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 Desert Rosemallow
It’s Springtime in Tucson! I know this because we have begun to see wildflowers. I am excited to report that our winter rains mean we can expect a desert flower “super bloom.”
 Blue Bells adorn the front of the Ward 3 Office.
On a hike last Sunday my wife and I found 20 species of native wildflowers at Painted Hills Trails Park. The desert is full of flower promise! For instance, we found only one blooming Desert Rosemallow (Hibiscus coulteri) – but there are so many plants of this species and others that are just on the verge. Soon the hills will be carpeted with color.
At the Ward 3 office, flowers are blooming in abundance in our rainwater harvesting basin and other landscaped areas. I especially like the Desert Bluebells (Phacelia campanularia) that thrive in the slender strip between the sidewalk and Grant Road and the clusters of flowers on the Texas Mountain Laurel (Dermatophyllum secundiflorum) that smell like Grape Kool-Aid.
 Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) in the rain garden at Ward 3.
For years, I have chosen a specific weekend to indulge my flower-loving obsession. On that weekend I inventory every species – both native and non-native – blooming in my neighborhood. I try to choose the right weekend to capture as many flowering species as possible. Some have plants have short bloom periods, some are early, some are late – it is always a guessing game to pick the right weekend.
I encourage you to make plans to visit our desert wildflowers! Some well-known places will be spectacular, such as Picacho Peak (which reports their flowers have started) and Catalina State Park. There are websites with advice and hotlines to consult. Start your research here: https://www.library.pima.gov/content/wildflowers-where-to see/ and https://www.desertmuseum.org/programs/flw_flowering.php. There are plenty of other, lesser- known spots, and you can certainly find many wildflowers in your own yard or neighborhood. Enjoy!
 Spring is appearing in the Ward 3 back garden.
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 The Tucson Housing Cohort: Old Pueblo Community Services CEO Tom Litwicki, Assistant City Manager Liz Morales, Housing First Director Brandi Champion, Interim Deputy Director of Housing and Community Development Johanna Hernandez, Multi-Agency Resource Coordinator Mari Vasquez, Allison Chappell, Jeannette Garment, CJ Boyd, Megan Sanes, Elaine MacPherson, Jason Thorpe, Jesus Federico.
Last week I traveled to Mesa for the 29th annual conference of the Arizona Housing Coalition. The days were packed with informative workshops and presentations on housing, especially related to affordable housing and services for unhoused people.
The keynote speaker of the conference was Precious Price, co-founder of Gather ADU, based in Atlanta. Most of the other speakers and attendees came from around Arizona to share insights and solutions to the housing crisis facing communities all over the US these last few years.
 The highlight presentation for me was by Lindsay Duvall from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The NLIHC is a national nonprofit that focuses on research and advocacy around housing and poverty. This presentation included extensive research and data that helps frame the housing crisis as it relates to available housing stock.
One study that I found especially poignant looked at data that refutes what is sometimes called the “trickle down” approach to the housing crisis. Many well-meaning housing advocates, as well as many profit-driven housing developers, will sometimes argue that, because the housing crisis is largely caused by a lack of housing stock, there is a dire need to build more housing at every price point, not simply the most affordable level. This can seem reasonable enough, though it can also help people advocate for decidedly unaffordable housing with the idea that they are still helping in some way because those new expensive houses will free up some of the less expensive houses for people of lower incomes.
 Statistics regarding housing afforability.
NLIHC did a study in which they looked at housing scarcity corresponding to multiple income levels, and their findings are decisive. Defining “affordable housing” as housing that someone can afford without spending more than 30% of their income, they looked at how many houses are available at different income levels. For people who are only making 30% of the Area Median Income (which for Arizona is $18,550 annual for a single-person household), there are about 24 affordable houses available for every 100 people. That scarcity is acutely clear.
Comparatively, for someone making 50% of AMI, which is still very low income ($30,950 for a single person household), there are about 40 affordable houses for every 100 people. The data shows conclusively what you might already intuit—that the more money a person makes, the more houses they can afford, and therefore the more abundance there is in the housing market for them. Following that trend, people making 80% of AMI have 86 affordable houses for every 100 people. Most importantly, people who make 100% of AMI ($62,200 for a single person household) have almost exactly 100 houses for every 100 people. That means there are exactly enough houses for the people making the median income. And everyone who is making more than the median income has more affordable houses available to them than there are people in their income bracket.
 Presentation on affordable housing advocacy by Lindsay Duvall of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Besides informative presentations, the Arizona Housing Coalition conference is a chance for housing advocates to meet and discuss issues that affect each of our communities in different ways. At one of the lunches, I had the good fortune of meeting someone from Phoenix who was directly involved in providing services in “The Zone”, an area of downtown Phoenix in which over 1000 unhoused people had been living until recently, following a court-ordered clearing of the area.
 Front side of the Boondocks bottle facing 1st. Ave.
