Ward 6 Councilmember Steve Kozachik called a press conference yesterday in front of the 1st Assembly of God Church, 1749 E. Broadway, which may be demolished should the north section of Broadway be widened into 8 lanes per the May,2006 Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) voter-approved plan. The church was built in 1950 according to Councilmember Kozachiak also known as “Steve K”.

Blogger Pam Powers (“Tucson Progressive”) announced this event (with an online poll): http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2012/04/30/public-forum-today-should-rta-knock-down-100-buildings-to-make-broadway-look-like-a-freeway-poll/

The $71 M plan would call for widening of Broadway from Euclid to Country Club, affecting about 115 businesses on the north side, and historic buildings, neighborhoods such as Rincon Heights and Sam Hughes (on the National Historic Registry). Both Presidents of those neighborhoods spoke against the plan.

Speakers last evening at the press conference:

1) Ward 6 Councilmember Steve Kozachik
2) Mark Kerr, aide to Ward 5 Councilmember Richard Fimbres
3) Colby Henley, President of Rincon Hts. Neighborhood
4) Jessica Shuman, business owner of Kismet, 2627 E Broadway
5) John O’Dowd, President of Sam Hughes Neighborhood Assn.
6) Sid Hirsch, business owner of Hirsch’s Shoes, 2934 E. Broadway
7) Rev. Stuart Taylor, Tucson Bus Riders’ Union,
Eight) Demion Clinco, Pres. of Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation
9) District 5 Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias

Video below of the press conference courtesy of John Brakey, Co-founder of AUDIT-AZ:

Also present were: Ward 2 Councilmember Paul Cunningham, former State House Rep. Ted Downing, former Sahuarita Councilmember Rosanna Gabaldon, former Mayoral candidate Rick Grinnell, District 3 Supervisor candidate Tanner Bell, former State Senator John Kromko, attorney Bill Risner, former TUSD Superintendent Roger Pfeuffer, Brian Flagg from Casa Maria Kitchen, Donovan Durband Administrator from Parkwise, former Green Party candidates Dave Croteau (Mayor), Beryl Baker (Ward 1 Council), Kent Solberg (LD 27 House). I estimated the crowd at about 200 people, many of whom arrived by bicycle.

Steve K said that 15-20 neighborhoods were represented at the press conference, and I recognized neighborhood leaders from: Rincon Hts, Sam Hughes, Colonia Solana, El Encanto Estates, Arroyo Chico, Broadway-Broadmoor, Campbell-Grant, Catalina Vista, even Udall Park Neighborhood out east. Aides from the Council offices of Ward 1, 2, 5 and 6 were present as well.

If you feel strongly about this issue, contact the Mayor/City Councilmembers or your Supervisor at Pima County. Supervisor Richard Elias said yesterday that the citizens had to “force change to happen”, if they felt this 25 year old plan to widen Broadway was not necessary. Many of the speakers requested that the historic buildings be preserved, that small businesses on Broadway not be affected by any widening.

Steve K also noted during this one hour (6 to 7 p.m. on a Monday) that there was no traffic congestion on Broadway next to the church. My husband also told me that he was down there on Broadway (between Highland & Park) that same afternoon between 3:30 and 4 p.m. and there was no traffic jam.

Photo of crowd yesterday at press conference, courtesy of Pam Powers Hannley.

PRESS RELEASE – Ward 5 Council Office
Contact: Mark Kerr, 520-791-4231.

Update: At the December 20 Tucson Mayor and Council, by a 6-0 vote, they went on record to oppose the proposed closure of the Cherrybell Post Office Processing and Distribution Center.

This item was placed on the Council agenda by Councilmember Richard Fimbres. He expressed his appreciation to the Mayor and fellow Councilmembers for realizing the importance of this and how it could impact Tucson’s economy.

Arnold Elias, retired Tucson Postmaster and Connie Sadler-Nelson with the local Postalworkers Union were present to speak about the impact this closure would have on Tucson.

Councilmember Fimbres also urged people to attend the public hearing or to write to get their comments in by January 12.

TUCSONS MAIL SORTING POST OFFICE FACILITY UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR CLOSURE BY USPS; HEARING SET FOR DECEMBER 28

Tucson- On Wednesday, December 28, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will be holding a public hearing in Tucson on whether to close Tucson mail sorting facility and moving that service to the Phoenix facility.

This hearing will be held at the Leo Rich Theater, 260 South Church, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Tucsons Processing and Distribution Center, located at 1600 South Cherrybell Stravenue is one of many facilities being studied for possible closure under the direction of the current U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe.

Currently, more than 1,000,000 pieces of mail a year is being processed by the Cherrybell Post Office.

Up to 400 jobs are in possible jeopardy with this potential closure of this facility by the USPS.

