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* * * This message has been distributed by the City Manager's Office. All content contained in this message is an expression of the elected official. * * *
From: Ward 3
Contact: 791-4711 or ward3@tucsonaz.gov
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Come enjoy a beloved car-free (and care-free) event this Sunday, 9 am – 3 pm, along a three-mile north-south route that stretches from the Amphi neighborhood to downtown. Cyclovia is a family-friendly opportunity to walk, bike, roll, scoot, and skate with fellow Tucsonans on streets without competing with cars. It’s not a race, but more of a very long block party. There are free activities, music, and food trucks located at several hubs, including at Building Bridges (3355 N. Fontana), the Keeling neighborhood, and Doris J. Thompson Park.
Ward 3 staff and many volunteers helped Living Streets Alliance, the nonprofit that organizes Cyclovia, get ready by picking up litter and dropping off leaflets at homes along the route so they wouldn’t be surprised by Sunday’s festivities and encourage them to participate!
 A Cyclovia informational flyer hanging on a neighborhood door.
You can play at Cyclovia for the whole time or for just an hour, ride the entire route or just hang at an activity hub – whatever works best for you and your family. To help with planning, use the interactive map at https://app.cycloviatucson.org/map and get suggestions at https://www.cycloviatucson.org/.
 A group of Cyclovia volunteers ready to flyer along the Cyclovia Route. Photo Courtesy of LSA Instagram Account.
One favorite activity is Cinco for Cyclovia. Pick up a bingo-like game card at an Info booth or participating activity stop. At featured partners (locate on the map or look for Cinco signs), complete a fun activity to earn your sticker for that square. When you have five in a row you can turn in your card to be entered in a raffle (and there are lots of gifts!). Real enthusiasts will fill in their entire card with stickers to earn an extra raffle entry.
Hope to see you there!
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Greenspaces in Arid Environments
Last week, I attended the reception for a UA student project that blended art and science. Students shared their findings from participatory research about how greenspaces benefit community and mental health here in Tucson, alongside an exhibit featuring photos of local greenspaces paired with community member narratives. The work started with focus groups and resulted in a survey designed to inform park design in arid environments.
 A project participant addresses the crowd during the reception, while another wears a shirt that reads: Green spaces fight depression and bring serotonin and dopamine to your brain.
In particular, the survey explores what trade-offs Southern Arizonans are willing to make in our desert greenspaces, weighing certain types of amenities and aesthetics against each other. You can read more about the research here and view the exhibition website here.
The reception reminded me that I'd recently participated in some lovely events in Ward 3 greenspaces. On the last weekend in March, I joined a large group of Tucson Clean and Beautiful volunteers to plant 105 trees at 38 households in the San Ignacio Yaqui, Adelanto, Barrio Blue Moon, Miracle Manor, and Barrio Anita neighborhoods. It was their last tree-planting event until Fall 2026, so there was a little celebration afterward with music, pastries, fruit, and Eegee's. The fall/spring planting season was worth celebrating, too; in Ward 3 alone, TCB planted 562 trees over 6 neighborhood planting events, including 70 trees planted in 5 different mobile home parks.
 Volunteers and staff from TCB gather under Ash trees at Jacinto Park to celebrate a successful tree-planting season.
Similarly, a couple of weeks before that, I joined a pocket park clean up event hosted by the County Glenn Neighborhood Association. It's right off the Treat Avenue Bike Boulevard, and folks walking dogs and riding bikes stopped to chit chat with us while we discarded trash, pulled weeds, and trimmed low-hanging tree branches. One neighbor brought over a couple of cactus cuttings to re-home in a sparsely planted corner of the lot, and neighbors discussed the early spring heat and summer travel plans. Bright yellow palo verde flowers bloomed overhead, and we saw a roadrunner, bunnies, quail, and nesting doves, too.
 Images from the Country Glenn Pocket Park Clean Up, courtesy of the County Glenn Neighborhood Association.
Please remember to take time to enjoy our community green spaces this spring.
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On April 1, at approximately 4:15 p.m., on Fairview between Alturas and Grant, two young Hispanic males, one possibly under 18, were taken into custody. The scene was swarmed by what appeared to be about 12 ICE agents and 2 TPD officers. The men were clad in the usual brown vests with the word “police” enblazoned on them. A crowd of people soon formed around the situation. Observers inform us that they refused to identify which agency they were with. One of the agents very aggressively approached a female observer on the scene and scolded her to step back, or she would be arrested. The man walked up to the observer until he was in close proximity to her, ready to make physical contact. She had to tell him not to touch her, and she had no other choice but to step aside or be run over by the physically imposing agent.
