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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: 520-791-4711 or ward3@tucsonaz.gov
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The summer solstice occurred less than a week ago, and Summer is officially here. In Tucson, we have had 26 days of temperatures over 100 degrees since the start of the year, and there are many more ahead. We all know it’s hot, but we forget the heat can be deadly. For those living on the street or who don't have adequate cooling during the hottest part of the day, the City has opened 6 cooling centers across town. In addition to those, the Ward 3 office has been partnering with St. Francis to host a cooling center in the Ward 3 Community Room. The most recent report of those who have come through the doors in the last two weeks is included in the GIF below:
 Pima County Heat Relief Information information is available by clicking on the button below, which includes an interactive map
On another note, I will be taking a few days off around the July
4th Holiday to spend time with family.
Wishing everyone a good holiday week and hoping for a good Monsoon.
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Keeling Desert Park Reopens With Basketball Half Court & Other Improvements
 Keeling Desert Park is a lovely green space in the Keeling neighborhood, located on Glenn Street between Fontana and Estrella Avenues. The pocket park has long featured a walking path, picnic tables, and public art, but until recently offered few opportunities for active play. This month, Council Member Dahl joined neighbors, Mayor Romero, and City staff to celebrate the completion of a series of park improvements with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
 Council Member Dahl, Mayor Romero, neighbors, and City staff cutting the ribbon at Keeling Desert Park. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Dreier.
The project introduced a new half-court basketball area, solar lighting, updated desert landscaping, climbing sculptures for children, and a community announcement box. Entrance walls were removed to improve visibility into the park, and the rear wall was reconstructed, creating a more welcoming and functional space for neighborhood residents. During the celebration, Council Member Dahl even had the chance to shoot a few baskets with neighbors.
 Council Member Dahl playing basketball with Keeling neighborhood residents. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Dreier.
The improvements were guided by community input and were funded through Proposition 407: Parks + Connections (a bond package approved by voters in 2018), and a grant from the Tohono O'odham Nation. The result is a park that better reflects the needs and priorities of the Keeling neighborhood while providing a place for community members of all ages to gather, play, and enjoy the outdoor space.
If you live in the Keeling neighborhood, consider stopping by the park to see the improvements for yourself. To learn more about neighborhood activities or future community events, click on the button below.
 Council Member Dahl talking with Keeling neighbors. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Dreier.
ICE Puts Karla Toledo Back In Deportation Processings
  This week started with a press conference by immigration attorney Mo Goldman, updating the public on the Karla Toledo case. It appears that the Department of Homeland Security has refiled deportation proceedings, effectively reinitiating her deportation process after her case was dismissed by an immigration judge earlier this month. The public came out to support Karla at this press conference. Mayor Regina Romero and Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva were in attendance and spoke at the conference, offering their support and denouncing this decision by DHS. Attorney Mo Goldman filed a motion to dismiss on Monday after the press conference.
I had the opportunity to talk with Karla about this whole experience and get some insight into her unfortunate ordeal. She informed me that although her attorney has tried to contact DHS to understand why the proceedings have been refiled, there has been no response from the department. Furthermore, to this date, they have yet to supply ANY warrant for breaking down her door and invading her home to abduct her. To make matters more confusing and worse, her husband has now been added to the proceedings, making this a family deportation, where before it was just her. This is an important detail because she and her husband have different classifications: he’s here seeking asylum, and she is a DACA recipient. Normally, those are two different proceedings.
 Top: Crowd gathers at the press conference in support of Karla Toledo. Middle Left: Rep. Adelita Grijalva delivers statement in support of Karla. Middle Right: Mayor Regina Romero empraces Karla and gives her some words of encouragement. Bottom: Attorney Mo Goldman updates supporters in attendance.
If the proceedings move forward, both she and her husband would be deported as a family. This doesn’t mean they get to go home and pack their things, as they could feasibly be detained at the courthouse and sent to a private detention center right then. These centers can net up to $250 per detainee, so it benefits them to take in families instead of individuals. This may illustrate why Karla and her husband are being processed together. Keep in mind those are taxpayers’ dollars. Dollars that, contrary to popular belief, also come from undocumented immigrants who also contribute to our tax system. They are in effect funding their own persecution, imprisonment, and abuse.
For her part, Karla is now dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder from her abduction and imprisonment. She finds that being indoors triggers her anxiety, so she needs to go outside; however, she is also uneasy outside because she feels that ICE agents could appear at any moment and attack her as they did before. As a result of what she has gone through, she has lost her employment, resulting in financial hardship.