Right off of the corner of Navajo Rd and First Ave. in Ward 3, next to Nancy’s Boondocks stands a gargantuan 35 foot tall concrete and rebar wine bottle. The famous sculpture was commissioned in 1974 as a part of a now defunct Italian food restaurant by the name of the Peasant Villa. In 1980 the Boondocks took the place of the Italian eatery, and every owner of the businesses has inscribed their names into the bottle. The bottle is hollow inside but contains no alcoholic beverages and has a small trap door in the back that has long been padlocked. It is rumored that at one point someone was living inside of the structure.
 View of the rear side of the bottle where the door is located.
The origin of the landmark is the work of artist and sculptor Michael Kautza who was hired by the owners of the Peasant Villa to create it. Kautza is the sculptor behind many Tucson pieces such as the Tiki Head at The Hut and the giant boot that adorned the exterior of Tack Room. His work can be seen all over the world. Most recently the bottle has had an updated paint job with brighter colors and an updated logo. Stop by, snap a few pictures, and visit this famous Ward 3 icon any day.
 March 5, 2024 Study Session and Regular Agenda.
Study Session included an executive session for legal advice on the Sale of City owned real estate with isolated water systems. Update on Southwest Border Region's Provision of Humanitarian Aid, update on AI and Citywide advanced Technology. Discussion and update on creation of City Solar Empowerment program. Fiscal year 2024 Financial Update and 2025 budget discussion. Discussion and direction regarding City Wide Fare-Free Transit.
 For the complete Study Session and Regular Agenda please click on the buttons below.
For the full coverage of the Mayor and Council meeting on March 5, 2024, please click on the button below.
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 DIME /ID# A719175
Age: 4 years
Qualities:
Meet Dime! This special girl spent about a month in a foster home where she was reportedly a quiet houseguest, enjoyed sleeping on the comfy couch or a bed, and was housebroken. She enjoys playing with squeaky toys and was described by her foster as friendly, cuddly and loving. Her foster said that Dime’s tail is always wagging and that she cuddles up to people any chance that she gets! Dime has done well with other dogs at PACC, too. Dime came to PACC last July and is more than ready to find her home!
Fee:
Dime has a $0 adoption fee. A $20 license fee applies to adult dogs. Adoption includes spay or neuter, age-appropriate vaccinations, microchip, and a free vet visit.
Contact:
Pima Animal Care Center, 4000 N. Silverbell Rd.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 12pm - 7pm.
Wednesday 1:30-7pm. Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm.
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Mountain First Neighborhood Association
Saturday 3/9, 9 - 10 am
Mitchell Park
1100 E Mitchell St.
Alvernon-Grant Initiative
Tuesday 3/12, 6:00 - 7 pm
Emmanuel Church,
1825 N. Alvernon Way
North University Neighborhood Association
Wednesday 3/13, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Ward 3 Community Room
1510 N. Grant Rd.
The Ward 3 office is open open at 1510 E. Grant Rd. from
9 am -1 pm, Monday through Friday. Staff will answer phone messages, emails and requests for meetings by the next business day. Leave your message at 520-791-4711 or email ward3@tucsonaz.gov.
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Cascarón Crafting Party at the Blue Moon Community Garden on March 9 at 10 am
Storming Caesars Palace Screening and Panel Discussion Event Monday, March 11, 2024, 6‑8 pm
 Join us Monday, March 11, for a FREE film screening and panel discussion event for the 2023 documentary Storming Caesars Palace in Tucson from 6 to 8 pm!
Storming Caesars Palace highlights an unsung leader, activist Ruby Duncan, and a movement whose stand for America’s principles of justice, democratic participation, and opportunity for all and that continues to shape the calls for economic justice that ring today.
Our panel discussion includes our very own Cecilia Valdez, and we are excited to welcome Sandra Duncan (daughter of Ruby Duncan), Producer and Executive of the movie, Hazel Gurland, and Care in Action Executive Director, Hillary Holley, to the Tucson community.
Storming Caesars Palace Screening and Panel Discussion Event
Harkins Theater Spectrum 18
Spectrum, 5455 S Calle Santa Cruz, Tucson, AZ 85706
Monday, March 11, 2024, 6‑8 pm*
*Doors open at 5:30 pm
 ¡Hola Amigos de las Trabajadoras del Cuidado y del Hogar!
¡Únase a nosotros el lunes 11 de marzo para una proyección de película GRATUITA y un panel de discusión para el documental de 2023 Storming Caesars Palace en Tucson de 6 a 8 p. m.!
"Asalto al Caesars Palace" destaca a un líder anónimo, la activista Ruby Duncan, y un movimiento que defiende los principios estadounidenses de justicia, participación democrática y oportunidades para todos y que continúa dando forma a los llamados a la justicia económica que suenan hoy.
Nuestro panel de discusión incluye a nuestra propia Cecilia Valdez, y estamos emocionados de darle la bienvenida a la comunidad de Tucson a Sandra Duncan (hija de Ruby Duncan), a la productora y ejecutiva de la película, Hazel Gurland, y a la directora ejecutiva de Care in Action, Hillary Holley.
Care in Action Arizona - Asalto al Caesars Palace, lunes 11 de marzo a las 6 p.m.
