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The Ward 3 Weekly

October 2, 2026

In This Issue:

• Neighbors
• Evaluating Transit Safety Models in Albuquerque
• PACC Pet of the Week
• Neighborhood Association Meetings
• Events & Announcements

Neighbors

Sitting on a colorful rug surrounded by toys, I read a few books out loud about “good neighbors” to a small group of four- and five-year-olds this week at the Woods Branch Library.

As the kids and I read together, I felt like I was channeling Mister Rogers, one of the first children’s shows on PBS. I could feel his iconic cardigan on my shoulders! Fred Rogers was a kind, clever, and caring educator. The show’s theme song, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” is a catchy invitation to create community and connection where you live. I especially like the version so beautifully performed by Lada Gaga (see button below). Mister Rogers’ legacy was honored with a recent U.S. stamp.

Afterward, I realized how fortunate my wife and I are that we live in a friendly, active neighborhood. What with the many challenges of modern living and the lasting impact of the Covid epidemic, I fear that isolation might be a more common experience. My neighborhood has a strong volunteer association with monthly meetings and quarterly parties. It has built a community bulletin board and free library, planted trees, championed a neighborhood-wide traffic-calming plan, and more. My wife and another neighbor researched the possibility of historic neighborhood status – and while we chose not to, their efforts resulted in a book, Samos: Stories That Built a Neighborhood (button below, and by the way all sales will be used to help create a neighborhood park).

Beyond the projects and neighborhood improvements, which are great and significant, our lives are truly richer because we know so many interesting people who live nearby: teachers, astronomers, nurses, students, musicians, bakers, and more. I’ve learned about research on the impact of lightning, what it was like to grow up in a different country or work in one for the Peace Corp, and so much more. I cherish that our neighbors help each other, not just with the “cup of sugar” or sharing fresh-baked goodies, but with tasks like feeding the cats and watering plants during vacations, giving a ride when coming home from a hospital visit, checking in on someone sick, or just lending a sympathetic ear as we traverse life’s challenges. Some of us survived Covid together by gathering each evening, sitting six feet apart on chairs in a front yard, six feet apart, sometimes masked, keeping human contact alive when it was so hard to do so.

Would you like to be a better neighbor? More connected? One way is to join your neighborhood association. Or if there is no association where you live, you could help start one. This week I chatted with a Ward 3 resident during a “Coffee With a Cop” event at the Target on Oracle who is about to do just that. She lives in an HOA (Homeowners Association), but that isn’t like a Neighborhood Association and can’t do all the great things a Neighborhood Association can accomplish. Ward 3 and other City staff are ready to help her, and if you want to likewise help create one where you live, we will help you, too. Good neighborhoods don’t just appear. They are built by all of us, one story at a time.

Evaluating Transit Safety Models in Albuquerque

Tucson's Safe City Initiative has updated its holistic approach to community safety with new transit-security measures modeled partly after successful zero-fare programs in other cities. Last week, Ward 3 staff joined an interdepartmental delegation of Tucson City staff and Council Members to see these successes firsthand in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

City of Tucson delegation posing with City of Albuquerque staff

We began the first morning aboard the Albuquerque Rapid Transit line (ART). Its dedicated center lanes and island stops really drove home why fast, frequent service is one of the best ways to build a vibrant and diverse ridership. At the transit center, we saw practical infrastructure solutions like the "Portland Loo", a public restroom specially designed for easy cleaning and safety.

Image of a "Portland Loo."

Later, we rode a standard route with a volunteer Transit Ambassador and toured the Transit Authority hub. We met their Transit Safety Officers, who operate somewhat similarly to Tucson’s Community Service Officers (CSOs): they are non-sworn and focus on safety compliance rather than arrests, but are limited to transit spaces. Albuquerque also utilizes the "See Say" app, allowing riders to report issues in real time. In dispatch, an alert light flashes, and staff text the rider back immediately. We were excited to learn that most reports are actually for minor cleanliness issues rather than safety threats.

Cleanliness is a top priority in Albuquerque, and they have found that pristine buses and stops vastly improve the public perception of safety. They even leverage community participation through volunteer initiatives like an "Adopt-a-Stop" program.

The second and final day was dedicated to deep-dive presentations and roundtables. Albuquerque has successfully shifted its organizational culture so that transit staff and drivers now champion the zero-fare system. A massive part of this success comes from collaborative leadership and modernized training. Drivers are trained to approach their roles from a service perspective, and the training curriculum includes social and emotional training, giving drivers the tools they need to manage stressful interactions safely and leaving enforcement to the Transit Officers and police.