 ICE agents on the scene at Fairview Ave. with two Tucson Police Officers standing by. Photo courtesy of Desertrisingtucson Instagram Account.
This incident occurred in our Ward, in what is a predominantly Latino area. Two Tucson Police officers were on the scene trying to help with the crowds, but were not involved in the arrest of the young men. The agents were also seen photographing license plates and performing facial scans. Observers inform us that the two young Latinos were later released; they believe this outcome was due to their involvement in monitoring the situation.
 ICE agents on the scene at Fairview Avenue. Photo courtesy of Desertrisingtucson Instagram Account.
Just six days later, on April 7, in South Tucson, another incident involving ICE took place with much more devastating results. This event took place outside of a Walgreens parking lot off of 29th and 6th Avenue. Here, a group of onlookers was pepper-sprayed up close for no apparent reason other than to be taking pictures and video of the agents. There were no arrests, and nobody was detained.
 ICE Agents pepper spraying bystanders in South Tucson. Photo from a screenshot of a video from an observer.
In related, yet possibly worse news, it has been revealed that a man who showed up with a gun and extra magazines at an anti-ICE protest organized by students at Hamilton High is a ranking officer of the Phoenix police. That’s right, a badge-carrying law enforcement officer, one of the “boys in blue,” “Phoenix's finest,” and such. His plan was to incite the kids to attack him so that the students could get arrested. Sergeant Dusten Mullen approached students and taunted them, allegedly trying to provoke an assault while the youth were exercising their First Amendment rights. I wish this were just a conspiracy theory, but sadly, it is the reality we are living in.
 Police Officer Dusten Mullen without a mask and another photo with his mask on at the anti ICE protest.
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ID# A878333
Age: 7 years
Qualities:
Cleopatra was an Egyptian queen known for her sharp intellect and political skills. Our Cleopatra isn’t very interested in politics, but she’s smart enough to know that she deserves to be treated like the royalty she’s named for!! Here’s what we learned about this regal lady during a stay in foster:
- She loved sleeping close to her foster person at night
- She is well- behaved when left home alone and snoozes the day away
- She is house-trained
- She is cuddly, attentive, eager for treats and a quick learner.
 ID# A263523
Age: 16 years
Qualities:
Fluffin is a fluffy, Maine Coon–ish gentleman with a soft voice, a sweet heart, and a lifetime of stories tucked into that luxurious coat.
At 16 years young, he’s the definition of a seasoned companion—we even have his baby photo from his very first time here, which makes his journey feel like a full circle moment. After a life filled with love, he’s back with us due to his owner entering hospice, and now he’s looking for a gentle place to land.
As he settles in, Fluffin is starting to show us his personality: a little chatty, very sweet, and quietly affectionate. He enjoys companionship, soft moments, and of course… Temptations treats (a classic favorite he takes quite seriously).
Fluffin isn’t looking for chaos—he’s looking for comfort, kindness, and someone to share his golden years with. If you have a soft spot for a fluffy senior with a tender heart, Fluffin is ready to spend his next chapter right by your side.
Fees:
Pets have 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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Next Mayor & Council Meeting |
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Ward 3 Neighborhood Association/Coalition Meetings |
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Fort Lowell Corridor Crime and Safety Meeting
Tuesday 8/15, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
AGM, 3544 E. Fort Lowell Rd.
Meeting info and North Dodge Website
Balboa Heights Neighborhood Association Meeting
Tuesday, 4/14, 5:30-7 pm
Marty Birdman Center
2536 N Castro Ave.
Ward 3 Office Hours Of Operation
The Ward 3 office is open at 1510 E. Grant Rd. from
9 am - 1 pm for walk-ins or later by appointment, Monday through Friday. Staff will answer phone messages, emails, and requests for meetings by the next business day. Leave your message at or email ward3@tucsonaz.gov.
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Ward 3 & City-wide Events |
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Happening Now
Now Through May 30
Saturdays
Free Poetry and Art Classes At Wings of Freedom Apartments Community Room From 3:30-5 PM.
 Call (520)-276-9598 to register or sign up via email by clicking on the following link:
April 11
Saturday
8 AM-11 AM
Rainwater Harvesting Workshop At 2645 N. Sparkman Blvd.
10 AM-1 PM
WeCare Tucson At 3029 N. Stone Ave.
April 3-26
Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays
Valley Of The Moon At 2544 E. Allen Rd.