Asalto al evento de proyección y panel de discusión del Caesars Palace
Espectro del teatro Harkins 18
Espectro, 5455 S Calle Santa Cruz, Tucson, AZ 85706
Lunes 11 de marzo de 2024, de 6 a 8 p. m.*
*Apertura de puertas a las 5:30 p.m.
Tucson Clean and Beautiful Clean up on March 16 from 9 am-12 noon
It’s Stinknet Season!
Stinknet is an invasive weed that has taken over Maricopa County in just a few years, and it's threatening to do the same to Tucson. This innocent-looking plant has spherical yellow flowers and feathery leaves, but it spreads like wildfire, crowding out our native desert plants and fueling wildfires that produce an acrid, irritating smoke. This article describes the extent of the problem to our north, where stinknet has fueled wildfires like the Ocotillo Fire in Cave Creek in 2020.
 An aerial photo from April 2023 above Cave Creek, Arizona shows the proliferation of stinknet. Image from the linked article above by Zach Duncan and Samuel Shaw.
Local land managers have been watching with concern as stinknet has continued to move south from Phoenix, following the I-10 corridor. Ward 3, located where the interstate first crosses the city, has been the area most affected. A large patch of stinknet was found near Prince and I-10 in 2015, and last year another dense patch was reported near Stone Ave. and Pastime St., with more plants scattered throughout the surrounding Amphi neighborhood. Most of these plants were either sprayed with herbicide or removed by hand by volunteers, but millions of tiny seeds were left behind, and they are sprouting this spring. The race is now on to remove these plants before they mature and produce more seeds. We don’t want this problem to spread to the precious wildlands that surround our city, nor do we want to live in a sea of stinky stinknet.
 Want to help?
- Join a stinknet volunteer event where you can learn how to recognize and remove this invasive weed. There's an event in the Amphi neighborhood on 3/16. Signup on the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Invasive Plant Volunteer Event page;
- If you already know how to identify stinknet, help us find and report infestations on Stinknet.org;
- Tell your friends and neighbors about this new problem plant and encourage them to take a closer look at what’s growing in their yard and around their neighborhood;
Ready, Set, REC! in March
$5000 Scholarship Opportunity for High School Seniors
Tucson Home Sharing March 2024 Event Calender
Annual Tree Festival and Climbing Championship on March 15 & 16
 The Arizona Community Tree Council (ACTC) in conjunction with The City of Tucson and Tucson Clean & Beautiful host the annual Tree Festival & Climbing Championship, fun for the whole family at Reid Park in Tucson. The Tree Climbing event is Friday, March 15 and 16, 2024 from 8am-4pm. The Tree Festival is Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 10 AM – 4 PM. Arizona arborists will participate in a tree climbing competition throughout the days that are designed to simulate the challenges they face in their daily work. Festival-goers can watch the competition on both days while on Saturday perusing exhibit tables, food trucks and fun family activities.
Tucson Parks & Recreation Summer Job Fair on Friday, March 15
25th Annual EGGstravangaza at Mansfield Park March 23 from 10am-1pm
Neighborhood volunteers needed for the Eggstravaganza
Tucson Water is testing their new Home Water Works Calculator
 https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Water/Conservation/DIY-Water-Audits to sign up for this test program. This opportunity is open to the first 2,000 customers who opt-in.
Lend a Hand Senior Assistance Volunteer Opportunity
St. Francis Soup Patrol Monday- Friday at 5pm
 St. Francis Shelter Community has partnered with Caridad Kitchens to provide Ward 3 unhoused with hot soup and Hot Cocoa. We serve Monday thru Friday starting at 5 pm until soup is gone. Caridad Kitchen has done a fantastic job with providing delicious, hearty and nutritious soup. We are pleased serve from Salvation Army at 218 E Prince Rd. This is their first go with soup patrol and so far things are going well. They also have blankets, cold weather items to hand out based on various donations St. Francis Shelter Community receives.
If you'd like to volunteer please reach out to Shawn Milligan, Director of Operations at 520-461-4943.
TechFest April 13 from 10am-3pm
Ward 3 Is Accepting Donations for the Iskashitaa Refugee Network!
The Ward 3 office is currently accepting donations of art supplies and canning supplies on behalf of the Iskashitaa Refugee Network. We are ONLY accepting jelly jars, Kerr, Mason, or Ball jars for preserving/ canning, with or without canning rings. Feel free to drop by 1510 E. Grant Rd. during our office hours (9 am to 1 pm Monday through Friday) if you'd like to support the work of this wonderful non-profit with a donation.
Prince Food Pantry 7-8:30 am the First Friday of Every Month
Yoga in the Garden Every Wednesday at 2 pm
Grocery Sharing at Tucson Food Share - 2500 N. Stone Ave.
 Groceries are shared Mondays 4:30- 6:00 pm,
Thursdays 6:00 - 7:30 pm, and Saturdays from 8am-9:30am.
https://tucsonfoodshare.org/ has more information about volunteering, donating, or requesting delivery.
Prevent Lead Exposure in Your Home
Programa de Control de Peligros de Pintura a Base de Plomo
Home Repair Program for Low income Homeowners
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