A Transit Ambassador holding an umbrella for riders

It was incredibly valuable to see where Albuquerque and Tucson align and differ, allowing us to compare innovative transit strategies in both cities. Ultimately, the trip offered some great and eye-opening ideas for even more progress here, but also highlighted just how much Tucson has accomplished, maintaining significantly higher ridership while using a relatively smaller portion of our budget. These insights will be invaluable as Tucson continues to shape a safe, efficient, and holistic approach to transit safety.

PACC Pet of the Week

Ladle, PACC Pet of the Week

Ladle, ID#A887133

Meet Ladle, a neutered male brown brindle Pit Bull Terrier mix. He's about 2 years and 9 months old, and weighs 88 lbs. Ladle is a very handsome brindle boy with a friendly, goofy personality. He's extremely happy to meet a new human and is polite in his kennel despite his excitement to go on a walk. Shelter staff and volunteers describe him as sweet, affectionate, and gentle pup. 

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. 

Ward 3 Office Hours and Staff

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!

Next Mayor & Council Meeting

The next Mayor and Council Meeting will be on October 6.
Once available, the agenda will be posted here:

Ward 3 Neighborhood Meetings

El Cortez Heights Neighborhood Association
Thursday 10/08, from 6 -7:30 pm 
Donna R. Liggins Center, 2160 N.6th Ave. 

Events &

Announcements

Changes to the City's Hard-to-Recycle Plastics Program

City of Tucson ByFusion is preparing to open a processing facility at the City of Tucson’s Los Reales Sustainability Campus (LRSC). 

Once operational, the facility will process materials collected through the City’s Hard-to-Recycle Plastics Program and transform them into durable ByBlocks, recycled-plastic building blocks that can be used for construction and other projects.

The Latest on the Byfusion Project at LRSC

The Byfusion facility received its Certificate of Occupancy by early August, marking the completion of the building's construction phase.

Byfusion is now working through tenant improvements and  installing the equipment needed to make ByBlocks using a steam compression process. Byfusion projects moving into the facility by the end of 2026.

Doolen-Fruitvale Neighborhood Foresters are Hosting a Streetside Basin Work Party on Saturday 10/03

Meet at 7 am at 3122 E. Flower St. 

Road Improvements are Coming to Amphi Acres in Ward 3

Tucson's Department of Transportation and Mobility will be in the  Amphi and Campus Farm neighborhoods (Amphi Acres and Pueblo de las Catalinas) starting in early October to begin prep work for a mill and pave project. This work includes improvements to Limberlost Drive from 1^st Ave to Campbell. If changes are made to the project schedule, we will immediately update the project website. 

Stay informed about Special Event Liquor Licenses

 The Tucson City Clerk’s Office is moving to a new digital mailing list to make it easier for the public to receive information about Special Event Liquor License applications coming before Mayor and Council. Physical postcards will no longer be sent to individual addresses. Before each Mayor and Council meeting, subscribers will receive a digital mailing that includes Special Event Liquor License applications scheduled for upcoming meetings. This mailing list is specifically for special events requesting to serve liquor. It does not include notifications for all City special events. 

Practical Conservation with Reid Park Zoo

Learn Different Skills with Reid Park's Practical Conservation events.

Join the Interest List for Sugar Hill on Stone 

Join the interest list for Sugar Hill on Stone, a project by the City of Tucson's non-profit development arm, El Pueblo Housing Development. T66 units of affordable housing will soon be available at 1910 N. Stone Ave. 

Community Feedback Sessions Scheduled for Shelter Care Zoning Code Updates

The City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD), in collaboration with the Drachman Institute at the University of Arizona, is seeking community input on updates to the City's zoning regulations for shelter care. Three feedback opportunities are scheduled between September 13 and October 4, 2026.

On February 3, 2026, the City of Tucson declared a Housing and Homelessness Emergency to remove zoning and permitting barriers and expedite the creation of shelter beds.

Shelter is one part of a broader response that also includes affordable and supportive housing, homelessness prevention, outreach, and connections to services.

Under the City's current Unified Development Code (UDC), shelter care uses are permitted in a limited number of locations and are subject to requirements that can make it difficult to add shelter capacity. PDSD is reviewing those regulations to identify changes that would make it easier to establish shelter facilities in appropriate locations while maintaining standards for surrounding neighborhoods.