Her situation has a ripple effect in our community. Displacing people like her and her husband results in more homelessness and people in need who require financial help, creating an undue burden since she was a productive member of society before her detention took place. Karla had no criminal record and did not come here on her own accord. She was in the process of fixing her status, which is a long and complex process for those who are privileged enough not to have to be familiar with it. None of this is her fault. She is the victim of an intimidation campaign perpetuated by the current administration.
Adelante, Karla, sin miedo, estamos contigo.
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 ID# A837256
Age: 5 years
Qualities:
Some dogs have a heart of gold that shines so brightly it radiates through their entire being! Sunshine-in-a-bottle Sky is one such pup! Despite spending her days and nights in the shelter, Sky retains her enthusiastic joyfulness, which is evident to everyone she meets! Sky was found by a member of the public who kept her for two days and stated she is very mellow and loving, likes attention and pets, and is a cuddlebug and a sweetheart.
Sky has been at the shelter since Nov. 29, 2025
Fee:
Sky 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.
 ID# A861551
Age: 16 years
Qualities:
Lotus is from an impound of 30+ cats whose owner passed. Lotus was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and takes a twice daily med in food. This senior is not happy in the shelter and would love a room to decompress. Lotus has spent some time in a foster home and done well!.
Fee:
Lotus 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.
Fee:
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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 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 520-791-4711.
We welcome your feedback!
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Next Mayor & Council Meeting |
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The next Mayor and Council Meeting will be on Tuesday, July 21.
Once available, the agenda will be posted here:
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Ward 3 Neighborhood Meetings |
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Fort Lowell Corridor Crime and Safety Meeting
Every third Tuesday of the month, 5:30-6:30 PM
AGM, 3544 E. Fort Lowell Rd.
Alvernon Grant Initiative Meeting
Every second Tuesday of the month, 6-7 PM
Emmanuel Church,
1825 N. Alvernon Way.
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Saturday, June 27
Saturday, July 18
Saturday, July 25
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4th of July Holiday No Change To Trash & Recycling Collection Service
The 4th of July holiday will be observed on Friday, July 3, 2026. Trash and recycling will be collected as normal schedule on Friday. All City of Tucson customers will have their trash and recycling serviced. The Los Reales Sustainability Campus and landfill services will be open on Friday.
City offices will be closed on Friday, July 3. Customers may leave a message for Environmental Services Customer Service at (520) 791-3171 or email EShelp@tucsonaz.gov.
Holiday collection schedules are available online or through the free Recycle Coach app to receive notifications about their trash, recycling, and Brush & Bulky collections.
Garden Movie Nights
Pools In Ward 3 Are Now Open For The Summer!
Roadway Improvements In Old Pascua and Barrio Blue Moon
 DTM will be in the Old Pascua and Barrio Blue Moon neighborhoods, starting in late June, to begin prep work for a mill & fill project. This project is part of the Prop 411: Tucson Delivers Better Streets Program.
Railroad Underpass Project Work Over Grant Road And Closure
May 22 - August 5, 2026 - Construction activities will begin on the Grant Road underpass at the Union Pacific Railroad, closing eastbound and westbound travel on Grant Road in the project area. Grant Road will reopen to traffic on August 5, 2026.
VITA Extended Tax Prep Help Through October
City Of Tucson Announces Cooling Centers For
Extreme Summer Heat Relief
From Monday, June 1, to Sunday, Sept. 30, the City of Tucson will operate six cooling centers to provide temporary designated areas for the public to utilize and escape the heat during peak hours. The cooling centers will operate on a seven day a week schedule and will be extended an additional month this year to incorporate the month of September. All City operated cooling centers are located along Sun Tran bus routes, ensuring they remain accessible to keep vulnerable community members safe from extreme heat.
The six City-operated cooling centers will be open daily from noon – 4 p.m., including the City observed holidays on Friday, June 19 (Juneteenth), Friday, July 3 (Independence Day observed), and Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day). The centers will also be open on July 4th.
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Donna Liggins Center, 2160 N. 6th Ave.
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El Pueblo Center, 101 W. Irvington Road., Building #9
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Fred Archer Center, 1665 S La Cholla Boulevard
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Freedom Center, 5000 E. 29th St.
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Morris K. Udall Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road.
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Randolph Center, 200 S. Alvernon Way
St. Francis Cooling Center at Ward 3
Chill Space at Ward 6
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:
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.
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.
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