April 6-12
All week at the University of Arizona
 AZ Tech Week brings together tech luminaries, investors, founders, and startup leaders for a week of keynotes, panels, social networking engagements, pitch competitions, and Arizona experiences from April 6-12. The conference emphasizes Arizona's role in the global tech ecosystem and showcases the state’s most compelling innovation and tech leaders.
Check out the amazing list of events here: University of Arizona Tech Week Events. There is something for everyone to enjoy!
April 6-13
Various Locations
The City of Tucson invites residents to participate in Safe City Connect, a series of open forums designed to inform, connect, and foster two-way dialogue about the Safe City Action Plan to address homelessness, improve coordination for mental health and substance use disorders, and prevent violent crime.
April 12
Sunday
9 AM-3 PM
Cyclovia Tucson Downtown-Amphi Neighborhood
April 13 & 14
Monday or Tuesday
April 15
Wednesday
8 AM-8 PM
Truly Nolen Leadership Center At 432 S. Williams Blvd. #436
April 17
Friday
10:30 AM
Amazon Flats Groundbreaking At 1135 W. Miracle Mile
April 18
Saturday
9 AM-2 PM
Iskashitaa's Spring Fair At 3736 E 2nd St.
8 AM
New Life Community Church At 3367 N Geronimo Ave.
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Free Gun Locks At Ward 3
Do you need a lock for your guns? Swing by our office at 1510 E. Grant Rd. from 9 AM-1 PM and come pick up a free lock while supplies last.
Preparedness Resources For Immigrant Families
Community Rapid Response Team https://rapidresponsetucson.com, 520-221-4077
 A handy bilingual Know Your Rights card for your wallet (pictured below) is available free, in quantities, from Ward 3 or at the Gloo Factory.
Family Preparedness Plan for Immigrant Families, in English and Spanish. Click the buttons below to download a PDF file of the plans.
Other resources:
Railroad Underpass Project Work Over Grant Road
City Of Tucson Issues Notice Of Intent For Proposed Rate And Fee Changes
Following a vote during the Mayor and Council meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the City of Tucson has issued a notice of intent (NOI) for proposed rate and fee changes for the following departments, as required by Arizona Revised Statutes § 9-499.15:
Environmental Services
Planning and Development Services
Transportation and Mobility
Tucson Water
There will be six in-person and two virtual meetings for community members to learn more about the proposed rate and fee changes from each department.
Upcoming Public Meetings
Tuesday, April 14, 5:30-7 p.m.
El Pueblo Center, 101 W. Irvington Road
Thursday, April 16, 5:30-7 p.m.
Morris K. Udall Recreation Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road
Saturday, April 18, 10-11:30 a.m.
Clements Center, 8155 E. Poinciana Dr.
Monday, April 20, 5:30-7 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89925574155
Tucson IDA First Time Homebuyer Loans
Tucson IDA will be launching a new program on April 1st which will provide $15,000 to first-time homebuyers. Funding will last through August 2026.
St. Francis Community Food Pantry Has Moved!
Find Food Access Resources In Tucson
Tucson food assistance providers are seeing a sharp rise in demand from families affected by delayed federal benefits, such as SNAP and WIC. At the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, there is an increase in first-time visitors, many of whom had never sought food assistance before. Volunteers are working overtime to assemble emergency food boxes for those suddenly without access to those benefits. The Community Food Bank offers help multiple times a week during varying hours continues to distribute food at its main location, 3003 S. Country Club Road, and through partner agencies across Southern Arizona. Officials urge residents in need to reach out early, as local inventories may fluctuate if the shutdown continues. You can also find a list of food resources by following the This is Tucson link below.
The Homing Project Is Creating A Village
The Homing Project, a local nonprofit that is creating a village of transitional micro-shelters for unhoused people, welcomes visitors for a village tour before the village becomes home to residents (planned for June 2026).
Our next village open house is Tuesday, April 14th, 10 am - noon. No need to RSVP, just show up. Please come with your hats and water - it's Tucson! We look forward to showing you our project. 2934 N Estrella Ave, Tucson, AZ. For more info: fatherq@comcast.net and www.thehomingproject.org
Friends of Ward 3 Is Helping Rio Vista Elementary
Grocery Sharing at Tucson Food Share - 2500 N. Stone Ave.
Groceries are shared Mondays 4:30 - 6 pm, Thursdays 6 - 7:30 pm, and Saturdays from 8 - 9:30 am.
https://tucsonfoodshare.org has more information about volunteering, donating, or requesting delivery.
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