As part of this effort, PDSD is currently evaluating zoning changes related to:

• Allowing shelter care in additional areas
• Reducing parking requirements and other on-site restrictions
• Simplifying approval processes
• Allowing safe outdoor sleeping areas in specific circumstances

No decisions have been made. Community members are encouraged to attend any or all of the sessions below to learn more, ask questions, and share their perspectives.

Feedback Session 1 was on Sunday, September 13.

Feedback Session 2 was on Thursday, September 24.

Feedback Session 3

• Where: Park Place Mall Central Exhibit Space, 5870 E. Broadway Blvd
• When:
• Friday, October 2, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• RSVP Optional: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/wFU8z4z2hH

Community members unable to attend in person are encouraged to join the virtual session or submit written comments to Amanda.Smith@tucsonaz.gov. Feedback gathered during these sessions will inform a draft code amendment, which will be available for public review in the fall. The draft will then go to the Planning Commission for a study session and public hearing, after which the Commission will forward a recommendation to the Mayor and Council for consideration.

Visit the Housing and Homelessness Emergency Shelter Care Code Amendment website for more information.

VIVA Community Clean Up on 10/08 at Fort Lowell / Stone Ave. 

Join Team Up to Clean Up, VIVA, your neighbors, Council Member Dahl, and Mayor Romero at this Community Clean Up. 

River Run Network Restoration Workshop at Danny Lopez Park on Saturday 10/10, 8-11 am

Get your hands in the dirt at this restoration workshop aimed to improve riparian forest habitat around Silverbell Lake on the west side of Tucson. We will be working to enhance the recreational spaces along the Santa Cruz River near and within Danny Lopez Park by planting native riparian tree and understory vegetation, shaping and digging water harvesting earthworks, and stabilizing rock work already in the area. This project is in partnership with the Friends of Danny Lopez Park.

This event is organized through Watershed Management Groups’s River Run Network (RRN). 

Tenants' Rights to Safe and Clean Housing Event on 10/15 

Join Ward 3 and Ward 6 at the Ward 6 office (or online) for this event on Tenants' Rights. 

Evento de Derechos de Inquilinos en 15 de Octubre

The Gatsby Gala on 10/17 Benefiting Stand Up for Kids 

Your invited to an evening of gratitude, giving, and glamour in support of ending youth homelessness in our community.

Fundraiser for St. Francis Community Services on 10/17

St. Francis Community Services is the organization that's run the Ward 3 Cooling Center for the last 4 years. 

Voluntary Safe Surrender of Guns on 10/17 

Marty Birdman Center Open House on 10/24

This free, family-friendly event is the perfect opportunity to explore the center and meet your neighbors!

Walk a PACC Dog with Council Member Dahl and District Supervisor Jennifer Allen

The Ward 3 office is teaming up with the District 3 Supervisor Jennifer Allen's office to spread some love to the dogs at the Pima County Animal Center. Join us for a morning outing as we take more than 30 dogs on a pleasant walk around Danny Lopez Park.

Halloween Event at Navajo Hills Apartments on 10/31

The good folks at the Pima County Regional Flood Control District are hosting a Halloween event on Saturday 10/31 in the Amphi neighborhood. Residents and neighbors are invited to this free event where they'll have opportunities to provide input on community assets, park features, and preliminary design ideas. 

The Streets Equation,  Budget Engagement Forums in November 2026

Join The Streets Equation — a series of in-person and virtual forums where residents can share feedback on street maintenance and construction, transportation, and road safety as the City plans its Fiscal Year 2028 budget.

Forums will include budget education, informational presentations, small-group discussions, and opportunities for resident feedback. Each event is free, in person, and open to all Tucson residents.

Save the Date for Día de Los Abuelos on 12/06

Preparedness Resources For Immigrant Families

Community Rapid Response Team https://rapidresponsetucson.com, 520-221-4077

A  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:

• City of Tucson Know Your Rights website- City website designed to inform users about resources available in the community
• https://www.keeptucsontogether.org/ - provides legal services and Know Your Rights trainings.
• https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/ -a full directory of all regional legal service providers, website in many languages.
• https://juntosfund.funraise.org/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery - emergency assistance for separated families through Sunnyside Foundation.
• https://www.clinicaamistad.org/ - free healthcare for folks without insurance or funds to afford care.

City of Tucson Lead Hazard Reduction Program!

Find Food 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 and 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.

Help Support Friends of Ward 3

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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