or perhaps just reflect on experiences you’ve had and share your thoughts on how those might be improved upon. Use this link to offer your thoughts. Online submittal form
Happy Birthday Vytas
Many of you who live in Sam Hughes know our neighbor Vytas Sakalas. If you are a Friend of Himmel Park, you also know Vytas. If you take part in the drumming circles, or if you travel in the arts community, you may also know Vytas. He is around and widely known. We at the Ward 6 office wish to extend a Happy Birthday to Vytas – August 28th – and thank him for his hard work around the community. If you are someone who bikes through Himmel or walks your dog through Himmel you’ll be especially happy to join in this note of recognition. Vytas is the guy who has spearheaded the goathead removal work over approximately the past 5 years. Thanks for your work and have a happy birthday.
COVID
Last week, the CDC lowered the protocols they’re recommending for COVID. It’s in recognition of how many of us have some level of immunity built in. That could be from vaccinations, or from having contracted the virus. We’re still being careful at the W6 office, so if you’ve had symptoms, we’re asking that you reschedule any activities you’ve got on the books for our community spaces.
Nationally COVID cases have dropped over the past couple of weeks. That’s what led the CDC to drop their recommendations. But please note nearly 500 people are still dying every day in the U.S. due to COVID. It’s not ‘just a cold’ and should still be taken seriously.
In Arizona, we’re still seeing positivity rates that exceed the national numbers. A part of that is likely due to the smaller number of people in Arizona who are vaccinated. Seeing a 23% positivity rate is also very likely an undercount since so many people are self-testing and not reporting the results.
This graph shows how the positivity rate may be levelling off nationally. It also shows the rapid rate of increase we just witnessed, so be careful and don’t read the CDC report from last week as sending the message that it’s time to ignore COVID.
You can still get free self-test kits through the federal government – use this link to access the order form: free tests You’re allowed to order up to 16 free tests.
Pima County is still handing out free test kits. This week they’ll be available at these locations:
The COVID numbers for new cases, hospitalizations and fatalities are still high. Vaccines continue to be available for free – as is also true of boosters. This link will take you to the Pima County health site showing both their mobile vaccine centers, and the standing ones: https://webcms.pima.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=669257
Last week, both the statewide and Pima County new case counts continued to decrease. The numbers are still far too high, but the trend is once again headed in the right direction. Here’s the updated table I’ve been keeping:
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Week of
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Pima County
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Arizona
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April 24th
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260 new cases
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2,350 new cases
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May 1st
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510 new cases
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3,911 new cases
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May 8th
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776 new cases
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5,404 new cases
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May 15th
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1,090 new cases
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7,204 new cases
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May 22nd
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1,692 new cases
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11,498 new cases
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May 29th
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1,985 new cases
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13,042 new cases
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June 5th
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2,200 new cases
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14,677 new cases
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June 12th
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2,451 new cases
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16,334 new cases
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June 19th
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2,559 new cases
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15,373 new cases
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June 26th
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2,263 new cases
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16,514 new cases
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July 3rd
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2,210 new cases
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20,198 new cases
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July 10th
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1,880 new cases
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15,280 new cases
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July 17th
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2,251 new cases
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18,135 new cases
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July 24th
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2,764 new cases
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17,249 new cases
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July 31st
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2,152 new cases
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15,034 new cases
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August 7th
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2,003 new cases
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13,501 new cases
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Before the end of August its likely Arizona will pass 31,000 fatalities due to COVID. Last week, there were another 59 deaths in our state due to the virus.
Here’s our state map dating back to the start of this in 2020.
I usually show the county-by-county Harvard risk level map. I’ll change things up a bit this week and include their state-by-state map. It’s still a pretty stark picture of how COVID is affecting us across the nation:
There are some counties in Arizona that have moved to the orange level of risk. Pima is not one of them, although our numbers came down from over 300 average new daily cases last week to 286. It’s still well into the high-risk level category.
BA.5 continues to be the dominant strain of COVID in the country – and in our community. It is the most highly transmissible variant we’ve seen.
Sincerely,
Steve Kozachik
Council Member, Ward 6
ward6@tucsonaz.gov
City of Tucson Resources
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