This would be a substantial setback to the effort to rebuild Tucson’s economy, said Councilmember Richard Fimbres. In addition, this would also hurt businesses who rely on the distribution center, the elderly who may pay bills by mail or wait for their Social Security checks and medication, he added.

Fimbres went on to say that, If Tucson loses the Processing and Distribution Center, the effort to recruit companies to the area would be severely hampered, since the city would be one of the largest without a Distribution Center. Tucson is the 33rd largest city in the United States, according to the Census Bureau.

Government functions involving mailing items, peoples water bill, and electric bills and voting by mail would be impacted by this potential closure, Fimbres said. Small, local businesses that rely on mail order service could close if Tucson’s distribution center is moved to Phoenix.

The proposed closure is only one item being considered by the USPS. The elimination of overnight service in the Tucson metro area as well as all of the 856 zip code areas is also on the table.

This is not just a Tucson issue, it will affect all of Southern Arizona, its citizens, businesses and their governments, Fimbres stated. This would end overnight service as well as cause delays for the mail for Tucson and the Southern Arizona region.

At the December 28 meeting, the public will have the opportunity at this meeting to speak to the USPS management in attendance and give their feedback on the proposed shut-down of the Tucson mail sorting facility and moving that service to the Phoenix facility.

USPS is also inviting their largest local business customers to the meeting so they can hear about the plan and its possible effects on their mailings.

The public may send their comments on this to the USPS. Comments will be accepted and postmarked by January 12, 2012. Written comments may be sent to: Management, Consumer and Industry Contact, Arizona District, P.O. Box, 21628, Phoenix, Arizona 85036-1628.

Contact: Mark Kerr, 520-837-4281, Ward 5 Council Office
Arnold Elias (former Tucson Postmaster) h) 520-622-6128
Alvaro Alvarez (former Tucson Postmaster) (c) 520-349-8534
American Postal Workers Union Local 255, Connie Sadler-Nelson, 520-325-5891

I’ve been receiving several email alerts & even one on Facebook about this proposed closing, so please plan on attending this meeting at the TCC Leo Rich Theater, and voice your concerns. If you miss it, send comments via mail by 1/12/12 to:
Management, Consumer and Industry Contact, Arizona District, P.O. Box, 21628, Phoenix, Arizona 85036-1628.

One of the emails I received from Beryl Baker (former Ward 1 Council candidate) said that this closure will impact the following:

* Elders who rely on USPS for prescription medication delivery.
* Businesses who rely on having a local distribution center; small and home
businesses who receive raw goods and resell finished ones via mail delivery will
see their turnaround times impacted.
* Vote-by-mail programs.
* Tucson’s ability to recruit new business to the area.
* All of Southern Arizona — Oro Valley, Marana, Bisbee, Ajo, Tohono O’odham and
Pascua Yaqui Nations, Green Valley, et cetera.

Another email was about saving postal jobs and a rally/march on 12/28 as well:

Tucson’s Jobs with Justice Coalition urges
YOU to support Tucson’s postal workers.

STAND UP TUCSON!

Say NO to cutting Postal jobs and essential services!

On Wednesday December 28th

4:30pm – Assemble at Veinte de Agosto Park
(corner of Congress & Church), Downtown Tucson

4:30pm to 5:15pm – Sign-waving rally in
support of Tucson Postal employees.

5:15pm to 5:45pm – Downtown march beginning
at Veinte de Agosto Park, ending at the 6pm – Public hearing

On General Election night, the vote difference between 4-term Ward 4 Democratic Councilmember Shirley Scott and her Republican challenger political newcomer Tyler Vogt was 1754. Click here for those results. Over the past few days the City Elections has been counting the remaining ballots cast at the polls (verifying signatures, then processing the ballots). Scott’s lead increased to 1862 on the final count. Tyler Vogt is the older brother of LD 30 House Rep. Ted Vogt.

The final count was released today:

Shirley Scott (D, incumbent) 42,029 (50.99%)
Tyler Vogt (R), 40,167 (48.73%)

Mayor of Tucson
Mary DeCamp (G), 4197 (4.94%)
Rick Grinnell (R), 33,926 (39.91%)
*Jonathan Rothschild (D), 46,723 (54.96%)

Ward 1
Beryl Baker (G) 24,976 (34.04%)
*Regina Romero (D, incumbent), 47,451 (64.67%)

Ward 2
*Paul Cunningham (D, incumbent) 47,366 (56.89%)
Jennifer Rawson (R), 35,727 (42.91%)

*Rothschild, Romero, and Cunningham won their races on General Election night, Nov. 8, 2011.
This was the City of Tucson’s first vote-by-mail General Election, and voter turnout was 31.07 %.

Mayor-elect Jonathan Rothschild

Ward 1 Councilmember Regina Romero

Ward 2 Councilmember Paul Cunningham

Ward 4 Councilmember Shirley Scott